UTC Oxfordshire
Newsletter - 31st March 2021
Dear all
Today marks the end of term 4 and the start of Spring break. A big thank you to all staff and students for their dedication, resilience and flexibility over this term. It has been fabulous to have students back on site and with the weather turning warmer students are able to spend more time outside in the fresh air at break and lunchtime.
NATIONAL BUNSEN BURNER DAY
National Bunsen Burner Day on March 31st each year honours the birthday of German chemist Robert Wilhelm Eberhard von Bunsen.
Named after Robert Bunsen, a Bunsen burner is a common piece of laboratory equipment that produces a single open gas flame. Labs use the Bunsen burner for heating, sterilization, and combustion. The gas can be either natural gas (usually methane) or a liquefied petroleum gas, such as propane, butane or a mixture of the two.
The invention of the Bunsen burner opened up new opportunities for the use of natural gas. A standard tool in chemistry, the Bunsen burner is found throughout schools and laboratories around the world. Most students become familiar with the use of Bunsen burner for at least one semester during their school career.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalBunsenBurnerDay
Share your experiences from science class or in the lab as a scientist using the Bunsen burner. Give a shout out to your favourite science teacher or lab partner. You can also share your favourite experiments using the Bunsen burner. You can also learn more about Robert Bunsen, his career and life. Review the main types of flame produces by the Bunsen burner and what their colours mean. What temperatures does the Bunsen burner reach and how does this impact an experiment?
Covid Update
We are anticipating some updates over the Spring break with respect to government guidelines for Prevention of spread within schools. We will keep you informed of any changes that may be required prior to the return. In the meantime please can students ensure that they continue to test twice per week using the lateral flow test and log them both on the government website and on our school Covid Test Result Log.
It is really important that students test on Monday 19th April before they return to school on Tuesday 20th April
Elements café
See below for the menu after the break
Local News
You may be aware of cycleways currently being built along Wantage Road in Didcot. This type of stepped ‘hybrid’ cycle lane is new to Didcot and Harwell Campus Bicycle Users Group (HarBUG) have produced a leaflet to explain how they work, you can read more here.
Some of your students or even yourselves may currently use or would like to use Wantage Road to cycle to work.
Opportunities
Year 11 students this week have been shown a video from NCS - National Citizenship Service - who are offering an exciting opportunity this Summer.
You may also fins the following leaflets helpful:
12 NCS Summer Parent Guardian Pack
Don't Forget: there is also our opportunities page on the secure part of our website. The password is UTCOpps2020
Dates for the diary
- Thursday 1st to Sunday 18th April - Spring Break UTCO will be closed during this time
Monday 19th April - INSET day no school for students
Tuesday 20th April - All students in for Term 5
- Checklists for revision and in class Mid-term assessments for year 10 and year 12 can be found on the website and students have been issued these from their class teachers
Wednesday 28th April, 16.00 - 19.00 Year 11 Progress Consultation Evening. Appointment bookings will open at 9am on Wednesday 21st April
- Wednesday 5th May, 16.00 - 19.00 Year 13 Progress Consultation Evening. Appointment bookings will open at 9am on Wednesday 28th April
The link to book your appointment and a useful user guide is available on our website here.
- w/c 17th May and w/c 24th May
- Summative Assessments under formal exam conditions for year 11 and year 13.
- Students will be given clear guidance on what will be tested to ensure that the final grades submitted will have sufficient evidence to back them up.
- Looking further ahead
- 31st May to 4th June - Half term
Monday 7th June term starts for year 10 and year 12
A programme of events will be published for year 13 and year 11
Friday 11th June Last official day for year 13
Friday 18th June last official day for year 11
Wednesday 21st July - Summer break (finish lunchtime)
Tuesday 10th August - A-level results (onsite)
Thursday 12th August - GCSE Results (onsite)
Enjoy the break. Stay safe
With good wishes
Sam