Updates from NLS
Year 7 Drama students are following a programme of learning that explores an introduction to Drama. They have been establishing relationships within the group to create an effective group ensemble and completed activities to help them build their confidence as a group. They have also been exploring the Drama strategies of Still Images, Narration, Thought-Tracking, Transitions and Choral Skills.
Students have enjoyed a wide range of sports during this term in lessons and through the extra curricular programme with many opportunities to represent NLS in competitions.
Our core PE curriculum has included rounders, cricket, tennis, athletics and softball and through our extra-curricular opportunities students have been able to participate in these sports and additionally volleyball, tennis and cheerleading. We have enjoyed fixtures in athletics, tennis and cricket this half term also. We would like to thank all the students who have participated in our extra-curricular programme throughout the year and say well done to those that have represented the school in fixtures against other local schools, contributing to the fantastic array of successes students have enjoyed.
As we approach the end of an incredibly full and demanding year, it is a great opportunity to reflect and to celebrate the accomplishments of Year 10 students. This year students have been provided a number of opportunities to enrich their school studies with a number of subject-specific trips, music and dance performances as well as, potentially, taking part in their final Sports Day here at NLS. The experience students have also gained preparing and sitting their RE GCSE and Progression exams recently will stand them in good stead as they prepare for the terminal exams next academic year. It has been a pleasure to observe and hear how students have displayed superb levels of maturity, determination and perseverance throughout this year, which has allowed them to progress not just academically but personally too.
Year 9 students have had a fantastic final term of Year 9 and we are really proud of their achievements. It has been wonderful to reward and recognise those students who have gone above and beyond this year to ensure they are successful at school and it is my pleasure to reflect on some of these as part of the Parent Bulletin.
And just like that Year 8 will be in Year 9!
I want to start by saying a huge thank you to all parents / carers who have supported the school and I this year. We continue to work incredibly hard as a school to embed routines to form positive habits for our students to promote the best engagement of learning
It is hard to believe that nearly a year has passed by already since Year 7 students first came through the door in September to begin their NLS journey with us. It really has been a fantastic year with so many positive achievements to celebrate both in and out of the classroom. Students should be so proud of the progress they have made and the way they have matured through the year.
This half-term is, of course, the last one before we disembark for the summer holidays!
Our excellent students in the Sixth Form have done a great deal once again– and, as always, have been a pleasure to work with and remain a credit to you as their parents/carers.
KS3 Drama
Year 7 Drama
Exploring Comedy
This unit of work focuses on collaboration skills and how to work well in a group. Students have explored the Elements of Comedy including stock characters from Commedia Dell Arte, Non-Verbal Communication, Slapstick and the use of Status through practical activities. Students have had the opportunity to create small performances in groups to build up their confidence using the elements of comedy to develop their storytelling. For the final performance students devised a comedy based on their chosen scenario and considered how they could interpret the characters through the performer skills and using elements of comedy to enhance the performance
In Year 7 students have been studying the theme of Identity and Culture through the lenses of literature and non-fiction. Students have been building on the historical learning that took place in Summer 1: such as South Africa’s apartheid era, the migration of those from the Caribbean and South Asia and the tyrannical brutality of despotic leaders and, after analysing the way the voices of those who experienced these times is portrayed through various literary and non-fiction texts, have been creating their own voices, being able to write evocatively, persuasively and passionately about travel, culture and destinations from across the globe.
Congratulations to Year 13 and 11 Art students who have now completed their external set task for component 2. The artwork they have created has been fantastic. Over the supervised test the students created a wide variety of artwork including sculptures, paintings, prints and mixed media outcomes, which we will photograph and display in September. Good luck to you all and well done!
This term has been a short but an incredibly busy one for Year 7. We started the half term with an incredible weekend away to Whitemoor Lakes Activity Centre. This was a fantastic experience for all involved. If you haven’t had an opportunity to read the article about the trip on the website you can read it in the News Section in this Parent Bulletin
Year 7 are already proving to be a really talented year group on the sports field and I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate again the boys and girls football squads for winning the District Cup.
Year 8s continue to ROCK at NLS
The students have continued to support the whole school ethos being respectful, organised, committed and kind. We have a superb set of Tutors this year, who have supported me and the students on their journey in Year 8. Tutors play a pivotal role in the outcome of our students’ attitude to learning levels, consequences as well as their academic progress.
I am proud that Year 8s currently have the highest number of reward points in the school, leading by over 6000. Their attitude to learning is also improving in some key subject areas. We have achieved an incredible amount this year, ranging from displaying infallible commitment and dedication to the range of charity events that have taken place throughout the year. We exhibited tremendous team spirit in tutor groups and celebration assemblies. There are a plethora of events that have occurred this year that have made me incredibly proud to be the Year 8 Leader.