Academy News Autumn Term - Issue 1 Page 1 Autumn Term Issue 1 Open Evening Another huge success with over 375 families attending in the evening and over 30 families visiting during the school day. The Principal gave 3 talks to parents throughout the evening, with the Auditorium filled to capacity. Thank you to all of our visitors, and for all of your wonderful feedback. Year Seven Summer School *meet and handle a range of animals, *design/paint an animal poster Eighty five soon to be Year 7 pupils spent insects and reptiles, including a pygmy *learn sign-language five fun-filled days at the Academy crocodile, a skunk, a pair of meerkats, a *take part in competitive sport following an action packed itinerary. *use ICT to research and present Summer School is about giving pupils time information to make new friends and become better * plant seeds and investigate bugs acquainted with their school before the *toast marshmallows by tea-light official start of term. This helps to boost Thank you to everyone who made this their confidence and allay any fears they week such a huge success. Mrs Edgar might have of ‘coming up to the big school’. The theme of this year’s Summer School was ‘Animals’ and each pupil was assigned to a team (Monkeys, Snakes, bearded dragon, a chameleon, a Tigers, Rhinos, Parrots and Crocodiles) tarantula, a tree-frog, a scorpion, a that they spent the majority of their time hedgehog, an owl, a snake and a millipede with. * design and print a ‘T-shirt’ and a mug Every pupil at Summer School had the * make lemon drizzle cup cakes opportunity to: *design and make a notebook Academy News Autumn Term - Issue 1 Page 2 writing stories to his work as an The Principal's award-winning comedy writer to how he desperately tried to scare the life Monologue out of his three boys while composing his latest horror offering, ‘The Schools are places where time passes Hunted’, the new book in his ‘The exceptionally quickly. Every day whizzes Enemy’ series. Our Year 7 pupils were by, every term is over before you know particularly excited to hear about his it. The pace of life in the last eight weeks work writing the ‘Young Bond’ series has been no exception and they have been littered with significant events. and enjoyed listening to his obsession with the scariest monster of all, the Our open evening was very well zombie – especially when he likened attended. Over 400 families came them to teenage boys! Pupils were so through the Academy doors and there taken with Charlie’s talk that as soon was much positive feedback provided as they got back to school, their first about the building but more importantly stop was the LRC to check which of about the pupils that showed parents his books were available to borrow! around. Everyone I spoke to commented Mr Duffield on how friendly, mature and impressive our pupils were. We also had our annual Haberdashers’ Higson Horror Talk A Great Success! th Deputation. This is when our sponsors On Tuesday 16 September, the send a number of their members to visit English department took a group of the Academy and reassure themselves enthusiastic Year 7 readers to that we are Oakengates Theatre to hear best- delivering the kind of education they selling children’s author Charlie value. Again must positive praise was Higson talk all things books. A packed received and a common thread was the audience full of students from across confidence of the pupils that showed the Shropshire listened intently as Charlie Haberdashers’ around the building. chatted about a whole host of topics Our House system has really come to life ranging from how he first started this term. The first two big competitions were held, photography and cross country. The first was won by Chloe Kennedy from Darwin House. The inaugural House cross country race was a fantastic event. Nearly 1000 pupils and 36 staff ran the race. The purpose of these events is to build competition and belonging. They also teach us that sometimes we need to do things that we are not good at, and maybe would rather not do, for the greater good of a community. For those of us, and I include myself here, for whom running is Rolls Royce recently sponsored an borrow money (monopoly money!) and a not a favourite past time the fact that Enterprise Activity Day at Aston team of buyers who negotiated a price we did it shows great character. Many University. Tasmin Mason, Serena for the items and ideas they were thanks to all staff and pupils. Heales, Jack Loftus, Nathan Garvey, Katie making. The academy students designed Goring, and Govind Kumar from year 10 a ‘computer wrist band, which was well The winners were Woodhall House. had no idea what to expect, but were received by the buyers. At the end of the Owen, Darwin and Webb were 2nd, 3rd pleased to see lots of other students day the team were placed 11th out of 30 and 4th respectively. Next year we will from other schools in exactly the same an impressive performance. The hold the event a little earlier in the year position. A package of information was students also watched a presentation to try and avoid the rain. on each table which they had to digest about Aston University, and student and act upon at the start of the finance, all in all a very worthwhile day. Have a restful half-term and return rd challenge. There was a supply desk Thank you to everyone at Aston energised on the 3 November. where they could purchase items (a glue University and Miss Moszynska for stick cost £20!) a bank, where they could organising. Mrs Kendall Academy News Autumn Term - Issue 1 Page 3 Abraham Darby Academy Senior Jazz Band Success Music For Youth 2014. It was a cold Saturday morning in performances by young musicians Practice ertificatec rewards special March 2014 when the members of from across the UK. Featuring jazz, achievement in the quality of the Senior Jazz Band, Brass Band, orchestral, rock, folk and world, musicianship, or an aspect of Showband, Clarinet Choir and urban, wind and brass, pop, choral performance presentation that Percussion Ensemble boarded a and chamber music! The Academy’s deserves particular coach and travelled to Meole Brace Senior Jazz Band was performing acknowledgement. The Innovation School in Shrewsbury in order to alongside some of the top School certificate is awarded for perform at the regional round of Jazz Bands in the UK which included performances that are particularly Music for Youth Festival (MFY). The Northampton School for Boys Big imaginative, creative or inspiring. Senior Jazz Band performed a twelve Band, The Blue Coat School Jazz minute programme including Orchestra and Roundwood Park After such an inspirational, well - Gordon Goodwin’s piece ‘Hunting School Jazz Band. Under the balanced and innovative Wabbits’ and Sammy Nestico’s direction of Doug Bill and Tom performance the Abraham Darby arrangement of ‘God Bless the Gledhill the band performed a Academy’s Senior Jazz Band was Child’. The performance was demanding set, which included presented with the Performance celebrated in the feed back Weather Report’s ‘Birdland’ Practice award. This was in comments given by the music featuring the Academy’s electric recognition for.., ‘a truly amazing mentors. bass player Harry Beech. performance with outstanding solos It was approximately two months and a truly professional approach to later the news came through that all aspects of performance’. both the Clarinet Choir and the Certificates of This achievement was the perfect Senior Jazz Band had impressed the Achievement ending to what has to be described music mentors so much they invited as one of, if not, the most successful them to perform at the National At each session during the Festival, year ever for the Abraham Darby Finals held in Birmingham. Music Mentors present two special Academy Senior Jazz Band. Celebrating 10 years in Birmingham Certificates of Achievement, one for 8-12 July 2014, MFY's National Performance Practice and one for Mr Gledhill Festival showcases dynamic Innovation. The Performance Academy News Autumn Term - Issue 1 Page 4 Deputation Day Once again the Academy welcomed the annual Haberdashers’ Deputation for a packed day of activities. The party of fourteen were taken on tours of the building and into lessons by students in The experience of a lifetime! defence class. My wave was the year 11. Following on, all year 7 first wave to be able to attend The National citizens Service is a the NCS festival. There was government run program that music, food, paint and people. It offers you at the age of 16 to have was an amazing day! a once in a life opportunity. During this past summer we On the completion of the first participated on the program. two weeks, we were then During week one, we travelled to required to do ‘social action’, this Glan Llyn, here we participated in is when we met up with our lots of different activities such as team and leader and planned a rock climbing, canoeing, gorge project that aimed to benefit our walking and raft building. This is a community. We are so happy students were presented with a King picture of us on Bala Lake. that we got involved with the James Bible, the Master gave a brief national citizen’s service. NCS speech and welcomed the students into has made me a better person. the Haberdasher family of schools. Not only have I faced my They then attended a Q & A session with some students from years 7-11 and fears but I have also made also visited the extra curricular activities amazing new friends and on offer that day.