ISSUE 19 28th April 2017

At the start of the Easter holidays 37 students from years 10 and 11 set off to explore the delights of Germany’s capital . The trip got off to a rather stressful start thanks to both the M62 and M60 being closed; thankfully it didn’t cause too many problems as it was so early in the morning. We arrived in Berlin at lunchtime and were met by Nikolai, our tour guide for the rest of the day. After checking in to the hotel we embarked on a four hour walking tour of the main sights and learnt about the history of the capital from the 18th century, the first world war, the glorious 20s, the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party and Berlin as a divided city.

Our first day finished off with a meal in an Italian restaurant; I was very proud of all the students for ordering all of their food in German. ISSUESunday 18 started off with a visit to the East Side Gallery, the longest remaining strip of the Berlin Wall, which 7thhasAprilbeen 2017painted by artists from around the world. Next up was a guided tour at the ‘Topography of terror’ where students learned of the terrifying role of the Gestapo and SS. I was very impressed by the sensible questions our students asked the guides and I think they really learned a great deal. After such a sombre visit we were in need of a bit of retail therapy so we headed off to the shopping centre at Potsdamer Platz. Students had plenty of time to browse the shops as well as complete a number of tasks aimed at getting them to practise their German. One of the task required students to ask a certain number of questions to the shop assistants or passers-by. Star of the day had to go to Orla McAndrew who asked a lady in perfect German if she could stroke her dog!

The day finished with a night time visit to the Reichstag, Germany’s parliament building. Students had a chance to walk up the domed roof, designed by British architect Norman Foster, from where they had an amazing view over the whole of Berlin. Monday was equally as busy and started with a trip to the Olympic Stadium, designed for Hitler’s 1936 Olympics and where Jessie Owens stole the show. You can still see his name on the honours board at one end of the Stadium. ISSUE 18 7thInAprilthe 2017afternoon we went to Bernauer Straße and the Berlin Wall memorial park. This street was made famous by the fact that the wall ran straight through it and the Church and cemetery had to be dug up and re-located, as it then fell in the famous death strip. The ground markers brought home the reality of how vast the wall was and the lengths the East German Government went to to keep its citizens in.

We then headed back to Alexander Platz for our trip up the famous Fernsehturm (TV tower). The structure was built as a symbol of Soviet power and at one time used to be the tallest structure in Europe. The views from the top were amazing! Our final day started with a trip to the DDR Museum where the students got to have a look at what life was like in East Berlin. It’s hard to imagine not having freedom of choice, having to wait over a year to get a telephone, being told what job you will do when you leave school and only being able to buy clothes that have been approved by the government! We then had just enough time for a final bit of retail therapy at the Alexa shopping centre before heading back to the airport and returning to . I would like to say thank you to all the students for being great ambassadors for the academy. Their behaviour was impeccable and it made me so proud to see how much they were trying to improve their German.

Danke schön, es war wunderbar! Mrs Deighton subject news HUMAN RIGHTS

7RFS have produced posters on what Human YEAR 8 Homework with SAM Learning Rights they believe people should have in the world. To further support our Year 8 students homework can In class, we discussed and came up with a definition now be set using SAM Learning. of what constituted as Human Rights and then brainstormed ideas to help them produce the All students are able to access assignments via their following posters. Students were astonished to learn personal homepage and view homework tasks in the that in some countries people are not permitted to ‘My Homework’ tab. This tab shows when the practice their faith, get punished for their sexuality homework is due to be completed, if it is has not been and treated like criminals even though they have completed and also if it is overdue. All year 8 students never had a trial. Our students wanted to ensure will be given their log in details this week during tutor that if they were in charge of the world such time and will have seen how to access the website in atrocities were not permitted. an assembly with Mrs Sullivan.

All completed homework is either computer or self marked, depending on the type of work set. There is instant feedback, and scores can be viewed by students, parents or teachers in the ‘My Progress’ tab for the Last Homework Set (LHS). All staff receive a report on the homework that is completed by each student. Students are also able to re-visit homework activities if they wish to improve on their last score.

The website and resources can be accessed on computers, laptops, most mobile phones or tablets and is also available via the browser on some PlayStation and Xbox games consoles. Homework club is also available after school if your child would rather complete the tasks set using school ICT equipment.

Website address: www.samlearning.com CHARITY EVENT Aiden Newby is participating in an all-night gaming event this weekend to raise money for Cancer Research. Aiden has been inspired to raise money for this worthy charity after losing a childhood friend to cancer at age 12. He can be sponsored via the Cancer Research website, details below:

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/rip- connor-harrison subject news MATHEMATICS CHALLENGE MFL A few weeks ago, you may remember reading in the Year 7 students have been getting creative in bulletin that Luke Asquith-Watson had participated in French, making these clocks to help them learn the IMOK Kangaroo 2017 Challenge. He scored high how to tell the time. Bravo! enough in the UKMT Mathematics Challenge to be selected to enter this international event. We are delighted to announce that Luke scored 85 out of 135 which positioned him in the top 25% of candidates and therefore he has been awarded a Merit Certificate. Well done Luke!

On Thursday 128 Year 7 and Year 8 students participated in the Junior UKMT Mathematics Challenge. We look forward to receiving their results in a few weeks. MATHS PUZZLE OF THE WEEK

If you know the answer, please visit https://tinyurl.com/mqrnwp4 to submit your answer. Come on students, don’t let the adults win!! Let’s see which year group has the most correct answers. (Parents & teachers are still welcome to join in) Closing date: Wed 3rd May 2017. Good luck.

Last week’s puzzle answer was 77184. 11x7 = 77 11+7 = 18 11-7 = 4 hence 77184

Well done to Callum Snowden 7AUL who was the only pupil to get it right! Callum will receive a Head of Department stamp and entry into a prize draw to be drawn at the end of next half term. Well done to the adults who got it correct too. Parents: Keith Bancroft (2nd week in a row) & Sobia Bashir. Staff: Mrs Maude, Mr Holmes & Mrs Norrington and former teacher, Jim Kennedy. creativity corner

ART Stunning pieces from our Year 10 students in the project ‘Wish you were here”

Kieron Greenough-Mair

Elizabeth Pickett

Finlay Wilkinson performing arts STAR PERFORMANCES FOR BBG STUDENTS Congratulations to Ella Burrow who has secured the leading role in Barry Manilow’s Copacabana. The musical is being performed at The Playhouse on 4th-6th May 2017. Good luck Ella, we can’t wait to see the photos!

You may have read in the Bulletin a few weeks ago that some of our students had auditioned for the production of Les Miserables, which is being performed In memory of Jo Cox in Batley. We are so proud to hear that Niall McShane from year 9 will be playing the role of Monsieur Thenardier, which is a fantastic character part, and will suit Niall perfectly.

The dates of the performances are 10th and 13th August 2017 at Blackeridge Mill.

Watch this space to hear about other students selected. save the date thought for the week

During form time, Key Stage 3 students, Years 7,8 and 9 study and discuss ‘Thought for the Week’. This is a motivational idea which is used to re-enforce the Academy’s Growth Mindset philosophy. Students are being encouraged to work as hard as they can and advised with effort, huge progress can be made. Aside from the thought, students learn about key events that have happened during that week. In addition, students choose from three or four mottos that they are going to try and adhere to during that week. THIS WEEK’S THOUGHT PARENT INFORMATION Year 10: MOCK EXAM UPDATE!

The Year 10 Mock Exams that were scheduled to take place in the week beginning the 15th of May have been postponed. New dates will follow shortly – in the meantime students should keep up their revision!

Year 11 Exam Countdown

THIS WEEK’S EVENTS 23 April St George’s Day (England’s Patron Saint & National Day) 25 April World Malaria Day 1990: Hubble Telescope was launched 26 April 18 DAYS 1900: Seismologist Charles Richter was born TO GO

Discussion Points: What does the above saying mean? Do you find it easy or hard to apologise? Does an apology make everything ok? Are you good at forgiving people? Some people they say are like elephants, they never forget. What do you think that means in this instance? Are you like this, do you say you forgive when in actual fact you won’t forget it? attendance matters

Attend & Achieve Research suggests that missing 17 school days a year results in 1 GCSE grade drop.

Attendance in one school Number of lessons missed Number of weeks missed Number of years missed over year per year per year 5 years

100% 0 0 0 95% 50 lessons 2 weeks ¼ Year 90% 100 lessons 4 weeks ½ Year 85% 150 lessons 6 weeks ¾ Year 80% 200 lessons 8 weeks 1 Year 70% 300 lessons 12 weeks 1½ Years 60% 400 lessons 16 weeks 2 Years 50% 500 lessons 20 weeks 2½ Years This weeks attendance leaders.

Year Form Attendance

7 7RFS 97.7%

8 8SSG 97.6%

9 9AC 96.5% 96.1% 10 10LTR 98.1%

11 11NPG 98.4%

Uniform Recycling

Parent appeal for help. We would be Attendance Fact: Schools are expected to have an over all really grateful if you would be attendance of 95% or above Legal Responsibilities prepared to donate your old uniform Parent/carers of children of legal school age must make sure so we are in a position to help other they receive a fulltime education. They must ensure their child families replace old or lost uniform. attends school regularly and stays there all day. Law Section All donations can be dropped off at 444 of the Education Act 1996 is the law under which a main reception. We will remove parent/carer can be prosecuted. The consequences names and wash and iron if parent/carers can be taken to court for the breaking the law. The necessary. maximum penalty is a fine of up to £2,500 per parent per child (for you and your partner) and/or up to 3 month’s imprisonment. Thank you in advance for your help.

@BBGAcademy sports round up RUGBY On a day filled with all four of the elements, BBG sent a strong Year 9, Rugby 7’s team to the 7’s Rugby Tournament. With minimal experience between the squad in the game of 7’s, the boys put together a strong performance narrowly losing 24-17 in their first match against Oakwood Academy. After having their first taste of 7’s rugby, the boys found some rhythm and beat the host side Ilkley ‘A’ 26-10 before losing in there last pool match to eventual cup finalists St John Fishers. Placing third in the pool, the Year 9’s were put into the bowl semi-final against Ilkley ‘B’ who they made light work of beating them 38-12 to put them in the final against local rivals Whitcliffe Mount. The Bowl final started out a very close and even match until Barney Wragg put a superb kick through for Mackenzie Sykes on the halfway line, Mackenzie picking up the kind bounce and running under the posts. From this point, the Year 9’s found another gear, combining quick thinking and speed on attack with strong and aggressive defence which had been lacking at the beginning of the tournament. The final score 31-5 was a reflection of how much the boys had improved from the start of the tournament and how quickly they were able to adapt to the game of 7’s. A great way to finish the day which saw rain, hail and shine as well as the first bit of silverware for our Year 9’s this year. Congratulations to all students involved in the fixture and a massive thank you to Ilkley Grammar for hosting such a well organised and enjoyable tournament!.

Captain, Alfie pictured with Rugby Development Officer, Hamish Pratt and tournament organiser Mr. Adam Falkner.