This term has been a short but very busy term and lots of things have been achieved since returning in January. A number of these achievements are celebrated in our termly newsletter.
Last week was Apprenticeship Week and work during tutorial time has allowed our students the time to explore this particular post-16 option. Apprenticeships are still one of the less common routes for students to follow, and yet they can offer an excellent route into training and employment. In most cases they are designed by employers so the training reflects the skills, knowledge and behaviours an apprentice will need for a particular occupation. The training is generally of a high standard, and only training providers who are on the register of apprenticeship training providers can deliver it, and of course working as an apprentice means you earn as you learn. Apprentices are doing a real job, gaining the skills needed for their chosen occupation, and they spend 20% of their working hours training. This training is free, so no apprentice need worry about student debt. As with all decisions, it pays to make sure you know what all the options are, so I would encourage all our young people, parents and carers to find out more.
Click here to find out more information about apprenticeships.
Our Y11 hospitality and catering students have been impressing us with their culinary creations, having now completed their practical exam for their GCSE qualification. They've all shown their independence by planning and organising their menus, which have ranged from curried lentil curry and shepherds pie to steak with homemade chips and onion rings. Not to mention the mouth-watering desserts! We're so proud of these students and all our Y11s, as they crank up their efforts, ahead of their second round of mock exams, which start after half term.
This term we have launched 'Meden Explained' which is a series short videos that explain key areas of Meden School life. We have created these videos as a response to parental feedback, where parents wanted to know more about what happens day to day in our school, so that they can better support their child to succeed. We will be adding more throughout next term so please keep an eye for these. We hope you find the Meden Explained videos useful and if you need more information after watching the videos or think of an area we have missed then please email office@medenschool.co.uk.
Click here to watch our Meden Explained videos.
Congratulations to our Inclusive Dodge Ball team who took part in their first event at the Nottinghamshire Championships. I am delighted that they won every game and everyone at Meden is super proud of them!
As ever, we are keen to get our students reading more and more and it was great to see their engagement in our most recent Big Read event . I cannot stress enough the importance of regular reading, There are clear links between reading and achievement, not only within school but also beyond the school gates. As parents, you receive regular updates in KS3 on your child’s reading age; this will help you to support your child with wider reading at home.
Finally the term ended with our college students raising money for people who suffer from Alzheimer's disease with a bake sale in school. They raised over £185 selling delicious cakes, donated by parents/carers students and staff. What fantastic role models they are for our younger students in school; a real credit to themselves and our school community!
Thank you for your continued support throughout this term and beyond, I hope you have a lovely half term break.
Best Wishes
Mr Jim Smith
Following an Eco Warriors lesson, one of our Y7 students, Cody, felt so strongly about the effects of plastic pollution on the environment that he took it upon himself to write a letter to PM Rishi Sunak , with his concerns, never expecting a reply.
Much to his surprise and delight, Cody then received a reply, in the post on official No.10 Downing Street letter headed paper, thanking him for his letter and informing him that his letter had been sent to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Mr Smith was both proud of Cody and thrilled for him that he had received a reply to his letter, "this is a great example of our whole school curriculum intent in action. Our eco warriors enrichment curriculum is encouraging our students to see the inequalities around them and to ‘do something about them!’"
Well done Cody!
On Thursday 9th February, members of staff took some of our Year 8 students to Harvey Haddon Sports Hall in Nottingham to take part in a KS3 Inclusive Dodgeball Event.
The students played in mixed gender and ability teams. They played against 4 different schools;
George Spencer Academy
Manor Academy A team,
Oakwood Academy
and Joseph Whitaker.
The students were enthusiastic and threw themselves into the competition.
5 mini games were played against each school.
Overall, the Meden team won against all other schools!
Most importantly though- they all really enjoyed the event
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Our Y11 hospitality and catering students have impressed us with their culinary creations, having now completed their practical exam for their GCSE qualification. They've all shown brilliant independence by planning and organising their menus, which have ranged from curried lentil curry and shepherds pie to steak with homemade chips and onion rings. Not to mention the mouth-watering desserts!
This half term has been a busy one for our sports teams, with lots of students taking part in a variety of events.
7-aside Football - Jan 17th
On Tuesday after school, 8 students from Y10 went to Sutton Lawn to play in a 7 aside football tournament.
The students played brilliantly and also gave a really good account of themselves on the pitch.
Results
Drew 1-1 against Ashfield (Kempton scored)
Won 3-0 against Samworth (Ellis, Leon, Eric scored)
Won 1-0 against Kirkby (Eric scored)
Lost 2-0 against Manor
Drew 0-0 against Brunts
Lost 1-0 against Joseph Whitaker
Well done to Billy, Theo, Ellis, Fin, Daniel, Kempton, Leon and Eric!
Basketball - Jan 25th
On Wednesday of this week, our Y9 boys played their first ever official Basketball games. We travelled to Brunts Academy and took part in a tournament against Brunts academy and National School.
The boys thoroughly enjoyed the games and showed promise but also realised how physically demanding basketball is as a sport!
They will play the second round of this tournament in the coming weeks
Results
Meden 6- Brunts 12
Meden 4- National 22 *National had an extremely good player who scored 18/22 points for them!
Well done to all the students involved
Joel ,Ellis, Matthew, Henry, George and Pau
Badminton -Jan 26th
It has been many years since Meden entered in to a Badminton competition, so it was lovely to participate in the KS3 and KS4 Girls badminton competition at Sutton Academy.
The competition involved 2 singles games and 1 doubles game against 3 different schools (Sutton Academy, Selston Academy and Joseph Whitaker). Points were gained for every win.
Well done to the following players
KS3
KS4
Star performer, winning all her games was Grace.
Cross Country - February 4th
On Saturday 4th Feb, several students competed in a county cross-country event held at Berry Hill park in Mansfield.
Students from all over Nottinghamshire were in attendance.
The students had qualified for this event by finishing in the 'top 8' of the Mansfield schools competition and were now representing 'Mansfield' in this county wide competition.
This was the main qualifying event for the National schools cross country event.
How did we do?
Year 7 girls- approx 50-55 girls in this race (3000m)
Alexia - 17th
Indi - 40th
Year 7 boys- approx 50-55 boys in this race (3000m)
James - 15th
James - 24th
Year 10/11 Boys- approx 35 boys in this race. *+ a clear physical difference between the Y10&11 boys! (5000m)
Edward - 28th
Kempton - 30th
Laurence - 32
All students appeared to enjoy the experience, although some were extremely tired by the end of the race
Work continues across the Meden School site as we continue to make the best use of and improve condition in the classrooms for our students.
As work continues on the Technology block roof, refurbishment of classrooms continues.
One of the latest areas to be improved is 2 classroom near the Inclusion Centre A17 and A18.
Before Pictures
After Pictures
Massive improvements as I am sure you will agree!
We are always keen to support our students to consider their future pathways and this half term there have been a number of events to suppor this.
On 26th January we held a Work Experience event for our Y10 parents. Work experience is a week long period from 22nd May to 26th May, aimed at giving students some experience of and an insight in to the world of work.
Hindered somewhat by COVID restrictions in previous years, we are hopeful that our students will, this year, be able to gain full access to hundreds of different placement opportunities throughout the local areas and beyond.
The evening proved to be very popular with our parents/carers and it provided them with the opportunity to speak to Mr Hill, our Careers Lead, face-to-face about their individual child.
If you have a child in Y10 who has not yet found a placement, you can finad all of the work eperience information on our website using the following link - Work Experience Y10
Please contact Mr C Hill chill@medenschool.co.uk or Mr T Gibbon tgibbon@medenschool.co.uk for any questions regarding work experience.
National Apprenticeship Week
On Wednesday 8th February we were thrilled to welcome some Careers Ambassadors into school, thanks to Mansfield District Council.
Students took part in a variety of different activities aimed at widening the students knowledge of the many roles and apprenticeships offered by Mansfield District Council. These workshops proved a great success with students who were thoroughly engaged.
Many thanks to MDC for your support!
We all love 'The Big Read' at Meden School. Everything stops for a lesson and the whole school reads.
Books are chosen according to their key stage group, with different groups reading different books or short stories.
Based in their tutorial groups, a number of talk tasks are given to ensure student's understanding of the written text. Students are encouraged to read with each other and to their peers and are asks about specific vocabulary and it's meaning.
Often when we read a book, we come across words that are unfamiliar to us and it is very important to understand both their meaning and context in the book you are reading. The Big Read is the perfect way to achieve this, allowing us to improve students reading skills and expanding vocabulary.
At the end of the session students discuss the story line, illustrations used and whether they would recommend the book to different groups of people such as a parent, a sibling or even a friend.
Valentine's Day was the perfect excuse (not that we need one), for the Meden College Fundraising Committee to share the love by organising a Valentine's Bake Sale.
Completely overwhelmed by the amount of donations in support of the charity event, the Committee co-ordinated the event perfectly, to ensure that there were enough supplies to span both break time and lunch times. There was so much variety from cookies to intricately decorated buns and cup cakes. Bake sales are always popular at Meden School and this event proved to be one of the most successful yet.
A massive £185 was raid for the chosen charity, Alzheimer's
Massive thanks to all the parents/ carers/ grand parents and staff and students who donated to this event and thanks to those supporting the charity by purchasing cake.
Well done to the College Fundraising Committee for all your hard work!
Meden School
Train to teach with the Nottinghamshire Torch SCITT