Happy New Year to you all – we hope you had a restful break. It has been wonderful to have students back this week and getting stuck in to new topics in their lessons. This week in tutor time, students have been reflecting on their highlights of 2022 and looking forward to 2023. We have asked students to reflect on the characteristics we outline in our 3D Curriculum (compassionate, resilient, co-operative, thoughtful, tolerant, curious, excited, independent, leaders, communicators, problems-solvers and creators) and set themselves a New Year’s resolution to develop one of these skills this half term. Do ask your children what resolutions they have set for themselves and talk with them about how they can achieve it.
We are also really excited to launch our ‘Mountbatten Miniseries’ this half term – a collection of short clips from Lorraine Lee BSc (Dipl. Child Psychology and Positive Parenting Practitioner). Lorraine works across Hampshire and the UK to support parents and educators better understand the inner workings of the teenage mind, running INSET days, training, online workshops for parents and webinars you can access. Lorraine has worked with us to put together a series of clips sharing some great advice and top tips on a range of topics from bullying to helping your child manage their emotions and friendships. These will be shared weekly in this newsletter from next week and will also be found on our website and social media platforms. We hope that you find these as useful and interesting as we have.
Monday 9 January
Football League Nights on the Mountbatten MUGA 4.00pm - 5.00pm
Tuesday 10 January
Nothing advised
Wednesday 11 January
PE Department - Year 10 Rock Climbing Course at Golden Geko Climbing Centre 11.15am - 12.45pm
Thursday 12 January
Year 9 Options Evening in the Olympic Hall, 6.00pm - 7.00pm
Friday 13 January
Nothing advised
INSET Days for 2022/23
Monday 20 February 2023
Monday 19 June 2023
Friday 21 July 2023
Every effort is made to ensure these dates are accurate. There are occasions when circumstances beyond our control may result in changes
Youth in Romsey Parenting Session
Youth in Romsey will be visiting school to deliver one Parenting Session on Thursday 19 January 2023, starting at 5.45pm and finishing at 6.45pm.
The session would be on how parents/carers can best support children's mental health.
Youth in Romsey will discuss anxious/worried behaviours, anxiety, self-harming and eating disorders. They will suggest how best parents/carers can work with their child giving the dos and dont's with their own behaviour and the impact that this can have on their child, using case studies as an example. They will also talk about Youth in Romsey, CAMHS and places to contact in a crisis.
We hope that this event will be useful and informative. Please complete the YIR Parenting Session Google Form if you would like to attend.
Year 9 Options Evening - Thursday 12 January 2023
Today, Year 9 have had an assembly launching the GCSE Options process and a letter has also been sent home to parents/carers this week outlining the stages of the process and inviting you to attend the Year 9 Options Evening at school on Thursday 12 January 2023, at 6.00pm. Subject specialists will be available to talk about their courses as well as short presentations from Mr Dunn (Assistant Headteacher), Mr Waters (Head of Year) and Mrs Whitfield and Mrs Brooks (Directors of Learning).
You can find the link to the letter in the 'Letters you may have missed' section towards the end of this newsletter.
We look forward to welcoming parents and carers to this event.
Year 10 Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde Text for Study
Year 10 students have started their study of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde as part of their GCSE English Literature examination in Summer 2024. Parents of Year 10s are able to purchase an individual copy of the text. For more information, please read the letter via in the 'Letters you may have missed' section.
N.B: If your child receives Pupil Premium funding, they will automatically receive a copy.
Music Tuition - Spring Term Payments
We would like to remind you that music tuition fees for the Spring Term 2023 are now due. Please check your Scopay account to check the amount owing and make immediate payment.
Fees for the Spring term are £95.00 with the exception of piano tuition which are £120.00 (if your child is eligible for pupil premium please be aware that Pupil Premium discounts have been applied to your account).
If you have any queries or wish to discuss payment options please contact The Finance Department.
£10.95 per hour plus holiday pay
Required from 20 February 2023
We are seeking to appoint additional exam invigilators to join our current team to assist in the smooth running and security of examinations. Exam session times do vary, so flexibility is required and opportunities exist to...
Main Pay Scale
Required for 20 February 2023 or 17 April 2023 until 31 August 2023 (with the possibility of extension thereafter)
We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed teacher to join our high performing, forward-looking and friendly Mathematics team. This is a superb opportunity t...
Click the drop-down menus below to find out more about different careers opportunities coming up for our students.
For those with older children: apprenticeship opportunity – Journalism at the BBC
The BBC are offering a fast track journalism apprenticeship for students 18+, starting September 2023, in Southampton (amongst other locations). Closing date is 12 February. To apply and for more details, click here.
Apprenticeships in construction - webinar
Barratt Developments recently hosted a webinar for parents and students to find out more about the different pathways and opportunities available with Barratts. To view the webinar (25 minutes), please click here.
Year 11 College Application Deadlines
As a reminder, please see the application deadlines below:
20 January: Barton Peveril
28 February: Brockenhurst
31 March*: City College, Eastleigh, Itchen, Richard Taunton, Sparsholt and Totton College
*Recommended deadline as courses can fill up fast.
Top Tip
The start of the new year also brings with it the start of veganuary! Whilst there are a range of reasons for the veganuary campaign, one reason that we should all try to reduce our meat consumption is due to its contribution to climate change. The graph below show the carbon footprint of different food products.
If you are struggling for ideas on how to cook more plant-based meals, check out the veganuary website for recipe ideas.
RSHE restarts for the Spring Term on Monday and tutors are looking forward to reconnecting with their tutees through the discussion based lessons.
Year 7
This half-term Year 7 will be looking at how to lead healthy lifestyles by considering what health and fitness is before identifying the need for good food, sleep and exercise habits. Students will also explore the impacts of energy drinks and caffeine-based drinks on health and fitness and the law. Students will then move onto exploring the body’s physical changes during puberty.
Year 8
This half-term Year 8 will be exploring healthy lifestyles and good physical health as well as how to maintain positive mental health when using Social Media. Media bias and different media sources will also be covered so we can encourage students to consider what influences they may be exposed to.
Year 9
Year 9 will be starting the new year considering what supports healthy living and how to lead a healthy lifestyle. This moves on to some basic first aid training and then supporting positive mental health and positive self-image. Students will consider how their own self-perception and internet use may be linked.
Year 10
Year 10 will be kick-starting the term with a recap on healthy living and positive lifestyle choices. This will be supported by exploring what a role model is and how this can support personal progress and decision-making. This then leads into exploring the impacts of drug and alcohol use.
Year 11
Year 11 will recap healthy living before moving onto some practical emergency aid training. Students will also explore contraception and sexual health. Students will be signposted to some external agencies that offer support. Youth In Romsey offer support and guidance. Information can be found on their website where further services can also be found as well as what they offer.
Should your child wish to seek support in any of these topics or about anything else that is worrying them, please advise them to speak to their form tutor in the first instance or request some support from our Student Support team by completing the Student Support form on the student area of the school website.
We have also launched our message reporting system 'TooToot'.
Childline also offer a range of support and resources.
Part of the healthy living topics include discussing the need for good sleep habits. Support with teenage sleep can be found at Teen Sleep Hub which is part of The Sleep Charity.
Basketball & Badminton After School Clubs - Spring Term
Please follow the instructions below to sign your child up to Basketball and Badminton after school clubs.
Book on to Basketball & Badminton After School Clubs:
In this episode, a group of students meet Mr Portas, our new Headteacher, and ask him questions about the things that matter to them. From what makes Mountbatten special through the controversial topic of pineapple on pizza!