Today we welcomed Dr Eve Griffiths and Antonia Thomas from Outreach, who delivered training to Matrix staff on understanding the effects ACES and trauma can have on our pupils’ mental health, behaviour and understanding, as well as how we can facilitate restorative conversations in school.  We learnt innovative new ways to support our pupils in building and maintaining positive, healthy relationships, resolving difficulties and repairing harm when there has been conflict. Thank you Outreach!

After another successful Ski trip to Austria in February 2024. We are delighted to announce that we are planning next years trip to Italy. Pupils will be able to experience the Italian resort of Prato Nevoso. Prato Nevoso is an excellent choice for beginners with easy runs both at village level and at altitude, and a caring ski school. Intermediates are also well catered for with many wide blue runs, and some great red runs for strong intermediates especially over the Artesina side. With skiing above 2000 metres, snow cover is generally reliable, and the pistes are extremely well maintained. Pupils will have 4 hours ski instruction per day, all food included as well as equipment hire. 

A ski trip is a great way for pupils to experience many skills out of the classroom. Some of these skills include , resilience, social skills communication as well as experiencing  different cultures, whilst doing something fun and exciting with breathtaking views. A ski trip also help pupils to become more Independant as well as engage in leadership and give pupils more responsibility. 

For more information on what the trip includes please click here

A huge congratulations our staff who attended the annual Matrix Academy Trust long service celebration meal last Friday. They joined colleagues from across the trust at the wonderful BANK.  Racking up over 700 years’ service collectively across the trust.  Another huge thank you to you all for your continued dedication to our community. 

The first International Women’s Day (IWD) was held in March 1911. The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Inspire Inclusion’. We will be recognising the achievement of women through departmental lesson starters. Each department has been tasked with creating a starter focused on raising the profile of and celebrating female role models linked to their subject areas. We will also be interviewing Ms Hart, PE, about her journey to the Dance World Cup with Team England. 

On Friday 1 March, Mr Seager and Ms Shahmiri presented the thirty-eight new Year 10 Prefects with their ties following a celebratory breakfast. The pupils went through a rigorous selection process, and we feel confident that they will act as role models and routinely demonstrate our values of Respect, Aspire, Believe and Commit. They will be supporting parents and staff at the Year 9 Options Evening on Thursday 7 March before undertaking their safeguarding and team building training in the coming weeks. 

National Careers Week (NCW) is a celebration aiming to help support young people develop awareness and excitement about their future pathways. Dame Elizabeth Cadbury school will be celebrating all of our amazing careers work which is embedded across our curriculum in our Spring 2 Newsletter. Ask your child about what they’d like to be….#NCW2024

Admissions 2024

It is National Offer Day.  If you have been successful in your application for Admission into Year 7 2024, we will write to you shortly with a welcome letter and information about forthcoming key dates.   If you have changed address since you applied, please contact us via email so that we can ensure we have the most up to date information for your child.  

If you were not successful on your application, please follow the link for information about Appeals: https://decschool.co.uk/admissions/

If you have 100% attendance and arrive on time every day for the final two weeks of term (11-22 March), you will receive an Easter treat on Friday 22^nd. You will also be entered into a raffle where, on Friday 22^nd, the names of two lucky pupils from each year group will be drawn and the winners will receive an Easter surprise at lunch. There will also be the chance to win the grand prize of an Easter hamper for the whole family! 

Our Theme of the Week this week is Kindness. To recognise Random Acts of Kindness Day, pupils and staff will be writing thank you cards to show their gratitude for each other and to help ‘make kindness the norm’. Our assemblies will focus on the importance of showing kindness to others and the impact of positive social connection on our mental wellbeing. Our form time activities will focus on the benefit of community participation and will remind pupils what they can do at school and in their communities to help others. We will also have a sweet sale on Friday 1 March to raise money for the Year 11 Prom Committee. Pupils and staff can buy a sweet bag to gift to a friend, teacher or family member. The events will be supported by our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors.

The theme for this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week is ‘My Voice Matters’. We will be celebrating it through assemblies, form time activities and lesson starters. Our assemblies will focus on what Children’s Mental Health Week is and why we celebrate it, and we will remind pupils of the DEC Top Tips for Mental Health and signpost support. Form time will cover the positive use of digital media to support mental health and wellbeing and give pupils the chance to discuss ‘what matters to them’. Finally, each department has been tasked with creating a starter focused on mental health and how it links to their subject area. For example, Science have linked theirs to nature and English have linked theirs to words we can use to express our mental health.