The students and staff have continued to take a ‘Can Do’ attitude and have been involved in many projects to improve the lives of the students, the school and the local community. 

PULSE:MK

Our group of Pulse:MK students have continued to work on their social enterprise projects in collaboration with the Open University and the Youth Offending Team.  They took part in a showcase of local community groups at the Stadium:MK on March 5th 2008.  One student, Peyton Miles, received an award for being an ‘Enterprising Student’.  Work will continue and the students are hoping to present their idea to staff at the Open University in the near future.

Year 10 Students discussing the project with the mayor

MK:BANK

All year groups had assemblies from Roz Mascarenhas of the MK Youth Bank project.  Roz showed the students how they could get funding for projects that would provide them with useful entertainment out of school hours, would further a hobby or skill either individually or as a group. This has caused much interest with several groups of students working on projects as diverse as 5-a-side Football Leagues for Milton Keynes to talent showcases, video projects and youth clubs.

SORRELL PROJECT – DEVELOPING THE NEW ACADEMY

SFMCS Students who took part in the Sorrell Project.

Students being interviewed on their visit to Wolff Olins

SINGING FOR SEEDS!

'Pure' performing at MK Citizens meeting

 ‘Pure’, a group of singers who came to the forefront during the Black History Fame Academy last term have given performances at the newly refurbished Hedgerows Children’s Centre on Netherfield. They are a group of Year 7,8 and 9 students lead by Miss Emily Lang, a dedicated teacher who gives up much of her spare time to prepare the girls.  She has imbued them with a real sense of what it means to be professional performers.

‘Pure’ have bookings for Dobbie’s Garden Centre and will be ‘paid’ in seeds, plants and equipment that will be used by the new Gardening Club.

They performed for leaders of MK Community groups and faith leaders at the MK Citizens meeting on 23rd April and received much praise and two further bookings!

VALENTINE’S BREAKFAST

We had a Valentine’s breakfast meeting for the community on Thursday 14th February.  We had to take advantage of the day and funds were raised by selling red roses to our guests.

GOING GREENER

We are now on the path to becoming an ECO school, Mrs Fletcher is working hard to get the school recognised for its green initiatives.Several of the Year 7 tutor groups went to the Wolverton Recyling Plant to find out about recycling in Milton Keynes.

OUR OWN SCHOOL RADIO

To aid communication in school and to give students a fantastic media opportunity, we are hoping to have our very own radio station up and running by the end of this term.

STAFF CONFERENCE

To underline the fact that we have ‘Enterprise’ at our heart, this year’s staff conference was dedicated to embedding enterprising behaviours into all aspects of the school and the curriculum.

The Road to Employment

As a school, we recognise the importance of preparing our students for the world of work.
WORK EXPERIENCE

• Several members of the local community came in to allow Year 10 to have mock interviews before going out on Work Experience.  The students enjoyed the experience and felt it had increased their confidence.  The mentors were impressed with the attitude and behaviour of the students.
• Year 10 students went out on Work Experience from the 4th to 14th March.  Students who did not attend Work Experience had a variety of activities to broaden their horizons including some Enterprise and Personal Motivation work.  The vast majority of students had a fantastic time on Work Experience and really appreciated this first step into the world of work.  Reports we have had back from employers have been excellent.

• Both Year 10 and 11 had timetabled access to this year’s Careers Fair.  We had over 25 contributors including local further and higher educational institutions, training providers and employers ranging from Sainsburys to MK Council, Changes Hair Salons to the Enterprise Gateway.
• On February 6th, Year 10 students spent the whole day on Careers related issues including a two hour workshop from ‘Bright Futures’ on work-related skills.  They had an exploration of the Kudos Careers programme with Colin Middleton, our Connexions Careers Advisor and worked on personal presentation.  Careers were explored by using mystery guests in a ‘What’s my line?’ question and answer session.
• Colin Middleton, the Connexions Careers Advisor is continuing to run informal drop-in sessions after school every day apart from Friday.
• A Careers Roadshow is running every Thursday at the Breakfast Club.

 Creating Better Citizens!

Safety First

• Years 7 to 9 heard a presentation from Liz Heading called ‘No Messin’’ on railway crime.
• Year 7 students attended a performance of ‘Back Off Bully’ on March 19th.
• Year 9 students attended a workshop on Road Safety on March 14th which places emphasis on the use of seat belts and the dangers of driver distraction.
• Year 11 students attended the recent MK Citizens meeting and joined with local faith and community groups about the meaning of ‘people power’.

Year 11 students chatting to community leaders

DRUGS and ALCOHOL Advice and Guidance

Compass, an organisation that gives information and advice on substance abuse, has started to come into school on the first Wednesday in every month.  The Compass workers set up a display in Seckloe Dining Room for KS3 students and cross over to the Chill Out room for KS4 lunch.

NO TO SMOKING

PCT nurses came into the school on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 11th and 12th March as part of our campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and the ways people can be helped to give up the habit.  There was a competition open to all students to design posters to encourage people to give up the habit; there were two lucky winners, Abigail White 9S and Yasmin Issaka 9S who received a family voucher for the Snodome and a visit to MK Dons.

Congratulations to the MK Dons!

We would like to offer our congratulations to the MK Dons on their success at Wembley and their promotion!

The MK Dons have supported the school in many different ways over the last months and we are pleased to support them.

• Over 140 students and parents enjoyed the Big Day Out on the 21st December.  We watched the team win against Brentford and a group of our KS4 students known as ‘Cookie’s Dolls’ provided the half-time entertainment.
• Pete Winkleman was our key note speaker at our Staff Conference on the 29th February.  Our Conference was about being ‘Enterprising at SFMCS’ and Pete set us off with a really inspirational speech.
• We had a coach full of supporters – students, parents and staff - to cheer the team on at Wembley on the 30th March.
• Twelve Year 7 students are taking part in the Playing for Success scheme with the MK Dons.  The lucky twelve are invited to the Stadium:MK for some motivational/literacy sessions, once a week for eight weeks, after school.
• Each Friday we continue to have an MK Dons coach in to train our keen footballers. The sessions run from 7.30 -8.30 am and include a good healthy breakfast!

Students enjoy a healthy breakfast with Glen, our very own MK Dons coach!