Weekly email – 4 April 2025

A message from Mrs Rothenburg

Congratulations to those students who I had the pleasure of chatting with at Principal’s Brakfast this morning including: Ellen C, Amelie W, Erin E, Kasi W, Owen M, Joely H, Finn A and Esther. Keep up the great work!

On Tuesday next week, a group of Millthorpe staff and students are heading off on an exciting trip to Iceland. We are of course in regular contact with our excursion planner and will be keeping a watching eye on the events in Iceland before and during the trip. I hope everyone has a wonderful time.

It just remains for me to say to our Year 11s – keep up the hard work over the holidays, but make sure you take some much-needed downtime too. You’re in the home straight towards your GCSEs now so keep going! If anyone does need any support over the holidays there’s lots of information about exams and revision on our website here and you can also access lots of online support through our Padlet (information and links are at the bottom of this email).

I hope you all have a lovely break and enjoy time with your family and friends. School will reopen after the holidays on Tuesday 22 April with a ‘B’ Week.With best wishes,

Kavina Rothenburg
Acting Principal

Join Mrs Rothenburg for coffee and a tour

I am delighted to invite families to join me for a coffee, a chat, and a tour of our wonderful school. This is a great opportunity to share your experiences of Millthorpe and provide valuable feedback that helps us to continually review and improve. These informal sessions will also allow you to see our school in action and witness the fantastic work happening in our classrooms.

Upcoming dates:

• Wednesday 30 April – 10:15-11:15am
• Thursday 1 May – 10:15-11:15am
• Friday 2 May – 12:35-1:35

More dates will be available in the future, but I would love for you to attend one of these sessions. If you’re interested, please email h.mackley@millthorpe.elt.org to reserve your place.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Mrs Rothenburg
Acting Principal

Welcome to the Easter edition of Sensations – Excel Learning Trust’s newsletter

As the spring term draws to a close, we wanted to share a selection of news items with you to update you on what has been happening across the Trust over the last few months.

You can read the newsletter here.

I hope you and your families have a wonderful break and we’ll see you in a couple of weeks for the start of the summer term.

Kind regards

Mark Hassack
CEO, Excel Learning Trust

What is my child learning at the moment?

Please see below to find out what your child has been learning this week in order to have productive discussions about their education:

Year 7 – Faculty: Humanities
Conversation starters

• History: How much power did Medieval Kings really have? Ask your child whether Richard I deserves his many statues and whether John was a good king for England. Students will be writing an essay analysing whether the past interpretations of King John have been fair. Ask them to show it to you!
• RE: Students are nearing the end of their unit Radical Jesus, so are asking themselves whether they think he was a radical or revolutionary.
• Geography: What is the difference between dense and sparse populations? What is the most populated country in the world?

Year 8 – Faculty: Performance
Conversation starters

• Drama: Students are moving on to their new topic – Audio Plays – beginning by looking at how actors use their vocal skills effectively to play a range of different characters. Please do ask them for a demonstration!
• Music: Students are beginning to explore how to read notation and play the keyboard two hands together.
• PE: Students are in the final week of their activity blocks. The boys have been participating in basketball and handball. The girls have been doing fitness and dance. Ask your child what they have enjoyed so far in PE. Students will be moving onto athletics and the summer sports after the Easter holidays.

Year 9 – Faculty: Creative
Conversation starters

• Fine Art: Year 9 artists have started a new ‘Art & Issues’ project. We are learning about Contemporary Art which engages viewers in issues including body image, gender equality, LGBTQ+, Pride, feminism, #Metoo, women’s rights, environmentalism, politics, anti-racism, Islamophobia, unity, displacement / refugeeism, inclusivity, Black Lives Matter, poverty, inequality, anti-war / peace and animal rights. Looking at and discussing the work of street artist Banksy with your child would be a supportive and interesting activity for home!
• Design Technology: Students are coming to the end of their current timeblocks. They have two weeks after the Easter holidays remaining before they move onto their final timeblock of the year to complete their DT rotation.

Year 10 – Faculty: English
Conversation starters
Year 10 will be carrying on with their study of English Language Paper One and will have either just completed a creative writing SAP or be about to complete it. They have been working hard on developing a more sophisticated descriptive vocabulary, and how to craft sentences for clarity, purpose and effect. They particularly enjoyed learning an extensive range of colour vocabulary – ask your child how many synonyms they know for red, blue, yellow, white…!

Year 11 – Faculty: Maths
Conversation starters
Mixed revision: explain a question you found tricky in lesson today: What topic was it? What information was included in the question? What did you need to find next? Did you show your workings? How did you have to leave your answer? How will you make sure you get this type of question right next time?

We hope that you will find this information useful when talking to your child about their learning. Additionally, you might want to take a look at the curriculum section of our website which has lots more information about what your child will be learning over the academic year.

Praise assemblies

All this week, we have been holding praise assemblies where students received recognition awards for their efforts during the spring term.

Huge congratulations go to the following students:

Year 11
English: Nola D
Maths: Sonny H
Science: Eleanor T
Humanities: Callum H
Computing: Jessica H
MFL: Daisy P
Performance: Libby F
Year Team: Asya A
Form: 11SCO
Principal’s Award: Lukas K
Top 3 students over the Spring Term: Kit B, Callum H, Dominic W
Power Play Star: Sam B

Year 10
English: Cara I
Maths: Ngawang D
Science: Jemima B
Humanities: Violet-Evie W
Computing: Noah W
MFL: Jasmine D
Creative: Matthew T
Performance: Nadia L
Year Team: Saskia T
Form: 10LBR
Principal’s Award: Lucy P
Top 3 students over the Spring Term: Tommy H, Matthew B, Emily M
Power Play Star: Isaac E

Year 9
English: Luke G
Maths: Harriet B
Science: Ben A
Humanities: Ethan D
Computing: Volkan KR
MFL: Elsa M
Creative: Finn M
Performance: Jonah CW
Year Team: Isra A
Form: 9RPR
Principal’s Award: Stan S
Top 3 students over the Spring Term: Alice M, Marley F, Lewis C
Power Play Star: Charlie H

Year 8
English: George P
Maths: Rosa B
Science: Sofia W
Humanities: Agatha P
Computing: Elena M
MFL: Anikah S
Creative: Mollie L
Performance: Marianne L
Year Team: Marley O
Form: 8ERH
Principal’s Award: Zoe B
Top 3 students over the Spring Term: Alice J, Max A, Loki E
Power Play Star: Stanley R

Year 7
English: Bea S
Maths: Abigail C
Science: Owen M
Humanities: Lucy O
Computing: Iaroslav S
MFL: Elsie H
Creative: Saskia E
Performance: Mason E
Year Team: Megan R
Form: 7KBE
Principal’s Award: Darcey C
Top 3 students over the Spring Term: Abigail C, Noah S, Isabelle H
Power Play Star: Joshua H

(The Year 7 assembly has just happened earlier today, so we’ll post their picture in the first weekly email after the holidays.)

Breakfast celebration for students with excellent learning conduct

On Wednesday this week, we held a breakfast celebration in the dining hall for those students who received all 1s for their leaning conduct in their report. This is an incredible achievement and we are so very proud of them!

Well done to:

Year 11: Amy B, Zoe B, Max B, Theo C, Ty DeiDghton, Melissa D, Iris D, Alice D, Immy D, Harry G, Charlotte G, Callum H, Jessie M, Alex L, Jessica O, George P, Anya SC, Isaac S, Joseph S, Jared VS and Ewan W.

Year 10: Matthew B, Alice B, Kitty BH, Danika C, Ngawang D, Ayesha G, Nieve G, Alex G, Nadia L, Drew O, Sky P, William R, Saskia T, Natalia T and Violet Evie W.

Year 9: Anna B, Jack D, Esther DLP, Charlotte DO, Griffin E, Rosie F, Meredith F, Daisy H, Joely H, Esther K, Darshini K, Oisin K, Ayla KR, Mathilde P, Delphine P, Alex TG and Frank W.

Year 8: Wilferd A, Emie AS, Amelia A, Evelyn BH, Zoe B, Rosie D, Loki E, Catherine H, Alice J, Ariana K, George L, Elena M, Kurtis M and Sophie N.

Year 7: Saskia E, Abigail HP, Isabelle H, Abby L and Beatrice S.

School day timings

From Monday 28 April we will be making some small changes to the school day timings to cater for the Year 11 exams which require longer afternoon sessions.

The new school day timings are as follows:

• 8.30am: School gates open
• 8.40am: Students need to be through the gates/over the blue line
• 8.45-9.10am: Form time/assemblies
• 9.10-9.15 am: Movement time
• 9.15-10.10am: Period 1
• 10.10-10.15am: Movement time
• 10.15-11.15am: Period 2
• 11.15-11.30am: Break
• 11.30-11.35am: Movement time
• 11.35am-12.35pm: Period 3
• 12.35-1.15pm: Lunch
• 1.15- 2.10pm: Period 4
• 2.10-2.15pm: Movement time
• 2.15-3.15pm: Period 5

Once exams are completed, we will let students and families know when the school day timings will return to normal.

Side gate (Southlands Road)

Many students and families have told us how useful it is for students to be able to use this gate, so we’re delighted that, after Easter, we’ll be in a position to open the gate before and after school. The gate will be open from 8.30am to 8.45am in the morning. It will close at 8.45am, so if a student is late they will need to walk to the front gate to gain access to school. Students will be able to buy equipment from the side gate or pop down to the front gate to borrow uniform. The gate will open at 3.15pm and remain open until after Enrichment and Intervention sessions.

Transition from Year 6 to Year 7 – a letter for parents/carers

Please take a look at this letter which details some key events in our Transition programme.

Gaelic Football at Culture Day

During Culture Day last week our Year 7s had a go at Gaelic Football. The boys found it a big challenge but enjoyed trying out a new sport. Here we see a student attempting a pass. Josh R scored his first ever three-point score into the goal in a full game!

Exciting Iceland trip reminder

The big day is almost here! We can’t wait for the Iceland adventure. Here are some important details:

Date: Tuesday 8 April
Meeting point: School canteen
Time: 6:30am sharp
Departure: 7:15am by coach

Sports practices – summer term 2025

The following sports practices are taking place next term:

All are welcome to attend (unless the programme asks for a specific year or gender), no experience is necessary! The aim is to have fun and enjoy being active and moving.

Normal PE/games kit is required. For the AGP you will always need the correct footwear. Some football practices may be on grass not on the AGP.

Lunch passes are available and are encouraged. Students should collect them from their teacher.

Please note that this rota may change due to matches after school and usually changes each half term.

If there is a sport you would like to do or you have some ideas for a club please speak to your PE teacher.

Year 11 Prom

A reminder to parents of students in Year 11 that the deposit for Prom needs to be paid by 14 April please. If there are any issues, please contact either Mrs Brown or Mr Baybutt.

Year 9 and 10 Duke of Edinburgh scheme

A reminder that payments for Year 9 and Year 10 students taking part in the DofE scheme are now due. We would be grateful if payment could be made as soon as possible please via ParentPay.

Year 11 Leavers Assembly

A reminder that Year 11 parents/carers should have received a letter from Mr Baybutt asking for your help with our Year 11 Leavers Assembly. Here’s a summary below:

As your child closes in on the end of their time at Millthorpe School, plans are well underway to give them the send off that they all deserve. The planning for the Prom continues in earnest, and we now want to invite you to help us with their Leavers Assembly.

During the assembly, each students’ Year 7 photograph will be displayed and we would like to invite you to send us up to four other photographs that you (and importantly they!) are happy to be shown. It could be a baby/toddler photo, a primary school picture, their first day at Millthorpe, a picture from any trips that they have been on, a photo of them with their friends enjoying themselves inside or outside of school – anything really.

Please remember to check with your child before sending them as we don’t want anyone being upset.

Please send your photos/videos to: y11leavers@millthorpe.elt.org.uk making sure you have included the name of your child, by Friday 2 May.

A date/time for the leavers assembly will be announced in due course.

Lily and Sophia to compete at Cheerleading World Championships

Lily P and Sophia H in Year 11 are heading to the USA over the Easter holidays to compete with the Vikings Cheerleading U18s team in the All-Star Cheerleading World Championships.

This prestigious event will take place in Orlando, Florida, from 15-18 April and in addition to the competition, the team will also engage in training sessions and display events both prior to and following the championship dates to acclimatise and perfect their routine.

Good luck girls – we’re all routing for you!

Year 10 flag bearers

A couple of weekends ago, six of our Year 10 girls were flag bearers at the Women’s Six Nations match in York, which saw England meet Italy. The girls carried the flags on to the pitch before the match began for the national anthems.

The girls were super professional and were congratulated on the roles they played. Well done to Jessica, Isla, Phoebe, Mia Grace, Elsa and Freya.

SEN and Safeguarding news from Excel Learning Trust

Every month, Sue Wight, Director of SEN and Safeguarding at Excel Learning Trust circulates tips and advice regarding SEN and safeguarding to parents/carers.

The March SEN and Safeguarding newsletter can be found here.

Parent Carer Forum

To find out more about events and support available from the Parent Carer Forum, please take a look at their latest newsletter here.

Excel Trust Samba Band

We are very excited to be preparing our Trust Samba Band in preparation for the York Pride Parade on Saturday 7 June and we would like to invite any interested pupils from our Trust, from Year 4 upwards, to join us. Any interested percussion players do not need experience of drumming and will learn how to play the samba rhythms in our rehearsals.

A generous donation by Pavers Foundation means we are able to purchase more instruments, and this year we will be adding a brass / wind section.

If your child would like to attend they will need to be available for the parade on 7 June and for weekly rehearsals in the lead up. The rehearsals will be at Knavesmire Primary School in the school hall on Thursdays 5-6pm from 24 April to 5 June (six sessions) with Mrs Hardy, music teacher at Knavesmire. Any brass or wind players are very welcome and will need to be able to play at a minimum of Grade 3 level. Further information on the Pride Parade will be sent to you next half term.

If your child wishes to join us, please complete this form by 9.00am Thursday 24 April.

Clare Hardy – Music Lead, Knavesmire Primary School

Inaugural Excel Staff Recognition Awards

Next term, Excel Learning Trust will hold its Inaugural Staff Recognition Awards 2025 celebrating the incredible individuals who make the Trust community thrive.

These awards provide a way for the Trust to express its gratitude for the tireless effort, hard work, dedication and passion that members of its community bring to the table. There will be awards for support staff, teaching staff, leaders and volunteers, who will be recognised for the amazing impact they make and for ensuring that our children experience educational excellence every day.

One very special award is the ‘Excelling Through Parent or Community Recognition’. Awarded for those who build strong relationships outside of the Trust and for making sure that our school is not just a place for children but a hub of support and connection, this is parent or community nominated. We’ve already received a large number of nominations in this category, but if you’d like to nominate someone from Millthorpe or any of the other Trust schools, just complete this short nomination form by Monday 14 April 2025.

The award winners will be announced at a celebratory event on 10 July 2025.

Job of the Week – Water Quality Scientist

In this job you regularly check the quality of water to ensure that it is safe and drinkable for human consumption. This is not just specifically the water that comes out of the tap, but groundwater, surface water or any other water source. You would usually need a degree in a science-based subject to enter this field of work.

Watch this video for more information about becoming a Water Quality Scientist.

Speakers for Schools – inspirational talks

Speakers for Schools is an incredible social mobility charity which empowers state-educated young people by opening doors to life-changing opportunities. In addition to their work experience programme, they also regularly broadcast live inspirational talks which are recorded and then hosted on their website.

Each week, as part of our careers and aspiration-raising programme, we will feature one of their talks.

This week, we are featuring a talk by celebrity actor, Paterson Joseph, called Breaking Into Acting: A Career Talk. Originally broadcast as part of Careers Week, this is a fantastic opportunity to hear from acclaimed actor Paterson Joseph. Best known for his roles in blockbuster films like Wonka (2023) and hit TV shows such as Netflix’s The Sandman, Paterson has built an extraordinary career across film, television, and theatre. From performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company to starring in Peep Show, Law & Order: UK, and Green Wing, he knows exactly what it takes to break into the industry. Whether you’re dreaming of a career in performance or just curious about life in the industry, this is your chance to hear from an industry professional.

Just click the image below to view.

 

Motor Trades 2025 – Event at York College

York College is holding its Motor Trades Event on Thursday 8 May 2025 from 5.30-9.00pm.

The event is for students in Years 9-13 who are interested in a career in the motor industry. They can discover how the industry is developing, speak to motor vehicle specialists and find out about training opportunities.

Further information can be found here.

York Youth Council

York Youth Council represents the voice of young people in our area; they campaign to influence decision makers, and have involvement with UK Youth Parliament. They are currently looking for more members.

Members must be aged 11-18 and be available to meet fortnightly on Wednesday evenings (5-7pm) in the City of York Council offices near the station during term time only.

Applications can be made by email: yorkyouthcouncil@york.gov.uk and further information can be found here.

Leeds Rhinos Netball – Community Activity

Camps and Residential
NIC Leeds Rhinos Netball and the Leeds Rhinos Foundation are running netball camps across Yorkshire this Easter. The senior camps are for those in Years 7-11.

Further information about the camps and the Summer Residential can be found here whilst tickets can be bought here.

University of Huddersfield – HE Development Day and U19 Tournament
They are also running a development day on 9 April for those in Years 11, 12 and 13 who are looking at their higher education options.

You will have the opportunity to take part in a quality netball session along with trying some fun testing with the university’s sports science equipment. Scan the QR code or follow this link to sign up to the development day.

To find out more and book a place, click here.

#WakeUpWednesday – A guide to Instagram

Instagram remains one of the world’s most popular social media platforms, especially among teens – used by around 70% of 13 to 17-year-olds. The age restriction is 13+, so students aged 11 or 12 should not be using this platform.

It may be one of the most familiar social media names around but features like AI-powered chatbots and Threads integration have added fresh challenges for families and schools to navigate. From worrying livestreams to issues like social exclusion and fear of missing out, Instagram isn’t just about photos. As the platform evolves, so too must the conversations we have with young people about how they use it.

The National College’s latest #WakeUpWednesday guide outlines what these new features involve, the possible risks they bring and how to make the most of Instagram’s parental controls to keep children safe online. Please take a look.

Online support for students and parents

We wanted to remind you about our online support app called Padlet, which is a directory of support available for students and parents.

Padlet signposts the user to a range of websites and resources, providing support and advice relating to mental health, exam stress, online safety, self care, managing emotions, young carers, family support and more.

You can visit the Padlets by scanning the QR codes or clicking the links below.

Visit the Parent Padlet
Visit the Student Padlet

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.