Classic Civilisations

To Students Studying Classic Civilisations,

During last Wednesday's session you were informed of a split so that there are two groups - once occurring during the usual  Wednesday slot and the second on Friday's p4. 

There were a few issues with the groupings that have now been amended, please see the new groups below:

Any problems please come to see me in the Sixth Form Office as soon as possible

Thank you 

WEDNESDAY

AHMAD, Saad

MASOOD, Fatima

SHIBLI SEXTON, Serene

VIEIRA GONCALVES, Thiago

ARMSTRONG, Joshua

CURTIS, Ellie

ELARABI, Husna

FINCH, James

IDRIS, Riane

NERO, Kyeisha

NOUGDALLA, Omer

RAHMAN, Safyan

RANGARIRAI, Roy

IDRIS, Riane

CHAPLIN, Joshua

ZAHRAN, Salma FRIDAY ALVAREZ, Daniel FARNELL, Jack HEDGE, Aisha HENDERSON, Frances HINDLEY, Naomi MCCLUE, Calum O'BRIEN, Frank ROBINSON, William SCHIRMACHER, Daisy WALSH, Kitty HERKLOTS, Samuel LIDOV, Andrei BRAIN, Crystal CARROLL, Channon

 

UCAS Progress

I am hoping to get as many as possible of the 25 currently unsent UCAS forms done this week. Please keep in close touch with your PL - it will speed things up if you have read your reference with them before coming to me. 

I am planning to work on sending forms on Wednesday afternoon from 1.30 through to the end of the Year Seven Parents evening at 7pm.  If you would like your form to go as quickly as possible, please bring some work to the silent study room (and study silently) so that I can meet with you to discuss and check your form. I will put a sign up sheet on the door - please let me know when you will be there to get your form sent.  I will probably also have a similar extended UCAS session from 1.30 on Friday, so that we can work through as many as possible of the remaining forms.

As ever, many thanks both to PLs and to all of you for your patience with the process.  As last year, I very much hope to have everything done by Christmas. If you have not yet decided whether to apply, please make a decision in discussion with your PL quickly, and if you are definitely not applying, make sure that you discuss your references with your PL so that we have everything in place and on file to support any application you may want to make in September 2016. More detail to follow on this in a future assembly. 

6th form trip to Sicily

If you haven't yet received the second letter with more details about the trip you have given a deposit for, please see Miss Gleen ASAP for the letter - the date for the second payment is this week.

Year 13 Geography

The movie didnt arrive - so much for one day delivery!! So I'm sorry but we have to postpone this afternoon's viewing. :(

Grim Challenge Posponed

Hi Grim Challengers,

I’m really sorry but Grim Challenge has been POSTPONED. This is because the army have overruled the booking and have taken the land back for training purposes – which they are allowed to do without giving any notice.

The event has been re-scheduled to SATURDAY 6^TH FEBRUARY. If you still want to take part, let me know and I will simply transfer your booking to that date. If you aren’t available that weekend or no longer want to take part, let me know and I’ll arrange for you to be refunded.

Apologies,

Mr Kirkaldy

Student Representatives

Reminder to the Student Reps  - you have a meeting in L1 at tutor time today.

ThankYou

Detentions

A message form the Respect For Learning Team:

We know that the vast majority of Cheney students receive very few detentions and that they serve these detentions promptly when set. However, we feel that ensuring detentions are completed is a key role for our tutors, not our class teachers. Therefore, as of Monday 30 Nov, detentions will only take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Please be aware that tutors will escort students with detentions to the dining hall at the end of tutor time. If a student refuses to accompany their tutor or truants tutor time, the tutor will  contact home and explain to parents that the initial detention still needs to be served and that he or she is about to set a further detention.

These actions will be taken consistently by all tutors.

There are a few students in the school with many outstanding detentions. These students will be picked up by members of the senior leadership team at the end of each tutor time and escorted to detention. If a student refuses to accompany a member of SLT or truants tutor time to avoid being picked up by a member of SLT, that member of staff will contact home and explain to parents that the initial detention still needs to be served and that he or she is about to set a further detention for lunchtime the next day at the college base.

UCAS Update

As of 4.30pm today Thursday 25th, 49 applications have been sent to UCAS. 23 are at various stages in the pipeline.  As mentioned, the best way to make sure yours gets sent sooner rather than later is to attend all PL sessions and to be around in the silent study area.  My next main UCAS session will be on Wednesday 2nd December from 1.30pm onwards - there is a Year Seven Parents Evening and I need to be in school until late.  If your form has not yet gone, and you want to speed things up, please bring some work and stay around until I can see  you.  Some forms can go very quickly, but others need further checks on predicted grades, details of references etc.  Thank you very much to everyone for their patience. 

Brookes Library Closed 1st to 18th December

We have had the following message from Oxford Brookes.  Please be absolutely sure to observe this temporary closure.  Brookes do a huge amount to help us and it is very important that we maintain good neighbourly relations.  Any reports of Cheney students trying to use Brookes facilities between 1st and 18th December would be treated very seriously by the school.  We are lucky to be able to use Brookes facilities normally, given than none of us pay the fees Brookes students do for the privilege. 

 

Just writing to let you know that between 1st - 18th December all of our study spaces are reserved for current students for the exam period. As we anticipate lots of our students will be needing the library, Forum and other areas for studying I'm sure you will understand that we need to prioritise them above local school pupils. Once the period has elapsed we will be happy to welcome back your sixth formers to use our library and Forum area as usual. 

 

 

 

 

Message from Brookes University re: Study Spaces

"Just writing to let you know that between 1st - 18th December all of our study spaces are reserved for current students for the exam period. As we anticipate lots of our students will be needing the library, Forum and other areas for studying I'm sure you will understand that we need to prioritise them. Once the period has elapsed we will be happy to welcome back your sixth formers to use our library and Forum area as usual."

Brookes very kindly allow students to use their spaces at other times. Please respect this request so that they continue to allow us to use their library and study spaces at other times in the year. Thank you for your cooperation :)

Writing Opportunity: First Story competition

The challenge: to write a story in 850 words, in any genre you want to. If you need inspiration for your writing, the suggested theme is echoes (although don’t let that limit you!)

Please bring your entries to C3 (Ms Swift) at the start of next week. Each entry will receive a little prize, which will most probably be edible.

The three winning stories will be entered for the First Story national competition, with the chance to win recognition and some fantastic prizes, including publication and a creative writing residential week with Arvon.

For more details visit http://www.firststory.org.uk/competitions/90862-2/

Year 13 - Register to Vote!

It's estimated that 17 year olds are the largest age group to lose out on their vote come next election.

The deadline is on the 1st of December, and you need your National Insurance number to complete registration though it should only take you 5 minutes.

https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Thanks,

Lotte and Miss Doherty

Sixth Form Survey

The Sixth Form Survey is still live! This is YOUR chance to have your say about your subjects, the Sixth Form, catering, tutor time and anything else you wish to share.

http://goo.gl/forms/d4HKztjkAi

Please make sure you complete the survey carefully as we read all your comments one by one.

To see the changes we made in response to last year's survey, see the noticeboard next to the Sixth Form loos - your views count!

If you struggle to access the survey, please create a Google doc account (this isn't a Gmail account) here: http://docs.google.com/

Thank you in advance for your support.

Best wishes,
Miss Doherty

Tennis Coaching Opportunity

Mr Rees has an exciting opportunity...

If you are interested in undertaking a tennis coaching qualification, please see Mr Rees for more information.

The only requirement is that you are a competent tennis player. The qualification will give you the opportunity to help coach other students in the summer.

QUIZ ON FRIDAY RAISING MONEY FOR SIXTH FORM

Get a team together and come along to support YOUR Sixth Form! Hope to see loads of you there!

Miss Doherty

Sixth Form Movie Night

The Student Leadership Team are going to be putting on a Sixth Form Movie Night.

Vote for which film you want to see via the link below:

- http://strawpoll.me/6089926 

EPQ Meeting This Thursday

In L14 at lunchtime - all EPQ Year Twelves please come - let me know if you can't be there

DGi

Year 13 Sociology

I've still got a bad cold so I'm not in today - this is just in case you haven't seen Edmodo.

Best wishes,
Miss Doherty

Festival of Lost Cities, 18th January

On 18 January we are holding a large community event: the Festival of Lost Cities! The ground floor of Lane Building will be transformed into different ancient cities between 3.30 and 6pm, during which time, there will be a wide range of stalls, activities, drama and gladiator performances, as well themed food and drink.

Alongside all this, we have some really exciting speakers, including Bettany Hughes, Martha Kearney and Michael Scott - details of their talks are at http://eoccc.org.uk/festival-of-lost-cities

We hope that lots of you will come and enjoy the festival; if you would like to hear any of the speakers, please book by emailing info@irisproject.org.uk or speaking to myself or Mr Gimson.

If you would like to help out in any way, we would be enormously grateful - please let us know! 

Thank you very much. 

Opportunity for budding Natural Historians

http://www.field-studies-council.org/about/young-darwin-scholarship.aspx

Interested in Law? Law Competition

Competition Question:

"It is unacceptable that in the 21st century people fleeing from conflict, persecutions, misery, and land degradation must endure such terrible experiences...and then die on Europe's doorstep," - IOM Director-General William Lacy Swing.  In respect of the migrants entering Europe what, if any, are the legal and moral obligations of the UK to assist?

The winners will be awarded an Internship with Hedges Law; a fantastic opportunity for any aspiring lawyer.

Rules

1. Word limit is 1,500 words.

2. Competition open to pupils in years 11 – 13

3. Please email your written (word-processed) essay to alexia.white@hedgeslaw.co.uk by 4pm on Friday 22nd January 2016.

4. Essays delivered out of time or over the word limit will not be considered.

5. Please state your full name, school/college and contact details in your cover email.

6. Entrants will be shortlisted and asked to attend a prize-giving event at which the winners will be announced.

7. Internships will be one week in duration and timings will be arranged to suit

Year 13 World Development

The following students need to see Mr Smith in order to pick up the work form today's lesson.

Ergyst Muharreni

Taymur Jamac

Simran Singh

Thank you

Safe Drive Stay Alive

Year 12: There is a number of you who are still yet to pay your £1 for trip to the Safe Drive Stay Alive event last week. 

Please bring in your £1 ASAP.

I have a list of names in my office – if you are unsure whether you have paid or not please come and see me and I can let you know.

Thank You

Al Jazeera this FRIDAY

You have until 2.30pm today to tell me you want to go to this! Watch this space for instructions for Friday evening. Miss Gleen (jgl@cheney.oxon.sch.uk)

Year 13 Parents Evening Reminder

Year 13

Reminder: Tomorrow (Thursday 19th November) is Year 13 Parents Evening (5pm-7pm).

If you still need to make appointments there are booking sheets outside the Sixth Form Office

The meeting will take place in L1 and L2

Thank you

University Finance Assembly Y12 and Y13

On Thursday 19 there is a whole Sixth Form assembly in the assembly hall from Student Finance England from 2.30-3pm.

Sixth Form Survey

It is time for the Sixth Form Survey. This is YOUR chance to have your say about your subjects, the Sixth Form, catering, tutor time and anything else you wish to share.

http://goo.gl/forms/d4HKztjkAi

Please make sure you complete the survey carefully as we read all your comments one by one.
 
To see the changes we made in response to last year's survey, see the noticeboard next to the Sixth Form loos - your views count!
 
If you struggle to access the survey, please create a Google doc account (this isn't a Gmail account) here: http://docs.google.com/

Thank you in advance for your support.
 
Best wishes,
Miss Doherty

UCAS Progress

As before I want to say a very big thank you to all UCAS applicants and their Progress Leaders.  As of today, 34 forms have gone to UCAS, and 32 are in the pipeline.  As predicted in my earlier posts, it is going to take me a bit longer than the usual 10 working days to send on some forms at this time, because such a large number of people paid and sent close to the 6th November deadline.  Progress Leaders and I will be working as fast as we can through the remaining forms and any which follow.  This week I have to balance this against reading and feeding back on essays before the imminent Year Thirteen History coursework deadline.  If you are worried about your form or there are particular reasons it needs to go quickly, please talk to your Progress Leader or to me, and we will do our best to speed things up.  Thank you for working so closely with staff on this, and for writing some really excellent Personal Statements. 

EPQ and Law Talk

Thank you to everyone who came to last Friday's EPQ introduction.  All the materials we discussed are on the EPQ page on Edmodo (code: z56gaq).  I have added an exemplar log as well as some very good powerpoints.  Please start to fill in your Record of Initial Planning, and bring a paper copy to Ms. Tope's room at lunchtime this Friday 20th. 

The Law Talk is at the same time in L14 - please bring your lunch - do prioritise this if you want to go to both. 

Volunteering opportunity

Children Hear and Seen: a charity that supports children who have a parent in prison are looking for volunteers to mentor a young child and be a positive role model to set up goals and help improve attitude at school. Based in Barton Youth Club Tuesdays 4:30pm-6pm. If interested visit: www.childrenheardandseen.co.uk or call 07557339258 

Y13 ID Cards

You can reactivate your ID cards with Mrs Beesley in Finance. She's expecting you :)

Rosie	Bingham-Hall
Lotte	Boumelha
Emily	Hicks
Erygyst	Muharemi
Jo-Ann	Mundell Perkins
Farah	Rana
Annie	Rose
Imad*	Salih
Lauren	Simmonds Davies

Head Boy and Head Girl

The Head Boy and Head Girl results are in!

Your Student Leadership team is:

Coeli – Head Girl

Sharon – Deputy Head Girl 

Adnan – Head Boy

Denis – Deputy Head Boy 

Matt – Senior Prefect 

Congratulations to all of you!

Christmas Market

Can those who put their name down to help organise the Christmas Market but did not turn up to the meeting today please see me tomorrow as your last chance to take part. This is an opportunity for you to raise the money for your expedition.

Thank you

Visit to the Oxford Union for recordings of Al Jazeera's Head to Head

Spaces are limited and you must have a parent release form if you are under 18 or photo ID.
Email jgl@cheney.oxon.sch.uk to reserve your place and for a form.

Friday 20th November at 19:30: RUSSIA: EXPANSIONIST EMPIRE OR MISUNDERSTOOD GIANT? Mehdi Hasan challenges Natalia Narochnitskaya, a Russian historian and former member of the Duma and of the Russian delegation to the UN. We ask: - Is Crimea the beginning of an expansionist drive to reclaim the old Soviet Union borders? - Is Russia maligned and misunderstood in the West? - Is Vladimir Putin a dictator? - And is he fighting ISIL or protecting the Syrian regime?

MONDAY 7th December at 19:30: IS MODI’S INDIA FLIRTING WITH FASCISM? Mehdi Hasan challenges Ram Madhav, National General Secretary of India’s ruling BJP, on Hindu nationalism and whether India’s minorities are under attack. We also discuss violence and human rights abuses in Indian-administered Kashmir, and explore how to bring peace to the region.

Mentor Assembly Monday 16th November

There will be a Sixth Form Mentor Assembly in the assembly hall next Monday. If you are a Sixth Form Mentor it is vital that you attend this assembly, please register at your tutor first and then come straight to the hall.

Thank you

Miss Bristow

Practice Chemistry interview session

Year 13 Chemists applying to study Chemistry at University.


Urgent:   A practice interview session has just opened up to all students that think they might have to do an interview for a Chemistry university course.  If you would like to go, you must come and see me at lunchtime TODAY because the practice session is TODAY at 14.50pm at the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry department on Southparks road.


ERA

Year 13 Parents Evening- Date Change

Year 13

There has been a change of date for your parents evening. It is still next week but it now on Thursday 19th November.

Appointment sheets are available outside the Sixth Form Office

Thank you

Y12 and Y13 Student Finance Talk 19 November Tutor Time

We have arranged for a Student Finance talk on 19 November 2015 for ALL Sixth Form students.

Please make your way to the assembly hall at 2.30pm on the day.

Berghaus Picture Competition DofE

Hi Dofe,

There is currently a competition on the Berghaus website. As you practise your walks or if you are in the outdoors and manage to capture a beautiful view send it in to the following link and you could win £200!!

http://community.berghaus.com/your-adventures/desktop-calendar-competition/

Miss B

Head Boy and Head Girl Voting

Today is your last opportunity to vote for your Head Boy and Head Girl! 

Click the link below to cast your vote:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1bLNEOA00a_0z33mKO6DZPVq4HPSxrbzX2I23bhBqirg/viewform?usp=send_form

Happy Voting!

The 'New' Millenium Development Goals

There is a talk by the Geographical Society at St Edward's School, Oxford on Tuesday 10th November, 5pm. It's by Katie Willis, a professor and lecturer about development studies. Essential listening for A2 Geographers and AS/A2 World Developers. All Welcome. Please email me so I can give them numbers if you plan on going. Miss Gleen

Year 13 World Development

I have received fewer than half of your coursework proposal forms. I am somewhat galled. These were due Tuesday. If you would like my help and advice, you need to meet deadlines. I expect these in before your next lesson. Miss Gleen

Year 13 Parents Evening - Monday 16th November

Year 13 Parents evening is being held on Monday 16th November , 5pm-7pm.

Please collect your appointment sheets from the Sixth Form Office.

If your parents / carers have not received a letter please collect one from the Sixth Form Office.

Thank You

Grim Challenge

I currently have eight students signed up to take part in Grim Challenge (see list below). As such, we are now only going to be taking one minibus, meaning there are spaces for THIRTEEN students.

If you would like one of the remaining FIVE spaces on this trip, you need to return your parental consent form and payment to the school shop asap – first come, first served. If you need a copy of the letter, come and see me in C27.

Mr Kirkaldy

Already signed up:

Asam Iqbal

Bella Godden Melendez

Georgia Howlett

Kate Williamson

Rebecca Hann

Eleanor Krige

Hashim Dogar

Ikra Ahmed

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ID Badges and C18

Just a quick but important reminder:

1) Please do not allow any students to come into school via reception with you.  Your ID badge provides you with privileged access to and from school.  Y7-11 students, and Sixth Formers without an ID badge, must use the late gate.  If this privilege is abused, we will have no choice but to deactivate your ID badge for safeguarding reasons.

2) C18 is just for you! Please do not allow Y7-11 students to access the room. Please check they do not sneak in behind you and, if they do, please ask them to leave.

The positive message is you have a common room just for you! And you can come and go from school during the day :)

Year 7 Mixed Indoor Athletics Volunteers

Is anyone free to volunteer on Friday, 6th November, this week at 10:50 (after break) in the sport hall for mixed year 7's indoor athletics?

What - Volunteering opportunity for indoor athletics

Where - Sports Hall

When - 10:50 - 12:50 (after break to start of lunch) on the 6th of Friday

We don't want anyone to skip any of their lessons to volunteer.  If you want to volunteer this Friday please see:

- Kim Thomas-Hird

- Katherine Smart

- Silvana Rekaj

- Paul Velasco

before Friday."

Independent Learning Workshop

An Independent Learning Workshop is taking place from 12.30 to 2pm tomorrow for the following Year Twelve students.  We held it last year and it was found to be very useful - it leads to a trip to a university in the summer.  Please come to Mr. Gimson's room (L14) at morning break tomorrow for more information, or catch him after school today or before school tomorrow. Teachers have been asked to release you from Period Four for this event.

Mahdiyya	AHMED,
Anica	BEGUM,
Mompati	BLACKIE,
Crystal	BRAIN,
Joshua	CHAPLIN,
Atef	CHOWDHURY,
Morgan	COBLE,
Ahmed	DOUSA,
Husna	ELARABI,
Zara	ELLAHI,
Umar	HAYAT,
Christopher	HEADLAND,
Zakia	KHADEMI,
Jacob	MASIH,
Sabir	Mohammed ALI,
Kyeisha	NERO,
Omer	NOUGDALLA,
Marion	OKE,
Kavitha	PILLAI,
Abdul-Salan	QURAANYE,
Tanaka	RANGARIRAI,
Ameera	SARWAR,
Mohammed	ZAHRAN,
Salma	ZAHRAN,

Safe Drive Stay Alive

Year 12 - The Safe Drive Stay Alive Trip takes place next Wednesday (11th November). Please make sure you collect a letter form outside the Sixth Form Office and return the reply slip and £1 payment to the school shop by the end of this week.

It is a really beneficial trip.

Thank you

Year 12 Chemists:  Your test this week will be on both sides of the course.  It will be in a double lesson this week.  There are lots of resources to help you revise on the Yr 12 Chemistry blog.

ERA

Year 12 Geography

I'm really sorry I won't be in your lessons tomorrow. Please see Edmodo for the research on California and the Philippines. You do not need to come to the lesson but can use the room to work in if you would like. Miss Gleen.

Year 13 World Development

I'm sorry I won't be in your lessons tomorrow: I'm on a field trip with the GCSE students. Please check Edmodo for the article to read and answer. Miss Gleen

Law Talk

If you are interested in hearing from two students currently reading Law at Oxford, please come to a meeting at 12.50 on Friday 20^th November – all students applying to read Law, or interested in Law should attend. 

EPQ meeting for interested Year Twelves

If you would like to do the EPQ next year, please e-mail me with any ideas you have for topics, and come to a meeting at lunchtime on Friday 13^th November in L14 

EPQ final details and results

Please can all Year Thirteen EPQ students who have not yet picked up their marks come to see me to collect their work and add their remaining signatures in the course of Monday.