The Lister Weekly Update #13

Regular attendance is a cornerstone of academic success. When students are present, they have the opportunity to:

• Engage in learning: Participate in lessons, ask questions, and collaborate with peers.
• Build relationships: Foster friendships and positive connections with teachers and classmates.
• Develop essential skills: Acquire knowledge, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking skills.

Celebrating Our Success

We are thrilled to announce that Lister Community School has been recognized by FFT as being in the top 25% of schools nationally. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and parents.

By working together, we can continue to provide an outstanding education for all our students. Let's keep up the great work and ensure that every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential by attending our wonderful school every day. Perhaps we'll have the pleasure at the Lister news desk of writing to you later in the year to say that we have moved into the top 10% of schools nationally. That's our aim!

Our Cheerleading Team, Lister Lightning Achieved a Gold Award last week, which is usually unheard of for a team making its debut at the Talent Central showcase at the ExCel Centre. Lister Lightning were fantastic and gave a convincing performance even though some had crippling nerves. Their coach and Ms Coke are very proud of them and couldn't have dreamt of a better outcome. Our tumbling stars Ammarah Marshalleck and Shylah Thompson (Year 7) deserve extra recognition. As the year goes on, we at the Lister news desk are reminded again and again by our students why we have the motto, 'Aiming for Excellence'. This is another example of the sheer talent that our Lister students have and the trophy will sit proudly in our display cabinet. Well done, Lister Lightning!

As well as the team trophy, all Lightning members have individual medals and certificates.

As part of the Into University Buddy Programme, some of our Year 8 students had an exciting opportunity to visit the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. The visit included a guided tour of the school’s incredible performing arts facilities, such as the modern rehearsal spaces, performance venues, and creative studios, showcasing the exciting environment where students get to develop their artistic skills.

In addition to the tour, the students participated in a workshop focusing on the importance of drama and the transferable skills it provides, such as communication, teamwork, and creativity. The session emphasised how these skills can benefit students in all areas of life, both academically and in future careers.

The students also gained valuable insights into what university life is like, learning about the range of courses available and what it’s like to study in a creative, performance-based environment. The visit was an inspiring experience, encouraging our students to think about their future possibilities and the many opportunities available to them in the world of performing arts.

The following was written by one of our Lister students after his experience on the trip:

Why is Drama important to our lives? What skills can it help us with? (an article from one of our Lister Students)

Drama plays an important role in our lives by fostering emotional expression, creativity, and empathy. It allows individuals to explore and express a wide range of emotions, from joy and excitement to sadness and frustration, in a safe and structured environment. This emotional exploration not only helps individuals understand their feelings but also enhances their ability to empathise with others. By stepping into different characters and scenarios, participants gain a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives and experiences, promoting greater social awareness and sensitivity.

In addition to emotional and empathetic development, drama can help build valuable skills that are beneficial in various aspects of life. It enhances communication abilities by encouraging clear articulation, active listening and effective non-verbal communication. Drama also fosters teamwork and collaboration, as it often involves working closely with others to create a cohesive performance. Moreover, drama activities often involve group work and collaborative projects, which help to develop teamwork and cooperation skills. By working together to create a performance or solve a problem within a scene, individuals learn to negotiate, share ideas and support each other.

Performing in front of an audience, whether large or small, can boost confidence and self-esteem. Taking risks and receiving feedback helps individuals build resilience and a positive self-image, which are essential for personal growth and leadership. These experiential learning opportunities provided by drama make it a valuable tool for developing a wide range of skills that are applicable in various aspects of life.

To reward the hard work and dedication of our students, we're excited to announce upcoming reward trips. On Thursday, for example, our year 8 and 9 will be taking part in a fun packed day:

Year 8: Prepare for a day of high-flying fun at Flip Out. Year 8 students will have the chance to bounce, flip, and climb their way to excitement.

Year 9: Get ready to glide and twirl on the ice! Year 9 students will be heading to an ice skating rink for a fun-filled day of winter sports.

These trips are a fantastic opportunity for students to have fun, bond with their classmates, and create lasting memories. They reinforce our aims to achieve excellence, not just in their education but also for the spiritual development of our students. Other year groups have a wide range of other rewards planned!

Dear Parents and Carers,

In last year's version of the parent mail, every week we published a league table of the top praise earners from each house. This was a celebration of the most successful house teams at Lister. Now that we have moved on to the year team system, we could not publish the same news. Here we have now reformatted the old system - highlighting year groups' success and the particular form groups and individuals in year groups who are earning the most praises. Keep an eye out for your child's name here and see whether their form group have had particular success through the week!

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are very keen, at the Lister News Team, to share the menu options that your child will have through the week. We know that this has been available in the recent editions of our newsletter, but was missing from the last two. Here are the menu options for this week!

The Thought for the Week next week is focused on being thankful. Please discuss the thought with your child who will be looking at the thought in assembly and discussing the idea with peers and the year team.