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Monkseaton Web > Blog

02/07/2009

Greetings from Senga Bay on Lake Malawi!

The first report from the students and staff in Malawi is now on the Malawi website.  Here it is:

 

We had a great journey, very comfortable flights, but got little sleep so were bushed be thetime we landed finally at Lilogwe. We were met by the headteacher from Kazumu Academy, who made us feel very welcome then we were driven over to the Lake. The 2 hour drive was a real education - lots of people on the road carrying babies on their backs, water on their heads, massive loads on their pushbikes. Very African! Traditional mud huts, scanty markets.

 

We've come to the lake for a rest, and to have a little time to absorb all the new images before starting work on our project, just one night here ar the Safari Lodge. We've seen lizards, vervet monkeys, mozzies of course - and had a walk through a very traditional fishing village which was an eye-opener really. We are awaiting our supper - having a buffet with chicken, beef, salad, german potatoes (?) and american doughnuts, so we won't be wasting away.

 

Weather comfortable - not as hot as with you, pleasant.

All happy, but aware of the complexities of life for people in the villages now.

Posted at 08:29 by Paul Kelley | Permalink | Email this Post

30/06/2009

Roundhouse and the design of our new logo
Monkseaton's new logo and publications are the result of a very successful partnership with Roundhouse.  For those of you who would like to find out more, go to the the home page and click on the Roundhouse graphic to visit their microsite. 
 
It is an excellent overview of what their design work has done for the image of the school.
Posted at 17:01 by Paul Kelley | Permalink | Email this Post

23/04/2009

School days, teenage body clocks, Russell Foster and the Kauffman Foundation
Russell Foster at Oxford University has been helping us for some years now to understand teenage body clocks.  This is so important for teenagers because it has an influence on their learning and health.  The BBC has an excellent report on the issues- I really urge everyone to look at it:
 
 
Recently, I was invited to go to the USA by the Kauffman Foundation to share Monkseaton's innovative work, including the issue of body clocks.  I talked to School superintendents in Missouri and Kansas about the issues, and they were very interested indeed.  The Kauffman Foundation is a very interesting Foundation, working hard to improve education through innovation- have a look at their web site at
 
Posted at 19:35 by Paul Kelley | Permalink | Email this Post

17/04/2009

Visits to our site from around the world

Monkseaton's external web site (www.monkseaton.org.uk) has received visitors from 52 countries and every continent this month.  I have to admit that's amazing - at least to me.  Some other surprises included:

  • There were more visits from Greece than any other country other than the UK and US
  • There were more visits Izmur than Morpeth
  • and more from Mumbai and Beijing than South Tyneside

 

 
Posted at 14:13 by Paul Kelley | Permalink | Email this Post

12/03/2009

Meeting David Miliband- by Jessica Scott (student)

I was asked to meet a special visitor in school, and told I would be introduced to this mystery person upon meeting him in a few days time. It turned out that this special visitor was Foreign Secretary David Miliband. Mr Miliband was a genuinely kind and friendly character who was very interested in the new school building and activities going on within the school. He asked particularly about the upcoming trip to Malawi and I asked him if he would be able to help point us in the right direction for funding, which he seemed interested in doing.

 

Mr Miliband was nothing like I expected him to be...he even ate crisps! It is always a privilege within school to be chosen to speak to visitors, but meeting David Miliband was a fantastic opportunity and made me realise that the MP's we see on television can be genuine people, who like a bag of Walkers Crisps- just as we do!

Posted at 09:01 by Paul Kelley | Permalink | Email this Post

20/02/2009

BBC Horizon programme, body clocks and the school day
Horizon, the BBC flagship Science programme, has broadcast a programme about body rhythms and how they influence all parts of our lives.  It was on Tuesday 24 February at 9 on BBC 2  It features Monkseaton and, of course, the students.  Check it out on http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00hxtwc
 
The big issue is, of course, that we now understand why teenagers wake up later (and go to sleep later).  There are impacts on their learning if we force them to get up early, but there is also an impact on their health if we keep depriving them of sleep.  Professor Russell Foster is the UK neuroscientist who will have done more for teenagers (and their families) .  Don't let the Horizon film pass you by.
Posted at 18:04 by Paul Kelley | Permalink | Email this Post

15/02/2009

Visit by Foreign Secretary David Miliband
The Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, came to Monkseaton on Friday 13th.  When he was an Education Minister, he approved the exemplar design of the new school, as well as helping make our OU scheme a national one.  Five students had a chance to talk to him on their own to give their points of view. 
Posted at 09:36 by Paul Kelley | Permalink | Email this Post

27/01/2009

Top 200 schools for improvement 2005-2008
Monkseaton is officially one of the top 200 schools in England for improvement in good GCSE grades.  That's 5 grades A*-C with English and Maths for our students.  We're all delighted. 
 
We also want to congratulate King Edward VI School (Morpeth) for being the nearest school to us in the top 200- another excellent school. 
Posted at 20:26 by Paul Kelley | Permalink | Email this Post
Monkseaton blog- Paul Kelley
This is the Monkseaton High School blog, written by staff and students about the school.  We hope to bring you news and views about the school, and to hear from you.
 
Let us know what's new- and we'll let you know too.
Posted at 20:23 by Paul Kelley | Permalink | Email this Post

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