ISSUE 130 6th March 2020 This week in Science Club students were learning about infectious diseases. Very topical I think you’ll agree? Students modelled the spread of disease by transferring liquids from each others’ boiling tubes for 60 seconds. Only one student was ‘infected’ at the start of the simulation, but after just 60 seconds, all but one were infected. In the current climate we felt that it was important to show scientific evidence for regularly washing hands and using alcohol hand gel. To do this, students took swabs from around school to grow samples of bacteria on agar jelly. On two separate quarters of these agar plates students also added alcohol hand gel to one and hand soap to another. Next week we will be back with the results that will show just how important washing your hands is in terms of preventing the spread of infection. Neve Brier We’re again at the the time of year when our students and colleagues start rehearsing for their next performances with local amateur dramatic groups, and we have a number of people taking part in shows in the coming months. All Stars Theatre Group will be performing Oliver at Bradford Playhouse from 2-4 July, and we have lots of Team BBG involvement. Libby Doran of Year 10 will play the role of Mr Sourberry, Jemima Eklid (Year 8) is Bet, Ella Johnson (Year 7) is the Artful Dodger, while Estelle Evans and Lauren Pountney are members of the ensemble. The very challenging role of Nancy will be played by Jemima’s sister, and BBG Alumni, Isobel Eklid, who left us last year. We look forward to watching them perform. Bradford Catholic Players astounded us with their performance of Hairspray at the end of last year, so we’re very excited to hear that they have auditioned and cast their two upcoming productions. Emma Hirst (Year 10) and Lucy Barker (Year 9) will both be taking part in the production of Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at Bradford Playhouse. The performance will take place from 22-25 April, with Emma Playing the role of Mrs Potiphar, and Lucy performing in the ensemble (and also potentially playing the role of a camel!!). The group have also already cast their production of A Christmas Carol, which will be staged at Bingley Arts Centre from 15-19 December, with both Lucy and Emma appearing in the dance team. Finally, we are, of course, very excited to see Mrs Clough perform in the role of Alice Tinker in The Vicar of Dibley with Cleckheaton and Spenborough Amateur Operatic Society in May. We last saw Mrs Clough perform in Brassed Off last year and she was brilliant, so we can’t wait to see her take on a comedy role. We can’t wait to book tickets for the performances- if past experiences of all three groups are anything to go by, the shows should not be missed! Well done to Bethany Edwards and Lydia Holdsworth who selflessly gave up some of their school holiday to help raise money for Bradford Street Kitchen. In total they raised £325. Well done girls, we are very proud of your efforts. Lydia Holdsworth, (Year 7) has been pretty busy all round. Competing on Saturday 29th February in the ICE Northern Frostbite Cheerleading Competition at Chester Arena for her White Rose Cheer Odyssey and Oasis Teams. They achieved a phenomenal 1st place for both teams and Official 'War of the Roses' title for her Odyssey team!!!! And that wasn’t all…Lydia also competed for her club Netball team, Birkenshaw Bells, on Sunday with another win and a Player of the Match award! So not to be outdone, brother Oliver Holdsworth (Year 9) on Sunday 1st March, took part in his debut in his first MMA fight for his Club -Leeds Martial Art Academy - Over coming nervous and putting months of hard graft into practice, Oliver smashed it! Well done Family Holdsworth! Year 7 have produced some brilliant pieces of homework! After learning about the different zones of a city they then had to go home and create their own model of the city. Some students went above and beyond, bringing in cardboard models and even a dream catcher! A very creative year group! In Year 8 and 10 this week, students became the teachers. For Year 8, following their mini research projects, they then had to teach each other the problems for people living in Kibera and in Year 10 (see below) students were teaching each other the processes of weathering. There were also examples of brilliant team work in Year 8 researching different strategies around the world that are used to help improve the lives of people in squatter settlements. Well done Year 8! ENGLISH – YEAR 10 READING LIST Rise and Read Book Reviews Mrs Dyson’s, Miss Bulloch’s and Mrs Doherty’s Rise and Read group are challenging themselves with the books on the Carnegie Shadowing group list for 2019 and 2018. The group read one of the books and then look at reviews of others that have been posted online, before creating their own review of the book. This week three students finished their first book. Oliver Gall in 7.7 finished his book Rebound’ by Kwame Alexander Rebound is a book about a little boy who lost his Father in a terrible accident. Charlie Bell loved basketball, but when his Father died it all changed. The start of the boo did seem quite confusing. Because it doesn’t focus on one thing and it changes from one story to another. However once you get into the book it’s really interesting and a good quality book to read. In the book Charlie gets arrested, but he gets let out the same day. He makes mistakes, but the title REBOUND is about how he rebounds back from this as well as putting in his love of basketball. I learnt a lot from it. Bronwen Gibson Fenton in 7.3 and Matilda Finn in 7.6 both finished their book ‘Bone Talk’ by Candy Gourlay Bronwen’s review I really liked this book. I loved the way it made an amazing story while also describing the Philippines 100 years ago. It was amazing how it really kept you on edge, waiting for something to happen. I loved all the descriptions of their traditions and how the Mangili and the Samkad gel. I felt like I was really in Bontok 100 years ago. It was amazing how the author brought modern, everyday issues into her her book, such as Samkad’s relationship with Luki, and Luki’s urge to end the sexism in her village and be able to become a warrior. Descriptive words were used so well that I could practically see the places the author was describing. I loved the author’s choice of words and the interesting storyline. I loved this book and would definitely read it again. Matilda’s review Bone Talk is a book about a small village with strange beliefs and rituals. A young boy named Samkad us desperate to become a man and when his chance finally comes, his father ruins his chances by killing a living thing. Samkad is devastated and gets angered by his father’s actions and the story then tracks his journey to become a man. I think this is a good book to read because it has challenging elements in it, but it is still readable and easy to understand. Despite the weird ways of the villager’s beliefs, it is a book with dramatic occurrences and parts that make the reader think. Overall it is a great book for people aged 11-13 if they are looking for a book with drama, mystery and suspense. Staff at BBG have been sharing the books that they have been reading this academic year to support the theme ‘Let’s share a million stories’. Their recommendations have been turned into book shelves that are on display around the Academy. Have you read any of these titles? Give them a try – they come highly recommended by our BBG teachers and support staff. Don’t forget to spend your vouchers! Students can redeem their World Book Day vouchers against a book of their choice in book shops or supermarkets or claim a free book from the four titles shown below. Year 10 begin 19th Century GCSE Novel: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Students began studying the 19th Century Novel component of their GCSE English Literature course this week. A well-loved classic, this is a tale of redemption as the protagonist Ebenezer Scrooge, is taken on a journey of nostalgia, pity and finally fear before seeing the error of his ways and rejoicing on Christmas Day! 10SSH have shown great enthusiasm and are developing note taking and analysis skills as demonstrated in the classwork below (Aniyah Longstaff and Laila Jackson) Dickens at KS3 Year 8 Visit to Leeds Playhouse ‘Please, Sir, I want some more…’ Next week 52 Year 8 students are visiting the newly refurbished Leeds Playhouse to watch an innovative performance of Oliver Twist! Students will get the chance to experience an afternoon at the playhouse, whilst giving them an introduction to a GCSE 19th Century author’s work. Students attending the trip will be leaving school at 12.30pm on Thursday 12th March 2020 and return to the academy at 5.30pm. Students will need to bring a packed lunch. Year 7 Quantum Theatre Company: A Christmas Carol Earlier this academic year, just before the Christmas break, all Year 7 students watched a performance of ‘A Christmas Carol’ at BBG.