Carre's Grammar School Parent Portal

Mrs Marie-Anne Sardeson joined the Science department in September 2019 from the William Farr School and is retiring from the profession after 19 years in four different schools. In her short time with us, she has gained the respect of the staff and students for her knowledge and passion for science and strong relationships that she has formed. Her natural energy, enthusiasm and joie de vivre will be sadly missed.

Mrs Karen Handley has taken early retirement as she bravely battles with leukaemia. Teaching since 1990, she joined us in 2013 from Spalding High School, and has taught History, EP and Sociology. Her love of teaching and her commitment to supporting all her students has meant that she has had a huge impact on so many. She is also a keen advocate of learning outside the classroom and both staff and students have enjoyed a lot of history visits with her. Her colleagues here at Carre’s will all attest to how supportive and totally flexible Mrs Handley has been to ensure that all students got the opportunities they deserved in school.

Mr John White has retired after 11 years with us as the Site Manager at Carre’s, with the last 5 years combined with the role at KSHS. John has used his joinery skills on several projects over the years, and also turned his hand to countless minor repairs and maintenance, managing a team of Assistant Site Managers, and collectively they have been responsible for day-to-day maintenance, management, safety and security of both school sites.

Mrs Lindsey Tyson is retiring after 17 years with us, the last 9 as the Catering Manager. Against an increasingly difficult backdrop, she has overseen many changes, including the delivery of primary meals and the breakfast club and has transformed the menus and way food is seen by all in the school. She has led a team of catering assistants, working whatever hours were required, to make sure the students and staff were well provided for in choice and quality. In 17 years, it is hard to imagine how many meals she has produced and the number of students and colleagues she has served. Lindsey got most of her satisfaction from her work by hearing the students talk fondly and politely about the food she produced.

Mr Andy Wilkinson is stepping down from the leadership team after serving on it for 17 years but is staying with us as a member of the excellent PE department. He has helped guide the school through many changes in that time, most notably in directing the school’s sports specialism status which has benefited thousands of young people and community members. In particular, they have him to thank for the 3G pitch and the fitness suite.

I would like to wish them all the very best for the future.

For those parents of Year 11 and Year 13 students, I hope that your sons/daughters get the results that they hope for and have worked so hard for when the results are released on 17 and 24 August.

To all of you and your families, I wish you an enjoyable summer. We look forward to seeing Year 7 and 11 students back in school on Tuesday 5 September, and all others on Wednesday 6 September.

Nick Law
Headteacher

Uniform

Leading on to the start of a new school year, we would like to take the opportunity to remind you of our expectations regarding school uniform. Our full uniform policy can be found here (www.carres.uk). Most students are well presented in school, but there are a number of students who wear footwear that does not conform. To avoid the inconvenience of having to replace new shoes in September that aren’t the correct style, please take a look at the image below.

Trainer style shoes do not meet our expectations. Shoes should be formal and smart in style. The shoe in the picture does not conform to our uniform policy. Thank you for your continued support in ensuring our students are well presented and smart.

Attendance

Being in school is extremely important to your child’s achievement, wellbeing and wider development. The Government requires all schools to monitor attendance and a rate of 95% is generally considered good; this allows for 9.5 days of absence across the school year. Persistent absence (PA) is defined as an attendance rate of 90% or below. High attendance is one of the most important contributing factors to exam success and the government states that students should only be absent from school due to illness or with advance permission from the school in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a funeral). We pride ourselves on working with students and families to support attendance and for considering the individual circumstances of each family. In the new school year, at the end of each half-term, you will receive letters to make you aware if your child’s attendance has dropped below 90%. If it continues to drop, you may be invited to a meeting to discuss any concerns or barriers to improved attendance. This will allow us to identify early if there is any additional support we can offer, to help your child have the best opportunity for success. Our full attendance policy can be found here.

Safeguarding Bulletin

Over the summer holidays, please remember that our safeguarding page is available to support and advise you with any concerns you may have whilst the school is closed.

One organisation you may wish to access if your child is struggling is www.kooth.com

Kooth offers free, safe and anonymous access to online wellbeing support and advice for children and young people aged 11-18 simply by registering on their website. There are no waiting lists or criteria, and support can be accessed for ANY issues they may be experiencing. These may include body image, self-esteem, bereavement, anger, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, friendships, sexuality and academic pressure amongst others.

Kooth also has a selection of resources to help support parents/carers.

Their qualified therapists are online 365 days a year, Monday-Friday, from midday until 10pm and on weekends 6pm-10pm. Users can message 24/7 to get a next day response.

Please share this information with your young person.

Thank you

Mrs Goymer, Associate Assistant Headteacher and Safeguarding Lead

A Sleaford teenager has been selected to take part in an international handball tournament in Denmark.

Elod, aged 15, has been chosen to join the England Under18 team competing in the Generation Handball event, which has attracted teams from 20 nations around the world.

The 16-player team will fly out to Denmark in late July and compete until early August in arenas holding more than 8,000 fans.

Playing in the tournament is the culmination of six years of training and competing for the Carre’s Grammar School student.

Elod has spent years being coached at the Regional Midland Handball Academy near Birmingham and has competed in national tournaments three times a year before breaking through to the England team.

The England call-up also marks a “miracle” recovery for the teenager – who only left hospital in February after rupturing his spleen while skiing.

He spent a week in intensive care and two further weeks in hospital in Austria and it took him three months to get back playing contact sport.

Parents Jim and Gabriella said they were hugely proud of their son’s determination and drive to get back to competitive sport after his accident and to make it to the international tournament.

They also praised Carre’s Grammar School for nurturing and encouraging his sporting career.

“The school is very supportive of Elod and his passion for handball. The school is running after school clubs for different age groups and even lets Elod train individually when the hall is free to use,” said Jim.

“We are delighted this has helped our son reach his goals and really proud of his selection for the England team.”

Carre’s headteacher Nick Law said the whole school was honoured that Elod would be representing Lincolnshire and his school at such a prestigious sporting event.

“Elod thoroughly deserves his opportunity. His is totally dedicated and passionate about the sport – and his recovery from such a terrible injury is testament to that.

We are delighted we have been able to support him on his journey.”

In the Generation Handball 2022 tournament 150 youth teams, 30 senior teams, and 50 referees from 18 different countries participated.

The tournament takes place in Viborg, Denmark, which is one of the oldest cities in Denmark. Sports, especially handball, are a huge draw, and there are many big youth handball clubs and a strong professional senior team.

The mayor of Viborg is Ulrik Wilbek who is former coach of the Danish national handball team.

(article courtesy of Grubb Street Media)

Well done and good luck Elod

see also: www.lincolnshireworld.com - Sport - Other Sport

The Great War 1914 – 1918, Battlefields Trip 9 - 12 June 2023
Visiting the Somme, Ypres Salient and Bruges

A huge thank you to all the staff who accompanied the students:
Mr Quinton, Mrs Wilson, Mr Whiting, Mr Toledo, Mrs Phoenix and Mr Appleby

On 9 June 2023, 65 year 9 students and 7 members of staff set off for Belgium and France. This was to be our first visit back to these familiar places since before the Covid pandemic struck in 2020, making these visits impossible for the last couple of years.

Before our arrival at our youth hostel, we visited the 'Trench of Death', which really gave us an insight as to what was to come in the days ahead. Here, we experienced just how long the trenches were as they weaved in and out of the countryside.

Later that evening, we arrived at our youth hostel, named De Lork, located in a village called Kemmel. We were greeted with a tasty meal, followed by a little free time and then bed!

The following day began with a trip to the Wellington Tunnels in Arras. It was fascinating to learn about how and why the tunnels were built, and their multi purposes. Shortly after, we went to the famous Thiepval memorial, where we paid our respects for those who lost their lives by laying a poppy wreath. The number of names engraved on the monument, really brought home to us the huge number of people killed in WWI, and made us all feel so lucky and grateful. Next, we visited Ulster Tower, very close to Thiepval, and we were given an educational tour of the neighbouring woods, and were shown first hand, real trench lines and trenches used in the war.

On Sunday 11 June, we began our day visiting Tyne Cot and Langemark cemeteries, where thousands of soldiers were buried. Afterwards, we visited Sanctuary Wood, where everyone had great fun making their way around the muddy trenches and hiding and crawling through the network of tunnels. As fun as it was, it really brought us down to reality, about the types of conditions soldiers in the war worked in, and how, whilst we were having fun, we definitely wouldn't have slept in them! After a quick ice cream stop for some, we left to go to the In Flanders Field Museum in the centre of Ypres, which showed us things such as WWI uniforms, weapons, and everything in between.

We later returned to Ypres, where we visited Passchendaele Memorial Museum, which showed us close up where soldiers slept in the trenches, where cooks worked, doctors and so on. Later in the evening, we visited a local restaurant in Ypres to have dinner, and shortly afterwards attended the Last Post Ceremony, at the Menin Gate, where we also laid a wreath to pay our respects. To round the day off, we visited a local, Belgian chocolate shop, which boasted delicious chocolate and sweet treats. It was definitely a trip highlight!

On our final day, we visited the historic city of Bruges. We were lucky enough to have a boat tour through the city's old town waterways. Afterwards, everyone was able to have some time to enjoy an ice cream or a waffle from a local ice cream parlour, before setting off back for our long journey home to Sleaford. I would like to thank all the teachers and staff involved for giving up their weekend to give the students the opportunity to go, and our fantastic coach drivers, Aaron and Will!

Report by Mr N Quinton, Head of History

Sixth Form

Please follow the link below to the excellent Sixth Form Newsletter, featuring information about our new Senior Prefect Team, Induction Days, Mock Interviews, Wellbeing Ambassadors and more.

https://www.carres.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=767&type=pdf

This year, there are 22 Wellbeing Ambassadors, who are a group of Year 12s going into Year 13, taking over from a very successful previous Ambassador Team. The role of the Wellbeing Ambassadors is to be a bridge between students and teachers at school, and each of us has been allocated a student who the Student Support Team feels may need someone to talk to that isn’t necessarily a member of staff, in order to help them with any issues or concerns they have regarding not only school, but anything going on in their life they wish to talk about.

Following our applications to Mrs Clapham, we have completed three weeks of mental health training and skills with the Student Support Team, learning about our roles and responsibilities as a Wellbeing Ambassador for younger students. Firstly, we learnt about the important concepts of confidentiality and the key ambassador skills. We were also taught about the five steps of mental health First Aid. In addition to being taught the skills and techniques involved in talking to students, we also took part in practical learning through roleplays and scenarios that we may have to deal with, to help us learn practically how to talk to students and how to act in meetings. We are also undergoing online mental health training with Mental Health First Aid England and will receive a certificate to show our training achievement and skills we have obtained.

Following all of this training and learning about mental health and talking skills, the Wellbeing Ambassadors are well-prepared to begin meeting with designated students, as well as to anyone who wants someone to talk to in school. The Wellbeing Ambassadors all wear an identifying badge of the Sigma symbol meaning the ‘sum of everything’, representing that the ambassadors are here for any concern or issue however big or small it may seem. During the past few weeks, all students have also been made aware of the service available in the Wellbeing Ambassadors through being mentioned in the Senior Prefect Teams introduction assemblies to all year groups in the school, to raise awareness of the importance of seeking help and not being scared to talk to one of us about anything you are worried about.

Overall, the main aim of our Ambassador Team is to act as a friendly face for any student who needs someone to talk to when they don’t necessarily wish to speak with a teacher, and to further improve the help and support available to students with the successful legacy left by the previous team.

Useful Dates

*Students in Years 7 and 11 (only) will return on Tuesday 5 September and

students in all other year groups will return on Wednesday 6 September

Parents' Consultations

Uniform

Attendance

Safeguarding Bulletin

Notices

Please return any items of school uniform that you may have borrowed, as we have lent out ties, blazers, shirts, and some shoes from our supplies, but many items have not been returned.

Thank you.

Celebrating our students' success

Well done and good luck Elod

Two weeks ago I took my Grade 5 Speech Drama exam

The exam required me to read a passage of prose chosen by the examiner, perform an extract from a play, recite a poem and answer questions on the theory and techniques of speech drama.

My chosen extract from a play was Ariel from the Tempest by William Shakespeare. It is full of energy and a great fun piece to perform.

My poem was by Gervase Phinn, who creates humorous poetry.

The examiner was really friendly and welcoming too!

This week I received my results and was very happy to hear that I had achieved a distinction!

Jarvis C - Form 7.4

Brilliant - well done Jarvis

Great news Georgia - very well done

GOLF

The 29th Sleaford Schools Golf Championship was hosted by Sleaford Golf Club on 10 July. Students from Carre’s, KSHS and St George’s Academy competed across two competitions on the day.

The non-handicap competition, open to beginner golfers and those with no official handicap, was won by Will Walford of Carre’s, beating Harry Hopkinson by a couple of shots.

Only two girls played in the main handicap event, which was won with 32 points by Poppy Edgar of St George’s Academy.

Carre’s Year 9 student, Oliver, won the main boys’ event with a score of 41 points, just eclipsing good scores by schoolmates James (Year 7) and Aaron (Year 10).

This strong Carre’s showing meant that Carre’s also took the team trophy this year, taking it back from last year’s victors St George’s.

Well done to everyone involved in the competition.

CGS winning team: Aaron, Oliver and Lucas

Oliver - Sleaford Schools Boys’ Champion 2023

On Friday 14 and Saturday 15 July Luke and Harry, both 9B, took part in the British Junior Rowing Championships at Strathclyde Country Park, Motherwell.

With over 900 crews in very challenging conditions they both rowed in the OJ14 singles and then together in the OJ14 doubles.

They qualified for minor finals and rowed exceptionally well.

Great results - well done

Barnaby, Year 9, competed in a National competition at the weekend at Tunnel Barn Farm in the Midlands with a team of 6 Juniors and won gold.

Barnaby won his section with 39.5 kilos and came 4th overall in the match.

Well done Barnaby.

Sports Day 2023 - Princess Royal Arena, Boston

Year 7 students created fruit salads, cold pasta lunches, savoury scones and pizza during food nutrition lessons at Kesteven and Sleaford High School - see the News Story below

'Chef' Scholefield assisted with the lessons

Music Day 2023

We had a fantastic day rehearsing 4 pieces of music:

The day finished with a concert for parents and families which demonstrated the hard work and fun that we had during the day.

The Great War 1914 – 1918, Battlefields Trip 9 - 12 June 2023 Visiting the Somme, Ypres Salient and Bruges

A huge thank you to all the staff who accompanied the students: Mr Quinton, Mrs Wilson, Mr Whiting, Mr Toledo, Mrs Phoenix and Mr Appleby

Students and staff enjoyed a fantastic Reward trip to The Lincolnshire Show

Harry Potter Rewards Trip

On Monday 3 July, 45 students and 5 staff took a magical coach ride to Hogwarts – unfortunately we had to use Muggle transport! We spent an entrancing day at ‘The Harry Potter Studio Tour’ in Leavesden, Watford.

Students and staff were bewitched by the experience of being able to walk through the actual film sets that were used in the filming of all 8 films in the Harry Potter franchise. They got to see the Great Hall in all of its splendour, complete with floating candles.

Students were also able to walk through the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 ¾, brave the mysteries of the Forbidden Forest and witness the destruction of Gringotts wizarding bank by an escaping dragon!

Much Butter Beer was consumed, and lots of Galleons were spent in the gift shops!

The day was made even more magical as we bumped into an ex- Carre’s student, Nick Holmes, who now works partly in the Wizarding World as well as working on film production. It was lovely to see an ex-student so happy and successful!

Although it was a very long day, a magical time was had by all, and we returned to school laden with Honeydukes sweets, wands, and countless other souvenirs!

Mischief managed!!!

Report by Mrs Morrissey, LRC Manager (Slytherin House)

Year 10 History students visit Roman Lincoln and The Collection Museum

We had a great day, and the students came back enthused about this fascinating period of local history. My thanks to Mrs Wilson for organising the trip, and to all the accompanying staff.

Report by Mr Quinton, Head of History

Year 8s having a drama lesson entitled ‘Serious Fun’

This is where they learn drama skills through games

Year 8 visit to the Black Country Museum

Mrs James' Year 12 English Literature group reading ‘Twelfth Night’ (the exam text)

Carre’s Wellbeing Ambassadors

At the end of this academic year, I thought it would be a good idea to review how the last year has progressed.

Back in September the Ambassadors completed training, and not only did I see the students that they supported grow in confidence, but the Ambassadors were also noticeably more confident too.

They successfully delivered assemblies introducing themselves and how they can support students.

If you’d like to find out more about the new Wellbeing Ambassadors, read Lydia's article below.

Thank you from Mrs Clapham, Student Support Team

Sixth Form

Please follow the link below to the excellent Sixth Form Newsletter, featuring information about our new Senior Prefect Team, Induction Days, Mock Interviews, Wellbeing Ambassadors and more.

https://www.carres.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=767&type=pdf

Overall, the main aim of our Ambassador Team is to act as a friendly face for any student who needs someone to talk to when they don’t necessarily wish to speak with a teacher, and to further improve the help and support available to students with the successful legacy left by the previous team.

Lydia - Wellbeing Ambassador

Year 13 Prom

Other News - from Twitter

Year 11 Prom

Head Boy, Danny, and Head Girl, Agatha, proud to see their names on the @carresgrammar Honours Board at the start of their time in office

Sixth Form Induction Day

Careers/Apprenticeships/Training

Duncan and Toplis

The Great War 1914 – 1918, Battlefields Trip 9 - 12 June 2023
Visiting the Somme, Ypres Salient and Bruges

A huge thank you to all the staff who accompanied the students:
Mr Quinton, Mrs Wilson, Mr Whiting, Mr Toledo, Mrs Phoenix and Mr Appleby