26/10/2007
News from Chepstow School
Chepstow School news and articles written by students.
Category: Chepstow School
Posted by: Tom
New Sixth Form Center at Chepstow
On Wednesday 3rd October, the new Sixth Form Centre was officially opened by the Mayor. Many others who contributed to the refurbishment of the Sixth Form Centre also turned up for the event, as well as the Sixth Form enrichment team, Head of Sixth Form and Headteacher, Mr Barnbrook.
Thanks to the P.T.A, the money was granted to move the Sixth Form Centre downstairs, and to transform it into a better resourced environment where students can do their work, as well as socialise with their peers.
From the end of the summer term, a lot of hard work was put into completing the 6th Form Centre by its students to get it ready for the autumn term. This involved buying the furniture, painting and decorating with accessories to give it a modern and inspiring atmosphere.
Senior prefect, Ben Spooner, said, “It has been very successful considering the short amount of time we’ve had to complete it. On the day of the opening, we could all see the effort that we put into it and I along with others felt a great sense of achievement when looking at the final result”.
David Peniston Year 12
Johanna Scammell, Year 13
Homework over the holidays
What is the usual view of a holiday? To relax, finish that book you’ve been reading since Easter, go and see family and friends, go away to a hot destination with no work? The problem with that is we had work to do over the summer holidays.
Yes, we had work, not just one little piece, but loads of it. My classmates and I would probably understand if it was a couple of small pieces of work but not when it is two main pieces of coursework and other large pieces of work to go with it. In my opinion that is not necessary.
For people like me who didn’t spend much time at home because of being on holiday, going out with friends or just catching up with family, it was difficult to do any work. After having a busy year in year 10 we were ready to have a long and well deserved break from school. We needed a break but we didn’t get much of one because of the work hanging over our heads like a bad omen.
Our teachers expect us to be well rested after the holidays and ready to do lots more work. However to me and my friends it feels like work hasn’t stopped and that the holiday was just an illusion. In my opinion, I think that over the main holidays –Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays-homework should not be set. This would give us a better chance to do our best in one of the most important years in school – a year which can determine what we do in the future.
By Bernadette Rees Year 11
Eco-Schools
Several schools in Monmouthshire, including Chepstow, are working towards becoming eco-schools. Pupils in each school taking part, along with teachers, governors, members of the local community and parents start working towards achieving eco-school status. This means educating the school and the wider community about healthy living, sensible use of energy, transport problems, waste and recycling and caring for the environment at school and beyond.
Pupils at Chepstow School have carried out an audit to look at what we are already doing and think about things that we could still do. We have divided into groups to work on each of the target areas. We are thinking about ways that we can save water and energy in the school. We already use recycled paper and have special recycle bins for used paper. We are cleaning part of the Wye Valley Walk and making it a nicer environment to be in. On Friday 19th October a major tidy-up of the school grounds and a litter-pick was organised for Yr 7 students and the eco-group.
There are increasing levels of environmental awareness you can achieve when your school has received eco status. The three levels of achievement, Bronze, Silver and Gold, are based upon the school’s self assessment. If the school is felt to have met the main criteria, it is then awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag.
Being an Eco-School reduces the environmental impact of the whole school by methods such as reducing waste and recycling and saving energy. It also makes financial savings by reducing energy costs and cutting down our waste collection charges. Best of all it will make all pupils at the school more aware of caring for themselves and for the environment both locally and globally.
Cat Bowe 9P
On Wednesday 3rd October, the new Sixth Form Centre was officially opened by the Mayor. Many others who contributed to the refurbishment of the Sixth Form Centre also turned up for the event, as well as the Sixth Form enrichment team, Head of Sixth Form and Headteacher, Mr Barnbrook.
Thanks to the P.T.A, the money was granted to move the Sixth Form Centre downstairs, and to transform it into a better resourced environment where students can do their work, as well as socialise with their peers.
From the end of the summer term, a lot of hard work was put into completing the 6th Form Centre by its students to get it ready for the autumn term. This involved buying the furniture, painting and decorating with accessories to give it a modern and inspiring atmosphere.
Senior prefect, Ben Spooner, said, “It has been very successful considering the short amount of time we’ve had to complete it. On the day of the opening, we could all see the effort that we put into it and I along with others felt a great sense of achievement when looking at the final result”.
David Peniston Year 12
Johanna Scammell, Year 13
Homework over the holidays
What is the usual view of a holiday? To relax, finish that book you’ve been reading since Easter, go and see family and friends, go away to a hot destination with no work? The problem with that is we had work to do over the summer holidays.
Yes, we had work, not just one little piece, but loads of it. My classmates and I would probably understand if it was a couple of small pieces of work but not when it is two main pieces of coursework and other large pieces of work to go with it. In my opinion that is not necessary.
For people like me who didn’t spend much time at home because of being on holiday, going out with friends or just catching up with family, it was difficult to do any work. After having a busy year in year 10 we were ready to have a long and well deserved break from school. We needed a break but we didn’t get much of one because of the work hanging over our heads like a bad omen.
Our teachers expect us to be well rested after the holidays and ready to do lots more work. However to me and my friends it feels like work hasn’t stopped and that the holiday was just an illusion. In my opinion, I think that over the main holidays –Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays-homework should not be set. This would give us a better chance to do our best in one of the most important years in school – a year which can determine what we do in the future.
By Bernadette Rees Year 11
Eco-Schools
Several schools in Monmouthshire, including Chepstow, are working towards becoming eco-schools. Pupils in each school taking part, along with teachers, governors, members of the local community and parents start working towards achieving eco-school status. This means educating the school and the wider community about healthy living, sensible use of energy, transport problems, waste and recycling and caring for the environment at school and beyond.
Pupils at Chepstow School have carried out an audit to look at what we are already doing and think about things that we could still do. We have divided into groups to work on each of the target areas. We are thinking about ways that we can save water and energy in the school. We already use recycled paper and have special recycle bins for used paper. We are cleaning part of the Wye Valley Walk and making it a nicer environment to be in. On Friday 19th October a major tidy-up of the school grounds and a litter-pick was organised for Yr 7 students and the eco-group.
There are increasing levels of environmental awareness you can achieve when your school has received eco status. The three levels of achievement, Bronze, Silver and Gold, are based upon the school’s self assessment. If the school is felt to have met the main criteria, it is then awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag.
Being an Eco-School reduces the environmental impact of the whole school by methods such as reducing waste and recycling and saving energy. It also makes financial savings by reducing energy costs and cutting down our waste collection charges. Best of all it will make all pupils at the school more aware of caring for themselves and for the environment both locally and globally.
Cat Bowe 9P
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