Weekly News Issue 10

The Royal Institution Comes to Whitehaven School

On Monday 1^st December the wind blew in not just the snow but also Vinay Kathotia the holder of a distinguished mathematics foundation funded by the Honourable Clothworkers Guild - one of the city of London's ancient guilded companies. Vinay works for the Royal Institution in London along with the Royal Society the Royal Institution (R.I.) is one of the oldest charitable scientific organisations in the world having been founded in 1799.

Whitehaven School has been involved for some time in a joint project between the Maths and Technology departments and the R.I. designing 21^st century mathematics equipment for use in primary schools throughout the country. This project, led by Fraser Wilson, involving students from across our age range will shortly be featured on Teachers TV and governmental web sites.

To extend our relationship Vinay offered the school the opportunity to host master classes in the application of mathematics to, seemingly, non-mathematical problems. On Monday students from years 9 and 10 were involved in solving ‘The Josephus Problem' which dates from 67 AD but using modern day mathematical techniques  they had it cracked in two hours.

Vinay (who has taught in America and the UK) was so impressed by our students that we have now been offered a much larger programme of taught master classes involving both our own students and those from our primary partner schools. We have accepted the offer!

Yet again we see that we can be proud of our students and their achievements .... Well done everybody.

Mr Wilkinson, Mathematics Department

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Year 7 Parents Evening
Thursday 26 February

Options Evening
Wednesday 4th March

POST 16 CENTRE RAISE MONEY
FOR CHILDREN IN NEED

In support of this worthy cause the students and pastoral staff in Post 16 chose to come into school in either black or white. The response was fantastic as was the generosity of everyone. Pudsey, who made a visit to the centre ably watched over by Terri Walker, was very proud to hear that over £150 had been raised on the day.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to an enjoyable day.

Edward J. Fearon 

CONGRATULATIONS
TO MARTIN O'NEILL 

Martin has been selected for the 2009 England Youth Rugby League Under 15 squad to play in Wales in a fixture over the Easter period.

Good luck Martin we are all rooting for you

Use of Pupil Images

During the course of the school year there may be opportunities to publicise some of the activities that your child is involved with, this may involve filming or photographing children for use in the local media.  As a school we welcome these opportunities and hope that, as parents, you do too.  There may also be occasions when we will arrange photography for school purposes ie. displays and school prospectus/brochures and the school website etc.

Photography or filming will only occur with the permission of a senior member of staff.

If you do not wish your child's image to be used by the school for any school publication or related areas please let Mandy Jones, PA to Senior Leadership Team, know in writing that you are withdrawing your consent for images of your child to be taken and used.