swan  Newsletter Summer Term 1998 csalogo

Registered Charity No. 284412
Committee elected as landscape plans take shape
The greening of Cherwell already under way
 At the Annual General meeting held on 18 March the CSA elected a new committee to take it through one of the most exciting periods in Cherwell's history, as we see the dilapidated temporary buildings of the past 20 years or more replaced with well-designed classrooms and laboratories. 

Speaking at the Governors' AGM for parents on the same evening, Martin Roberts emphasized the importance of an attractive and well-tended environment in providing inspiration to students and their teachers. On display were many ideas for the enhancement of the spaces between the new buildings produced by students in the art and graphic design departments.
INSIDE
Our children and drugs - an evening for parents 
Arts week summer garden party
The mysteries of modern science explained 
"Friends" Campaign Gathers Momentum 
Wiring the CSA - Join csamail
The CSA Committee
Diary
 
 
Since that time the firm of architects currently completing the new buildings has produced plans to create attractive courtyards in these spaces, taking inspiration from the earlier designs of John Brookes, but also mindful of the limited funds available. The school plans to have the basic work on these courtyards essentially complete by the autumn term this year. Further attractive features can then be added as money becomes available.

With the help of some parents, Deputy Head Wendy Skinner-Smith has already begun the "greening of Cherwell" by replacing the rosebushes outside the main hall with a selection of shrubs and a rowan tree. She and David Potts, Head of Geography, are planning further plantings over the next couple of years.

The committee elected on 18 March are:
Georgina Ferry (Chair)
Maggie Cunliffe (Vice-Chair)
Debby Ceadel (Treasurer)
Nigel Parsons (Secretary)
Ali Clarke, Janet Johnson, Viv Jones, Jennie McFadden, Phil Page, and John Robertson.


The next open meeting of the CSA committee will be held on Monday 8 June in the General Studies Room, ground floor, main teaching block. All are welcome.
Our children and drugs - an evening for parents
Recent survey evidence suggests that as many as 40 per cent of young people under the age of 16 have experimented with illegal drugs. On Tuesday 23 June the next Cherwell Parents' Forum will provide an opportunity to raise any concerns that parents may have about this issue.

Guest speakers from the Standing Advisory Council on Drugs and Alcohol for Oxfordshire and the Libra Project will provide a perspective on the local scene and the resources that are currently targeted at the problem. John Fox, Head of General Studies at Cherwell will talk about the school's approach to drugs through the per-sonal and social education curricu-lum. Wendy Skinner-Smith, Deputy Head with responsibility for pastoral care, will talk about pastoral and disciplinary issues.

The evening will be structured to provide plenty of time for parents to raise questions and share in the discussion, and refreshments will be available.
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Arts week summer garden party
CHERWELL'S Arts Week comes round again from 29 June to 3 July, with work from the art, drama and music departments on display. On Thursday 2 July, the CSA is holding a garden party for Cherwell families from 5.30 pm. Come and enjoy a glass of wine and some summer fare before the Music Recital begins at 7.15 p.m.

Let's hope for better weather than last year!
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The mysteries of modern science explained
Science curriculum under the microscope
SCIENCE TEACHING has changed a great deal since most Cherwell parents were at school themselves. So the curriculum evening on science presented by Head of Science Mike Swinscoe and other members of the Science Department on 6 May was very welcome.

The first difference, as Mr Swinscoe explained, is that all students now continue with physics, chemistry and biology right up to GCSE. Gone are the days when, for example, students had to choose between physics and chemistry or modern languages at the age of 13.

He went on to explain the double-award science system at GCSE, in which students' marks in physics, chemistry and biology are combined to give a single grade, which is then doubled - AA, BB, CC and so on - to take account of the fact that the science curriculum has twice the content of other subjects.

Anne Hall, Head of Physics, then explained the move to a modular course in Physics at A level. Instead of taking all exams in June of Year 13, students now take the first three modules (out of six) in June of Year 12, and December and March of Year 13. They have the chance to retake modules to try for better grades.

All the science courses have a strong practical component, and in the case of A level biology this includes a field trip to the Gower Peninsula to look at the ecology of rocky shores. Mark Hutchins, Head of Biology, outlined the value of this experience.

The transition from science GCSE to the three A level subjects can be a difficult one, and Jo Nash, Head of Chemistry, explained how the department works with students in Year 12 to help them improve their study skills and cope with the heavy demands of the syllabus.

Parents then had a chance to tour the old and new labs, and to observe A level practical work in chemistry and biology - including extracting DNA from onions! It was a highly informative evening, greatly appreciated by those who came.
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"Friends" Campaign Gathers Momentum
THE NEW LEAFLET "Be a Friend of Cherwell School" has so far brought almost 30 responses, more than half of them in the form of new covenants. This increased income will give the CSA the opportunity to support the school in a variety of ways in years to come, initially completing the site development plans, later helping in other areas where statutory funding falls short. We do hope that as many parents as possible will take advantage of this highly cost-effective way of helping the school.

If you have not yet received a copy of the leaflet "Be a Friend of Cherwell School", please contact the Covenants Secretary, John Robertson, on 510819. Completed forms should be sent to the school, addressed to the CSA Treasurer.
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Wiring the CSA - Join csamail
FOR SOME TIME now we have been developing a mailing list of parents who, at their request, receive important CSA material by post to avoid the uncertainties of the school bag delivery service. The list is growing, and mailings are becoming a significant cost in our budget. Now that more and more parents have access to email, we would like to explore this method of keeping in touch, to save both time (stuffing all those envelopes!) and money. If you would like to be added to an email list, please send a message to the Chair on:georgina_ferry@compuserve.com
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The CSA Committee

Chair              Georgina Ferry, 01865 513864
Vice-Chair     Maggie Cunliffe, 01865 554528
Treasurer       Debby Ceadel, 01865 510528
Secretary       Nigel Parsons, 01865 511082
Committee     Ali Clarke, 01865 559631
                     Janet Johnson, 01865 556003
                     Viv Jones, 01865 65741
                     Jenny McFadden, 01865 556222
                     Phil Page
                     John Robertson, 01865 510819
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Diary
8 June         CSA Open Meeting, 7.30 pm, General Studies
23 June       Cherwell Parents' Forum: Our Children and Drugs, 7.30 pm,
                   6th Form Common Room
2 July          Arts Week garden party, 5.30 pm outside Music Block
                   (weather permitting)
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The CSA Newsletter appears three times a year in the last week before half-term.Comments and contributions are welcome; please contact the editor, Georgina Ferry, on 01865 513864 or via Cherwell. Any ideas for additions to our Web page are also welcome: see http://www.rmplc.co.uk/eduweb/sites/cherwell/csa/csa.html 

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