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Half Term Newsletter

February 2015

School Closure Monday 2 February


Thank you to the overwhelming majority of parents/carers who showed their support for the school during and following the closure last
Monday. It is pleasing to be able to report that on Friday 6 February, we received news from the police that the perpetrator of the hoax
was arrested and will be facing charges. As stated in Mr Fergusons letter of Tuesday 3 February, it has also been confirmed that the
individual concerned, who lives some way out of our geographical area, has no connection to the school.

School Communications
Please do get used to using our new forms of communication, listed here. They are the best way to keep up-to-date with the daily life of
the school. In relation to the closure last week, it is also far more efficient to access information via the website or Twitter account, rather
than by telephone.
Website:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Parent Portal:

www.isleworthsyon.org
@IsleworthSyon
www.facebook.com/IsleworthSyon
parent.isleworthsyon.com

This Newsletter contains:

News in brief.
News of offers of places at Oxford University.
Details of how to order the Year 11 Photograph.
News on developments at school.
Important dates for the term ahead.

Email:
Tel:
Fax:

school@isleworthsyon.org
020 8568 5791
020 8568 1939

NEWS & INFORMATION IN BRIEF


NEWS

Oxford Success
Congratulations to Anietie Ekanem and Finn McQueen, who have both been offered places to study at Oxford University. Anietie aims to
study History of Art, while Finn has applied for an English Literature degree. Good luck to them both, and to all the other Year 13 students
in the run-up to their final examinations.

Debating Team Place 16th in the Country

We were delighted to hear that, after Round 1 of the Debate Mate Urban Debate League, Isleworth & Syon placed 16th in the whole
country. Equally impressive was our local ranking, as we are the 12th best school in London! More details can be found online:
http://www.isleworthsyon.org/?p=62265.

KS4 Badminton Win Gold


Our Key Stage 4 Badminton team were successful once again this half term, as they retained their crown as West London Champions
on Friday 6 February. They beat Kingsbury Academy in the final after another fantastic performance from the team. They now progress
to the next stage of the competition, taking place in March. Well done also to our Key Stage 3 team, who won a bronze medal, and only
missed out on the final play-off by a single point. Read more on the website: http://www.isleworthsyon.org/?p=45007.

Auschwitz Visit
On Thursday 5 February, George Bridgewater and Jack Takeda (both Year 12) visited the concentration camp at Auschwitz, as part of
their A-Level History students. Both students found the experience to be very moving and informative.
We will be welcoming Janine Webber to the school on Wednesday 11 March. Janine is a Holocaust survivor, and she will be telling her
poignant story to all students in Year 9.

Meet the Author: Alan Gibbons


Wednesday 28 January saw the latest instalment in our Meet the Author series, where students are given the opportunity to listen to a
famous writer talk about their experiences and their craft, before they get the chance to ask questions. This time we welcomed awardwinning author Alan Gibbons, who gave a fantastic talk and held a book signing afterwards. Read more about it at
http://www.isleworthsyon.org/?p=6935.

Brilliant Club Graduation

Our Year 7 and 8 Brilliant Club participants took part in their graduation ceremony on Saturday 31 January. They travelled with Mr Fisher
and Mrs Jennings to the University of Sussex, where they celebrated the completion of their Scholars Programme. During the termly
programme, they received tuition from a PhD student, and wrote an essay at Key Stage 4 level. Well done to all the students who took
part.

NOTICES

Sixth Form Applications


The official deadline for the receipt of applications for a place in our Sixth Form has now passed. Letters will be sent out at the end of this
week to all internal and external applicants, inviting students to an interview. For those students who have not yet sent in their application,
you are still able to do so through the school website however, please be advised that we cannot now guarantee first-choice places on
particular courses.

School Developments A New Teaching Block


Planning meetings have started as we look to build a new teaching block on the school site, which will cope with an eventual increase in
school roll. Our plan is to develop a scheme that also enhances some of the current environmental issues at school; for example, reconfiguring some of the smaller teaching spaces and getting rid of some of the temporary accommodation. Our architect, Catherine
Ramsden from Useful Simple, was responsible for the project to refurbish the Humanities and ICT teaching area, and she also has
experience of several other education projects. Catherine will be working with a large team of experts who will produce a scheme fitting
for the school as we near our 400th anniversary.

Student Writers Wanted!


Next half-term, we are piloting a brand new House newsletter. It will be published on this website termly, and all of the content will be
written by the students themselves. Each house will have two representatives per year group, in Years 7-11. Students interested in taking
part should visit http://www.isleworthsyon.org/?p=16282.

Lost Property
A short reminder about lost property: all named lost property is returned to students. Any other unnamed lost property is kept until the
end of the half term in which it is handed in. If it has not been claimed by this time, items are given to a local clothes bank or a charity
shop. We recommend that you put your child's name in every item of clothing that he wears to school, including uniform and, especially,
sports kit. Thank you for your support.
Mrs Jennings, Welfare

Attendance
Please be reminded that if your child is absent from school, a parent/carer must ring in to the school on the first day of absence, plus any
subsequent days that they are not in school. Any absences that are not phoned in will be noted as unauthorised.
Please also remember that, wherever possible, all appointments should be made outside of the school day.
Mr Brown, Attendance Officer

Year 11 Group Photograph


The Year 11 Group Photograph will be available to view, on-line, within the next week. Go to www.tempest-groups.co.uk and type the
school name into the search box and select the event required. Orders can then be made on-line direct to the photography company,
Tempest.
Order forms for the individual photographs will be issued after half-term.

Appearance Policy Reminder


It is still concerning that a number of boys are being sent home for ignoring our Appearance Policy and in particular for breaches of
expectation with regard to hair styles. Our policy is clear, long-standing and all of our students are aware of the requirements through
repeated reminders in assemblies and in tutor time. The rules, as stated in their student planners, are as follows:

Hair should be conventional in style and in length (above the collar and no shorter than a blade 2) and should not be artificially
coloured, spiked or contain styling products. Excessively shaven hair (below a blade 2/where skin on head is visible), shaved
eyebrows or any shaven step/lines/patterns/fashion trims/ high-tops/low-tops are not acceptable.
Examples of inappropriate hairstyles can be seen below.

Hair is too short


(below blade 2)

Hair is too long


(beyond collar)

Two different lengths visible

Products in the hair

Products and patterns

Patterns

Also note that coats and socks should be plain and dark coloured.
Do remember that the Senior Leadership Team of the school are the final arbiters of the Appearance Code.

IMPORTANT DATES
SPRING TERM 2015
February

Wednesday 11
Thursday 12

Duke of Edinburghs Awards Presentations Feltham Community College (7.00pm)


Years 7-9 Valentines Disco (7.00-9.00pm)

Mon 16 - Fri 20

Half Term

March

Tuesday 3
Thursday 5
Friday 13
Wednesday 18
Thursday 19
Tuesday 24
Wednesday 25
Friday 27

PTA Education Event Literacy & Numeracy (7.15pm)


Year 9 Key Stage 4 Courses Evening (6.00pm)
Charitable Event Red Nose Day
PTA Social Event (7.00pm) tbc
School Council Meeting (11.00am)
Year 10 Parents Evening (4.30 - 7.00pm)
PTA Meeting (7.15pm Library)
Football: Year 13 Leavers v Staff (4.00pm)
Last Day of Term (students depart - 12.30pm)

SUMMER TERM 2015


April

Monday 13
Tuesday 14
Thursday 23
Tuesday 28
Thursday 30

Inset Day 4
Start of Summer Term
Year 7 Parents Evening (4.30 - 7.00pm)
PTA Meeting (7.15pm Library)
UKMT Junior Mathematics Challenge

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