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MEDIA/DRAMA BLOCK

ideal number, given the school's popularity and high pupil numbers. I am therefore delighted to inform you that we have secured fundingfrom County to build a dedicated drama studio alongside a specialised media classroom and media editing suite, which will help the large number of pupils who

study Media Studies at Key Stage 4 as well as those studying Drama at Key Stage 3 & 4.

As you may be aware, we currently have a "state of the art" dedicated Drama Studio. However, the accommodation for our second Drama Studio is far from adequate and we are also one classroom short of our ideal number, given the school's popularity and high pupil numbers. I am therefore delighted to inform you that we have secured funding from County to build a dedicated drama studio alongside a specialised media classroom and media editing suite, which will help the large number of pupils who study Media Studies at Key Stage 4 as well as those studying Drama at Key Stage 3 & 4.

You may also recall that, shortly after Kate Spiller passed away, I said we would look to create a lasting memorial in her honour and to that end Kate's family are also going to make a very generous donation towards this project. I am therefore confident that the new Media/Drama Block will be both a truly first class building to enhance our pupils' education, as well as a fitting testament to Kate's legacy.

The process of designing the building will now begin and we will of course be involving pupils in this. We will then commission the building work which we hope will start early in the next academic year.

REFURBISHMENT OF TOILLETS

Further to last week's Sweyne Park Times, we now have a definite date for the long overdue work on refurbishing our toilets, and this will begin straight after February half-term. Although this will cause a small amount of disruption in the main corridor, I hope you will agree that it will be worth the wait. You might say it will be an inconvenient convenience!

Exciting opportunities are on the horizon over the next few weeks for KS4 media pupils. A select group of Year 11 students will be venturing to experience the `Magic of Disney' at Disneyland Resort, Paris, for three days in February.

This will contribute to understanding the role of global media organisations in the world today.

During half term a combination of Year 10 & Year 11 pupils will travel even further afield to experience life in the city that never sleeps, New York, New York.

New York 2008

February is an exciting time for students of Media Studies. Early on the morning of the 11th, thirty nine intrepid pupils will begin their adventure to the Media capital of the world New York. After an eight hour flight, we will find ourselves in the heart of Manhattan, Time Square. Each day will include exciting excursions such as a tour of NBC studios, a day with the New York Film Academy and a journey to the top of the rock. The trip to New York will provide students with an insight into the busiest city in the world and the wonderful world of Media that exists there.

On Friday 7th March, year 9 pupils will have the opportunity to see a production of `The Tempest' by the Arty Fact Theatre Company. This will focus on the set scenes that the pupils will be studying for their Key Stage 3 exams in May. It will be followed by a short workshop showing students how to use the speeches from the play to answer the exam questions. Last year, the pupils said that they found this very helpful and that it gave them confidence in the exam.

Mr Jenkins reporting

Farlingaye High School

The Sweyne Park School

On Wednesday the 16th of January the Year 9 Sweyne Park basketball team travelled to Farlingaye school in Suffolk for a crucial qualifying game in the English Schools National Cup competition. Based on previous results, it looked as though the game would be a tight one, with the winner progressing into the next stage of the competition. Sweyne Park started the game the stronger team, and with some intense defending

and some great passing, we scored 10 unanswered points. As the home team then settled the game became a close affair with baskets being scored at both ends of the court. However, the Sweyne Park team's defence proved to hard for Farlingaye to break down and with some fantastic baskets being scored at the opposite end Sweyne Park ran out 76-57 winners. Although every member of the team played a part in the victory, Man of the Match was Ross `the spider' who played every minute of the game and managed to rack up 25 points and even more rebounds! We now await our opponent in the next round and who knows where our next road trip will take us! Well done boys, excellent effort.

WORKSHOPS

Open Workshop every Tuesday 3-4 MA4

Year 9 booster classes Monday 3-4 IT

EQUIPMENT REMINDER

All pupils should have a pen, pencil, ruler, eraser, protractor, pair of compasses and a CALCULATOR.

"There is nothing that I can revise for English." If this is your opinion you need a copy of the revision guide for English and for your set books as they will help you to organise your revision.

Books Available

Key Stage 3 English

The Tempest

GCSE English

Lord Of the Flies

Of Mice & Men

An Inspector Calls

Please see your English teacher to order your copy at special prices

On hearing that Fair Havens Hospice was facing a deficit, Liam, along with his two friends Ethan and Jack, decided to do some fundraising.

They rented out `Room 24' in Southend and sold tickets to friends and family for a night of entertainment.

About 240 people attended the event and they raised £1,040 for the hospice.

Well done Liam

Gemma and Olivia reporting

One Friday evening in December we sang carols around Canewdon, our village.

We raised £50 for Cancer Research >UK and we both enjoyed the evening very much.

We hope we have made a difference to Cancer Research >UK and enchanted our village. Hope you all had a good Christmas and we wish you a Happy New Year.

AFTER THE DEATH OF ALICE BENNET

By Rowland Molony

After his Mum dies, Sam is convinced she will contact him on "the other side". So when he finds a text message, he is convinced this is contact from her. But who is really texting Sam and what will happen as he sets out to meet his Mum? One of the 6 short-listed Essex Book Award books _ will it be the winner?

SHORT-LISTED FOR THE ESSEX BOOK AWARD 2007/8

This week's clues:

This is a Celtic country not too far from us whose scenery, skiing and culinary delights are known the world over.

Where in the world am I?

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