Altrincham Grammar School for Girls Weekly Bulletin Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6
STEM Club School Diary So far this year STEM club has been running some exciting new activities. We have a group of fabulous Year 12 students who have been helping us explore the electrical Mon 16 - Fri 20 Half Term properties of play dough. We started with making our own conducting and insulating Fri 13 - Mon 16 Year 12 & Year 13 Art trip to Madrid play dough and then used this to make electrical circuits. We even made a play dough battery and worked together to make the longest play dough circuit we could. After half Sat 14 - Thurs 19 Ski Trip to Pamporovo, Bulgaria term we have plans to make sculptures from waste electrical materials and use ‘MaKey MaKey’ to turn bananas into a piano! (STEM club is held every Friday for Years 7-8 at Sat 14 - Wed 18 Year 9 WW1 Battlefields Trip 12.40pm in L1) Mon 23 Y8 Opera Workshop
Tues 24 Year 9 Immunisation Year 12 Higher Education Evening Thur 26 7.30pm Music Trip to Manchester Grammar Fri 27 School Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Spelling Bee School Final Senior Team Maths Challenge Congratulations to all the girls who took part in National Finals the school final of the spelling bee competition On 3rd February, a team of four on Wednesday 11th February. The standard of students (Jess and Abbie in Year the competition was very high and the girls had 13, and Clarissa and Lydia in Year clearly prepared thoroughly. Raavi, Mehnaz, 12) accompanied by Mrs Malkin Elena and Shradda have all qualified to take travelled to the Royal Horticultural part in the regional competition, to be held Halls, London to compete in at Manchester Metropolitan University on the UKMT Senior Team Maths Wednesday 18 March. We wish them well in preparing for the next Challenge National Finals. We had stage of the competition. Viel Glück! Bonne chance! Buene Suerte! prepared thoroughly for the event having qualified by winning the regional round of the competition in November. On the day we Ice Skating Success worked our way through a number of rounds involving some very challenging questions, as well as producing a poster based on the Congratulations to Tilly 8-3, mathematics of the solar system. Once all the scores had been Katrina 12-3 and Emily 12-2 collected we were awarded 44th place overall out of 79 teams. who competed at the Trophy We are all very proud of how we performed, especially in a field D’Ecosse ISU International comprised of the top schools in the country and heavily dominated Synchronised Skating by boys. Competition in Dumfries, This is the first time a team from AGGS has reached the National Scotland, last weekend. The Final of the competition, but we hope we will be back next year to girls all skate on the Silver Blades team and, with a personal best do even better! score of the season, gained the Silver medal. Tilly also skates on the Whizz Kid team, which also achieved a personal best and are Lydia, Year 12 now the Juvenile Champions. They were also awarded the “Most Entertaining Programme” award. Well done, girls. Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
English Speaking Union On Tuesday 3rd of February, Céline (10-3) and Alice (11-6) competed in the North West regional heat of the English Speaking Union, a prestigious competition originally set-up with funding given by Winston Churchill to develop youth public speaking. The girls, one of six schools from Manchester including Altrincham Boys, Stockport Grammar, Manchester Grammar and Bolton Girls, drafted speeches on ‘THW to create a Universal Basic Income’, a controversial issue that was opposed by the home school. Alice rebutted questions from the audience, building the fundamentals of the case and flexing her expertise and keen research on the subject, whilst Céline crafted a speech based on the opposition’s argument, pressuring her to think on her feet and be fluent in her delivery, whilst at the same time maintaining an articulate and provocative argument. Despite not getting through to the third round, the girls were strongly supported by the audience, and received compliments from most members of the audience for their strong performance. One of the judges, a Professor of Psychology at Manchester University, even admitted that they should have won! The girls deserve much credit for their efforts, and they keenly accepted feedback to develop their arguments for future competitions. Here’s to next year! Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Opera Concert and Masterclass We are delighted to announce that Opera singer and former pupil Suzy Fischer will be performing a lunchtime concert and afternoon masterclass on 25th February. Suzy is a lyric coloratura soprano (which means she sings super high) and is currently working as a freelance musician. She has won some major prizes already and has experience of singing both operatic roles and as a Lieder singer. The lunchtime concert is open to all pupils and staff, and will be an excellent opportunity to hear a talented musician perform. In addition, our GCSE and A Level students, and pupils who have singing lessons, will attend the afternoon masterclass with Suzy to find out more about working as a professional musician.
Mr Carr’s 12 Challenges in 12 Months Mr Carr is continuing his 12 months of 12 challenges for 12 charities. He has even added an extra challenge to encourage people to sponsor him. He has decided he will not have a haircut until he hits his target of £1200 and when he achieves this target he will shave his head! If you would like to sponsor Mr Carr, please visit the following website: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JohnCarr121212 Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Amended Bus Times Connexions Careers Advice Travel Master, M Travel and Hayton’s Travel have all confirmed that Connexions have a drop in session in the 6th Form library every Monday they will arrange an early pick up (2.30pm) on the following days when lunchtime. Any Year 12 or 13 students that would like advice, or have any school is closing early: queries about their future steps, they are welcome to just call in. • Tuesday 3rd March • Thursday 23rd April • Wednesday 29th April We have not heard from Goodwins about if they are able to arrange an early pick up.
Sixth Form Higher Education Evening The Sixth Form Higher Education Evening will be held on Thursday 26th February. It is for parents only and starts at 7 pm at Main School.
DTP/MENC Head Lice Immunisation Please be aware there is a Year 9 suspected outbreak of head lice in school. We are asking all Trafford Immunisation Team will parents to be extra vigilant and be in school on 24th February to take appropriate steps to and 3rd March. treat the head lice. Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Calling Y11 & 12 Physicists… Sports Dinner 2015 - Date for your Diary! The AGGS Physics The annual Sports Dinner will department is now be held on Wednesday taking bookings for the 1st April 2015 for Year annual trip to CERN. 11, 12 and 13 sports- women. It is being host- This is an exciting ed at Bowdon Rugby excursion with some Club and we once again participants dubbing have a high profile ex-pupil speaking at the event. Further de- it “the best school tails and a letter of invitation will be sent out soon after half term. trip ever!” It will take place History Tour to Berlin February half-term 2016 during the half term holidays in October 2015 and cost around £400 Please note that the tour is now open to all Year 9 and 11 pupils On this trip you will: even if they are not currently choosing History at GCSE /A level. • see this amazing site of international collaboration Some girls have expressed an interest but due to limitation on choices • bring to life the “particle physics” part of the AS Physics course they are not studying History at GCSE/A level, so we are opening it • find out about the challenges in learning at the frontiers of science to all Year 9 and 11 regardless of exam choices. It is open to current • find out about the day to day life of researchers Year 9 and 11, and you can collect a letter from any History staff • make the most of visiting the international city of Geneva member. The deadline for applications is now 9th February, and • use French if you have learnt it should be handed in with a deposit of £170 payable by cheque. • enjoy yourselves and get on with one another Many thanks, The History Dept. Contact the Physics department for an application form. Hurry! There are very limited spaces available on this extremely popular trip! Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
German Exchange Trip 30th Jan – 6th Feb On Friday 30th January, eight girls from Year 12 and 13 embarked on a work experience exchange with Maria-Ward-Gymnasium in Augsburg. The students spent a week with an exchange family, in which we did four days of work experience. Our placements were in local primary schools, a law firm, a newspaper, a vet, a dentist and a bookshop. It was both a challenging and rewarding experience for all. We climbed out of the minibus to find Augsburg deep in snow. We were greeted enthusiastically by our equally excited exchange families and taken back to their houses for a warm welcome. Over the weekend we took part in a wide range of activities; many of us spent Saturday exploring Munich, and other adventures included ice skating discos, scenic walks, cinema trips, meals out and even coach trips to go tobogganing in the Austrian Alps! When our placements began on Monday, many of us felt quite nervous, but the staff at our workplacesmade us feel very comfortable – some of us even got taken out to lunch! We picked up lots of new and interesting vocabulary, such as ‘bekleben’ (to stick stickers on something), ‘runden’ (rounding) and my personal favourite, ‘Zahnfleisch’ (gums or literally ‘tooth meat’). By Thursday, many of us were conversing happily with customers, taking blood samples from animals and snapping photos all around Augsburg for a local newspaper. Many of us also became very proficient navigators of the ‘Straβenbahn’ (tram). Another opportunity most of us had was to sit in on some German lessons in Maria-Ward-Gymnasium. I sat in on an English lesson, which was very interesting. The class were discussing English pupils’ views on school uniform and the opinions given in the textbook passage were very similar to some of our own! Many of the pupils were eager to know whether their teacher was speaking good English, and myself and some other girls could honestly assure them that she was. On our last day we also received a tour around the school, including the underground gym hall which we could see through its glass roof. We finally said our goodbyes to our exchange partners at lunchtime on Friday, and a few of us were tearful! With much hugging and promising to stay in touch between now and July, we boarded the minibus to Munich airport. The German students will be coming to stay with us on the 3rd July, and all of us are very much looking forward to their arrival. We would certainly recommend this exchange trip to everyone who studies German at AGGS. Grace, Year 12 Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Beyond FGM Talk Science and Sustainability: We have been given the GM Crops Survey opportunity for the inspirational As you may be aware, many role model and project manager AGGS pupils are taking part in Domtila Chesang to come in and the Science and Sustainability talk to us about her important project, working towards their work for Beyond FGM. This is a Gold Crest Awards. One team, grassroots organisation founded Team Cornflower, is researching by Lancashire NHS midwife, GM crops and their use in Cathleen Holland, who works sustainable agriculture and with Kepsteno Rotwo (Abandon would very much appreciate it the Knife) in Pokot Kenya. They if you could spare a few minutes of your time to complete a very work to educate and empower all those involved in Female Genital short survey on your views of GM crops (link below). Responses will Mutilation, from midwives to young girls and their families. be hugely valuable to their research in this area. Domtila Chesang has recently taken part in The Big Debate on women’s and girl’s human rights at the World Economic Forum in https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BBVQ78X Davos. Following her talk at this event, she was invited to speak in Geneva on February 6th at the World anti FGM day. In November 2014 she received the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Award for What do microbes really look like? Courage and she, along with Cathleen Holland and Maggie Why not take part in a national science competition. O’Kane of The Guardian, met with UN Secretary General, Ban Ki- The challenge is to produce a poster that uses Moon in October 2014 at the UNFPA launch of the Global Media your own experience to instruct and encourage campaign to end FGM. your classmates in using the microscope correctly The talk will take place at lunchtime (12.30) on Tuesday 24th February in order (a) to find out what microbes really look in the Sixth Form Common Room. Students from Years 10-13 are like and (b) to record their observations. Please welcome to attend, as well as any staff who may be interested. see Miss Russell for more information. Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
February Maths Puzzles January Maths Solutions
KS3: KS3: Consider the two diagrams below. There are exactly three different pairs of positive integers that add to make six.
1 + 5 = 6 2 + 4 = 6 3 + 3 + 6 The area of the square is 4, so the area of the large triangle is 2 (half of the square) and the area of the small triangle is 1 (quarter of the square). How many different pairs of positive integers add to make one- thousand?
KS4: Hence the area of the arrow is 2 – 1 = 1 square unit. A sequence is arithmetic if the numbers increases by a fixed KS4: amount. For example, 2, 5, 8, are in an arithmetic sequence with Using the Pythagorean Theorem, r2 = (r - 8)2 + 502 = r2 - 16r + 64 + 2500 a common difference of 3, and if these numbers represented 16r = 2564 r = 160.25 the side lengths of a cuboid, the volume, V = 2x5x8 = 80 units3. So the internal diameter is 320.5 cm.
How many cuboids exist for which the volume is less than 100 What if the stick was 10 cm from the wall? units3 and the integer side lengths are in an arithmetic sequence? Can you generalise for any distance x? Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Citizenship & PSHE Corner School Council To keep up to date with the school council twitter page Year 8 School Council is running the HOMEWORK DIARY please follow: competition at the moment. Please send photos of the school to @AGGScouncil [email protected] and have your photo on the front of next year’s homework diary. Also, win a LOVE TO SHOP voucher for your efforts too. Year 11 School Council has launched a pupil led, pupil friendly webpage with posts that are relevant to you. Check it out at: Year 9 School Council http://wp.aggs.trafford.sch.uk/pupilvoice/ The Ledge Competition – STOP PRESS Would you like to write for the pupil voice page? Speak to Mrs. Bowyer or the Year 11 school council reps for more details. Posters are in registers, but there is a little pause in proceedings. A new closing date will be announced in assembly and more information to follow. Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
CLUBS CORNER...
Opportunities Model United Nations Club: Oxfam Youth Action Group Do you want to win a trip to New York? Are you passionate about a local, national Although not all students were able to attend Meets Weds Lunch time in Room or global issue? Come and make some noise the speech by the international terrorism 13. Debating from 12.40 -1.15pm. about it and get others passionate about it speaker last term, they can get involved in Year 9 upwards. too. Do you enjoy campaigning and raising a competition run by the organisation. The money? Debate from a country’s perspective, attend competition requires pupils to write a short essay or create a 3-5 min film on the question: competitions, meet new people from lots of Look out in your form time and assemblies for different year groups and have fun. the projects members have been working on. How did 9/11 change the world? Youth Action Group meets on a Tues lunchtime To enter the competition students should visit in the Language ICT lab, room 14. For Years the website: www.since911.com/competition 7, 8, 9 & 10. Any enquiries should be sent to: [email protected]
Year 13 Oxford MUN Trip Details and letters will be out just after half term. Please make sure you are at MUN for updates. Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Do you want to catch up on the news What’s going on in the news? or read a book about a topic that National & International Events interests you related to Citizenship? If you follow the news and find an article you are this week: interested in, why not share it with the rest of the What is happening around the world? Find out Come and enjoy the Citizenship Reading school. Check out your year group’s focus and and get involved … Corner, where you can access a selection of put the article onto the ‘What’s Going on in the books at rec in room 13 or take them out and News? Board’ in Room 13 read them at home. 9th- 15th Feb: National Marriage Week Year 7 local news focus 13th Feb: World Radio Day Year 8 national news focus Year 9: international news focus Year 10: Comparison of newspaper articles Year 11: analysis of a newspaper article
What’s in the news... Quote of the week…
Middle East … “Democracy is never a thing done.
BBC News - Assad says Syria is ‘informed on Democracy is always something anti-IS air campaign’ that a nation must be doing.” www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-31312414 Archibald MacLeish, American poet and public official (1892-1982) Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Mindfulness Skills for life
What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness is a way of paying attention – of being deeply attuned to yourself, your environment and those around you from moment to moment. It is a natural state of mind – focused, present and aware.
Programme Structure Our weekday after school courses are taught over eight 2 hour sessions at weekly intervals.
The course typically comprise approximately 25 people working together as a group. On them, you will learn several key mindfulness practices and have the chance to discuss these and your experience of them in the group.
What are the aims? The core aims of the programme are to: Taster Sessions • Experience greater wellbeing and personal fulfilment Booking details below: • Practise different mindfulness tools and techniques • Select and use mindfulness techniques that will work for you Venue: AGGS • Respond more wisely to stressful situations Thursday 30th April 2015 • Building your resilience to cope with work or personal demands 5.30 - 7.00pm • Achieve improved concentration, focus and creativity • Enjoy greater calm and inner peace
Venue: What does it involve? AGGS Training Room We gradually learn to direct our attention in a more focussed way to whatever is actually happening – whether it be breathing, the sensations in our body, thoughts and feelings, or 8 weeks course everyday activities such as walking and eating. 5.30 - 7.00pm
Dates Thursday 7th May 2015 Thursday 14th May 2015 Thursday 21st May 2015 Thursday 4th June 2015 For more information or to book a place please email Rebecca Thursday 11th June 2015 Stokwisz, Mindfulness Lead, at [email protected] Thursday 18th June 2015 Thursday 25th June 2015 http://allianceforlearning.co.uk/courses/professional-development/ Thursday 2nd July 2015 or contact 0161 912 5912 Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Tickets are on sale at reception and it is back by popular demand. The first wine tasting event ‘Call my Bluff’ we held was a great success last year. Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
AGGS NOTICEBOARD Pupil Safety Collecting pupils after school Important Safety Notice As always, please can all parents/carers remind their Following the recent letter regarding Homework Club and We have received several reports about school daughters to consider their personal safety when travelling the use of the library after school, please can parents/ pupils having their mobile phones stolen on their to and from school and ensure that arrangements are in carers make arrangements to collect their daughters way home from school. Please can all pupils/ place for the after- school journey, especially in the dark and agree the time and place before coming to school. students be vigilant, keep mobile phones out of sight evenings. The school library closes at 5pm. Parents/Carers are asked not to approach other pupils, and remember to be aware of personal safety. especially girls they do not know, to go into the library to pass on a message or to inform their daughter that they are waiting to take them home. Your support in this Fixtures at the Devisdale matter is most appreciated. Please may we ask all parents/carers to ensure that, Road Safety when attending sports fixtures at the Devisdale, they Please can all pupils/students remember the need to be park considerately and do not block the drives of local careful when crossing between sites. Mobile phones and Reminder to parents regarding residents. Please also avoid parking on the grassy areas. any other electronic devices should not be visible when Your support in this matter is greatly appreciated. crossing between sites. Pupils/students should stop at the after- school detention zebra crossing, look and listen to make sure it is safe to Notifications to parents of an after- school detention cross, and never assume the traffic will stop. It is absolutely for pupils will still be sent by letter (either posted or After- school activities prohibited for pupils/students to cross the roads between through Parentmail) and not by a text message. the school sites anywhere except at the zebra crossing All pupils/students are expected to change into full or by using the traffic island on St Margaret’s Road. Any school uniform following an after- school activity. Pupils/ pupil/student who does cross anywhere other than the students are not to travel home in their PE kits. two safe locations, will be reported to the Headteacher. Car Parking We should like to remind parents and carersto ensure that, when collecting girls after school, they park considerately and do not block or use the driveways of local residents. Please also avoid parking in the bus stop space. There is a danger that cars which are not parked safely and appropriately will cause a hazard Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Hockey Unfortunately the weather beat us again last weekend and matches against Kirkham Grammar School had to be cancelled at Preston Arena because of frozen pitches. Practices/fixtures week beginning Monday 23rd February (1st week back after half term) Lunchtime practices: as normal After school: We can now start having practices again as it will be light enough. Practices will finish at 4.45pm. Monday 23rd: Badminton as normal Tuesday 24th: Year 8 at Bowdon as planned Year 9 on the Devisdale Wednesday 25th: Year 7 on the Devisdale Thursday 26th: Years 10-13 at Bowdon and Year 7 v Sale Grammar School at Brooklands Sports Club until 5pm. Team sheets and arrangements have been given out before half term. Saturday 28th: Home fixture v Stockport Grammar School for all age groups
Congratulations: Congratulations to Bethan (12-5) who has been selected into the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence programme as part of the National Age Group Squad (NAGS) Academy. This is a talented athlete education academy. There are currently over 25 other sports delivering the programme with 2,500 athletes benefiting nationally each year and ambassadors include Rebecca Adlington, Tom Daley and Jack Wilshere. Well done Bethan – this is indeed a great honour. Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Netball Netball Results v Wilmslow High, Saturday 7th January At last some of the netballers managed to get a fixture played! We have had all of our Saturday fixtures cancelled due to poor weather and January has been lifeless for our netball. Although, some teams couldn’t play as Wilmslow still has ice on their courts, we played Years 8, 9 and 11 in their sports hall. It was great to be playing and the girls were particularly pleased to be playing in their lovely warm sport hall! The Year 9 team were missing many of their players but some Year 8’s filled in and they did their very best. The results for the other two teams were great considering we have had so little match practice, well done to all! Year 8 won 30-23 Year 9 lost 10-46 Year 11 won 30-13
Netball After Half Term Things are very busy after half term with all of the Trafford Schools and Greater Netball Fixtures This Term Manchester County Tournaments. Girls need to keep a check on the noticeboard Date Opponents Teams Venue and keep in touch with their Captains. Tues 24th Feb Trafford Schools’ Tournament Year 9 Stretford High Lunchtime practices are as normal Tues 24th Feb Cheadle Hulme School Years 7, 8, 10 AGGS Tuesday 24th February - No practice for Years 10-13 as Mrs Walker is at the Year Sat 28th Feb Bury Grammar School All years Bury 9 Trafford Tournament and Mrs Frankland is at the Cheadle Hulme Fixture (Years Wed 4th Mar Trafford Schools’ Tournament Year 7 Broadoak 7, 8 and 10 at AGGS). Thurs 5th Mar County Tournament U13 Stockport Thursday 26th February - Years 7, 8 and 9 practice after school Sat 7th Mar County Tournament U14/U16 U14Wri Rob/U16Cheadle Tues 10th Mar Trafford Schools’ Tournament Year 7B BTH Thurs 12th Mar Loreto All Years AGGS Sat 14th Mar Cheadle Hulme All years Cheadle Tues 17th Mar Trafford Schools’ Tournament Year 8 Stretford GS Wed 18th Mar County Tournament U12 Bury Sat 21st Mar County Tournament U15 TBC Wed 25th Mar County Tournament U19 Cheadle Altrincham Grammar February 13th 2015 Volume - 50 Issue - 6 School for Girls Bright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Contacts PTA
If you have any enquiries about the PTA and its fundraising efforts or meetings, would like to volunteer to help or join, and would like to contact us, here are some useful contact email addresses for your reference: Covenant Scheme enquiries PTA Twitter [email protected] 200Club enquiries Follow AGGS PTA on twitter to keep up to date with all our news: [email protected] @AGGSpta General enquiries [email protected] Secretary [email protected] Refreshments AGGS @AGGSchool [email protected] Follow AGGS on twitter to keep up to date with all Name a Brick enquiries our news: @AGGSchool [email protected] #AGGS Garden sponsorship [email protected] 2nd Hand Uniform [email protected] For all the latest news, information Please note that all PTA members are volunteers and although emails are likely to and photos visit us at be checked on a fairly regular basis, there may be some delays in response time www.aggs.trafford.sch.uk and we ask for your patience and understanding in this regard.