July 2014 Newsletter - Alcester Grammar School

Newsletter
Sports Day 2014
JULY 2014
1
Principal’s Welcome
Dear Parents,
the superb array of AGS global links and acAviAes, for Welcome to the final AGS Newsle:er of the academic year. It has been another term of freneAc acAvity and there are example, the impressive project with our partner school in China which sees its ninth year of student exchanges this further reports of a selecAon of the varied and colourful term. You can be assured of a new link in South East Asia from opportuniAes in the pages which follow. For hundreds of senior students it has been a challenging exam season next term! followed by some well-­‐deserved proms and celebraAons. We wish them all every success in August when the results are school and I hope that you will lend Mr Clive Sentence, the new Principal, along with the Governing Body and the published and new journeys begin. This is always the Ame of excellent Senior Leadership Team the same support and year when amidst all of the fun of Sports day, Block Week, Newquay, DofE, trips and visits it is important to thank all of backing that I have always enjoyed and appreciated. Alcester Grammar is a very very special place and I have been our hard-­‐working staff for their commitment and inspiraAon throughout another challenging year. I am indebted to them honoured to be its head for so long. I have seen many changes including new buildings ( Sports Hall, Newport, !
all and in parAcular wish those teachers leaving us a happy I am sure that a change at the top will be invigoraAng for the ! "#$"%&"'( ) * + ) (
Physics, Spencer – imagine life without them!! ), new !
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and healthy future. Thanks then to Mrs Alison Timms, Mr academy status, specialisms and lots of new iniAaAves and /0(,(12,3453,6(074.(8796:(;79(16.,<.(.0<92.(4=,4(8.(=,>.(,66(7?(;792(3722.34(3704,34(:.4,56<(50369:50-(,::2.<<.<@(.
Edward Seymour, Mr Rick Leyland and Mr Aiden Kelly and Mr 1=70.(09BC.2<(,0:(.B.2-.03;(3704,34<D(E(:7(=71.(4=,4(8.(0.>.2(0..:(47(9<.(4=.<.(C94(.>.04<(<93=(,<(?677:<(,0
on-­‐going expansion of student numbers. In spite of all the 3,9-=4(9<(794(50(4=.(1,<4(,0:(8.(65F.(47(3,66(50(1,2.04<(?72(566(72(50G92.:(3=56:2.0(,<(<770(,<(17<<5C6.H(
Stephen Ryan whose various contribuAons to school life have I<(4=.(0.8(,3,:.B53(;.,2(C.-50<(8.(=,>.(194(370<5:.2,C6.(45B.@(B70.;(,0:(.??724(5047(.0<9250-(4=,4(4=.(<3=776(
challenges visited on us from authoriAes and poliAcians AGS ,442,345>.H(%,0;(,2.,<(=,>.(,6<7(C..0(2.?92C5<=.:(,0:(1,504.:(50(792(452.6.<<(,44.B14<(47(5B127>.(?,356545.<(,0:(4=
been hugely appreciated and whose successors will have is in good health, thriving and succeeding. I am sure that this B.04H(I<(;79(,2.(,8,2.@(8.(,2.(504.0:50-(47(,:B54(,0(,::54570,6(?72B(7?(.042;(854=(.??.34(?27B(0.J4(!.14.BC.2(K(
some acts to follow. We also bid farewell to two unique characters, Mr and Mrs Robert Baker who have been looking aSer the school’s building and grounds for many years. Their will conAnue and, importantly, the spirit of care and =,>.(,62.,:;(<,4(4=.52(++L((4=5<(B704=M(NH(O.(,2.(872F50-(367<.6;(854=(37042,3472<@(,23=54.34<(,0:(16,00.2<(47(:.<5,442,345>.(0.8(36,<<277B(C673F(,<(8.66(,<(2.B7:.6650-(<7B.(,2.,<(7?(4=.(<54.H(O.(8566(F..1(;79(50?72B.:(,<(4=.(12
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community which pervades the school will endure. It has been a daily pleasure to walk around a school where the E0(4,0:.B(854=(4=.<.(5B127>.B.04<(8.(.J1.34(,66(<49:.04<(47(C.(8.66(4920.:(794(50(1271.26;(8720(905?72B<(50(P.,
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unique personaliAes and dedicated care for our school will be 70(4=5<(?2704D(%7<4(<49:.04<(F..1(47(-77:(<4,0:,2:<(C94(E(:7(074(8,04(47(,6678(4=.<.(47(<651(703.(4=.(<4,24A7?A4.2
students, our greatest and most valued asset, are civilised, 7:(1,<<.<H((
greatly missed.
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As you know, I will be leaving AGS this term. In some ways I am being true to my personal belief that we should all seek new challenges and grasp opportuniAes. Going to Thailand ?72(71172490545.<(>5,(4=.52(8.C<54.(,0:(0.8<6.44.2<H(
beings. They care and they are proud to belong and I have /4=.2(4=.B.<(4=5<(4.2B(50369:.(792(-2..0(32.:.045,6<(,0:(<9<4,50,C5654;(5<<9.<(7?(8=53=(;79(8566(C.(=.,250-(B72.(?
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always been proud of them. A principal’s lot is rich and varied and includes, legal, HR, accounAng and numerous other joys R72(4=.(1.2?72B.2<(,0:(B9<53,66;(503650.:(54(5<(2.,66;(4.225?53(47(<..(<7(B,0;(G75050-(4=.(3=752(,0:(723=.<42,(854=(,(:
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but it is the young people in the school who remind us all of and becoming the principal of Regents InternaAonal School E(=71.(;79(8566(.03792,-.(;792(<70<(,0:(:,9-=4.2<(47(G750(50(,0:(1.2=,1<(42;(,(0.8(369C(72(,345>54;(4=5<(;.,2H(I(65<
with its primary and secondary schools, a boarding house and our work’s worth and value. It is they, above all else, whom I 39225396,2(71172490545.<(5<(,44,3=.:(,0:(8.(,2.(,68,;<(71.0(47(0.8(5:.,<(?72(504.2.<4(-2791<(72(<735.45.<H(!7B.(B
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thank across various generaAons, for the happy memories I being amidst an enArely different set of customs, new language and culture will be hugely sAmulaAng and present some exciAng new experiences in a tropical climate. It all $2;(47(16,0(;792(?,B56;(3,6.0:,2@(8=.2.(17<<5C6.@(,2790:(<3=776(.>.04<(,0:(,345>545.<(,0:(,>75:(4,F50-(45B.(794(:9
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will take with me.
Good luck and enjoy the summer holiday when it finally E(677F(?728,2:(854=(B93=(,045351,4570(47(,074=.2(=,11;(,0:(<933.<<?96(;.,2(,4(IT!(,0:(4=,0F(;79(,66@(,<(.>.2@(?72(
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seems new, different and not dissimilar to that feeling I had as arrives!
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a child starAng at a new school. It is scary and exhilaraAng in P792<(<503.2.6;@(
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equal amounts but I know that aSer 12 of the happiest years (
of my professional career it is Ame for me to seek pastures new. Those people who know me well are aware that I have (
long yearned for an overseas post and so much of the drive towards this has evolved from my experiences gleaned from (
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Iain Blaikie
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Principal (2002 – 2014)
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Library and Informa.on Centre
....working together
....reaching goals together Library & Informa.on Centre Gains The SLS Gold Award
Alcester Schools’ Book Awards 2014 – The Final
In April we received the wonderful news from Warwickshire Schools’ Library Service that we were to be awarded a cerAficate for meeAng the criteria deserved of a “Gold” standard.
Alcester Grammar School hosted the final event of this years’ award. Alcester Grammar, St Benedict’s and Alcester Academy came together to announce the Award results of the shortlisted books. The students began the aSernoon mixing in small groups, for a fun word game and an opportunity to make new friends from other schools. This was followed by a quiz with quesAons being posed from all the books ranging from easy to very challenging. The aSernoon came to a compleAon with an announcement of the results as follows: the winner was “Girl Missing”, by Sophie McKenzie; second place was awarded to “Pig Heart Boy”, by Malorie Blackman and third place “Maggot Moon” by Sally Gardner. looked very different if they had been based solely on the look of the book cover. Students were asked some feedback quesAons on the whole event and what was parAcularly pleasing was the majority of students who commented that they benefi:ed from the criAcal discussions about the books and the social aspect of coming together with new people from other schools. Here’s to the 2015 Alcester Schools’ Book Award!
In order to achieve this we were required to demonstrate that we exceeded, within the enhancing category, 15 out of a possible 20 criteria, as specified by SLS. Our Head Librarian, Mrs Louise Beeson, collected the Award from Stella Thebridge, the Schools’ Library Service Principal Librarian and Alice Wya:, Adviser, SLS. Mrs Beeson said, “We were thrilled to be recognised in this way; we are very passionate about providing an excellent, central, cross-­‐
curricular hub for the whole school and with all our departmental links we have worked hard to achieve this and we are delighted”. Stella Thebridge said “ This was a very good, well-­‐supported submission ……… A well deserved Gold Award.”
The Library is sAll undergoing a period of transformaAon and modernisaAon. We will shortly be receiving the remainder of our new shelving which will finish off the organisaAonal aspect of the Library there is an ICT project which is also installing an e-­‐learning environment. At the moment this is accessible to Sixth Form students and will gradually become available for the whole school. The Day (current affairs for schools) A new online newspaper resource, which we are trialling through the Warwickshire Schools’ Library Service. Look out for it on our Eclipse Library System.
Library News Sixth Form Library Manager, Lorna Jackson Receives Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award
It was a month of double celebraAon for the Library when, on the very day Mrs Beeson received the informaAon about the Library Gold Award, Lorna was receiving her Gold Award for achieving the highest level in her D of E. Lorna has been a tremendous support in both the general running of the Library and to the students she helped supervise. She received the D of E award for services to the community amongst a range of other high targets. She was invited to Buckingham Palace and along with others in her group, was delighted to be presented by actor Rupert Grint CreaAve Category, Sadie Loynds (Year 10)
Landscape Category, Emma Hancocks (Yr 11) aka Ron Weasley from the Harry Po:er films.
We will now sadly be losing Lorna from the Library as she goes off to Plymouth University to study to become a teacher. A career subject, at which we have no doubt she will excel. Lots of congratulaAons and best wishes to her for the future.
In the a:ached photo please see Lorna with some of our Portrait Category, Portrait Category, Caitlyn Wright (Year 8)
other high achieving AGS students receiving their D of E awards.
Geographical Category Madeleine Hill (Year 10)
Chinese Visitors
Iceland Photo Compe..on Winners
Twenty two students and two staff from Shenzhen Foreign Languages School spent a week visiAng Alcester this month.Several of the group had hosted AGS students when they went to China in 2013 During a busy week they a:ended classes, had cooking, English and history lessons and the visited Strajord, Warwick castle and Broadway. The week was rounded off by one of Mr Mavromaks' legendary Overall Photographer, Sadie Loynds (Year 10)
BBQ's for both Chinese guests and their host families.
Drama News
Tales From The Earths Surface
A spaceman is working on a satellite and is cut adri4 as he longs to be back on Earth. In Scandinavian someone has gone missing from a snow bound community, on the equator a balloon is released with a message that comes from the depths of a forest, whilst on an Island in the Pacific, a communiBes fortune is changed forever when a cargo ship runs aground. These were the interwoven stories about chance that brought together several magical and epic evenings brought together by a wonderful cast for the KS3 play ‘Tales from the Earth’s Surface’.
A cast of 54 year 7-­‐ 9 students provided the entertainment with fabulous performances throughout as they captured each story with strong voices and clear characterisaBon. The stories all crossed linked by a red balloon that journeys around the world. Props and sets were used laterally and crossed over the three tales. For example Bamboo was used in mulBple ways; as part of echo meadow, a rainforest, and waves at sea as a step ladder became a tossed boat at sea with year 9 sailors moving too and fro to great effect.
The story of the North was made up of mostly year 7s, plus Jade Ng as the marvellous wicked Ice Maiden, Katalina. She makes the local people sell boxes of sadness, in three different sizes around the world. Only Mr Sunshine can keep them going. Unfortunately the wicked Katalina, has other plans to keep her heart frozen. Helped by Dr Zany, Horsefly and her three li]le ice cubes, Snowdrop, Li]le Ice and Sneeze who were all wonderfully mean she wants to freeze all books and informaBon and stop everyone from thinking. Only the subtle performance of Goldfish stands in her way, and it is up to outstanding performances from Rusalka and Masha to save their brother and the village.
They both go on an adventure reminiscent of a ‘Alice in Wonderland’ winter road trip where they encountered some wonderfully acted characters.This included the amusing Bilini Genie, the mad, mad, mad family, the Wyrd sisters, the flying umbrella people, the Duchesses at the end of the world tea party ( Miss Fit, Miss Represented, Miss Heard and Miss Understood) and the worst magician in the world, Boris.
Year 9s mostly made up the two gangs on a Bny sinking pacific island of Tuvalu are at odds with each other. One gang want to bring a]enBon to the world of their plight, but nobody is listening. The other sea gang just wants out. The tension and heat was really captured superbly well by James and Chay and the rest of the cast as a clash becomes inevitable. This is overshadowed by a well portrayed family led by Dragonfly, an Uncle to Sev and Lili who now returns a4er 15 years to see his sister Moa having let the island down. However, a devastaBng cyclone is on a collision course with Tuvalu. Finally a cast from all three years capture a bamboozling city on the equator, where five lost children are doing all they can to avoid the scary Khader Khan who has them begging on the street. With the help of the well acted portrait of Bash Bashir and three nurses, Naki, Veejay and Tanika who become central to the five year 7’s lives they manage to escape their despair. The five played their parts with wonderful energy and enthusiasm. There is a wonderful moment where they all imaginaBvely recreate the story of Rama and Shiva at the local clinic with revolving screens. The children then decide to camp in the nearby forest but get lost and are suffering badly from dehydraBon and water poisoning. Can anyone save them? They have one balloon that they Be a note too… This was an exhilaraBng moment as we see the balloon travel around the world beauBfully narrated by the cast. The cast handled the big stage brilliantly with a visual feast of sound, movement and storytelling. Drama News
Green Travel Day
Inter-­‐house Drama Cup
On 13th June 2014 a great “green” iniAaAve was embraced A wonderful aSernoon was had by the year 7’s who by AGS staff as they took to the roads in an Eco-­‐friendly witnessed amusing, bold and highly imaginaAve short plays for the drama trophy. Our year 12 Performance Studies and Theatre Studies students joined forces and created four plays for our students that had to be crazy but integrate the four elements Earth, air, water and Fire. Dobell kicked off manner. Nine energeAc staff cycled to work from as far away as Evesham, Birmingham and Strajord. This included the impressively intrepid tandem pedallers: Mrs Preston and Dr Clifford. 11 other staff car-­‐shared or walked in a bid to prove what is possible if we really want to improve our with a wonderful mind bending piece Atled ‘5 ways to lose your mind’ that incorporated scienAsts tesAng on a local environment. Staff who took part felt that this iniAaAve not only helped the environment but was handy confused paAent. This was followed by Wells with the highly imaginaAve ‘Island’ that had a mythical feel and exercise and also raised staff morale
This is the latest in a series of iniAaAves masterminded by incorporated stylised movement and dance around Mrs Warren as part of the AGS Travel Plan. The school now journeys. Newport performed a roller coaster of a piece with TV channel hopping and a cameo from Mr Young as he has reserved eight Car Sharing parking slots at the front of the school to further promote the importance of green pressed his remote across a variety of well Amed and highly amusing shows. travel. The next challenge is on 4th September when the school is Finally Spencer’s strange and planning to take part in the Cycle to Work Day. Watch this wonderful ‘ The Banterbury Tales’ space!
mixed a pythonesque style comedy with Whacky Races . All four groups played their part in making it a memorable aSernoon with Wells claiming the trophy.
Eco News
I, Mr German and the rest of the eco-­‐monitors have been doing a lot of gardening for !
the past few months. We started in the early SpringAme where we have behind the music department garden planAng potatoes, carrots, broad beans, beetroot, parsley and basil( these two has been growing in the greenhouse). We started by picking out the weeds next we sprinkled dried chicken poop then we leS it for a few weeks. ASer that we smothered it in horse manure then we leS that for another few weeks finally we put the seeds in and covered it up. Then for some weeks I someAmes check out what happening to my broad beans and pulling out weeds and thesiors but then I found out that my broad bean plants were flowering so I had to get to check it out. It was very exciAng and amazing but sadly they died. Now I have been away and I got lots of broad beans, potatoes and carrots. I’m happy for what I have done and look forward to being an eco-­‐monitor for long as I’m here. Ogo 7D
Ogo (one of the eco-­‐monitors) with her broad beans, carrots and potatoes. English News
Y12 English Language Summer Plan Field Trips
university, it also gave them a great addiAon to their UCAS During weeks 4 and 5 of the Summer Timetable, 60 of our form.
Y12 English Language students were fortunate enough to undertake field trips to Teddy Bears Corner nursery or St Thanks to all members of the department who gave up their Ame to run these sessions and, most of all, to the Nicholas’ pre-­‐school, and Warwickshire County Records office. At the nursery or pre-­‐school, students observed students who parAcipated with such interest and enthusiasm.
child-­‐caregiver interacAon, oSen gekng to play with the babies and toddlers themselves! As part of the Records Office visit, students partook in an A Level workshop called Murder….at AGS?
“LunaAcks and Fingersmiths” in which they explored the county archives and had the opportunity to sample genuine original documents from different periods of history.
These visits were enjoyed by all and enabled the students to collect and record data first-­‐hand which will inform their A2 studies next year. Having gathered their data, students produced an invesAgaAon for each of the visits which mirrored the larger invesAgaAon they will have to complete at A2.
Many thanks to all the staff at Teddy Bears Corner, St Nicholas’ pre-­‐school and Warwick County Records office.
Amateur sleuths are required to uncover a cold blooded murderer who is at loose on the school grounds. Well, in reality, the English Department have invited 120 Year 7 students to take part in a Murder Mystery event during Block Week. Helena Coulston (BA Hons, PGCE) has created two intriguing plots from her “ To Die For….” Year 12 Summer Timetable English Masterclasses
In an innovaAve new approach to stretching and challenging our Year 12, 57 students, studying both English Language and English Literature, parAcipated in three English masterclasses as part of the Summer Timetable.
Designed to give our students a taste of university style lectures and seminars, these opAonal sessions proved to be very popular.
Topics included Marxism and the media, the depicAon of illness in women in 19th century classic novels, Modernism, creaAve wriAng and children's literature.
Several parAcularly eager students a:ended all three sessions! Everyone responded well to the strong emphasis on individual parAcipaAon and gained a lot from the experience. For those applying to study English at murder mystery series: A Cruise…To Die For” and “A Talent Show…to Die For”.
Students play character parts in an intriguing murder plot; there are no outside actors. The mission is to try to guess who is a cold blooded murderer with a clue hunt in the school grounds. Students work in teams to deduce 'whodunit' -­‐ developing discussion skills and strategies. Students will receive informaAon about their character parts before Block Week and are encouraged to bring appropriate costume and props.
Sports News
English School Athle.cs
The Yr 8 rounders team are also to be congratulated for CongratulaAons to Emily Madden-­‐
winning the South Warwickshire tournament in June.
Forman who came 6th in the ESAA
junior girls high jump and Erin McGready who came 9th in the senior
girls triple jump. Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire School Games Tournament
There were great results from the recent CSW Level 3 School Games with the boys coming 1st in athleAcs, 2nd and 4th in Well done to all involved in the Yr 10 Basketball team who won the South Warwickshire final 59-­‐1, providing AGS with a clean volleyball, the girls coming 2nd in volleyball, 3rd in golf and 7th sweep of Yr 7-­‐11 Atles.
in rounders. Year 9-­‐10 also won bronze for the table tennis.
Sports Day Scores
Year 8, 9 and 10 CompeAAon:
1st -­‐ Wells with 1287 points
2nd -­‐ Spencer with 1242 points
3rd -­‐ Newport with 1118 points
Year 7 and 12 CompeAAon:
1st -­‐ Spencer with 488 points
2nd -­‐ Wells with 459 points
South Warwickshire Events
CongratulaAons to Yr 7 and 9 boys who were winners in the recent Area AthleAcs pukng them in 2nd place overall.
The Yr 9 rounders team also won the recent SW tournament which secured them a place in the Level 3 CSW School Games.
3rd -­‐ Dobell with 441 points
4th -­‐ Newport with 379 points.
Well done to all students!
Deba.ng Ma\ers
Maths News
Deba.ng Ma\ers Na.onal Final Junior Schools Team Maths Challenge
It was a hecAc weekend at the DebaAng Ma:ers naAonal Alcester Grammar School ran it's second annual Junior final. The team went down on Friday and aSer checking in to our accommodaAon, one of the Halls of Residence for Schools Team Maths Challenge on the 24th of June and again it was a great success. CongratulaAons to Bidford Upon University College, London (a good preparaAon for University life) we went along to the BriAsh Library for drinks Avon CE Primary School who won and got to take home a fabulous trophy! 60 very excited Year 5 and 6 students and canapés and a private view of their exhibiAon: Art and entered in teams of four from 15 different primary schools. Anarchy. We then walked along the south bank before reAring for the night to prepare for the next day’s debates. They spent the day on site at AGS worked through rounds of the compeAAon which are made using resources from the Anna and Anil argued that commercial surrogacy was exploitaAve, the judges including Vicky Price gave them a United Kingdom MathemaAcs Trust. Many of the quesAons were very tricky and our 6th form helpers had to think a bit hard Ame in the quesAoning round but they responded well; Anna gained a commendaAon cerAficate for her speech and subsequent quesAons. Next Chavonne and Alex (who was a last minute subsAtute aSer another member of the team spent the morning in University College Hospital) were to work them out too! It was lovely to see so many students from both Year 5 and 12 working together and enjoying themselves doing maths. Thank you to the 30 year 12 students who expertly helped out and looked aSer their teams for the day. An extra thank you to Dan Rhymer for arguing that unpaid internships were not exploitaAve. They running the marking and scoring system. I'm looking forward were up against the eventual runners up and they competed very well but were pipped by Graveney School who were to next year's event already and it looks like the Primary School's are too! We received this email just aSer the event:
previous winners. "I have just had four very excited children back from your Primary Maths day. It was the most wonderful day and I In the evening we all went for a pizza and enjoyed a balloon debate on the subject of where you should go before you die; suggesAons ranged from Montreal and Malta to a mass protest and the fourth dimension. The eventual winner was BBC correspondent Humprey Hawksley arguing for Mumbai. The next day saw two further debates on humanitarian intervenAon and medical records being freely available. The eventual worthy winners were Franklin College, Grimsby in a final chaired by Claire Fox with judges including Timandra Harkness and the chief execuAve of UCAS. It was a great weekend and the team acqui:ed themselves so well in what the Times called ‘the toughest debaAng compeAAon in the UK’. We are now filling in the forms for next year’s compeAAon. really can't wait for it again next year. Thank you so much for all your hard work and support you have provided for it". Music Tour 2014
Day 1
Leaving St Pancras on the Eurostar aSer a very early 4.30am departure from AGS
Concert Tour to France -­‐ Featuring Jazz Arrows Big Band
With rather a lot of luggage and instrument cases to keep an eye on at Lille!
Our hotel.....
The band arrives at Marseille to glorious sunshine.
La Ciotat, our desAnaAon.
....good food
Day 2
Outside the venue for the first performance in La Ciotat, across the marina.
....and excellent faciliAes, used whenever possible!
Day 3
Instead of a boat trip, cancelled because of wind, we took a tourist train taking in the sights of the area.
Warming up and tesAng technical equipment for the first performance. The band visited Cassis, a nearby commune famous for its cliffs (falaises).....
....and the dramaAc coastline in this region...
.....admired the Mediterranean....
...and especially the creeks known as
“Les Calanques”.
At the second venue in La Ciotat -­‐ rehearsal in bright sunshine and assisted by clothes pegs! Day 4
ASer a picnic the band even had Ame for a li:le football.
The evening performance, featuring our singer Natalie O’Neill resulted in a very complimentary local newspaper review. The band arrives at the very pre:y hillside village for a performance at their FesAval d’Ete.
The wonderful buffet meal which the band were given at a recepAon, hosted by the mayor and villagers. Quite the professional treatment! The band’s two singers, Natalie and Cai with our adverAsing banner. Jazz Arrows’ celebrate aSerwards, throwing the very useful caps!
And a very proud staff, Mr White, Mr Seymour and Mrs Timms.
A beauAful sekng for the Jazz Arrows third and final performance in La Garde Freinet. The huge crowd who gave a standing ovaAon for the final performance.
A truly successful trip. Farewell Jazz Arrows of AGS! House Music FesDval While most are dreaming of success, winners wake-­‐up and work hard to achieve it!
On Wednesday 9th July guest Ralph Allin, professional classical and jazz musician of high regard, claimed to be very fortunate as he sat adjudicaAng the hotly-­‐contested AGS Inter-­‐House Music compeAAon. The entries for the House Music Trophy were indeed very impressive. This year the compeAAon was won by Spencer with 247 points, ousAng Wells from the triumph it has enjoyed for the last three years. The ‘Most Promising Musician’ trophy was awarded to Eddie Hewi:, Y9, who earned 26 points alone for Spencer house through his entries and successes as a percussionist, saxophonist and group parAcipant. In the morning the Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 solo instrumental and vocal classes bore witness to a number of stellar performances across the Keyboard, Wind, String and Solo Singing categories. Florence Cain, Ben Snodgrass and Alex Bond in parAcular delivered their pieces with a parAcularly polished and musical performance. The aSernoon session involved solo Y10 students and group performances, with a packed and very supporAve audience relishing the contribuAons in the Ensemble Class especially. Daniel O’Mahony took the most advanced performer’s crown with his poised rendiAon of a Chopin ‘Nocturne’, though there were several highly giSed musicians compeAng very convincingly for this honour in the Year 10 class. It was Year 10 too who were the acAve parAcipants in the “Boomwhacker” secAon (tuned plasAc tubes which are bodily hit) and this provided three fun entries appreciated by all. Again Spencer won with their sArring rendiAon directed by Frank May.
The range and diversity of musical talent on show throughout the day was truly magnificent, the courage and pride of performers quite humbling, and all Houses, encouraged by Mrs O’Mahony, should be congratulated for the tremendous efforts that went into their performances. A really super day of AGS music.
FT News
A2 Art Exam Work
The Move Of FT
Over the last half term FT have had to move out of their old rooms to allow alteraAons to take place ready for September. So the FT department have been temporarily located in a science lab with one hot water tap and one sink! The final half term is usually one where plenty of pracAcal takes place. In order not to disappoint pupils lessons were reorganised to accommodate the faciliAes available. Year 7 managed to conAnue their task of decoraAng cakes using limited faciliAes which added to the challenge. Year 8 carried out a salad task in conjuncAon with the canteen giving an insight in to cosAng and planning for the school canteen. Their final designs were produced in the new FT rooms and sold in the canteen at lunchAmes. Year 9 looked at food provision for Duke of Edinburgh giving them an opportunity to build on the food provided on their recent pracAce expediAon. This culminated with them cooking the main meal on the grassed area outside Science and Maths. Year 12 managed to develop their pracAcal and food science skills preparing products in the science lab and then using the ovens in the canteen to bake the products when necessary. Certainly an interesAng experience!
However, it has all been worthwhile as we have now moved into the new FT faciliAes which are fantasAc. We have already used them to host English cooking with the Chinese visitors and are planning for the food challenge that will take place this week with year 9. Special thanks to the Mrs O’Grady and Mrs Jones for managing in the temporary faciliAes, along with Mr Duffy in the canteen and Mrs O’Mahony for making us feel so welcome in the science department. Yr 9 Duke of
Edinburgh cooking
Yr 12 coping inSC5
Spencer
We are pukng the finishing touches to our fantasAc new building known as Spencer and it will be ready for students on 1st September.
Those studying Chemistry, Food Technology and Languages will benefit from great faciliAes designed specifically to enhance the learning of our students. Our thanks to the students for respecAng the building site boundary and for pukng up with some noise from Ame to Ame in the nearby classrooms. We will advise on the official opening at the start of the new term. The expansion of our catering faciliAes and sixth form social space is well under way and these too will be ready in September.
A redecoraAon of Wells block and refurbishment of toilet faciliAes will complete our building projects ready for the expansion of the school over the next four years.
New Science Laboratory
New Languages Room
New Food Technology Room
Community Day
On 24th June, Alcester Grammar School held its fiSh annual Sixth Form Community Day. Over 270 students from Year 12 (Lower Sixth) took Ame out from lessons to offer their services to local community projects. The aim of the day is to be of service to the community and to help the students appreciate their place and responsibiliAes in it, as well as develop their skills and knowledge.
Students were involved in over 30 different acAviAes in and around Alcester, Henley, Strajord and Redditch, including taking a wildlife survey in Alcester for the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, forestry work at Coughton Court, entertaining residents in local care homes and users of day centres, helping run acAviAes at local primary schools and nurseries, and gardening at the Cleeve Prior medieval field barn. Other students worked on other charity and ecological projects in the area. There was fantasAc feedback once again from the organisaAons benefikng from the day, with students being complimented on their maturity, good humour and willingness to get stuck in!
Science News
River Arrow Biodiversity Camp June 24th-­‐25th 2014
Our 7th annual biodiversity camp once more enjoyed a charmed life with glorious summer weather for most of the day, though it did ringlet, tortoiseshell, small skipper, comma and marbled white (one of each).
Pond dipping yielded the relaBvely poor diversity we always find. The water was again quite grey and scummy with the large numbers of ducks. We did find sBcklebacks, water boatmen, hoglouse, midge turn cool and overcast in the evening. Dawn Weds and the early morning were superb. Mike Mav provided an excellent evening bbq larvae.
as usual, enjoyed by the “friends of the river arrow” and family Robotham, who’s young enthusiast Ben was an able wildlife recorder The River was running fairly low despite the recent torrent of a as we toured the mammal traps.
fortnight earlier. It had lots of swimming mayfly, caseless caddis, and cased caddis, plus non biBng midge larva, shrimp, bullhead and Twenty Y12 students –mainly biologists-­‐ came for their community day effort and enjoyed a variety of wildlife experiences, unBl the end stone loach, flatworm, beetle larvae.
VegetaBon surveys. A Neutral grassland condiBon survey was done of the day. They provided the teams who enabled the grassland condiBon surveys to be completed. Mel Spinks from Y13 who was on on the North meadow, with 10 Quadrats recorded in a 20m by 20m area, using random coordinates. The sward of grass was higher than last year’s enjoyed the dayBme and evening work. The brave campers who were great value, were Ma] Lee and Kieran Shepherd. in previous years, and the flowering plants were pre]y few, comprising only germander speedwell, cleavers, yarrow, and some Mary Preston, Sean Clifford, and myself were the teachers, Glyn Morley from the “friends group” led the bu]erfly and bird walks and provided the data sheets and experBse for these.
yellow vetchling. The dominant grasses were Yorkshire fog, cocks foot, and false oat grass.
This year we had even greater support from Warwickshire wildlife In addiBon we surveyed 2 squares where the trust intends to sow yellow ra]le in one, in order to reduce the vigour of the grasses (yellow ra]le is parBally parasiBc on grasses so saps their strength trust than usual as Sarah Brooks the conservaBon officer and George Green had given us the task of carrying out 3 meadow surveys on the reserve. In addiBon to these vegetaBon surveys, Sarah had arrived with ten small mammal traps on the Monday evening which we set up and baited with the support of Stephen Godfrey and Glyn.
Longworth small mammal traps. These were placed on the edges of the north and south meadows. The 10 traps baited with hamster food, apple and mealworms were checked and re-­‐baited at noon, and 7pm, and then checked and cleared at 7am Weds. on each occasion most traps were occupied, with 2 to 3 bank voles, and 3 to 4 wood mice each Bme. This was by far the best result for small mammals. In addiBon we found a dead shrew on the path by the pond.
In contrast the refugia (corrugated black roof felt) laid down for repBles had nothing underneath, so for once we drew a blank. In contrast two of the pipall traps (yoghurt pots sunk to ground level) yielded up a toad and a Bny frog! (but oddly hardly any invertebrates!) Bu]erfly transects were producBve with the 5pm walk having 7 species of bu]erfly from meadow browns (most), large skipper, and allows other plants to grow. This is the theory! The other square is a control. So we have provided the “before” surveys. The meadow will now be cut in September as usual, and the yellow ra]le sown. The third survey which we have offered to do is a “phase 1” survey of the reserve. This was not started on the day, and will be the subject of autumn work by a school group.
Moths. This year it was not just our regular night owls Val and Alan but Steve from Gloucester and Katrina Wells, (a former biology student who went on our first opwall to Honduras in 2005!). This was about the best year ever, maybe due to having 4 traps rather than 2. By morning they had caught 133 species of which 38 were new to the site. The spectacular pink elephant hawk moths and popular hawk moths were the stars of the show, especially as 4 of them posed on Kieran’s fingers as they warmed up in the 4am sunshine.
Bats were detected as usual, but sadly not our regular river cruisers the daubentons. Birds were seen in plenty, with a regular feature being the mobbing of a buzzard by the jackdaws and magpies at several points in the day.
We set the alarms for 3.30am(!) and met Glyn at 3.45 for the annual dawn chorus walk a4er seeing the spectacular moth trap collecBon then bidding the trappers farewell for another year. We had a sBll and sunny morning, with the wren as ever the loudest, and thrush, blackcap and blackbird singing well.
Science News
2014 Physicist of the Year Each year, in partnership with the Ogden Trust we are able to nominate 2 students as Year 12 Physicist of the Year. These classroom. I was given the chance to spend a month working within the Physics department here at AGS and experiencing teaching first hand. It was really interesBng to hear the student’s opinions of Physics and see their responses to the lessons being delivered. It was also great to have the opportunity to deliver a session of ‘fun’ presBgious awards are given to students in the local area who have demonstrated a consistently high level of effort and engagement pracBcals to the year 8 classes to show them Physics experiments with their AS Physics work and who we think deserve recogniBon for that they may not get the chance to experience within the normal their ongoing hard work. curriculum. Overall, it has been a really posiBve experience and has We work in collaboraBon with Birmingham University and Warwick definitely tempted me to consider Physics teaching at some point in University and this year we are pleased to announce that our the future!
Birmingham University winner was Callum Armstrong and our We thoroughly enjoyed having Charlo]e in the department. The Warwick University winner was Anna Vestento4. Both have students really enjoyed working with her and it was really valuable consistently demonstrated hard work, a genuine interest in for the A level students to spend some Bme with her hearing about improving their understanding and an all-­‐round excellent approach her experience of Physics at University.
to their AS level Physics .
Both a]ended the awards evening at the respecBve UniversiBes where they were presented with their awards as well as being involved in a series of talks and demonstraBons by students and lecturers at the UniversiBes. The students can now apply to become members of the Ogden Trust Alumni AssociaBon. They may also apply to receive Ogden Trust Undergraduate Scholarships which support and encourage students A-­‐level Physics trip to Dolby “Physics in the Movies”
who choose to go on to study Physics at University.
On Friday 20th June, 15 year 12 students and myself, joined students Many congratulaBons Callum and Anna, it’s very well deserved!
from Chipping Campden High School and Kineton High School on a visit to the Dolby offices in Woo]en Basset to hear a series of talks about Physics and the movies. We started the day with a talk from one of Dolby’s sound engineers, who talked through the applicaBons of the work students have done this year on superposiBon of waves and how it enabled them to create their latest ATMOS speaker system. We were then treated to a 3D screening of the film Gravity, and students were asked to keep an eye out for Physics bloopers! Ogden Trust Teach Physics Internship
Through our involvement with the Ogden Trust, and as a result of our school being the hub school for the local partnership (made up of Bromsgrove School, Saint AugusBnes and Woodrush High School), we have been fortunate to take part this year in the Ogden Trust Teach Physics IniBaBve which places Physics undergraduates in teaching internships during the summer term. The interns spend Bme in school observing lessons, teaching, getng involved with lunchBme clubs, and generally getng a feel for what it is like being a teacher. Charlo]e Burman, a 3rd year Physics student at Bath University spent 4 weeks in the department, and this is what she had to say about the whole experience.
As a third year Physics student at the University of Bath what to do once I graduate from my Masters next year has started to cross my mind. Therefore when I was lucky enough to be accepted onto a teaching internship programme with the Ogden Trust I jumped at the chance to experience Physics teaching from the other side of the The last part of the day was a talk given by Sophie Allan who works for the NaBonal Space Academy and she took us through some of the scenes in the films and we looked at whether they were science fact or science ficBon, doing calculaBons to prove whether what we see in the films is a reality. Funnily enough, once the students did the maths behind it all, a lot of what we saw turned out to be impossible, but it made for a very entertaining film! A great day was had by all and it was incredibly beneficial for students to be able to see how Physics A-­‐ level can lead to all sorts of careers, in sectors they may not originally have thought of.
Science News
We have celebrated a fantasBc summer of success in Science with our Year 7 pupils getng ready to present their project work at the Physics Conference during Block week and Year 10 pupils successfully compleBng their Science coursework which makes up 25% of their final marks. As well as celebraBng these achievements in school, our AGS pupils conBnue to excel both naBonally and internaBonally.
You are allowed to use any resource available to you as in the monthly compeBBon, where you compete to answer the quesBons in the fastest possible Bme.
This was the 4th year of the C3L6 annual academic compeBBon for lower 6th students. This is an incredibly demanding 90 minute wri]en paper, which has been designed by a team of academics to stretch and challenge the brightest students in the country. This year AGS students have celebrated our best ever results. 6885 entries were recorded for the paper, which was sat a4er the AS exams at the end of June. The top 1% of entries were awarded the highest Roentgenium award, named a4er element 111, which lies underneath Gold in The Periodic Table. Since the start of the compeBBon in 2011, we have had a pupil each year achieving this highest level. Only 3 schools in the country share this honour and AGS is the only state school in the country to have achieved this. This year we are delighted to report that 2 pupils have achieved this accolade. Huge congratulaBons therefore go to Dan Rhymer and Ma] Tomlinson. The boy’s outstanding achievement will result in them being invited to a chemistry Summer School in August at St Catherine’s College Cambridge. We are very proud of them and indeed all of our pupils, who were all placed in the top 20% of candidates who took this paper. We would like to congratulate:
(For the answer to this quesBon see the end of the science secBon.)
Many students have taken part in the monthly challenges for this academic year with outstanding success and 7 of our pupils finished in the top 100 on the world leader board! We enjoyed an exciBng internal compeBBon with congratulaBons to Sam Tomlinson (Year 13) who topped our leader board for the June compeBBon just finishing before Ned Placke] (Year 13) and Ma] Tomlinson (Year 12).
It was Ned who finished top of the board internally for this year and on the world cumulaBve leader board Ned finished in 35th place overall. Sam and Ma] Tomlinson were 39th and 40th respecBvely, with Chris Cardwell and Beth Davies (both Year 13) also in the top 50th in the world, outstanding achievements against parBcipants of all ages from across the world. On the U18 world leader board Ma] Tomlinson (Year 12) and Dan Rymer (Year 12) were an impressive 14th and 35th place overall, with Barney Fidler also finishing in the top 100. However, again a special menBon goes to Izumu (Year 9) Izumu was placed 107th in the world on the overall leader board and 27th on the U18 board. A fantasBc achievement. We are incredibly proud of all of our pupils.
Roentgenium award – Daniel Rhymer, Ma]hew Tomlinson
Gold awards – George Cope, Barney Fidler, Cadie Hibberd, Joe Nobel, Farrah Qureshi, Oli Singleton and Soufiane Taleb
Silver awards – Nicole Bradshaw
As you know from previous newsle]ers we have been keeping you updated on the progress of the AGS students who have enjoyed parBcipaBng in the online C3L6 Chemistry challenge of 5 quesBons which is launched at midnight on the 1st of each month from November – June. Could you answer the quesBon above?
From November 2014 the new online challenge will be launched. This compeBBon is open to all students (and parents). We are delighted that one of our ex-­‐students who has previously appeared on the world leader board will be coming into school to share some of his hints and Bps for the challenge at the start of September. We hope that more of you will take part next academic year.
Answer to C3L6 quesZon: The common name for the molecule shown in the image is Lutein, from the LaZn luteus meaning “yellow”. Dragons Den
A superb day was enjoyed by 28 students from both St. Medical Networking
Event
Nicholas and Bidford Primary schools. The third and final On June 24th, Yr12 and Yr10 AGS students were joined by St Ogden Trust day of the year was a Dragons Den Challenge where students were tasked with designing and then making AugusAne’s and King Edward Five Ways students for a unique medical careers ‘speed daAng’ event. This was an a product constructed from everyday items which are normally thrown away. In the aSernoon all teams then opportunity for students to listen to and quesAon professionals pracAsing in the medical field, a chance to ‘pitched ‘ their ideas to three Dragons who were Mr Iain interact with inspiraAonal individuals. 60 students benefi:ed Blaikie, Dr Barbara Minards and Dr Patrick Carr and cerAficates were awarded for team working, creaAve ideas from the experience which is now a statutory requirement for schools to provide external careers guidance. The event and products that were felt to be commercially viable. The presentaAons were directed by current AGS design students gave students the opportunity to hear first-­‐hand about the ‘day job’, the qualificaAons needed and the highs and lows of from years 12 and 10 and they were all wonderfully a career in a medical field. It also addressed the specific supporAve and an absolute credit to the school. (Thanks in parAcular to Sam Breakwell, Olivia Hunt and James Coward challenges relaAng to university applicaAons, work experience and the big decision – which medical field to in Year 10 and Bryony Hancock and Jack Cousins in Year 12).
enter into!
Alcester Grammar School
Term Dates 2014-­‐15
Autumn Term
Term begins
Tuesday 2nd September 2014 (Yr 7 Welcome Day)
Wednesday 3rd September 2014 (Yr 12 Welcome Day and Yr8-­‐11 term begins)
Thursday 4th September 2014 (Y13 term begins)
Half-­‐term
27th October -­‐ 31st October 2014 (inclusive)
Term ends
Tuesday 16th December 2014
Spring Term
Term begins
Monday 5th January 2015
Half-­‐term
16th February -­‐ 20th February 2015 (inclusive)
Term ends
Friday 27th March 2015
Summer Term
Term begins
Monday 13th April 2015
Half term
25th -­‐ 29th May 2015 (inclusive)
Term ends
Friday 17th July 2015
Dates for Diary
Wednesday 10th September
Thursday 18th -­‐ Saturday 20th September
Saturday 20th -­‐ Sunday 28th September
Friday 26th -­‐ Sunday 28th September Thursday 6th November Thursday 13th November Sunday 16th -­‐ Tuesday 18th November
Thursday 20th November
Tuesday 25th November
Sixth Form Awards Evening, 7pm
Silver DofE ExpediBon
Yr 8-­‐10 German Exchange Visitors at AGS
Yr 12 Calshot PE Trip
Yr 10 Parents Evening
Sixth Form Open Evening
Yr 10-­‐13 ‘Grease’ Performance, 7pm
Ex AGS Yr 11 Awards Evening, 7pm
Yr 12 Parents Evening
Parents should not rely on external websites when looking for term dates but check on the AGS website or speak to the school directly.