Welcome to the weekly Newsletter for parents and carers of students attending John Hanson Community School.
Inspire - Care - Succeed
‘HEAD’ Lines
Looking forwards and
even further forward
Dear Parents/Carers
This week has seen both current students and prospective students looking at ‘what comes next’.
This week has seen the 3rd and 4th of our four Taster Days for year 5 students. While secondary school may seem some way off, a decision regarding their secondary school place needs to be made in 3 months’ time! Over our four Taster days, we have greeted well over 300 year 5 students. They have all left with smiles on their faces, and most importantly, a really good idea of what secondary school is all about.
Our year 10 students have been doing very much the same as the year 5’s. This week has seen the whole of year 10 visit Andover College and a smaller number visiting BCOT. They have all come back to school with plenty of information and many with lots of thinking to do about the extensive offer available to them at both colleges.
The 5 years of secondary school flies by so quickly and therefore we continue to put a significant focus on making sure those joining us and those moving on from us are as well-prepared for the journey ahead as possible.
Enjoy the weekend with your children. By the time you read this I will hopefully be in sunny Weymouth with 150+ of our year 7 students.
Regards
Russell Stevens
Headteacher
Year 10 College taster Days
John Hanson Community School PSHE Day 6: 7th July 2022
Our final PSHE day of the academic year! Even with school feeling a little smaller today (we have said goodbye to our Year 11s and we have lots of Year 8 off-site as part of their day) this did not negatively affect our informative day! From lifestyle scenarios to bodily autonomy, our students gained information to make them wiser, stronger and more astute members of the community.
Year 7: The Apprentice
Today year 7 are putting their creativity and independence to the test, as they plan, design, and create their own children’s book. In an Apprentice style competition, they will vie for the crown in their tutor group, and for the opportunity to present their product to the whole year in the dining hall.
The morning has been a hive of activity and creativity with students planning, drafting and perfecting their pitches for the big reveal period 5!
Congratulations to Richard, Aidan, Eva, Sophia & Fraser from 7JMI who were the winners.
Year 8:Take Your Child To Work Day
Over 90 Year 8 students took part in TYCTWD today in what proved to be a successful first attempt at an early experience of the workplace for our students, as part of our ever-growing Careers education curriculum. Parents, carers, older siblings and family friends pulled together to place the students in their workplaces for the day to offer them a rare in sight in to the world of work in our community. Thank you so much to all who were involved to make this an extra special day for so many.
The Real Game
In Year 8, we have explored our values, hopes and dreams for our futures, and measured that against the reality of available jobs, salary limitations and rising prices. Discussions have been lively and have compared the value of a high salary vs time spent with family and friends, and whether qualifications or personal qualities are more important in a job.
Year 9: A collection of sessions to get students thinking about the unfortunate dangers in the world around them, how to evade them in the first instance, how to help others in trouble with them, and what to do if they find themselves personally affected
Tutor session on Perceptions
The first session for year 9 was about online perceptions and explored how what we share about ourselves is accessible to all that use the internet – social means social, not private! We had some fantastic conversations about ownership of photographs and content, our responsibility to communicate respectfully and sexting and nudes. In the digital age it is really important that students are aware of how employers use social media to judge and ‘check’ potential employees and what this means for them now. Crime
Year 9 explored the differences between the criminal and civil courts, focussing on the purpose of punishment and different sentencing options. They learnt about the different types of court and looked at the different roles of people who may be present. The students had the challenging task of 'being the judge ' deciding on the appropriate sentence from various hypothetical scenarios. The complex issues and ethics around sentencing were discussed. For example, the students worked in groups to understand what each sentence would mean for the offender, their family, and the local community. Emotion Coaching
Year 9 spent this session looking closely at how our emotions affect us and how we can all be responsible for managing them to become more emotionally intelligent. Facing the Consequences
For this session, year 9 spent time looking at different scenarios and the effect that someone’s decisions may have on others. They may think it is a bit of fun, but the consequences can be serious; the difference between what one person assumes is a joke or ‘banter’, and what makes it the opposite. A thought-provoking session to get students to think about their own actions and how they may affect those around them. FGM (Female Genital Mutilation)
This session was on a really challenging topic: FGM. Students explored what it meant, how it affected those involved (physical but also psychological and on those within the community) and how charities are working on supporting those affected through educating and supporting communities financially. Finance
in this session, students learn the basics of banking: from getting an account, through to debit and credit cards, they explore how to manage their money in future. They also look at interest rates and bill payments considering the earnings of various different careers along the way. Internet Safety
In this session students looked the difference between internet safety and cyber safety. They explored the different ways they can be unsafe online and looked at the statistics surrounding this. Students then watched a interactive film which allowed them to choose their own path. The film covered topics such as Knowing where to go and reporting when things go wrong online, rights and responsibilities online, online reputations, health relationships and nude/sexual image sharing. Knife Crime
During the Knife Crime session, Year 9 students found out about the harmful consequences of carrying a knife through powerful statistics and real-life documented experience. Students watched some hard-hitting videos, based on true stories, and discussed the benefits of a knife-free lifestyle to encourage this mindset from this point onwards not just for themselves, but so they can educate those around them.
Year 10:A range of challenging issues and themes to promote safety, maturity and awareness of both others and self
Tutor session on Organ donation
In the year 10 tutor session we looked at organ and blood donations. We looked at what you can donate and the consequences of it on both the recipient and the donor!
Cosmetic & Surgical Procedures
We have looked at the realities of cosmetic procedures, thinking about why people have them done and whether they are worth the risks that are associated with them. Gambling
Year 10 openly learnt about the risk attached to gambling in all its forms, whether online or via the lottery, and how it can lead to addiction and ruin lives. They were given advice on what to do if this affects their life, from how a seemingly innocent and simple £1 spend could unwillingly and quickly snowball out of control. Positive Mental Health
This PSHE Day Year 10 looked at Positive Mental Health, focusing specifically on ‘grounding strategies’. These are techniques which require little to no resources that can help bring calm and refocus in a short space of time. Valuable during the stresses of exams. These strategies included using the 5 senses and breathing. Hopefully the year 10s went away from the session with a few ideas to help them in a year’s time feel calm and focused in their GCSE exams. Sexual Harassment
Year 10 spent this session reviewing what sexual harassment means from a legal perspective, as well as considering the impact of sexual harassment on people. We discussed how we can keep safe and how to report sexual harassment. The lesson is designed around a specially written drama in three parts, it tells the story of a professional relationship between a man and woman at work, which involves an accusation of sexual harassment and an employment tribunal hearing. Each film is accompanied by a separate discussion piece hosted by journalist and presenter Ben Zand, and brings together 20 people aged 18 to 30 to examine how they understand the rules of behaviour in the workplace. Watching this drama and the discussion allowed the Year 10s to have their own discussion to help understand this very complex but important issue. Sexual Health
A crucial session on Sexual health recapping issues such as consent, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and local sexual health services. Our students left this session feeling well informed about what is available to help them within the local area, and wiser about their bodies.
Vaping!
Through assemblies recently with Mr Stevens, and through PSHE day sessions, we are constantly trying to educate our students about things that are not good for their health, and this includes vaping.
Some key things to consider:
Vaping hasn't been around long enough for us to know how it affects the body over time, but health experts are reporting serious lung damage in people who vape, including some deaths.
Vapes are known to have some really horrid ingredients in them, including:
Acrolein: A weed killer.
Benzene: A compound found in car exhaust.
Cadmium: Toxic metal that increases the risk of breathing problems.
Diacetyl: Chemical compound used to give food a buttery flavour.
Diethylene glycol: Clear odourless liquid with a sweet taste typically found in industrial products such as antifreeze.
Acetaldehyde and formaldehyde: These chemicals are known to cause cancer.
Nickel, tin, lead and other heavy metals: Heavy metal toxicity may damage functioning of lungs, brain, liver, kidneys and other organs.
Nicotine: A highly addictive chemical that can affect the heart and breathing.
Propylene glycol: A clear, odourless liquid that’s used as antifreeze and a food additive.
We’d also like to remind parents and students that our behaviour policy states that if a student is found using a vape or with any vape products on their person they will be suspended from school.
Let’s Read!
Vamos ler!Przeczytajmy!Sa citim!Laat ons lees!Magbasa tayo!Mari membaca!
Schools have an important responsibility to develop a taste for reading in its students; although it is not a simple task. Research claims that reading represents one of the good ways to understand reality amongst other things, so it needs to be encouraged and developed. In our school we consistently try to provide ways to stimulate and integrate reading into the daily lives of all our bilingual students.
Since September, I have been acting as the mediator making sure reading becomes a pleasurable habit and that E.A.L students discover all the learning benefits and enjoyments that it can provide.
However, providing adequate resources is vital, our learning resources centre (LRC) has got fantastic facilities, it contains a vast collection of reading books written by some of the foremost and most popular writers of our time. We use Penguin Random House LLC, one of the world's vastest English-language general trade book publisher, contains many publishing groups and their imprints, that publish fiction and nonfiction, both original and reprints. Our expanding book collection, Penguin Readers is a new series of readers graded at seven levels of difficulty from pre-A1 (Starter) to B2 (Level 7) published by this book company.
No matter how hard reading might feel, there is always a way!
Happy reading!
Miss C. Ferreira
E.A.L Co-ordinator
Come to the Book Fair
This year’s Summer Book Fair will be held in the LRC from Tuesday, 5th July for one week. Please come and support the Book Fair at break and lunch time. The more books you buy, the more free books we can choose for our school.
We look forward to seeing you at the Book Fair.
Poetry Competition
This competition is open to all 11 – 17 year olds, the winners will
receive amazing prizes. Please come to the LRC for more
information. Entry is free. The deadline is 31st July 2022.
Women & Girls Cricket
Andover Cricket Club are running cricket sessions for women and girls aged 13+ this summer, on Friday evenings from 6-7.15pm. They start on July 22nd and run until September 9th. Anyone interested can contact andovercc@mail.com to sign up.
James Knight
Andover CC Secretary AndoverCC@mail.com@AndoverCricketClub @AndoverCricket @AndoverCricket_Club
School Nursing service update
ChatHealth available during summer holidays
Our ChatHealth service will be open for young people and parents throughout the summer holidays. This is the fastest way for parents/carers and young people over the age of 11 to contact us.
Due to waiting times on ‘request for support’ forms, queries from parents can be answered more quickly through the ChatHealth service. Please signpost parents to this service where possible. https://www.hampshirehealthyfamilies.org.uk/chathealth
Through ChatHealth, we can answer questions relating to:
Support during transition through school
Relationships and sexual health
Substance misuse
Accident prevention
Sleep
Behaviour
Signposting for continence support
Children and young people with complex or additional health needs
Support for children and young people not in school, in accessing the Healthy Child Programme.
Please complete our ‘request for support’ form for:
Emotional health and well-being – emerging anxiety which is disproportionate to development level where school based and/or self-help support or strategies have not been successful. For more information see Hampshire CAMHS FAQ’s for thresholds of referral: https://hampshirecamhs.nhs.uk/help/parents-carers/•
Healthy weights and lifestyles
Red box
If you would like to make a donation to keep our stocks high, we are always looking for the following items:
Size S/M or size 8/10 black Pants and 40 denier plus black tights
Deodorant – male and female
Shampoo and conditioner
Whilst the government funding covers tampons and sanitary towels, it doesn’t cover the smaller panty liners which our girls often require.
We are excited to release our latest John Hanson Careers Newsletter.
Please encourage your son/daughter to use their SCHOOL EMAIL for work rather than their own private email. This is important for safeguarding and also some of our messages for students are being sent to school email addresses.
Think you know – Activity Packs relating to online safety Who’s watching yours? – 17% increase in children livestreaming since lockdown (Advice to help parents/carers minimise risk to children online) Mental health – How to look after your family’s mental health when stuck indoors Houseparty – Everything you need to know.
John Hanson Computing Department
Performing Arts
Instrumental Lessons
If your son/daughter would like to learn to play a musical instrument please contact Mike Adams - Head of Music and Drama for details. Email - mike.adams@jhanson.hants.sch.uk
Teachers from Hampshire Music Service visit the school and we can offer lessons in Piano, Woodwind, Brass, Guitar, and Percussion (Drumming).
We have added a page on the website of video How To Guides
