Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Big Sleepout 2019

  Fri 26 Apr 2019

  On Friday 29^th March, 5 members of staff and some of the year 12 and 13 students took part in the annual big sleepout. The big sleepout is an ongoing event we organise every year in order to raise money for Porchlight, in the hope of helping to support young and vulnerable people in our area.

  Over a series of years, we have developed a great relationship with Porchlight as a school and our annual big sleepout is a great way for us to raise both money and awareness for this charity. Porchlight is a charity in which helps people who have nowhere to go and no-one to turn to. Not only do they focus on helping the homeless, but they also take the time to support others who are generally struggling to cope with the pressures in their lives.

  From 6pm, both students and teachers began arriving to the school with their sleeping bags and blankets ready to experience the night as homeless people do; everyone laid out cardboard on the floor where they were going to be spending the night ahead. After this, students and staff spent the evening socialising, playing games and trying to keep warm.

  The sleepout was overall a very enjoyable experience and allowed all of us to understand what it is like to sleep rough. It also made us realise what some people are living like every day and how challenging it is for them. Students have given very positive feedback about the experience of the sleepout:

   

  “It was a very enjoyable experience”

  “It bought everyone together and was an fun way of raising money for a good charity”

  “The sleepout made us understand how difficult it is for people sleeping rough”

   

  From participating in the sleepout, we have received many donations from parents, students, family, friends and governors. Currently, we have raised an amazing amount of £1,844.01 which will go towards supporting the vulnerable people in the area, who have to spend every night rough. We would love to keep the donations going in order to try and reach our stretched target of £2000.00.

  https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/StSimonStock

   

       

  By Ellie Tomlin

  

• Emily Clegg Art

  Fri 26 Apr 2019
  St Simon Stock School is sending its excellent artwork out into the community! We were recently asked for examples to decorate Barham Court, headquarters of KCSP. Mrs Farrell collected recent work from Emily Clegg in year 9. Emilys drawings, designs  and responses to Russian Folk Art and to the work of photographers who have made portraits of stylish chickens is now framed. Her class is now working towards making a flock of 3D textile chickens.

  

• Annabel Lydon – Kent Judo

  Wed 24 Apr 2019
  Congratulations to Annabel Lydon for her fantastic achievement over the weekend. She entered the Kent Closed Judo competition on Saturday and came out with a Bronze Medal and was selected to join the Kent Squad. Her family is very proud of her hard work and we could not be happier for her!

  

• UNIQ Spring School- University of Oxford

  Tue 23 Apr 2019

  I recently attended the UNIQ spring school in the Easter break, when you first think of “summer school” it does not sound like something you want to spend your time off school attending. I applied to UNIQ on a whim, not thinking seriously about the prospects of applying to a university like Oxford; even for a summer school.

  UNIQ is a 5-day residential trip to the University of Oxford, whilst there you live in a college, participate in academics during the day and social events in the evening. While I was there I stayed at Mansfield College; which has a high proportion of state school students during the term time. The accommodation was 1^st Year undergraduate rooms; I was lucky and got an en-suite and a double bed, which was a novelty as the room was twice the size of my own room at home. The course I attended was Geography: Living in the Anthropocene, I was unsure on how I would cope with the academic sessions throughout the week but all of the staff made their research relate to our course; I even had to use GCSE Physics equations that I had definitely forgotten!

  The structure of the 5-days meant that we spent 9:30-12 in lectures and then 2-hour lunch; after lunch, we went back to the school of Geography for practical’s 2pm-4pm. On Wednesday we got to complete fieldwork at New College. In the evenings we often had dinner at other colleges with the whole group of UNIQ students, then participated in workshops in the evening to help us feel more confident when we apply to University later in the year.

  It is part of the University widening access programme, it does have certain non-academic requirements, but these are individual to where you live. You can apply to it during Year 12; when you are in Sixth Form there is a lot of talk about your next step, and you think I have barely started my a-levels and I already have to think about what is next?

  Before attending UNIQ I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to go to University; it just seemed like the given route to take but now I can’t wait to leave school. Your challenged personally and academically; you have to learn to be independent and to not give up as soon as you start to think you’re out of your depth. The days are full-on and intense, however the 5 days I spent there were some of the best days ever. Whilst I was there I met so many like-minded people from up and down the UK, you are all in the same boat and you will all share the love for your chosen subject. Through doing UNIQ I got to speak to academics who are so enthusiastic and passionate about what they teach and study, this really reflects onto the students, it has reaffirmed by decision to pursue Geography in higher education.

  One week after coming home from Oxford it has really given me a push and the motivation I need to get good a-levels as I now have something to aim towards. It has also made the application process (that I have to start later this year) a lot less daunting. The theme for the week was “No Limits”, that everyone can achieve great things, this may not mean going to Oxford or Cambridge but believing in yourself and your own capabilities.

  I would highly recommend applying for UNIQ and other similar programmes when you are in Year 12; even if you don’t enjoy the academic side by the end you will still have gained friends and independence from the experience. It is competitive, they also offer UNIQ digital to some of the students they cannot offer the residential to; this gives you opportunities to speak to current undergraduate students and gain information on applying to university. You have nothing to lose by applying and so much to gain if you get offered the opportunity. If I could do it all again, I would in a heartbeat.

  Caitlin Davie Letchford, Year 12 Geography Student

  

• Lego Robotics

  Thu 18 Apr 2019
  An enthusiastic group of Robotic Clubbers from Year 7 left school early on the 8^th February to compete in a Lego robotics Competition held at Mid Kent College. Mr Wells has been running the lunch time club for about 8 weeks, and it was evident from the off that not only were we the youngest team entry – but it also emerged many teams had had timetabled lesson time. Our Year 7’s had a mature pitch when interviewed, they had built a robust machine (– originally with gears) and conducted themselves all day with an unassuming confidence for their age. Due to the regulations the team took their own gears off before the main drag race – unaware that gears were allowed, leaving the robot not as fast as it could have been….Huge shout out to Sam ……who was a brilliant front man presenter on the day! A valiant effort and great fun had by all! Well done and go for it again next year!!

  

• Student of the Fortnight – April

  Thu 18 Apr 2019

  Well done to the following students for receiving the last Student of the Fortnight Award for term 4.

  Year 7 – Jessica Cummings- For positivity and determination to succeed

  Year 8 – Weronika Glower- For effort, achievement and conduct

  Year 9 – Megan Jones- For contributing to her school community by playing piano at Mr Griffins memorial mass.

  Year 10 – Harry Toms- For positivity and determination to succeed

  Year 11 – Lauren Fox- For positivity and determination to succeed

  Mrs Gray one of our wonderful Supported Learning Team is also in the photo.

  We look forward to rewarding many other of our students in terms 5 and 6.

   

  

• A-Level Chemistry Conference

  Fri 12 Apr 2019

  To support the learning of the students studying Chemistry at A-level, Mr Rose and I headed to a chemistry conference in London.  The day kicked off at 8 am when we boarded the school minibus, bags loaded with drinks, snacks and plenty of chocolate!  After a challenging journey we safely arrived at the venue.

   

  The conference was superb and focused on challenging areas, how to boost grades and how to meet the demands of the questions for examination success in 2019.  The presenters were interesting and entertaining to watch and provided students with practical, engaging and motivating revision for the A level chemistry exams.  Throughout the day, students actively participated in relevant, focused sessions with an emphasis on how to improve their grades and it encouraged the students to think synoptically.  Students benefited from top examiner insights on what gets high marks and enjoyed the lively and informative presentations with plenty of opportunity to get involved. It was very useful to see practical examples for students to follow for students to focus on common mistakes and how to answer difficult questions correctly.  Although I’m sure the highlight for many was the McDonalds comfort break on the way home!

  Mrs M. Cardwell

  

• STEM; Health and Social Care Day

  Fri 12 Apr 2019

  On 28^th March Ms Whitehead and 9 students from Years 10 and 12 attended a Health and Social Care Day hosted at Maidstone Hospital. We had the opportunity to hear from senior staff about the huge range of careers available in the NHS (including gardeners, electricians, porters radiographers and surgeons). We learnt about different routes into the NHS including apprenticeships, traineeships and post-graduate entries.

  We had the opportunity to visit a number of specialist stands and speak to staff about their particular roles and the challenges and pleasures of their jobs. As one of our students commented “The people at the different stands were all very informative and clearly loved what they were doing”. We also saw inside an ambulance, experienced a simulation tent which is used to train paramedics who are called to a wide range of scenarios, a dummy patient on which people can train to deal with emergencies. The students also had the opportunity to practise with “key hole surgery” which is really challenging because the image on the screen is the mirror image of how you are manipulating the equipment.

  The students asked lots of questions at the stands, collected booklets on the various opportunities available and in some cases changed their mind about the career they want to pursue. They were fantastic ambassadors for the school and it was a great day.

  

• The Religious Education Department Update

  Thu 11 Apr 2019

  The beginning of Term 4 saw our Ash Wednesday whole school Mass and the receiving of the Ashes as we journeyed through the season of Lent.   Many staff have led spiritual hot spots to deepen our faith and cause us to raise our consciences on how to prepare ourselves to be closer to God.  Lauren Bassett our school Chaplin has been busy inspiring reflections on CAFOD and Bible study that have motivated students to being keen fund raiser, whilst also getting them to reflect on how Lent give us the opportunity to do some spiritual house cleaning.  She has also organised Year Reflections to think about the significance of Lent with a reflection service and the opportunity for students to use the sacrament of reconciliation.

  General RE for Year 12 and 13 enjoyed guest speakers who delivered a powerful and thought provoking workshop on domestic violence over two lessons.   After watching the drama, students had the opportunity to raise questions on the topic in groups and discuss the problems of domestic violence and how to seek help from organisations.

   

  This term also saw the memorial service for James Griffin. Students had the opportunity along with staff to attend the Mass and write a comment in a memory book which was passed on to his family.  Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with his family and friends in this season of Lent

   

  Notice: It is the Lasallian 300^th Celebration (this Saturday)!

  

• Herstmoncuex 2019

  Wed 10 Apr 2019

  Einstein = masses of curiosity²

  As part of National Science week, the Science department and 160 intrepid year 7 students headed to the Science Observatory at Herstmonceux.  The students get to experience hands-on activities and team challenges. This year the theme was Einstein 100, Einstein = masses of curiosity², to recognise the 100 year anniversary of his General Theory of Relativity being verified using photographs of a total solar eclipse taken through one of the telescopes at Herstmonceux!

  The students built bridges and towers and competed individually to see who could hold their finger on a tens machine as the voltage was increased! As well as investigating light and magnetic challenges, the students had the opportunity to carry out two team challenges. Group 4 had the best time and constructed and deconstructed their bridge in 7 minutes and 22 seconds.  Group 3 managed to build the highest tower at 2.525m.  Congratulations go to the overall winners, group 1 with Miss Swyny.

  It was wonderful to see all the students get involved in the experiments and also the science show where we were entertained by the Scientists at the centre who encouraged audience participation.  We now know why a black hole can bend light!  The astronaut food was once again a popular item purchased in the shop.  The water area was enjoyed by all despite the cold wind and the outdoor area provided some entertaining moments, especially when the students tried to balance on the giant balance board.

  Mrs Cardwell

  “My time at Herstmonceux was amazing, it was by far the best trip I have ever had at this school.  I loved that the friendly staff were always really exciting and what they said was very interesting to listen to.  The discovery park was fantastic, when I looked at a certain angle I could see the famous scientist, Albert Einstein.  The water activities were amazing as our group succeeded in making an entire water circuit.  We had a lot of fun and worked fantastically as a group. We also had to build a tower of blocks and a wooden bridge with plastic bolts and wooden planks.  The bridge building was spectacular as our group had to assemble the bridge then take it apart in reverse order.  Overall, the trip was amazing and I learnt so much from the interactive corridor.”   Luke B 7MI1

  “I really enjoyed the Herstmonceux trip because it was really fun and interesting.  There were team activities that were enjoyable for we were able to work together.  The exhibitions were my favourite.  There were all sorts of things to do with electricity, colours and light.  The discovery park was active and fun too.”   Tessa C 7MI1

  “I think the Herstmonceux trip was great!  I had an amazing time with all of my friends and my teacher.  My favourite part was when we were told to make a bridge and we were timed.  I loved working as a team to build the bridge.  I also really enjoyed the corridor where they had really cool contraptions such as 3D pictures.  In the end my team won the competition!”

  Eva D 7MI1