Month: December 2023

Santa Dash 2023

Written by Gemma Long on December 19, 2023. Posted in Carisbrooke College, News - CC.

Santa Dash 2023

A huge thank you to everyone who supported the Santa Dash event at Carisbrooke College on Friday 15 December. The event is in its third year and the uptake has been incredible – so much so that there was a last minute order placed for more medals as the original 200 capacity was filled. With over a third of the school participating a huge amount of money has been raised for local charity The Wight Brainy Bunch which supports local families with brain tumours. It was a pleasure to see 227 students, along with Kat Grimes from the charity, running in their Santa hats through the local area up to Carisbrooke Castle and back spreading festive cheer whilst raising money for a good cause. Students were rewarded for their efforts with hot chocolate, festive music and a medal upon returning to school. Well done Team Carisbrooke you are simply amazing! As a result of this generosity, over £1000 has been raised.

Have a fantastic Christmas and New Year!

Head of School’s Blog – 15 December 2023

Written by Gemma Long on December 15, 2023. Posted in HoS Blog - VI, The Island VI Form.

Head of School’s Blog – 15 December 2023

Congratulations to the legal Mock Trial team who had a fantastic time at the Newport Crown Court last Saturday. They excelled at being organised, arguing their cases and public speaking. They won the whole competition held between all of the schools across the Island. Great work, we are very proud of you!

Have a great break, make sure that you get the balance right between relaxing and having fun, as well as making sure that you are fully prepared for the exams that will soon be upon us. If you strip out the holidays, the first exams are only 12 weeks away!

Good systems (revision schedule and planning) always out perform good intentions.

Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year. See you on 2 January.

Mr Mumford

Head of School – The Island VI Form

Head of School’s Blog – 15 December 2023

Written by Gemma Long on December 15, 2023. Posted in HoS Blog - MC, Medina College.

Head of School’s Blog – 15 December 2023

We have made it to the end of term and I would like to wish you all a relaxing and safe holiday period. I have thoroughly enjoyed joining the Medina College Community. A day does not go past when the students within our community don’t make me full of pride to belong to the teaching profession. So many of your young people conduct themselves with politeness, humour, passion and respectfulness. They are clearly keen to be the best version of themselves.

As we continue on our journey to outstanding, our students work with us to raise expectations around behaviour, uniform, lessons and extra curricular life. This term I have spoken to 120 students to gain their opinions and views on college life and they are at the heart of helping us to form the community we are a part of. I would also like to thank parents for their engagement with the school, being strong advocates for their children and helping us to provide the best support for students.

I will finish off by saying well done to our final Hot Chocolate Friday winners of 2023: Leo, Sofia, ZinZile, Owen, Teigan, Harry, Amelia, Sonya, Eleanor and Apryl.

We look forward to welcoming all students back on Tuesday 2 January 2024!

Mr Pearce-Jones

Head of School – Medina College

Head of School’s Blog – 15 December 2023

Written by Gemma Long on December 15, 2023. Posted in Carisbrooke College, HoS Blog - CC.

Head of School’s Blog – 15 December 2023

It has been a very busy final week. I have thoroughly enjoyed attending the end of year celebration assemblies. It is fantastic to be able to present the headteacher awards. On Monday we were able to let year 7 and 8 see this year’s school pantomime “Snow White” and on Wednesday the whole school was treated to our staff panto. Feedback is that the students very much enjoyed it.

I was super proud of Year 11 yesterday when they received their trial exam grades. They took it seriously and their behaviour was exemplary. They need to think about a revision programme leading up to their exams. Over the Christmas break it would be good to have a go at a few Tassomai challenges.

A group of year 7’s visited ‘Old Charlton House’ yesterday afternoon to sing some carols and deliver homemade cards and biscuits. They were a credit to Carisbrooke and the residents were appreciative of their kindness and company.

Feedback on the behaviour of year 8 and 9 students from both Carisbrooke College and Medina College who went on the trip to Ypres last week has been nothing but positive. The trip was a great success and the students were just brilliant! It was a very busy two days for the students and the staff involved, thank you to all.

We had our delicious Christmas lunch on Wednesday from Chartwells – thank you to the catering team for all of their hard work. Myself, Miss Bracegirdle and Miss Smith helped serve many many meals and students were full of praise for the tasty feast.

A huge thank you to Mrs Peake for organising ‘The Santa Dash’ today. Money is being raised for The Wight Brainy Bunch (they provide emotional support and financial assistance to Isle of Wight families affected by brain tumours). Students ran/walked from Carisbrooke College to Carisbrooke Castle and returned – it was quite a sight and great to see so many students getting involved – pictures to follow. They enjoyed a hot chocolate on return. Mufti day today raised money for the Ellen Macarthur Cancer Trust. We will let you know the totals raised from both events in a further blog.

Congratulations on our top achievement point winners for last week – year 7 Ethan, year 8 Ryan, year 9 Emily, year 10 Taylor and year 11 Lucy.

All the staff at Carisbrooke are extremely proud of all our young people and we wish you all a happy Christmas and New Year and we look forward to seeing all our students back in school on Tuesday 2 January, ready for a new term, in full uniform and with a positive attitude to learning.

Happy Christmas.

Miss Begley

Head of School – Carisbrooke College

Mock Trial Champions!

Written by Gemma Long on December 12, 2023. Posted in News - VI, The Island VI Form.

Mock Trial Champions!

The Island VI Form were the winning team at this year’s High Sheriff Inter Schools Mock Trial competition, held at Newport Crown Court. A fantastic achievement!

The competition, now in its 11th year, sees all Isle of Wight schools preparing for many weeks for their roles as barristers, ushers, clerks and witnesses to compete against each other for the coveted High Sheriff trophy. The event enables young people to experience exactly how the legal process operates and gives them the opportunity to enhance their public speaking skills, self confidence and team work.

Our VI Form team – Olivia, Ethan, Lucas, Amelie, Elliott, Chloe, Sherine, Ellie, Willow and Rhianna – performed the best on the day (as judged by the legal experts) and scored the highest, with Christ the King College and The Priory School in second and third place.

Mr Cody and Miss Lowthion, lead teachers and supporters for the students, said “we are incredibly proud of our students for their win – an extraordinary achievement! The team have worked so hard, writing their speeches, researching and practising their lines, and thoroughly deserve this recognition. The Mock Trial competition is an exciting day for the students, to see them up their game in a professional environment. Congratulations to our team and all the other schools, and huge thanks to the legal professionals for giving up their time and sharing their expertise.”

Trip to Ypres

Written by Gemma Long on December 12, 2023. Posted in News - CC, News - MC, Uncategorized.

Trip to Ypres

34 students from Carisbrooke College and 34 students from Medina College left a very cold Cowes on Thursday 7 December for a visit to the battlefields in Belgium. The first visit after a long trip via the Eurotunnel was Hooge Crater. This is described as the finest private museum in Flanders. The students were able to see genuine world war one weapons, uniforms and many other items including a full size model of a period bi-plane. Our next stops of the day were two cemeteries – Tyne Cot where many thousands of British and Commonwealth servicemen are buried and then onto Langermark, where thousands of German soldiers are buried. After an excellent evening meal, the students then went to the Menin Gate where 3 students from each school were able to take part in the daily Act of Remembrance by laying a poppy wreath.

The next day started with an early breakfast and then a visit to Flanders Fields Museum in the Cloth Hall of Ypres. This is a wonderfully interactive museum where students were able to find the story of local Hampshire soldiers and follow this through the course of the war. After this, students had some free time to explore the center of Ypres and the Christmas Market, before beginning our long journey home via one last chocolate shop.

It was an absolute pleasure to take 68 students who behaved impeccably throughout the whole of the trip. They were supported wonderfully by 7 members of federation staff from across all 3 sites.

Celebrating Success

Written by Gemma Long on December 12, 2023. Posted in Medina College, News - MC.

Celebrating Success

One of our school ASPIRE values is Success – We celebrate our successes – and our students have been giving us many reasons to celebrate recently.

Mr Pearce-Jones meets students every Friday morning for his hot chocolate treat where we reward 100% attendance and high achievement points. 40 students have taken part in this weekly celebration this half term and we hope to see many more students receiving this reward next term.

Today, 12 December, an additional hot chocolate celebration took place for our Snow White panto cast and Bronze Duke of Edinburgh students. These students have shown commitment and dedication to succeed in these ventures and we are extremely proud of them. As well as a hot chocolate and sweet treat, they all received a certificate of achievement.

Well done!

Head of School’s Blog – 8 December 2023

Written by Gemma Long on December 8, 2023. Posted in HoS Blog - MC, Medina College.

Head of School’s Blog – 8 December 2023

It has been another busy week in school with some Christmas themed activities taking place. It was lovely seeing Medina students perform in their panto on Tuesday night, it was full of excellent comedy and strong performance skills. Well done to Daisy, Grey, Avalon Martha, Evie, Earlisa, Lily, Charlie, Bea, Lily, Riley, Ellie, Katie, Ruby, Ellenie, Daisy, Poppy, Melissa, Summer, Sapphire, Lauren, Macey, Millie, Megan, Bethany, Destiny, Logan and Carys. Thank you also to all those staff who supported making this event possible.

Next week we have Christmas dinner on Wednesday and we have Santa Dance on Friday P.4&5 for Years 7- 9. For the Santa Dance event, you must sign up through Arbor as it is a charity event which requires a £3 entry fee to be paid.

Two pieces of information have come out this week, firstly a letter on vaping and some resources that have been produced by the local authority. Can you please take the time to look over these and help to highlight to students of the dangers involved in vaping. Secondly, I sent a letter on uniform, please ensure that you are looking over this and ensuring students are complying with this. In particular, we have noticed an increase in the wearing of leggings. If you are suffering economic hardship and are struggling to purchase the correct uniform please let the relevant year office know and we will see how we can support.

Finally, well done to our Hot Chocolate Friday winners for either 100% attendance in the previous week or top achievement points in each year group. The winners are Archie, Matilda, Lucia, Ella, Kimberly, Ofelia, Hamish, Lucas, Louis and Bradley.

Please remember the final day of term is Friday 15 December and we return to school on Tuesday 2 January.

Have a lovely weekend!

Mr Pearce-Jones

Head of School – Medina College

Head of School’s Blog – 8 December 2023

Written by Gemma Long on December 8, 2023. Posted in Carisbrooke College, HoS Blog - CC.

Head of School’s Blog – 8 December 2023

The Christmas season officially kicked off this week at Carisbrooke College with our Federation School Panto Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Thank you to all of the students and staff involved and a big thank you to the parents/carers who came along to support the performances. It was an excellent evening and I was a very proud Head of School!

A group of year 7 and 8 students from both Carisbrooke College and Medina College left for a trip to Ypres yesterday early morning. It will be a busy two days for them and I look forward to hearing all about the visit next week on their return.

Next week will be a busy week of festivities but lessons will still take place as normal right up until Friday at 3.15 pm. Monday through to Thursday, we still expect students to be in full correct uniform.

We have our Christmas lunch on Wednesday, the Santa Dash next Friday on the last day of term to raise money for The Wight Brainy Bunch and also a student and staff mufti day. To take part in mufti day, we are asking for £1 donation towards the Ellen Macarthur Cancer Trust.

Hopefully you have had a chance to read the resources shared earlier in the week from the local authority around the dangers of vaping. Please share this with your child if you feel it is appropriate.

Congratulations on our top achievement point winners for last week – year 7 Jack, year 8 Molly, year 9 Naomi, year 10 Luke and year 11 Ashleigh.

Have a good weekend.

Miss Begley

Head of School – Carisbrooke College

Head of School’s Blog – 8 December 2023

Written by Gemma Long on December 8, 2023. Posted in HoS Blog - VI, The Island VI Form.

Head of School’s Blog – 8 December 2023

One more week to go. We have three trips out next week: Fashion students are visiting Independent Arts, Art students are off to the Tate Modern and Humanities students are spending the day at the Houses of Parliament. I’m sure they will all have a wonderful time. Also next week, Drama students are performing in their Christmas Cracker show. If you would like to attend this, it is taking place in the Drama Studio at Medina College at 5.30 pm on Monday. Lessons continue as normal up to Friday 15 December at 3.15 pm and we will return on Tuesday 2 January at 8.50 am.

If you are able to contribute to the food bank donations that are under the tree in Reception, it would be lovely and very much appreciated. Our Student Voice are selling raffle tickets in aid of ‘Gift to Nature’ with the draw happening during our Christmas Lunch on Thursday 14. The top prize is a £30 Amazon voucher and there are lots of other fantastic prizes to choose from.

This week we sent out a letter and leaflet about the potential risks associated with the underage use of vapes (also known as e-cigarettes). In that letter, it outlined the actions the Council is taking to help tackle this issue, and the support we want to provide to parents and carers to help them talk with their children about this topic. I know that some of you aren’t underage but the message still applies: “Vapes should not be used by children or adults who do not currently smoke. People who currently smoke are encouraged to swap to vapes. Vapes are a quitting aid that reduces the harms of tobacco smoking.”

Have a peaceful weekend.

Mr Mumford

Head of School – The Island VI Form