USH Newsletters

7th April 2017

  • End of Term Message from Mr Woods

    I wish everyone a restful and happy Easter and I hope you’ve enjoyed our regular USH Newsletters this term. 

    Thanks in advance to staff who are facilitating GCSE revision lessons. Year 11 are preparing well for their exams are a credit to their school. 

    Longstanding senior leader Phill Taylor leaves today. Phill joined USH in 2003 as Head of Maths from the Magna Carta School in Staines. He quickly gained a reputation for high quality leadership and was promoted to Learning Centre Leader in 2006. 

    In 2012 Phill was appointed as Acting Vice-Principal which he continued until 2013 and on joining USH I secured him as a permanent deputy.  Phill’s main role has been curriculum and achievement and his work in Maths has long been highly regarded. 

    We wish Phill all the very best for his future endeavours.  Thank you for your dedication to this community over the last 14 years.

    Mr Woods
    Headteacher


  • Year 7 Shoebox Theatre

    We have been studying Romeo and Juliet which was written in Elizabethan times.  The project that was set was to design a scene from Elizabethan times.  Every student participated in this event with incredible results.  We did this to help us understand what life was like in this time by creating a scene in a shoebox.
    By Jessie and Lou 

    What the students thought:

    "I enjoyed making the shoebox and reading Romeo and Juliet because it helped me understand it a lot better." (Jessie)

    "I enjoyed working with my sister on this amazing project. (Lou)

    "I enjoyed making the project because I put a lot of time and effort into the project.  When I made it, I got the stuff from The Range." (Joshua)

    "I liked the shoebox project because we were put on the spot for creativity on making them." (Elvis)

    "I liked making my project because it shows what Elizabethan times were like.  I liked it also because it brings out your creative self." (Karl)

    "This year we have made shoebox theatres about the Elizabethan times.  I especially liked this project because your creativity takes over and there are no boundaries." (Martin)

    Thank you to all parents and staff who came to view our shoeboxes, we really appreciate you taking the time out to see our hard work.

    Winners:

    7C: Crystal P
    7G: Maddie F
    7I: Bonnie Cooper
    7O: Amy C
    7T: Alfie N
    7U: Martin P

    Most eye-catching: Eden H
    Most informative: Trinity M-S
    Most creative: Leila C
    Most likely to be bought: Dom K
    Parent/Teacher award: Dan R

    Well done to all of Year 7 for your hard work on these projects, and thank you for all the support they received from home to do this.

    The English Department


  • Year 7 Spanish and French Spelling Bee

    Year 7 Spanish and French students were given a set of fifty words to learn in the target language in January, which they were tested on at the end of the term. The following students deserve special praise:

    French

    Libby A - full marks!
    Eleanor W
    Elouise D
    Leila C
    Jacob M
    Daniel G
    Jerry H
    Kevin M

    Spanish

    Yasmine A – full marks!
    Abigail H – full marks!
    Ananya N – full marks!
    Henry B
    Holly S
    Sian C
    Taeyoung K
    Dawid S
    Zach B
    Zameer A
    Weronika B
    Jessica C
    Jack W
    Jessie F
    Maddie F

  • Titchfield Haven Art trip for Year 10

    On Monday 20th of March Year 10 Art students braved the windy weather to visit the coast at Titchfield Haven. The students are working on a project on the theme of ‘Beaches and Boats’ for their GCSE coursework and this location offered them lots of opportunities to photography and draw the coastline. Battling against the elements everyone drew the beach huts, photographed the boats and the weatherworn details on the beach and shoreline. Jumping back into the minibus to miss the rain the windswept class were pleased with their results. 

    Mrs Cadle
    Subject Lead, Photography


  • Football Success

    Both our Year 9s and Year 11s won their cup competitions this week.  

    The Year 9 team beat Bitterne Park 4-2 with goals from Ewan H (2), Ryan B and Seb B.  It was a great team effort and a great way to end the season for the boys. 

    The Year 11 team were involved in a much closer game, ending the match 0-0 against Wildern.  They won through, 7-6 on penalties.

    Well done to all the boys who took part in these competitions. 

    Mr Hall and Mr Staples

  • Netball Success

    A huge congratulations to the Year 7 Girls Netball Team who came second overall in the Netball League this year.  It was a great effort from all involved. 

    Well done!

    Miss Wright-Davies

  • Cross Country

    We have had a fantastic season in the Southampton Schools Cross Country League. Starting in September and finishing in March there have been eight fixtures where USH have taken students to race against other schools. As well as being successful in the team events the schools gain points for each student individually in their age group. Well done to the following;

    Lou F, Year 7 – 1st Individual
    Jess May, Year 7 – 3rd Individual
    Oliver Cook, Year 8 – 2nd Individual
    Toby Hale Year 10 – 2nd Individual
    Luke Halford Year 10 – 3rd Individual 

    Miss Wright-Davies

  • USH is Tweeting

    Many of you will be aware that we currently have a group of Year 10 students enjoying the delights of New York City. If you would like to share their adventures, please follow the school twitter account. 

    To do this you can copy and paste this link: https://twitter.com/ushschool/ or find us @ushschool

    If you prefer, we're also posting to Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UpperShirleyHigh/

    Mrs Prince

    School Business Manager


  • Toby represents Hampshire

    Recently, one of our most successful cross-country runners, Toby H represented Hampshire.  Hampshire came first overall for Intermediate Boys (Years 10 and 11 combined), with Toby coming 175th out of a field of 338 finishers on a 6000m course. 

    Toby very much enjoyed the team coach trip up and back and is proud to have represented USH within the Hampshire team. He will be well placed as a Year 11 to participate again next year. 

  • National Rowing Championships

    Recently Eleanor M-C was invited to attend the National Schools Rowing Competition on Friday 17th March.  Eleanor did really well and came 6th in her age group - an amazing achievement.  Well done Eleanor, we're all very proud of you!

  • Trips Update

    Paris 2017

    There will be an Information Evening in the School Hall for the Paris Trip on Thursday 11th May at 6pm.  We will be asking for medical, dietary and passport information and you will need to register your child and fill in the relevant paperwork and bring along their passport.  If your son or daughter does not have a passport, they can travel on the Collective Passport.  If this is the case you will need to fill in a form on the evening and bring along two recent passport photos with you.

    Details regarding further payments have been sent home via email and letters were given to students.

    Tile Barn 2017

    A letter has been emailed and students have been given a copy regarding the dates and payment information for the Camping Trip in the Summer.

    If you have any questions regarding either trip, please contact Mr Perry.

    Martin.Perry@ushschool.org

  • Farewell Message from Mr Taylor

    I have been at this amazing school for 14 years. I have stayed because of the experiences, opportunities and challenges that we have faced together; students, teachers, parents alike. We have achieved so much over the years going from an underperforming all boys school to one of the highest performing co-educational schools in the city. It really has been an exciting and deeply humbling journey of which I am very proud to have been a part of. The one thing that has driven me to help lead this school has been the people, and the hardest thing about leaving will be saying goodbye to the people, it feels a little like leaving home. I wish all of you the very very best for the future. 

    The reason why I am leaving my adoptive home here, is to be closer to my real one in Bournemouth. I have two beautiful children that are growing up so quickly and I want to be as big a part of their lives as I can; if they failed Maths I would never forgive myself.

    Finally, I would like to wish Year 11 good luck for their exams. You are all very capable, wonderful young men and women and you’re nearly there; let’s have a strong finish!

    With deepest affection,

    Phillip Taylor