E-Newsletter 27th July 2021

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Tuesday 27th July 2021
Update from the Principal
Dear parent, carers and families

I am writing this to you at the end of what has felt like a very long year. I started the year working at a school in London, and joined Farnborough in April. This last term has been great, and I have enjoyed getting to know the Farnborough community. 

This has been a year (eighteen months) like no other for our young people. I cannot imagine how challenging it has been for them – dealing with centre assessed grades, home learning, self-isolation, lateral flow testing and so much more. It’s been the same for our staff. During this coronavirus pandemic, we have experienced things that none of our training prepared us for! That said, students and staff alike have risen to the challenge.

We are starting to get back to normal, very slowly, but we are. In September we will be able to have assemblies in person, and students will not be expected to wear masks in the Academy. It is my sincere hope that we have heard the last of bubbles! 

We are also excited about welcoming our new Year 7s in September. We have managed a small amount of transition work, but we hope they will enjoy our full transition programme which is going ahead in September.

You should have received a letter about the start of term arrangements. Please read these carefully, as they are different for each year group, and we want to welcome our community back safely. We will be completing a lateral flow test before your child comes back into the Academy. Please ensure you have completed the consent form, which is available here: 
https://forms.gle/9SumopGVUXts2K5y9.

In September, as you know, we will be changing our Academy name to Farnborough Spencer Academy. As part of this we have looked at what it means to be a strong Academy community, and all staff and students will be following our new pledges. Our students have written the student pledge, and our staff have written the Academy pledge. We will be doing this under the motto “We Are Proud”. Over the next year we will be working together to understand what it means to follow our pledges, and to live out the values they express. I have shared the pledges below.

I am a fan of the artwork of Charlie Mackesy. I’ve included one of his paintings below. I’ve shared this with staff every week since I’ve started working here. It seems apt at the moment, as we are coming together and reflect at the end of term.

“What’s the best thing you’ve learned about storms?” 
“That they end.”

Have a wonderful summer break, and we will see you back in the Academy at the start of September,

Graeme Smith
Principal


News

Year 6 Transition Evenings 


On 12th and 19th July, we welcomed our new year 7s to our information evening and “open air” tour. We can’t wait to see them for summer school and then transition in September.


Year 7 Summer School

Monday 16th - Friday 20th August OR
Monday 23rd - Friday 27th August

Register here: https://forms.gle/xjm6FbussodmiKhD8
 

Instrumental Lessons


If your child is interested in taking up this opportunity then please follow the link below to register:
http://ow.ly/rnqD50FAs4R

Year 8 Scholars Programme

9 Year 8 Students have taken part in a Scholars Programme over 6 weeks which they written a 1500-word essay around 'whether there is an external world'. This Philosophy project was run by the Nottingham University to help students get a look into what going to university was like. 

Teegan Y: It was an unforgettable experience to determine how I would obtain a degree when I reach university. It inspired me to broaden my knowledge on subjects that I would not normally think about. It also helped me to make new friends and encouraged me to work alongside other great students in the year. 

Art & Photography Trip



Year 10 enjoyed their Art/ Photography trip to Nottingham City Centre. They have produced some fantastic artwork sketching historic buildings around the Lace Market. Well done! 

Decisionz e-zine 
It's here! Featuring 52 pages packed with careers info, advice & local opportunities. Read the new Summer 2021 issue online now:
http://magazine.decisionz.co.uk/books/sodp/#p=1 

Dates for Your Diary

Please click here to view our future term dates. 
 


Parents' Notices

Social Media
Don't forget that you can follow us on social media to keep up-to-date with what's happening at the academy. Follow us here: 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

The Farnborough Academy App 
Most parents and carers have now signed up for The Farnborough Academy App, our new communication tool which enables us to keep you up to date with important notices and news. You can also report an absence and communicate directly with your child's tutor and class teachers. You can download the app for
iOS here and Android here. You will need your enrolment code to sign in for the first time. If you have not received this, please email app@thefarnboroughacademy.com

Farnborough Spencer Academy 



Please
click here to view our staff and student pledges. 
 


This term we are saying goodbye to the following staff:

Mr Riley - Cover Supervisor
Miss Wilson - Cover Supervisor
Mr Dykes - Science Teacher
Mrs Ebsworth - Science Teacher
Mrs Conley - English Teacher
Mrs Watson - Vice Principal
Miss Boseley - Careers Coordinator
Miss Mierczynska - Teaching Assistant 
Ms Westbury - Head of Year
Mr Smith - English Teacher

We would like to welcome new members of staff who have started this term or are starting with us in September: 


Mr Hamilton-Mills - Science Teacher
Miss Bentley - Geography Teacher
Miss Whiteley - English Teacher
Miss Tilley - Science Teacher
Miss Weston - Science Teacher
Mrs Rossell - LRC Manager 
Ms Byrne - cover Supervisor
Mr Watts - Cover Supervisor
Mr Allen - Assistant Principal
Mr Davis - Vice Principal
Mr Piliero - Head of Year
Mr Tipping - Careers Coordinator
Miss Thorpe - Data and Systems Support Officer
Miss Bhogaita - English Teacher
Miss Campion - Teaching Assistant

 

Wellbeing Champion Poster Competition



Thank you to all the year 7's who entered the "it's nice to ask twice" poster competition set by our year 7 Wellbeing Champions. The Champions wanted to encourage the message of asking more than once "how are you?" ensuring that we check in properly with friends and family. So, a big congratulations to Samuel W and Talia B! Thank you also to the year 10 wellbeing champions, Mr Johnston, Ms Bradley and Ms Ingle for judging the competition. The posters will be displayed around the school and shared with CAMHS to post on their social media. Remember it's nice to ask twice and it's OK not be OK.


Fête Nationale



The 14th July was the Fête Nationale of France, where the pupils discovered the origin of the French Revolution and that if they lived in France they could have had a day off school. Our Year 7 pupils were set a challenge to answer a Treasure Hunt quiz during Breaks and lunchtimes where they learned even more about the Revolution. Here is a picture of our winners, Angel W, Braydon K, Talia B and Riley H (not pictured) with Mr Baines.
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