newsletter 12-10-12 11-00 - mounts bay...
TRANSCRIPT
NEWSLETTER 12th October 2012
Principal’s ReportThe new academic year has begun well and the month of September has flown by. It seems surprising that we are half way through the Autumn semester already. We have welcomed a great set of Year 7 students and I would like to thank all parents who were able to attend the "settling in" evening this week. We have also welcomed a number of new governors, staff and students in other years who have been extremely busy getting used to the new systems and procedures of the Academy.
I would like to thank parents for ensuring your child has the right equipment for the start of the year as uniforms are generally looking very smart and most students have the equipment they need to learn. However, there are a few students who still need reminding about respectable skirt lengths or school shoes and not trainers, so I would appreciate your continued support in this area.
The area that we would like to focus on for the next 2 weeks is the correct completion of the Student Planner and appropriate storage of the iPad in the black conference folder. We would welcome your support in checking the Planner and how students use the iPad on a regular basis.
If you would like your child to have a more robust case to protect the iPad we are offering recommended cases at the discounted price of £21 and in a range of colours. These are available to order from the Technology Team in Room 3.
The Academy had the usual Open Day and evening on 4th October and later on in the newsletter is a fantastic report by Lysette Turner. It was remarkable how many of our students volunteered to attend to help departments or form part of the welcome team. All students who help in this way can claim hours for the Service part of their Full or Half Colours awards. To find out how to get these awards students are asked to see their Tutor or Directors of Progress.
Finally I am pleased to announce that we have been awarded the prestigious The Prince’s Teaching Institute Mark for:
Increasing Challenge within the CurriculumFurther enthusing students with activities beyond the curriculumDeveloping the staffs’ own specialist subject knowledgeDeveloping subject-based links outside the school
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Geography in Action in St Ives
This week Year 10 geographers were testing the hypothesis that ‘the challenges created by tourism in St Ives are outweighed by the benefits it brings’.
The group were lucky enough to meet with the mayor of St Ives, Cllr Ron Tulley, who gave them a valuable insight into the problems faced by St Ives residents during the busy holiday season. He also stressed the major benefits brought by tourists in terms of money and jobs.
The students then set off to gather their own data from questionnaires, environmental surveys and traffic counts. They were very professional in their approach to their work, and a very productive day was had by all.
Now starts the hard work of analysing the data and writing a report for the final controlled assessment for the GCSE course.
Students thank Cllr Ron Tulley
Members of the Public Answer the Questionnaire
Best wishes
Sara DaveyPrincipal
We now hold this certificate in English, History, Science, Modern Foreign Languages and Mathematics.
This year’s award builds on our success in previous years and we hope to increase the number of subjects that gain this accreditation even more next year.
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Close up on Crime
On Monday, 51 Year 11 Psychology students went on an eerie and educational visit to Bodmin Jail.
The students have been looking at the nature/nurture debate within crime as part of their Psychology course. This was the perfect opportunity to look at the life, upbringing and treatment of genuine criminals.
On arrival at the jail we were met by two tour guides, and were split into two groups. Each group was then separated into males and females. If they had been real inmates this would have been the last time they saw prisoners of the opposite sex. Students were told that during the first six weeks of imprisonment inmates were not even permitted to talk.Those who were condemned to death were there for only three weeks; they had three Sundays to make their peace with God before taking the long drop.
The first stop was the derelict women's wing. All cell doors opened in towards a wide corridor with only one door to the outside world. The main body of the prison has been converted into a museum of past prisoners. Each cell has a mannequin with it's own tale to tell. The most infamous of these being Selina Wadge, a woman hanged for murdering her own son. She is now said to haunt the prison.
A popular day excursion of the time was to get the execution train, that stopped just below the wall where the condemned prisoners were hanged. For female prisoners dissection followed, and people could pay to watch it.
The day ended with Miss Dowrick reliving the final moments of a prisoner about to be executed.
“It really brought home to me that hanging was a horrendous way to end your days. I felt really shaky afterwards.” - Miss Dowrick
The women’s wing of the prison
The segregated boys (and Mrs Mudd)
Miss Dowrick faces the noose
“I thought the most gruesome thing was the dissection part and the most horrific part was the fact that they executed people for really small things." - Alishia Addicoat
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Concert Band
Senior Concert Band have been rehearsing for four weeks now, and are rapidly expanding in size.
They play music from films, West End Musicals, pop music and well known classical pieces. Soon they will be starting to rehearse Christmas music and carols as the countdown to Christmas begins.
The concert band will be playing their debut concert at the 24 hour gig on 25th/26th October at the Academy. They will also be performing at the switching on of the Christmas tree lights in Penzance, the Academy’s Carol Concert and the Ice Fair.
If you can play an instrument already and would like to come along we would love to join us. We rehearse every Wednesday lunchtime in room 39. If you are in Year 7 or Year 8, and would like to learn how to play an instrument as a complete beginner (flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, trombone, tenor horn, bass or percussion), we will be launching our brand new Music Institute next week. Please contact Miss Wills [email protected] for more details and an application form.
Rockhopper Cake Sale
On 28th of September a cake sale was held in aid of the RSPB. The aim was to raise money for rockhopper penguins. It went down a storm, and all the cakes were gone in a matter of minutes.
I am happy to report that we raised an amazing £63.60. I would like to say a huge thank you to Miss Hick , Mrs Wheatley and two of my friends, Jasmine Berwick and Phoebe Jacka, for all their help. Also to all the teachers and students that gave us cakes, and for all their help.
Report by Megan-Jo Connolly.Business is good at the cake sale
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Maths Quiz
This week’s Puzzle:
The year 1691 reads the same when you turn it upside down. Which year in the past is the most recent one that reads the same when you turn it upside down?
House Competition
Purple: 59 PointsYellow: 55 PointsOrange: 39 PointsGreen: 35 PointsRed: 31 PointsBlue: 27 Points
Last weeks solution: 24 Extension: 768
Festival of Creativity Competition Winners
Mrs Evans would like to thank the many students who entered the competition to create either a postcard or a poster for the Technology Department .
Due to the high calibre of entries, the judging process was very difficult, but after much consideration, the winners have been decided.
The winning postcard design
Extension for Bonus Points:
Which year in the future is the next one that will read the same when you turn it upside down?
Click here to enter You will need to explain your answers. (Open to students, parents and teachers)
Closing date for Entries: Thursday 18th October at 12:00
Could you write next week’s puzzle?
This week’s puzzle was provided by Mr Wong. If you would like to set the numeracy puzzle for a future week click here. You will win house points.
THE WINNERSPostcard Competition:
1st = Isobel Goodhead2nd = Sophie Schofield2nd = Anya Burlton
Poster Competition:1st = Loren Trevorrow1st = Kyra Allen
The joint winners of the poster competition
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Surf Competition
Mounts Bay Academy was represented by six students at the Cornish Schools Surf Competition in Newquay on Saturday.
The team had to make a very early start on Saturday morning, to arrive at Lusty Glaze beach, Newquay, for an 8am sign-in. The event had already been postponed several times last term due to a lack of contestable surf. Despite far from ideal conditions on Saturday, the organisers had decided, with winter looming, to go ahead whatever the swell. Although the team were disappointed the surf wasn't as good as they would have liked, there were no moans and they made the best of it.
Finn Burford , our body boarder, deserves particular mention for his positiveattitude, despite not progressing beyond the first heat.
Leo Reeves spent the day in his wetsuit as he competed in two divisions (under 12s and under 14s). His energy and commitment was boundless. He came third in the Under 12s - a brilliant result considering he was against members of the English Junior Squad who regularly surf the Newquay breaks.
Beth Bainbridge progressed through to the semi-finals but couldn't find the waves to reach the final while Lowenna Murley and Jai New had to compete, frustratingly, in some of the worst waves of the day and were just not able to surf as well as they wanted.
Jake Carley came 3rd in the 16 & Under Division against two England Junior Squad surfers.
The students were a credit to the Academy and their parents, their behaviour throughout the day was excellent. Mrs RylettPrize winners Leo Reeves and Jake Carley
The Mounts Bay Surf Team
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On 25th October 2012, The MixX, at Mounts Bay Academy, will be holding a massive 24 hour sponsored music event. The main hall will be transformed into a Jools Holland style performance arena, hosting a huge number of young musicians from around the County. Confirmed acts include Relentless, a 4 piece rock band from Falmouth made up of 10-13 year olds, Shania Curnow a 14 year old singer/songwriter with a stunning voice and Theo Black, the hugely talented Year 10 student from Mounts Bay who last year beat lots of accomplished bands to win the Penwith’s Got Talent competition.
The musical extravaganza will start at 3pm on Thursday 25th October, with a mobile Jazz/Funk ensemble touring the Academy site. At 5pm local Primary Schools will take on the musical baton and perform for two hours on the main stage.
The main public event starts at 7pm, featuring not only student performances from all year groups in Mounts Bay, but also from bands and performers representing the local community. Look out for some high profile young acts taking to the stage. We are especially looking forward to the debut performance from the Mounts Bay Concert Band.
All funds raised from this event will be used to increase support for the Academy’s ‘access to all’ policy within the Arts MixX extra curricular clubs. This will help to pay for young musicians to go on trips to see professional performances around the country, bring professionals in to the Academy and help purchase essential equipment for their development.
If you would like tickets for this event, more information, or if you would like to sponsor one of the young musicians, please contact Luke New on 07967088314 or [email protected]
Tickets are £3 for adults and £2 for U16s. Any raffle prizes will be gratefully received, and raffle tickets will be available on the day, or in advance from Luke New.
Word of the Week! Translate the word of the week from either French, German, Spanish or Italian and send your answer to:
to be entered into the weekly competition. Use the word of the week in your Language lesson and get a credit from your teacher!
Click Here To See The Words Of The Week
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Year 6 DayThursday 4th OctoberReport by Lysette Turner
The morning started. You could feel the buzz in the air just before the Year 6s arrived. Pencils were sharpened and finishing touches to the rooms were made. The Languages corridor was bursting with colour, setting an example to the rest of the school. The school looked warm and welcoming to the young students.
In Reception, the silence was pierced by talking and laughing as the Year 6 students began to arrive. Some looked nervous, while others just looked thrilled to be here. The atmosphere was alive. They were welcomed and ushered off for an assembly. It was around 10 minutes until the taster lessons began.
On the Languages floor, many different cultures were about to be explored; French, Spanish, German and Italian. All the rooms were colourfully decorated.
The Science rooms were full of interesting equipment waiting to be used. The helpers all split up to head to their area. Everywhere you looked there was the school emblem.
My first visit was to Spanish, taught by Mr Worsdell. The room was exploding with red and yellow decorations. The students started by introducing themselves. They looked very enthusiastic and happy to be learning a new language. The atmosphere was playful and joyful. They enjoyed playing the Spanish version of 'Simon Says'. Even Phoebe, a language helper, joined in!
Everyone said it was, "¡Estupendo!"
Phoebe said, "Even though it's only basic Spanish, it's really fun!" A wonderful first session!
Next I popped into Miss Bennett's room for some Italian. The students all seemed to be enjoying themselves.
In Mr Kilby's room, the children were getting creative, they were planning to make LED torches. Everyone looked excited by the idea of using tools. The helpers were dressed in aprons and were taking good care of everyone.
Walking up to the dome, Lady GaGa's voice greeted you. It was a flurry of activity with bench ball, basketball, netball and many more things happening inside. Everyone was grinning and having the time of their lives, including the teachers! The helpers were visible, playing along, they seemed to be having a laugh as well! It was a blur of movement and color, the year 6s had donned colorful shirts. Everywhere there was running and jumping, catching and throwing.
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Break time came and all the Year 6s eagerly grabbed juice pots and biscuits. It gave everyone the chance to relax before the fun began anew.
Session 3 was a very haunting session for me. I entered the dimly lit drama studio, illuminated only by a couple of green lights. Mist wafted from the floor and dark, stormy sound effects swirled around the room. They began with a improvised warm up. All the year 6s looked very wary walking in. The helpers were very good at being scary, a little too good at times! I asked a few what they thought,
"I am having lots of fun!" said Zac, from Moushole.
They began with a piece from Macbeth, Miss Dowrick and a couple of volunteers starred, while the fog curled around them. The children then took part in different scenes. Miss Osborne and Miss Dowrick, were excellent in coaxing wonderful performances, even from the shyest of the circle. They were both very convincing witches!
I asked helpers Chloe and Macauley what they thought, "It's been fun and really good. Also the theme that Miss Osbourne has picked was a good choice."
"It's been really fun!" added Chloe.
The children were then told to create their own spells. The ingredients were enough to make anyone shudder, one was, ‘flesh of goose’, another ‘toe of teacher’. It was not for the faint hearted! The smoke combined with the eerie music made a terrifying image! The fog hung in the air, creating the illusion of misty nights on the moors...
After drama everyone tucked into a well deserved lunch. Around the canteen you could hear people chatting about what they had done that session.
After lunch, it was session 4, the final one. I returned to Spanish and watched. Although it was the end of the day, and I'm sure the students were shattered, enthusiasm had not been lost.
Throughout the day the helpers have been brilliant! Always on call when needed. The teachers were brilliant even when teaching the same thing 3 or 4 times! Everyone looked happy to be here!
So now there is a temporary lull, everyone has left, all is quiet. It's the few short hours before the evening begins and the school becomes a place of welcome and a hub of activity once more.
It's been a great day and has really shown what life at Mounts Bay Academy is like.
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Fitness Club
Every Tuesday lunchtime, as part of the Sports MixX we run an all years girls only fitness club in our fitness suite. The room is available from 12:40 until 1:25 and girls are invited to come along and improve their fitness and receive coaching in the correct use of the equipment that we have.
The new Year 7 girls have really taken to this opportunity with 25 attending every week. All girls are welcome and if you would like to come along please contact Miss Rooth or Miss Knowles.
[email protected] [email protected]
Shelter Box Challenge
Year 10 Geographers recently presented an assembly explaining how the local charity Shelter Box can help communities recover after a major natural disaster.
Shelter Box had kindly lent us a fully equipped box, so students could demonstrate the range of practical items sent out to help people and 15 students were able to sit comfortably in a medium sized tent.
This assembly kick starts our fund raising efforts for this term. Each house has been challenged to raise £490 to buy one box. The box can then be tracked through the Shelter Box website.
Fund raising ideas should be discussed with student House leaders and a weekly chart of progress will be published.
And Finally...
This week has been interesting for the Year 11s because there have been many trips and events.
These include: a trip to Bodmin Jail, Careers Advice at Carn Brea and a tour around Truro College. All of this has resulted in the prefects being busier around the Academy.
Thanks to everyone who helped out on the Year 7 Parents’ Evening.
Holly TregunnaJunior Leadership Team