Welcome to the weekly Newsletter for parents and carers of students attending John Hanson Community School.
Inspire - Care - Succeed
‘HEAD’ Lines
The importance of Term 6
Dear Parents/Carers
In Term 6 all students take their end of year exams. This gives them and us a really good idea of what they know, understand and can do over time. However, more importantly, it allows us to give students feedback on what they don’t know, can’t do yet and don’t understand.
That can’t happen if they don’t attend well in Term 6!
Further, and indeed right up until the last day of term, students will be taught new content, concepts and knowledge. What is taught in every lesson of every day at school will never be taught again. It may be revisited or revised, but never retaught.
If students are absent they will miss this teaching!
Term 6 is also a really busy term for events and trips. If a student is taking part in an event or going on a trip, it is their responsibility to catch on any work they have missed.
If students don’t do this they will miss out on the learning of vital knowledge, skills and understanding!
The reason I am emphasising these points in this week’s ‘HEAD’ Lines is because the importance of really good attendance does not seem to be a priority for some John Hanson students. Currently 1 in 10 students are absent for the equivalent of half a school day a week – this is 90% attendance and is classed by the Government as persistent absence.
Half a day every week, they are missing the critical feedback from end of year exams.
Half a day every week they are missing out on new knowledge and concepts.
The data is unequivocal.
Students who attend well (more than 95% of the time) are more than twice as likely of achieving the examination grades of which they are capable.
Good attendance leads to good outcomes!
Enjoy the weekend with your children. I will be enjoying the company of 150+ of our year 7 students at Osmington Bay.
Russell Stevens
Headteacher
Our final PSHE day of the year is on Thursday 13th July. The students will cover the following on the day:
Year 7: a tutor session on Climate Change, followed by a carousel of activities including some community service (litter picking in our local community), sessions on reducing and calculating their Carbon Footprint, and visits from Andover Bee Keepers and Sparsholt College who will cover Conservation and Sustainability and Outdoor Careers.
Year 8: some of the year group are taking part in our annual Take Your Child to Work Day, whilst the rest of them think about their future with Real Game – an interactive Careers based day thinking about their dream lifestyle and jobs.
Year 9: a tutor session on Perceptions, followed by a carousel of activities including: Finance, Internet Safety, Knife Crime, Crime, Facing the Consequences and FGM.
Year 10: a tutor session on Organ Donation, followed by a carousel of activities including: Sexual Harassment, Cosmetic and Aesthetic Procedures, Addictive Gambling, Sexual Health and Positive Mental Health, as well as Stacey Miller covering Addiction.
If you have any concerns, please contact your child’s Head of Year in the first instance.
Bronze Award from The Carer’s Trust and The Children’s Society
We are very pleased to announce that John Hanson has this week received a Bronze Award from The Carer’s Trust and The Children’s Society as part of their Young Carers in Schools programme. The Children’s Society helps both primary and secondary schools improve outcomes for Young Carers and celebrates good practice through the Young Carers in School Award.
Young Carers are responsible for emotional, practical or physical care for a parent, sibling or other family member who has a physical disability, mental health issue or substance misuse issue. The 2011 Census statistics revealed that there are just over 166,000 young carers in England, but research reveals that this is just the tip of the iceberg. The true figure could be closer to 800,000 young carers in England, equivalent to one in 5 secondary aged school children many of whom are unrecognised and unsupported.
Headteacher, Russell Stevens, said how proud he is of all those students who, alongside all the challenges that secondary school and just becoming a teenager bring, have extra responsibilities that they just take in their stride. The Young Carers Group, and the amazing staff who facilitate it, plays an important role in helping this wonderful group of young people juggle all the demands of school and home life.
A Year 7 student said the Young Carer weekly drop-in at school has improved his mental health and his friendships too. “I’ve met loads of people who are kind, caring and supportive who understand me and are in the same position as me. It has changed my home life massively and has given me more confidence at school. It has made me feel so much better. It has made me feel less alone”.
The Children’s Society responded “To achieve their Bronze Award John Hanson Community School has demonstrated that it supports Young Carers in many ways, including homework clubs and drop-in sessions with a member of staff who is responsible for this vulnerable group of pupils. Vital information about how to identify Young Carers is made available to all school staff, and noticeboards and the school webpage lets students and their families know where to go for help”.
There are a series of free fun events being held at Vigo Park every Friday between 4.00pm and 6.00pm and is being run by The Test Valley Partnership.
These sessions are particularly aimed at 11-17 year olds and are on a first come first serve basis.
July 21st & 28th – The Army from Middle Wallop will be at the park. Soldiers will be on hand to talk to and a physical assault course set up for you to pit your wits against them and test your abilities – Have you got what it takes?
August 4th & 18th – RA Football Club will be running football sessions and will also be on hand so if you fancy learning a new skill or two or just want to have some fun with others, this is the place to be!
August 11th – Box Andover. The team will be on hand to help you learn some new moves, discipline, and control techniques. Are you the next Rocky or Tyson?
August 25th – Inflatable fun afternoon. A couple of inflatables will be on site, including an assault course to have some fun and challenge your friends.
Please note: We will also have a range of non-physical games for those who are not able to participate in the more strenuous activities.
A fantastic evening of talent performed by our Performing Arts students ....
And then the following day . . . .
African Beats with Year 4 students
Year 4 students from Balksbury School came to visit us this week as part of their Federation Arts Week.
Mr Adams worked with the students allowing them to perform some African rhythms on drums, and then to use Garageband on the Apple Mac suite, where the drums could be simulated using the drum pads on the MIDI keyboards.
Grease
Show Dates in 2024
Tuesday Jan 30th 2024 Wednesday 31st January 2024 Thursday 1st February 2024
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:
Disability Pride Month
Words you might not know:
Disability Pride is accepting and honouring each person's uniqueness and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity and connects it to the larger movement for disability justice. As of 2015 it became an international month-long promotion of ending stigma surrounding disability, as well as celebrating disabled rights and culture. It creates awareness around the systematic ableism and discrimination that disabled people face worldwide and aims to challenge stereotypes.
Technology trip open to years 8-10 now.
For £280 come and join the Technology Team on a trip to London over the Christmas lights weekend. Included in the trip is a trip to the Design Museum, Thames River Cruise, Pizza Express Meal, Premier Inn overnight stay with breakfast and a trip to Camden Market.
Please enquire with Mrs Nash for a letter and with finance to pay your deposits.
College Open Events.
Please do check the individual websites for any changes to the schedule before setting off to visit them
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 at school
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, Keyboard, Singing, Guitar, and Percussion (Drumming).
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