USH Newsletter 10th January 2020

A week before school finished for Christmas, “USH Got Soul” set out to perform to some of our nearby Junior schools. We started the day at Shirley Junior School and later performed at Hollybrook Infant, Hollybrook Junior and Shirley Warren Primary, to audiences ranging from Year 1 through to Year 6. Congratulations to our most hardworking musicians on an incredibly rewarding day – singers Mario (Y11), Hannah (Y9) and Alexandra (Y9); brass players Ed (Y9) and Oliver (Y8); and rhythm section Josh (Y9), Lucas (Y9) and Oren (Y10). They impressed and inspired a multitude of younger students, and they also prepared themselves very well for a stunning performance at our Christmas concert which took place the following week at St James’ Church, along with all of our other school music ensembles.

From February half term Year 8 students
will begin the GCSE Options selection process.  A booklet containing key
information will be sent home with students on the 24^th  February.

Parents are invited in to school
on the evening of 5^th March (time to be confirmed) for an Options
Evening and there is a Parent Evening for Year 8 on 12^th March.  Further details of all of these events will be sent nearer the time but please make a note of the dates.

We would
like your help in improving our school’s social media presence. We currently
run three official social media accounts for USH: a Facebook and Twitter page
providing general updates for the school such as trip reminders and talking
about events happening in the school and an Instagram account which is for the
Art, Technology and Food departments to showcase student work.

The
survey is to help is understand what you want from our social media as well as
how you use it, so we would really appreciate if you could fill out the survey
at the following link: https://forms.gle/GiivLzJBajg336w17

You and your family are hereby invited to enter the Rotary Interschool Photography Competition 2020!
The competition is now in its 8th year and has grown into a thriving community project involving an incredible 18
schools from across Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire. There are various age group categories running from 4 -18
years so everyone can get involved - with even a category for parents and teachers!

Last year we had over 1000
individual entrants and we’re confident this year that we can beat even that number.
Winning entries will receive prizes of cash vouchers and photographic books as sponsored through the Ringwood
Rotary Club. As well as category winners, a Young Photographer of the Year title will yet again be awarded with the
grand prize of a full DSLR camera kit; this prestigious competition is now also supported by the Royal Photographic
Society. The award ceremony and a professional exhibition of the winning entries is then showcased at Ringwood
School Conference Centre in the Summer.
You can find all of the competition details on the attached poster and rule page but if you have any questions please
do email through to zunelle.heeley@ringwood.hants.sch.co.uk
This year’s theme is... Juxtapose 

The school library has recently moved over to the Accessit
Library Management system, which has a web app that all students can use to:

·        
Search the Library catalogue

·        
Check current loans

·        
Reserve books

·        
Write reviews

So, if you want to check what books you have out from the
Library and when they are due back, if you want to see what you might want to
read next, or look for books or websites that might help with homework, follow
the link to the Accessit Web app.

You can find a link to login on the school portal and also
on EduLink One. You can login by clicking “Guest” at the top right and then
choosing “Login via SSO” and using your school email address and password.

The home page includes a guide to how to use the app.

We welcome reviews of books that you have read and enjoyed
and might want to recommend to other students.

Josh
Pardessi is the newest Maths whizz champion, congratulations!

The Engineering Development Trust (EDT) has two programmes of
STEM based residential* university taster courses Inspire and Headstart across the UK this summer 2020.

What are INSPIRE and HEADSTART?

Inspire and Headstart are 3 and 4/5 day courses’ (respectively)
hands-on series of STEM based activities and lectures for young people aged 15
to 17 (year 11 & 12)** to further their understanding of degree/degree
apprenticeship and future career opportunities.

These on-campus university-based experiences are an enabler
for like-minded students to engage with lecturers and undergraduates on a
challenging course specific agenda whilst practicing their problem
determination, analytical, creative and life skills.

Benefits include:

-       Practical sessions to reinforce theory-based
lectures

-       Variety of course offerings and themes to suit
all individuals

-       Access to university lecturers and
undergraduates for advice and guidance on degree/degree apprenticeship and
potential career pathways

-       Bronze (Inspire) and Silver (Headstart)
industry-led accreditation from Industrial
Cadets (Inspired by HRH The Prince of Wales)

-       Meet role models

-      On-campus halls of residence experience

Course fee, bursaries &
other support: The course costs £245 (3 day residential), £150* (3
day non-residential) for Inspire and £399 (4/5 day residential) for Headstart. Limited
bursary places are available on BOTH programmes subject to qualification criteria.

For more information/questions
contact EDT: headstartteam@etrust.org.uk
of 01707-871505

Apply online:

https://www.etrust.org.uk/inspire-courses

https://www.etrust.org.uk/headstart-courses

*There are 1 or 2 non-residential courses

**Inspire will consider mature/gifted year 10 students who
are 15 years old

The school raised £91.95 for
the poppy appeal in November. Many thanks for all your donations.

Southampton Hospital Charity are hosting a Bowling Evening
at Tenpin, Millbrook on Friday 6^th March and have asked us to share the attached poster and link below as the more support they have the better.

Tenpin are kindly donating the time and so all
proceeds will go directly to transforming lives and enhancing the world class
care of patients and their families at University Hospital Southampton
(Southampton General and Princess Ann).

https://southamptonhospitalcharity.org/charity-events/ten-pin-bowling/