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Weekly email – 17 November 2023

2023 > November > 17 > Weekly email – 17 November 2023
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A message from Ms Greenhalgh

This week has just flown by! It seemsΒ we’re no sooner into the swing of the new half term and we’re already thinking about Christmas! Further information about Christmas dinner is below as are details of next week’s rehearsals for our Christmas school musical, Elf, which is shaping up to be a fantastic production.Β if you haven’t already, please put the dates for the school production in your diary. You can catch the show onΒ 18, 19 and 20 December. Details will follow soon on how to get your tickets.

Thanks to everyone who came along to the Year 7 Parents Evening earlier this week, it was lovely to see you all.Β It was even more lovely to get such glowing feedback – 94 of 95 parents surveyed (99%) said they would recommend Millthorpe to other parents. This makes us so very proud.

Congratulations to all those who received a golden ticket this week (full list below) and to those who were nominated by their faculty to have hot chocolate with me earlier today including: Mollie, Alice, Alfie, Renson, Pixie, Brody, Oscar, Nathaniel, Mathilde and Rowan.


Have a lovely weekend all. I’ll see everyone back on MondayΒ for an ‘A’ week.

With best wishes,

Gemma Greenhalgh
Headteacher

Teacher Training Day

School will be closed to students onΒ Friday 24 NovemberΒ for a Teacher Training Day. We will reopen as normal onΒ Monday 27 November.

Year 11 Parents Evening

Date for your diary – our Year 11 Parents Evening has moved fromΒ 6 MarchΒ toΒ 13 March 2024.

Attendance survey

A reminder that we are undertaking some research to try to understand why attendance rates in our school (as they are across York and nationally) are lower than pre-pandemic levels. We would really value your feedbackΒ to help us understand current attitudes towards attendance, and what additional barriers there might be.

Please follow this link to a short survey where you can share your views.

SEND Update

We are looking forward to seeing parents of pupils with SEND for their reviews next week. If you haven’t already signed up, please take a moment to check your inbox for the instructions we sent a few weeks ago.

Should you ever need to reach out to the SEND team, please don’t hesitate to contact us atΒ send@millthorpe.southbank.academy.

Millthorpe SEND network: 4 December, 4.00-5.00pm

We are delighted to invite our parents, particularly those with children with SEND, to a special event onΒ 4 DecemberΒ from 4.00-5.00pm in the school library. Think of it as a ‘coffee morning’ style event where you can connect with the SEND team in a relaxed setting.

For our first event, we look forward to welcoming Laura Brown from the Local Authority, who will showcase the new York SEND Local Offer website. This platform outlines the services and activities available to children and young people with SEND, offering support from birth to 25 years old. The website provides valuable information for families at every stage of their journey, covering topics such as understanding Special Educational Needs, available support with or without a diagnosis, and insights into the preparations for adulthood for young people with disabilities.

There will be tea, coffee and perhaps some mince pies!Β All parents are warmly welcome. We are keen to gather your feedback during this event, shaping the future “Millthorpe SEND Network” gatherings.

Key Stage 3 Readathon

All students in Key Stage 3 have been invited to take part in Readathon, a sponsored reading challenge which raisesΒ money for children in hospitals around the UK. Additionally, they will also be developing their own positive reading habits and our school receives 20% of the total monies raised to enhance our school library. Millthorpe School’s Readathon forΒ KS3 will take place fromΒ Monday 20Β NovemberΒ toΒ Monday 4Β December.

Please take a look at this letterΒ and encourage your child to get involved. Any sponsorshipsΒ would also be gratefully received.Β The easiest way to do this is online here.

You can also take a look at the Readathon videoΒ here.

Students can read anything that interests them, but a reminder that theΒ subject reading lists are available hereΒ and our school library is brimming with books which would interest all students. If they don’t know which book to choose, please encourage your child to speak to our wonderful librarian, Ms Brooks, or one of the studentΒ volunteers, as they will happily guide them in choosing a book which would be of interest.

And if you need support to engage a struggling or reluctant reader at home,Β advice is available here.

Christmas dinner

Christmas dinner (traditional turkey or a vegetarian option) will be served onΒ Friday 15Β DecemberΒ this year. Tickets, priced at Β£2.50, are now available via ParentPay.

Children eligible for free school meals?
Children whoΒ are eligible forΒ free school mealsΒ will not have to pay but will still need to register so that we know whether they would like the meat or vegetarian option.Β Please complete this Google formΒ to make your choices (youΒ do notΒ need to register via ParentPay too).

Year 11 virtual art gallery

Our Virtual Gallery of student artwork is now live on the school website.Β Take a lookΒ to see the amazing pieces produced by last year’s Year 11 students as part of their GCSE coursework.

Digestive System: Year 8 Science Competition

A reminder that any entries for Year 8 Science Competition,Β to build a digestive system model, should be handed to their Science teacher byΒ Friday 1Β December.

Sports practices – update

Please see the most up-to-date schedule of lunchtime and after school sports practices below:

Please note that Archery takes placeΒ on a Tuesday lunchtime and not after school as previously advertised.

York and District Cross Country

On WednesdayΒ we took 28 students to York University to take part in the annual cross country event. It was certainly a challenging course with tough running conditions due to the recent rainfall. Despite this the studentsΒ were upbeat and looking forward to putting their best foot forward. The top 20 students in each age category were invited to compete in the next round of competition. The students who qualified were:

  • Rosie Davis (3rd)
  • Imogen Brook (8th)
  • Juliette Macquin Jones (12th)
  • Isabel Phillips (20th)
  • Rowan Whittaker (3rd)
  • Leo Forsdyke (12th)

Congratulations to everyone who took part!



Good luck Fionn!

The 2023 British Schools Orienteering championships take place nextΒ Sunday 19 NovemberΒ at Temple Newsam Park, Leeds.

Fionn O’Toole in Year 10 runs at about 11.15am and the results will be published live on the British Schools Orienteering Association website.
Fionn has been training hard all year and of course aims for a top three finish. HeΒ will need to come up with a great performance to get a medal as the very best orienteers from Britain will be there. We wish him all the very best!

Elf the Musical rehearsals

Thank you to everyone who has been working so hard.Β Please encourage your child to continue putting in time into learning your lines and songs – show time is coming!

Next week’sΒ rehearsals are as follows:

Monday 20 November, 3.30-5.00pm:Β Full cast in theΒ Main Hall

Thursday 23Β November: 3.30-5.00pm:Β Full cast in theΒ Main Hall

Summer 2024 career experiences in London

InvestINΒ haveΒ announced the launch of their 2024 Summer Experiences in London.Β Taking place at University College London (UCL) and offering the opportunity to visit iconic industry locations across London, InvestIN provides teenagers with the chance to experience life beyond school, as well as receive unparalleled career preparation.

Their Summer Experiences run during the summer holidays and include the opportunity to:

  • Work with world-class industry professionals across 15 top careers.
  • ParticipateΒ in hands-on career simulations.
  • Visit exclusive professional venues.
  • ReceiveΒ personalised industry reference letters and certificates to showcase on university and job applications.

As an InvestIN partner school, all Millthorpe students are entitled to 10% off any programme using the code:Β MILLTHORPE10Β at the checkout page when completing any bookings.

Find out more below:

Donate a coat to keep a refugee warm this winter

Every year, Millthorpe parents and students have donated hundreds of coats to keep refugees fleeing conflict and sleeping rough in Calais warmer this Christmas.

A large collection box is now in reception untilΒ 15 DecemberΒ if you would like to donate a spare or outgrown warm winter coat that you no longer use (men’s smaller sizes most in demand) or sturdy walking boots (size 7 plus).

Your clothing donations will be delivered to Calais before Christmas by a local volunteer.

No spare coats to give? You can also buy clothing and supplies for refugees from just Β£10 andΒ Care4Calais Christmas gifts online.

Thank you for caring!

#WakeUpWednesday guide to Smart TVs

This week’s guide from National Online Safety gives useful advice on the online safety aspects of Smart TVs.Β Please take a look.

Safeguarding

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

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