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by Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission
A TEENAGER has been presented with an award to mark his bravery during his battle with cancer.
Ross Fisher, pictured, a pupil at Nunthorpe School in Middlesbrough, was 13 years old when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
After an emotional two-year battle which led to Ross missing more than a year of his education, doctors finally gave him the all clear in 2006.
Now, days after sitting his GCSEs, Ross’ teachers have praised his attitude by presenting him with the school’s Joelene Kimbley award.
The award, was presented last night by Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon, and is named in memory of the former Nunthorpe pupil who died of leukaemia in her 20s. Every year it is awarded to students who overcome adversity.
Ross, 16, said: “It’s great to receive an award like this from my school. It’s an acknowledgement of everything I’ve been through. I didn’t really understand it at the time. It was my family that helped me through it, taking me to and from the hospital.”
Ross is now looking forward to putting his health worries behind him when he starts a BTEC in sport and maths at Stockton Sixth Form College this September.
His dad Gary Fisher, 45, said: “It all started with a lump on his neck. We went for a scan and within a matter of hours we were called back to the hospital and told the bad news.
“Ross has been through four operations including the removal of his tonsils and had a line put into his heart. He has been amazing.”
Gary and his wife Denise, 43, had hoped that a course of radiotherapy would be enough to cure their son’s cancer, so they were devastated when they were told it had spread to his tonsils and would need chemotherapy.
“It’s been ups and downs all the way,” said Gary. “It’s been a real emotional roller coaster. We just concentrated on getting Ross through it and remaining positive.”
Ross, a keen swimmer, is now enjoying life again and is back to training three times a week with Middlesbrough Swimming Club. He also hopes to take both lifeguard and swimming coach exams this summer, a young Ross pictured picking up an award from Roary .
“I’m not back to what I was,” said Ross. “But I’m already feeling a lot stronger in the water.”
Chemotherapy took its toll on Ross and as well as losing all of his hair, he also gained a lot of weight.
“His body doubled in size,” said Gary. “He looked completely different, but it was always the same person inside.
“Chemotherapy affects people in a range of different ways, but Ross seemed to get the worst of it. The steroids blew his body up, but he was back in the pool before his body had sorted itself out, which was brave.”
Ross’ head of house Kate Kell said: “We are so proud of Ross. He has displayed tremendous courage and resilience. He’s a great example to all of us.”
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by Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission
TALENTED students took to the stage to perform their own version of the hit American film High School Musical.
Pupils at Nunthorpe School have wowed audiences with their song and dance routines, as they followed in the footsteps of their favourite stars from the Disney film.
Around 40 youngsters have been involved in this year’s production, which has proved to be one of the most popular the school has ever done.
Head of drama Graham Skidmore said: “High School Musical is very popular with the kids, so I sold my soul and agreed to let them do it.
“When we held the auditions there were 150 students who wanted to be involved, which is a lot more than we would usually get to auditions.
“We haven’t done a musical for the past few years, so it proved to be very popular.
“They all seem to have enjoyed themselves and they have done themselves proud.”
Josh Learwood has impressed in the lead role of Troy, while Alice Maenami and Rachel Mitchinson have shared the role of his love interest Gabriella.
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by Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission
THE opening of two new sixth form centres will offer new opportunities for students in Redcar and Cleveland. Education reporter JOANNA DESIRA discovered more about the Sixth Form Experience.
IN September the doors will open on the first school-based sixth form centres for Redcar and Cleveland.
Building work for the £12.6m centres at Nunthorpe School and Gillbrook College, in Normanby, artists impression above, is on schedule.
And hundreds of students currently studying for their GCSEs have signed up to join the centres to study A-levels, BTECs and NVQs.
The centres are a collaboration between Nunthorpe School, Gillbrook College and Eston Park School, under the name The Sixth Form Experience, to provide new post-16 education in the western part of the borough.
Pupils in Year 11 have been given lead roles to play in the establishment and running of the centres.
Shaping our own experience
STUDENTS are at the heart of The Sixth Form Experience.
A student leadership group has been set up at Nunthorpe School to work at the new centre, and a parallel group has been established for the Normanby site, made up of pupils from Gillbrook and Eston Park.
At Nunthorpe, head of sixth form Tim Hughes said students had to undergo a rigorous interview process. Nunthorpe headteacher Debbie Clinton said: “The leadership very much want to run this as student led. They will make big decisions on all sorts of things to do with the management.”
Dr Hughes said: “These days universities require not only top quality A-level results, they need other skills. The experience these students are getting can be put into their university applications.”
Alex Vickerman, 16, said: “We get to make big decisions for ourselves which will be around for years to come.” Alex and Max Wheatley are directors of learning, helping to interview staff. Nathan Pottinger and Liam Guest are directors of resources, and are responsible for ensuring the sixth form is fully equipped.
Seb Willis and Hannah Scurr are directors of enrichment and ensure there are extra activities students can do alongside their studies.
Ashley Sotheby and Jenny MacDonald are directors of pastoral learning, setting up a drop-in advice centre, and Marisha Pardey and Rebecca Earnshaw are directors of public relations and advertising.
The Sixth Form Experience has received more than 200 applications from students who already attend the three schools, and others who do not.
John Anthony, headteacher at Gillbrook College, said: “It is a school-based sixth form and that’s really important because further education colleges can lack the care and guidance which ensures they really reach their full potential.
“It’s about creating a new sixth form provision which actually ensures that children do reach their true potential because every day a child is monitored and their achievements are tracked.
“There’s a far greater bond between staff and student.
“Also we want to create a high quality sixth form, and that doesn’t mean to say every student getting As at A-level. What it means is for every student to achieve their own excellent personal goals, whether it’s BTEC National, an NVQ or A-levels.
“The most important thing is the students at this sixth form, who choose the subjects they want to study, will be taught in ways that motivate and excite them and they will achieve when they are ready to and not at a date set for them.”
Facilities will include state-of-the-art ICT equipment, a recording studio, a hairdressing salon, science classrooms, and a café-style restaurant. The centres will also have wireless internet access throughout.
Students have played a key role in choosing the facilities and decor. The centre they will attend will be determined by the courses they study.
The Sixth Form Experience will be governed by representatives from each of the schools’ governing bodies and Richard Bentley has been appointed director, with responsibility to the headteachers
Mr Anthony said: “I came to this area to make a real difference in the educational lives of young people here and I see it as a really important that the Sixth Form Experience meets the needs of all in the community.
“It is not just about providing for the most academically able.
“It is a real collaboration between the three schools and we look forward to involving more partners, such as business, to ensure we meet the skills shortage.”
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by Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission
There were smiles all round at Nunthorpe Primary School as a class of 30 discovered they were all going to the secondary school of their choice.
This week 10 and 11-year-olds across the country have been discovering which secondary school they will attend in September.
At Nunthorpe Primary School, 29 children will be going to neighbouring Nunthorpe School and one boy will be attending Stokesley.
Among the happy children going to Nunthorpe School are Chloe Wijesinjhe, 11, Emily Todd, 10, Nathan McGinley, 11, and George Gay, 11.
The children have had a look round Nunthorpe School and attend activities there every Wednesday afternoon.
They are now looking forward to an induction day.
Chloe said: “I wanted to go to Nunthorpe School because a lot of my friends are going there and my brother goes there as well.”
Emily added: “I like the fact the school has lots of opportunities for children.”
“I was glad I got Nunthorpe because all my friends are going there and there will be people I know from other schools as well,” said Nathan.
George said he was a bit nervous about starting secondary school.
He said: “I might not know everyone because there are a lot of forms and I might be in a separate form from my friends.”
Nunthorpe Primary School is in Redcar & Cleveland Council authority which has achieved one of the highest rates in the country for getting children in the schools of their choice - with 98% getting their preferred school.
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Source - TTE Website - News
The 18-year-old was invited by Stockton South MP Dari Taylor to join her at a reception at No 10 Downing Street to celebrate the endeavours of young people.
In September 2005, Jon, who went to school at Nunthorpe Comprehensive, where he achieved A* in all of his GCSE subjects, started a four-year Tees Valley Production Technician Programme, the first two years of which are carried out at TTE’s training centres at South Bank and Wilton.
During this time he achieved City & Guilds Certificate in Process Technology, NVQ level 2 in Process Operations, BTEC National Certificate in Operations and Maintenance Engineering with a double grade distinction.
The teenager is now training at chemical company BASF, where he will progress his NVQ 3 in Complex Process Operations. He is also doing a foundation degree course in Chemical Engineering at Teesside University.
Jon said: “Visiting 10 Downing Street and meeting the Prime Minister is something I shall never forget. There are not many teenagers who can say they have done that. It was a great privilege to be chosen to represent apprentices at the reception.”
Keith Hunter, Managing Director of TTE, said: “Jon is proof that the type of training offered by TTE gives young people the opportunity to work at blue-chip industrial giants like BASF.
“It is important that those at the highest level are made even more aware of the major contribution that apprentices and vocational-led training make to the skills and employment agenda and, therefore, it is great that Jon got the chance to meet Gordon Brown face to face.”
Dari Taylor said: “I was asked to invite a young person who was doing something exceptional and who would be an inspiration to others. I wanted to demonstrate that engineering is not a sunset but a sunrise industry and that apprenticeships pave the way to a good career and are an option which more young people should be encouraged to take up.
“Jon and TTE are great ambassadors for apprenticeships and demonstrate how valuable they are in equipping young people with the skills required by employers.”
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by Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission
NOT only is the Evening Gazette the best read on Teesside, it’s also good for making a rocket!
Piles of Gazettes have been used by pupils at The Avenue Primary School to create a range of structures, including towers, a pyramid and a rocket.
The models were created as part of a two-and-a-half week project for the pupils, aged from seven to 11, with the help of keen dads, mums and grandparents.
A competition was held to find the tallest, strongest and most decorative tower.
The structures, which were made using other newspapers as well, had to be strong enough to hold an apple.
Headteacher Judith Dodd said: “It was a homework exercise to be done with parents or grandparents and put into practice what they’ve learnt at school - it is all part of our creative personalised learning.
“We have been absolutely amazed with the quality.”
Steve Wheterton, deputy headteacher, added: “The children have been coming into school quite chuffed, saying ‘my dad’s done this’ or ‘this is what my grandad’s done’.”
Bethany Averell, nine, was runner-up for the tallest structure, pipped to the post by her cousin Jacob Seagrave, ten.
She created her tower, made from newspaper rolled up so it was long and thin, with the help of her dad Neil.
“We worked from eight until three in the morning,” she said.
Brother and sister team Rhys and Leah Petrie, aged seven, and 11, worked with dad Matt to make Petrie’s Pyramid.
It won the award for the strongest structure.
“We used masking tape to make it a bit stronger,” said Leah.
“We needed a lot of newspaper and it took us four days. We had fun,” added Rhys.
The prize for the most decorative structure went to Rebecca Jackson, ten, who teamed up with her dad Stephen to make a green snake wrapped around a pole.
“We rolled up a piece of paper for the head and we used three little pieces and squashed them together for the body and painted it green,” she said. “I enjoyed making it.”
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by Evening Gazette - reproduced with kind permission
LOCAL hockey star Steph Elliott has been selected for the England North Under-17 squad that will play in the Regional Championships at Millfield School, Somerset during the October half term.
The Regional Championships are an official England trial event and will offer Steph a fantastic opportunity to advance her hockey development.
Steph, aged 16 from Nunthorpe, is the first schoolgirl in the Tees Valley to be selected for the prestigious North squad and is a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work and dedication to sport.
Currently playing for Roseberry Ladies she is now a key member of the first team having started out as a Junior six years ago. She said: “I am so pleased to have achieved this level of success and must say a special thanks to Helen, my coach from Roseberry Ladies, for all her support and Anne Whitworth from Tees Valley Sport for believing in me and recommending me to the development squads.”
Anne, Tees Valley Sport’s Hockey Development Officer, is equally proud of Steph’s achievements: “Steph has progressed really well during her three years in the north development squad.
“Her commitment, ability to learn new skills and tactics quickly and her powerful overall game have been key to her selection and we wish her the very best of luck with the squad.”
Steph has also been a member of the Tees Valley Sport Hockey Academy for the past four years and is now back at the Academy as a leader and mentor to many of the young, talented players currently coming through and representing the local area.
For more information on Hockey in the area please contact Tees Valley Sport on 01642 342287 or visit www.teesvalleysport.co.uk.
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