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• Rotary Interact Club: A Student-Led Initiative Making a Difference

  Mon 24 Jun 2024

  The Rotary Interact Club, established in February of this year, embodies the enthusiasm and commitment of students at our school who aspire to impact both our local and international communities. This student-led club has rapidly developed into a vibrant and active group, with over 30 members dedicated to creating meaningful change.

   

  Club Formation and Structure

   

  Formation
  The club began when a group of students, driven by a shared desire to contribute to societal betterment, came together to form the Rotary Interact Club. Initial efforts included a call for membership, leading to the formation of a committed team willing to meet regularly and engage actively in the club's initiatives.

   

  Electing Officers
  A pivotal step in establishing the club was the election of officers. Under the guidance of Cressida Dickens from Kidsgrove Rotary Club, members learned about the roles, responsibilities, and skills needed for effective club management. Following this, candidates presented speeches, and elections were held, resulting in a leadership team ready to steer the club toward its goals.

   

  Defining Values and Goals

   

  Core Values Development
  To ensure unity in purpose, the club undertook an exercise to define its core values. Drawing inspiration from the values of the Academy, Rotary, and British values, alongside their personal beliefs, members crafted a unique set of guiding principles. This shared vision aligns their efforts and underscores their commitment to their chosen projects.

   

  Identifying Communities
  In deciding their focus areas, members analyzed various community levels: their school (Kings Academy), the local area (Kidsgrove), the national community (Great Britain), and the international stage. Their discussions led to a dual focus: making a tangible local impact while also contributing to a significant international cause.

   

  Project Initiatives

   

  Local Project: Wildflower Garden in Kidsgrove
  The club's first project is to establish a wildflower garden in Kidsgrove, aimed at creating a serene environment that supports mental health and sensory needs. This garden is envisioned as a public space where community members can find solace and relaxation, enhancing the local landscape.

  • Site Selection: Members conducted local walks to identify suitable locations, considering factors affecting the garden’s success.
  • Expert Consultation: Ranger Mark from Newcastle County Council provided valuable insights and agreed to collaborate, bolstering the project with his expertise.
  • Additional Activities: Complementary efforts include building bird boxes in collaboration with the technology department, with construction set to begin in July.

   

  International Project: Support for Jigsaw Charity
  For their international endeavor, the club chose to support the Jigsaw charity, which aids children in the Philippines. The decision followed an inspiring presentation by the charity’s CEO, highlighting the organization's impactful strategies and Christian ethos.

  • Fundraising Initiatives: The club has already started raising funds, including selling lollipops on Sports Day.
  • School-Wide Adoption: The school's adoption of Jigsaw as its national charity amplifies the club’s efforts, enabling broader support and engagement.

   

  Presentation Evening

   

  To showcase their initiatives and garner support, club members organized a presentation evening attended by parents, Rotary Club members, Trust representatives, and local governors. During the event, students detailed their plans and strategies for their projects, emphasizing the steps they would take to achieve their goals. This event provided a platform for the club to illustrate their dedication, articulate their vision, and demonstrate how they plan to make a positive impact on both the local and international communities.

   

  Achievements and Outlook

   

  Since its inception, the Rotary Interact Club has achieved significant milestones:

  • Structural Development: Successfully established club governance with elected officers.
  • Values and Identity: Created a set of core values that guide their actions and decisions.
  • Community Engagement: Actively participated in community enhancement activities, such as litter picking.
  • Project Planning: Developed detailed plans, budgets, and timelines for their projects.

   

  Looking Forward

   

  The Rotary Interact Club is on a promising path, continually striving to enrich the community and contribute positively to international causes. With a strong foundation and a clear vision, the club is well-positioned to continue making a meaningful difference. Future updates will undoubtedly showcase their ongoing efforts and successes as they persist in their mission to improve lives both locally and globally.

  

• Forgeing Futures with Vocational Focus

  Wed 10 Apr 2024

  In response to the growing demand for skilled engineers, The King’s Academy has taken a bold step in offering vocational subjects, with Engineering at the forefront of its curriculum. From Technology at KS3 to the newly introduced T level at KS5, students are flourishing in their pursuit of engineering knowledge and skills.

   

  Studying Technology and Engineering at The King’s Academy goes beyond traditional classroom learning. It empowers students to understand the mechanical and physical aspects of their environment, nurturing a sense of curiosity and problem-solving abilities essential for addressing real-world challenges. Through hands-on experiences like Computer Aided Design, students develop the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to tackle complex problems creatively.

   

  At the heart of the program lies a strong emphasis on problem-solving and creativity. Students are encouraged to push boundaries, challenge norms, and think innovatively, preparing them for the ever-evolving demands of the engineering field. By sharing their passion and expertise, teachers at The King’s Academy ensure that students receive high-quality learning experiences that inspire outstanding progress and equip them with essential skills for active participation in society.

   

  The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including understanding engineering drawings, proposing design solutions, and communicating engineering designs. Through challenging tasks and demanding activities, students are pushed to value creativity and deepen their knowledge of materials, properties, and manufacturing processes.

   

  Currently, our Year 12 students are actively engaged in a multifaceted approach to learning, focusing on the employer-based project component. This hands-on unit not only challenges their creativity and technical proficiency but also nurtures their problem-solving abilities, preparing them for real-world scenarios they may encounter in their future careers.

   

  This week, our students participated in a visit to Network Rail in Manchester, where they took on the responsibility of overseeing a hypothetical operation at a new environmentally friendly train station. They engaged in various project-related activities, such as coordinating communication channels effectively, ensuring compliance with legislation and regulations, and facilitating workplace coordination.

   

  The experience at Network Rail in Manchester proved invaluable for our students, offering them a glimpse into the complexities of real-world projects and the importance of effective coordination and compliance. One student expressed, “Participating in the Network Rail visit was eye-opening. It showed me how crucial it is to maintain clear communication and adhere to regulations in project management. I feel more prepared for my future career knowing I’ve had this hands-on experience.”

   

  Designed by industry professionals, the T level covers all relevant areas necessary for students to become competent and confident additions to the engineering sector. By bridging the gap between education and industry, The King’s Academy ensures that its graduates are well-prepared to meet the challenges of the modern engineering landscape.

  

• Year 11 Mathswatch

  Fri 15 Mar 2024

  Calling all Year 11's! With 9 weeks to go until your first GCSE Maths paper, there is no time like the present to complete the Mathswatch 6-week revision challenge. Taking no more than 10 minutes of your time a day from Monday 18^th March to Friday 26^th April, the schedules take you through the whole of the GCSE specification and still give you the weekends off.

   

  Mrs Turner and Mr Purle will be keeping an eye on the leaderboards and the top 5 pupils with the highest engagement will win a prize! Good luck.

• World Book Day

  Thu 07 Mar 2024

  Here at The King's we celebrated World Book Day. 

   

  We had so many different characters turn up to teach. Let me introduce you to them; 

   

  We haven't just had one captain turn up today, we have had two!

  Captain Hook has joined our History department and Captain Jack Sparrow in our English department.

   

  There has been a take over in the Maths department of witches and wizards.  Professor McGonagall has taken over as Head of Maths for the day, Professor Snape, Mad Eye Moody and Harry Potter have also turned up in the Maths department.

   

  Willy Wonka and Creulla de Vil are working on their planning for their next English lessons.

   

  Thankfully we have Gangsta Granny in the corridors to keep these lot in check.

   

  PE was taught by a sporty looking Oompa Loompa who was supported by Scooby Doo while Jessie was teaching the theory side.

   

  Art was taken over by the Cat in a Hat and Paddington Bear - fingers crossed Paddington kept the marmalade off the art work.

   

  Sadly in ICT they didn't have a nice witch like the Maths department - Jadis the White Witch turned up, students were frozen to their seats...

   

  It wasn't any easier in Science, with the Queen of Hearts teaching - lets hope no one lost their heads...

   

  Mrs Trunchbull was in charge of our Internal Exclusion today.

  and finally we had The Lorax talking about the environment in Geography.

   

  We had so many different entries for our decorate a door competition! 

   

  

• Year 10 GCSE Art and Music Trip

  Tue 27 Feb 2024

  On Thursday before the half term, our Year 10 GCSE Art and Music students visited Liverpool to look at "what is Art and Music?"

   

  The Music students visited the Beatles Story and Cavern Club whilst the Art students visited the Walker Art Gallery and explored the Albert Docks where they had the opportunity to photograph and draw from inspiring settings.

   

  Despite the weather being wet and miserable, spirits were the opposite and all pupils had a great day.

   

  The students were an absolute pleasure to take, with Mr Smith saying it was one of the best groups he has taken on a trip!

  

• Dovedale Retreat

  Thu 22 Feb 2024

  Before the half term break, some of our students took part in a 24-hour retreat to Dovedale House which despite dire weather forecasts, went very well.

   

  Students enjoyed a short walk in the snow (and mud!) as well as three excellent workshops led by Rev Iain including construction of their own version of the tabernacle using furniture and cardboard boxes!

  The students were fantastic and enjoyed it so much they petitioned us to stay an extra night.

  

• Year 7 Netball Tournament

  Tue 23 Jan 2024

  The following students took part in the Newcastle Borough schools netball tournament hosted by Keele University this week.

   

  We had a team of nervous Year 7’s as it was their first ever tournament representing the academy

   

  ….however……

   

  They were straight on and focused for the first match and secured their first win! They then went on to win 8/10 matches showing great teamwork, communication, strategies, tactics and techniques. They were also flexible with the positions they played showing great transferable skills.

   

  Excellent behaviour, effort, enthusiasm, sportsmanship and determination was evident in all team members making the day a huge success

   

  AND…..

   

  We came home as Silver Medalists!!!!

   

  Well done to all the team for their outstanding commitment to extra-curricular practices, the hard work paid off!

  

• Skipathon

  Wed 17 Jan 2024

  We recently completed a Skipathon in Year 7 and 8 to help raise funds for Tearfund and our PE department. 

   

  We raised £1868.86 which was spilt 50/50 between Tearfund and The King's. 

  
  A huge well done to all Year 7 and 8 students who took part in the challenge! 

  

• Christmas Jumper Day

  Wed 20 Dec 2023

  On Wednesday 20th December, The King's held their annual Christmas dinner day and Christmas Jumper Day. 

   

  Students were asked to donate an item of food for the Foodbank. 

   

   

  

• Netball

  Mon 09 Oct 2023

  Monday seen 14 of our students take part in the U16 Netball tournament at Keele University for the day. One team was predominately our Year 11 students and the other team was mainly our year 10’s with help from a couple of amazing year 11’s. There were 14 teams from across Staffordshire and both teams won 3 games and lost 3 games. 

   

  It was a fantastic display of athleticism and resilience, especially with no substitutes. It was Tillys first time representing the school and you would never have know, she slotted into the team seamlessly. Special mentions to Ruth who was highlighted by other teachers for her excellent performance in defence and Hannah who was relentless in her attack. So many fantastic goals scored by Emily, Olivia, Megan and Samia. 

   

  Most importantly we had a lot of FUN! We created memories and learning experiences that we will remember for a lifetime.

   

  Our Netball extra curricular for Year 9-11 is on a Tuesday 3:15-4:15 and everyone is welcome! We had 5 brand new players join next week which was fantastic to see.