Ski Trip, Easter Revision & Improved Dining Area

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Austria Ski Trip – Easter

Pictured: A slideshow of the students enjoying their skiing in Austria

As I reported in my last blog post, 43 students and 6 members of staff headed off to Austria during the first week of the Easter holidays to take part in the first ski trip the school has run for many years.

All of the students had an absolutely wonderful time, in fact the trip organiser, Assistant Principal Mr Harries, said “It would be difficult to find anything remotely negative to say about the whole visit. Judging by the delightful and insightful conversations had with the students whilst abroad it is clear they would agree. There are far too many stories to share in one blog but suffice to say that the memories and stories will remain with all that attended for many years to come”.

Easter Revision Sessions Prove Very Popular

Pictured: Students with Miss Cape during the Easter revision sessions

Over 100 of our Year 11 GCSE History and Maths students attended revision sessions during the Easter holidays. The revision sessions were offered to students in order to prepare them for their upcoming GCSE exams.

Head of the Humanities department, Miss Cape, said: “It was great to see so many students coming along to our Easter revision sessions and giving up part of their holiday to prepare for their exams. I hope to see them again on Saturday 10th May for another enjoyable and productive session!”

Improvement to Informal Dining Area

Pictured: Students making good use of the new breakfast bar

Over the Easter holiday we installed new seating and a breakfast bar in one of our informal dining areas. It was great to see that our students making use of this space, adding more choice to the many indoor and outside dining areas.

School Allotments Spring back to Life

Pictured: Year 12 Students begin work rejuvenating the school allotments

Year 12 students have begun their next volunteering placement after completing previous ones with Trinity Sailing and Stover Country Park.

Together with year 12 tutor, Mrs Fortune, the students are volunteering every Thursday in our school allotments, rejuvenating them so that we can grow fresh produce to be used in the school’s kitchen.

The volunteering completed by the students is part of the Pathways to Employment course that they are undertaking. These activities develop our student’s teamwork, organisation, practical and planning skills, as well as building self-confidence that will help them secure jobs in the future.

Dance Festival

Pictured: Beth Rook (left) and Jess Tarrant (right) during a group performance

Year 9 Students Beth Rook and Jess Tarrant performed in 74th Torbay and South West of England Festival at the Palace Theatre in Paignton during the Easter holidays.

Beth danced very well and came 2nd in her lyrical dance. Both Jess and Beth danced in a group dance and were delighted to place 2nd overall.

Beth also won a place in the championship finals for both her modern and her lyrical for scoring 86 marks (Distinction) but could only perform one and so chose her lyrical dance and was placed 5th overall in the championships.

Jess also gained a place in the championships for an outstanding modern dance performance, but unfortunately was unable to attend the final competition.

Poetry Inspired by an ‘Alien’ – Slam Poetry – Friday

Pictured: Students with Dreadlockalien during the poetry workshops

Students had a real treat today when they were visited by the poet Richard Grant, better known as ‘Dreadlockalien’. Richard was the Birmingham Poet Laureate as well as the host of the BBC Radio 4’s Slam Poetry Program. He led the students through a variety of creative poetry workshops which saw them creating their own improvised poems and exploring language use through the medium of beat-boxing.

The visit was a resounding success and the students’ perception of poetry was altered dramatically as they were introduced to slam poetry and improvised verses centred on their names. There were a lot of smiling faces and laughter throughout each session the students all agreed that poetry is something they find fun.

Year 7 student, Katie Humphreys, won a poetry writing competition during the visit; this her winning poem based on cats:

I love a cat that is good, smooth and silky
When I get a pure white cat I’ll name it milky.
I don’t like dark black dogs, I like a cat.
I love to stroke her on a blood red mat.
I give her a big fat kiss and she begins to purr.
I love it when she repeatedly licks her fur.
Sometime she gets a bit angry and shows her claws.
But I love her little pink paws.
When I give her a big bowl of food
I always know that she is in a good mood.

Shiphay Primary School Improve Library Skills During Visit to TA

Pictured: Students from Shiphay Learning Academy enjoying the interactive Library session with Mr Withers

Year 5 pupils from Shiphay Learning Academy were treated to an afternoon of Library and Literacy skills today as part of a series of visits from our Primary School Partners from across Torquay.

Mr Godfrey, Mr Pugh and Mr Withers introduced the pupils to our Opening Minds curriculum as well as delivering a fast paced interactive session on how to use a Library effectively.

The students were wonderfully engaged and were a pleasure to have in our school.

Angelina Roberts Earns Rosette in Horse Riding

Pictured: Angelina with her horse and rosette

Year 8 student, Angelina Roberts, received a rosette for horse riding over the Easter holidays.

Angelina is part of Hayes Farm Riding School and owns two of her own horses that she likes to ride every weekend. Angelina received the rosette for being the best in her group at Hacking Out and Schooling.

Angelina told me “I like riding out with my horses because they can sense your feelings and emotions and are very caring animals”.

Tennis Coach – Sessions on Offer to Year 7, 8 & 9 Students

Pictured: Students on our tennis courts during PE

Professional tennis coach, Robert Short, will be delivering afterschool sessions for students who are interested in receiving professional tennis coaching.

For more information or to book any of the sessions download the letter here and return the completed form to reception.

Blake Harris – 3rd Place in Mini Stox Winter National Championships

Pictured: Blake with his Mini and trophy from his recent race

Year 8 student, Blake Harris, also had a successful Easter break as he won a trophy (pictured) for finishing in third place in the Winter National Championships last Sunday, at Aldermaston Raceway in Exeter.

Blake, said “I want to become a professional Touring Car driver in the future”. Watch this space!

Blake races fortnightly and is due to race again on 11th May. I wish you the best of luck!

Photograph Competition Opens to any Budding Photographer

Pictured: An example of the type of shot you could enter in this competition

I have received news of a photography competition that both students and adults can enter. The details are below. I would love to see any entries, please let me know if you do enter the competition.

Competition Details:

Have you ever stopped to think how much of our everyday needs reach UK by sea? What, 15%, 25%? In fact over 90% of the things we use on a daily basis – food, fuel, clothes, gadgets, arrive by sea. To help promote awareness of this, Seavision (the UK national initiative for promoting maritime awareness through education and career related activities) and WISTA (Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association) are running a photo competition.

The winning entry from an Under 18 photographer will be awarded a Nexus Tablet whilst the winning shot by an over 18 entry will receive a Canon digital camera.

Entries can be submitted until 6 June 2014 and full details and upload facility are at: http://www.seavision.org.uk/competitions

Multiple entries are welcome and need simply be on a maritime theme with movement of goods ships at their heart. The maritime sector is key to UK, and requires a wide range of STEM centric skills to ensure its continued success as well as offering a diverse range of career pathways both at sea and ashore.