Welcome to the weekly Newsletter for parents and carers of students attending
John Hanson Community School
Inspire - Care - Succeed
‘HEAD’ Lines
‘Because you go to
John Hanson you can…’
Dear Parents/Carers
I get very frustrated with elements of society that think that students who attend their local secondary school are any less capable than those who have chosen a different path through education.
There are so many examples every year of John Hanson students who have excelled because they have been educated at John Hanson and because they have worked hard and taken up many of the opportunities that have been afforded them.
There is no better example of this than our year 10 boy’s badminton team, who yesterday made it through to the 3rd round of the Nationals after a 4-2 win over Winchester College.
If you go to John Hanson you can…
Enjoy the sunny weather with your children over the weekend.
Regards
Russell Stevens
Headteacher
Theatre Trip to Mayflower Studios
Students in Year 9,10,11 recently travelled to the Mayflower Studios in Southampton to watch the play Metamorphosis.
The Metamorphosis is the story of an ordinary man who wakes up one morning to find he has been transformed into a giant insect. Soon he begins to realise he's got bigger problems than being late for work. . . . . . .
Maths Champions
Young Writer’s “This is me!” poetry competition.
This week students have started to submit their entries for the Young Writer’s “This is me!” poetry competition. Entrants are encouraged to write a poem that explores who they are, their opinions and what they care about. They may wish to write about their emotions, life, impact on the world, hobbies or favourite things. Whatever they choose to focus on, the competition gives students the freedom to truly express themselves. Winners will be published in a real book, win £50 and a trophy and possibly win book prizes for our school. Just last year three students of our school were successful in the Young Writer’s Short Story Competition and were published in “Integer: Stories Inspired by Numbers.” We know the talent is out there! Before sending poetry entries off, copies will be taken for displaying on our “Poetree”, with the very best entries from John Hanson School receiving a prize from the LRC. All entries for the competition should be handed to Mrs Bailey by the end of the day on Thursday 12th October.
This short video gives an introduction to the competition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSbmdCqULR4 but all students are welcome to come and see Mrs Bailey to get more information, guidance and inspiration. They may also like to write their entries at Creative Writing Club, which is running from next week every Wednesday after school with Miss Cook in M15.
Thank you once again to those people that donated books to our “Sibling Shelf” appeal. As we now have such a wealth of lovely material we can’t take more contributions at this time – we were really delighted and overwhelmed by the response! The new shelf will be launched to the students very soon and we can’t wait for the students of John Hanson to borrow books that can be enjoyed at home with their younger siblings. We also have some fabulous new titles for 11-16 yrs that we couldn’t resist buying from the recent Book Fayre – as always students are encouraged to come and see Mrs Bailey in the LRC to borrow and explore these new books.
The LRC is open to students before school from 8:10am, at break/lunchtimes, and after-school until 4pm for quiet reading and home learning.
Tuesday Jan 30th 2024 Wednesday 31st January 2024 Thursday 1st February 2024
Rehearsals are up and running again. Details in PA block.
Year 7 students wishing to join the choir that will sing in the Christmas Show and in Grease - rehearsals are Wednesdays after school 3.05 to 4.00 pm
Music Groups after School
Due to show rehearsals this term this has changed slightly from our previous plan:
Currently we are meeting as follows:
Monday - Year 10 GCSE Music class Tuesday - Grease rehearsals with cast and chorus Wednesday - Grease rehearsals with cast and Chorus - SCHOOL CHOIR Thursdays - SCHOOL BAND
Performing Arts - Instrumental Lessons at school
If your son/daughter would like to learn to play a musical instrument please contact Mike Adams - Head of Performing Arts for details. Email - mike.adams@jhanson.hants.sch.uk
Teachers from Hampshire Music Service visit the school and we can offer lessons in Piano, Keyboard, Singing, Guitar, and Percussion (Drumming).
Advanced date for your diary - Christmas Showcase - Sing Up for Christmas will take place on Thursday 14th December at 6pm
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At John Hanson Community School we are committed to providing equality of opportunity for all students and staff, and to providing a working environment free from discrimination, prejudice and harassment.
We encourage respect and consideration for others, and recognise and value the school as a safe place for learning. The staff at John Hanson recognise that inequalities exist in all levels of society and believe, that as educators, we have a crucial role to play in eliminating all forms of discrimination, in particular against anyone with any of the protected characteristic. We promote equality by dealing with bullying and incidents of discrimination immediately and by educating the young people in our care through assemblies, tutor time, PSHE day sessions and group work where appropriate.
This is part of our responsibility in preparing our students for life after school.
Important EDI events over the next week:
Black History Month. Focusing on 'Saluting our Sisters'
Words you might not know:
I cannot tell you the number of questions and queries this raised; Why black women? I could say that by highlighting the achievements and contributions of black women throughout history does not mean we are ignoring black men.
I could say that for centuries the voices of black women have been suppressed, silenced and sidelined. I could say that the application of adultification bias results in the rights of black girls being diminished or ignored. #ChildQ
I could say that a black woman is 5 times more likely to die during childbirth
Or that black women are deemed unprofessional when we wear our hair in its natural condition or protective styles (but these hairstyles are accepted when donned by women of other ethnicities!)
Maybe I could talk about Black femicide and how this is not given the attention it deserves and there is an insidious minimisation of violence against black women that can’t be ignored.
I might even say that it’s because our bodies have been ridiculed (Sarah Bartman), used for medical experiments or cells removed from our bodies without permission (Henrietta Lacks)
I could say all of this but my response to: Why black women? Is a simple one.
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
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