Head of Year: Mrs A Haynes

Email: staff.haynes@priestlands.hants.sch.uk                                Telephone:  01590 677033

Welcome to Year Eight at Priestlands School!

I am writing just as we have finished our first half term back at school and I want to congratulate all of the year team for a fantastic and positive start to Year Eight. We had a successful first year at Priestlands and I want us to build on this as we progress through this coming academic year. Many opportunities lie ahead for all pupils and already many pupils have taken the opportunity to become student council represemtatives, year charity organisers or have taken responsibility for their tutor group noticeboard.

I am keen for Year Eight pupils to feel part of the school and I would like to set the challenge for all pupils to get involved with Priestlands School’s extensive extra curricular clubs and activities. With full details of these on the ‘Wider School’ page of the website or notices on the every tutor group’s noticeboard I would encourage all pupils to get involved in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Homework club has become quite a popular group that Year Eights are attending this year and I would encourage any pupils to drop into the library after school any day of the week to use this support. A PSM (Pastoral Support Manager) is always on hand to offer guidance and advice if needed and Mrs Lamkin (the Year Eight PSM) runs the sessions on Monday,s Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

We have already had a really successful trip to Paultons Park on Saturday October 6^th which involved over half the year group and was to celebrate the successful completion of Year Seven. We hope to run a similar trip in the summer term and would like to have even more pupils taking part with our celebrations!

There is a list of key dates attached to our year pages, but I would highlight the fact that we have a Year Eight disco at school on 6^th December which will be another way for pupils to socialise together.

The first Academic review day is on 13^th December and all pupils and parents are expected to attend at their allocated time to set targets to ensure that all pupils are making sufficient progress and will achieve their targets in all subjects this year.

Year Eight feels Safe, Motivated, Imaginative, ready to Learn and Enthusiastic. I believe my role within the Year Eight team is to ensure that this ethos becomes a reality and to ensure that each pupil feels fully supported in both their academic and social development.

Please do contact me if you have anything you would like to discuss to ensure your son or daughter is happy at Priestlands and is achieving their potential. I would continue to ask you to help your child by looking at their Student Record Books on a weekly basis and  to encourage a routine with homework and daily organisation.

Regular monitoring will take place in conjunction with Heads of Departments in order to identify any students who are not meeting expectations or who may need extra support. Indeed those who keep on track also need to be encouraged and praised along the way!

We expect students to develop personal responsibility and independent working where possible in order for them to make the most of their learning and preparation for assessments. This includes ensuring attendance and punctuality are made a high priority for all pupils. Attendance and punctuality will be closely monitored and all students and parents will be made aware of targets for improvement.

I look forward to the year ahead and working with both the year team and parents to ensure we have another fantastic year!

Angela Haynes

Head of Year

Year 8 Key Dates 2012-2013

Class of 2016 Key Staff

Tutors