This year’s Anti-Bullying week at Oathall is focused on being an ‘Upstander’ and encouraging all to stand up to those who are bullying and to encourage kindness throughout the school. The Oathall wellbeing group have worked hard to raise awareness and to help continue with the wonderful and positive atmosphere here at Oathall.
Sue Cheung visits Oathall
We were really thrilled and delighted to welcome author Sue Cheung to Oathall on Monday 11 November. Sue Cheung visited to speak to Year 9 students about her latest book ‘Chinglish’.
The book is about the up’s and down’s of Jo Kwan a teenager growing up in 1980s Coventry with her annoying little sister, too-cool older brother, a series of very unlucky pets and utterly bonkers parents. But unlike the other kids at her new school or her posh cousins, Jo lives above her parents’ Chinese takeaway.
Told in diary entries and doodles, Jo’s brilliantly funny observations about life, family and char siu make for a searingly honest portrayal of life on the other side of the takeaway counter.
Did you miss our 2019 Open Day?
If you missed this year’s Open Day there’s still a way for you to capture a flavour of the evening by watching our short film.
This film was produced by a team of talented Oathall students – we hope you enjoy watching it.
Oathall’s act of remembrance
Our School captains represented the school at the Haywards Heath Schools’ Remembrance service At St Wilfrid’s Church on Friday 8 November.
To mark Armistice Day and Oathall’s act of Remembrance, students and staff gathered on the piazza around our Field of Remembrance. Half of the crosses this year have been dedicated to soldiers, sailors and airmen lost in conflicts such as the Falklands and Northern Ireland. Assemblies this past week, delivered by History teacher and British Army veteran Mr Hastings, have reflected this and enabled staff and students to understand these conflicts better as well as the individual sacrifices made by members of Britain’s armed forces.
As always, our students showed great respect for the Remembrance proceedings which makes this now annual ceremony very special to be part of.
Chatting and crafting in the community
Students at Oathall have just attended their first session at Compton House care home in Lindfield. Our students volunteered to spend time with the residents helping them to colour and write messages on poppies for a Remembrance day project in the home. Our student volunteers are ideally placed to give the residents an opportunity to chat and socialise with younger people from the community.
Miss Murray, who organised the session said
The group were fantastic and were really natural with the residents. They were so helpful and lovely with the residents, it was great to see. We are hoping to make this a regular event.
Teaching & Learning bulletin – Back to School 2019
Respect Aspire Achieve Enjoy
We approach the end of a very busy and long first half of the autumn term. The bulletin that follows highlights just how varied the programme of learning has been and once again, just how involved the Oathall students are to all that is on offer to them. Our new ‘Super Curriculum’ is challenging our students to extend their learning beyond the classroom and it has been such a pleasure for me to have so many examples of outstanding work shown to me and to be able to recognise so many students for their efforts.
We, of course, welcomed a new year group to the Oathall community as the term started in September and it has been a delight for us all to see how quickly they have settled into the school; it is right that this particular bulletin has a particular focus on them also.
I wish everyone a restful half-term break
E Rodriguez
Headteacher
Rugby World Cup Maths
The Maths faculty has been celebrating the Rugby World Cup in recent weeks. Students have been taking part in lessons that link Maths to the great game of rugby.
We have learnt about how we collect data and then how we can represent that data in many different ways. KS 4 students have been able to link this work to cumulative frequency diagrams and Trigonometry. Students have really enjoyed linking Maths to this real-life environment.
Mrs L Griffiths
Oathall Reading Challenge
Students of all year groups were invited to take part in the Oathall Reading Challenge in July in an effort to get some competition going between our bookworms. The challenge involved reading 20 books in 20 categories between June and September. The 14 students below managed to complete this mammoth task and have been awarded book vouchers to spend at the Scholastic Book Fair happening 18-21st November.
Emma Hord, Niamh Chapman, Poppy Southerton, Tasha Lawrence, Isla Mustin, Jemima Brigden, Mia Wendt, Molly Hord, Esme Brigden, Ebba Wilson, Isobel Dupee, Sarah Bewick, Anna Bedingham, Bea Carter.
Ms A Chinn
Poetry Open Mic
On 4th October students and staff celebrated National Poetry Day in the style we are accustomed to: with one of our termly Open Mic Sessions.
We had almost 50 students from across the year groups take part. Some read a poem that they had written themselves and others that have been published. There was a fantastic array of poets and excellent readings, with a couple of brave souls reciting their chosen poem from memory and one being read in Spanish. Sadly we had more students than we had time to hear, so some read their poems in class instead. We made sure they still gained their house points and credits!
Well done to everyone who took part and thank-you to Jason and Josh for setting up the sound system for us.
Ms P Sullivan
Focus on Year 7s
Year 7 Club Fair
Year 7 Drama at Oathall
Year 7 students have been working on creating characters for the circus and developing performance skills such as mime, use of facial expressions and body language. Working in groups they’ve explored how slapstick comedy can be linked into a mimed circus performance and developed their characters to show the emotions they could be feeling in different situations. Students have created some wonderful freeze-frames showing different emotions and their assessment pieces are taking shape nicely!
Year 7 Book Club
The Laugh Out Loud Book Awards (the Lollies) celebrates the best and funniest children’s books in the UK and Ireland, voted for by children. The Awards have been running since 2016 and this is Oathall’s second year participating. Students had the opportunity to sign up at the Year 7 Club Fair (which was run by our Year 9/10 student librarians). The twelve students are reading the four short-listed titles and then discussing them before voting for our favourite title: the UK winner will be announced in January 2020.
Mrs D Perrin
Year 7s ‘Get into Music’ Assembly
Music assembly
Our term got off to a great start with teachers from West Sussex Music and Love Music Schools, along with two of our senior students Joe and Matthew, coming in to perform to our year 7 classes in the Get Into Music Assemblies. Students had the opportunity to meet the teachers and hear them sing and play their instruments with many Year 7s opting to begin learning an instrument.
Year 7 Science
Science club is now running for Year 7 in a Week A lunchtime and they are ably assisted by our Science prefects. So far the year 7s have enjoyed making slime, designing their own sparklers and lighting methane bubbles in their hands (should not be tried at home!).
Next term we will also be launching a Year 7 and 8 Homework Club on Tuesday lunchtimes where students can come and ask our older students for some help if they are stuck or need a hand with a piece of work. GCSE Clinics continue to be available after school for our GCSE students. Please don’t forget the revision guide order deadline is the 9th November.
Library Skills
Year 7s have been finding their way around the library by means of a Scavenger Hunt. Based on what they’d learned in their library induction lessons, students had to find the answers to a series of questions by walking through and around every corner of the library. Questions ranged from “Is the Book Returns Box blue – Yes or No?” to “how are the books in the Fiction section organised”. Only by going to every part of the library were they able to complete their task. Each class did really well and should now be confident about what we have in the library and how to find what they need.
Mrs D Perrin
Inspirational Geography homework
The geography team has seen some fantastic homework produced this half term.
In Year 8, making a volcano model is one of the most popular tasks and the variety of models produced is a testament to the creativity of the young learners at Oathall.
Isobel Dupée explains, “My mum and I worked for ages, doing the paper mache, painting and glossing it and lastly finding the perfect formula for the bicarbonate of soda recipe.
I completed a lot of research to help me label my model fully, my knowledge of the key terms for this topic has improved no end. “
In Year 9, students have been learning about Tourism and how it can provide jobs and improve the wealth of an area. However, when large numbers of visitors go to one place this can have both positive and negative impacts on the area. Students were asked to design their own tourist destinations in any medium they wish, some choose cake!
Tourism island
Mrs F. Hatchard
Science news
Students have made a great start to the school year and we have been impressed to see them engaging enthusiastically in their learning in Science.
House Challenge week will see our Key Stage 3 students taking part in an NHS national competition to raise awareness of the range of careers open to people. We are looking forward to seeing and submitting their entries!
Mrs Pringle is planning a full year of enrichment opportunities for our students and we look forward to keeping you posted over the coming months of what we are up to.
Mrs J Pringle
Learning from the Professionals
Students had a great day out at the fabulous performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto at Glyndebourne. We had lunch in the beautiful gardens before the performance and met up with Eric Gautron, Technical Director and one of our Oathall parents! Another family connection with the cast was noted and students were also lucky to meet Madeleine Shaw who played Madalena after the performance! Madeleine was able to advise our young singers on breath control so Mrs Mac Taggart is looking forward to hearing this in action at the Big Sing before the end of half-term.
Mrs C Mac Taggart
Macbeth trip
On the 16th October, a group of year 10 and 11 students went to see a performance of Macbeth at the Chichester Festival Theatre. The production starred John Simm as Macbeth and Dervla Kirwan as Lady Macbeth.
Ms A Chinn
Focus on Animals
Oathall Farm Animal Care
Students from the new Year 10 animal Care group have been working offsite with sheep.
Spring may be a distant memory but our farm pigs are welcoming new piglets this autumn, We have Roberta, a Saddleback sow who has had her first litter and she is proving an excellent calm mum, ideal for a school farm. Hannah Chatfield, a year 10 farm Team Leader has been getting to know the new saddleback piglets.
Sports Ambassador trip to Blacklands Farm
On Wednesday 9th October Mid Sussex Active organised a trip to Blacklands farm for all the sports leaders that have been selected to be Sports Ambassadors from Warden Park, Sackville, Imberhorn, The Burgess Hill Academy, Oathall, St Paul’s and Downlands. They were chosen to be a sports Ambassador as they have shown excellent leadership qualities through the last year and excellent role models.
At Blacklands farm, the pupils had the opportunity to take part in a variety of team building activities such as climbing, problem-solving, archery and abseiling. The pupils had a fantastic day and have learnt a variety of skills that they will now use to help deliver festivals for the rest of the academic year.
Textile Club ‘Endangered’ competition entries
The competition is run by the David Shepherd Wild Life Foundations. It’s open to anyone under the age of 16. To enter you have to create an exciting mini-exhibition/display made from anything, but recycled materials if possible. It should reflect the theme ‘endangered’. Students in the textile club are working in 2 groups; the younger students are making an underwater scene and the older ones are making a jungle scene. We will then join the two to make one big piece.
Mrs V Slater
Focus on Mentoring
Visit to Blackthorns Primary
Our Year 11 German linguists did us proud last Thursday at Blackthorns Primary School in Lindfield.
It was the first time that any of them were on the other side of the classroom being the teacher rather than the pupil. They approached it with enthusiasm, maturity and warmth that inspired all the children to actively participate in the lessons that they had prepared. These included how to introduce yourself and sing Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes or “Kopf Schulter Knie und Fuß”.
But their skills didn’t stop there as not only were they able to teach German but also act as ambassadors of Oathall. They confidently fielded questions about life here and I dare say that we will be seeing many of them in the years to come!
Language Mentors
Our Language Mentor scheme is up and running again this term. Our wonderful year 11 linguists work once a week during tutor time with our talented Year 8 language students. The aim is to develop Year 8 students’ confidence and mastery of the language whilst also developing Year 11 student’s leadership skills. Our Year 11s plan and organise activities which complement the teaching and learning in the classroom
Mrs L Sandford
Focus on the Outdoors
Mud Run
Last week a group of year 7-9 pupils went to Bedes Secondary school to take part in a mud run. There were lots of obstacles on the way round that were really hard work and tested our stamina! We had loads of fun and especially enjoyed the slip and slide.
Please congratulate the Under 12 girls football team who played their first home fixture of the season recently and beat Oriel High School 7-4.
Player of the match voted for by the opposition was Ella Crudington who scored 4 goals!
Next game, St Pauls!
Under 12 Football team
Under 13 girls football team
Player of the match voted for by the team was Yasmin Williams.
Boys Under 14s rugby team
Our boys Under 15s rugby team recently had a great win in the District Cup!
boys Under 15 rugby team
Focus on Clubs
Photography Club begins
Year 9 Photography Club started this week (16/10/19). Students took photoshoots and experimented with photoshop techniques responding to the themes ‘Levitation’, ‘Cloning’ and ‘Framing’. Many had not used DSLRs or Photoshop before but were able to produce some fantastic results.
Music Clubs and Performances
Oathall musicians have been having fun and developing their skills in the lunchtime and after school clubs as can be seen in the photos. We have been rehearsing for a number of performances, the first of which will be our Big Sing event where our choir, bands and orchestra will be performing with 5 local primary schools under the direction of Welsh tenor and director of Coro Nuovo, Andrew Rees, who will be leading the event with Mrs Mac Taggart and Mr Van Galen.
Pianoman Scholarship Masterclass
We would like to congratulate pianists, Ben, Isla, Min and Agalia for their brilliant performances in the Pianoman Scholarship master class. The class was led by concert pianist Richard Meyrick who was able to offer valuable insight into the approaches to performance and improving technique for the young musicians. We are looking forward to hearing much more from them in the concerts over the coming months.
Summer reflections
Our Year 9 and 10 students had a great opportunity to visit Spain last summer and experience the language and culture in the Catalan seaside-resort of Callela.
After getting off the coach in the rain, we all quickly settled in rooms and we were welcomed by our PGL leaders who briefed us about all water-sport activities.
Our excursions included a visit to the magnificent city of Barcelona.
Our first stop was the world heritage site, Park Güell, a public park composed of gardens and architectonic elements. The park was designed by Antoni Gaudí, a renowned architect, whose style was inspired by organic shapes and analysis of geometry.
Then we made our way to Las Ramblas, a renowned pedestrian street. Kiosks selling flowers, newspapers and souvenirs lined the street, along with performers, and pavement cafes.
Finally, all students had an opportunity to go shopping and had to use their best orienteering skills to get to la Sagrada Família, the infamous and still incomplete church designed by Antoni Gaudí.
All students also enjoyed a very relaxing day at the Waterworld theme-park where they experienced the most thrilling rides! We then headed for the picturesque town of Tossa de Mar where we all bought our souvenirs and gifts for families and friends.
We are very proud of our students who really tried hard to speak Spanish throughout the trip, to try the local food and enjoy the cultural sites.
‘Our hotel boasted a delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet accompanied with a range of traditional Spanish foods, such as croquettes, Spanish omelette and paella. The Spanish lessons we had while on the trip were very engaging, such as matching the description to the teacher and trying our best to translate reggaeton song lyrics to English. These language skills we learnt were put to good use when we went shopping for souvenirs for our families (and when buying all the ice cream!). Between the visit to the picturesque seaside town of Tossa de Mar and the beautiful excursion to Barcelona, we all had a fantastic time.’ David Wheatley 11VCDS
M F Henri
Year 7 Settling in evening
The Year 7 Settling in Evening will take place on Thursday 24th October from 3:30 – 6:30 pm and you are warmly invited to attend with your child.
The aim of this evening is for you to meet with the tutor and discuss how your child has settled here at Oathall Community College. Please note that a further evening is arranged on the 3rd March 2020 for you to discuss your child’s academic progress with their teachers.
Further information can be found in this letter.
Student Wellbeing drop-in sessions
As part of a strategy to help young people improve their wellbeing and mental health, Oathall student volunteers have begun a new initiative to help their peers cope with and discuss any wellbeing issues they may have.
On a weekly basis, students now have the opportunity to attend a “Wellbeing Drop-In Session.” This allows pupils with wellbeing-related issues, such as stress, anxiety and friendship problems, to speak to other pupils in a safe environment. These sessions are overseen by teachers but are ultimately run by pupil volunteers who have received training.
The aim of this initiative is to provide pupils with peers who will listen to them, as well as suggest potential solutions and coping strategies.
This logo has been designed by one of the wellbeing student volunteers.