Newsletter - The Blandford School

Dates for your
Diary
Wednesday 2nd July
School Transfer Day
Wednesday 2nd July
Transfer Evening
5pm - 6.30pm
Newsletter
JUNE
Another School year is nearly over and with just a few more weeks till the
summer holidays, we hope you enjoy reading all the latest news from The
Blandford School.
History Trip to Portsmouth
On Thursday 5th June Year 7 and 8 students
travelled to Portsmouth to visit HMS Victory
and the new Mary Rose exhibition. It was a
beautiful day and the students gained
valuable knowledge and understanding of
British History across the Ages. We also
attended a workshop based on the Slave
Trade and had the opportunity to discuss
and handle artefacts from the 18th Century.
Thursday 10th July
Sports Day - 1.30pm
Monday 14th July
KS3 Awards
5.30pm - 7pm
Friday 18th July
Last Day of Term
2014
This trip helped the pupils’ understanding of events at
the Battle of Trafalgar and Nelson’s death. The day
also promoted curiosity and debate about Henry VIII
flag ship and why it sank! The students will now
produce a wall display of their photographs and
information gained from the visit.
Blandford Food Bank
The Blandford School JUSTis Group has been running a competition across all
years to see which tutor group can bring in the most items to donate to the
Blandford Food bank. As you can see the response from everyone has been
fantastic, but the winning tutor group was Miss Buchanan’s year 7 class who
donated over 100 items between them. The prize will be film with popcorn
thrown in!. Although the competition here has now ended, the Food Bank
always needs donation which can be left at various sites including Tesco’s and
Blandford Forum Methodist Church, or for more information please contact the
Food bank on 01258 456093.
TBS student highly commended in writing
competition.
New Horizons is run by the Dorset Public and School Library Services and
aims to encourage young people to explore some of the best fiction by
exciting new authors. This biennial award promotes the work of recently
published, debut authors for 9 to 13 year olds and features a creative writing
competition. The aim of the award is to motivate young people to move away
from tried and tested authors and try something new. Our very own Y9 student Akira Lane was shortlisted for the
awards along with Young people from , Clayesmore Prep , Ferndown Middle, Highcliffe St Mark's Primary, Poole
Grammer School, Shaftesbury School and Trent Young's Endowed Primary. The winners were announced at a
celebratory event held at the Exchange, Sturminster Newton on Wednesday 21 May 2014. The event was hosted by
professional storyteller, Marcus Alexander, author of the exciting fantasy series "Keeper of the Realms" and local
author, Rebecca Westcott, whose first novel "Dandelion Clocks" has recently been published, talked about their
work, answered questions and signed copies of their books. Although Akira didn’t win his story was highly
commended and judge Gill Lewis said ‘A very original idea for a story. Part thriller, part mystery, it is fast-paced and
exciting. Akira maintains suspense throughout. I'm intrigued to know the secrets behind the follower’. Akira was also
presented with a certificate and signed books from the authors who were present .
WW1 Art Swap
Two year 7 classes are sharing their art work with a
school in Bideford and another in Merseyside. The work is sent in an individual
envelope and the other school's artists make a response to it. The work completed
is on the theme 'structures' of WW1. The Blandford School students have been
using magnified imagery of bacteria that could be caught in the trenches, drawing it
onto a polytile and printing it onto the envelopes using a range of inventive means.
One Year 8 class will be working with some Year 9's in Merseyside, completing
their initial work using collage, based on the Vorticist style of work made around
WW1. We are eagerly awaiting their responses to
our work .
Next we will be working on the Bideford envelopes
based on famous French landmarks that were
around in WW1. We are thinking of developing their
envelopes by using imagery from the trenches in
WW1.
Les Misérables School Edition: An update
It has been a very busy month for the cast and crew of Les Misérables School
Edition. Our twilight rehearsal on 11th June saw wardrobe in action for the first
time and I am pleased to say that almost all characters are now costumed. Our
magnificent barricades have been constructed (and look incredible!) and our
programme is in design, ready to be sent to print at the beginning of July. We have
now blocked the majority of the dramatic action and the cast are doing well memorising the libretto.
If you haven’t already purchased your tickets to see Les Misérables School Edition on 15th-17th July there are still
some tickets left; hurry to avoid disappointment! You can book tickets by calling The Tivoli Box Office on 01202
885566.
We are pleased to announce that The Blandford School has organised a textile collection
with Bag2School in order to raise funds to help our students.
As well as raising vitally needed funds for our school, it also helps the environment by
helping to divert unwanted textiles away from landfill. A recent DEFRA report has shown
that textile collection schemes are helping to reduce the volume of textiles discarded as
municipal solid waste. However it is a fact that as a nation we still send 1,081,000 tonnes
of textiles to landfill every year.
By getting involved in our Bag2School collection, you have an opportunity to sort through
your cupboards and wardrobes and donate unwanted textiles in the bag provided – this
can include adults’ and children’s clothes, shoes (tied together please), hats, belts, bags, soft toys. Please note
bedding, curtains, and household linen cannot be accepted. We will receive £500 per tonne or £0.50/kg which will
be a great boost for our fundraising. In addition it will also raise awareness amongst the children of the benefits of
recycling and reuse. Plastic blue collection bags are available from Reception or alternatively you can use bag bin
bags, so don’t forget to ask grandparents, friends and neighbours to have a sort out as well!
Bag2School will be collecting from our school on Tuesday 8th July. Please bring your bag (or bags!) to Reception
and help us have a really good collection.
Many thanks indeed for helping us with this unique fundraising opportunity.
Work Related Learning Week
23rd to 27th June
From 23rd to 27th June our Year 10 students were off
timetable and taking part in a wide variety of activities
which informed them about the world of work, and the
skills and attributes that they will require in the modern
workplace. It gave them an insight into careers that
interest them and broaden their horizons to other
careers. Activities included talks, workshops,
employability skills, team-building, enterprise events,
problem-solving sessions and trips out to local
universities and businesses. Our Work Related Learning
week was supported by a variety of organisations both
local, national and international businesses and our
students’ parents who kindly gave up their time to take
part. We would like to take this opportunity to extend our
warm thanks and appreciation to all those who supported
us. If you would like to offer your support for next year’s
Work Related Learning Week, please get in touch with
Paula Taylor, [email protected]
Sporting News
Gymnastics Star
Year 7 student Caitlin
County Player TBS Year 9
Student Charlotte Legg has just been
Churcher was selected to represent the UK at the Autism’s
selected to play netball for county. She
Got Talent 2014 in London at the Mermaid Theatre. Caitlin
will now train every Wednesday down in
performed a gymnastic routine that she had first showcased
Bournemouth. Charlotte is a versatile
at her regional competition as a member of Blandford Forum player and her favourite position is Goal
Gymnastics Kanga Club. Caitlin found her love of the sport
Attack. She is a keen member of the
when she was just three years old and now trains several
Year 9 school team and plays regularly
for North Dorset Netball Club in the
times a week. She takes part in many competitions across
Blandford Netball League.
the southwest and has won several medals, and hope that
she will make it to the national in the future.
We would like to say well done to Year 9 student
Caitlin also competes for The Blandford
Rory Shafford, who came 2nd in South West Schools
Schools own gymnastics team, as well as
performing in assembles and at school events. Athletics Long Jump. He jumped 5m 65cm and was
leading until the last round of jumps.