The focus of the past two weeks here in the Academy has been on two very prominent and important topics: Anti-bullying and careers guidance for our students' futures. Here in Sandhill View we take a zero tolerance approach to bullying and have a wide range of support and intervention startegies available to all members of the school should they become aware or concerned about it. November saw Sandhill View hold it's annual 'Anti-bullying Week' which involved every member of the Academy community as we launched our #NOBYSTANDERS campaign. There is a lively feature of it within this edition of my blog which provides you with further details.
The future after leaving school is an issue which our learners often think about and are given advice and signposting towards as they begin to consider their next steps after school. As well as being part of our main curriculum, Sandhill View also hosts a wide range of events and activities to help support students. Also featured here in this edition of the blog are articles featuring updates on apprenticeships as well as news of a very motivational visit and performance by local Olympic Bronze medalist Amy Tinkler.
This edition also introduces our SENDCO, Miss Holt, features a story on a dramatic performance involving students from our Hearing Impaired Unit, an explanation of our new 'Foundations for Learning' provision, an outline of the up-coming Activities Week and Christmas activities as well as further news on our 'The Big Draw' efforts.
I hope that you enjoy reading about the many things taking place within our school.
Richard Carr
Head of School
Anti-Bullying Week 2016
Sandhill View Academy took part in National Anti-Bullying Week 2016, launching the #NOBYSTANDERS campaign that will be running throughout the year. Students took part in a range of activities during extended tutor time which addressed understanding ‘what is bullying’ and how not to be a bystander through class discussions and debates.
South Tyneside Against Bullying were invited into the academy to introduce Anti-Bullying Week through an assembly to each year group throughout the day. Kidscape joined in the week’s activities by speaking to a select group of students from years 7, 8, 9 and 10 through 40 minute workshops concentrating on #NOBYSTANDERS.
Having adopted #NOBYSTANDERS, students were given the opportunity to sign the pledge advocating the campaign. Each student who signed received a badge that they can proudly display on their blazer on a day to day basis. Alongside this, staff also showed their commitment to the pledge by wearing t-shirts promoting the statement. Students completed the week by creating super hero masks, comic strips, posters and poems to be displayed in the academy as a reminder to be positive about our Anti-bullying campaign.
Gothrella Thriller
The play is about a young deaf girl called Gothrella, her father has passed away and she is now living with her evil stepmother. Gothrella can communicate with her father using British Sign Language but the stepmother hates this and forbids Gothrella to sign to her. Gothrella loses her confidence and feels isolated. Gothrella keeps her late mother’s magic opera gloves hidden away from the wicked stepmother. The magic opera gloves make Gothrella sign beautifully and help to build her confidence. One day the evil stepmother sees Gothrella wearing the magic opera gloves, she is so angry and will do anything to stop Gothrella finding happiness!
A fantastic workshop and some budding Sandhill View Academy deaf actors in the making!
Apprenticeships at Sandhill View
Recently the academy took on two new recruits as part of an apprentice scheme, one of them being an ex-Sandhill pupil who's finding it very odd being back at school so soon!
"I am an office apprentice at Sandhill View. I have been working at the school for about 2 months now and I love it! Every day is different and I’m always kept busy whilst being able to learn on the job. I decided to go for an apprenticeship as I wanted to work in a different environment and I have taken to working at Sandhill View very well, everyone is so friendly and I felt very welcomed when I first started working.
As I am only 16 it meant that I only left secondary school this year! I was a bit worried about this as I didn’t know how I was going to take to working in a business environment but working alongside the rest of the office team has really helped me learn and become more confident within my job role." - Tori Jenkyns
"I am a graphics design apprentice at Sandhill View. I started working here nearly 2 months ago and I am already enjoying the creativity this job offers, each day is different and never feels repetitive.
I chose to do an apprenticeship as it allows me to learn in a working environment, which I feel works better for me than learning in a classroom. I have already learned a lot of new things and I can’t wait to see where this apprenticeship takes me." - Liam Sullivan
Foundations for Learning
Let me introduce you to Foundations For Learning (FFL): my name is Mrs Robson and I started at Sandhill View Academy in July. FFL was set up this academic year to provide extra support to a selection of students. We have a large bright room which is well equipped and provides a quiet sanctuary for students to work on class work or coursework, if for some reason they cannot attend their lesson. This sanctuary can also be used if a student simply needs some quiet time for reflection or to get away from the busy environment of school.
FFL also provides in class support to assist students to access lessons and ensure they are given every opportunity to progress. We also give support to staff and parents, assisting them with learning strategies. Our aim is to help students to access as many of their lessons as possible and to feel involved and included so they can benefit from the teaching and flourish in an inclusive environment.
Students are already feeling the benefit of this extra resource at Sandhill View with lesson attendance improved and incidents of poor behaviour reduced.
Students from our Deaf Unit will be attending this fayre in order to raise funds and spread some Christmas cheer. Please support them, if you can, by visiting at the time and date below.
Saturday 10th December 2016 - 2pm till 5pm
Sunderland Deaf Society,
35 North Bridge Street, SR5 1AH
Autumn Term Activities Week
After last year’s success of Activities Week we have decided to outdo ourselves and make this one bigger and better!
For all of those students who have worked hard this term we have an exciting week planned running from the 12th-16th December. This is a reward for their hard work and dedication and a great way to end the year. We have a range of external visits as well as activities in school, all of which have come directly from feedback from the students as to what they would enjoy. We have a day trip to Leeds for the year 10's who have earned a gold award to go to Snozone for a day of skiing and snowboarding. Alongside this we have other external visits ranging from Gravity Force indoor trampoline park, a relaxed day of Christmas shopping in Newcastle and even a mind-boggling mystery game at Escape Rooms.
In school we have a return of some of our popular activities from last year including hair and beauty treatments, motor vehicles, games and Christmas biscuit making. We also have some new additions ranging from Yoga, elf-yourself Christmas crafts and even a fake Christmas. Some of our year 11 students have chosen to give up their own activities to host a range of sporting events to raise money for charity which is very admirable and a lovely selfless act for the festive giving season. There are many more activities on offer and we want to continue to improve Activities Week, so we look forward to hearing everyone's feedback on how we can make it even bigger and better next time too.
Below you can see some photos from last year's activities week.
ECDL
As the Information Technology sector currently has more job vacancies waiting to be filled than any other sector, not to mention the huge earning potential for highly skilled professionals in this industry, we feel it is vitally important that the students at Sandhill View leave with the qualifications and skills sets to not only make them desirable to the employers in the digital world, but to equip them with skills that are transferable across many vocations...where is IT not used these days!!!
So with this in mind, our Year 11 students at Sandhill View are currently consolidating the skills they've been developing since Year 7, to complete the European Computer Driving License qualification. This is a very sought after qualification by employers. As it currently stands, 79 of our Year 11 pupils have achieved a C grade or better with 63% of them achieving an A or A* grade. This is a fantastic outcome for our pupils and will undoubtedly strengthen their opportunities for employment and further education upon leaving the academy in July.
We have plans in place to ensure that all of our Year 11 pupils receive the opportunity to complete this qualification before leaving the academy in July and all measures are being put in place to support them in doing this.
The Big Draw Goes Steam Powered
Big Draw STEAM powered (adding ARTS to STEM) took over tutor groups last month where pupils were asked to become architects and redesign famous local buildings, inspired by a piece of scrunched up paper! Pupils developed their creativity, team work and presenting skills. Feedback from staff was very positive and the pupils understood the importance of drawing to portray ideas. Well done Sandhill View!
What do you do at Sandhill View?
I started working at Sandhill in April as the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo). I am also the designated teacher for children who are looked after.
Who was your favourite teacher at school and why?
I didn’t particularly like school, so it wasn’t until I went to university to study English Literature that I met teachers that I was inspired by. I had some incredibly talented lecturers whose passion and enthusiasm for their subject made me consider going into teaching.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love being in the countryside and like to go to the Lake District as much as I can. Most of the time I enjoy binge watching box sets and catching up with family and friends.
Who is your favourite musical artist or band?
I like all sorts of different music, especially acoustic performances and singer/songwriters. I listen to a lot of Florence and the Machine, London Grammar, Ben Howard and Mumford and Sons. I’m also a big fan of 90’s/early 00s boybands!
What's the best thing about Sandhill View?
The pupils of course! They have really helped me to settle in.
What's the one thing you could never be without?
My cat, Dave. He is my favourite thing in the world!
Christmas Extravaganza
Sandhill View is looking forward to a spectacular Christmas extravaganza. The last day of term will be filled with Christmas activities and fun. As a school, we appreciate the importance of creating life-long positive memories of school and we wish to enrich the experiences of all our pupils. The entire staff has united to create this fun filled day that will promote the values of Christmas: caring, unity and fun! We are all really excited for the day and hope the students break up for Christmas with an ever lasting memory.
An Olympic Visitor
On Thursday, we were proud to host Olympic bronze medallist and local girl, Amy Tinkler - along with other local schools who came to visit and hear about her inspiring life. Amy dazzled our students with a short floor display before taking questions and answers from our eager Year 7 and 8s. She even had time to pose for a few photographs with our pupils who were thrilled to see her olympic medal up-close. Thank you Amy!
Homework Club
In September, Sandhill View launched the homework club. This club runs until 4pm every evening after school in Graphics IT. It allows students to complete homework using the school’s facilities and computers. Pupils of all ages are welcome every evening. We have provided a silent study area where students can revisit their class work, complete homework, revise for examinations or complete any outstanding work they may have. Support staff are also present to guide students with any barriers to their progress. The vision of Homework club is to offer Sandhill View’s students support to ensure progress from year 7 to year 11 – we believe that this will offer our students success in the future.
All That Jazz
On Wednesday 30th November Year 10 Drama students visited the Sunderland Empire Theatre to watch the fabulous Chicago with John Partridge, Hayley Tameddon and Mica Paris. The show was a magnificant delight of music and dance, and the students were impressed with the standard (especially the costumes). We thoroughly enjoyed the experience of visiting such an iconic venue in Sunderland and also the quality of the Westend show. We sang and danced along all afternoon but the highlight of the visit was meeting the lovely John Partridge in person.
