Misbourne News Summer 2021

Misbourne News

Celebrate!

Cover photograph taken by Josie, Year 12

INSIDE

Small schools review ● Food tech brilliance ● Duke of Edinburgh ● Sporting success ● Diary dates

Issue 11 Summer 2021 www.themisbourne.co.uk

@themisbourne

Headteacher's Welcome

Dear Families,

Despite the obvious challenges this past year has thrown at us, I remain hugely proud of the way in which our community has come together. This newsletter shows just some of the many examples of some things going back to 'normal', with trips, visits and guest speakers enhancing students' learning. I don't know about you, but I think the work produced by students in the food department really is outstanding and made my mouth water just looking at the photos.

As ever there are a examples of individual sporting successes and I am really pleased that we even managed a variation of sports day last week to end the year with some inter-school competition.

The end of this year also marks the end of our first year of the 4 schools system. I have been incredibly impressed with how hard our new school teams have worked to give students the pastoral and academic support needed, particularly in such challenging times. You can read more about what each school has been up to in the following pages.

Lastly, we are saying goodbye to some wonderful colleagues who are going on to pastures new. I am sure you will join me in wishing them every success in their new roles, whilst giving a warm welcome to the new staff joining us in September.

Happy reading.

Jo Meloni

Message from Kate Goodwin, Chair of Trustees

Dear Families,

We come to the end of a very tough school year for our students, our Academy staff and our families. I suspect that we are all wondering what the Autumn term will bring, and I would like to take this opportunity to reassure you that planning is already underway for a number of scenarios - one thing that we have learned since March 2020 is to have several versions of a plan available to us.

A special mention to our Year 13s and some of our Year 11s who are leaving us for pastures new - we wish you the very best of luck for the future. Thank you for all you have done for The Misbourne during your time with us.

From all the Misbourne Trustees, we wish you a relaxing, safe and happy Summer holiday and we look forward to welcoming our students back to school in September, complete with new uniforms, shiny shoes, books, a full pencil case and a reusable water bottle!

With my best regards,

Kate Goodwin

What's

INSIDE

04. WELCOME
Meet our new staff members

06. SMALL SCHOOL REVIEW
Heads of School look back at their first year.

10. CHARITY FUNDRAISING
Our small schools report on their fundraising this year.

14. A TEST OF GRIT
Duke of Edinburgh expedition update

16. SURVIVING SILVER DofE
A report from a soaking Welsh hillside

18. LIVING HISTORY
A moving report of the relative of a Holocaust survivor.

20. LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
The making of The Misbourne's new video

22. FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD
Year 10s report from The Farmschool

24. MOUTHWATERING MENUS
Our Food Prep chefs show off their creations

30. SHOWSTOPPING SUCCESS
Year 12 music students put on a show

31. SPORTING SUCCESS
Record-breaking sporting achievements

32. CYCLING SUPREMOS
We celebrate the success of three of The Misbourne's cycling superstars

34. WELLBEING ADVICE
Where to go for advice this Summer

35. DIARY DATES
All the dates you need for the Autumn term

A warm welcome to...

MRS REEVES

MISS WHITE
Attendance Officer

MR RILEY
Music teacher

MISS STYLES
Intervention Mentor

MR MEPHAM
English teacher

MISS GROVES
English teacher

MISS BELL
English teacher

MR NEWTON
SENCO and Humanities teacher

MRS BARRETT

MR MILLER
Estates and Health & Safety Manager

MR BARKER
Science teacher

MRS GOLLA
Deputy Headteacher

MISS OWUSU
English teacher and Deputy Head of Holmes School

And a fond farewell to...

MRS LIEBENBERG

MRS REEVES

MS COLLINS

MISS PERRY

MR DWIGHT

MRS BARRETT

MR SAUNDERS

MISS BROWN

MS HOCKLEY

Farewell also to Mr Ingram, as well as our fabulous teaching assistants, Mr Cameron and Miss Daugnoraite.

As the first year of our small school system draws to a close, our Heads of Schools look back at the highlights of the year...

We come to the end of the first year as Attenborough School, and quite the year it has been! Via remote working, year group bubbles, one-way systems, and virtual assemblies, every member of Attenborough school has risen to the challenges this year has presented, reports Mr Casserley.

As we come to the end of our first year as Team Franklin, it’s worth looking back on all that we have managed to achieve in the face of so many challenges.

From the Year 7s taking their first steps in secondary school life; Year 8 students choosing their GCSE options; Year 9 beginning their GCSE courses; Year 10s consolidating their knowledge and building revision techniques; through to Year 11 completing their GCSE courses and looking forward to their next steps, all students have taken this year in their stride.
To develop our students’ awareness and understanding of The Misbourne’s key values, we have run weekly assemblies that highlight each value and how these values apply to each and every one of Attenborough School teams’ lives, in and out of school.
Students have demonstrated ambition and pride through raising the most money of all the four small schools for our nominated charity, the Thames Valley Air Ambulance. We have developed kindness and respect in our school environment by building on the work of our namesake, Sir David, and his passion for caring for the environment.
Students of Attenborough School have embodied moral purpose in working hard and achieving just shy of 20,000 achievement points across the year, an averaging of 95 achievement points per student. We have helped foster several student’s resilience by running a mentoring programme with members of staff and I'm proud to report that Attenborough School had the most student leaders across all four schools, helping to run the weekly Taskmaster competition, liaising with our charities, and running the non-school uniform day - all an excellent demonstration of teamwork.
I would like to thank all of the Attenborough School team for their hard work this year. Our form tutors have been many of our students’ ‘rock’ over this past year, being there to support them with the challenges of this year. Unfortunately, we are saying goodbye to Mrs Liebenberg, Mr Ingram, Miss Perry and Mrs. Barrett as they move to exciting new challenges in new roles at different schools. We wish all four of them the best of luck - Attenborough school will miss them.
The end of term celebration assembly was my last assembly as Head of Attenborough School. I have recently become a father for the first time, so I will be stepping back from this pastoral role to support my wife in raising baby Hugh. It has been an extremely rewarding year working with all members of Attenborough School and sharing my passion for protecting the natural word. I know I will leave the running of Attenborough in the very capable care of Miss Balchin.
I hope you have a great summer and are well rested for the new academic year in September.

Back in September, we all knew that this was not going to be a normal year. However, none of us could have predicted just how much disruption our students would have to weather to simply be in school learning with their peers. Whether facing lengthy lockdowns or repeated instances of self-isolation, our students have done their best to keep focused and engaged with their learning. We have never been anything other than hugely impressed with the way Franklin students have conducted themselves – be it in school or at home learning remotely. Clearly, Franklin students can rise above anything!
Our school values of ambition and pride, kindness and respect, equality and moral purpose, and resilience and teamwork have permeated everything that Team Franklin has achieved this year – R-E-S-P-E-C-T being the operative word for us here in Franklin! With over 25,000 achievement points, we have absolutely sailed home as this year’s victorious small school! Not only have we achieved the highest number of overall achievement points, but we have also incurred the fewest number of behaviour points per student too. Neither of these successes is an accident. To succeed in this manner over the course of an academic year, our students have had to keep those core school values and their respect for the Misbourne Way at the forefront of everything they have done. We’re so proud of our group of young people and of the ambition, determination and pride that they have shown every day. We therefore want to say a huge congratulations to our first-class Franklin students for working so hard, achieving so highly and for behaving so well throughout this most challenging of school years!
Beyond the classroom, it has been great to see Team Franklin get involved in student leadership initiatives, charity fundraising and competitions. Many of our Franklin students from across the year groups helped to raise the morale of their peers throughout the second period of lockdown by developing a series of weekly competitions and activities for students to get involved with. In addition to this, Team Franklin also helped to raise an amazing £278 for Tiggywinkles, our nominated charity. We cannot wait to see what Team Franklin does next year to contribute to their school and wider community.
Although Miss Rowe will remain as Head of School for Franklin and Mr Griffiths will continue as our brilliant SLT link, Mr McGregor will be stepping down from his role as Deputy Head of School at the end of the academic year. Mr McGregor would like to thank everybody involved with Team Franklin, from the staff to the students, for making this year so fantastic and memorable. As many of you already know, Mr McGregor will be succeeded in his role as Deputy Head of School by the fantastic Miss Freemantle, someone who has worked tirelessly this year to support Team Franklin and who will make an excellent addition to the core Franklin team next year.
All that remains is to thank you, our Franklin families, for all of the support and patience you have displayed throughout this year of ups and (lock)downs. Without you backing us up, we wouldn’t be able to deliver for our students in the way that we strive to, so make sure that you take some time to rest and recharge over the summer break too. See you in September!

Miss Rowe and Mr McGregor