CTS Snapshot
24.11.2023
Welcome to our CTS Snapshot - a weekly celebration update. We are delighted to share with parents and carers alike student triumphs at Corby Technical School. We are proud of every student and every success they have - please feel free to share with us any achievements they might have.
Top Lesson Stars:
Year 7:
Lucas 7CA, Kate 7ST, Hollie 7TE, Calvin 7CO, Lucie 7TA, Charlie 7ST, Dusan 7CA, Alfie 7CA, Ruby 7ST and Kora 7ST.
Year 8:
Kellan 8TA, Sebi 8SW, Mia 8ST, Patrick 8TA, Billy 8TA, Gabriel 8TA, Millie 8SW, Marija 8TE and Jimmy 8TA.
Year 9:
Kyle 9SW, Mirren 9TU, Moyo 9SI, Ellie 9CO, Avani 9SI, Lucas 9SI, Robert 9CU, Jack 9SW, Jessica 9CO, Ruby-Mae 9TA, Patrick 9TA, Sonia 9CA, Kuzi 9CA and Aurelia 9TU.
Year 10:
Nicole 10TA, Lubo 10TU and Jennifer 10ST.
Year 11:
Antoni 11TA and Scarlett 11TA.
Subject Highlights:
Mrs Bartlett has made the following nominations this week:
Year 11 students have been doing their mock GCSE Writing, Reading and Listening examinations in Spanish this week, and Mrs Bartlett would like to thank and congratulate all those students who conducted themselves so professionally and tried so hard. Your teachers are excited to see your achievements as we begin the marking process!
Year 10 students have been doing closed book writing assessments this week, all about their free time activities, and whether they prefer to watch films at the cinema or at home. Many students worked hard in advance at home to prepare for this, and we are really proud of how determined and dedicated you have been. We look forward to discussing these results with you all in our feedback lesson in week 6!
8TE really impressed Mrs Bartlett this week with their excellent behaviour for learning and active listening skills. Uros and Fabian did some very good reading out loud in Spanish to the class, demonstrating their excellent accents and pronunciation skills. Also, Adam S, Arry R, Halli M and Lolitta P were able to independently use their Knowledge Organisers to answer the register in Spanish using something different to the normal response, which showed great organisation, independence, and responsibility.
In 8TA students also demonstrated excellent listening skills, particularly Patrick U, Liyana A and Jimmy Y, who were outstanding and remained extremely focused all lesson. They all showed great problem-solving skills, and we discussed how Spanish helps to improve our logic and problem-solving abilities which are very important qualities to make us the most employable students in Corby.
Mrs Sahota has nominated the students of Year 10SB1 for their superb approach to independent study and for maintaining a great attitude to learning Spanish. Well done and keep up the hard work.
Also nominated are Year 11 Students Veronica, Marian, and Bianca from 11ASP1 and Thomas and Isabella from 11BSP2 for their continued focus, hard work and dedication to learning. Mrs Sahota has been super impressed with the enthusiasm and resilience of students from 7ST and 7SW who always give 100% to the learning and make good verbal contributions in lessons. Well done!
Mr Cancelo-Gnavi has nominated Year 11 students Toby, Zhivko and Maya A for their great effort and work in their Spanish writing assessments this week.
Curriculum Focus:
Year 7 - Digital Literacy:
In Year 7, students should grasp essential concepts related to digital literacy. They need to understand the significance of secure passwords, creating ones with a mix of characters. Recognising file types, organising content into folders, and utilising online storage efficiently are crucial skills. Learning to search the internet effectively involves using keywords and evaluating information credibility. Additionally, students should be aware of online safety, including the recognition and avoidance of phishing attempts, emphasising the importance of safeguarding personal information online. These foundational skills empower students to navigate the digital landscape responsibly.
Questions:
1. Can you explain how you create a strong password, and why it's important to have one?
2. How do you organise your files on the computer? Can you give an example of a file type and its purpose?
3. What would you do if you received an email or message asking for your personal information, and it seemed suspicious?
Year 8 - Scratch:
In Year 8, students delving into programming with Scratch should master essential concepts. They learn to work with sprites, understanding their role as movable graphical elements and exploring animation. The importance of user inputs is emphasised, teaching students how to respond to keyboard or mouse interactions. Variables become a key tool, enabling the storage and manipulation of data within the program. Mathematical operators, such as addition and multiplication, are introduced and applied to create dynamic programs. Additionally, students grasp the concept of selection, using conditional statements to make decisions and control the program's flow.
Questions:
1. Can you explain how you use sprites in Scratch to create movement and animation?
2. Can you show me how you use variables to store and modify data within your programs?
3. Can you demonstrate how you use selection structures, like "if" statements, to make decisions in your programs?
Year 9 - Python:
In Year 9, students delving into Python programming should master several crucial concepts. They become proficient in utilising Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) and understanding the pivotal role of variables in storing and manipulating data. The integration of user inputs and comprehension of programming sequence contribute to the creation of dynamic and interactive Python programs. Students familiarise themselves with data types, including integers, floats, and strings, and explore arithmetic operations' application across these types. Additionally, they learn the art of casting to convert data types and the skill of concatenation to manipulate text effectively.
Questions:
1. Can you explain the role of variables in storing and manipulating data within your programs?
2. How do you incorporate user inputs, and why is the understanding of sequence important for the functionality of your programs?
3. Can you describe the different data types you've encountered in Python and explain how you apply arithmetic operations across these types?
Year 10 - Python:
In Year 10, students progressing in Python programming deepen their understanding of foundational concepts. They continue to refine their use of variables, mastering their role in data storage and manipulation. Further, they enhance their skills in handling user inputs to create interactive and responsive programs. The exploration of data types, including integers, floats, and strings, extends into more complex applications involving arithmetic operations. Students delve into advanced topics such as casting, honing the ability to convert data between different types, and concatenation for effective string manipulation. Moreover, they are introduced to selection structures, allowing them to make decisions within their code based on specific conditions. The concept of iteration is also emphasised, enabling students to implement loops for repetitive tasks and enhancing the efficiency and complexity of their Python programs.
Questions:
1. How do you use variables in your Python programs, and can you provide an example of a situation where effective variable usage enhanced your code?
2. Can you explain the significance of data types in Python and share an example of how you've applied arithmetic operations across different data types in your projects?
3. In what situations do you employ selection structures in your Python code, and can you give an example of a decision-making process within one of your programs?
Year 11 - Python:
In Year 11, students advancing in Python programming focus on key concepts to deepen their coding proficiency. They build a strong understanding of sequence, emphasizing the orderly execution of instructions in their programs. Selection structures become integral, enabling students to make decisions within their code based on specific conditions. Iteration, or the use of loops, is introduced, allowing for the repetition of tasks and enhancing program efficiency. The concept of lists is explored, teaching students how to organise and manipulate collections of data. Additionally, they delve into the creation and utilisation of functions, developing modular and reusable code for more complex and organized Python projects. Mastery of these concepts equips students with the skills to handle advanced programming challenges and build sophisticated applications.
Questions:
1. How do you implement selection structures for decision-making in your code?
2. How do you use iteration or loops in your Python projects, and can you give an example of a task that benefits from repetitive execution?
3. Why are functions important in Python programming, and how do you create and use them in your code?
Spirit of Corby Awards:
Sixth Form Art Trip:
Our sixth form art students visited the Fitzwilliam museum this in Cambridge to support them with their A-Level coursework. The 'Real Families' and 'Black Atlantic' Exhibitions were very inspiring and well worth a visit.
Library Team:
Emma and Analeigh are two of the biggest advocates for the library in the school. They visit every day and bring their bright, kind and compassionate personalities with them. Nothing is too much trouble for them and they have a never ending supply of care and humour, making them fabulous editions to the library team. Most recently, they also helped out the with Children in Need activities in the library, helping to run some of the stalls (like the Name the Teddy Bear competition, which received 294 entries!). Thank you, and well done!
Reminders:
Corby Technical School
Email: enquiries@corbytechnicalschool.org
Website: www.corbytechnicalschool.org
Location: Cottingham Road, Corby, United Kingdom
Phone: 01536 213100
Twitter: @CTSCorby