Olivier – Mr Gunning

Students are busy rehearsing for the school production of Olivier. When I walked into the practice area on Friday I was amazing at Jacob Evans singing his solo. It takes a lot of courage and confidence to stand on stage and sing in front of your peers. Jacob did a wonderful job, he told he what it was like performing on stage, ‘My legs were trembling, but at the same time I was enjoying it. I play Jammy Dodger which in the traditional play is the Artful Dodger, I just like the way my character walks and his accent. I hope everyone can come and watch us.’  If this little display is anything to go by, this production will definitely be one not to miss. Harry Sylvester gave me a small insight into his role in the play.

‘I play Mrs Grumble and the Policeman. We have been practicing for quite a while now, it is good fun. It’s a mixture of singing, dancing and acting’ Harry Sylvester Year 9.

Mosaic Making – Miss Bingham

The Mosaic Making group were busy bringing their designs to life this week. Miss Bingham had previously asked students to design the frame of a mirror and had then bought a variety of coloured mosaic tiles for each student. I walked into the session to find the students busily taking the tiles off the backing sheet and putting them into different pots. Kieran Paisey explained what they were hoping to do over the next few weeks, ‘We are planning to make a decorated mirror using the mosaic tiles. I have chosen black and orange because it stands out well.’ Once the mirrors are completed, Miss Bingham is going to challenge the group to create a mosaic phoenix.

Mr Scarborough and Miss Ward have kindly offered an insight into what their groups got up to this week.

Bowls – Mr Scarborough

Mr Scarborough took a group of Yr 9 and 10 students to Bloomfield Bowls Club during Project Phoenix this week. The students learned the how to play the game, some basic strategies and tactics and some specialist terms such as ‘wood’, ‘weight’, ‘take more green’ and ‘shot wood’.

Kieran Owen was returning for his second year of Bowls at the club and duly helped his peers to learn the new skills. All of the students did remarkably well at taking on the challenge of learning a new sport.

During the session, we share the green with a group of visually impaired players. The accuracy of their play was stunning. The students were keen to offer them a match later in the term…I suspect we need a lot more practice to even come close to a win!

Creative Writing – Miss Ward

In Creative Writing this week, students were working on profiling characters. They were each given a random picture and had to come up with some basic facts and then the beginning of a story to go with the profile. These are the results. Some are very random, but that’s the nature of creative writing!!!

David Gilchrist had a photo of a cowboy and his horse:

Name: Guy “Awesome” McGee

Age: 31

D.O.B.: 01/01/19400

Place story is set: Russia

Story: He was born and raised in Russia which is now a country underwater. He works as a mercenary cowboy.

Lewis Ricards had a picture of a young “woman” from the 1920’s:

Name: Marvin

Age: 9999

D.O.B.: 01/01/01

Place story is set: KFC in Tokyo

Story: He became a time traveller at the age of 9000 because he was searching for delicious Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Reuben Saunders had a picture of a wizard:

Name: Odaine the Blue

Age: Unknown/eternal

D.O.B.: Nobody knows

Place the story is set: 3000

Story: He is an eternal, pipe-smoking wizard appointed by the Martians to spy on Earth, to prepare for a war on Earth, planned to start in 3023.

Connor Gale had a picture of two gymnasts:

Names: Harry and Gary

Ages: 9030 and 9030 (and 2mins)

D.O.B.: 04/09/1108

Place the story is set: Bejing 2008/ Rio 2016

Story: At the age of 9021 the two are pulled into different time streams. The only way they can be reunited is to each win gold in an Olympic event.

Hannah Raggatt had a picture of an old mobster (Al Capone):

Name: Big Mike

Age: 19

D.O.B.: 13/01/1982

Place the story is set: New York

Story: His dad was a mob boss by the name of ‘Fat Rob’. Big Mike shot his own fathter to take control of the mob gang. Once in power he rules New York, aided by his side-kick Bob ‘the Bunny’.

Miss Ward had a picture of a Knight:

Name: Sir Jonathan of Keele

Age: 42

D.O.B.: 16/04/1326

Place the story is set: London 2012 Olympics

Story: Sir J is a disgraced Knight who is chased out of town. He hides in a cave but walks out into 2012 London. A young woman unable to compete in the Olympics decides to help Sir J compete instead for the glory of Great Britain.

Rubik’s Cube, Reading, Babysitting, Maths Revision, School Band, Drama Production, Community Helpers, Sculpture Group, Debating Club, Bowls, Science Helpers, Mosaic Making, Primary ICT, Film Club, Softball, Fencing, Survival Swimming, Handball, Boxing, Football, Creative Writing, International Group and Hockey.

Some of the teachers describe today what their plans are for the next few weeks and highlight any particular students who shone in week one.

Debating – Mrs Keyford

We talked over the questions which they would like to debate. I am going to choose two and they are going to research them before Friday!

International group – Mr Mackney

International group are getting ready to go to Poland between 19^th to 25^th May to join partner schools for endangered species activities.  This term we are making sure we have covered all we told the British Council we would do so we can keep the money!!  We looked at the partner school’s blogs today and commented on them. We will mock up, video all the activities we have done already, finish our catalogue of British Endangered Species, create some large posters, comment on British Fracking and environmental danger, and then visit Poland to see how we can save some animals.

Rubik’s Cube – Mrs Warrington

Rubik’s Cube club was good.  Tierian Rogers-Dixon should have a special mention as he managed to complete one face of the cube on more than one occasion – I think he’s a contender for being able to solve it completely before the end of term.  Also, Benas Vysnauskas completed one side of a 4×4 cube – very impressive!

Softball – Mr Dixon

Due to poor weather the students played Danish Longball in the Old Gym instead of slipping around on the football pitch. The boys all played really well, especially Bradley Blackmore. Bradley displayed fantastic sportsmanship twice during the session, when Mr Dixon wasn’t sure if he had been hit out, Bradley admitted to being out. His team tried to persuade him not to admit to it, but Bradley stuck to his morals. Well done Bradley!!