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E-MENTORING

As I am sure you are aware from the media, the issue of transition from primary to secondary school is an area which the Government is keen to improve. At Sweyne Park we pride ourselves on our links with our primaries, but we must continue to look at ways to improve our offer year on

year. To this end, I am delighted to inform you that we have just received funding from the Local Authority to pilot an innovative

e-mentoring scheme with our three main feeder primaries: Glebe Junior, Riverside Junior and Down Hall Primary. This will involve Year Six pupils in the three primaries having access to an e-mail account at Sweyne Park for them to correspond with a select group of Year Seven pupils. All the Sweyne Park pupils involved have already received extensive training and we hope that, by providing a quick and effective communication between Year Six and Year Seven pupils, we can allay any concerns and so ensure a smooth transition to secondary school. If this initiative proves successful we will look to extend this to other interested primary schools.

Specialist Schools and Academies Trust

While Mrs Negrine was Acting Headteacher last week, Mr Samways and I attended the prestigious Specialist Schools and Academies Trust National Education Conference. This Conference is the largest education conference in Europe and it was a great honour that four of our pupils were chosen to greet all the delegates, present a workshop on Pupil Voice and also address the conference in the evening, no mean feat given that there were over 2,000 delegates in the auditorium! Included in next week's Sweyne Park Times will be an account from the pupils' perspective and it was lovely to see our work involving the pupils receiving such recognition.

FREE SCHOOL MEALS

Please can I remind parents/carers that the Local Authority does provide support for families experiencing financial difficulties, in particular support for Free School Meals. I know that pupils in schools can sometimes feel self-conscious if they are seen to be receiving free meals. However, at SPS we have a smart card system. Consequently it is not possible for anyone to know whether a pupil is receiving free school meals or not. Also, I have spoken with some parents who thought that they did not qualify for such support and were surprised to find out that they did. If you would like to find out more about this matter, please contact Tony Fennell (Assistant Headteacher) for further details, in strict confidence.

A BUSY WEEK

Once again this week numerous trips and activities have taken place, including a very successful Musical Soirée. This was a lovely event and certainly put everyone in a festive mood. On that note, please can I remind parents that school will finish at 1.25 p.m. on Friday next week, 14th December, and starts again at the usual time of 8.40 a.m. on Thursday, 3rd January. Please can I also remind pupils to avoid visiting local primary schools at the start of our Christmas break as they will still be working.

Have a good weekend.

Year 9 have had a very positive start to the year and have had numerous achievements of which they should be very proud.

They are all very focussed on the year ahead and ready to rise to the challenges it will present; perhaps the largest being their SAT's. They are also showing a very mature approach in considering which options they might to take.

Well done Year 9.

Jo Poole

Head of Year 9

PEACE POSTER

Each year the Lions Clubs around the world sponsor the Lions International Peace Poster Competition in local Schools and Youth Groups. The competition was created in 1988 to give young people the opportunity to creatively express their feelings about peace around the world.

This year's exceptional entries from Sweyne Park were all created by pupils in Year 9. Kerry 9NSm created the winning entry with a prize of £25. Her entry has gone forward to the district level of the competition.

Faye came second and won £15, and Matthew 9PGa came third, winning £10.

21 pupils took part in total, and each will receive a certificate in the new year.

Congratulations to all year 9 pupils involved including Sammy , Harriet (9NSm) & Suzanna , whose posters were highly commended.

`Imagination rules the world ...'

Away With Words has truly inspired secondary school pupils across the UK and overseas. The series showcases the wealth of talent and enthusiasm for literature today's young adults have.

We Are All The Same - But Different
by Catherine 9RCh

I was talking to my friend
Who was a Jewish girl,
I was a German,
She had a little curl.

The officer saw us

Talking together,
He picked us up by the jumpers,
I said to her, `We'll be friends forever.'

He took us to my dad
Who shouted and screamed,
`Get away from that Jew,'
He thumped and beamed.

We went to the Jewish girl's mum
Who opened the door with pride,
They all argued loudly
While her mum's voice quietened, `That was a lie.'

They can be together
There's no problem with that,
It doesn't matter about our religions
If we're white or black.

It will be OK,
Calmed us down by Mum,
While the others weren't looking
Her mum told us to run.

We got away,
We're here together,
I don't think they'll notice,
I'll be here forever.

My first term of Year 9

My first term of year 9 has gone well because I have already received a gold form and a postcard, got good monitoring grades, was chosen to attend a talk in the library, and was chosen to be a tour guide. I also got the top score of my class in a science test.

I also feel I have improved in some of my weaker subjects such as Maths and Science.

Joe 9NSm.

What did I think of this term?

This term has been really good because I have improved a lot in all my subjects. Also, I have really improved in English because I have learnt a lot more and I now enjoy the subject.

My highlight is being part of the Year Council and doing charity work. I hope to continue with charity work.

Josh 9NSm.

James 9NBa reporting	YPHE
Day 1 We all went to SEEVIC College. When we got there we were given numbers and each number had to go to a specific table where we had to tell the person opposite us things about ourselves. We made lots of new friends.
The main events were dissecting a pig's heart and then we did some creative writing. At the end of the day we went on the computers. Day 2 The next day we were split into groups and were given tasks to do. My group had to go around the college and interview students. We had to ask them questions like `How long have you been at SEEVIC?' and `Do you like it here?' Later we had to put it into a presentation for university. Day 3
Finally, we went to Anglia Ruskin University where we were given a task to create a `boys' night out' that the university would benefit from. We were given a tour around the university and at the end of the day we had to do our presentation to all our parents and the head of the University - really scary! The presentation went really well and I really enjoyed myself.

DANCE NATIONALS

Last weekend I went to the British Nationals Dance Competition held in Blackpool. My dance partner and I came in the top 20 of Britain. Also, my team danced and we came 1st in the age group of 14-17 in Britain. It was a fantastic achievement and I had a great time!

Charlotte 9NSm.

Alix 9MAt reporting

On Thursday 29th November, my dad, Martin Day, broke a world record by broadcasting his radio show underwater, in a tank. He did really well and broke the previous record of 3 hrs 30 mins with a new record of 3 hrs. 51 mins.

I was able to go and see him in the tank, wearing the wetsuit and harness that Jeremy Clarkson wore when he went there.

The tank was also used to film part of Harry Potter's Triwizard Tournament and Star Wars.

It was really fun and I'm very proud of him!

CHARITY

Mobile Phones

You would have seen in issue 400 of the Sweyne Park Times that some Year 9 pupils have done some excellent work for charity. Josh 9NSm, Elliot 9NSm, Rachel 9JMa, and Kerry 9NSm raised a fantastic £260.00 by collecting old unwanted mobile phones for Children in Need. They were so pleased at the response that they will continue to collect mobile phones for charity next term...

Hoping to get a new mobile for Christmas?

Not sure what to do with your old one?

Bring any old mobile phones to Miss Smith in Te6,

and any money raised will be donated to charity.

Thank you for your help!

Cake Sale

On Friday 16th November some Year 9 pupils held a cake sale for Children in Need. Cakes were sold for 20p each and a superb £101.40p was raised in total. The pupils involved worked really hard on the day, selling cakes not only at break time but at lunch time too. Over 500 cakes were baked and sold! Well done Year 9!

NORTHERN LIGHTS

By Philip Pullman

Classic fantasy, following Lyla's incredible journey after she is given the strange and secret alethiometer. This is the first book of the trilogy. The film, The Golden Compass, is released this week _ read the book it's based on!

Congratulations to Perry 7AGa and Aditi 8YZh who both receive a prize for being the first two correct winners of last week's competition. The correct answer was Mongolia.

This week's clues:

Where in the world am I?

This is a province in northern Europe. Rovaniemi is the administrative capital. It in inhabited by the Sami people

Answers to Pupil Services by Wednesday lunchtime. The first two correct answers picked out of the hat each win a prize.