ACADEMY NEWS 18th March 2016

E X P L O R E

Science Week Goes with a Bang!

QR to view on the web BE CURIOUS

National Science Week at MBA

Monday – Students entered a Kerboodle science quiz held by Miss Weightman at lunchtime to win a range of prizes. Further Science toys were available throughout the week at the Super Science Shop which traded in reception each lunchtime.

Tuesday – 40 students attended the Big Bang lunchtime event held by Mr Steer and Mr Troup. Following hydrogen and flaming methane balloon ignitions volunteers lit sieved Angel Delight (other powdered desserts are available) to create a 10 foot wall of fire, providing Mr Troup with the early tan he so badly needed.

Students then volunteered, yes volunteered, to have their damp hands set alight by holding propane bubbles. Many volunteered twice, despite the faint hum of singed hair. The Whoosh bottle consisting of a large water dispenser with Propan-2-ol vapour inside was then lit with a long splint to create a combustion akin to a small jet engine.

Finally, a 2:1 mix of propanol and oxygen in an empty plastic coke (other soft drinks are available) bottle was ignited to create the products of carbon dioxide and water and an eardrum-rattling boom. Students left saying “Eh? What? Pardon?!”

Wednesday - Students were treated to a range of current Space news by our Head of Physics, Miss Weightman. This included the adventures of British astronomer Tim Peake who is currently looking down on Earth from the International Space Station where he is observing the beautiful landscape of a harsh Kazakhstan winter and enjoying the unique experience of operating two remote control ‘rovers’ from a satellite. Follow Tim on Twitter to find out more.

Miss Weightman also talked at some length about Professor Brian Cox who is her dream man. His current exploits include supporting ExoMars, an ESA funded rocket which was launched on Tuesday on a seven month mission to Mars where it is hoped they will uncover secrets of the red planet by investigating the composition of its atmosphere; it could indicate present day geological or even biological activity on Mars. The amazing photos of Pluto taken by the New Horizons satellite, which took 10 years to reach the planet, were discussed along with the Rosetta Mission which sent the Philae Lander to feed back data on the surface of a comet 67P. Students were amazed at the fact that the Phillae Lander BE CURIOUS

had to track the elliptical orbit of the comet for 12 years before it was able to land on the million-year-old spinning rock!

Wednesday – Students from Mounts Bay along with 150 primary school students were treated to ‘Pyromania’ with Dr Roy Lowry from Plymouth University. Dr Roy has held the Guinness world record for the most firework rockets launched in 30 seconds (in excess of 56,000!).

He presented a range of pyrotechnic demonstrations explaining the science behind burning and explosions. He wowed students with flame colours, ignition of gunpowder, Flash powder, torturing of Jelly Babies and finished by melting steel with a digestive biscuit (admittedly soaked in liquid oxygen).

Thursday – National Space Academy – Physics HPI How can we inspire our best students to consider studying physics at ‘A’-level? How can we give our students an opportunity to spend half the day thinking like a true Physicist? Get the National Space Academy in of course!

Mike Grocott from The National Space Academy held an inspiring Masterclass on Thursday for our Triple Scientists. Students were enthralled when Mike used a concoction of chemicals and dry ice to make a comet! They then discussed the famous Rosetta Mission and calculated the Gravitational Field Strength – not bad for a Thursday near the end of term! Mike showed how low pressure affects marshmallows, used a skateboard and torch to explain twin paradoxes and not forgetting the ‘Whoosh Rocket’ demo – which although is a simple demonstration, is one of the most effective visual demonstrations of rocket power we have.

Well done Year 10s, you did yourself proud and really were true physicists for the day!

Joke: What is a physicist’s favourite food? Fission chips! BE CURIOUS

Thursday lunchtime – Many students, including the High Performing Year 10 Triple Scientists, came to learn about the internal morphology of the mackerel. The heart, liver, intestines, spleen and gonads of this beautiful fish were identified along with their swim bladders in various states of inflation. The life cycle of common fish was discussed as was the best way to age fish – count the annual rings on their otolith, or ear bone!

Geevor Mine Inter-Schools Scrapheap Challenge

A number of MBA Year 7 teams entered this annual competition on Thursday to build water wheels out of recycled material to pull a tram up a slope, with the fastest team winning the prestigious Geevor Scrapheap Challenge Cup. Each team worked exceptionally well demonstrating a range of essential teamwork skills to create a range of cleverly designed water wheels.

These students behaved impeccably throughout the day and were rewarded with a trip down a disused tin mine where the light were turned out, now that was dark! They did themselves proud and were a credit to MBA.

Friday Lunchtime.

The Friday lunchtime rat dissection was clearly the highlight of some MBA students’ year/life so far and allowed the HPI Biologists the opportunity to compare the anatomy of fish with rats. After being pinned to wooden dissection boards Roland (Ratus Norvegicus) and his eight friends (aka The MBA Rat Pack) were prodded, poked and dissected by enthusiastic future surgeons, taxidermists and butchers until, like Mars they too revealed their inner secrets. Particular favourites were the cartilage rings of the trachea, lungs, liver, heart and digestive tract, although the kidneys were tricky to spot. These rodents allowed students an amazing insight into the anatomy of a common mammal, which if the urban myth is correct, is always no further than six metres away from you. Thanks to Mr Troup’s glamorous rat dissection assistant, Austen Barden. BE CURIOUS

Assemblies During House Assemblies this week, Thag the Caveman, his friend Roxy, and his cousin Petrock, took a break from their clubbing tour and put in an appearance to tell the tale of how scientific progress has dictated the course of History. It was really well received with a big thanks to the very talented GCSE Drama students Sab Astley, Chloe Way, Zeev Cohen and Milly Randall for their help.

Super Science Shop Thanks to the range of students who helped with the running of the Super Science Shop at lunchtime each day. We sold loads of Science toys including chemistry sets, wooden skeleton models, illuminous ceiling solar systems, foam balloons and rockets and some slime which made an unpleasant, yet apparently hilarious noise!

Report by Mr Troup BE INSPIRED

Careers in the Spotlight National Apprenticeship Week 14th to 18th March Students were given the opportunity of meeting with Apprenticeship Advisers Dan Garside from & Penwith College and Lynne Dunn from College Business to learn more about finding an apprenticeship in Cornwall. In addition enhancing their employment skills to help secure a placement, such as writing an effective CV and job searching websites to support finding work including:www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk and www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeships.

Several Year 11 students have already confirmed offers of apprenticeships when they finish in June 2016 and we wish them well for their future.

National Careers Week 7th - 11th March WPC Jody Fellowes from Devon & Cornwall Constabulary visited students to inform them of a career as a Police Officer within the local constabulary. Potential recruits were encouraged to consider the Police Cadets group in as an entry route to evidence key skills required for the force and to gain an insight into some of the duties involved. Information on local cadets group can be obtained from www.devon- cornwall.police.uk . Cadets can join from age 13.

Firefighters from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service also gave up their valuable time to share an insight into their profession with students. They learnt about the risks involved in this profession in controlling and putting out fires, the high quality training in ensuring the safety of the public, and the variety of skills that applicants bring into the profession from degree level entry in Public Services to GCSEs. Most important is having the right attitude and key skills such as teamwork, communication, physical fitness and the ability to follow instructions. Next planned Careers Event is a STEAM careers fair on the 21st April to outline to students career opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths. Further details to follow.

Report by Mrs Masters BE INSPIRED Environment and Sustainability Visit Six Year 10 students have spent the day at the University of Exeter's Environment and Sustainability Institute. We have had a very informative and enjoyable day. Leading academics and scientists led the sessions, each with a common theme of discovering the biggest environmental challenge facing Cornwall today. We started the day with some GIS mapping, looking specifically at the risk of flooding in Cornwall. The students soon discovered that is safe from flooding even if we see a 30 meter rise in sea level! We then moved on to assessing the risk of flooding using probability. The students had to decide whether to protect themselves against flooding by purchasing insurance. Unfortunately one or two risk takers lost their homes as the odds increased. In the first laboratory we visited, a demonstration showed the process and benefits of extracting and reusing the waste chemicals from old mining sites. Lewis asked some key questions about timescales and cost implications, we all agreed that this was a key area of research for Cornwall.

The day allowed us to meet some inspirational academics who lead worldwide research in their particular fields, as well as experience the university and scientific research facilities.

Other sessions throughout the day included politics and conflict management, studying seagulls and evolution, human responsibility and the role of the media. There was even a lecture led by an ecologist of pooh, during which he explained that his favourite part of being a scientist was that he was lucky to be at the frontier of exploration, with scientists often being the first to see or discover something new. He compared this to the European explorers discovering and laying claim to new places in the past.

After a pasty lunch the students were asked to vote for what they believe is the biggest environmental challenge facing Cornwall today, but not before Jamelia and Lewis took the opportunity to lead the feedback with their well-considered opinions. Report by Mrs Jefferson-Coode

We visited the University of Exeter, in Penryn, where we took part in different workshops about the sustainability of the environment, focusing in Cornwall. The workshops we took part in included: flooding risk and costs, mining and mineral waste, ecological systems and human/animal conflicts and finally political conflicts. My personal favourite was the mineral waste workshop, talking about how bacteria eat certain minerals and extracts metals such as copper. Report by Lewis Crofts BE INSPIRED

Digital Leaders

Report by Ross Jones

On Thursday morning our Digital Leaders hosted their second Primary Leaders session. They focused on developing their coding skills using the Hopscotch App. Their task was to produce games like Geometry Dash, Fruit Ninja and Flappy Birds. The skills learnt blew the minds of their teachers and us!

After break our Digital Leaders wanted to use iMovie and work on the skills they learnt last time when we met back in October. This time they focused on creating original sounds and backtracks to their films and highlighting the key features needed to produce fantastic finished articles.

I'm very proud of our students, they were, yet again great ambassadors for Mounts Bay Academy. Well done guys! Report by Ross Jones

Here to Help

From now till the end of the year, Mounts Bay Digital Leaders will be running a help desk for the iPads in Mr Hall’s office. You can go there of you have any problems with your iPads like e-mails, internet, printing or anything like that. We will be there every lunchtime for the whole week. Any questions contact Mounts Bay Digital Leaders: [email protected] Report by Emma Moss BE CHARITABLE

Money for WaterAid

On Friday, MBA students presented former MBA teacher, Peter Crumpler, with a cheque for £56 to go towards his fundraising efforts for the charity WaterAid.

A number of Year 9 students had undertaken a series of tasks during the last Project Week to help raise awareness of the work of WaterAid. Advertising leaflets and films were created and exhibited to all Year 9 students. As a result of this work, Year 9 tutor groups competed against each other to raise money to support this worthy charity. The donation was as a result of their efforts. Further fundraising activities will be taking place in the Academy, including cake sales, next week.

Peter is cycling from Nantes to Brest in France (a distance of 365 km) in April 2016 and is hoping that people will support WaterAid by contributing. You can contribute to Peter’s fundraising campaign by visiting his JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/Peter- Crumpler1/ BE ADVENTUROUS

National Surfer

Congratulations to Leo Reeves who has made it through to the U16s Great Britain surf squad!

Karate Champion

Congratulations to James Midgley-Payne, 7 Orange, who recently fought at the Eastern Karate Championships, held in Clacton.

He fought four fights before becoming Champion at Kata.

Report by Mrs Williams BE CREATIVE

Acclaimed Art A range of work from our Art and Photography students was entered for the Young Peoples Art prize this year, hosted by Art Gallery and The Exchange, Penzance. The theme this year was 'Avatar me' in response to the work of artist David Blandy.

Judging took place on Wednesday and many of our amazing entries have been shortlisted. The Private View is 5:30-6:30 pm on Friday, with prize giving at 6pm so please visit the gallery to see the work on display. The exhibition continues into next week too. (See poster opposite).

Successful students are Annie Booker and Esme Dale (Year 10 Art), Esme Campbell, Will Rundell, Mia Herbert and Orion Blades (Year 11 Art).

Well done to all our entrants, shortlisted students and prize winners!

Report by Mrs Dale

Art Club

At Thursday's Art Club last week nearly 40 students turned up to get creative! Students ranging from Year 7 to 11 and both Art and Graphics students came to the voluntary club to work on a mixture of coursework and their own projects.

It is so lovely to have so many enthusiastic students who want to take part. Art Club is open to everyone after school on a Thursday. Come along to have fun, and earn hours for Creativity and Service to help get your half and full Colours. Report by Miss Green BE CREATIVE

18 MAR– 16 APR 2016

Inspired by the work of exhibiting artist David YOUNG Blandy, the theme for Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange’s Young People’s Art Prize 2016 is Avatar Me. Entrants are invited to create an avatar PEOPLE’S ART of themselves, which can be represented, in a PRIZE 2016 single frame, comic strip, animation or sculpture. This year’s judges are Marc Beaumont of Bazbo Open submission art competition Comics Truro, Charlotte Davis, 24 Hour Comic Book, for young people aged 11-19 years. Cat Gibbard from Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange Inspired by the work of David Blandy, and & Keith Sparrow comic book writer and illustrator. this year’s theme is Avatar Me There are three age categories: 11-13, 14-16 and 17-19 years old; and a special prize, the Visitor’s FRI 18 MAR Vote, which will be awarded by the gallery at Preview & Prize Giving; the end of the exhibition to the artist whose Everybody welcome! work, received most votes by the public.

THE EXCHANGE Penzance, TR18 2NL

Open Tue–Sat, 10.00–17.00 01736 363715 From 21 March: @newlynexchange Open Mon–Sat, 10.00–17.00 newlynartgallery.co.uk Design by Two BE COMPETITIVE

Rugby

Well done to the Year 10 Rugby 7s team who played in the County 7s finals this week. With only a small but talented squad they achieved a great result by getting to the quarter finals. They only narrowly lost this game by one try. Well done boys!

Mawgan Osborne Mackenzie Oliver Jordan Church Ali Stacey Caleb Harrison Harry Hocking Josh Storey Ben Chapman Report by Murray Westren

MBA v Humphry Davy

Congratulations to the Year 10 Football team who beat Humphry Davy 13-0! BE CREATIVE

Treasure Island

Miss Turner's Year 7 English group have Drama once a week and they are currently working on their assessment: their version of the classic tale ‘Treasure Island’ by Robert Louis Stevenson. Once they had read the story, we worked out the main plot-lines, which has been transformed into a piece of improvised theatre.

The students have been learning techniques like narration, thought tracking, tableau and mime along with perfecting their performing skills, such as projection, facing the audience and not blocking.

They are certainly gaining in confidence and enjoying the lessons. I think they are particularly enjoying the idea of pirates hunting for treasure. But will they find it? Report by Miss Osborne

First World War Theatre Project On Tuesday 15th March Jason Squibb came into school to meet with the seven students from Years 7 and 8 to talk about the exciting upcoming project at Levant Mine, based on WW1.

He told them that a trench will be built out at Levant, which is perfect territory similar to No Man’s Land. The students will be kitted out in military uniform and take on the identity of one of the soldiers from the St Just community.

The students were really enthusiastic asking lots of questions and are looking forward to starting rehearsals on 4th May out at for six weeks. I am so proud that they are committed to rehearsing in the evenings, which I am sure will turn out to be an amazing experience, especially as most of them are thinking of taking up Drama in the future.

I will keep you posted of their progress in rehearsals and have booked sixty places to go out to Levant on Friday 8th July to take part in this experience. Report by Miss Osborne BE INSPIREDENTERTAINED

Book Review Last week, I introduced you to the book I am reading. Here is a review of the novel, ‘I, Coriander’ by Erin Williams (7 Purple) which I hope will whet your appetite.

‘I, Coriander’ is set in seventeenth century London and is a story about a girl (Coriander) who loses her mother. There are two different worlds in the novel, one normal and one magical, and sometimes they end up colliding because it is hard to keep them apart. Coriander is stuck in between them because her mother and father came from different worlds. She has inherited magic from her mother and must learn to use it so that she can survive and help save a person from her mother’s realm. If she does not stop the evil queen Rosmore then both worlds will fall into chaos and no-one will be able to live a 'normal' life ever again.

“I wanted to find out how much of your mother is in you. You have the heart of a lion, Coriander. You are brave enough to go into the Queen’s bedchamber, bold enough to stroke a white charger, fearless enough to save a prince.”

Poem In Year 8 English students were discussing change, and whether it is always for the better or the improvement of mankind.

This poem shows how technology is not always the answer....

Change?

The candle weeps as we turn on a light. Report by Mr Whiteman The bandage sighs as the plaster puts it right. The world map peels as we use Google Earth. Is this really what the world is worth?

The quill sulks as the pen writes the essay. The steam train cries as the new one whirrs away. The dictionary fades as dictionary.com overtakes. But the first aid kit is strong in earthquakes.

By Kate Matthew (8 Green) BE CREATIVE

Music Performances

We had yet another chance to showcase what our performers and songwriters have been up to this week, at Cornwall Music Education Hub's Songfest 2016 concert at Chapel Street Methodist Chapel.

The concert on Monday night featured performances from MBA performers, as well as from other schools, and culminated in choirs from lots of local primary schools performing Debbie Campbell's Ocean Commotion.

Our set opened with Amber Symons, Brody Barden, Emma Eddy and Alice Thacker performing the original song ‘Don't Follow’ which was on last year's Ferris Wheel album. Next up was Mia Herbert singing a rearranged version of ‘Hey Ya’, and then Jacob Powley played a solo version of the Cold Six Hundred favourite ‘Moaner Lisa’. The MBA portion of the evening was rounded out with Demelza Jones performing her new song ‘Not The Same’ and Renae Caddy with a beautiful piano version of ‘7 Years’.

Another great showcase of musical talent! Next up, MixXjam at the Acorn Theatre on Tuesday evening! See you all there!

Report by Darren Roberts BE COMPETITIVE

Cricket County Runners-up

Team:

Jacob Pengelly (C) James Swan (WK) Joe Benson Michael Osmand Callum Kitchen Jack Edwards Dylan Jones Oliver Trewhella

On Wednesday 16th March our Year 7 Cricket team went to Truro to play in the Cornwall Schools Indoor Cricket finals.

In our first match we played . We won the toss and we chose to bowl first. We bowled Brannel out for 33 runs and then we went into bat and we scored 72 runs, a victory by 49 runs.

In our penultimate match we played School. We lost the toss and they chose to bowl first, we played very well but unfortunately Wadebridge needed 1 run off the last ball and they got a thick outside edge to make the ball hit the side netting. Wadebridge won by one run.

In our final match we played School. This match was for second place. We won the toss and chose to bowl first. We bowled Redruth all out for 81 runs and then it was our turn to bat. With the help of Jacob Pengelly and Joe Benson both retiring on 20 runs it made it easier for us to secure a comfortable win. We won by three wickets with three overs to spare. As a result we came runners-up, making us the second best school cricket team in the whole of Cornwall.

Report by Jacob Pengelly BE COMPETITIVE

Girls Rugby

On Wednesday Miss Tripp and Ms Page took two girls rugby teams out to Rugby Club to play in the Emerging Schools County Tournament.

After two postponements due to poor weather the girls were eager to play and learn as much as the could from the quality Coaches provided by the England RFU. After an hour of coaching, ensuring all girls from all schools were happy with the rules and could play safely, it was time to begin.

The under 13s played four games in total against a very strong side, a mixed side from Redruth and Mullion Schools and a team from Camborne Academy. After a nervy start the girls quickly found their stride and grew in confidence with every game. Overall they finished second in their age group - an amazing result as this was their very first competition as a team.

The under 15s knew some of their rivals well from the tournament last year. First up was Camborne School who had a selection of over 20 girls to choose from. No matter what they threw at us our defence remained strong and some fast feet from Zoe Forster and Chloe Graham meant we came away with a win. Feeling positive and encouraged after a win over our biggest competition the girls kept their heads in the game to complete wins over , Redruth School and .

At the end of the day the U15s were crowned champions and will now go on to represent Cornwall as joint County Champions in the next round of the competition in April. The next round will see the girls travel to Weston-super-Mare to take part in the regional competition and take on teams from across the South West. Good luck Girls Report by Miss Tripp BE COMPETITIVE

Sport Relief Mile

The whole of KS3 were put through the Sport Relief mile in PE this week during their lessons. The challenge was to try and run the mile in 12 minutes, with many children smashing this target.

Students also combined their individual distances to see how far each group ran in total. On Thursday the Year 9 group collectively ran just past Exeter! They were all really chuffed!

Report by Mr Veal and Mrs Crowle BE A WINNER

This week’s word is: Sunlight

Definition:

Light from the Sun.

Etymology:

1175-1225 Middle English sonneliht

Competition

Congratulations to Cara Hinge who wins an Edge of the World Voucher.

Cara receives her prize

To enter, simply write an original sentence correctly using the word sunlight. Send in your sentence using the link below.

Click Here to enter the competition BE A WINNER

Maths Quiz House Competition (Updated last week) This Week’s Puzzle: Green: 63 Points Two Fathers and Two Sons Riddle Blue: 60 Points Purple: 27 Points Two fathers and two sons sat down to eat eggs for Yellow: 20 Points breakfast. They ate exactly three eggs. Each person had Orange: 15 Points an egg. Can you explain how this can be? Red: 14 Points

Click here to submit your answer

Win an iTunes

voucher

Whoever submits the most correct answers over a semester will win an iTunes voucher – prizes are also awarded to the Closing date for Entries: Thursday 12:00 top scoring parent/carer/staff.

Could you write next week’s puzzle? If you would like to set the numeracy puzzle for a future week click here. You will win house points.

This Week’s House Totals

Dance Club Years 9 & 10

Monday 3:30-4:30

Gymnasium

The dance club will be working on a request basis. Send requests to Miss Walters whether it be hip hop or contemporary lyrical or Beyoncé or a musical – the choice is yours!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE SEND IN YOUR NEWS Mounts Bay, Boscathnoe Lane, Heamoor T 01736 363240 | F 01736 352326 Penzance, Cornwall TR18 3JT E [email protected] Principal Mrs S Davey B.Sc. M.Ed www.mountsbay.orgwww.mounts-bay.cornwall.sch.uk

CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE SEND IN YOUR NEWS

MBS-LH2011-Grey-AW.indd 1 08/06/2011 21:24