1

Portsmouth Academy For Girls

FrontPAGe

Issue 8 June 2016

First of all I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me, for helping my dream, since year 7, come true. It really means a lot; so thank you very much. I want you all know that as Head Girl I won’t just be your voice, but will encourage you all to develop your confidence, and become your own voices.

My main priority throughout next year will be making sure every single per-son in the school feels supported with any struggles and problems that need resolving.

I can ensure you that myself, and the leadership team, are brimming with ideas and we will do all we can to make them happen.

Once again, thank you for voting and let’s hope that next year is a school year we will all enjoy and remember.

Joely Chitteneden

Joely Chittenden

Recently elected as your Head Girl for the

next academic year

2

When I was campaigning for a leadership post, I used the habit of

excellence of 'Creating, Imagining and Innovating' which helped me

to think of using stickers and a huge banner to really advertise my

campaign. I also used this habit of excellence to think of a creative

speech to engage my fellow students.

A week or two later, the results were in!

I am so honoured to have the role of Deputy Head Girl in the upcoming year! I feel I can

bring innovation to the team and work interdependently with the rest of the leadership

team to make the best year at PAG!

As Deputy Head Girls, Nimra and I work alongside Joely, our Head Girl, to support her and

be a second opinion, voice and organiser for the team.

I have many ideas to enhance the learning environment within the school, everyone

deserves to learn, and as the student leadership team, we are looking forward to making

the environment in which we learn, fun and something you look forward to!

Recently, I was elected for Deputy Head Girl within our school.

This is a great honour as I know that I will work hard alongside

the leadership team and help with making many

improvements within this school.

For the future of our school, I hope to achieve various things.

For example; more rewards for those students who do well -

behaviour and attendance wise.

Moreover, I would also like to encourage more charity events, as I believe that the pupils

in this school would really unite and share the passion we have for this school.

Thank you for electing me as your Deputy Head Girl! I hope to make your school

experience the best it can be!

Olivia Grant-Hammett

Nimra Safi

3

My name is Jasmine Murgatroyd and I was given the role of Media Ambassador - whose job it is to run the radio station and report positive stories about Portsmouth. I was absolutely overjoyed with the role and have so far had much fun in learning about how to handle a radio station and working with the incredible people at express FM. Overall I believe that the leadership team was chosen wisely and everyone in it was given the best position for them - and we all work incredibly well as a team! I hope that as a team we can make as many

possible students happy and show the school shining in all of its glory and best light. We aim to bring attendance up around the whole school by making people want to learn and feel enthused about their education.

Hello - my name is Angel Frampton and I am the Equalities

Ambassador. My role is to make sure that everyone has a say in

what is happening in the school. I plan to listen to all students

and share their ideas with the student leadership team and

members of staff.

One of the main things I want to improve is the confidence that

students have. I want them to share their views and concerns

with me; knowing that I will do my best to ensure they are acted upon. Please feel

free to approach me at any time. I am here to listen and to help.

When Miss Sheppard announced me, as Enterprise Ambassador of the school, I was amazed. I am so proud that pupils felt I am the right person for the role.

I feel that I have grown as a person during my time at PAG and I am go-ing to ensure that I use my position to the best of my ability. That every-thing we do works towards making sure every pupil, in this school, feels the benefit of choosing the right people in our student leadership team.

I am going to set up some enterprise workshops for people who are in-terested in gaining more knowledge and experience in dealing with money and real-life sit-uations. I also want to organise charity events which could include having more non-uniform days! The whole leadership team have many new and exciting ideas that we can all to look forward to.

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for me and supported me through my campaign: Megan Alker

4

Please be aware that the last formal day for Year 11 is Friday 10th June. After this, Year 11s are on study leave but we would ask those students with exams still to do, to come into school for the following:

1) Lessons for subjects that they still have exams in (they can use the library for study in-between any lessons)

2) Last minute revision sessions

I hope they are looking forward to their prom on Friday 1st July. There will be a celebration event for ex-students and their parents on the evening of Wednesday 21st September and a letter about this event will be sent home. Many thanks, Natalie Sheppard

'YEAR 11 FINAL FINISH'

5

Aspire and Achieve

Here at Portsmouth Academy for Girls we are fully committed to “Growing a Thinking School”. We enable pupils to develop their thinking through the use of visual mapping, De Bono’s 6 Thinking Hats and the development of the 16 Habits of Excellence.

This has a significant impact on their knowledge and understanding across the curriculum, and as a consequence, most importantly, on their progress.

A reminder of the 8 Thinking Maps:

6

What are the benefits of Thinking Maps? -wide

FOR PUPILS

Parents are aware of the Visual Tools being used in lessons and for homework tasks

Parents are aware of the thinking processes their children are using

Parents are empowered with the Tools and can work collaboratively with their

children at home

Pupils use visual patterns to work collaboratively for deeper comprehension in all

curriculum areas

Pupils are empowered with the tools to analyse complex texts and think

mathematically for conceptual understanding and problem solving

Pupils use Thinking Maps for the production and distribution of a range of writing

types and purposes

Pupils are aware of their own thinking processes and how these can be used

effectively to make progress

Teachers have a common language for teaching the Curriculum more efficiently and successfully

Teachers have a consistent set of tools to meet the needs of ALL LEARNERS

Thinking Maps allow teachers to “see” the evidence of their students’ learning, enabling them to assess more effectively the progress pupils are making

FOR PARENTS

FOR TEACHERS

7

Using maps in English to explore literature

Tree map to classify themes in poetry

Exploring quotations with a circle map

Double bubble map to compare two poems

Bubble map to explore characters in a play

8

The Perspectives of Portsmouth Project

Year 7 are about to embark on a home learning project which in-

volves the use of the Thinking Tools to gain different perspectives

of the city in which they live.

If you have a daughter in Year 7 — encourage her to

complete the project tasks to the best of her ability.

9

On Thursday 26th of May fifty aspiring engineers from year 8 took part in an exciting, and often frustrating, day of STEM challenges, kindly hosted by our friends from Young Engineers. The morning saw them challenged and inspired in a multitude of ways. They worked together as team to come up with creative uses for everyday objects, then they honed their skills of communication and persuasion when pitching the use of renewable energy sources to opposing teams. Later, they were tasked to plan a

series of power stations in order to meet very specific requirements, requiring them to think flexibly about how to solve a complex problem. However, more challenges were still to come. A task to design and build a motorised car was already pushing our intrepid engineers to their limits. But then a spanner was thrown into the works. Can they charge their car with enough power so that it will travel exactly three meters? This was a real challenge, but the pupils rose to it magnificently. Trials were run, graphs were drawn, lines of best fit were calculated, and fierce debates were held up and down the hall. The day ended on a high note with each team showing off both their car's abilities and their own as they demonstrated the precision and accuracy of their designs while the rest of the students cheered loudly from the sidelines. The incredible attitude and achievement from the girls was a joy to see, and inspired the Chief Executive of Young Engineers to express how impressed he was with their abilities - you can read his full comment below. For me personally, the events of the day helped to confirm what I have believed for a long time; the pupils in this academy truly have the potential to be the engineers, scientists, and leaders of the future.'

'Please let me take the opportunity to let you know how impressed I was with your young ladies today. I live in Portsmouth and over the past 12 months have helped my staff deliver STEM events in practically all the local schools (state and private). Although Young Engineers is a national charity, I am also on a number of local Boards and committees, including some ‘Shaping The Future of Portsmouth’ work-streams. The maturity, behaviour and motivation of your girls today was outstanding, and far ahead of your peer schools in the city. I would like you to please pass these comments on to your Principal.' Rod Edwards Chief Executive

Young Engineers, Chiltlee Manor, Liphook, Hampshire, GU30 7AZ

10

SGN team helps make outdoor learning fun for Portsmouth pupils

26 May 2016

Two groups of Portsmouth secondary school children have returned to school with

renewed energy and enthusiasm after taking part in an action-packed Outward

Bound adventure made possible by gas distribution company SGN.

A team of two mentors from SGN accompanied 21 pupils, aged 13 and 14, from Ports-

mouth Academy for Girls on a five-day residential trip to the Outward Bound Trust’s

(OBT) Aberdovey education centre in Snowdonia, while a second mentoring team visit-

ed the Trust’s Loch Eil centre in The Highlands along with *how many?+ pupils from

King Richard School.

During the trips, which were funded entirely by SGN, the pupils took part in a variety

of outdoor adventures including rock climbing, canoeing, orienteering, an overnight

expedition and a variety of other teambuilding activities.

Pamela Goee, SGN’s Head of Community, explained how the trip came about: “Our

first all-female mentoring team accompanied pupils from King Richard School last July

on a trip to the Outward Bound Trust’s centre in Cumbria.

“The week was a great success, so when we returned we asked the school whether

they would like to repeat the experience this year and, at the same time, got in touch

with the Portsmouth Academy to see whether they would also be interested in taking

part.”

Chris Jacobs, a Digital Development Manager from SGN’s Horley head office, made up

one half of the mentoring team for the Portsmouth Academy expedition. He said:

“This was the second Outward Bound trip I had attended as a mentor and I ap-

proached it with much more confidence this time. pre

ss r

elea

se

11

SGN team helps make outdoor learning fun for Portsmouth pupils

Press office: 0845 070 1811

Penny Porter pre

ss r

elea

se

“Bearing in mind a lot of the girls hadn’t ventured outside of Portsmouth before, just

travelling to the wilds of Cumbria and seeing sheep and cows in the fields was an ex-

perience in itself.

“One of the toughest challenges they faced was hiking almost 3,000 ft up the Cadair

Idris mountain, then spending the night camping next to the lake away from any crea-

ture comforts. Some of the girls found this really hard and even shed a few tears, but

they rose to the challenge and chose to keep going even when given the option of

taking a shorter route back.”

Dean Jenkins, Assistant Principal at the Portsmouth Academy for Girls, said: “Some of

the activities really took the girls out of their comfort zone, and they had to dig deep

to find it in themselves to complete them. Personally, I think that was the biggest

benefit of the trip – whatever point they’re at in their lives, they can refer back to this

experience and say, 'That was really hard, but I overcame my fears and I did it.

“Since we’ve been back at school it’s clear what a profound effect the experience has

had on the girls; it’s brought them closer together as a group and created a buzz

around the school in general.”

Lucy Sharma, Corporate Partnerships Manager for the Outward Bound Trust, said:

“We are incredibly proud of our fantastic partnership with SGN, supporting young

people across the UK to access true adventure in the wild and change their lives for

the better.

“Not only are their employee ambassadors providing support through our courses in

the great outdoors, they are helping young people back at school and beyond in the

form of careers support, CV writing workshops and work experience. This involve-

ment is a real testament to SGN’s commitment to their communities, delivering real

and longstanding benefit to their school partners.”

12

Year 7 will be taking part in a special

race during the next half term.

The four English classes will be competing for a

number of group and individual prizes.

But there is no need for the students to get hot and bothered when competing

in this race; they can sit somewhere cool, or sunny, and relax their way to a

prize. This Year 7 race does not require special clothes or shoes either; just one

vital piece of equipment… a good book to read.

Every time a student passes a comprehension quiz they will be awarded a point

which will be displayed on the Year 7 Reading Race notice board, outside the

Learning Resource Centre. The winning students in each class will be awarded

prizes and then nominated to be considered for the Readers of the Year

awards.

This prestigious award will go to those students who have shown persistence

when striving for accuracy with their reading and therefore made the most pro-

gress.

In addition, Year 7 will be offered the chance to take part in a sponsored Reada-

thon which is organised to raise money which will provide books and story tell-

ers for children and young people who have to spend time in hospital.

If you are the parent of a Year 7 pupil—please encourage them to participate in

the reading race!

Reading Race

13

Everyone wants to be someone. Layla Harrison wants to be a re-porter. Aster Amirpour wants to be an actress. Tommy Phillips wants to be a guitar hero. But Madison Brooks took destiny and made it her own a long time ago. She's Hollywood's hottest star-let, and the things she did to become the name on everyone's lips are merely a stain on the pavement, ground beneath her Louboutin heel. That is, until Layla, Aster, and Tommy find them-selves with a VIP invite to the world of Los Angeles's nightlife and are lured into a competition. The prize, or rather the target? Madison Brooks. Just as their hopes begin to gleam like stars through the California smog, Madison Brooks goes missing...And all of their hopes are blacked out in the haze of their lies.

Sixteen-year-old Delilah finally has her prince. Literally. Oliver has stepped from the pages of Delilah’s favourite fairy tale and is now a living, breathing teenage boy after having switched places with Edgar, son of the tale’s crea-tor. Oliver turns more than a few heads at high school with his dashing good looks and social faux pas, including “doing the queen's wave as we head down the science wing”. But while Oliver and Delilah are elated at being together, love in the real world isn’t entirely a bed of ros-es. Meanwhile, back in the fairy tale, (which has been given a sci-fi makeover), Edgar is also struggling and, when misfortune strikes the tale’s creator, the characters she gave life to are called upon to return the favour.

Olivia (Vee) and her brother Aidan are alone in space and heading home to earth, the only survivors of a virus that annihilated the rest of the crew, includ-ing their family. Then brave, headstrong Vee risks her life to rescue the survivors of a Mazon attack, among them Nathan, with whom she falls in love, deeply, madly and with tempestuous consequences.

14

Ten pupils from PAFG attended “Teen Tech”, a Science, Technology, Engineering and

Maths (STEM) event at Portsmouth Guildhall on Thursday 19th May. They competed in var-

ious challenges and attended several presentations by local and national STEM based

Companies.

Exhibits included everything from docking down a model warship in a dry dock with appren-

tices from BAE Systems to items from the Mary Rose Museum, both exhibiters situated in

Portsmouth Naval Base. Space Engineering was also well represented with the demonstra-

tion of a Zeon Ioniser of the type fitted on satellites by engineers from QinetiQ in Farnbor-

ough and Airbus Defence and Space also gave a talk on the range of satellites they design,

make and test here in Portsmouth!

The whole day was compared by the TV personality and writer Maggie Philbin and a variety

of officials awarded prizes including the American Ambassador to Britain!

Our girls were impeccably behaved and were enthusiastic throughout the whole day. Their

fantastic teamwork was rewarded by the award of Goodie Bags presented by Atkins Con-

sulting, a world renowned engineering company responsible for the design of numerous fa-

cilities across the globe.

Special mention must go to Hamsha Safi who beat over 200 other pupils and won an

ITunes Voucher for her drawing/definition of the “Best Scientist”!

Pupils who attended the event included: Hamsha Safi, Tiger Ash, Aniqa Hoque, Melanie

Spurgeon, Amy Brazier, Beatrice Cristovici, Aqsa Pervaiz, Nazia Yasmin, Chloe In-

wood and Insiya Azad

15

STEM CLUB - YEAR 10 May 10th 2016 When your piece of work is taller than you..

Hello I’m Hanna and I attend a weekly STEM club run by

Mr Fenlon. (Thanks Sir.) Usually within the one allocated

hour, we explore a range of scientific topics, and regular-

ly do hands on practical work too! However this week I

decided to do some chemistry work in the given time and

get it all done by acting with persistence. I managed to

create a full board of information that was lo and be-

hold… TALLER THAN ME!! Well not quite; but almost... I

did not intend for it to be so large but later realised, after

questioning myself, that I needed all the room to add

more metacognition.

Within this board I wrote about ‘Reversible Reactions’ -

which has often been described to be one of the hardest

part of GCSE Chemistry. When I realised that I under-

stood the idea, I decided to help others by making this

learning resource. As I had only learnt about reversible

reactions five minutes before (literally), I remained open

to continuous learning and so was open to further im-

provement. I put a lot of effort into this piece of work

and it bettered my understanding too! I soon hope to

add another board about the ‘Haber Process’ which may

be much simpler process but quite easy to forget. I hope

you see this board and read it, it may be super helpful to

you one day!!

By: Hanna Ruhee

16

Simmonds Uniform Shop situated at

Portsmouth Academy for Girls

Opening times are:

Tuesdays and Thursdays 3.15pm – 4.45pm

(during term time only)

Stocking uniform for:

Portsmouth Academy for Girls Isambard Brunel Junior School

Newbridge Junior School

Shop Number: 02392832342

Alternatively, shop online at www.simmonds-ltd.com