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Weekly Updates from the Leadership Team
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Welcome to the second newsletter of this half-term.
We were incredibly proud to host a whole-school send-off for our Year 11s on their last day before starting study leave. The students had the opportunity to get their shirts signed (a long-standing tradition), enjoy a leavers' assembly, and then walk through a parade of their peers, who clapped them through the corridors and out of the school. The students seemed to thoroughly enjoy this milestone moment. However, this is not the end for Year 11 just yet! We still have exams remaining next week, which require just as much focus, dedication, and preparation as the very first one did. Then we look forward to welcoming them all again at their final goodbye at their Prom.
This week, we also led assemblies on Festival Safety, supported by the Health & Safety Lead for the Isle of Wight Festival. The assemblies provided general top tips and advice for attending large events, using the Isle of Wight Festival as a real-life example. It was also a great opportunity to reinforce why our school rules of 'Ready, Respect, Safe' are not just for the school day, but are vital in everyday life. We covered site safety (especially while the festival is still a construction site) and how to enjoy festivals in a way that ensures happy memories are made. Key advice included self-awareness, staying with friends, arranging meeting points in case of poor mobile signal, considering the weather, knowing what items are prohibited, being aware of those who may not share our respectful values, and overall advice on keeping safe.
Please allow extra time for travel from the middle of next week, as a temporary one-way system will be in place on Fairlee Road from late morning on Wednesday, 17 June. Outbound traffic from Newport will be diverted via Staplers Road. Here is a link to the Council website which holds further details. Please note that we have cancelled all after-school clubs next week to help safeguard our students while the local area is busier than normal.
We continue to plan and look forward to celebrating 50 years of 'Medina' on Friday 10 July in school for activities day. Students have been signing up for events in school and more details will be coming out about this in the coming weeks. Then there is a community event on the evening of Friday 10 and Saturday 11 July. Please see the poster later in this newsletter for further details.
Year 10 students will now be preparing for their trial exams, which begin on Tuesday 23 June. These are highly important indicators of where students are on their academic journey, helping them to understand and experience exactly what it will feel like this time next year. Meanwhile, our Year 10 Geography students were a credit to the school and themselves last Friday when they took part in their fieldwork exercise in Yaverland. It is always brilliant for students to experience their subjects in real-world situations – this practical application often helps consolidate their learning and, in many cases, allows the theory to finally 'click' into place.
We hope you have a lovely weekend.
Mrs Paul, Mrs Mursell and Mrs Sandiford
Executive Headteacher and Co-Heads of School
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Wagamama's Workshop
On Friday 5 June, a group of our students enjoyed an unforgettable culinary experience during a hands-on workshop led by Steve Mangleshot, Executive Chef and Brand Ambassador for Wagamama's.
The students stepped into the world of professional cooking, learning new skills and techniques whilst creating two of Wagamama's signature dishes: Chilli Chicken Ramen and Saku Saku Duck Soba, accompanied by delicious Duck Gyoza.
From expertly chopping ingredients to carefully assembling each dish, the students threw themselves into every aspect of the cooking process with enthusiasm and confidence. Their teamwork, focus and willingness to try something new were impressive throughout the session.
Of course, the highlight of the day was tasting their incredible creations! The workshop was a fantastic opportunity for students to develop practical skills, gain insight into the hospitality industry and enjoy a truly memorable experience.
A huge thank you to Steve and the Wagamama's team for inspiring our aspiring chefs and making the day such a success! They even gave each student their very own Wagamama cookbook, signed by Steve and a gift card!
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U15 girls' cricket team
Congratulations to the U15 girls' cricket team who battled hard against two strong Island Free School teams on Tuesday. It was, as ever, a fine whole team performance. Amelie and Jasmine bowled really well and Demi, Sophie and Eloise got stuck in with their batting. The scores may not have gone our way, but it was a lovely atmosphere, and we gave both teams a decent match.
Well done ladies, it was a lovely evening of cricket, and you were a credit to Medina College!
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Coastal fieldwork trip to Yaverland and Sandown
Year 10 Geography students recently took part in a successful coastal fieldwork trip to Sandown and Yaverland as part of their GCSE Geography studies. The visit provided an excellent opportunity for students to apply classroom knowledge to a real coastal environment and develop key fieldwork skills.
Throughout the day, students worked hard collecting and recording data using a range of geographical techniques. These included beach profiling, measuring environmental quality, and observing coastal management features. Their enthusiasm and commitment to the tasks enabled them to gather valuable information that will support their GCSE coursework and exam preparation.
The students' behaviour was outstanding throughout the trip. They represented the school exceptionally well, showing maturity, respect, and a positive attitude at all times. Members of the public and staff commented on how polite and engaged the students were, making them a real credit to the school.
Overall, the trip was both enjoyable and educational, and the students should be proud of the effort they put into developing their fieldwork skills while demonstrating such excellent conduct.
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U13 cricket team
On Wednesday, the U13 cricket team was in action against The Bay. Unfortunately, we had almost completed the day when the heavens opened, forcing us to move the game to an indoor venue where we quickly got underway again.
The Bay batted first and posted a solid 104 under the indoor scoring system. Our bowlers — Poppy, Sadie, Violet, Anna, and Darcy — all performed well and worked hard throughout the innings. Violet also had a busy time with the bat, contributing strongly to the team’s effort.
Sadly, we were unable to reach The Bay’s total before running out of batters. However, it was a really positive first game for the team, with plenty of encouraging performances and a few areas to work on moving forward.
We now look ahead to our next two fixtures against Christ the King and Priory. Well done, girls!
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Year 10 French Bring “Healthy Living” Topic to Life
In recent weeks, students have explored all aspects of health and wellbeing in French lessons, developing their language skills while learning more about French attitudes towards fast food, healthy eating, sport and exercise, and why some young people take risks with their health.
The class has also been studying the effects of smoking and alcohol on different parts of the body, as well as discussing how both smoking and alcohol have been inextricably linked to French culture for many years.
To finish the half-term, Mrs Brear brought the topic to life with a practical activity exploring the effects of alcohol and excessive drinking. Students had the opportunity to wear real-life “beer goggles”, specially designed to replicate the effects of consuming at least ten units of alcohol.
Whilst wearing the goggles, students were challenged to walk in a straight line, pick up objects from the floor, walk over to the board (avoiding furniture on the way) and copy a statement from the board onto paper — all whilst being timed. The activity quickly demonstrated how alcohol affects coordination, depth perception and concentration.
Congratulations go to Amélie, who completed the tasks most efficiently whilst “under the influence”! However, students were particularly struck by how difficult simple activities became and how impaired depth perception could easily lead to accidents, especially when drink-driving.
The lesson was both memorable and enjoyable, helping students understand the dangers of alcohol in a realistic and engaging way. Our Sixth Form volunteer helper, Brianna, also helped keep students on the straight and narrow as they weaved around the classroom and attempted to write sentences in French about the dangers of alcohol whilst wearing the goggles.
After half-term, students will continue the topic by exploring mental health, sleep and stress — all in French!
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Maritime Future Programme
 Fully funded spaces are available for this programme, which takes place during the summer holidays for students aged 14 and above. Funding is subject to criteria for those in genuine financial need. Please see the UKSA website for further information.
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Attendance
If a student is unable to attend the school for any reason or has an appointment then you can register this using the Arbor App links below. You are also able to contact the school using the Attendance line on 01983 538055
Try using the Arbor Parent App available on the following links ANDROID or APPLE with Guidance on use HERE
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