OPEN EVENING
Open Evening is a key event in the school’s calendar, with the primary focus being to inform and encourage Year 6
students to join the school in Year 7. As a school, we want students (and parents/carers) to choose us because they
want to be part of The Avon Valley School and believe in our core values. When student and parental engagement are
present, anything can be achieved. Learning opportunities can go beyond expectation and children can grow and develop
into happy and confident adults.
During Open Evening, the school is on show: the teachers, the results, the building, and most importantly our students
that give generously of their time to showcase their school. The Headteacher, Miss Davies, is the public face of the
school, and she addresses parents and students during the evening, sharing the school’s values and ethos. Thereafter,
the school is open for visiting, where you will see a wide variety of school life: experiments in science, delicious cakes
being baked in catering, a wide range of sporting activities, quizzes in maths…. and so on. All faculties display the many
learning opportunities available to all students that join AVS. Parents from previous years have said that the best
ambassadors for the school are the students that help out during the evening, either representing the different curriculum
areas or acting as guides. On a personal note, may I thank in advance, the students for their loyalty and hard work for the
forthcoming Open Evening.
At the end of a very long day, hopefully the Year 6 students will depart happy, having had a true flavour of life within AVS,
and the parents are confident that AVS is the right school for their child. Every September, we want 220 students to arrive
excited, and ready to face the excellent opportunities and challenges that secondary school brings… influenced by their
visit.
This year, Open Evening takes place on Thursday 22 September, with Miss Davies addressing parents and students at
6.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. The school is also open during the school day, and tours can be booked through Mrs Bale, the
Headteacher’s PA..
MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES
The Modern Foreign Languages Faculty has an exciting term ahead with many competitions and events in the pipeline,
and plenty of opportunities for students to get involved.
This week has seen the launch of the Year 7 French Competition, in which students are tasked with decorating their
French exercise book in a bid to earn their House points. On Monday 26 th September we will be celebrating the European
Day of Languages where students will be able to get involved in some fantastic activities –the canteen has even jumped
on board and will be serving dishes throughout the week, from various European countries.
GCSE
We would like to take this opportunity to say that all GCSE groups in Modern Foreign Languages have made a fantastic
start, particularly Year 9 & 10 groups who are taking on the new curriculum. All students are welcome to attend after
school revision sessions for French, Spanish & German for extra support with any element of the GCSE courses. These
take place on Wednesdays & Thursdays in LA1 and LA4.
Year 11 students are expected to attend the revision sessions at least once a week in order to complete/ catch up on any
coursework necessary and should make this part of their revision timetable going forward.
GCSE in a second language?
Every year the Languages Department offers students the opportunity to achieve a GCSE in their second language. In
the past, students have been entered for a number of languages, such as Polish, Modern Greek, Portuguese, Italian and
Chinese to name a few. If you speak another language fluently at home and are able to read and write in that language,
come and see Miss Benvenuto in the languages office.