Blog week ending 27th January

Please join me in congratulating Mrs Artmann who has been appointed Deputy Head Teacher following a rigorous interview process, including an interview by our Student Leaders.  All were unanimous in selecting Mrs Artmann as the strongest performing candidate from a very experienced and talented set of applicants.  Mrs Artmann commented “I am absolutely delighted to have this opportunity to develop my career here at Stone Lodge and to continue working with, and supporting, its amazing students, staff and parents.”

Mrs Artmann’s role here at Stone Lodge and across our Trust will be to drive improvement across teaching and learning and within our special needs provision.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Year 8 Drama students have been working using the text of Romeo and Juliet and a musical accompaniment to create a dramatic scene to mark the moment of Juliet’s death!  Pictured below, students using the spotlights to highlight their dramatic freeze-frames.

In addition to the amazing curricular work we are doing in Drama, we also have a number of exciting club and event opportunities over the coming months.

• ALL years (7-12): Talent Show Auditions – We are holding auditions for our upcoming talent show Tuesday 31st January 2023, 3.30-4.30pm in the Drama Studio. We would love as many students as possible in all year groups to sign up to audition; the sign-up sheet is located outside the Drama Studio. Talents can include singing, instrumentals, acting, dancing, magic, spoken word/poetry reading etc. 
• ALL years (7-12): Talent Show - This event will be held after school Thursday 16th March 2023 – Details to follow. 
• Year 7 and 8: Stage Combat workshop – We have the honour of welcoming Squire Stage Combat to the school on Friday 10th March 2023 for a day of fun filled stage combat workshops. This opportunity cost £14 per student which can be paid via ParentPay.
• Year 9, 10 and 12: The Bodyguard Musical trip – The Stone Lodge Drama department will be going to see this incredible show on the 30th March 2023 at the Orchard Theatre. The show commences at 7.30pm, so we will be meeting at the venue for 7.00pm. For those who wish to attend, there is a £29 ticket fee which can be paid via ParentPay. In addition, a parental consent letter must also be completed.  
• Year 7 and 8: Annie Musical trip - The Stone Lodge Drama department will be going to see this classic show on the 4th May 2023 at the Orchard Theatre. The show commences at 7.30pm, so we will be meeting at the venue for 7.00pm. For those who wish to attend, there is a £27.50 ticket fee which can be paid via ParentPay. In addition, a parental consent letter must also be completed. 

For all information relating the opportunities and happenings in the Drama department, please check out our Twitter page: @StoneLodgeDrama or contact me directly via email: jbailey@stonelodgeschool.co.uk 

Across our engineering department students are completing their practical topic projects including our Year 7s who have been studying architecture this cycle.  Pictured below, our Year 7s are making their final additions to their ‘Dream Bedroom’ models.  All room plans are designed, and models made to scale using the below project management acronym which is followed when responding to the ‘client’s’ brief;

Aesthetics

Cost

Client

Environment

Safety

Size

Function

Material

Manufacture

Year 10 Engineering students have been working on a ‘Thor’s Hammer’ project to perfect their metal work skills.  Using skills including filing, chamfering, cutting, and polishing using the Tap and Die tools to make the thread to join the handle to the hammer head.

Our Design and Technology Department would like to thank Mr Russell (grandfather to students who attend Stone Lodge) for his hugely generous donation of fabrics, carpet fragments and various upholstery materials which were end of lines, off-cuts and old sample books used in his business Russell Upholstery Russell Upholstery | Fabrics They have already been used as an integral element of the Year 7 ‘Dream Bedroom’ project allowing the students to create really ambitious designs, considering the use and properties of a range of furnishings.  Our Textiles after school club are also taking advantage of the wonderful resources available.  This, and all donations, enhance the students’ learning experiences no end and we are extremely grateful for your support.  Mrs Barker, our Technology technician (pictured left) is currently making a range of wooden retro games for the students to enjoy and to supplement our current stock of board games.  Playing board games is a valuable tool that develops critical thinking, communication skills, teamwork, strategising … and most importantly having fun with friends (and away from a screen!)

Thank you to Jewson’s (Dartford) for their donation of off-cuts of wood and vinyl for our upcycling ‘Games shelves’ from Alpha-Networks.  We desperately need more wood, metal, nails, screws, left over craft items, such as lollypop sticks, and beads and marbles would be fantastic too!

Pictured below, Mrs Barkers ‘shove ha’penny’ board she is currently working on which will accompany the wooden solitaire and noughts and crosses already completed .. and proving very popular with our students!

Our Year 8 Food Preparation and Nutrition students have been studying glutens and how to prevent them from forming by using the 'rubbing in' method, when making pastry.   As you can see from the photos, the practical lesson saw them all prepare a rustic fruit pie with perfect shortcrust pastry!  Delicious.

Flourish of Year 10 is a member of our Student Council here at Stone Lodge but also represents Dartford on the Kent Youth County Council.  In this role Flourish is instrumental in advising government on issues important to young people across the region such as positive mental health, tackling poverty, environmental awareness, finding solutions to fight discrimination and racism.  In a recent meeting at County Hall Flourish was part of the group driving for a Cultural Awareness Day to be celebrated simultaneously across all schools in Kent.  Additionally, members discussed a potential scheme to raise awareness for mental health issues; specifically to commission a piece of theatre to support positive mental health that would tour schools across the region.

Year 9 Options Evening.  Thank you to all those parents and carers who joined us in school to hear a presentation from Mr Naylor and to discuss the wide range of subject choices available for study at Years 10 and 11.  It was brilliant to be able to meet with you all in person!  To find out more about our Key Stage 4 provision please click here to see the full presentation.  The key dates of the Options process are;

Congratulations to our wonderful Young Voices choir members who took part in the organisation’s 20^th anniversary celebrations.  Students travelled to the O2 in Greenwich to take part in this very special event!

Forthcoming dates;

30^th January: Y10 Work shadowing day information evening for parents/carers (5.30pm - 6.30pm) 

31^st January:  SL6 applications close 

7^th February: Y12 Amazon apprenticeship visit (2- 6pm)  

 

Best wishes,

Gavin Barnett

Head Teacher