Bulletin 28th September

Hello everyone,
Thanks to everyone for your efforts with staff tea, and I apologise for my absence, which was due to the astorturf having it in for my family. I've told Lyndsey not to go near it...
A big welcome to Barry, Elaine, Ruth and Pippa who will all be working with the department this year.

Meeting on Tues 29th September
3.15 - 4.15
C26
Agenda

1. Formative Assessment tasks at KS3
2. English Support
3. Performance Management
4. Open Evening
5. Detentions
6. AOB

Performance Management

The pairings for PM this year are as follows:

TBo: NTu, EFr, CSw

EWa: PTo, JKy, PHa

PTo: GSn, EWa

Exam results data will be provided this week. The system has changed somewhat this year, and the new forms are available on the intranet, page 351. This link should take you there if you are reading this in school... http://intranet/staffintranet/351.htm

Open Evening
Open evening is almost upon us again! I propose that we use C2 and C5, but would be happy to switch upstairs to the 'new carpet zone' if people would prefer? Please have a think about ideas to show the subject in its best light; in particular it would be good to get some students involved so any ideas?

Here's to a wonderful week!

Tom

Bulletin 21st September

This week:

• College meetings on Tues (we're next week)
• UCAS references to be completed by the end of the week.
• I've sprained my ankle so have to sort of waddle everywhere - Isobel says I'm not allowed to play football again.
• Cake day on Friday!

Assessment: please see email and resources regarding approaches to formative assessment at KS3.
Staffing: I'm delighted to say that we have some staff who have been allotted to support in English - Pippa, Sue Buckley, Elaine Davis are three confirmed so far. The precise role of this is yet to be confirmed, but will probably have an emphasis supporting year 11 classes.
Department Review: a heads-up that we are likely to be one of the first departments to be reviewed this year, so expect this in the next few weeks.
Tables and Chairs: any more requests for tables and chairs to me ASAP please! Only if you are short though I'm afraid.
Co-op learning structure: this is a good, easy one. It's called 'Chips-in' and is designed to ensure high levels of participation. So: each student in a team discussion has a different coloured poker chip. When they want to make a point, they put their chip into the middle of the table. Each person has to put their chip in, and therefore make a contribution, before the chips are given out again. If you need the chips, see me as I've got a set in my office...
Have a great week!
Tom

Bulletin - 14th September

Hi everyone, and thanks for all your hard work in what's been a positive start to the year. Not much to report this week:

Group Lists
There are still a couple of group list changes which need to happen, and I'll email those affected. Otherwise, it should really settle down from this point.

First Story
First Story begins this Weds - thanks to Jamie for overseeing.

Silly YouTube video
My class enjoyed this one! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4vW3fsJ8pk&feature=related

Have a fab week!
Tom

Bulletin 7th September

Hello everyone and welcome back to the first full week of Cheney, although given how exhausted I was at the end of one day, I'm worried that I'm not going to make it to Friday... Thanks to all for your contributions to the meeting time that we had, notes from which will be emailed around this week.

Anyway, here we go:

Class Lists

There are usually a number of students who are unsure which class they should be in, or have ended up in the wrong group. This is often due to students switching sides of the timetable - if this is the case with a student in your class, could you please email me the details. Thanks.

Year 9:

The class lists for Year 9 look to have changed quite a lot in some instances; I was unaware that this had taken place and can only apologise to those staff who have already sorted out seating plans etc.

Year 10

If you are teaching An Inspector Calls first with your Lit group, I have the copies centrally, so please let me know how many you need. Also, don't forget that we have an audio version of the play available on the shared area, along with some useful looking audio resources which could be used in class.

Department support:

I will put together the dept support timetable this week - for the time being, could staff please make themselves available by letting the rest of us know via email if they are teaching a 6th form lesson today or tomorrow.

Cover:

I'd just like to bring attention to the following info as sent round by Alasdair regarding procedures for staff absence this year:

Cover Guide

In the morning or night before if ill ring 01865 755228 and leave a message on Alasdair Harley's phone, or email ahr@cheney.oxon.sch.uk

All forms for cover, trips etc go to Charlotte Baker based in the office at main reception on extension 261 or email on cba@cheney.oxon.sch.uk

All illnesses during the day could staff ring Charlotte on extension 261 and she will arrange cover

Attempted Strangulation

Should this eventuality take place, please remember the procedure: head wiggle, back step, wrist-squeeze, arm-in-the-air-like-john-travolta, turn and run (I think that's right??).

Have a great week!

Tom