Blog week ending 3rd May

We are absolutely delighted (and rather proud!) that three of our football teams have reached this year’s District Cup Finals!  Our student players are appealing for all our support .. everyone is welcome, and actively encouraged to come along and cheer on our talented teams!   So, save the dates, and we hope to see as many of you there as are able!  Year 7 - 16^th May, Year 9 - 23^rd May and Year 10 - 9^th May (full details below!)

      

This term we welcomed three new members of support staff to our team.  Miss Taylor (pictured left) and Mrs Parrish (middle) join us in the role of Behaviour Support Officer working in conjunction with both the Pastoral team to ensure an informed and joined up approach, so students are prepared for their school day and fully supported to be able to access all learning.  Miss Taylor’s previous role was with the NHS Acute Mental Health Services and she has a dedicated focus on both student welfare and wellbeing.  Miss Parrish has had a wealth of experience in the education sector, most recently offering one-to-one student learning support and is committed to working collaboratively with teachers and students to ensure the best outcomes for all.

Our new Year 8 Pastoral Support Manager Miss Dawes (right) is a skilled practitioner within secondary education.  “I am enjoying getting to know our Year 8 cohort and as a parent of a student here at Stone Lodge I am fully aware of the value and importance of effective communication between home and school to ensure every student feels supported throughout their education career.”

The PTFA hosted the annual Stone Lodge quiz with 10 teams competing for first place.   1^st place went to Team Josh 2^nd to Red lorry, Yellow Lorry, Red Lorry, Yellow lorry and 3^rd to Office Angels.   Big thanks to Mr Gates for creating and presenting the quiz.  Thank you to everyone who donated raffles prizes.  And finally, to the PTFA for organising the event.  We look forward to future events.

Tunnock’s Teacake Challenge.  In our GCSE lessons we have been focusing on presentation skills. Using the golden rules of; Height, Texture, Portion control, Colour & contrast, Positioning & Balance. They took on the Teacake challenge and came up with the following designs. 

Year 8 Food & Nutrition students made cheese scones this week, a rather popular recipe with our student chefs!  The practical lesson formed part of their scientific study of gluten formation, and specifically how to prevent gluten forming – by not mixing rubbing the flour and the butter together, which allows the fats to create a coating round the proteins thus limiting the gluten development.

Our Duke of Edinburgh adventurers braved the elements (and there was a lot of rain!) to complete their practice expeditions.  Staff were incredibly impressed with the way students applied themselves to the task, their exceptional map-reading skills and overall can-do attitude.  Students feel well-equipped and prepared for their assessed expeditions.  Bronze – 11-12 May and Silver 28-30^th June.

Mr Bailey and Year 11 GCSE Drama students had the pleasure of watching Witness for the Prosecution at County Hall as part of Component 3 of their Drama course. With twists and turns and a surprise ending, this whodunit was fantastic and did not disappoint. Students came away with a plethora of notes to take into their exam. 

For our Cycle C unit of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Year 8 Drama students have been exploring Frantic Assembly methods of devising, using lifts and chair duets to create performances. To ensure successful execution, students have looked at how to lift safely and how to build movements to create storylines. 

Looking for a new career opportunity?  It is our firm belief that a motivated, supported and empowered staff are at the heart of our students’ achievements.  Endeavour MAT’s staff development programme offers our staff opportunities for career progression across our Trust schools for the next generation of exceptional teachers, support staff and leaders.  All our schools take pride in being warm, friendly and supportive workplaces.  You can be assured, regardless of your role, you will be working with people who enjoy their work, are proud to be here and who will want to welcome you to the team.  To view our current vacancies, please click here.  

Our SL6 Sports students have taken part in student led golf and squash sessions at Cascades Leisure.  The sessions focussed on student experts developing skills specific to their sport with their peers.  Excellent coaching sessions!

Below is the link for the parent and carer drug information session that was held by Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation recently.  Please do watch this as it helps to understand the work we do in school in our Successful Lives programme. It also relates to the drama production that students had in January from DSM Foundation.  Click here to view

Appeal for any unwanted items of clothing!!  Please could you consider donating any unwanted clothes to our reception for use by our Fashion Week LBC group.  The group will be designing and making items for their fashion show, and would be grateful for any items to upcycle!

Please join me in congratulating Mollie and Emily of Year 11!  They play for Becces Valley which is part of Dartford Rugby Club.  The U16s are unbeaten in the league, the winners of the Kent League, and the Cup Final!  This is a brilliant achievement, well done!  

Our Year 11 and 13 students begin their public exams in earnest next week .. you’ve got this!  You have worked hard and prepared well, we wish you all the best, and as always will be on hand to offer any support you may need.  Students have been given given their exam timetable, and a copy has been emailed home.  To view a copy of the full GCSE timetable, please click here

Forthcoming Dates;

Public Exams start – 7^th May

Year 10 District Cup Final – 9^th May

DofE Bronze assessed expedition – 11^th -12^th May

Year 10 Work Experience/Shadowing – 13^th – 17^th May

Year 7 District Cup Final – 16^th May

Year 9 District Cup Final – 23^rd May

Year 12 Grades home – 24^th May

Year 13 Leavers Meal – 24^th May

Last day of term 5 – 24^th May

First day of term 6 – 3^rd June

Year 12 Higher Education Exhibition UEL – 6^th June

Year 12 Futures Event in school – 5^th June

 

Best wishes,

 

Gavin Barnett

Head Teacher