I ssue 55 18t h December Weekly 2015 NEWS

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL Dear families and friends of OBA, Welcome to our final newsletter of 2015 and I am delighted with our whole team's work this term. We have had many highlights, including the 'Bugsy' performances, many sporting and creative achievements, excellent academic progress and a positive annual Ormiston review. Thank you for all you have done to support OBA and Tuesday's Christmas Fair is an excellent case in point. We welcomed hundreds of our community to enjoy the many exciting activities and wares on offer. Santa, his reindeer and the ice rink were particular favourites and there was a real festive mood in the air that even the rain could not dispel! This week's other activities have also included the Jingle Jam concert for parents and a staff versus students charity football tournament. All the staff and students wish you a peaceful and joyful Christmas and happy new year. Best wishes Mr. M Wyss - Academy Principal

TEXT SANTA CHRISTMAS FUN

Yet again, OBA students and staff have supported ITV?s Text Santa Appeal, raising hundreds of pounds for this worthwhile charity.? Mr Wyss, Principal, said: ?Raising money for charities such as Macmillan Cancer, Save the Children and Make a Wish is always close to our hearts. It gives us the opportunity to highlight to our students all the amazing work that these charities do throughout the year to support so many. This is such a popular fund-raising activity which we love to take part in as it is great fun for us all.? MERRY MARKET MEMORIES Lots of happy memories were taken away from Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy?s second annual Christmas Market which was held on Tuesday 15th December.

Yet again, it was another glittery affair and a range of stalls gave the local community the chance to catch up on any last minute Christmas shopping for gifts, crafts, decorations and locally made produce. Also in attendance was Father Christmas and two of his reindeer which were a huge hit with the local children - and adults too!

To really put everyone in the Christmas spirit there was a wide selection of festive treats on offer; home-made fudge, cakes, candy canes, crepes, popcorn and gingerbread houses, which people purchased whilst listening to OBA?s choir singing out all the old favourite Christmas carols. Two of the ever-popular attractions of the spectacular evening were the famous ice skating rink and the ?Bucking Reindeer? but those who fell over or fell off still got up with a smile, keeping their spirits high. Mrs Riley who organised the event said; ?There was a really lovely atmosphere at the market, with so many people having fun. It was great to see how happy the little children were when they saw Father Christmas whilst many of the ?big children? enjoyed having their hair done or their nails painted in our Hair and Beauty Salon. I would like to thank everyone who played a part in making this event so successful and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.? WHAT A MAGICAL TIME OF YEAR!

It is well known in the Academy that Mr Daniels, one of Students who are persistent and determined to learn OBA?s Key stage 3 Inclusion Managers, is an amateur more can then progress further and learn to use a variety magician. During OBA?s summer fetes he has amazed of magical gimmicks that help them pull off some very spectators with his ability for close up magic and professional effects. After learning some advanced Nickson House students have often been well entertained sleight-of-hand skills, members then officially gain in assemblies with his magical performances, some of ?OBA Magic Circle, Master Magician Status?. which have often gone wrong right before their eyes too! If you are interested in taking on It is less known, however, that Mr Daniels also runs magic challenges or would OBA?s Magic Circle; a club for students wanting to learn like to know more magic for themselves. Only students who pass the about OBA?s Magic magical challenges gain entry to the club, and they then Circle, then get access to great instructional resources to help them please speak to build a range of skills in card, coin, rope and impromptu Mr Daniels. magic.

BOYS' DANCE COMPANY

Miss Roper and Miss Johnson took OBA?s "Boy's Dance Miss Roper said: Company", along with some other boys who have ?We are now hoping to see them again on their next tour, worked exceptionally hard in Dance lessons this term, to 'Genesis 2017'. The boys in our dance company are eager see ' Live' at the Lyric Theatre in The Lowry, to improve their dance skills and develop their Manchester. new-found passion." The performance was sensational and both staff and students were inspired and enthralled by the complex and creative dance performances. OBA?S ?DRAGONS? DEN TEAM? RAISE FUNDS FOR HOPE HOSPICE

OBA?s students have, yet again, taken part in the North hours of work, but sales soon rocketed and the team have West Dragons? Den Competition at Manchester Airport. already made several hundred pounds for Hope Hospice. Having pitched their ideas to the dragons back in Miss Moneypenny who supports them in this project October, students Grace Scott, Olivia Timson, Bethany said: ?We are all very proud of what they have done so Owen, Anna Ng, Charlotte Allen and Tom Hopwood far. We will continue with this project into the New Year received the full £100 start-up grant to support them in and students are still taking orders for designs of all their financial venture. types. They have been so creative and demonstrated The production of laser-cut wooden decorations, excellent entrepreneurial skills.? including lots of different Christmas designs, took many

LORD OF THE FLIES AT THE LOWRY THEATRE Year 11 students, accompanied by Mrs Noon, recently enjoyed another trip to the theatre to see a gripping performance of Lord of the Flies. The students are now reflecting upon this experience to inspire and support them with part of their GCSE Drama course. The phenomenal stage set created a backdrop for a jaw-dropping performance and students saw for themselves not only fine performance skills, but also all the hard work that goes into creating the right atmosphere on stage. Mrs Noon commented: ?It was one of the best performances I have ever seen and the students found the whole experience enlightening.?

MANCHESTER CHRISTMAS MARKETS REWARD TRIP

On 15th December, thirty-eight students had great fun Next stop was the Ice Rink. With Christmas music when they went to the Manchester Christmas Markets on playing in the background, everyone took to the ice and a reward trip. The students were selected by staff because tried their best. Some staff members struggled to stay of their excellent record of attendance and punctuality, upright although many of the students demonstrated their commitment to after-school enrichment activities, excellent skating skills. Great fun was had as students and their excellent behaviour and effort in all of their enjoyed a ride with some skating seals and a variety of lessons. well-balanced skating penguins. Wandering around the Christmas markets and buying Student, Bobby Muscart said: ?Days like these are what gifts for family and friends, the students had great fun we dream about. We are all now looking forward to the and enjoyed the very Christmassy atmosphere, as well as next reward trip, but this one will take some beating!? the many different of types food on offer. Stalls selling continental cuisine, in and around St Anne?s Square, allowed the students to sample all kinds of delights including German bratwurst, Belgian waffles, French crepes, Spanish Paella and much more. As they tucked in and the light faded, a huge Santa lit up the Town Hall Square, creating a very sparkling, festive feeling. All the students who took part were extremely respectful and responsible. Teachers, Miss Porschke, Mr Milne and Miss Holmes glowed with pride when a customer at one of the stalls dropped his credit card without noticing but, before he could move off, a student had picked it up and very kindly returned it to the relieved owner!

YEAR 11 MATHS CHALLENGE

On December 14th, OBA welcomed The University of , and The Further Maths Support Programme to work with Year 11 students. The event was designed to encourage students with the potential to take Maths beyond GCSE to explore some of the topics taught at A-level and to discover various applied uses of maths in the real world. Five outstanding Year 11 students took part in a series of workshops including discovering the maths behind the skill of juggling and how to undertake their own research into the trapezium rule. Their brain power was stretched to the limit and all of them rose to the challenge making some very interesting discoveries. Miss Watkins who co-ordinated the event said: ?Our students were a credit to the school and handled some difficult work with determination and skill. I would like to congratulate Eyen9 Savage, Annabel Savage, Charlie Fogg, Owen Egan and Jamie Humphreys for the excellent effort and the real talent that they displayed throughout this event.?

MUSIC STOP PRESS FROM MR REID

Piano Masterclasses are taking place, led by international concert pianist, Richard Meyrick. Daniel Ireland, who gained an A*in GCSE Music in Year 9 has the possibility of gaining a scholarship as a result of the talent that he has demonstrated on this programme. Good luck, Daniel! We are also looking forward to OBA having its own record label. Laura Mckenna, who works with ?Circus Music? in Liverpool, is working with our students to produce a record which will be released next year. Auditions have taken place and it is all very exciting, so watch this space!

'STAY SAFE DAY' Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy?s second ?Every Child A selected group of Year 10s took part in a session run Matters? day of the year focused on students ?Staying by Thorn Cross Prison Services, Warrington, in which Safe? when faced with the many social pressures and inmates and supervisors led a session on ?A day in the challenges of today. Students in Years 9, 10 and 11 life of a prison inmate?. They talked everyone through benefited greatly from the activities available on the day, how difficult this can be for even the toughest of many of which opened their minds to issues they had criminals and also considered how emotionally and never really considered before. mentally challenging imprisonment can be overall. The students listened with great interest and were astounded All of Year 11 heard a presentation from ?The Amy by some of the stories they heard. Winehouse Project? in which a recovered drug addict led the session, highlighting the dangers and issues of taking Year 9 students also took part in the hard-hitting ?Amy drugs socially to the assembled audience. Students Winehouse Project? and then went on to participate in a learned a lot about social and peer pressure and the variety of workshops throughout the day on the theme of importance of simply saying ?No?. staying safe. GOOD SPORTS IN YEARS 7 AND 8!

Earlier this month, over thirty students represented OBA Miss Belford said: at the annual Halton Schools' Indoor Athletics ?We were really impressed with the sporting attitude and Championships, accompanied by Miss Belford and Mr the immense effort that everyone showed on the day and Ingram. all students were a credit to the academy. Well done to There were teams of boys and girls from Years 7 and 8 you all!? and throughout the day they observed and took part in some fabulous events. All students who participated did themselves and OBA proud, but a special mention goes to top athletes Beth McTegart, Charlotte Verry, Maycee Spearitt, Holly Mogg, Daniel Kavanagh, Jadon Allen and Justin Hibbert whose performances on the day were outstanding.

THE JOLLY HOLLY ?JINGLE JAM?

On Monday 15th December, the Music Department hosted OBA?s first annual ?Jingle Jam? concert. The event involved more than a hundred students performing Christmas music to an invited audience of family and friends. Performances ranged from classical ensembles such as the Concert Band and 2 woodwind groups, to soloists and groups from the current GCSE and BTEC cohorts. The Year 7 classes got their first taste of a musical performance at the Academy singing Christmas classics such as ?Rocking Around the Christmas Tree? and ?Merry Christmas Everyone?, even inspiring some audience participation as well! The concert was a very positive experience for the what I was able to do ? even though I was nervous to students involved. One Year 9 student said ?To begin begin with!? with I was scared, but singing at the Jingle Jam made me feel more confident and helped build my self-esteem and The concert was a real hit and saw many members of the confidence.?. Another young performer in Year 8 said audience commenting on the impressive array of musical ?It made me feel proud because I could show everyone talent here at OBA.