The TIC, or Thermal Imaging Camera, detects infrared radiation (IR) given off by objects.  The fire brigade use this to locate people trapped in fires and smoked filled rooms where visibility is poor.

Now you may be asking ‘how does a TIC detect body heat when there is fire all around?’, well the TIC adapts its sensors to pick up different levels of IR and so can locate the cooler body temperatures.  In Science club the students used it to play high-tech hide and seek and look at their own thermal body images.  Fire fighter Lucy explained the different parts of the thermal images produced, with lighter colours meaning more IR and therefore more heat.  The students thanked Lucy at the end for an informative and fun session.

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Students of any ability can learn Latin, and everyone in year 10 or 11 is welcome! We meet on Wednesdays after school in A9 for an hour, learning in a relaxed manner. Sweets and treats are provided so why not come along and give it a go! Next term we will be translating passages about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii…

Quiz time;

Do you know what this famous Latin phrase means?

veni, vidi, vici.

Think you know? Pass your answers to Miss Wakelin… there will be prizes for correct answers.

For more information about the club feel free to see Miss Wakelin or just pop along.

Dear Parent/Carer,

SUBJECT:  GCSE – Religious Education

We are pleased announce that from the 7^th January 2013 all Year 9 students will begin to study the Edexcel RE Full Course GCSE, with the intention of entering students for the final  examination in the summer of Year 10.

In beginning this course now students can be entered for their GCSE examination in May 2014, thus banking one GCSE award before embarking on their final GCSE year.  This will allow students the ability to focus on their other GCSE examination in Year 11 and reduce the pressure on them at that time.

The examination board and course that your child will be following is the Edexcel GCSE in Religious studies:

Unit 2 Religion and Life based on the Study of Christianity – This unit requires student to study the relationship between Christianity and life in the UK.  There are four sections: belief in an Ultimate Reality; matters of life and death; marriage and the family; and religion and community cohesion.

Unit 8 Religion and Society based on a study of Christianity and at Least One Other Religion – This unit requires students to study the relationship between religion and society, especially in the UK.  There are four sections: rights and responsibilities; environmental and medical issues; peace and conflict; and crime and punishment.

This course aims to contribute to our students’ social, moral and cultural development and allows students’ to express their personal responses on important questions and issues about life and morality.  Throughout this course your child will be given the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding that will be invaluable in their further studies, careers and everyday lives.  Thinking skills, which are a vital component of RE, will be an indicator to future employers of our students’ ability to relate to people from a wide range of cultures and beliefs, as well as deal with the ethical and moral issues they face on a regular basis.

We trust you will join us in embracing this opportunity and look forward to your continued support in working toward our goal of ensuring our students, your children, study as varied a curriculum as possible whilst ensuring that this does not place them under additional pressure at the end of Year 11, the most crucial time of their education.

Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at school or email me at charmainecollins@ashtonpark.net

Yours sincerely,

Charmaine Collins

Head of Religious Education

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Art Club will run Monday and Wednesday 3.15pm till 4.30pm. Please remember to bring in all work as you will not be able to add any pieces after this date.

You have your tracking sheets please make sure you use the Xmas holidays wisely- you only have two weeks on your return!

From Monday 21^st you will be working towards your exam worth 40%. You will produce a project based on an exam question and create a final piece in the 10 hour exam split over two days. This will take place after Easter.

I have seen so much fantastic work and I am very pleased to see so many of you here at Art Club- keep up all the great work!

All of this will take place on Friday May 10^th, a day dedicated to celebrating the success of Year 11. For more information, or a letter, please see your tutor, Miss McGirr or Mr Williams. All orders must be received by Friday 19^th April 2013.

We look forward to celebrating with you.

Please click HERE for the letter to parents

Year 7

Tachan Golding

Beth Hughes

Joe Collinson & Mert Tascakar

Year 8 & 9

Mia Schillace-Gristwood

Stella Hughes

Year 10

Alex Wollacott

We had some very strong performances on show at Friday lunch time with a hilarious performance of ‘Gang ‘em style’ by Joe and Mert and lovely performances of classic songs by the girls, as well as a strong vocal performance by Tachan.

Unfortunately there could only be one winner and after a very strong performance of ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ the winner of Ashton’s Strictly Voice Factor 2012 was Alex Wollacott. Alex wins a 15 pound voucher for Cabot Circus and the 2012 title. Brilliant!

Well done and a big thank you to everybody involved in a great event

Have a great Christmas

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On Friday January the 25^th we will be taking 50 pupils paintballing at Hamburger Hill.

To be in with a chance of going on the paintball trip pupils will have to be in the top 5 or have earned over the average number of points when we calculate the totals at the end of term 2.

Twenty of the top points earners across the year groups will automatically earn the opportunity to go paintballing. The remaining 30 places will be decided by a prize draw. If a pupil at the end of term 2 has house points that are above the average amount they will be entered in to the draw.

After consultation with the pupils they told us they wanted a fairer rewards system and for not the same people to go on the trips all the time.

One way of ensuring as many people get rewarded for their effort and outstanding work in school is entering them into a draw for some of the places on the trips.

Look out for the announcement of average points at the end of term 2.

Led by captain Mason Gill Watkins, the lads realised very quickly what a step up 6^th form rugby is!

Moving slowly but surely, the South African rugby party are gaining momentum on and off the pitch.

Focusing on Bag Packs and the 6^th Form Christmas party before Christmas, then moving on to Sponsored Running events and a Rugby dinner in the New Year.

We also look forward to the Rugby Sevens after Christmas and the annual Rossyln Park Sevens.

Well done lads, keep winning and enjoying the game and keep up the fundraising!

This year our Christmas Party is being held at Broad Plain Rugby Club, on Wednesday 19^th December, with a twist – BEACH THEME!

See the poster for more information then get your Hula skirt and Hawaiian shorts ready!