“THE EDGE” WILLIAM BROOKES SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

It’s Panto time! Oh yes it is!!

See page 18 for more details of this year’s fabu- lous Sxith Form Panto.

Mrs Smith says… Congratulations -- to Mrs Jardine, our fab PE Department and all our wonderful sports-loving students ---- you did it again and achieved Sports Mark GOLD. That's Brilliant!!!

PARKING AT SCHOOL: All parents dropping off or collecting students are reminded to observe all signage on the school car park and to consider other drivers, including the coach and bus drivers, when negotiating the site. Thank you. take the time to discuss the need for your child/ren to be safe online. This involves knowing the person/people they are It has been a busy and productive first term at school. The year communicating with, having settings that keep started with the school’s best ever GCSE results, putting us very their discussions limited to known groups but high in the County league tables. The school is a very busy and also that they do not use it for negative active place inside and out of lessons, with student numbers purposes. Too often horrible things are done growing term by term. I am very grateful to staff and students via social media which can affect young for their hard work in the many successes that we have achieved people’s mental well-being. I would like to of late. We will have some staffing changes at Christmas: take this opportunity to remind you of our stance about improper * Mrs Leek will leave us to return to her old school following a use of technology, including confiscation of devices for a period difficult time personally. We wish her well for the future. Mrs of time. My fear is that some young people will lose future Brooks will join us as Head of Geography, coming with a wealth career options if they use ICT inappropriately. We will continue of experience at GCSE and A Level. to drive home the message at school but ask that you are vigilant and talk about this again at home. We have some excellent * Mrs Liz Herdson, our Librarian, leaves after 25 years and a literature about this if you would like to see it. term of hard work and support for the school. The Library is a busy and vibrant place and very popular with our students – National changes to the A Level and GCSE syllabi means especially at break and lunch times! During her time at William changing to a curriculum with more teaching time per subject in Brookes, Liz has seen some significant changes – not least the KS5 and earlier preparations for students during Year 9. Library becoming an interactive, technology rich environment Thankfully our more traditional academic curriculum requires over recent years. One huge legacy will be the setting up of all only small changes to meet the new requirements but students the books in school into a system that supports our Accelerator will face more, longer exams in the next few years as coursework Reader programme. This has massively increased book loans is removed. I am confident that this will benefit our students but and reading by all students in school. We wish Liz well in her providing the right support and development will be an essential retirement – one that, I have no doubt, will be a very active one. part of our plans. A big push nationally is to get more students We have already welcomed our new Librarian to the school. studying a modern foreign language as part of the English Miss Samantha Lee joined us on 1 December - see also page Baccalaureate at GCSE. To this end we have introduced Spanish 17. into Year 7 with the intention of moving this through the school * Mr Chadwick will join us in January as our new Head of Maths. up to GCSE level. More information will follow for relevant This comes at a very timely point for the School, having just won parents over the coming months. the regional Senior Maths Challenge. Our team now travels to We have also seen practice sessions taking place for teams, London for the national final in January.

performances and competitions as the term moves to its busy In late November a group of staff sadly had to represent the finale. Monday, 5 December saw another enjoyable Carol school at the funeral of an ex- student, Safia Ahmed, who left Service at the Holy Trinity Church in Much Wenlock which started school only 4 years ago. It is incredibly sad to hear about the off the Christmas celebrations for us at school. There were many death of any individual but is much harder when the person is so wonderful performances by our students, covering the full range young. A sizeable group of ex-students attended the service, of performing arts and they received a fantastic response in the demonstrating the friendships she had made during her time in beautiful surroundings of the Church. The support of the Friends the Sixth Form at William Brookes School. Our deepest of William Brookes School ensured that we were all fed and sympathies go out to her family, particularly Aaron, Dotty and watered, allowing everyone to mingle and socialise informally Tilly, and close friends, who will have a big hole left in their lives. too. This followed the Friends of WBS successful stall at the Christmas fayre and the popular Viva La Coldplay event held in We are still awaiting news of a new national funding formula school. A new committee of parents and staff have combined that would ensure all students across the country are treated really well to kick start off an exciting series of events this year. I fairly, enabling schools in rural areas to better provide for the wish them every success and ask you to support them in their needs of students. Significant numbers of school places are left endeavours whenever you can. unfilled in many Shropshire schools at the moment and will be for the coming years. The challenge, which we have managed This academic year has seen many sporting achievements too, well to date, is to maintain full intake numbers. Our students not least the school being awarded the Sports Mark Gold again. have been excellent ambassadors for the school again at our This is down to the hard work and dedication of the PE open events and I am very grateful for their time and support. department and our sport loving students. We have a lot to be proud about this wonderful school and it is The last week of term will see staff and students looking forward important to spread this message. After a lot of hard work, you to Aladdin, the Sixth Form Pantomime, which completes a heavy should have received information to inform you about the launch programme of events led by the Performing Arts staff and I of our new website. It has been a priority for us to make this a would like to take this chance to thank them for their efforts. I more professional and user friendly forum which showcases the am sure that students, like many staff, are feeling tired at the end school in the very best light. There are still new items to be of this busy but highly productive term. Our assemblies at the added, including photographs taken just recently in school and I end of the last week will celebrate student achievements and hope to keep it the fresh and vibrant portal into school life that performances this year. Students will be allowed to wear their keeps you well informed as parents and visitors. All school own clothes on the last day with a small link to their house software functions that you can access are linked within the colour. Sydney students have been given a little extra leeway on parent pages to make it a one-stop place. I am keen to get this but please note that there is no charge for this at such an feedback on the new site and am grateful for the thoughtful and expensive time of year. positive responses we have received to date.

On behalf of everyone at school may I wish you all the very best We are a school that places great emphasis on technology. for the festive period and New Year. I hope your house is full of Students make good use of ICT in school and do the same in festive cheer and that the New Year brings you continued joy and their everyday life but unfortunately we are still spending a lot of success. time dealing with the inappropriate use of social media. Please

Page 2 “The Edge” - William Brookes School Newsletter to see everyone enjoying themselves! Thank you to all those who have supported an event this term. Friends of William Brookes’ have been able to fund the hire of a very special ‘prop’ for the performance of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’! as well as purchase various resources for our SEN department. Friends of William Brookes We were busy at the school’s brought forth another amazing Carol Concert, providing festive year of fund raising for students refreshments. of the school! Miss C Watkins ran a chocolate This term has been a busy one tombola stall on the Monday again! With the welcoming of and Tuesday of the last week of our new Chair, Jane Shepherd term. Students Chelsea and Vice Chair Jordan Spilsbury Whitfield and Abi Cank helped the committee has had no time at the stall held in the London to waste preparing for the breakout zone. Christmas Festivities! A whopping £380 was raised STOP PRESS! on the chocolate tombola at the Much Wenlock Christmas We will be running Market, £300 at the Coldplay another ‘Bag2School’ gig night and we still have the event on Friday 3 Christmas raffle prize drawer to go with a huge £100 cash first February. prize, along with many more Please bring into school any great prizes. of the following: Men’s, Ladies and Children’s clothing, paired shoes (tied What is coming up? together or elastic band around), handbags, hats, bags, Fancy a ‘Beat the Teacher’ quiz? Come to our quiz night on scarves, ties, jewellery, belts, soft toys, household linen, Friday 13th January 19.00pm , Café Simmills. Drinks and curtains, towels, sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers. snacks available and the opportunity to compete against the teaching staff! All ages welcome, hope to see you there! We are NOT able to accept duvets, blankets, pillows, cushions, carpets, rugs, mats, soiled, painted, ripped or "Close your eyes and you'll think it was the real thing!!" wet clothing, school uniforms, corporate clothing and Thank you to all those who helped to put on the fantastic ‘Viva workwear, textile off cuts, yarns or threaded material. La Coldplay’ gig night on 19 November. It was another huge success, raising an amazing £300 for the school. It was lovely

 Congratulations to Ms McGill on the birth of her baby boy Seb Isaac, who was born on 9 October weighing 8lbs 8ozs. This news came in just too Staffing late to make it into our Open Evening edition! News  Congratulations too to Mrs Hoyle on the safe arrival of her baby girl during the October half-term holidays. Ophelia weighed in at 7lbs 15ozs.

Gemma Smith will be joining our Languages Department on Supervisor/Admin Assistant) and Miss Bowden (Art TA) will her student teacher placement from Monday 27 February, both be leaving us in the first week of next term. and will be with us until Wednesday 5 July. She joins Mrs Leek, Head of Geography, leaves at the end of this another student teacher who joined us this term - Edward term. Hamilton, who will be with the Maths Department until 16 February. Mrs Herdson is retiring from her post as Librarian/Newsletter Editor at the end of this term.

Anya Wulka has joined our Admin team and Jessica Saunders has joined the English department. Staff who have recently joined us this term/start of next term include: Staff who have left/are leaving us this term include: Mr A Chadwick, Head of Maths Mrs Middleton left the Admin team on Friday 4 November. Mrs L Brooks, Head of Geography Miss Martin has moved from her position as TA/Library support to our Reception office. Ms Sahota (Cover Miss S Lee, Librarian/Newsletter Editor

Christmas Edition 2016 Page 3 Bela was one of 140,936 Jews deported to Theresienstadt, Students meet Holocaust survivor which saw up to 50,000 Jews present at one time, seven times the number that the camp was designed for. They - A report from Miss C Watkins lived in filthy and cramped conditions. Surviving on a Thanks to the Holocaust Educational Trust, Joanna meagre diet of watery soup, potatoes and bread, one in four died. Perhaps the darkest image that can be recalled of that Millan, a survivor of the Holocaust, visited William time was how 190 bodies were cremated daily in four ovens. Brookes School on 8 November to deliver a These were originally designed for one body, but by this presentation: this was a unique experience for our Year stage they could fit four due to how thin they had become. 10 History students. Year 7 students currently working on Judaism and the impact of the Holocaust in RS also On 3 May 1945, the Red Cross took over control of the camp and Bela was liberated by the Russians. On 15 benefitted as they were able to attend a workshop with August, along with 299 other surviving orphans, Bela was an educator from the Trust. flown to England. When they arrived there were in fact 301 Joanna was born Bela Rosenthal in August 1942 in Berlin. children including a little boy who had stowed away. At the beginning of March 1943 her father was taken from After living in two children’s homes with other child survivors, the streets of Berlin and sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau where he Bela was adopted by a childless Jewish couple from London. was killed on arrival. In June of that year, Bela and her Her name was changed to Joanna, and she was told to mother were taken from their home and sent to forget her past and forbidden to contact the other child Theresienstadt, a concentration camp 50 miles outside of survivors. But she always remembered being in the Prague. In 1944, when Bela was 18 months old, her mother childrens’ homes and she knew she was adopted and had died of TB leaving Bela orphaned. been in Theresienstadt. Her adopted parents pretended that Some of the women working in the kitchens would take food she was their natural daughter and told her to keep her to the orphans. One woman who worked in the vegetable identity secret. patch, Litska Shallinger, knowing that the food in the camp Joanna married and had three children. When she was in was contaminated would bring back fresh, clean vegetables her early forties, she was contacted by Sarah Moskovitz, an hidden under her clothes, some of which she would give to American academic. She had read a study by Anna Freud Bela. (Continued on page 5)

Joanna Millan’s presentation and (inset) with Year 10 students Lyndsey Thornton and Aliyah Feeney.

Page 4 “The Edge” - William Brookes School Newsletter (Continued from page 4)

about Joanna and the five other youngest survivors of Theresienstadt. Both she and Joanna’s husband pushed her into discovering her past. This has been an extraordinary and difficult path for Joanna, but she has now managed to discover much of her family’s history and has found living relations all over the world. For the past 25 years, Joanna has told her family’s story throughout schools and universities in the UK and latterly in China. We were able to obtain four copies of a book called We Remember, published by the Child Survivors Association of Great Britain. These will be used in the RS and History departments, and one will be lodged in our school library. It is an anthology of memoirs based on the experiences of Jewish children who survived under Nazi rule. Each chapter, written by a different survivor in their own words, gives insight into one family's experience during this terrible period of history. Coming from different nationalities, differing cultural, educational and social backgrounds, and families who practised a variety of religious observances including those who barely identified themselves as Jews, their voices are all individual. All aged sixteen and under at the end of the war - even down to a baby born in Mauthausen concentration camp in April 1945 - possibly the only thing they have in common is that they all had at least one Jewish grandparent. For this they were condemned to death. We Remember was written so the world will not forget; in the hope that the world will not turn its back on other genocides. The visit also set the scene for the William Brookes School History visit to Munich, due to take place in February 2017.

Year 7 students attending the Holocaust workshop in the Coubertin Lecture Theatre.

Christmas Edition 2016 Page 5 News from the History Department

Working in Worcester - a report from a Year 8 We also visited a Victorian school, where students were given a correspondent, Meghan Challenger, S8 taste of its conventional teachings and strict rules, whilst

dressing as traditional Victorian pupils. Year 8 students at William Brookes School visited the The day ended with a bang, as volunteers at the centre Commandery at Worcester this term. The trip was organised demonstrated an example of a controlled explosion that would for the students to learn about the final battle of the English have been experienced in many First World War battles, giving Civil War, the Battle of Worcester, which took place in the students a idea of just how dangerous trench life was. The September 1651. Also, the students could learn about how trip proved to be a thoroughly fun and enjoyable experience and why people fought in the English Civil War and how their and gave students a much clearer understanding of what lives changed. trench life was like. It was an activity filled day. We took part in pike drills and learnt how to fire a cannon in teams. We were shown what people wore in the 17th Century, the weapons they used and we Objection! - Mr Morris reports on the Year 11 History visited the main scene of the battle at Fort Royal Park. The Crime and Punishment Visit to London students learnt that the Civil War was a very tough time. For example, the surgeons had to amputate limbs with no Year 11 History students enjoyed a visit to London this term in anaesthetic and the patients were just given a mouthpiece to preparation for their course on Crime and Punishment. The bite on. visit included trips to The Tower of London and The Royal Courts of Justice. My opinion on the events were that they were fascinating. I felt that I learnt a lot about the battle, clothing and armoury. This Students took part in a mock trial based on a real case from view was shared by my friends on the trip. the 1930s. During a tense but enjoyable afternoon, students had to determine whether the defendant was guilty or not of murder. The jury found him not guilty, contrary to the real life outcome! Getting Dug In - a report from a Year 9 correspondent…

The students’ free time was spent in Covent Garden watching Year 9 History students have been studying this term what life the street entertainment and browsing the market with an was like in the First World War trenches, and recently visited evening meal at Planet Hollywood. During the evening we Park Hall Farm in Oswestry to experience a reconstruction of a went on an atmospheric “Jack The Ripper” guided tour. Our First World War trench. guide took us to various parts of Whitechapel and the East End where the murders took place. Students enjoyed a variety of activities, including the handling of some traditional trench artefacts, some of which were Following a comfortable nights sleep we went to the Imperial genuinely used in famous battles, such as the Somme. Others War Museum on the Saturday morning and looked at the included the touring of segments of the trench, like the soldiers’ exhibitions on the First and Second World Wars. The tour bunkers, built to replicate real historical arrangements and party also enjoyed the sightseeing and entertaining conditions. commentary from Mr Koenig on the coach!

Safer Schools On 1 December 2016, I attended a ‘Safer School Group’ meeting at the William Brookes School. This is an annual review of security and safety and attended by stakeholders of the school, including the Police and Shropshire Council. Mrs Marie Hark of the Friendly Bus I was particularly impressed by the hard work of the school Swimmers would like to thank our Year in the preparation for the Safer School Group meeting. It 9 students for helping her to search for illustrated the school’s responsible approach and a lost earring. It was part of a set that commitment to the ‘Safer Schools’ initiative. An essential had great sentimental value and Mrs element of this initiative involves communicating with Hark lost it in our swimming pool area governors, staff, pupils, parents/carers, Police, Council and on 30 November. this was covered in the meeting. Well done in particular to Elle The parent/carer and student contribution was in the form Humphries 9A6 who found the of feedback from a recent survey. Reassuringly this earring. Mrs Hark says it “made her feedback was extremely positive and the school is to update Christmas”! parents/carers and students. At the Safer School Group meeting, we also reflected on any issues and planned for - Mr Uttley, MWLC the future. Excellent work and congratulations on maintaining the ‘Safer School’ accreditation. - Ian Bartlett, Crime Prevention Officer, Shropshire Council

Page 6 “The Edge” - William Brookes School Newsletter Engineering Conference

Selected William Brookes School students were invited to attend a free Engineering Conference at Oswestry School on 10 November. Visiting speakers gave talks on: ● Magnificent women and their flying machines with a Women’s Engineering Society ambassador. ● Motorsports Engineering with Ann Walawaska, Bolton University, National Centre for Motorsports Engineering. ● Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology with Mike Brennan, Environmental Risk Manager ● Super Yacht Design and Ship Safety Management with Phil Noad, Marine Engineer, Caymen Registry. ● Aircraft Risk Management with Wing Commander Richard Osselton, Aerosystems Engineer and Management Training School, RAF Cosford. Maths Department News from M..

Senior Team Maths Regional Winners Numeracy News

Big congratulations to Robbie Cooper, Tom Grant, Oli Thank you to all staff members for supporting the Sires and Dan Loveday who won 1st place in the Senior Senior Maths Challenge and getting them to the top! Team Maths Challenge in the region! They will move on In other numeracy news, the National Numeracy to compete in the National Final in London against the Organisation is promoting a game called Star Dash best mathematicians in the UK. Wish them luck! Great Studios. The app game gets users to practice numeracy work you four! and number skills with real life maths spread throughout the game. You can also keep track of your progress as you play through the missions.

The game app is free on Google Play, Amazon and the App Store Maths Numeracy Challenge

If you’d like to sharpen your maths skills look out for the weekly numeracy newspaper article to earn house points for you and your house. Once completed, return the worksheets to Ms Prydden on the Thursday. STEM Challenge We held a Year 8 STEM Challenge on 23 November and students got the chance to create their own flying machines in the STEM. They worked closely with which will initially take place on Tuesdays after school STEM ambassadors from in Room 09. All students are welcome to attend, so if the world of Engineering you have an enquiring and problem solving mind and and Flight to design the want to use Science, Technology, Engineering and planes, using a variety of Mathematics to do this, woods, plastics and other then the STEM club materials. The objective might be for you! was to create planes that would glide the longest, so attention had to be paid to After Christmas we will the planes weight and wing surface area. be using micro bits to develop our own The event formed the launch of the schools STEM club Bloodhound Rocket Car.

Christmas Edition 2016 Page 7 Careers News - a report from Ms Lovelace...

NOTICE TO PARENTS/CARERS

SCHOOL ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS 2018/19

Shropshire Council, as admission authority for community and controlled schools in Shropshire, is conducting a consultation exercise on School Admission Arrangements for 2018/19. The Council is simultaneously co-ordinating a consultation exercise for own admission authority schools, such as academies, whose governing bodies are responsible for setting their admission arrangements and who wish to make Year 9 students enjoyed a day off timetable on 10 changes to those arrangements. We wish to notify all parents/ November as they attended a Careers Awareness Day. carers that the consultation will begin on Friday 16 December Speakers from various sectors held workshops to give for a period of 6 weeks up until 27 January 2017. students an insight into what opportunities are available to them, and what they need to do in order to land their In summary the proposed changes are as follows: dream career! During the day a Careers Fair was opened  To amalgamate the designated catchment area of up to them for them to browse around and talk to Hope CE Primary School, Worthen CE Primary School standholders from a range of businesses, such as and St Mary’s CE Primary School Westbury subject to engineering, BT, veterinary work and accountancy, who consolidation of provision onto the current Worthen CE gave them advice about apprenticeships and the pathway Primary School site. to the careers they might be interested in and what is  Minor changes to the designated catchment area at involved. secondary transfer to align with the primary designated Year 10 and 11 students were then invited to attend the catchment area. This will affect a small number of residents located at Hope Bagot, Hemford and Careers Fair, held in school, at lunchtime on the same Roughton. Each resident potentially affected will also day. There was a good attendance. be consulted individually. (Please see Students interested in joining the Royal Air Force were able www.shropshire.gov.uk/schooladmissions for more to meet Pilot Officer Glen Cadman over lunchtime on 15 information and illustrative maps.) November, to find out what opportunities are available for  St Giles CE Primary School in Shrewsbury has proposed members of the Air Training Corps. a slight reduction in their Published Admission Number Year 10 students were taken on a visit to the Skills show at from 46 to 45 to enable better class organisation. the NEC on 17 November, leaving school at 09.00. Upon  Shrewsbury Academy Trust is proposing a reduction to arrival at the NEC students were issued with wristbands its Published Admission Number from 237 to 187 per and then guided to the venue were there were many stands year group, resulting in a reduction of 250 places giving information on the options available to them with across the two school sites at Corndon Crescent and Worcester Road. regard to careers in the future. The Skills show covered a large range of careers areas, including the BBC, University  The Academy Trust of William Brookes School is and College opportunities and students were able to proposing to add children of staff members to their participate in job related activities relating to the careers oversubscription criteria. stands, such as being interviewed on the radio, hospitality,  St John’s Catholic Primary School, Bridgnorth is armed forces and construction. prioritising all looked after children, regardless of whether they are baptised Catholic children.  Lacon Childe School is currently considering its arrangements.

The consultation documents containing further information can be found on the Shropshire website: www.shropshire.gov.uk/ schooladmissions by following the link to the Consultation on Admission Arrangements 2018.

If parents wish to make comments on any of the proposed changes by Friday 27 January 2016 they should e-mail [email protected] or write to:

School Admissions Shropshire Council Shirehall, Abbey Foregate SHREWSBURY SY2 6ND

Page 8 “The Edge” - William Brookes School Newsletter J L Edwards Memorial Trust AGM & 2016 Award Winners Reception & Presentation Evening

Since joining William Brookes School as the Dear Mrs Cloud Head’s PA 9 years ago, I have been involved We are writing following the JL with the J L Edwards Trust, helping to publicise Edwards Presentation evening on the Award Scheme to students each spring term, Friday, 11 November to say a arranging for the Selection Committee to meet huge thank you to all involved. applicants and then organising the AGM What an absolutely fantastic (Annual General Meeting) and Award Winners experience for all the students Reception and Presentation Evening in the there. It was a privilege for parents autumn term. and family to listen to presentations This year’s Award Winners; Megan Birt, Abigail from such amazing young people! Cank, Tom Quinn, Henry Willis, Ellie Smith, We have been extremely impressed Sarah Pooler, Rebecca Anderson, Sam Hughes, with the whole ethos of the JL Tom Morrison, Jenny Hawthorn, Vikky Edwards awards scheme and the Blenkiron, Katie Hawthorn and Imogen Fawcett School's commitment to it. To be surpassed all expectations when they came offered the financial support to together to share with the Trustees, family members and other take on a challenge in an area that students love is a very specially invited guests, details of their projects and how they special opportunity. The application and interview process used the money given to them. was so positive and the presentation evening was just the Each of the Award Winners presented superbly well - no right mixture of challenging and supportive to really benefit mean feat when you are facing an audience all with their eyes our sons and daughters! fixed on just you! They made us laugh with their anecdotes For Courtesy, Enterprise and Endeavour, we would like to and simply wowed us with their accomplishments. In short, I give full marks to the Trustees and the School! think they are all incredible and I can’t wait for next year’s If you have an idea for a project that you think the J L Award Scheme. Edwards Memorial Trust could support, look out for details of Over the weekend following the Presentation Evening, I the 2017 Award Scheme in the Student Bulletin after received the following email from one of the Award Winner’s Christmas. parents: - Mrs Cloud, Head’s PA

Christmas Edition 2016 Page 9 FOCUS ON LANGUAGES

to learn and then start planting. Memrise will create a vocabulary learning and testing programme for you. Be warned, it is really addictive and you will have committed the vocabulary to long term memory before you know it! It doesn't seem like work either. We have made Memrise apps for the courses that we teach. They all start with WBS so you can browse and find them easily. You can use the website (Memrise.com) to find the course you want and then go on the app for your learning sessions. It is best to do Memrise is taking off in Modern Foreign Language regular, short sessions of learning. learning. Students are find it as a useful way to learn Thousands of other apps, created by others are also vocabulary by using the website or the app regularly to available, such as the entire vocabulary list for Edexcel help them build their vocabulary quickly and effectively. GCSE French and German, are already on there. Accumulating vocabulary is a vital part of language Later, you can create your own learning apps on learning and students are regularly tested in lessons. Memrise for anything you need to learn, not just Vocabulary learning requires commitment, stamina and languages. regular reviewing. Memrise is a great tool for this. It - Madame Francis treats each vocabulary item as a seed which you “plant,” then “water” regularly until it has been committed to your long term memory. Penfriend Link This term we would like to give special mention to those Some students in Years 7 to 10 are going to be writing penpal at the top of the leaderboard in each course: letters to students of their age from the Collège Du Pays De Monts; a town called Saint-Jean-De-Monts in Western France. Name Course Score on It is a coastal town that has large, sandy beaches that stretch 05.12.16 over eight kilometres and allows for many to talk and admire the seafront. Alex Diack WBS French Year 11 44,545 Premock 2016 The school that we are linking up with is a collège and is for students aged from 11 to 15. After that, they go on to the Kate Goodman WBS French New GCSE 35,174 local lycée which is roughly the equivalent of a Sixth Form Higher Unit 1 college over here. The Headteacher of this school, Valérie Ewan Poyner WBS French new GCSE 30,370 Stephens, is keen to Foundation Unit 1 foster this link with William Brookes in Louix Tziotzis- WBS French Passé 29,849 particular as she used to Foskett Composé work here as Head of Manali Ware WBS French Year 9 Rouge 142,496 Languages and then Module 1 Assistant Head before returning to her native Liam Lewis WBS French Year 8 Sport 28,412 France in 2006. Adam Thomas WBS French Year 8 Rouge 125,687 - Madame Crowther Module 1 Katie Martin WBS Spanish Year 7 105,080

Congratulations on all your hard work! If you have been inspired to go on Memrise yourself, here’s how: Search the "Memrise" website. You will to need to Register/sign up with a username, an email address and a password. Remember your user name as it can and will be viewed by everyone! Put WBS into the search bar. You will then find courses created by us (eg WBS French Y11 PREMOCK 2016) Each course is divided into levels which correspond to different topic areas. Click on the level/section you want

Page 10 “The Edge” - William Brookes School Newsletter FOCUS ON LANGUAGES The French Exchange Since 1982, the Modern Languages region’s famous chateaux, a visit to a Department at Williams Brookes School wine producing vineyard and a trip to has been running an extremely successful Futuroscope or Parc Asterix. They will French Exchange programme for students. also attend school with their French Our partner school is the Collège Gaston partners and generally “absorb” French Huet, in Vouvray. Vouvray is a small town culture. The need to use French in a real situated about 10 km each of Tours, in the life situation brings home the fact that beautiful Loire Valley and is well known French is a living language, something for its wine. which is not always easy in the classroom. We are pleased to announce that we are Over the years, many lasting friendships currently in the process of matching up have been forged between students and students in Years 8 and 9 with their French families from William Brookes School and penpals for this year’s French Exchange, those of Vouvray. Mrs Lawrence, our which will take place in two stages. MFL Teaching Assistant, actually Stage 1: Wednesday 29 March - Thursday participated in this exchange as a student 5 April 2017 over 20 years ago and is still in close contact with her penpal. In fact, in September this year, The French will group visit us. French students will be she even went over to France as a guest at her penpal’s accommodated by participating families but will come into wedding! As this example alone shows, the impact the school during the week to take part in various excursions French Exchange visit makes on many of our students has and activities. proven to be of lasting value and we hope that our students Stage 2: Wednesday 7 – Friday 16 June 2017 taking part in this unique opportunity this year enjoy We will visit Vouvray. Our students will live with French experiencing the French way of life at first hand, as so families and will take part in various excursions and many have done in the past. activities which normally include a visit to one of the - Madame Crowther

How my Career took off... Madame Crowther writes… knowing languages has opened so We have recently welcomed Kate Smith into the school to many doors for me—be it bartering for spices in the market in Mauritous (French) or ordering a delicious steak in Argentina give a talk to Year 9 and 11 students about how she uses ( Spanish). her language skills in the workplace. It was really interesting to hear about where her languages have taken Before working “in the air” I have worked in tourist offices and her and we know a lot of our students found it inspiring. hotels in Spain , Italy and France. I had a great deal of fun Here she gives a brief insight into what she does: and gained much valued life experience doing this straight after University. I can tell you stories of how I translated for a It seems like only yesterday that I was deciding tourists in hot water in the police station in to study languages at school, since then those Ibiza or how I helped stretcher a skier off the skills have taken me literally around the world. mountain in Chamonix! Language skills gave For almost twenty years I have flown on long me access to all this! haul flights from Heathrow as a Cabin Crew So, I am really enjoying visiting school and for a prestigious airline. being back in a Languages Department which When I drive out of Much Wenlock at the is where my story began really. I studied beginning of my working day I could be French and Spanish at school then took part in finishing my shift in New York or Hong Kong. a student exchange and studied at University in Spain. Having a second language was a requirement when I applied for my job and indeed I use French and Spanish all the time in Obviously, languages have had huge part in my life and the air,. career and I never regret that decision all those years ago to pursue them. It’s been very inspiring meeting students who I am much better qualified to forge a great customer are making exactly that decision right now. relationship with our passengers in First Class, if I speak their Mother tongue. Their expectation is an intuitive, un rivalled On another career note, our Year 11 French students have service ,which I am able to provide with my language skills. just done a job interview for their recent GCSE speaking Our First Class passengers pay thousands of pounds to have assessment. Some of them even came to the exam in their own private area with bed and fine dining They expect smart dress to make the experience even more realistic, Cabin Crew to be truly international and not only know their and some even commented on how being in a suit can way around a wine list but also have the cultural awareness give you much more confidence! If they can manage a six language knowledge provides. minute interview in French, we now hope that they will find Our Cabin Crew stay at least 24 hours in each destination and any other interviews they do much easier to manage. Well sometimes up to a week. During these trips away from home done, Year 11!

Christmas Edition 2016 Page 11 Throughout the term, students are awarded points for their Preparedness for work, Attitude to learning, Desire to improve, Independence, Literacy, AR Quiz passed, Kieran Alderson 11A5 Coubertin, Extra curricular activities, Heads Commendation, and Postcard home. Alexander Allan Year 13 The students who have been commended this term are: Stephen Allan Year 12 Eliza Allaway 8A6 Lydia Biring Hall 9A1 Joe Bynoth 8L5 Josh Allen 7L10 Megan Birt 9B2 Annie Bynoth 10L6 Alice Allen 7A8 Cate Bishop 9B2 Ryan Byrne Year 13 Olivia Allen 8L9 Jordan Blair 11A2 Anna Calabrese Year 12 Rebecca Anderson 10A3 Jude Bleackley 7B7 Abigail Cank 10S6 Isla Andrews 10S5 Oliver Bleazard 9A2 Mia Cannon 7L10 Molly Andrews Year 12 Vikky Blenkiron Year 13 Dominic Capaldi 11B2 Danielle Andrews Year 12 Lily Blundell-White 7S1 Avril Carter 7A9 Ellie Anson 9B10 Ryan Boden 8S4 Harriet Carter Year 12 Charlie Anson 7B3 Charlie Boden 8S4 Shannon Carter 11B1 Kirsty Antwi 8S1 Lauren Boden 11S9 Jake Carter Year 13 Nana Antwi-Nyamaah 7L4 Rhianne Boden 11S1 Jack Cartwright 7A3 Harry Archer 10B10 Max Bodsworth 8B2 William Cartwright 10A2 Ryan Ardern Year 13 Charlotte Bolam 9B2 Zoe Case 11A3 Leah Arnold-Vieira 8L7 Alfie Bolam 8B7 Charlotte Casteleyn Year 12 Kaiya Ata 9A2 Chloe Bolton Year 12 Astrid Catley 8B2 Rifat Ata 11A10 Samantha Borley 7L2 Meghan Challenger 8S8 Reef Bagnall 8L9 Matthew Borley 9L9 Amelia Chamberlain 8S7 Logan Bagnall 9A5 Andrew Bostock 11S9 William Chamberlain Year 13 Chloe Bailey 7L8 Vicky Bostock Year 12 Kirst Chambers Yer 13 Jenny Bailey 11L10 James Boswell 10S10 Bethany Chapman 8B3 Jodie Bain 11L9 George Bowen 7L9 Jordan Charnell 8L3 Katherine Baister 8L2 Shanine Bowen 11B4 Conner Charnell Year 13 Anna Baister 11L8 Martin Bowen 10B7 Jack Chatham 7A5 Jessica Baker 10B1 Simon Bowen Year 13 Caitlin Chatham 11A9 Lahela Baker 8L7 Sasha Bowers 8L1 Benjamin Chettle 10L5 Luke Baker Year 12 William Bowker 11B10 Lauren Chettle Year 12 Annabel Bald Year 13 Victoria Bowker Year 13 Rio Chidlow 9B4 Ryan Ball 8B5 Erin Bowman 10L9 Anais Childe 7L8 Annabel Ball 8S6 Charley Boxall 10S4 Courtney Childs 11S1 Phoebe Barker 7B1 Keira Boydell 7A5 Tia Childs 11S8 Christopher Barlow 7L10 Dylan Boydell 9A9 Emily Childs 9S7 Laura Barlow Year 12 Karl Boyes 10S7 James Cloke 7L7 Hugh Barnett Year 13 Harry Bradley 10 Isabelle Cole 7L9 Alexander Barrett 9S10 Isabelle Bragg 7B9 James Cole 11S7 Elizabeth Barrett Year 12 Jake Braithwaite Year 13 Mia Cole-Jones 8S8 Matteo Basini-Gazzi 8B10 Lily-Ella Breakwell 7L5 Sascha Collard 11A2 Luca Basini-Gazzi 11B9 Jalani Breese Year 12 Eloise Collins 10L4 Amber Bates 10S4 Ryan Brickley 8S7 Ben Collins 8L3 Lucas Bathurst 11S3 Kelly Bridges 11A3 Matthew Collis 8S3 Jacob Bathurst Year 12 Olivia Briggs 9S2 Skye Colquhoun 7B6 Olivia Baugh Brown Year 13 Amber Britnell 7L1 Megan Conway 10A7 Lewis Beach Year 12 Isobel Broadley 10S2 Izzy Cook Year 12 Jack Beaman 8A2 Hannah Broadley Year 12 Harriet Cooke 10L8 Angel Beasley 11B1 Jack Bromwich 11B4 Bethany Cooke 11B5 James Bebbington 11B7 Abigail Bromwich Year 13 Robbie Cooper Year 13 Will Beddoes 11S5 Oliver Brookes 8S9 Adam Corbett 7S1 Jorja Beddow 9A9 Georgina Brookes 10S8 Jodie Beets 8L2 Charlotte Corbett 11S2 Alexandra Brooks 9A1 Matilda Corfield 7L3 Jessica Beets 10L4 Rosie Brown 8S6 Marina Bennett 8B2 Daniel Corfield 7S3 Sam Brown 11S1 Taylor Corfield 7B4 Sophie Bennett 7S6 Jade Bruce Year 12 Jake Bennett 11S5 Joel Corfield 9S8 Rhys Brudenell 8A2 Jordan Corfield Year 12 Eleanor Bennett 11B4 Lennon Brudenell 10A3 Alicia Bennett Year 13 Lewis Cornwell 11L1 Abbie Bunning 7A3 Amy Cousins 9S6 Nathan Bennett-Plant Year 13 Joshua Burgess 7B2 Cerys Bennison 7B10 Ieuan Cowdell 10L1 Katie-Jane Burgess 9B6 Megan Cowdell Year 12 Thomas Bentley 11B3 Shannon Burgess 10B10 Jonny Bernat i Denny 7B10 Lucy Cowper 11L2 Jack Burgess Year 13 Sean Cox 7L3 Sergi Bernat i Denny 11B6 Charlotte Burrows 8L9 Alex Bernat i Denny 10B1 Harry Cox 7A8 Chloe Butler 8S1 Oliver Betts 11S2 Sophie Cox 7B3 Ashleigh Butler 9S8 Eve Biddlecombe 9B7 Isobel Cox 8S7 Teah Butler 9A4 Courtney Birchall 10B5 Shannon Cox 9L2 Elsa Butler 8A2 Amber Bird 10S8 Sarah Cox 9B4 Zoe Butler 10B10 Page 12 “The Edge” - William Brookes School Newsletter Jack Cox 10A5 Craig Dyke 10S5 Penny Gough 7S2 Sam Cox Year 13 Isabel Eastham 7A4 Lydia Gough 9S3 Ben Coxill 7A6 Holly Eastham 9A3 Harrington Gough 10A8 Paige Craven Year 12 Ryan Edmunds 7S10 David Grace 7L4 Joshua Crehan Year 13 Melody Edmunds 9A5 Hannah Grace 10L5 Ewan Crossman 9S1 Louise Edmunds 9S9 Ryan Graham 8S2 Owain Crossman 10S2 Jenna Edmunds Year 12 Me Me Grainger 11L3 Yasmin Crowe 7B2 Millie Edwards 7S1 Annie-Rose Grant 10S8 Mikey Culley 7B1 Cormac Edwards 7A1 Tom Grant Year 13 Jeannie Culley 9B4 Conall Edwards 10A10 Amelie Gray 9A6 Joseph Cully 8A4 Declan Edwards 10B1 Rose Green 7S10 Nona Cunningham 9S3 Thomas Edwards Year 13 Amy Green 7A5 Emily Dalton 8B4 Grace Elcock Price-Jones 7A2 Abigail Green 9S1 William Dalton 10B7 Lottie Eley 8B5 Luke Green 8L8 Ethan Damerum 11A2 Charles Eley 10B7 Summer Green 8S2 Aaran Darley Year 13 Imogen Elkes 9A9 Mae Green 9A8 Fernley-Jack Davey 7B5 Jakob Elliott-Allen 7A3 Chloe Green Year 13 Cameron Davies 7B9 Harry Elliott-Allen 8A1 Sehaj Grewal Year 12 Paul Davies 7S5 Freya Ellis 8B10 Ethan Griffiths 7A9 Callum Davies 9B8 Zarek Ellis 10S2 Chloe Griffiths 9A2 Freya Davies 9S6 Joey Ellis-Perks Year 13 Jessica Griffiths 10L7 Laila Davies 8A5 Harry Entwistle Year 13 Charlotte Griffiths Year 12 Tristan Davies 7L6 Romilly Esp 7A5 Matthew Griffiths Year 13 Noah Davies 8A7 Iona Etkind 9B1 Charles Griffiths Jones 7S8 Kate Davies 11S10 Pheobe Evans 7A6 Dylan Griffiths Jones Year 12 Henry Davies 10L4 Jake Evans 7S9 Iseabeul Guerin 8L6 Taylor Davis 9L3 Bethany Evans 9L9 Abigail Guerin 11L4 Katie Davis 11S2 Katie Evans 10A3 Claudia Gunter 9A3 George Davis 10S1 Millie Evans 9S8 Lara Gunter 10S3 Millie Day 9B3 Hannah Evans 11L1 Rose Hadley 8S8 Lydia Day Year 13 Frank Evans Year 12 Francesca Haines 11S4 Miika Day Gough 11A6 Bailey Evason 9S3 Victoria Hajdasz-Grimmette 7A2 Niimi Day Gough Year 13 Mackenzie Evason 7S4 Cian Hall 7A4 Brooke Dean 7L7 Katelyn Ewings 10B2 Harriet Hall 10S6 Jacques Deavall 10L8 Chloe Farrow 10A1 AJ Halliwell-Paget 7L4 Imogen Denholm Year 12 Henry Fawcett 8B2 Harriet Hall-Salter 7S5 Esha Dhillon 9S7 Amelia Fawcett 11B4 Jessica Hancox 10A9 Josh Dhillon 10S5 Imogen Fawcett Year 13 Shay Hancox 8A6 Eva Diack 8L4 Aliyah Feeney 10S6 Layah Handley 8A2 Alexander Diack 11L7 Kayleigh Fellows 10L10 Daniel Handley 8B6 Courtney Dickens 11L9 Lauren Fennell 7A4 Jake Handley 11B9 Bethany Dickson 8B8 William Firmstone 7B4 Jordan Hanna-Evans 10A6 Joshua Dickson Year 12 Oliver Firmstone 8B5 William Harding 7A2 Samantha Diederichs 7A10 Liberty Firmstone 10B3 George Hare 10B8 Ryan Dixon 7L7 Adele Firmstone 9L4 Caprice Hark 9L5 Jack Dixon 9L5 Abbie Fisher Year 13 Amy Harper 9B10 Hayden Dixon 11L2 Joel Flanagan 7B9 Barnaby Harper 11A5 Ben Dixon Year 12 Mitchell Fletcher Year 12 Lucy Harper Year 13 Kate Doherty Year 13 Oliver Foden 7L2 Michael Harriman Year 12 William Doody 9B10 Mitchell Fryer Year 12 Lauren Harris 8L7 Chelsie Fuller 9L1 Will Harris Year 12 Katie Doody Year 13 Isabella Fullwood-Jones 9A6 Joshua Harrison 9S7 Harry Dowdeswell Year 13 Danielle Furber Year 13 Mia Harrison 9S5 Emily Downing Year 12 Kian Garbett 9L8 Charlotte Harrison 10B7 Adelle Drake 8S4 Harry Gardner 8A7 Faith Harrison 10S3 Ryan Drake 9S3 Alice Gardner 10A4 Jessica Harrison-Ball 8A10 Holly Draper 8L7 Hannah Gaskin 8L3 Courtney Harte 9A4 Josh Duckett 11L4 Nathan Gaskin 11L4 Harry Hartill 8B8 Lennon Duncan-Griffiths 7S9 Finlay Gibb 8L1 Rebecca Hartill 11A10 Grace Dunn 7S2 Bradlea Gibney 7A1 Thomas Hartill 11B9 Monty Dunn 8S8 Cole Gibney 10A9 Samuel Hartill Year 13 Jessica Dunn 11A6 Marcus Gilbert 9B7 Zak Hartshorn 11A8 Evie Dunsford 7B4 Daniel Gilmore 9B6 Sharla Harvey 11S5 Thomas Dunsford 9B8 Helena Godfrey Year 13 Chloe Harvey 11S4 Olivia Duppa-Goodwin 7A10 George Goldspink Year 12 Jodie Harvey Year 13 Chloe Durns 10S7 Erin Gooder 7A8 Bella Hatton 8A9 Reece Durns Year 12 Kate Goodman 10L9 Courtney Hatton 10A2 Joe Dyer 9A4 Adam Goodman Year 13 Tegan Dyer 7S8 William Goodyear 9S6 Adam Dyer 11A10 Continued on page 14 Jake Gosling 11A7 Christmas Edition 2016 Page 13 Wesley Hawksworth 9L6 Fern Johnson Year 13 Millie Lowndes 10L7 Dudley Hawksworth 11L5 Maddison Johnston 8B9 Jacob Loynton 10S8 Jennifer Hawthorn Year 12 Katie Jones 7S6 Ella Lucas-Garner 7S3 Katie Hawthorn Year 13 Joshua Jones 7B10 Isla Luckman 8B1 Charlotte Hayes 10A9 Leah Jones 9A10 Katy Luckman 10B4 Lily Hayward 11B8 Archie Jones 7L6 Jake Luff 7A5 Mazie Hazlehurst 7B9 Rhys Jones 9B3 Oscar Lye Year 12 Vikki Heath 8A7 Freya Jones 8S5 James Lyon 8L8 Jess Heath 8A8 Lily Jones 7B8 Lily Lyon 10L5 Niamh Helliwell 7S4 Bailey Jones 9A5 Jonathon Machin 7S9 Rhys Helliwell 8S8 Charlie Jones 8B10 Alister Mackie 8A5 Angus Henderson 7B7 Bradley Jones 11B7 Cameron Mackie 11A4 Archie Henderson 11B9 Toby Jones 10S3 Tomek Maczka 9L8 Jolian Hendy 8A6 Meagan Jones 10S5 Jack Manning 11L5 Aaron Hessey-Wall 9A6 Callum Jones 10S10 Emily Mansfield 10S10 Emily Hewlett 11L4 Jessica Jones 11A2 Evan Mansfield Year 12 Rowan Hickey 9L4 Greg Jones 10B6 Louis Marandola 8B8 Aimee Hickinbottom 8B1 Ross Jones 10B2 Zoe Marcar Yer 12 Lauren Hickinbottom 10B6 Todd Jones 10A2 Oliver Markham 8B9 Noah Higginson 9B1 Wallace Jones 11S3 Luke Markham 11B1 Lewis Hinsley 10B2 Jacob Jones Year 12 Sophie Marlow 7S7 Laura Hinsley Year 13 Abigail Jones Year 13 Chloe Marlow 9S1 Luke Hira 11S4 Frederick Jones 9B9 Liam Martell 10S4 Joseph Hodnett 9A7 Thomas Jordan 7S6 Katie Martin 7B5 Mary Holland 7L10 Lizzie Jordan 9S9 Joe Martin 8S10 Lewis Holyday Year 12 Poppy Kaiser 9L2 Joshua Martin 8B6 Brandon Martin 9B3 Carys Hooper 8A9 Nakita Kang 7L4 James Martin 10B4 Kian Horton 9B9 Jasmeet Kaur Year 13 Georgina Martin 8L8 Aiden Horton 8B3 Jack Kayiatou 10B1 Jamie Martin 11B5 Brandon Horton Year 13 Harry Kayiatou Year 13 Grace Martin 10B3 Erin Hotchkiss 7L10 Kiara Kearney 9S10 Emily Martin Year 12 Lucy Howells Year 13 Connor Kearney 7S7 Edie Mason 8L4 Megan Howes 9B5 Robert Keen 9A8 Lily Mason 10L10 Oliver Howes 11B3 Thomas Kelly-Teare 7S2 Kieran Howorth 7S9 Benjamin Kempner Year 12 Eloise Matthew 11S5 Mitchell Hudson 7B8 Todd Kendrick 8A8 Gareth Matthews 11L1 Shannon Hudson 7B7 Brandon Kenna-Edwards 9B4 Phoebe Mauldridge 7A7 Jodie Hudson 8B5 Zak Kinsey 7S6 Abigail Mauldridge 10A6 Anna Hudson 10B3 Joshua Kirkham 7L1 Ollie McAndrew 7S7 Sam Hughes 10L7 Owen Kirkpatrick 7A7 Ethan McAndrew 9S5 Jodie Humphreys Year 12 Megan Lancaster Year 12 Olivia McCleary 9L7 Lillie Humphreyson 8A5 Caleb Lane 7A4 Sophie McCleary 11L3 Elle Humphries 9A6 Ethan Langford 9A2 Daniel McGarry 9S6 Phoebe Humphries 9B8 Joey Langford 11B4 Natasha McGowan 10L6 Tula McKinnon-Wood Year 13 Fleur Humphries 11B2 Fletcher Law 7S2 Jacob McLoughlin 9L2 Ross Hurdley 10L6 Lily Lawson-Broadhead 10B6 Charlotte Hurdley Year 13 Megan Leak 10B1 Finlay McMahon 8A10 James Innes 8S8 Grace Lentle 7L5 Mia-Grace McMahon 10A6 Ellie Lentle 7L7 Harriet McPhee 7B1 Hannah Insley 7S10 Sam Lewis LS8 Rory McPhee 11B6 Alia Iqbal 8A10 Hope Lewis 8S7 Louis Meehan 8S10 Faheem Iqbal 10A7 Liam Lewis 8L4 Casey Mellings 8B8 Ben Ireson 11L8 Tallulah Lewis 7L6 Natalie Miles 8B7 Morgan Irvine 9S9 Abbey Lewis 11A9 George Miles 9A3 Megan Irving 7L6 Zoe Lewis 11S10 Emily Miller 9L6 Sophie Jackson 8S1 Alex Lewis 11L3 Lola Jackson-Walsh 9A8 Emily Millington 7B8 Adam Lewis Year 13 Molly Millington 11B10 Jack James 8S9 Thomas Millman 7S1 Faye James 9L10 Charlotte Lewis Year 13 Hanah Millman 10S7 Jacob James 7S10 James Lewis Year 12 Mollie James 11S4 Lewis Link 9S9 Scott Millman 11L2 Ben James 11S2 Lewis Lister 11L1 Tye Minton 9A10 Katie James Year 13 James Llewellyn 7A2 Eloise Mitchell 8A9 Isaac James Year 13 Hannah Llewellyn 11A8 Jessica Moctezuma 8B7 Owen Jameson 9L10 Macy Lloyd 9L3 Jake Molyneux 10B10 James Lloyd 10L6 Peter Montague Year 13 Lewis Jameson Year 12 Luca Loughlin 8S6 Mia Moore 8B10 Brooke Jenks 8A5 Daniel Loveday Year 12 Charlie Moore 9A4 Sam Jenks Year 13 Benjamin Lovegrove 9B5 Meghan Moore Year 13 Evelyn Jennings 8B4 Samuel Lovelace Year 13 Jake Morrey 8S2 Daniel Jennings 11B3 Thomas Lowe 7L5 Abigail Morris 9L8 Hannah Joesbury 8S9 Charlie Lowndes 8L2 Tia Morris 8S7 Page 14 “The Edge” - William Brookes School Newsletter Eloise Mitchell 8A9 Brodie Passey 8A4 Alice Riley Year 12 Jessica Moctezuma 8B7 Logan Passey 7A6 Olivia Ritchie 10B9 Jake Molyneux 10B10 Jemima Passey 10A5 Harvey Ritchie 8S5 Peter Montague Year 13 Megan Peace Year 13 Ella Rivers 7B4 Mia Moore 8B10 Toni Pearce-Richards 8B6 Zachary Roberts 8S10 Charlie Moore 9A4 Luke Pearson 8L5 Jasper Roberts 11A8 Meghan Moore Year 13 Ally Pearson 11L2 Ella Roberts Year 12 Jake Morrey 8S2 George Pell LLA6 Niamh Roberts Year 13 Abigail Morris 9L8 Sophie Pell Year 13 Georgina Robinson 9A6 Tia Morris 8S7 Tom Pengelly 9S8 Charlie Robinson 10B4 Isabelle Morris 11L7 Finlay Pennington 7A9 Laura Robinson Year 12 James Morris LLA3 William Perkins 7A1 Benjamin Robinson Year 13 Tom Morrison 10A8 Ethan Perkins 9A9 Chloe Rogers 7B9 William Mottershaw 11B1 Thea Perkins-Green 11A1 William Ross 8B4 Harley Musker 7S5 Lauren Perks 9B8 Freddie Ross 11B5 James Narburgh Year 13 Olivia Perks 10L4 Ben Rowbrey 10A1 Benjamin Naunton 7L8 Cameron Petch 8B4 Emrys Rowland 8L4 James Naylor 10A10 Bethan Peters 9L9 Henry Rowlands 9L2 Jamie Lee Nedic 10L3 Michael Peters 10L3 Kyle Rowlands 11A7 Molly Neilson 9A7 Eden Petty 9L4 Lottie Rowlands Year 13 Alexander Nicholas 11B1 Isobel Phillips 7A1 Anya Rozewicz 8A8 Verity Nicholls 9B8 Ethan Pickford 9L1 Charlie Russell Year 12 Bethany Nickless 9L4 Oliver Pierce 8B7 Gracie Russell-Anslow 9B3 Lewis Nickless 10L3 Brooke Piff 7B7 Amy Sadler 8L5 Charlie Noakes 8A3 Emily Pinches 11L7 Alfie Sadler 10L4 Lauren Noble 9L7 Luke Pinches 10L2 Jake Salmons 7L8 Jess Nock Year 12 Alfie Pitt 7B2 Rebecca Sankey 9L5 Tom Nock Year 12 Liberty Pitt 11B9 Elliot Sargent 8A7 Hollie Noon 11S7 Mia Plant 9B2 Stella Sargent 10A5 Eloise Norbury 7B5 Brandon Platt 7B3 Benjamin Sawyers 8A3 Benjamin Norbury 10B9 Sarah Pooler 8B9 James Scott Year 12 Sophie Northall 9S5 Jamie Porter 10S9 Daniel Searle 10B5 Luke Norwood 11B7 Samuel Poulton 10L2 Harvey Seddon-Doyle 7L1 Martha Nutt 11S9 Caitlyn Power 9B9 Aimee Sellars 11S6 Alfie Oakes 9B5 Harry Powers L7L Joel Selvey 8L6 Lucy Oakley 10L8 Ewan Poyner 10A6 Georgia Selvey Year 12 Matthew Oakley Year 13 Ellie Preece 11S6 Suthida Senachum 10A8 Benjamin Oakley Year 12 James Price 7A10 Mahamood Sesay 9L8 Laurence O'Brien 11S6 Brendan Price 7L9 Finlay Shannon 10L10 Niamh O'Grady 7L2 Declan Price 8L10 Miya Sharland 10A4 Caitlin O'Grady 10L3 Sam Price-Tattersall 7S7 Antonia Shaw Year 13 Luke Oldham 7S7 Bethany Pritchard 8L10 Charlie Sheargold Year 12 Ethan Oldham 9S5 Rebecca Pritchard 11A7 Annabelle Shedden 11B10 Thomas Onions 11L7 Hal Pritchard 11B8 Bethany Sheffield 11A7 Luke Opoku 7A10 Jody Purcell 11S8 William Shepherd 8A4 Harvey Orme 10S3 Tobias Pygott 7S3 Maisie Shepherd 9B3 Archie Orme Year 12 Oliver Pygott 10S6 Katherine Shepherd 10A2 Jessica Ossig 8S6 Thomas Quinn 8L10 Marianne Sherwood 9L7 Isabelle Outram 7A6 Declan Quinn 9L9 Tegan Shillam 7L3 Seren Owen 9S10 Jordan Quinn 10S9 Chloe Shillam 10L1 Jessica Owen 8L6 Isobelle Quinton-Jones 9B9 Joshua Shinton Year 13 Corey Owen 10L2 Jacob Robert Quinton-Jones 11B8 Oliver Shires Year 12 Keri Shropshire 9S4 Andrew Owen Year 13 Moya Ralph-Jagger 7A3 Owen Shuker 8S9 Olivia Owen Jones 10B9 Melissa Randles 8A6 Elliot Owen-Bowden Year 12 Mary Ravenhall 10B4 Bradley Silcock-Humphries 8L9 Ellie Owens 9L6 Tiegan Ravenscroft 8L10 Oliver Silgram 10S9 Emilie Padfield 7B4 Cameron Ray 10A1 Zach Sillitoe 11A4 Anya Paggett 8S5 Jake Reacord 11B2 Kai Sillitoe 8A8 Shaina Paggett Year 13 Anna Redding 10L1 Simon Singh-Mohr 11B9 Jack Pardoe Year 12 Bradley Reed 8B10 Megan Sivill 7A2 Kelsey Parfitt 7B2 Caitlyn Renshaw 9L7 Jack Sivill 9A10 Saffron Parker 8A9 Megan Renshaw 11L8 Elliot Slater 8B9 Jamie Parker 8B1 Tilly Reynolds 8L1 Grace Slater 11B7 Scarlett Parker 10A10 Max Reynolds 10A3 Curtis Sloan 8L10 Henry Parker Year 12 Benjamin Reynolds Year 12 Natasha Smart 8L5 Linden Parsonage Year 12 Emmett Reynolds Year 13 Millie Parton 8S9 Aja Richards 7S8 Ellie Smith 8B9 Siana Parton Year 12 Joshua Richards 8S4 Magaidh Smith 7S4 Harry Parton Year 12 Joshua Richards 9B7 Travis Smith 9A1 Ellise Partridge 10S10 Katie Richmond 11A4 Continued on page 16 Christmas Edition 2016 Page 15 Kieran Smith 10S1 Leah Tromans 11B6 Bradd Wilkes 10A5 Oliver Smith 11L6 Reegan Tromans 8L6 Alanis Willetts 7S8 Bethany Smith 11L10 Morgan Tromans 10L9 Samuel Williams 7B6 Bradley Smith Year 13 Lewis Trow 9S7 Charlie Williams 9S2 Ellis Smith Year 12 Jack Turner 7B6 Megan Williams 10B8 Paige Smith Year 12 Ewan Turner 9A7 Bethany Williams Year 12 Katie Smithurst 9B5 Jack Turner 9L5 Eric Williams Year 13 Sophie Smithurst 11B7 Oscar Turner 9S2 Laura Williams Year 13 Hannah Smithurst Yer 13 Chloe Turner Year 13 Henry Willis 10A8 Molly Southgate 10S1 Nell Turner Year 12 Heather Wilson 11A10 Charlotte Spencer Year 12 Milly Tyler-Swinnerton 7S5 Max Winnall 9B6 Philippa Spendlove 9L10 Louix Tziortzis-Foskett 9A5 Polly Wiseman 9L2 Henry Spendlove 11L6 Zion Uwotu 8A10 Amy Wood 7L1 Mya Standley 8B3 Imogene Uwotu 11A5 Thomas Wood 9L6 Lauren Standley Year 12 Kieran Vickers 11A4 Torin Woodhall 8L3 Luke Stanley 9B1 Lauren Vickers Year 13 Maisie Woodhall 10L1 Alex Starr 11S7 Luke Wainwright Year 12 Evey Woodhouse 8S3 Emily Starynskyj 8B6 Joshua Walker 8A1 Samuel Woodley 9L3 Katie Steele 9S4 Adam Walker 7S4 Alfie Woodward 7L5 Ellen Steele 11S3 Kirsty Walker 11A1 Charlie Woodward 9L1 Ella Stenton 9S4 Ashleigh Walker 11L9 Amber Worthington 9B7 Holly Stenton 11S3 Kieron Walker Year 12 Drew Wright 10A4 Joshua Sterling Year 13 Fraser Walker Year 13 Ebony Wright 8L10 Keileigh-Mai Stevens 8A1 Thomas Walker-Evans 11S10 Maisie Wroe 11L9 Callum Stevens 11A9 Ben Walmsley 8S4 Eloise Wyatt 8L4 Rebecca Stevens Year 12 Jack Walmsley 10L1 Amber Wyatt 11L6 Todd Stone 9A2 Hannah Walters 9L3 Libby Wyre 7A9 Emilia Stonebanks 11A5 Hamish Walters 8A8 Alistaire Wythe 11B5 Imogen Stonebanks Year 12 Oliver Walters 10L2 Autumn Yates 8A1 Brandon Stretton 9A8 Tabitha Walters 10B2 Yasmin Yates 10A7 Jordan Strong 11S6 Amber Walters Year 12 Byron Yau 10A9 Iona Sullivan 11B8 Alice Walters Year 13 Jack Yeomans 8L1 Jessica Sutherland 10B9 Chloe Walton 8A1 Amy Yeomans 11L6 Jake Sutton 8B3 Liam Walton 11A9 James Young 10S4 Gery Tamas 8A1 Harry Ward 10L5 Adam Young 10L8 Natalia Tamas 7A7 Mia Ward 9B6 Garrett Young 10L9 Chloe Taylor 7A10 Joseph Ward 11S4 Kizzi Taylor 9A8 Alice Ward Year 13 Jessica Taylor 7A8 Manali Ware 9B2 Marshall Taylor 11A3 Ellie Warner 9S10 Grace Taylor 11S10 Charlie Warner 11S1 Robert Taylor 9B6 Megan Watton 11L10 Morgan Taylor Year 13 Nathan Watts 11B2 Robert Wealthall Year 12 Zachary Taylor-Wozencroft 11S5 Jacob Weatherley Year 12 Joshua Teare 8B1 Ellisha Weekes 11B6 Chantelle Teare 11B3 Sadie Wellings 7A9 Jessica Teare Year 12 Amber Wellings 9A10 Owen Tench 11S8 Josie Wells 7L9 Carys Tench 10S2 Oliver Wells 10L10 Jack Tench Year 12 Kalam Welsby 9A3 Daniel Thomas 7B10 Joseph Westcott-Michel 10B5 Adam Thomas 8S5 Jamie Weston 8A5 Lauren Thomas 10B8 Molly Wheatley 10S7 Lee Thomas 11S8 Charlotte Wheaver 7L4 Phoebe Thomas 10B8 Laura Wheeler 8L8 In our last issue, we reported that Tayla Whelan 9L7 Tallulah Lewis, 7L6, had been chosen Alexander Thompson-Hamilton 7A7 Georgia Whitehead 10S1 as a finalist in the Shropshire Star’s Emily Whitehead 8S3 2016 “Pride of Shropshire” Awards. Ryan Thompson-Hamilton 9A1 Jack Whitehouse 10S9 Now we know that she won!! Luke Thornton 9S10 Chelsea Whitfield 10A1 Megan Thornton 8S1 Hester Whittaker 9S2 Tallulah shaved off all her hair to raise Lyndsey Thornton 10S10 Jemimah Whittaker Year 12 funds for the Severn Hospice, where Maisie Thornton 11A10 Dominic Whittingham 7B1 her father sadly passed away last year. Draven Timms 7L3 Finnley Wiggan 7L9 Tallulah has so far raised more than Harrison Tinkler 8S7 Henry Wild 7B5 £10,000 for the Severn Hospice and Racheal Tooke-Millward 8S2 George Wild 10B6 her rescued ponytail is being made Ashley Miles Trainer 11S9 Caius Wilde 7B6 into wigs for children who've lost their Daniel Tricklebank Year 12 Millie Wilde 9L1 own hair through cancer treatment. Holly Tromans 9B10 Josh Wilde 9S1 Page 16 “The Edge” - William Brookes School Newsletter Library Latest...Library Latest...Library Latest...Library Latest...Library Latest

tThe proportion of Fiction They’re cold, they’re wet, and Rio’s pretty sure they’re also lost. stock that does not Spending the night in a creepy old inn wasn’t part of the plan display any AR labelling is at all…Set in the alternative World War II scenario of his Front dwindling all the time as we gradually work our way through Lines novels, Michael Grant, author of the bestselling Gone existing stock to check whether they have been AR listed. New series, has written this story exclusively for World Book Day. Non-Fiction books are also being checked for AR listing and Other titles are available from selected bookshops. labelled. Library issue figures continue to rise. Harry Potter Book Night Shropshire Teenage Book of the Year Award More Pottery fun coming on Thursday 2 February. Shropshire Schools Library Service have now announced the Save the date! The Professors of Hogwarts will be shortlist for next year’s award. The titles are: the theme for Harry Potter Book Night 2017. They say that the influence of a good teacher can never be erased, ● Cloud 9 by Alex Campbell so who better to celebrate than those who taught Harry Potter ● The Boy Who Drew the Future by Rhian Ivory and his friends many magical skills? ● Crush by Eve Ainsworth ● Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall Old books ● Silence is Goldfish by Annabel Pitcher Worn and/or outdated books are removed from our shelves on a regular basis and will be offered for sale at knockdown ● Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys prices to students over the first couple of weeks of the Spring ● The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin Term. Make sure you bring some change into school so that ● The Icarus Show by Sally Christie you can grab a bargain in our ‘January Sale’!

Ms Holyoake is hoping to set up a reading group to read these Thanks… books and then attend the awards ceremony, to be held on Tuesday 21 March 2017 at the Shirehall Council Chamber in To all the students who’ve been making paper chains and Shrewsbury. Students will be able to meet several of the other Christmas decorations for the library for the past several authors on the list, e.g. Rhian Ivory, Louise Gornall and Eve weeks. Also thanks to the Edge Arts Centre for their donation Ainsworth, and they will be able to watch a video message of several Blu-ray films. from Ruta Sepetys. Finally... This is a FREE event and is an exciting opportunity for students After more than 25 years, this has been my last term at William to meet real authors and have books signed. Brookes, and consequently you are now reading the final World Book Day newsletter that I will be editing. I’d like to thank all past and present staff, students and governors for making the last The 20th World Book Day will be celebrated in the UK on quarter-century of my life such a positive experience. Many Thursday 2 March 2017. As usual, every student will be thanks in particular to Mrs Cloud for organising my farewell offered a free £1 book token to spend in participating ‘do’ on 12 December; it was lovely to see so many past bookshops, or as part payment for orders from the “Teen” colleagues, as well as many of the current staff. book club leaflets that students will be offered to coincide with WBD. Four of the Special £1 books (free with a WBD token) Following interviews last month, Miss S Lee will become the will be available at school: new WBS Librarian and Newsletter Editor from 3 January 2017, although she has already been with us since 1 An as-yet untitled book by David Walliams - a December in order to familiarise herself with our library’s side-splittingly funny and brilliantly imaginative procedures. I know everyone will make her feel very welcome story, specially created for World Book Day by the and that the student library assistants will continue to be No. 1 bestselling children’s author. extremely helpful. I wish all our students all the best for the Butterfly Beach by Jacqueline future and I’m delighted to be leaving ‘my’ library and ‘my’ Wilson - a brand-new story newsletter in such capable hands! starring the unlikely best friends of The Butterfly Club. Selma can’t If the Carnegie shadowing scheme and wait to go on holiday with her best friend associated ‘Bashes’ quiz against Idsall school forever, Tina. But a holiday with Tina means a take place again in this academic year, I wish holiday with her triplet sisters, too – and it’s not the WBS Team all the very best of luck! Win long before Selma feels like the odd one out. that trophy back!! - Liz Herdson Island by David Almond - each year, sixteen-year old Louise travels with her father to the island of Lindisfarne. It’s a holiday, Hello everyone! I am the newly appointed li- but also a pilgrimage to the place Louise’s brarian, Miss Lee, who will be replacing the mother loved best of all in the whole world. This amazing Mrs. Herdson. I will try my best to fill year things are changing and the her shoes in the New Year! beautiful and haunted island is a As some of you have already noticed, I am troubled place. originally from Canada (and no, I did not live Dead of Night by Michael Grant - Rio Richlin in an igloo). So if you hear a strange voice doesn’t have superpowers. She is an ordinary among the books, that will probably be me! young woman. Right now she’s part of a squad I hope to have a great first year at William Brookes with all of on a training exercise in some place called Wales. the friendly staff and students. See you in the library!

Christmas Edition 2016 Page 17 Notes from Mrs Jaeger… Performing Arts/ Music

It’s the Sixth Form Panto! Oh yes it was!! Music department clubs running as follows: Rehearsals are running every lunchtime and after school for our Musical - Little Shop of Horrors (13—16 February 2017)

Performing Arts concert—Thursday 3 November This event was a sell out - thank you for your support

Dance featured -Junior and Senior dance, tap duets, Advanced Encore and Senior Encore. Drama featured the Year12 A level students and members of Express club presented Music. It was a successful evening of a taste of our Performing Arts activities. A big thanks you for clearing away all the gear so quickly and efficiently.

Year 7 Arts Curriculum Evening Wednesday 19 October Year 7 parents were invited to an hour of performance given by Year 7 students of Dance, Drama and Music showing what is taught in the Performing Arts curriculum. The audience took part in a four-part rendition of "Belle Mama" - a truly wonderful sound.

Carol Concert Monday 5 December at Holy Trinity Church in Much Wenlock Mulled wine and mince pies were the start of Christmas at William Brookes. There was dance, readings of poetry written by William Brookes students along with solos and ensemble pieces with the audience joining in with carols.

Year 11 recorded their ensemble performance for their GCSE coursework on Thursday 8 December. This show had all the adventure, gags and great Their final piece of coursework will be their composition (unit characters with the rousing song and dance you‘ve 2) over the weekend Friday/Saturday/Sunday 17/18/19 come to expect from our ‘traditional’ Christmas Panto! March.

Panto The show runs Monday 13 February - Thursday 16 The Panto started its run with February 2017 two matinee performances, Tuesday 13 December for Please note the change primary school students and of days from our usual Wednesday 14 December for ’slot’ and as was Year 11 students. reported in our Our two public performances October edition. There were on Wednesday 14 and is a History/RE trip leaving Thursday 15 December in the on Friday 17 February and Edge Artc Centre. as some of our performers The poster right show Niimi will be part of this trip we Day-Gough as Jafar, top have moved our right, Jenny Hawthorn as performance dates forward Jasmine and Harriet Carter as Aladdin. by a day. Rehearsals for the school Musical production of Little Be sure to buy your tickets in advance to avoid Shop of Horrors are well underway. disappointment as they sell out extremely quickly!

Page 18 “The Edge” - William Brookes School Newsletter Wenlock Olympian Live Arts 2017 at The Edge Competitions in Dance, Music and Speech and Drama (including Creative Writing) take place over the course of two weekends next year (11/12 March & 18/ 19 March) at William Brookes School. Open to all children and young people (aged 18 years and under on 31 August 2017). Check out our website at the bottom of this article or Face- book page for details. You can also speak to the following teachers: Dance – Mr J Spilsbury Music – Mrs P Jaeger Speech and Drama (Creative Writing) – Miss S Jones Deadline for entries is Sunday 15 January. Viewing the competition is free but children and young people must be accompanied by an adult at all times. www.wenlock-olympian-society/live arts

Christmas Edition 2016 Page 19 The Science Department

running a ‘Spectroscopy in a Suitcase’ workshop on Friday 9 December. It involved hands on experience with infrared At our recent Café Sci events, spectroscopy to support their A level courses. Birmingham University post doctorate students talked about their research into gravity waves. The presentation was hands on too as they brought in state of the art equipment to demonstrate how they make their measurements. It was an excellent teaching support for an excellent talk. Year 7 Science Fair Year 7 presented project work at an ‘Evening of Science’ in Sydney breakout space on the evening of Tuesday 6 December – a huge success ass we looked at models and posters produced by students themselves. The parents who attended were very impressed with the fair. The work was outstanding! It was super to see our Year 7 students talk knowledgably and confidently about their work. Severn Trent Water Richard Clough for Severn Trent water came into school to run workshops with five of our Year 7 groups. Students learned about water wastage and water treatment programmes – making their own water filter.

Chemists in Year 12 Students participated in tile painting with Jennifer Hill from Coalbrookdale Tile Museum. Students were using glazes containing transition metals (to support A level coursework) and we are pleased wit the result of the tile firing. At Birmingham University we had a post graduate lecturer

All Year 7 students enjoyed a Science and sports psychology amongst other trip on Tuesday 13 December. They things. One of the more detailed topics attended a Science Christmas lecture put was about Paralympians and the on by the outreach team of the University of techniques they use, along with Birmingham, with the aim of increasing determination and motivation and how some engagement in Science in schools within the West of these same techniques can be applied back in the Midlands and, in turn, increasing the numbers of classroom. students who go on to study Science after school. The session encouraged interaction and encouraged One of the topics addressed was The Science of the students to help with the demonstrations and Olympics session which looked at what elite sports men experiments that day. Those that were selected were and women have to do in order to become what they allowed to collect a present from the Christmas tree. are - Olympians. - Mr Brett The lecture also focused on performance food, exercise

Page 20 “The Edge” - William Brookes School Newsletter Key Stage 3 students have been Olympic Poetry writing poetry with an Olympic Competition theme, and here we bring you - Mrs Holyoake some of the poems that parents voted for on our recent Open Evening.

One, two, There goes the gun, Olympics

Three, four, Today is the day I have been waiting for. Run, run, run, My race, my time to shine. Five, six, I have been training for months. You’d better keep going, And now standing on the track it just felt right.

Seven, eight, Then the gun went. The others are slowing. A bundle of women sprinting to achieve their dream. Before I could think the last lap was approaching. Nine, ten, There’s the end! Then I felt it. My one foot fell under the other. Eleven, twelve, And the pain as my face hit the track. Just around this bend. I watched as all the women passed me. Thirteen, fourteen, With the chances of me ever winning gold. You’ve won the race! Then I heard a groan of pain but it wasn’t from me.

Fifteen, sixteen, I looked up and saw another woman lying on the floor. Here’s the pride upon your face. She must have fallen because I did. Seventeen, eighteen, I was the reason she wouldn’t be achieving her dream. The whole country’s beaming. Then I shoot up,

Nineteen, twenty, Grabbing the New Zealand runner by the shoulder, While you, the hero, stands there gleaming! I picked her up.

By Claudia Gunter 9A3 We started walking again. Then the runner fell and I lost my grip. I looked at the runner on the floor and realised she must have hurt her leg. Never Give Up I knew I had to finish this race. And I wasn’t doing it without her. Never give up, push yourself till So I picked her up again and let her lean on me. the last drop of sweat trickles Then we passed it. The crowd cheered the whole way. down your forehead. Be the Even though I didn’t win gold that day I felt that I best you can be, wear your won a lot more. country colours with pride. By Lottie Eley 8B5 Swimmers like dolphins power through the water. Vibrant colours blurred by effort, drive and belief. LOST PROPERTY It is amazing how much Lost Property our Reception Office Believing and dreaming is all it takes, collects on a daily basis! You can increase your chances of until that is not enough, when you have being quickly reunited with your belongings by ensuring that to push harder, when you have to put everything is clearly marked with your name. Please do in more effort, you keep saying I will NOT bring any valuable items into school! leave my mark and you will. All lost property is donated to charity at the end of every Inspire like you were inspired, show term. that we are all champions, remember your moments.

Those intense races you never forget, CHEWING GUM the devastating moment when things don’t go to plan. You have to believe, A reminder to achieve, inspire and never give up. students that If you don’t give up you cannot fail! chewing gum is

By Grace Elcock Price-Jones 7A2 NOT allowed in school.

Christmas Edition 2016 Page 21 Leadership, Primary Links and Sports Reports from SGCO Mrs Smith

Autumn 1 After school, parents were invited to join in with badminton, table tennis and dance, or to watch the Year 7 boys football

festival and the Year 7 girls netball festival. Parents were able Year 7 CLUB LINK DAY – 8 September to ask staff about the various clubs on offer and were We got the year off to a flying start with our Year 7 Club Link pleasantly surprised to discover the variety of clubs on offer Day organised by SGCo Annie Smith during the first week of and find that almost all after school clubs are free. term. All of Year 7 students were off timetable and spent the day rotating through a carousel of PE activities to introduce them to the variety of lunchtime and after school clubs on offer HIGH 5 NETBALL LEAGUE to them at William Brookes. They met their PE groups for the Mid September we saw the start of our twice a week High 5 first time as well, which gave them the chance to make new League which gave children from our partner primary schools friends and ask any questions about PE and Dance and how to the chance to play some friendly competitive games against get involved in extracurricular activities. The students were able other schools. to experience 5 out of 9 activities and were encouraged to All schools were represented with 8 teams in total. Teams share their experiences with their peers. played 2 x 25 minute games each week, umpired by our Sixth Form and Year10 Sports Leaders whom play for Wenlock Lightning Netball Club. The leaders are encouraged to coach during the games and not umpire too strictly as part of a development programme. The team that best demonstrates the Olympic values of Friendship and Respect will receive a special certificate at the end of the league. On average 60 girls and boys from Year 4 to Year 6 are involved and the improvements at the end is astonishing. Many thanks to the staff and parents who bring the children and a special thanks to Charlotte Spencer, Meg Leak and Lauren Hickenbottom, our Sports Leaders who have been umpiring – (and recruiting new U11 players for Wenlock Lightning Netball Club). Also thanks to Mrs Lyndsey Dillon who has also helped with umpiring for Much Wenlock. Barrow and Church Preen schools were selected to go forward to represent the William Brookes School (WBS) ‘family’ in the East Shropshire High 5 tournament at BES on 13 October. Both teams did really well coming 3rd in their leagues, narrowly missing out on the semi final playoffs. Well done !

TAG RUGBY FESTIVAL The Head Teacher from Church Preen and Brockton, Mr Dave 12 of our Year 8 Sports Leaders mentored the groups, making Tinker, is an enthusiastic rugby player and was keen for SGCO sure the new students got to the right places at the right time Annie Smith to organise a Tag Rugby tournament, giving our and answering the many questions they had about life at partner primary schools the chance to play before the big East secondary school. It has been very pleasing to see the Shropshire tournament in February. The tournament was held numbers who have since joined one or more after-school at WBS on 5 October and was won by Barrow, with Broseley clubs, with many trying out activities that they had never done 2nd, Church Preen 3rd and the most improved team, Much before. Wenlock, 4th. WBS rugby players, George Goldspink , Owain Thanks to the Year 8 Crossman, Mike Hillman, Harvey Orme and Calum Jones mentors who did a acted as officials, taking turns to be referee, line judge, great job and special timekeeper, coach or scorer. Mr Tinker provided medals for thanks also to Sports the four teams and Barrow also took home a very impressive Leaders Will trophy. Mottershaw (rugby), Dan Loveday YEAR 6 AUTUMN ACTIVITY AFTERNOON 12 October (badminton and As part of the KS2/3 transition programme, Year 6 children football), Reece from our partner primary schools were invited to join us for an Durns, Kieron afternoon of PE activities organised by SGCO Ann Smith. The Walker, Tom Nock 197 children from Years 4, 5 & 6 had the opportunity to meet (who all ran the after the PE staff and experience the activities and facilities which will -school football be available to them at William Brookes. They also had the festival) and Jamie opportunity to meet their peers from other schools. Robinson who To assist with the transition work Year 7 Sports Leaders (who coached table tennis all day alongside were Bronze Sports Ambassadors in Year 6) were asked to Club Coach John mentor a group of primary school children. Their role was to OKeefe. look after the primary pupils, ensure they got to the right (Continued on page 23)

Page 22 “The Edge” - William Brookes School Newsletter (Continued from page 22) Netball League. An influx of new members following the WBS activities, show them around and answer any questions they primary High 5 League has seen 47 attending the 16.00 - had about life at William Brookes and the sporting 17.00 U11 training. As a result the club has recruited two new opportunities available. The primary pupils felt more confident coaches, Lyndsey Dillon and Mrs Jardine to assist head coach to chat to the Year 7 leaders and were pleased to see some Jill Loveday and Annie Smith with the junior session. familiar faces. Thanks to Year 7 leaders Grace Dunn, Phoebe Barker, Jonathan Machin, Chloe Taylor, Samantha Borley, PRIMARY SCHOOLS into WBS Brooke Piff, Sam Price Tattersall, Meg Irving, James Cloke, Autumn 1 has seen Much Wenlock primary school bringing Josh Allen and Jake Luft. See photos below. Year 4 and 6 classes into WBS. Year 6 focussed on tag rugby and badminton this half term and Year 4 looked at Invasion Games through netball/basketball type games with Mrs Smith. Swimming was taught by leisure centre staff and teachers from the primary sector, including Northgate club coach Avril Hawthorn. John Wilkinson school has also been in for swimming with Year 3 and 6 working with leisure centre staff and new PE apprentice Matthew Griffiths. Year 3 have been doing gymnastics with SGCO Annie Smith and Year6 have also done gymnastics and High 5 netball/basketball training which resulted in 6 girls joining Wenlock Lightning Netball Club. Autumn 2 had Buildwas on Tuesdays with Year 5 & 6 doing dance with Mr Spilsbury in preparation for a whole class dance which they will perform in the WBS Primary Dance Festival in January. Students have also been doing swimming with Annie Smith and Matthew Griffiths who was delighted to see 3/4 of the class able to swim more than 25m by the end of term. On Thursdays Cressage had been doing swimming with the Year 5 & 6 class and doing dance with Mrs. Smith and dance leaders Molly Southgate and Katie Steele. They have also been doing gymnastics, focusing on balancing and jumping. Mrs. Smith was delighted to see dramatic improvements in the children’s body awareness and control. Cressage will also be performing a at the festival in January with some performing a second dance which they are learning at After School Club led by Sixth Form dance leader Jodie Harvey. SCHOOL CLUB LINKS BADMINTON – NO STRINGS SESSION Autumn 2 Year 7 and 8 Badminton players attend club from 16.00 -

17.00 on Tuesdays and are organised and coached by Sixth BRONZE AMBASSADOR TRAINING Form badminton leaders, Dan Loveday and Simon Bowen. These leaders are joined by other badminton players from On 1 and 3 November the 32 Year 6 Bronze Ambassadors . 17.00 - 18.00 for the leisure centres NO STRINGS session. (BAs) from our eight primary schools came to WBS for leadership workshops with Ann Smith and Matthew Griffiths. The session is open to the public and costs £1. Mrs Smith There were four groups working with leaders from other organises the sessions and is delighted to see WBS students schools. They looked at what makes a good leader and from all years at 17.00 after they’ve finished their after-school discussed ideas to promote PE and sports back in their own club. Numbers of primary pupils and their parents are steadily school to get more students active. They also planned and increasing with an average attendance of 20 attending the drop in session. (Continued on page 24)

TABLE TENNIS William Brookes School is pleased to have the services of table tennis coach John Okeefe again this year. John coaches on Tuesday from 16.00 - 17.00 with sessions open to Year 5/6 primary children and all WBS students. The cost is 50p and John brings his own equipment for the students to use. He is assisted every week by Sports Leaders Harry Entwistle and Jordan Blair. The numbers this term have increased following the Year 7 club link day.

WENLOCK LIGHTNING NETBALL This club goes from strength to strength having over 90 members attending the Friday night training sessions with 6 teams from U11 to U19 entered in the Shropshire Junior

Christmas Edition 2016 Page 23 organised a competition for the other groups and afterwards talked through what had gone well and what they could improve on. The leaders were divided into 3 groups and had to organise a competition in Tri-golf, Boccia or Kurling to the other groups. Upon returning to their respective schools, the BAs were asked They also had to decide their roles and think about what was to plan and deliver three intra-school competitions for the Year needed to be done before, during and after the competition. 3 & 4 pupils in Bocciq, New Age Kurling and Tri-Golf. The BAs Mrs Smith was very impressed by the teamwork and sharing of helped select 15 children from their school to participate in the ideas and how well the leaders carried out the different roles. Olympic and Paralympic Festival at WBS in May of next year. The BAs will also attend and assist the Silver Sports Ambassadors from WBS who will be organising the festival.

BRONZE AMBASSADOR INTRA-EVENTS Cressage Bas were quick off the mark following the training workshop in the early November. The team of Meg, Charlie, Owen and Alex have already had a planning meeting with Annie Smith and delivered a Boccia competition to the Year 3 & 4 children in their school. Mrs. Smith was impressed by the team work and how they supported each other and is looking forward to their next event to see what changes they decide to make ready for the Kurling event next term. Much Wenlock BAs Rhys, Jess, Naomi and Jude had a good planning meeting with Annie Smith and completed their first Year 3 & 4 intra-competition on Thursday 1 December. They were very well organised and made sure they shared the These leaders will now become the organising committee for planning tasks. After the competition they evaluated their the Year 3 & 4 Orienteering festival in April and the Olympic/ Kurling event and decided on some changes they might make Paralymic festival in May. Well done to Year 7 leaders Phoebe before they organise their Boccia event next term. Barker, Meg Irving, Chloe Taylor, James Cloke and Grace Dunn (most of whom had been Year 6 Bronze Ambassadors in EVENT MANAGER—COACH AND OFFICIAL their primary schools). Year 8 leaders Amy Hickenbottom and WORKSHOP Charlie Noakes, Year 9 leaders Amelie Gray and Noah Higginson, Year 10 leaders Fahim Iqbal, Luke Pinches and Lauren Hickenbottom.

Annie Smith and Matthew Griffiths selected 12 sports leaders from KS3/4 to take part in leadership training which looked in at specific roles involved in planning and running a large sporting event. The leaders had been involved in running primary school events at WBS but had various levels of experience. They looked at key roles of event manager, coach and official and identified what specific jobs each was responsible for. (Continued on page 25)

Page 24 “The Edge” - William Brookes School Newsletter (Continued from page 24) amazing to see so many Year 3 & 4 girls and boys running this year, with over 60 in both races. PLAYLEADER TRAINING The top finishers battle for two places available in the East On Friday 4 November Annie Smith and Matthew Griffiths Shropshire team for the Winter School Games in March. spent the afternoon at Much Wenlock working with the Year Outstanding performances from Issy Price (Year 5) from 5/6 Playleaders. The children spent time in small groups Brockton has ensured her selection but the other places are leading some simple games and also made up their own still to be decided after the third cross country has been games. Later the reception class joined them and the leaders rearranged. The Year 5/6 boys have a number of runners had the opportunity to try out their games and practice still in contention but George Shepherd (Year 4) from Much explaining and demonstrating games to the younger children. Wenlock is performing well and looks likely to secure his They realised that they sometimes had to adapt the game and place in the Shropshire finals. make it easier for the little ones to play and be enthusiastic and make the games fun. They did very well and Mr Griffiths will ESSP QUICKSTICKS HOCKEY TOURNAMENT be going back next term to see how the Playleaders have been getting on.

Annie Smith, Liam Hennesey and Matthew Griffiths PRIMARY EVENTS organised the East Shropshire tournament which was also a qualifying event for the School Games in March 2017. The tournament took place on 7 December on the WBS astro CROSS COUNTRY pitches. 18 teams took part from 9 schools across the WBS partner primary schools have taken part in 2 cross partnership and 20 WBS sports leaders led warm ups before country events on 9 November and 9 December, held on the umpiring all the games. Due to the large number of teams Gaskell field. A third event on 23 November was postponed taking part there were separate A and B tournaments, with due to a water logged course and will be rearrange for early the top two teams from the A tournament going forward to next term. The 250 children from our 8 partner primary represent East Shropshire in the School Games finals. The schools who took part on 9 November all managed to teams demonstrated good sportsmanship throughout the complete the course and SGCO Annie Smith was pleased that afternoon and the 117 children taking part all enjoyed the the rain held off until the runners had departed and the Year competition. The improvement in skill and spatial awareness 10 GCSE PE sports leaders cleared everything away. The Year was obvious to everyone. 10 leaders managed to finish the whole event and present Winners of the A Tournament were St Johns, with Worfield certificates in an astonishing 65 minutes. 2nd and Claverley 3rd. The event on 9 December saw 7 partner primary schools take In the B Tournament the winners were Worfield with part with a total of 200 children completing the course. It was nd rd Claverley 2 and Much Wenlock 3 .

Stop Press! Congratulations to Jess Nock who has made the regional netball squad training each week with the West Midlands team. She has also been selected for the newly formed WASPS super league netball team, a first for William Brookes School. Orders can be Also congratulations to Will delivered into Mottershaw who has just been selected school throughout to train for the England volleyball term times squad after some gruelling trials, another first for the school! We wish them both well as they continue on their pathway to success along with our other international athletes Drew Wright, Elle Humphries and Matt Griffiths.

Christmas Edition 2016 Page 25 Cross country Sports Reports from Mrs Humphreys After a great start in the Telford Schools League, our teams have 'gone from strength to strength. Two of our students were awarded with medals at the presentation ceremony; Louix Tziortzis- Foskett a silver and Tom Walker- Evans a Bronze. At the South Shropshire Championships hosted here, the

Year 10 & 11 Boys 1st Year 10 & 11 Girls 2nd Year 8 & 9 Boys 1st Year 8 & 9 Girls 1st Year 7 Boys 4th Year 7 Girls 2nd following team results were achieved: The following students were selected to represent Shropshire in an Inter-County competition in November: Charlotte Burrows, Elle Humphries, Louix Tziortzis-Foskett,

Biathlon Twenty four William Brookes students competed in the qualifying round of the British Schools Biathlon Competition which we hosted here. A fantastic set of results were achieved: 15 gold, 4 Silver and 2 Bronze medals were won in both team and individual competitions. The following individuals did particularly well: Niamh Helliwell and Henry Willis achieved 3rd position, Netball Natasha McGowan, 2nd and Elle Humphries, Manali Ware and Year 7 started the term with their tournament with three teams Louix Tziortzis-Foskett were winners. entered. The standard of the teams at William Brookes is Henry, Elle, Manali, Louix and Josh Allen in Year 7 qualified fantastic with the A Team coming 2nd in the district and the B for the British Biathlon Championships held in the West Team winning their tournament with the C Team having some Midlands in November. Henry already had a commitment that creditable performances playing against other schools B day, but the other four competed, again achieving excellent Teams and winning a handful. Get your trainers on girls on a results: Monday lunchtime and train and be part of successful teams. Josh was 45th, improving his points score by 81, The Year 8's have also had a great term and have gone up Louix was an excellent 8th, improving by 28 points, against a couple of new players and many regulars are really Manali was 28th, improving by 34 points beginning to flourish. Their organisation has been fantastic Elle was an excellent 9th. and a special thanks to Ellie Mitchell who has not only led The British Schools competition will be held in March at the from the front on the court but has been a great leader off the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. court making sure that the girls were ready for their matches. Their last match of the term against Shrewsbury High School Sportshall Athletics saw them squeeze a victory by one goal in very difficult conditions but this demonstrated how much they've improved. Sportshall Athletics is usually a Spring sport, but this year it has been brought forward to this term. We therefore moved The Year 9 team had their County Tournament this term and our Interhouse competitions to be inline with the County and played some good netball to come top of their pool. They select our teams. won semi-comfortably but unfortunately came up against a William Brookes has been very successful, with 4 out of 5 very strong Abraham Darby in the final who took the lead teams winning the East Shropshire competitions. early on and despite a gallant effort the girls never recovered. The following set of excellent results were achieved against the Runners up in the plate is no mean feat and they should be best schools in Shropshire: proud of their achievements. The sportsability team and the Year 8 boys team both worked The Year 10 team continued playing some outstanding rd incredibly hard to gain 3 place. netball throughout the term, only losing one match overall. I'm The Year 8 girls team were awesome, beating Shrewsbury really looking forward to their challenge next term when they High School by 23 points to become County Champions. play in the County Tournament for the trophy. It will be great Many congratulations to to have a big challenge and I'm sure they'll shock themselves Charlotte Burrows, Ellie Mitchell, Rosie Brown, Eva Diack, about how much they have improved over the years. Jessica Moctezuma, Bella Hatton, Hope Lewis and Iseabeul Guerin on a suburb team achievement. The final County Tournament of the term was for the U19's in This photo shows the Year 7 team, the girls were placed 2nd the Plate competition. We had a tough draw and our first and the boys won at the East Shropshire Championships. match was against Ludlow College who proved to be difficult

Page 26 “The Edge” - William Brookes School Newsletter opponents but we managed a draw which was a good start for centre pass twice in a row which gave us an unassailable lead! a new team. There was a couple of easier matches that we The girls came out on top and are pictured enjoying their won relatively comfortably but hen we had to play against The moment of glory. A great win girls and thoroughly deserved! Marches. Whilst the girls had improved all afternoon having been off for a couple of matches we went in too cold and ended up losing by one goal and our afternoon over - well that's what we first thought. A quick check of the draw said we were still in with a chance of qualifying 2nd if Wrekin B Team beat The Marches and against the run of play that's exactly what happened! So into the final but a tough draw against Abraham Darby The girls just clicked and really started playing some great netball, taking control of the game and coming out winners with a comfortable victory! The final was against Newport Girls High School. This was a much tougher match. At half time we were only one goal up. Into the second half we had a run of three goals turning over their

Interhouse House in a competitive environment with the challenges and It has been an incredibly busy term for Interhouse rewards that go with it. competitions. The students have competed in Cross Country, Thanks must go to our older students who officiate at the Netball & Football and Sportshall Athletics. competitions; we would not be able to run them without your These competitions enable all students to represent their excellent assistance.

Christmas Edition 2016 Page 27 “THE EDGE” WILLIAM BROOKES SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

The William Brookes School Newsletter is published four times a year - October, Christmas/New Year, Easter and Summer. If you have a comment to make, or would like to contribute an article for a future edition, please contact the editor, Miss S Lee. William Brookes School Farley Road School snow closure Much Wenlock If school has to be closed due to bad weather Shropshire TF13 6NB

this winter, parents are asked not to telephone Tel: (01952) 728900 Fax: (01952) 728918 the school. We will publicise all details via Radio Shropshire on 95/96 FM. www.williambrookes.com e-mail: [email protected]  And don’t forget our Arts Centre site: L K what’s inside this issue... www.edgeartscentre.co.uk

More school information can be accessed at Head’s Message 2 https://williambrookesschool.sharepoint.com/SitePages/Home.aspx

Friends of William Brookes School/ 3 Staffing News @WBS_School

Students meet Holocaust survivor 4, 5 IMPORTANT DATES TO NOTE... News from the History Department/ 6 Careers/Thanks SPRING TERM STARTS WEDNESDAY 4 JANUARY Maths Department News 7 SPRING 2016 HALF–TERM HOLIDAY DATES

School Admissions Arrangements 8 Monday 20 - Friday 24 February inclusive.

SPRING TERM ENDS FRIDAY 7 APRIL J L Edwards Memorial Trust 9 PD DAY 3 Modern Foreign Languages 10, 11 Please note that Tuesday 3 January will be a PD Day for staff - school will be closed to students. Head’s Commendations/ 12-16 Congratulations EASTER 2016 HOLIDAY DATES

Monday 10 April - Friday 21 April inclusive. Library Latest...Library Latest...Librar 17 MAY DAY BANK HOLIDAY

Arts College News 18, 19 Monday 1 May.

SUMMER 2016 HALF–TERM HOLIDAY DATES

Science News 20 Monday 29 May - Friday 2 June inclusive.

SUMMER TERM ENDS Olympic Poetry Competition 21 Friday 21 July 2016

Leadership, Primary Links and Sports 22 - 25 Reports from Mrs Smith

Sports Reports from Mrs Humphreys 26, 27