Winter 2012 - Maidenhill School

MAIDENHILL NEWS: WINTER 2012
NCS
During the
summer
holidays I took
part in a 4 week
course called the
National Citizens’
Service (NCS). with Gloucestershire College.
The first week at NCS was a residential trip in Wales.
The week consisted of a feast of activities that helped
us get to know each other, as well as face some of our
demon fears. We took part in an activity every day
which included activities such as orienteering, surfing,
rock climbing, abseiling, quad biking and paintballing.
It turned out that this week was the first amazing
week out of four!
Week two saw our second residential trip to a scout
centre in Cranham. With nothing in sight but the
woods, tents and scouts what was this week going
to bring us? We visited different places and we had a
variety of inspiring guest speakers, including a social
worker and a member of the police force. The aim of
this week was to show us all parts of our communities
and what was really out there; this would also help us
get an idea for what we wanted to do for our social
action project in week four.
The third and fourth weeks were at Gloucestershire
College. Our task was to put on an event or help out
within our communities to bring together the local
people and to make a difference. My team all decided
to do a fun day for children and families in the Forest
of Dean. Towards the end of the third week, my team
had to create a presentation on the whole of our event
right down to the finer details, and present this in front
of a panel of business people, rather much like ‘Dragons
Den’. This was make or break time for my team, as this
presentation would determine if we got any funding, or
if we had to carry on by ourselves fishing for donations.
Unfortunately we didn’t have a strong enough event at
the time of this presentation and won no funding.
‘Forest of Fun’ was the name of our event and was
located in Coleford. The activities and facilities at our
event included a bouncy castle and slide, crafts, face
paint, penalty shoot out, a raffle, a coconut shy, stocks,
mini-olympics, a big sweet stall as well as cafe facilities.
We decided to make this event completely free, apart
from the cafe and raffle, and with only money coming in
from these two areas, quite a bit was raised. The money
raised has gone back into the funding of NCS for
next year.
I couldn’t recommend the National Citizens’ Service
more! It’s open to Year 11s and Year 12s, so if you get
the opportunity, go for it!
Laura Wells
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
TERM 3
Monday 7th January Start of Term 3
Tuesday 8th January
Y11 LIVE Course starts at Stroud College
Friday 11th January
Y10 LIVE Course starts at Stroud College
Wednesday 16th January Y11 Photographs
Wednesday 16th January 4.30pm – 7pm Y10 Parents’ Evening
Tuesday 5th February Y11 LIVE Course finishes for half term
Wednesday 6th February Evening Theatre Visit to see “Oliver”
Friday 8th February Y10 LIVE Course finishes for half term
Friday 8th February End of Term 3
TERM 4
Monday 18th February Start of Term 4
Tuesday 19th February Y11 LIVE Course starts at Stroud College
Friday 22nd February Y10 LIVE Course starts at Stroud College
Tuesday 19th March
Y11 LIVE Course finishes for Easter Holidays
Wednesday 20th March 4.30pm – 7pm Y7 Parents’ Evening
Thursday 21st March End of Term 4
Friday 22nd March
INSET DAY (Y10 LIVE Students
still need to attend Stroud College)
Friday 22nd March Y10 LIVE Course finishes for Easter holidays
Maidenhill Sports and
Dance Centre
- Special Introductory
Gym Offer
New users pay just £24 for a
full induction and a one month
membership; saving over £12!
You can continue your
membership there after on
pay as you go, or monthly basis.
No joining fee! No long
term commitment!
There are also a wide range of
exercise classes available and a
range of facilities for hire!
Why not pop in and visit us!
Maidenhill Dance and Sports Centre,
Maidenhill School, Stonehouse,
GL10 2HA. Tel 01453 824366
Mon - Fri 6pm – 10pm and
Sunday 10am-2pm
Maidenhill School, Kings Road, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, GL10 2HA Tel: 01453 822469 / 824776
If you would like to receive a copy of this newsletter by email, please contact admin@maidenhill.gloucs.sch.uk
8