Lichfield Road, , B74 2NH, 0121 250 5400, www.bvgs.co.uk

DGR/sw 23 April 2018

Dear Parents/Carers Welcome Back Isn't it great to have lovely sunshine? This is a busy term for all our students with a key focus being revision. Year 7-10 examinations take place the week beginning 4 June. 'How to revise' will be a key focus for assemblies in the coming weeks. One factor closely allied to exam success is phone usage and game playing. Usage is at unhealthy levels and we, as parents, need to do all we can to get balance and moderation in our young people and how they use new technologies. We would advise that: . Parents limit phone usage/game playing . Students don't have a phone in their bedrooms. There is a lot of evidence about how a phone (even switched off) in a bedroom can have a detrimental impact on sleep . Students don't use phones at mealtimes. It goes without saying that excessive phone or games usage can impact negatively on academic achievement and mental health. Psychologists are worried by research showing that Android users in the US are 'touching their phones on average 2,617 times her day. The problem is huge and concerted action is needed to get a better balance in our use of phones. Semaine de la Francophonie Winner Adi in 7G with his certificate and prize for outstanding participation in the Semaine de la Francophonie competition last half term. MedSoc This week we were joined by Professor Adam Cunningham from the University of . A big thank you to Professor Cunningham who enthralled our students with a talk on immunology and infectious diseases. Well done too to our Sixth Formers who asked some impressive academic questions and really enjoyed the talk. Merit Winners Aditya MUTHUKUMAR 7G, Seth ALLEN 7P, Shahram MOHEB 7R, Stephen BOWMAN 7W, Haider BUTT 7W, Harish DADRAL 8B, Ross GIBBONS 8P, Tighe CROOK 8R, Joseph COX 8W, Jai SHARMA 9B, Daniel TATTON 9G, Luke CRANFIELD 9R, Riley BEVAN 9W, Daniel POLLER 10G, Liam WRAGG 10R, Harry McGLYNN 10W, Sam HARKIN 11B, Roshan GHEDIA 11G, Zak KAREMO 11R Year 7 Parents' Evening It was lovely to meet Year 7 parents last night. I hope you found it a helpful evening. Thank you also for your useful and positive feedback.

Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School is Company Limited by Guarantee and registered in England and Wales with company number 7986921. The Registered Office is at Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield B74 2NH

The Governors of Bishop Vesey's Grammar School are a registered charity (No: 517907)

Dining at BVGS

The Dining Room serve amazing food (see above) and we now have a fresh coffee machine providing cappuccino, latte, mocha and expresso coffee. Corporate Partnership Update and Golf Day Our Corporate Partnership Programme continues to grow with 36 local businesses now signed up to the intiative. The programme aims to give companies exposure across our school community of parents and alumni. You can see the businesses that are currently signed up to the programme on the school website, http://bvgs.co.uk/partner-with-bishop-veseys/ We are looking forward to the next Networking session, to be hosted at Deutsche Bank in on Thursday 26th April from 6-8pm. There will be presentations from Deutsche Bank MD, Paul Anderson on ‘Conflict management in the workplace’, as well as MD of Bracebridge Corporate Finance and school governor Andy Moore on the topic of ‘Preparing your business for sale’. If you would like to attend this event, or are interested in finding out more about our Corporate Partnership programme please get in touch with Development Director Brian Davies via e-mail at [email protected] The third annual Golf Day will be held on Friday 8th June at Walmley GC. Individual tickets are priced at £75 per person and include a bacon/sausage sandwich and tea and coffee on arrival, 18-holes of golf, a goody bag kindly provided by event sponsors X2 Furniture and a 2-course hot buffet after your round of golf. Golfers of all abilities are welcome to join us, and a few sponsorship packages are still available on the day. All of the money raised on the day is put towards improving the quality and quantity of sports provision at the school. If you are interested in playing, or require further details then please speak to Development Director Brian Davies. Easy Fundraising

We are proud to announce a new sports sponsor for the next 3-years, Easyfundraising. The company help schools, charities and good causes to raise money through their supporters and community shopping through the Easyfundraising platform (you can sign up easily via the link below.

Do you shop online with retailers like Amazon, eBay, Just Eat, Argos, M&S, Next and Waitrose? If you do, you can turn that shopping into free donations for BVGS at no extra cost to you. Our partner easyfundraising gives you access to over 3,300 well-known retailers and when you make a purchase, the retailer sends a free donation back to BVGS as a thank you. It’s really easy way to support our school and your shopping won’t cost you a penny more. It really works - so far we’ve raised over £2,200 through easyfundraising but we want to raise more! Please go to our easyfundraising page and click ‘join us’ to start raising money when you shop online:

https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/bishopveseysgrammar/ Spring Concert - 24 April 2018 - 7:00pm Tickets for the Spring Concert are on sale in the School Club Office at £9 (£5 concessions).

Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield, B74 2NH, 0121 250 5400, www.bvgs.co.uk

Thomas Becket : Saint or Sinner Save the Date Well done to Adam Hurley 7B for his model of Thomas Becket - now in pride of place on the Headteacher's desk.

Please book into your diaries the PA Ball on Friday 13 July. Have a great weekend.

Dominic Robson John Craggs DL BSc PhD HonDUniv FCMA Headteacher Chairman of Governors

Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School is Company Limited by Guarantee and registered in England and Wales with company number 7986921. The Registered Office is at Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield B74 2NH

The Governors of Bishop Vesey's Grammar School are a registered charity (No: 517907)

Art Star of the Week

Harry Allen (U6). Harry has been exploring and questioning the use of anatomy, for the purpose of Art. He has really pushed himself to refine his use of tone and detail. He has completed in-depth research on Da Vinci and Body World, to develop his work responses.

Book of the Week

Quote of the Week

Letters sent this week: Ski Trip Letter - Canada 2019 PA May Disco (Y7/8)

Dates for your Diary

Summer Term 2018 Tuesday 24 April Spring Concert 7:00pm Wednesday 25 April Sports Day Thursday 3 May Junior Sports Dinner Monday 7 May May Day Bank Holiday Thursday 10 May New Y7 Induction Evening 17:30 - 20:30 Friday 11 May Y13 go on study leave Friday 11 May Year 7 and 8 Disco at BVGS (Please note change of date) Monday 14 May UCAS qualifying exams begin Friday 25 May Break up for half term Monday 4 June Summer term recommences Monday 4 June Exam Week Friday 8 June BVGS Golf Day Friday 22 June Year 7 and 8 Disco Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls Thursday 28 June Open Evening - 16:00 -19:00 Friday 29 June Music Tour Friday 29 June Leavers' Ball Wednesday 4 July Y7 Transition Day Wednesday 4 July Art and DT Exhibition Argentea Gallery, St Paul's Square Thursday 5 July Parliamentary Debating Competition Friday 6 July Sixth Form Induction Day Friday 6 July DofE Silver Expedition Saturday 7 July DofE Bronze Expedition Saturday 7 July Sutton Community Games Saturday 7 July Chinese party welcomed Monday 9 July Work Experience for 10 Wednesday 11 July Rhineland Trip Friday 13 July BVGS PAC Ball at Moor Hall Parents' Evenings 2018: Wednesday 7 March - Year 9 16:00 - 19:00 Thursday 15 March - Year 10 16:00 - 19:00 Tuesday 27 March - Year 8 16:00 - 19:00 Thursday 19 April - Year 7 16:00 - 19:00 Term Dates can be found here on our website