theword@whickhamschool.org

THE ORD

Holly, Toni, Lauren and Caroline from Year 9 are busy leading, coaching and coordinating this year’s Girls’

Active programme. Holly said: “Girls’ Active was started to encourage more girls to participate in sports afterschool. Every Thursday there is a different choice in activities. These range from Dodgeball to Dance!

Anyone can come along and have fun. At the end of the school year there is a Girls’ Active party; peoplewho come to enough sessions get to go to the party!”

For more information contact Miss Helen Cox via coxhwst@whickhamschool.org.

Issue Two

A select group of Year 7 and 8 students were treated to a widearray of activities in conjunction with the celebration of StCuthbert’s famous manuscripts.

Students had the opportunity to be creative with quills to designtheir own names in the style of the gospels’ writings, as well asdonning costumes worn by the monks. They also found outabout life during the timeof the monastery.

Molly, a Year 7 studentsaid ‘It was fun to put onthe costumes and havea go at writing with thequills. In some parts itwas like going back intime!”

A fantastic time was had by all and, upuntil the last day, involved no injuries or accidents!

Miss Websdale, Director of Sport and the organiser of thetrip said: “All the students went to ski lessons for 5 hourseach day and, by the end of the week, some of thebeginners had managed to ski a black run (hardest run),which is quite amazing.”

“Mr McCaughey’s team were the overall winners of the 'team points', whichwere accumulatedafter a number ofdifferent events andpoints deducted for'incidents'.”

“This was athoroughlyenjoyable trip whichwill be repeated intwo years time.”

Headline News

In February 125 Year 7 and 8 students spent a day thinking hard to come up with ‘BigIdeas’ to help the planet. They did some amazing work and some groups went on todevelop their ideas after school, ready to submit for the semi-final.

Mrs Gardner, Humanities Teacher and Team Leader for this project said: “We had twogroups who went on to present their business case at the semi-final at Redworth Hall.”

“The first group 'Behind Closed Doors' (Charlotte Maggs, Amy Stokes, Matilda McIntyreand Philipa Pearce) gave an outstanding and moving presentation. They coped well underthe scrutiny of the judges’ questioning, but unfortunately did not get selected for the final.”

“Congratulations does go to Team ‘Beautiful Bins’ (Willow Hunter, Beth Williams andMaddie Walton) for getting to the final, which will take place at the Palace of Westminsteron Monday 15th July! They gave a very professional presentation and, with the help of MrRumney's Year 10 ICT class, had even produced a smartphone app!”

We wish them all the best for the final.

It was a great opportunity for students to conduct some research into afternoon teabefore their GCSE Assessment in June.

The staff were most welcoming and gave a grand tour ofthe hotel. The Sales Manager talked to the group about herrole and answered many questions from students and staff.

The group then enjoyed afternoon tea in the John Dobsonroom on the lower level of the hotel. The students fundedthe trip themselves, really enjoyed the experience andwould like to thank Miss Spicer for arranging it.

On Saturday 25th May,Mr Tony Dowson isbringing teams of formerstudents of the schooland staff memberstogether to take to our 5-a-side courts to see who isthe best school football team ever! This event will alsohelp raise funds for a future Year 7 football trip.

If you are a former Whickham School student and canform a squad, please get in contact by emailingdowsoastw@whickhamschool.org

, aschool-touring productionorganised by the LiveTheatre, explores the

dangers of Facebook by depicting a young girl whobegins an online relationship with someone she doesnot fully know.

After the production, students participated in a workshopwith the production team and actress to explore theissues within the play.

Other News

In each issue, we set a question to our students and teachers to find outwhat their opinion is on hot issues and debates. For this issue, we asked:

Your ord

“I do think that the voting age should be 16, butonly if we do things to encourage young people tobe more informed about politics and the thingsthat happen in government.”

“I don’t think the voting age should be dropped to16. I don’t think they would know who to vote for

and they are not quite adults yet.”

“Yes, I think the voting age should be dropped to16. By the time you’re 16 I think you are smartenough to know who to vote for and what goeson in our country”.