A message from Mrs Rothenburg
I hope you’ve had a lovely week. It is my absolute pleasure to be writing this message for our weekly email and to be doing so as acting headteacher at Millthorpe School. I’m really excited about this opportunity to work with the fantastic team here, our wonderful students and you, the parents and carers of our children.
I am particularly looking forward to next week’s transition events when we will welcome our incoming Year 7 students and their families into school for Transition Evening on Monday 1 July and then the students will spend the day with us on Wednesday 3 July, when they will get their first experience of a day in the life of a Millthorpe student. I’m also really looking forward to giving our outgoing Year 11 students the send off they deserve, both at our Leavers’ Assembly on Thursday 4 July and at the Prom on Friday 5 July. It promises to be a lovely week filled with welcomes and farewells!
Next week also brings the auditions for our school production! If your child is interested, please remind them of the dates below.
Thank you to Adam Elliott from Leaders Unlocked, who delivered a workshop called ‘The Long Game’ to students in Year 8, 9 and 10 about County Lines and Modern Slavery earlier this week. It was a hugely enlightening and thought provoking session which the students really benefited from.
Congratulatons to those students who were nominated by their faculties this week, including: George, Elena, Harry, Rosie, Calum, Jenna, Harry, Luis, Luca, Callum, Will, Juliette and Alice. Mr Beever enjoyed chatting to you all. Well done to all those who received a Golden Ticket this week too – what a long list of names! Keep up the good work everyone.
We still have lots to cram into the last few weeks of term, including trips to Flamingo Land and Yorkshire Wildlife Park, the Year 9 residential to Carlton Lodge, Sports Day, the annual ArtsFest run by South Bank Multi Academy Trust, Awards Evening and more! We’re all going to be super busy!
Have a great weekend everyone, we’ll be back in school on Monday for an ‘A’ Week.
With best wishes,
Kavina Rothenburg
Acting Headteacher
Attendance Texts – Data Error
We have become aware that we have experienced a data error in the production of this week’s attendance texts, which means that the attendance percentages and the text do not align. Please disregard the texts this week and accept our apologies for any confusion or upset that this has caused. Normal service should be resumed next week.
What is my child learning at the moment?
Please see below to find out what your child has been learning about recently in order to have productive discussions about their education:
Conversation starters
- Design & Technology: Year 7 are all continuing their studies of Sustainability and the Environment, with Time Block 4 well underway and running until the end of the school year. Please ask your child which discipline they are moving to (Product Design, Graphics, Textiles or Food Preparation & Nutrition). You could also ask about the environmental factors they have studied and how we can reduce the impact of human activity on our planet. Also please ask them what products they have made and ask to see them.
- Fine Art: Year 7 are enjoying the Pop Art inspired ‘Art & Issues – Endangered Animals’ project. Students copied an Andy Warhol animal screen print using a monoprint technique and mixed media to add layers of colour. Personal research for homework has led to students selecting their favourite endangered animal as a starting point for a colourful personal mixed media study. We are hoping to showcase a selection of Year 7 outcomes at the SBMAT Arts Festival exhibition at the Barbican on 9 July. Talking about endangered animals and looking at Andy Warhol’s animal themed screen prints with your child would help to extend their learning.
Year 8 – Faculty: Humanities
Conversation starters
- History: Were all women victims in the 19th century? What hardships did women face in the Victorian period? Why was Queen Victoria’s stance on women’s rights somewhat questionable? Why was Whitechapel a scary place to live in 1888? How did strong women ‘fight back’ to help women to strive for equality? You may want to ask about the Matchgirls Strike, or the efforts of Caroline Norton, Barbara Boudichon and Annie Besant.
- Geography: How has inequality in Somalia led to piracy?
- RE: We are looking at the celebration of Dia de Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) in Mexico, and then coming to a conclusion on whether death is the end, and does it matter.
Year 9 – Faculty: Science
Conversation starters
Year 9 students have started their GCSE Science studies, learning about Cells, Atomic Structure and Energy. Can students name the parts of an animal and plant cell? Can students draw and label the parts of an atom? Can students name eight energy stores?
Year 10 – Faculty: English
Conversation starter
Now their PPEs are over, students have returned to studying the remaining poems in their Power and Conflict anthology, part of their GCSE literature course. In total, students will need to feel confident in exploring all 15 poems, in addition to Macbeth, A Christmas Carol and An Inspector Calls. Ask your child to explain which is their preferred poem so far – and why.
Year 11 – All faculties
Conversation starter
We have missed having our Year 11 students in school but look forward to welcoming them at the leavers’ events next week:
- Leavers Assembly – Thursday 4 July in school at 11.30am (access via the rear gate only).
- Prom – Friday 5 July at York Racecourse, 6pm-11pm. Please make arrangements for your child to get home safely after Prom.
Additionally, you might want to take a look at the curriculum section of our website which has lots more information about what your child is, has, or will be learning over the academic year.
Invisible Man theatre company production
On Monday 8 July, Year 9 students will be involved in a Theatre in Education workshop led by the Invisible Man theatre company. This will involve students watching a play about risky behaviour and then spending some time workshopping the themes that they see in the production. The synopsis for the play is ‘Sophie lives with her father (a soldier) and her stepmother. She’s locked in her bedroom with her father outside the door as they try to discuss the activity and motivations of the past weekend. Sophie has just returned from hospital, where she found herself after a bad reaction to legal high drugs at a party, and Dad wants to know “why!?” Daniel is in a meeting with a school counsellor, this is a re-admission meeting after he has been found to have supplied the drugs to Sophie at the party.
The show involves discussion around drug taking, self harm and talk of possible sexual assault. There is also fake blood which is highlighted to the students prior to the production taking place.
Any questions relating to the production should be directed to Miss Watts, the Year 9 Pastoral team (Miss Tapscott or Mrs Barbour) or Mrs Norman.
Summer holiday reading challenge
The benefits of reading are endless. It improves creativity, imagination, vocabulary, the ability to learn, concentration and attention span and writing skills. It can also reduce stress, boost empathy, develops understanding of the wider world, and some studies even report it can help us to live longer!
We launched our whole school reading strategy at the beginning of this academic year, and it has been very successful.
It began with “Millthorpe Reads Summer Holiday Reading Challenge” so, we wanted to bring the competition back for the forthcoming summer holidays.
The challenge is simple – be photographed reading a book in an obscure or unusual place over the holidays. This is open to any students or members of staff who wish to take part, including students who will join us in Year 7 next year.
Please send any photographs to reading@millthorpe.southbank.academy including your child’s name and year group (their year group next year) when sending the photographs.
Alternatively, you can post this information on X (formerly Twitter), tagging @MillthorpeSch and/or using the hashtag #MillthorpeReads
There will be prizes for the best submissions. If you need inspiration, please see our joint winners from last summer on the attached pdf.
Happy reading!
Readathon’s Live Summer Party
Earlier this year, our Key Stage 3 students participated in Readathon, a sponsored reading challenge to raise money for local children’s hospitals.
As a thank you, some of our keen readers were invited along to the Readathon Summer Party on Tuesday, where they were joined live by former Children’s Laureate, Lauren Child, award-winning SF Said, British Book Awards winner and comics author, Jamie Smart, awesome historian and Radio 4 presenter, Greg Jenner and the brilliant author and illustrator Sarah McIntyre.
The students had a fantastic time, listening to some amazing authors and joining in with tasks and activities.
Matilda auditions
A reminder that auditions for Matilda will take place next week in the Drama Hall at the following times:
- Year 7 – Monday 1 July – lunchtime
- Year 8 – Tuesday 2 July – lunchtime
- Years 9, 10 and 11 – Thursday 4 July – lunchtime
Students should come to the Drama Hall at the beginning of lunchtime. On the day of their audition it would be helpful if they could bring a pack up to eat whilst they wait.
Any questions, please contact Mrs Sladen.
St Peter’s Sixth Form
St Peter’s School begin the recruitment process for their Sixth Form at the start of September when a representative of the school will come into Millthorpe to talk to any interested students. Any current Year 10 students who would like to find out about what St Peter’s offers in terms of both courses and bursaries to support anyone wishing to apply would be very welcome to attend the session.
If your child is interested, please contact Miss Watts who will make arrangements for them to attend the group session. (Please note that attending the session doesn’t mean that they are obliged to apply.)
Job of the week – Wellsite Geologist
A what? If you fancy a job that is slightly different, then this one might be for you! A wellsite geologist checks a site before it is drilled for oil or gas. They use their knowledge to say when it is safe to drill, and when they need to stop. This requires good people skills as you have to liaise with a lot of people, some of whom won’t like what you have to say. I mean, stopping drilling means they’re not making money, right?
For more information on becoming a Wellsite Geologist, you can watch this video.
Apprenticeship vacancies
York College is currently advertising a number of apprenticeship vacancies which can be seen on the attached pdf. Each vacancy has a hyperlink to the Apprenticeship Service website, where you will find full job details and where you can submit your application.
Also attached are Hair & Beauty and Construction vacancies, which require an email or phone call directly to the employer.
A note on closing dates: vacancies often close earlier than the stated date, so if you are interested please make sure you apply as soon as you can.
You can also read the attached guidance on how to write a strong application to ensure the best chance of success.
Apprenticeships from other providers
Other apprenticeships are available and can be accessed through the Careers section of your child’s Google Classroom.
Arthur to star in new CBBC sitcom
Outgoing Year 11 student, Arthur, has not only been busy with GCSEs over the last couple of months, he’s also managed to fit in filming for a new CBBC sitcom which will air later this year.
High Hoops is a comedy about a kids’ basketball team and their new star player, Aoife, in which Arthur plays Conor, Aoife’s brother. The new sitcom also stars comedian and actor Robert Webb.
Landing this role builds on Arthur’s success starring in ITV’s The Bay last year.
Arthur has shown true commitment to both his GCSEs and filming, managing a gruelling schedule. One morning, he came in to school for an exam, before heading straight to Halifax to film until late into the evening, before returning home and then sitting more exams the following day! Whilst most Year 11s are now enjoying the longest summer holiday of their lives, Arthur is filming every day.
Great job Arthur – we’re very proud of you!
(Arthur is pictured as Conor below, on the far left.)
Athletes shine at Schools Athletics Finals
Well done to all those students who represented Millthorpe so brilliantly at the York Schools Athletics Finals at York University this week.
A big shout out to Noah, Imogen, Juliette, Rowan, Leo, Oisin and the Year 9 relay team: Drew, Finley, Ashley and Oliver.
Rowan runs on!
Year 10 student, Rowan is having continued success on the track. Alongside Zoe and Juliette featured in the weekly email last Friday, Rowan competed in the Inter Counties School competition in Gateshead earlier this month, representing Millthorpe in the 100m relay and winning gold in the 400m.
He’s now qualified to represent North Yorkshire at the English Schools track and field championships on 11, 12 and 13 July at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.
Rowan has also qualified for the UK Schools National Finals later in July, but it’s a huge selection process and he’s currently a reserve. If he does get the opportunity to run, he’ll do so in an England vest! We’ve got everything crossed for you Rowan!
North Yorkshire’s Juliette qualifies for national pentathlon finals
Last weekend it was another competition for Juliette in Year 8 when she represented North Yorkshire in pentathlon at the Inter Counties Schools Competition: Combined Events.
This gruelling five-discipline event that tests an athlete’s all-around ability includes hurdles, long jump, high jump, shot put, and 800m. Juliette put in a strong performance, coming ninth out of 21 athletes in the U15 age group.
Juliette and the North Yorkshire team qualified to go on to the national finals having beaten Cleveland, Durham, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Northumberland and Humberside.
The finals will take place in Stoke on Trent on 22 September – we wish them all luck!
Cricket summer camps
Love Cricket are running multi-sports camps over the summer holidays at Clifton Alliance Cricket Club and Bootham School. Full details can be found on the attached.
#WakeUpWednesday – A guide to gambling
A 2023 report from the Gambling Commission found that 40% of 11 to 17-year-olds had some experience of gambling in the preceding 12 months. That’s a significant number of children and young people involved in an over 18s activity. Engagement and exposure to gambling can impact one’s finances, mental health and wellbeing. It is crucial we are all aware of the risks and know how to protect and support our children.
It is quite challenging to protect our children against exposure to gambling at any time, but especially around major sport events like Euro 2024. This week’s Wake up Wednesday guide tackles the most prominent risks that gambling poses to young people, and explains how best to protect against them.
Safeguarding
If you have significant concerns for the welfare of a child, in addition to being able to contact Mrs Cole, Mrs Cooper or Mr Beever 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.
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