Sainsbury’s Active Kids 2011

Sainsbury’s Active Kids 2011 is almost over for another year. We are collecting vouchers in Reception for sport, dance and food technology equipment. The vouchers will be available from Sainsbury’s stores, petrol stations and now through online grocery shopping until 31st May 2011. Please collect these on behalf of the College.....they will benefit the subject departments and ultimately your son/daughter.

Also, it is time for the Tesco for Schools and Clubs vouchers. These are available from Tesco stores, filling stations and Tesco Express. Please donate these vouchers by placing them in the boxes in reception. Our thanks to those of you who have supported the College so far with this worthwhile scheme.

Wigston Family of Schools Scholarship “Platform”

The launch of the Wigston Family of Schools Scholarship took place in the Spring term. We received a number of applications for the scholarship which are being judged by our supporters the Rotary Club of Blaby and the Leicester based arts company “Citizen598.” The Wigston Family of Schools Scholarship has its second event on Thursday 14th July at Guthlaxton College from 7.00pm. This second event is being organised by students and this unique approach is a testament to the creativity and commitment of young people determined to make a difference for themselves and their community. Please put this date in your diary, it promises to be an excellent evening.

The Wigston Arts Festival

There is ongoing news of the Wigston Arts Federation Festival which is being co-ordinated for 20th June – 15th July 2011.  It is building upon the success of the inaugural festival last year and will include activities across the Wigston Family of Schools.  The month long event is attracting a huge response with new events such as the Book on a Bike; The Platform Acoustic Event; Steel Pans and many more in addition to a Wigston Family of Schools Summer Concert; Get Doing Dance Festival; Two Spires Film Festival; Literacy Festival; Visual Art exhibition and much much more. Watch this space.

Young Americans 2012

The Young Americans are back in 2012 revisiting Wigston and our Family of Schools. The exciting news is they will be at the College for the weekend of 16th – 18th March 2012. Watch this space as details evolve of their visit.

Lord Lieutenants Award

We were delighted that Jack Vardy reached the final of the Lord Lieutenants Award on Thursday 31st March at County Hall. It was a superb event shared with other finalists. He received his award from the Lord Lieutenant and a state of the art phone. We thank Jack for all his contribution towards developing student voice across the College and wish him every success for the future.

The Art of Brilliance

The student consultants are working with Andy Cope and Tony Seymour to develop a programme to support our young people in striving to become brilliant. The students have been invited to lead the Art of Brilliance workshop at Shepshed High School on 16th May. We wish them luck.

Two Spires Film Festival

Ken Loach and Shane Meadows both hail from the East Midlands....who will be next? With advances in technology it is now easier than ever to film and edit your own short films. This film festival aims to provide a platform for young people aged 14-19 to showcase their filmmaking talents and enthusiasm in front of an audience.

“Two Spires Short Film Festival” is aimed at 14-19 year olds across Leicestershire and will be an open competition to showcase the best talent in the county. The main competition is the Two Spires Prize, which will award prizes for achievement in different technical categories as well as for performers. For this competition there will be a criteria of what to include – such as a title or a prop. There will also be an “open” category competition for any type of film you may have made.

The festival is inviting young people from across the county to submit their work, whether it is something they have made at school or college or a project they have done in their own time. The festival will take place on Thursday 7th July at Guthlaxton College and everyone is welcome to attend and see the shortlisted films and be there for the announcement of the winners. This festival will be part of the Wigston Family of Schools Arts Festival.

The Reflective Curve

The Year 10 Express Dance students with Mr Dacey and Mr Kirkland have been working with the Curve on the third year of the Creative Partnerships Change School Programme. They have been involved in the use of music technology to create a fascinating project which reflects the life and times of Davenport, Wigston’s own Robin Hood. This project will culminate in a performance at All Saints church which is close to the house lived in by Davenport and his final resting place.

Calling all Year 9 Prospective Students and Parents

.......dates for your diary

Our thanks to colleagues at Abington, Bushloe, South Wigston and our out of catchment transferring schools, parents and Year 9 pupils for their hard work and commitment in ensuring that the 2011 liaison process has operated smoothly. The Information Evenings, Parent Evenings, Year 9 Interviews and admission and option forms are completed in readiness for the amazing work of technology in fulfilling its task in organising teaching groups for the Induction Days.

The data input has been completed and the planning of Induction is in hand. The dates for the Year 9 Induction are Tuesday 5th, Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th July. This is preceded on Monday 4th July by a Year 9 Parent Evening. If any prospective parents or pupils have concerns regarding the process please contact the College for further information.

Graham Norris, 9 February 1935 – 9 April 2011

It is with regret that I am reporting to you the very sad news that Mr Graham Norris died recently. Graham was Principal at the College from 27th April 1981 to 31st August 1995. He was a man of integrity and Guthlaxton College was a large part of his life. He worked tirelessly for young people as Principal of the College, as a local magistrate and in his dealings with the Local Education Authority. He was passionate about education and the Leicester three tier system, having come into Principalship from being a deputy head at Anstey Martin High School and then headteacher at South Wigston High School.

He was a caring Principal who was concerned for the welfare of students and staff alike. He established an ethos at the College which ensured a high quality of care and guidance securing a place where all students were cared for and supported so that they could achieve their potential in all that they did. Graham was equally passionate about the Arts and it was under his guardianship of the College that Performing Arts became a true strength which led the College into becoming a Specialist College for Performing Arts. He championed the Arts at local and national level. Graham guided and inspired many teachers who were promoted to great positions in schools. He will be a great loss to the College and community.

Our thoughts are with his family, his wife Dawn and daughters Rachel and Sarah and their families.

Punctuality Matters

We have become increasingly concerned about our students’ “attitude to learning” in recent weeks. This has manifest itself in lateness, unpreparedness and a malaise which is disappointing. Punctuality Matters...... and it concerns everyone involved in ensuring that our students achieve their full potential and reach for the stars. It includes ourselves as teachers, our students as learners and you as parents/carers.

A few facts to share with you as parents/carers:

• 5 minutes late for registration every day throughout the College year is the equivalent of 16.5 hours of lost learning.
• 2 minutes late for every lesson throughout the College year is 32.5 hours of lost learning.

These facts may then be translated into....lateness is reflected in a reference for a college place or job; lateness shows a great deal about the person who is late; and lateness reflects an attitude to learning. Our corporate message in our work is to ensure that every student “Learns to Succeed,” this includes being on time as Punctuality Matters.

We are involved in a number of strategies to raise the awareness of punctuality and to demonstrate that Punctuality Matters. These measures include:

• Gate late patrols including a higher staff presence at pressure points
• Late intervention and success ladders
• Teaser campaign
• Certificates and rewards

We look to you as parents to support us in our efforts. Please could you help by:-

• establishing routines in the evening which encourage your son/daughter to be prepared for the next day
• establishing clear routines in the morning which avoid your son/daughter being late
• setting out from home early to enable your son/daughter to miss the congestion and rush-hour chaos
• reinforcing the corporate message that Punctuality Matters.

I thank you for your continued support over this matter and I look forward to sharing with you the improvements in our punctuality rates in the next edition of our parental newsletter.

Sally Cox
Deputy Principal

Published on Monday 9th May 2011 at 09:00