The term is now well underway and our students in Year 11 are preparing for their first round of mock examinations which begin at the end of this week, whilst students in Year 9 will shortly be receiving their academic progress reports which will inform parents about their start to Key Stage 4.  There has been a real sense of reflection around the Academy this week as we have been asking students to review the progress they have been making in their subject lessons, whilst also asking them to consider how they can further build upon the positive start to the year which they have already made.

I hope you will agree that this edition of the blog is another broad and diverse presentation of the many activities and achievements which take place every week in Sandhill View.  In this edition we discover how Year 8 students faired in the STEM Energy Quest, just how amazingly our Academy joined together to impressively fundraise for Children In Need and we once again catch up with the Big Draw Art project.  Elsewhere, some of our Key Stage 3 students have been demonstrating their own literacy and poetry skills, we see how our students benefitted from a professor visiting us from Durham university and we cover how we are increasing the level of support which we offer to students regarding mental health support.  In a brand new feature, Mr Bunn also outlines his favourite invention, something which we hope will run regularly replacing the previous 'Staff in the Spotlight' article of previous blogs.

We have also undertaken some work to improve the Academy website, so please take the time to search it and discover some of our newest and latest features which include quick links to our new biometric lunchtime payment system, a new page outlining our international links to St. John's Seminary school in Tanzania and a quick link allowing the reporting of bullying.

I hope that you enjoy this latest edition.

Richard Carr
Head of School

Last week, Year 8 took part in an interactive STEM workshop called 'Energy Quest'. It was a day packed with hands-on activities, careers information and stories of how engineers are constantly problem solving. Each student explored different sources of energy that could be utilised in a variety of countries and then set about making an electric car. The students were challenged to problem solve and then investigate the optimum charge needed to make the car run. The organisers of the event was full of praise about our students enthusiasm, conduct and behaviour. 

Last Friday our students participated in a day of fundraising activities in aid of BBC's Children in Need. Activites ranged from bake sales, a mini disco, sponsored sports & video games challenges and special prize competitions. Our students also donned their Pudsy ears and spotty clothing for a non-uniform day in aid of the charity. Congratulations to all of our staff and students, as a school we have raised and impressive £1084.23!

Year 11 Art and Photography students are currently featured in an exhibition in Gateshead which celebrates the impact of art education in the North East.  Posing in front of the “all school should be art schools” sculpture at our trip to YSP in the summer. Students across the school were asked to respond issues that were important to them using Keith Harrings' work as inspiration for ideas. They discussed themes such as the environment, stereotypes, anti-bullying and staying safe online.

Last week saw the unveiling of the three winners of the Academy National Poetry Day competition. The competition was designed to inspire and engage the students with both poetry and the theme of freedom. Over 95 poems were entered into the competition by students from Year 7 and Year 8 and the standard was exceptional! Miss Fleet certainly had a tough job deciding upon the winners. She eventually managed to find the three poems that encapsulated the theme and demonstrated some outstanding ideas. The winning entries came from:

• Grace Key – 7LT
• Beth-Anne Coxon – 7SF
• Sophie Garnham – 7EW

Although all three entries were mature, emotive and engaging there could be only one overall winner and that poem came from Grace Key. Grace’s poem (see below) tells the story of freedom from multiple viewpoints and highlights the daily struggles faced by so many.

We recentley welcomed Professor Tom McLeish from the Physics Department of Durham University.  He delivered a guest lecture to the Year 10 and 11 students participating in our Honours Programme at Southmoor and Sandhill View Academies. The lecture, entitled 'The Music and Poetry of Science', was about the connections between the Arts and Sciences. The students were interested, engaged and had lots of questions for Tom!

A Different Kind of 5-a-Day

With mental health becoming an increasing issue in modern society, our school nursing team are helping students find winning ways to wellbeing with a new campaign currently being trialled by the NHS.  This ‘five-a-day for your mind’ programme is aimed at the concept of mental well-being and asks students to think of five mood-boosting activities to incorporate into their daily routine.  These can be as simple as a walk in the park, helping a neighbour, reading a book or even relaxing in the bath.

Spooky Science

Pupils from Year 7, along with the assistance of the Academy Science Ambassadors, took part in the Science department Halloween themed Science Club at the start of month. They made spooky slime and pumpkin bath bombs which smelt amazing and were some of the best we have ever seen. As it was close to the 5th of November they made their own sparklers and experimented with different salts to create a variety of coloured flames. They also used their carved pumpkins to create a spooky "elephants toothpaste" reaction and also tested the toothpaste for the trapped oxygen by relighting a glowing splint. Watch this space for more special Science Club sessions throughout the year!   

Giving Students a Voice

Our student voice programme has been continuing in school this month. Mrs Hill has recently hosted assemblies alongside our school council to remind students of how their ideas and opinions for the school can become reality. Student Voice offers our pupils the chance to share their thoughts on ways to improve our academy and has already led to improvements over lunch and break periods as well as giving students access to help and advice. Mrs Hill and our student council will continue to take on board suggestions so that our students feel empowered in the running of their school.

My favourite invention is the petrol engine because without this the world would be entirely different. We might still be stuck in the middle ages as we wouldn’t be able to travel as far, we wouldn’t have had the industrial age, we would likely not have access to clean water (the pumps can be run using an engine!).  Finally, I wouldn’t have access to my favourite pastimes – riding motorbikes!

What do you do at Sandhill View?
I teach science and I have a lovely Year 7 form group (7GJ) who are amazing!

Who was your favourite teacher at school and why?
My favourite teacher at school was an English teacher who had such a passion for his subject.  Every lesson was different and he would make sure he tried to include things that were happening at the time around the world into his lessons so everything was very current and interesting.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time I like to go to gigs and live shows and I spend my time enjoying the music with friends and family.

Who is your favourite musical artist or band?
I have quite a broad musical taste ranging from Westlife to The Libertines!  I am a huge fan and supporter of a local Sunderland band called Social Room who are gathering a massive following both locally and nationally now.  I recommend that everyone has a listen to their indie-influenced songs!

What's the best thing about Sandhill View?
Sandhill staff and students are one huge team which is a pleasure to be a part of.

What's the one thing you could never be without?
The internet – I’m not sure how I would cope with life without the answer to everything just a few clicks away!