ACADEMY NEWS 4th March 2016 E X P L O R E Blue House Win World Book Day Quiz! QR to view on the web BE YOUR BEST Principal’s Report I am delighted to let parents know that the Academy continues to go from strength to strength with excellent student numbers for the new Year 7 in September. As all schools are funded on pupil numbers, it is vital to ensure that we continue to be one of the most popular choice schools in Cornwall and 2016 is no exception. It allows us to continue offering a truly outstanding curriculum provision and extra-curricular programme with excellence in all areas including the arts and sport. This week we have been visited by some experienced executive headteachers from across the country and they were really impressed with the calm, orderly, rigorous and very happy learning environment. A particular area that impressed our guests was the personalised range of support offered by our Student Services team, including Compass Careers and Lifeskills sessions, counselling and study support. This confirms that Mounts Bay Academy continues to be an outstanding school not just in terms of exam results but learning culture and relationships as well. Finally, Penzance will be hosting this year’s Cornwall School Games. Mounts Bay Academy, Humphry Davy School, Penzance Tennis Club, Penzance Leisure Centre, Carn Brea Athletics Club and the Mennaye will be welcoming schools from all over Cornwall competing in a variety of sports from golf to netball, table tennis to dance. It will be an honour to allow the youth from across Cornwall to see how beautiful west Cornwall is and how many wonderful sporting venues Penzance has for a relatively small town. Enjoy the weekend. Best wishes Sara Davey Academy Principal BE INFORMED Coming Soon: Term Dates: Saturday 5th March 22/02/16 - 24/03/16 Spring Term • Music for Youth event, Truro • Year 9 Art and Graphics Day, MBA 24/03/16 - 11/04/16 Easter Holiday Monday 7th - Friday 11th March 18/04/16 In Service Training Day • National Careers Week 11/04/16 - 27/5/16 First half Wednesday 9th March Summer Term • U12 County Rugby 7s 02/05/16 Bank Holiday Thursday 10th March 27/05/16 - 06/06/16 Half-Term • BBC News School Report Friday 11th March 06/06/16 - 22/7/16 Second half Summer Term • U12 County Netball 22/07/16 Summer Holiday Opportunities PLYMOUTH ARGYLE FOOTBALL CLUB: 7/3/16 Compass. Opportunities if you want to gain qualifications and play football at the same time. [email protected] DEVON AND CORNWALL POLICE: 7/3/16 Compass. Find out about local police cadets (can join at 13+) or the police as a future career. [email protected] APPRENTICESHIPS (CORNWALL COLLEGE): 8/3/16 Compass. Sign up with a local training provider who can help you find an apprenticeship and find out more about what you need to do. [email protected] CORNWALL FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE: 10/3/16 Compass. Find out about careers in this sector and what it takes to become a Fire-Fighter. [email protected] THEATRE TRIP: 14/4/16. There are still tickets available to see ‘Gangsta Granny’ by David Walliams at The Hall for Cornwall. Contact Mrs Marsden - [email protected] RONA SAILING TRIP: Only one place left on the Rona Sailing Trip. 17th - 24th April. £250. Must be 14 or over on 17th April. Contact Mr Fish - [email protected]. SWEDEN SEA KAYAKING EXPEDITION: Just two places left. £750 pp. Open to Years 9, 10 and 11 only. End of Summer term. Contact Mr Fish - [email protected]. SPONSORED 60KM BIKE RIDE: 24/3/16. 6 x 10km laps. You can do it as an individual or in teams of 3 (20km each) or teams of 6 (10km each). £5 per person entry fee. Money goes towards DofE in Cornwall. Contact Mr Fish - [email protected], or see website. BE INSPIRED World Book Day Quiz We celebrated World Book Day at Mounts Academy with an inter-house kids’ lit quiz. Students answered questions on Edward Lear’s nonsense verse, Blake’s ‘The Tyger’, John Green’s ‘The Fault in Our Stars’, J.R.R Tolkein’s ‘The Hobbit’ and dragons in literature amongst others. I had so many more rounds up my sleeve, such as: teachers in fiction and the best fictional females but unfortunately time was against us. text All Houses were well represented but from the outset it was clear that Blue and Green had come with winning intentions. They battled it out until the final round, with only two points separating them. Blue were victorious and took the title of Mounts Bay Kids’ Lit Champions 2016. Many of these winning students are part of The Kernow Youth Book Award and will be presenting a short drama piece based on the novel ‘Hate’ by Alan Gibbons. We will be competing against many other secondary schools from across Cornwall at The Eden Project on 27th April and I will let you know how we get on. Report by Mrs Marsden BE CURIOUS Maths Feast The Further Mathematics Support Programme held their ‘Year 10 Maths Feast’ event on Tuesday 1st March. Four students represented Mounts Bay Academy at the event and competed against other schools across Cornwall. The event took place at Newquay Tretherras Academy and consisted of four rounds which were based upon their prior learning of various mathematical concepts as well as enriching their mathematical knowledge and understanding by challenging them to read and interpret new notions on complex numbers. The team brilliantly showcased their mathematical skills both individually and collaboratively but narrowly missed coming away as winners. I hope you will join me in congratulating them on their fantastic efforts and their well-respected final position amongst fierce competition. All the team came away smiling and looking forward to entering further events to demonstrate the mathematical abilities of students at Mounts Bay Academy. Well done to Horace Halling, Stan Roynon, Lamorna Reid and Nicola Enston. Report by Mr T Williams Chess Champion On 27th February Harvey Richings, 7 Green, became the Cornwall Junior Chess Champion and won the U14 Cup. While playing in the Championships, held at Penair School, Harvey encountered tough competition from players from all over the county, including a Polish competitor who has only recently located to Cornwall. He won five games and drew one. Harvey has been playing chess for five and a half years and plays at the Camborne Chess Club, representing them in an adult chess league. Half Colours Congratulations to Jaime Nieto and Tia Murray-Lambrou, 7 Blue, who were awarded their half colours badges in assembly on Friday. Well done. BE INSPIRED Pilates The Year 11 girls have been through some intensive Pilates sessions; they are working towards achieving a practical grade for their GCSE but some students who have already completed their course have rejoined the group. They have enjoyed it so much that they wish to continue. Pilates is a fantastic activity that allows the girls to switch off and think about themselves and get away from the pressures of exams. I absolutely love sharing my knowledge and expertise with the girls and help them make sense of where Pilates can fit into every day life. Report by Mrs Crowle ‘An Inspector Calls’ Review On Tuesday evening, a group of students went to watch J.B Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls' at the Hall For Cornwall in Truro. The play was performed by the National Theatre and has won numerous awards. The powerful political message it conveys was well delivered by experienced, convincing actors and actresses who captivated the audience. The set itself was very unique, making great use of lighting, props and pyrotechnics to add to the atmosphere. Report by Tean Manser BE ADVENTUROUS John Muir Poem Take it while it's here We shouldn't be ignoring the pleasure of exploring And the blooming of the flowers that took so many hours Nothing could be better than the rain getting you wetter Or the rivers overflowing or the trees slowly growing Whilst the raging wind is howling and the distant wolves are growling Running and jumping through the mud sends a thrill rushing through our blood Whatever the weather wind or rain go out and ease natures pain Run and jump through every wood while you have the chance you should While the bugs still scurry about before we have to live without There are so many places to discover but some still hide under cover We should enjoy every season as each one has a different reason Help the birds and bugs and bees their only home is in the trees Throughout the changes in the weather we should always stick together As nature is the biggest part of living with a healthy heart We can all climb the highest heights but together we can light the night Climbing to the top of a cliff is like nature handing you a frozen gift Cause in the end we are all living and who says we can't be forgiving Adventure is the only way to learn to love and how to play Take it while it's here before it disappears Poem by Izzy Markham, Millie Matthews and Zoe George. The John Muir Trust is an organisation that works to defend wild land, wild habitats and encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to connect with wild places. At Mounts Bay Academy all students in Year 8 complete the John Muir Award as part of their Project Week activities.