Dear Families,
I hope this update finds you and those closest to you in the best of health. As we enter the final half term of the academic year, there is a lot on the horizon for our community, some of which will be detailed below.
We said farewell to Year 13 at the end of the last half term with a leavers assembly that reflected upon the last two years and looked forward to the opportunities ahead of them. This week we began our farewells to Year 11 with the annual shirt signing event taking place on Thursday. Following this, we have begun a period of additional flexibility for them, allowing those who prefer to study at home to do so. The academy will still be open as usual to Year 11 with focussed revision sessions and quiet spaces for working being made available but, with the bulk of examinations now having passed, the time is right to offer a little more flexibility. Please see your email or the letter from school with all the details if you have a child in Year 11.
Year 7 Parents Evening
Year 7 parents evening will take place on Wednesday 12th June from 16:20 to 19:00. We look forward to welcoming parents of our youngest members of the community on site to share some of their amazing achievements with you. I would also like to use this opportunity to remind you that we will be running a 4Rs employability workshop designed in partnership with local businesses alongside the parents evening and you are encouraged to attend. Our 4Rs projects are designed to ensure that Derby Moor students are fully equipped to enter the world of work and have developed the necessary skills to be ready for employment in an ever changing and fast moving world. To support this, we have invited delegates from a number of our business partners from Alstom (formerly Bombardier); JCB and DHL. They will be giving a presentation about the 4Rs Employability Skills at Derby Moor alongside Mr Hall, Mr Kilgour and some Year 7 students. Each presentation will last for approximately 20 minutes and there will be an opportunity to ask questions afterwards. Please use the Google form sent to you this week asking you to sign up for one of the presentations on the night. Should you experience any issues please get in touch with Mrs Hrncic on or Mrs Thomas (Year Manager).
Year 7 English Speaking Board Examinations
We are pleased to announce that a number of Year 7 students have been selected to take part in the English Speaking Board Award in Speech examination. This follows the hard work students put into their employability projects in English earlier this year. Students will present a product pitch, an employability talk and will take part in a short interview. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their confidence and employability skills whilst gaining an Ofqual accredited qualification. Examinations will take place on 27th and 28th June and 12th July. You will receive a letter with further details if your child has been selected for the examination. We encourage students to attend the preparation workshops that will be held on Tuesdays after school in SP10.
Kindness Drawing Competition
Miss Oliver has been delivering an assembly this week based on kindness and consideration. To promote this in school she is running a competition based on kindness. Students are welcome to create a pencil sketch inspired by the theme of kindness. Students must ensure their name is on the artwork and has been posted in the post box near reception by the 24th June 2024. Prizes will be awarded for the best three creations. Please see the poster attached to the email version of this update.
Principal’s Coffee Morning
The final Principal’s coffee morning of this year take place on Wednesday 26th June at 9.40 – 10.40am. We warmly invite you to come and join myself and Mr Scott to share a drink, talk and ask questions about the school and the upcoming academic year. Please come to the Main reception, where you will then be met by Mr Scott. Light refreshments will be available.
Year 13 Student Leadership Applications
On Wednesday 12th June, former student and Councillor of Normanton Ward – Gurkiran Kaur will be presenting to current Year 12 students about her experiences/journey and how the opportunities for leadership whilst she was at Derby Moor, helped to shape her career and route into public life.
This presentation is to highlight the opportunity for students to apply to be part of the Yr13 Student Leadership – from which we will select the Head Boy/Girl and the Deputy Head Boys/Girls.
If you are a parent of a Year 12 student, please can you discuss this opportunity with them and encourage them to apply. The application was sent out by Mr Scott on Class charts and will shortly be sent via email.
Recognising our Students’ Contributions
This week, we have celebrated with the students who achieved a Vice Principal’s award, or a Principal’s award with a Cake Break or a Pizza lunch respectively. In addition to this, students have been issued with their ‘Together We Succeed’ badges – Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze. This award is given at the start of each half term, based on the classcharts points from the previous half term.
There are still a number of students who have a TWS badge to collect – they are available from Mr Scott at Break or Lunch by the ‘Pizza Hut’.
School Librarian
The new School Librarian, Miss Jones, started on Wednesday this week. One of the areas that she is keen to update, are the range of Fiction books in the library. A survey will be sent out by Mr Scott, on behalf of Miss Jones for students to complete. The information from this will be used to target the type of books and genre that our students want to engage with.
Sports Update
Go Ape Trip (Year 9 Drop Down Day, 27th June 2024): We have filled up all 90 spots of the BTEC Sport Go Ape trip on drop down day later this month. We are thrilled to look at broadening horizons in outdoor adventure activities and providing students with an exciting experience. The confirmation of places will go out via form groups next week and students will be made aware. This trip will leave Derby Moor at 8.15 so we ask that students arrive at school for 7.55 in order to be registered. We will return to Derby Moor for 15.45.
Fixtures: We have our first competitive cricket fixtures of the year next week with the Y7/8 team playing Littleover away. Following this, the week after we have also arranged a fixture with Landau. A reminder for any students wanting to participate that cricket training is on every Monday after school until 16.05.
Girls Cricket: In order to promote girls cricket within the school we have linked up with Derbyshire County Cricket Club and the chance to shine programme. Every Thursday, students in Y7 will be getting lessons with a Derbyshire coach and, as well as this, there will be an open session for all girls at lunch times. All abilities and years are welcome.
Extra-Curricular Timetable: Please find the extra-curricular timetable for next week attached to the email version of this update.
Careers Update
Job of the Week: This week’s job of the week is a Firefighter.
Derby Moor Dispatch: The Derby Moor Dispatch goes out weekly to all students in Year 11, 12 and 13. The Dispatch contains a wide range of opportunities for work experience, summer schools, careers related webinars and so on. Please do have a look at the latest edition. The Dispatch is emailed to the students’ school email address, so it is important that they check this regularly on a Monday. You can also view the Dispatch via the Careers page of the Derby Moor website. Please take a look at the website as there is a wealth of useful information including a specific page for parents.
Staff Spotlight
This week, we shine the Staff Spotlight on our Multi Agency Team Manager, Mrs Perkins:
Q) How long have you worked at Derby Moor Spencer Academy?
A) Almost 3 years now.
Q) What is your role and what does it entail?
A) I am the Multi Agency Team Manager. I manage a team of staff including our school’s youth worker, school-based family workers, behaviour mentors, inclusion manager and school counsellors. I provide a service that offers early help to students and families, and we work as a team to offer placements at our school’s alternative provision. This work in inclusion is vital to help our students and their families through difficult times so that young people can attend and be successful at the academy.
Q) What is your favourite thing about working here?
A) My team are amazing. I’m so proud of what the Multi Agency Team does to support our students and families every day.
Q) Tell us a fact about yourself.
A) I’ve appeared a few times on TV and got my photo taken with Ben Shephard at a festival last year!
Q) Who is the person who inspires you most?
A) My dad. He is kind, caring and always full of worldly advice.
Q) What other interesting roles or experiences have you had?
A) I’m a degree qualified youth worker. I began my journey working with young people as a fulltime volunteer and acted as an appropriate adult in youth court and police interviews. I’ve worked in many settings including a teenage cancer trust young persons’ hospital ward, youth service, schools, social care and youth offending.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Scott Doyle
Principal