There has been a real sense of ‘community’ around the Academy over the past week with students contributing to fundraising initiatives and planning events to support and help members of the local community.  Increasing our role and the part which we play in the local area is a key priority of Sandhill View for this academic year and I look forward to sharing more details in the future as this term progresses.

In this edition of the blog we promote and celebrate students and staff and highlight some of the many broad and diverse activities and events which makes Sandhill View such an inclusive and exciting place to learn and grow.

I hope you enjoy this edition of the blog.

Richard Carr
Head of School

Last week students got to opt for the schools charity focus for the year.  All form classes initially put forward three potential charity suggestions and then the top three were put to the school vote. In the spirit of democracy each student was given a token and then allowed to cast their final vote to choose the winner.  This was a landslide win for Cancer Research UK which will now be the main charity that students will raise money for throughout the year.  On top of this the Academy will still raise money for nationwide events, with 25% of all proceeds going to support our partner school in Tanzania. 

A short while before the summer break we introduced our newly elected Head Boy (Bailey Price), Head Girl (Faye Graham) and their deputies (Ben Ridley and Laura Smith).  These students were elected by their peer group to represent the Academy and student voice for this current academic year.

The students meet with Mr. Carr every fortnight where discussions take place around daily Academy life, the student experience and how the school can be better improved for staff and students.

The students have had a very busy start to their term in office, with both Bailey and Faye public speaking for the first time to parents of Year 5 and 6 students at last month’s Open Evening event, as well as canvassing students about how the current rewards systems here in school can be further improved.

Look out for a new feature coming soon in the blog with space being given over to our student leaders!

We are always keen to listen to student opinion and suggestions as to how we can improve the levels of service our young people receive here in the Academy.  One of the key areas which features strongly in feedback received from students is about the level of accessibility to receive help and information about sexual health, smoking cessation and alcohol education.

With this in mind, we have registered Sandhill View Academy on a new ‘pilot scheme’ within Sunderland called ‘Healthy Places’.  This project will involve up to twenty Year 9 students undertaking training to become national 'Young Health Champions'.  The selected students will receive valuable training which will then be cascaded down all year groups in the Academy, increasing the amount of health and well-being information which our students receive in addition to that delivered in our curriculum.

In addition to this, we will be opening a period of parent/guardian consultation nearer October half-term with a view to improving the range of provision available to students for sexual health services, information and guidance.  After listening to student suggestions and demands, we will be presenting a range of options for everyone here at the Academy to consider and have their say on before we move together on a way forward that ensures our young people receive the standard of services and care which best meets their needs.

Please look out for my consultation letter and future Parent/Guardian drop-in information session events here in the Academy over coming weeks and months. 

Six of our Year 8 students recently took part in football trials for the Sunderland Boys football team.  All of our boys showed outstanding footballing ability, however, two students in particular impressed the coaches.  Well done to Deacon Donnell and Mitchell Fairweather who were chosen to represent the district in their first game against Hambleton & Richmond in the ESFA national cup.  Both Boys played exceptionally; demonstrating their ability, teamwork and desire to improve. The game finished 1-1 after a goal from Deacon.  The school is extremely proud of the students extra curricular achievements and cannot wait for the forthcoming games. Good luck lads!

Bring It On!

On Wednesday 4^th October, Mr Bunn and 14 Year 8 students visited the ‘Bring It On’ event at The Stadium of Light.  This is an event where STEM companies showcase the amazing opportunities that they have for young people that will be looking for a career in the next ten years.

Companies such as Komatsu, Liebherr, Reflections, Proctor and Gamble and many more sent representatives to showcase the amazing things that are happening in the North East. We are a growing hotbed of STEM industry and our students really made the most of the chance to speak to these multinational companies. 

Students got the opportunity to have a go at many of the skills that are needed in some of these careers.  These included welding, programming a driverless car, making suggestions for the future of banking, virtual reality problem solving and many other opportunities that teenagers in other areas simply won’t be able to access.

The employers were really impressed by the quality of the questions that were asked and said they would be happy to have our students visit them any time.

Spectacular Scientists

Last week, nine Year 8 students were invited to attend 'Science Ambassador' training delivered by The Ogden Trust and The Institute of Physics at Sunderland College. Our pupils were given the opportunity to carry out space-related scientific experiments, discuss their ideas with pupils from other schools, then plan and deliver a presentation aimed at 10 year-olds to an audience.  Our pupils were a credit to themselves and the Academy, they actively participated in all tasks and thoroughly embraced the challenge. Having completed their training our young ambassadors are very much looking forward to demonstrating their new skills during Year 5 & 6 transition sessions and science clubs.

Coffee & Cake for a Good Cause

On Friday 29th September our staff and students were able to come together in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support to drink tea, juice and eat cake on their annual coffee morning. 

As a school we managed to raise an excellent £100.  This is a huge achievement and as such should be acknowledged that staff and students dug deep into their own pockets, and clubbed together to raise this money which will be given directly to MacMillan to support patients, and relatives suffering, or going through the effects of cancer. 

Well done Sandhill View! We will continue to fundraise throughout the year to raise as much money possible for these amazing charities!  Let's not hang up the apron just yet! 

Small Snapshots

Year 9 and 10 Photography students have had an excellent start to the new academic year by creating photography inspired by photographer Slinkachu.  These photos have helped them to develop their creative writing skills and have encouraged debate and discussion linked to poverty, social media and friendship. Photographs by: Riley Young, Kaci Cox and Yasmin Hutchinson.

Entering The Litter Lab

Last week our students were invited to enter the 'Litter Lab' in assemblies presented by the national 'Bin It!' campaign.  The campaign has been running since 2006 and has grown to support schools and teachers in a multitude of ways.  Each year the Bin It! roadshow visits over 240 schools across the UK and Ireland, helping young people explore a sense of personal responsibility and allowing them to see the impact of anti-social behaviour, such as the consequences of dropping gum, in an engaging in-school event.

Year 7 Kick Off Their Season in Style

Our brand new Sandhill View Year 7 football team played their first competitive game of the season last week against Castle View Academy.  Despite conceding early, our young footballers rose to the challenge with an excellent display of footballing ability and resilience, ending the game in a 4-3 victory to Sandhill! 

A perfect start and promising performance sets the team up nicely for their next game at home to Redhouse this week. Good luck! 

Tuneful Tuition

Last week our students enjoyed a toe-tapping assembly hosted by the school's peripatetic music team.  Pupils were serenaded by live renditions of songs that they themselves could be taught, were invited to take a turn on stage with the African drums and were encouraged to join our tuition programme by our passionate tutors.

Pupil Prefect Perfection

Mrs. Wright has recently been joined by a small team of Year 9 students who will act as school prefects.  The prefects have various duties including guiding their peers during break and lunchtimes, helping out in the Year 9 common room and assisting in errands and escorting visitors around school. Best of luck to Ethan Wilkinson, Summer Bainbridge, Reece Snowdon, Ellie Ingoe, Lateesha King & Luke Cruikshanks in their new role.

Improvements to Lunch Payments and a New Biometric System

Thank you to those parents and guardians that attended the Academy last Monday to receive a short presentation from the Head of School and our catering company with regards to the new biometric payment system for lunches that the school will be moving to after half term.

It is very important that students return the signed consent form (included in the letter sent to parents last month) in order to be registered so that they can use the system.  We would like to please request that if the consent form has not yet been returned to school that it is brought in by your child and given to their Head of Year in order that they can be registered.

Further information which will include more details and parent usernames and passwords for the system will be sent out to parents/guardians in the next few weeks.

What do you do at Sandhill View?
I'm a teacher of PE. Having only just started in September I'm still a newbie!  This year I am setting up netball teams for Years 7, 8 and 9 (anyone interested should come and see me!). I teach all year groups and have a Cambridge National Sports Science group. I also teach a Year 9 and Year 10 Child Development group.  My Year 9 form group (who are amazing), already have had fantastic attendance and praise points so far this year.

Who was your favourite teacher at school and why?
My favourite teacher at school was my History teacher, he supported me and guided me throughout my GCSEs.  The best part of his lessons were the songs he made up on guitar to help us remember our topics.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time I go to the gym and play netball.  I'm super competitive so I love anything where I can challenge myself. I also enjoy watching all the soaps.

Who is your favourite musical artist or band?
My favourite singer has to be Olly Murs... I went to see him in concert four times in just one year!

What's the best thing about Sandhill View?
Since I have only been at the Academy since the start of term, I can say the best thing so far is how quickly I have become part of the Sandhill family.  Staff and students have been very welcoming and everyone takes the time to say hello when you pass them in corridors.  However, I must acknowledge my brilliant department; they have supported and guided me through my first few weeks so well!   

What's the one thing you could never be without?
There are several things I couldn’t be without, although, most importantly I couldn’t be without my family and friends.