Weekly email – 24 March 2023

A message from Ms Greenhalgh

I’d like to start my message today with a big shout out to our Year 11 girls’ netball team and Year 9 boys’ football team – you can read about their successes below, but I want to say how proud we all are – well done!

It has been wonderful to see our students engaging with our assemblies this week, where we have been looking at equality and diversity, with a particular focus on National Women’s Month. Students learned about Marie Curie and Ada Lovelace amongst other amazing women, which generated lots of interest and questions.

We have seen some further improvements to the learning environment in B Block this week as our new Maths displays have gone up and we’re looking forward to seeing the English displays go on show soon too.

Thank you to those who came along to our Open Event yesterday. It was great to be able to share our school ethos and plans with so many current and prospective parents, and have the chance to show you our enhanced learning environments. If you were unable to attend and would like to contact us, you can do so at any time either using the contact details on the school website or via our feedback email address.

We’re back for the last week of the Spring Term on Monday for a ‘B’ Week. I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Kind regards

Gemma Greenhalgh
Headteacher

SEND update

Thank you to all those parents/carers who came along to the SEND talks at the open evening yesterday.

If you were unable to attend, you can see the presentation from the evening here. Please also feel free to contact us if you need any help or advice, or have a concern about your child.

Please contact Mrs Hill (our SEND Administrator) in the first instance and she will direct your enquiry to the best person.

Year 11 netballers end the season as victors!

Congratulations to our amazing Year 11 netballers who played their last ever match for Millthorpe this week, beating The Mount, 12-0. They have now concluded their netball journey with Millthorpe, but finish the season as U15 and U16 York and District Champions.

What a way to end their playing career at Millthorpe – we’re very proud of you!

Year 9 boys win through to the final!

Congratulations to the Year 9 boys football team who triumphed in their semi-final match against Selby. The match was always an uphill struggle with Selby taking an early two goal lead. The team got back to 2-1, then went 3-1 down but fought back once more taking it to 3-2 with Rowan Whitaker scoring an excellent solo goal. Once again Selby scored to make it 4-2 but the boys kept at it, scoring another (Rowan’s second) followed by the equaliser scored by Finn Davis. The match went to penalties which ended up with Millthorpe triumphing at 9-8 with Sami Gardner clinching the win! What a night!

The boys will be back in action next Wednesday for the final.

Bake sale – thank you

Thank you to everyone who provided cakes and bakes for our Bake Sale last Friday, and to those who bought some of the delicious treats! We raised a fantastic £226.18, which will go to the York Carers Centre to help them with the wonderful work they do.

Dropping children off in the morning

A reminder to all parents who need to take their child to school by car in the morning:

• Only park up where it is safe and legal to do so.
• Show courtesy to people living near the school.
• Don’t pull up in the road to let children out.
• If at all possible, avoid Nunthorpe Avenue and Philadelphia Terrace altogether, both of which are narrow, busy and potentially hazardous while children are arriving at school. Hopefully, most children should be fine to walk from further away where it is safer to pull up (they might even prefer it!).

YIK sessions for parents/carers

York Inspirational Kids CIC (YIK) are hosting drop-in support sessions for parents and carers supporting children with:

Support for parents/carers from the Specialist Teaching Team for autism support

Please see the attached flyer for details of the support available to parents/carers next term through the City of York Council’s Specialist Teaching Team for autism support.

ISSP opportunity for pupils in Years 7 and 8

‘ISSP 7-8’ is a series of events for Year 7 and 8 pupils, where high profile speakers enthuse and inspire children through a one-hour lecture.

Helen Hills, Professor Emerita of History of Art at the University of York will be giving a talk entitled: “Behind the scenes in 17C aristocratic female convents: architecture and the staging of gender, class and chastity”.

The talk will investigate the architecture of female convents and their churches in 17C Naples in order to explore the relationships between architecture and gender, social class and sexuality.

Helen Hills has published widely in the fields of baroque art and architecture and baroque theory. Her most recent book, The Matter of Miracles, is an investigation of Neapolitan baroque architecture, and the religious politics of place-making (2016). Her book most relevant to the lecture is ‘Invisible City: Architecture of Aristocratic convents in baroque Naples’ (Oxford University Press 2004). Helen’s current project is on the glitter of silver and Spanish colonialism in Latin America and southern Italy.

The event will be held at The University of York on Thursday 30 March 2023 (7-8pm). Anyone who would like to attend should contact Miss Watts before 3pm on Monday 28 March.

#WakeUpWednesday

This week’s guide from National Online Safety is as useful for adults as it is for young people – ten top tips for strong passwords. Please take a look.

York Food Drive

Millthorpe School is proud to support York Food Drive on Friday 31 March and Saturday 1 April. If you can help by donating non-perishable food items to help those most in need, please visit one of the four drop off points, open from 10am to 3pm.

More information can be found here.

Sivik Active Sports Club

An enormous thank you to Sivik Active, a local company who have been putting on free sports sessions for a number of our students in recent weeks. The 20-strong group of students have enjoyed Zorbing, Nerf, Archery, Sports Shootouts and more for two hours a week, all completely free of charge! The students have thoroughly enjoyed themselves and we are really grateful to Andy, Steve and the Sivik Active team for delivering these amazing sessions.

Boxing opportunity

Henry’s Boxing and Community Centre has relocated to The Crescent (just off Blossom Street) and new members are welcome to attend.

Hollywood Bowl & Puttstars York – Cool School offer

Hollywood Bowl & Puttstars York are promoting a Cool School Offer to use both during term time and school holidays. For pupils aged 11-15, the cost is £7.50 per child and includes one hour of unlimited bowling, an adult-sized meal for each child plus free bowling for one adult, per six children booked.

To find out more or to book, please contact Ryan Coombs, Event Sales Team Member at Hollywood Bowl & Puttstars York E: salesyork@hollywoodbowl.co.uk

Safeguarding

If you have significant concerns for the welfare of a child, in addition to being able to contact Mrs Cole or Ms Simpson during school hours by emailing safeguarding@millthorpe.southbank.academy, you may wish to make direct contact with the York MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub) on T: 01904 551900, option 3. They operate an out-of-hours service so concerns can be raised with them at any time.