Blog week ending 2nd December

Focus on our Art Department.  Studying Art at GCSE equips students with an abundance of transferable skills including being creative, time management, problem solving and working with others. All of which we recognise as key qualities needed for employment today. Through the use of visual communication, we promote self-expression and creativity as well as instilling mutual respect for others and their work.

During their GCSE studies students will get the opportunity to explore visual and tactile experiences to communicate ideas and meanings and develop their own visual language.  Students are given opportunities to view work of professional artists via a range of trips and visits and are encouraged to attend exhibitions in their own time. The study of Art develops a creative, intellectual and artistic ability. It also provides stimulating and challenging opportunities to develop their skills. These include investigating, realising, experimenting and problem solving, which also contributes to employability.

The development of practical skills is only part of a complete experience of the subject. Art education develops the intellect, stimulates creative ability, and heightens aesthetic awareness, thus enriching the students’ lives.

Our Year 10 Artists have been working on 3D pieces as part of their cycle A Knowledge Organiser work and have been studying the art of Joseph Cornell. They created artist research, design plans and then made a box sculpture which was around the theme layers. 

Art students recently travelled into central London to see a special exhibition ''Amy Sherald. The World We Make' at the commercial gallery Hauser and Wirth. This is Sherald's first solo European exhibition. Sherald painted the official portrait of Michelle Obama when she became The First Lady. We studied Sherald in Year 8 and we are re-visiting her in cycle B of the Art GCSE. We had an expert show us around the exhibition and talk us through the paintings. The students asked some excellent questions, and I received the following message from her, 'It was an absolute joy to welcome the students to the gallery and talk about Amy Sherald’s work. I am so happy they enjoyed the experience and I learned so much from them! I look forward to welcoming more of your students to the gallery in the future.'

Year 10 Artists have been researching the art and techniques of artist Barbara Walker.  Her current work explores how clothing is used by specific groups of men as a status symbol within their communities.  Using pencils and charcoal students are creating their own portraits depicting faceless young men – by obscuring the identity of their subjects we view the images only on the information avaialble; clothing hair and jewellery.  The work investigates individuality, conformity, consumerism and stereotyping.

Mrs Jackson, Head of Art is pictured below demonstrating shading techniques (which is live projcted onto the art room white screen) as the students work on their own pieces.

Art Club – Everyone is welcome!  Years 7, 8 & 9 after school on Tuesdays.  Year 10 Art Club Monday after school.

Year 7 Science students have been exploring particles – the building blocks of everything!  In this practical lesson students made 3D models of oxygen, carbon dioxide and water molecules, discussing the different states of matter: solid, liquid and gas.

Year 8 students took part in the Faraday Challenge which is an annual competition of STEM activities with a real-world challenge.  Challenge Days give students the opportunity to research, design and make prototype solutions to genuinely tough engineering problems and enables young students to experience working as an engineer for a day.  This year, the theme is Future Flight and imagines a future where large items will be delivered by air and onto a landing vehicle that is able to safely store and transport the load – students are working on a design and prototype for the landing vehicle.   Our students have created innovative solutions in a range of working model prototypes! 

In teams’ students presented their work, explaining and demonstrating the function and features of their prototype to compete to win a prize for themselves and a trophy for their school.

…. And the Challenge Winners are (drum roll) … Congratulations to Harmony, George, Lily, Layla, Aimee and Isaac!  

Our Year 8 Scientists have been exploring the different types of circuits and how the electrical components are connected to make a circuit.  In this practical lesson students made series and parallel circuits and then used ammeters to measure the current flowing through the components.

Sports Update: Our PE department are really enjoying working in partnership with sports clubs within the local community including;

Dance Club runs 3.30-4.30pm on a Tuesday. An opportunity for students to experience working with a professional dance company. Paige Starbuck, a specialist dance teacher has introduced Street Dance and the class have develop a high energised routine.  Paige will look to introduce new styles and dance routines over the coming weeks.  Dance Club is open to all students from beginner to advanced!

Year 10 students have been given the opportunity to undertake strength and conditioning training at Dartford Valley Rugby Club using their wonderful facilities. Students receiving coaching for the strength and conditioning coach and are contributing towards their Duke of Edinburgh award.  The sessions take place Thursday after school

Year 7 students have been enjoying Rugby club after school on a Thursday 3.30-4.30pm. This is being led by a coach at Dartford Valley Rugby club using their facilities. The club is open to all Year 7s and we hope to start competing soon!

Tigers Basketball Club join forces with Mr Finch on a Thursday 3.30-4.30pm.  The club is open to all. Since working with Tigers last year, we have students representing the Tigers in their junior teams out of school.  

Girls Football is also proving to be very popular.  Even on the dark wet nights, the girls will train. #letsgirlsplay

Year 7 & 8 netball team match report: On Monday 21st November, Stone Lodge held their first netball of the season against Trinity School Belvedere and Welling School. The first match was against Welling and despite our early lead we lost with a last-minute goal, finishing at 3-2 to Welling. The chosen player of the match was Eva O who did an amazing job as goalkeeper. 

Our next match was against Trinity and despite losing 9-1, the SLS team showed determination throughout and were denied many opportunities. The chosen player of the match was Sofia R who played as wing defence, helping us to get the ball down the court to create an opportunity to score. 

The Year 7 and 8 mixed team were fantastic, working well as a team and identifying areas of potential improvement we can carry forward into future matches! 

Christmas Card competition!  Ms Clarke, Head of Modern Foreign Languages and Year 10 is calling for entries that celebrate the Christmas time traditions and customs from around the world … what are your family traditions?  See the poster below for more details.

Please join me in congratulating Olivia D-S of Year 12 who competed in the National Trampoline Championships at the Lee Valley Velopark in the Olympic Park London. Olivia took part in competitions across the country to qualify in three different events.  Only the top athletes who qualified took part in the finals. Olivia competed on behalf of her club Beckenham Fliers and competed in League 2 finishing 6^th overall with is amazing!

Forthcoming dates:

• Christmas Lunch 15^th December – Have you booked your child’s meal?  Deadline is Sunday evening (so we can let our kitchen know so they can plan accordingly) Please book your child’s meal on ParentPay by Sunday evening.  Free school meals – please visit ParentPay and select Christmas lunch as an option (there is no charge for free school meals).  Please note – there will be breakfast service and Christmas lunch ONLY on Thursday 15^th December.  If your child would rather not have Christmas lunch, please ensure they have a packed lunch with them.
• Last day of Term is Friday 16^th December, Full school uniform – we will finish at 12:05pm (there will be no lunchtime food provision)
• Non-uniform day is on the 15^th December.  Students can come in dressed in their own clothes to celebrate Christmas. Please ensure they come in appropriate clothing for a school setting. Students will need to pay £2 for the day which they will hand in to their form tutor at the beginning of the day. All the money raised will go to PTFA to be reinvested in the school.

Best wishes,

Gavin Barnett

Head Teacher