Welcome to yet another addition of the newsletter to give you a glimpse of what is happening within our school community. There have been many wonderful moments and many successes that are not necessarily mentioned here that are achieved daily by many students, being in or out of the classroom.

All visitors from the Trust, Governors or otherwise always commend the students on their behaviour and often comment on the positive energy within the school. My thanks go to all the staff who work relentlessly to ensure the quality of the educational provision we give our students is the best it can be.

Wishing you all a lovely week ahead.

Assal Ruse

Monday 10th February - Year 11 Mock Exams start

Friday 14th February - Year 9 Brooklands Trip

Monday 17th February - Half Term Holiday

Monday 17th - Wednesday 19th February - Year 11 Half Term Revision

Thursday 27th February - Year 7 Parents' Evening

Please remember that if you take your children out of school without authority for 5 or more days (which do not have to be consecutive), you will be liable to receive a penalty notice.

Currently the amount payable under a penalty notice is £80.00 per parent/carer per child if paid within 21 days. Thereafter the amount increases to £160.00 if paid between 21 and 28 days. If the penalty notice remains unpaid after 28 days, the Local Authority will consider a prosecution in the Magistrates Court.

Please note that penalty notices are issued per parent/carer per child so a family of two parents and two children will receive 4 penalty notices.

Monday 10th Feb: Year 9 Boys Football vs Thamesmead

Tuesday 11th Feb: Year 10 Boys Football vs Thamesmead

Tuesday 11th Feb: Year 9+10 Girls Netball vs Sunbury Manor

Wednesday 12th Feb: Year 7 Girls Football vs Sunbury Manor

Thursday 13th Feb: Year 11 Boys Football vs Thamesmead

Thursday 13th Feb: Year 7 Boys Football vs Sunbury Manor

Wednesday 26th Feb: Year 8 Boys Football vs Thamesmead

Between the hours of 3.00 and 4.00pm, parents and carers are not permitted to watch fixtures or gain access to fixtures via the school. This is for safeguarding reasons, so strangers do not come on site.

However, at 4.00pm, parents/carers and other spectators will be able to gain access through the Lifestyle Fitness gym entrance (next to the small swimming pool). Spectators should be outside of the pitch boundaries, where applicable, specifically tournaments, outside of the caged area.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Monk on:

monka@matthew-arnold.surrey.sch.uk

Our heartfelt thanks go to Shareen from the Steel Pan Trust who led workshops for all Year 7 students on Thursday 6th February. A lot of fun was had by all, learning how to play the steel pan drums to Caribbean music ! Thank you to Mrs Lacey-Heywood for organising.

For your child to be successful in Maths, it is vital that they are fully equipped for every lesson, every day. We will be looking for your child to bring the following to lessons:

2 black/blue pens

1 green pen

1 ruler

1 protractor

1 pair of compasses

1 pencil

1 scientific calculator

With two calculator-based papers (Paper 2 & Paper 3), it is vital that you support your child with the purchase of a calculator to sharpen their calculator skills. Calculators (£9.40) and equipment set (£3.90) can be purchased from the exam's office via the ParentPay.

Year 11 have been busy practising for their upcoming exams by preparing some fantastic dishes - Miss Parker had a sample of pizza to try and it was delicious!

Cucina (our catering company), met with the student council this week to discuss the food being served in the canteen. The student council posed some tough questions to Cucina based on conversations they have had with their own year groups about the quality and pricing of the food.

A productive meeting from all parties was sweetened by the added pastries and sweet treats that Cucina brought with them!

Charlie B, Year 10, writes:

Last Wednesday, the School Council had the exciting opportunity to visit Parliament after a special invitation from Spelthorne MP, Lincoln Jopp. After passing through security, we entered Westminster Hall, the site of the Queen's temporary burial. We then enjoyed a guided tour of Parliament, followed by an insightful interview with Lincoln in one of the committee rooms. After the interview, we had lunch before going on the train to return to school, reflecting on an unforgettable day.

Our congratulations go to Ethan P, who won the Schoolboys National Champion (40kg) fighting for Knowle Green Amateur Boxing club, that was held in Swindon on Sunday 2nd February. Training almost every day of the week since the age of 6, just shows the hard work pays off! We are very proud of you, Ethan!