3rd March 2017 1st December 2017 THE MAGAZINE FOR MOUNTS BAY ACADEMY STANDING OUT Cover: DNA Extraction
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3rd March 2017
1st December 2017
THE MAGAZINE FOR MOUNTS BAY ACADEMY
STANDING OUT
Cover: DNA Extraction
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Sara Davey Academy Principal
It’s all about you...
A few weeks ago the Academy was the focus of a monitoring visit from Ofsted. These inspections are given to schools, even if they are judged to be “outstanding”, to ensure the ongoing effectiveness of their leadership and management in continuing to provide the high standard of education and safeguarding of students expected by the Government.
Looking forward...
HOT CHOCOLATE FRIDAY
I am pleased to say that the inspectors gave us a very positive report, highlighting our commitment to creating a culture across the entire school that keeps students safe and ensuring that everyone receives the support they need to thrive. They particularly commented on our Compass Centre and our i-College provisions pointing out that we have invested significant resources to make students feel that they are listened to and that staff are empowered to solve issues using our new Restorative Justice Approach. You can read their full report on the Ofsted website.
Best wishes
The inspection takes place with only very short notice given and is designed to see how the school operates on a day to day basis. The inspection is very important as it will always take into account whether our leadership team leaders have or have not ‘taken effective action’ to improve or maintain the standards of behaviour shown on the last full inspection.
Whilst we always welcome visitors into the Academy, we have had to wait for the official report to be published before we could announce the news to you.
This was embodied perfectly this morning as I had the chance to share a hot chocolate with stunning musicians and members of our Academy Music Tech Team who give up a lot of their free time to help with providing the sound, lighting and audio visual support for many of our community events. I also had the chance to meet our all conquering Hockey team who are now Under 16 County Champions. Well done boys!
We are delighted by the results of a recent wellbeing survey undertaken by students across Cornwall schools. It was very pleasing to see that
Mounts Bay Academy gained some very positive feedback receiving green or amber scores in a range of wellbeing questions. We are well
above average for good behaviour, student participation in community life and students supporting one another. A copy of the full survey is available
here: http://mountsbay.org/headstart-feedback
Latest Tweets
Mounts Bay@MountsBaySchool
The Official Twitter account for Mounts Bay Academy, Penzance, Cornwall, UK
Follow Us On Twitter @MountsBaySchool
BE YOUR BEST
Outstanding Performance
In Year 9 we offer a short course in Drama, the NCFE level 2 Creative Studies: Performing Skills. All students have been working on their Unit 1 - Developing Skills. Students performed a baseline assessment before going through the process of identifying their strengths and weaknesses and setting out a plan of action to develop their piece further before re-performing it.
I am awarding Daisy James a Da Vinci for her final performance which was a monologue based on her character exploring her life experience from heaven.
Daisy explored a range of practical exercises to develop her understanding of character and become more expressive with her body language. She reflected on her rehearsals and redrafted her script. One technique I encouraged her to use was connecting with her audience more. Daisy showed true emotion through her tone of voice and facial expression which enabled her to sustain her character throughout the piece. She stretched herself by adding a song from the musical “Ghost” called “With You” which completed her performance really well.
Report by: Miss Osborne
DA VINCI PROGRAMME
Daisy smashed her performance. It is certainly at distinction level. Daisy performed her piece this week to the Year 9 Music V Cert group and they were left completely speechless at the end of it - a real indication of Daisy’s talent.
Well done Daisy, you are a true star!
EXCELLENCE REWARD
Year 9 have been extracting DNA from strawberry cells this week. DNA is present in every cell of all plants and animals and determines all genetic traits of the individual organism. The long thick fibres that we pulled out of the extraction mixture are real strands of strawberry.
Strawberries are the perfect choice for a DNA extraction experiment for two very good reasons: they yield way more DNA than other fruits and they are octoploid, meaning that they have eight copies of each type of DNA chromosome. (Human cells are generally diploid, meaning two sets of chromosomes.) These special circumstances make strawberry DNA both easy to extract and to see.
Strawberry Science
BE INSPIRED
To extract the DNA, each component of the extraction mixture plays a part. Soap helps to dissolve cell membranes. Salt is added to release the DNA strands by breaking up protein chains that hold nucleic acids together. Finally, DNA is not soluble in isopropyl alcohol, especially when the alcohol is ice cold and makes the fibres easy to see.
On Thursday evening, Year 11 students and their parents/carers were invited to attend a Revision Skills evening. During the evening teachers highlighted a wide range of different skills, techniques and ideas to help students revise effectively, in a sustainable way, in preparation for their GCSEs next summer.
Students were introduced to the “6 Habits of Highly Successful Students” from LearningScientists.org by Mrs Davey. The rest of the activities were all connected to these fundamental ways in which to revise effectively.
Mr Hopper and Ms Kennedy delivered an interactive session on using mind mapping as a method to extract key information from sources. Students and parents were given the chance to put the method into motion by constructing the first parts of a mind map from a case study during the activity.
Year 11 Revision Evening
BE INSPIRED
Another key theme throughout the evening was to highlight how important the wellbeing of our students is, particularly during their final year at school. Several methods were highlighted with regards to managing potentially overwhelming situations. Miss McKenzie and Miss Green delivered a session on mindfulness and introduced the app “Headspace” to the groups. This app is available for all students on their iPads.
BE INSPIRED
To finish the evening, an interesting and valuable session was delivered by Mr Rodgers and Mr Cross on “The Art and Science of Memory”. Our students learned about the various factors that influence effective revision from topics such as visualising images all the way through to the importance of sleep.
For more information on revision at Mounts Bay, please go to mountsbay.org/revision.
Along with a multitude of other different revision tools on offer to our students, an additional provision of revision materials was launched on the evening to the Year 11 cohort; GCSEPod. Students were directed to the app during a session led by Mrs Frayne and Miss Bennett where they got a flavour of what the resource has to offer.
Report by: Mr Lane
This week we ran an International Baccalaureate advice session for Year 11 students. IB or not to IB - that is the question?
Former student Charlotte Hornby and IB lecturer Caroline Keech visited MBA to discuss the merits of the internationally acclaimed IB qualification that students can consider as one of their options after Year 11 at Truro College. What came across is how flexible the qualification and also how inspiring it is for students in their own personal development and long term aspirations.
International Baccalaureate
MBA FUTURES
"You have your own little community."
"You make friends very quickly."
"Great opportunities to travel."
“”Report by Mrs Masters
BE ENTERTAINED
Word Millionaire
Most of you have read or are reading 'Wonder' by R.J. Palacio. It is a beautiful story about a young boy born with a facial deformity. He is determined to fit in at a new school, and to make everyone understand he's just another ordinary kid, and that beauty isn't skin deep. Well it has now been made into a film and its release date is today. It has showtimes throughout the day across Cornwall so if you get the chance go and see it.
Report by Miss Walters
Congratulations to Kathryn in 8 Yellow who has become a Word Millionaire. A brilliant achievement - well done!
Film to watch out for
At Design Club we have been busy designing and building Trebuchets. Using a variety of hand and power tools students have worked in groups to
build their machines. The trebuchets were powered by elastic and had a trigger mechanism to release them. All the trebuchets fired successfully.
From now until the end of term we will be designing and making 3D Christmas decorations.
Report by: Mr Glenville
Design Club
BE CURIOUS
Congratulations to Megan Gardiner, 8 Blue, who is the puzzle champion for the Autumn Semester - enjoy spending your well earned prize!
Four students were locked in first position with Megan winning the prize after an independent prize draw, (thanks Miss Wearne). Congratulations must also go to our Head Boy Thomas Hughes, 11 Blue, Sophie Hughes, 10 Green, and Lily Gear, 8 Blue, who all managed to answer every puzzle correctly over the whole Semester.
Well done to Emma Hughes for winning the Parent/Staff competition - Emma was the only Staff/Parent to get all puzzles correct - great effort and a worthy winner.
Puzzle Competition Winner
Report by: Mr T Williams
BECREATIVE
The Wild Project has been running over two terms with Year 8 students, Arts Award students and BTEC Dancers to explore the local landscape and
find ways to present Science and Art together. Supported by Exeter University and the International CREATIONS Project, Miss West and Miss Hall have set out challenges for the MBA students as Investigators. Last summer they explored Porthcurno, the Minack Theatre and the Telegraph Museum. This Autumn the focus has moved to St Michael’s Mount and the Penzance Promenade, taking in the views and also the two parallel Art Galleries.
For Project Week the students began their week with an exploration of the two galleries and the walk in between, developing new perspectives on the coastline and how to interpret it through Science and Art lenses. They were joined by Art gallery curators, science teachers and professional dancers and were led through a series of workshops that explored varying perspectives on
Penzance and were encouraged to also consider their own view, curiosities and questions. Their individual investigations began as they explored answers to their questions and began to design, rehearse and create their final outcomes: which ranged from poems to sound scores and dance to art and photography. The topics explored also ranged from the seas ecosystems, to kinetic energy, myths and forensic evidence. The investigators shared their work as an exhibition
and evening performance in the Cube alongside the Drama Club on Wednesday and were followed by a film maker from Germany documenting their experience on the Action Research Project.
BE CREATIVE
Wild Project
BECREATIVEBE CREATIVE
The final day of Project Week was a rerun to Newlyn Gallery where they shared their outcomes with each other and the public in the gallery space. The professional dancers
also returned and performed their reposes to the landscape and the MBA students discussed the scientific and creative aspects of the performance. The discussion, sharing and performances were a brilliant way to end the project and summarise all of the confidence, courage and imagination that the students achieved as they evolved into investigators. The Wild Project has been documented by Exeter University, Miss Hall and Miss West. As well as the project being a key aspect to Miss West’s MA in Creative Education, the University have decided to use Mounts Bay and Wild as a core case study for their own thesis in the international CREATIONS Project. Putting Mounts Bay at the centre of learning and creativity.
The Wild Project concludes on Friday 8th December with some of the students performing their developed dance pieces at Penlee House and the Arts Award students delivering Art and Dance workshops to local primary schools in the gallery spaces and outside. This event is open to parents and the public and will begin at 2pm.
Report by Miss West
Click on the link to watch the film:
http://mountsbay.org/wild-project/
BECREATIVE
On Saturday MBA hosted The School Of Rock Southwest’s annual concert, which showcased 14 of their bands over the space of nine hours.
BE CREATIVE
School of Rock
Report by Callum Williams
Our student tech crew took the controls for this, and engineered the sound, lighting projections, and stage management for the event. This is a big task to take on for such a long time, but they worked as the true professionals that they are to produce an
amazing result. They were complimented on all aspects of the production by the bands, organisers and attendees. Well done!
Well done to the Year 7 girls Football team who won 8-0 against Looe Community Academy in the first round of the County Cup this week.
Football Win
On Thursday 30th November the U15 Cricket team took part in the Cornwall Cricket Schools Qualifier, finishing in 3rd Place.
The girls bowled and fielded exceptionally well, and a special mention goes to Robyn Coatsworth and Sarah Williamson for their fantastic bowling managing to bowl several players out between them. The team beat Cape Cornwall 65-5 to 34-3 but unfortunately lost to a strong Hayle (63-6 to 47-7) and Humphry Davy (31-8 to 73-7).
Report by: Miss Veall
SQUAD:
May Gale
Robyn Coatsworth Sarah Williamson Holly Prodger Lois Willett-Green Edith Willett-Green Katie Trahair-Davies Elsey Kirby Libby Terry
BE COMPETITIVE
Cricket
Showjumping
Sunday saw the MBA showjumping teams set off to compete in the first competition of the season, run by the WHPC at Resparveth Equestrian Centre. An early start for the novice team and late finish for the open team just goes to show the commitment of the students and parents involved. The novice team, consisting of Sophia Williams, Tamsin Harvey, Faye Read and stepping in at the last moment Georgia Coulson, did a fantastic job. Although placings in the team/individual competition were not forthcoming this time, they did achieve a 2nd placing out of 11 teams for the best presented team.
The open team, consisting of Nicole Annis, Neve Kemp and Amelia Roberts faired a little better in the placings. They achieved a team placing of 2nd and also won the best presented team competition. Amelia, who was competing for MBA for the first time finished on an individual placing of 6th.
A number of students were competing for the first time for MBA, well done to them and well done to all, I'm thrilled with all their performances. A big thanks to parents for their support and a special thanks to Ellie Clark who will be much missed as Team MBA's groom. A thanks also to WHPC for organising the competition.
Report by: Mrs Trevail
BE COMPETITIVE
PiXL Maths App
BE INSPIRED
The PiXL Maths App is a great revision app and website we are using with Year 11 during registration time each week.
It has proven results with students across the country
and includes a combination of questions, videos and help sheets.
All students have the app on their iPad automatically. They can obtain their login details and more information from:
Report by Mr Kent
Well done to:
THACKER A
POWELL B
ELLIS A
NEAL E
WADHAM-DUKE L
GREAGSBY T
BADJAN A
SAWBRIDGE E
TULLEY V
BANKS K
BOND S
EDDY H
BERWICK A
GARNER J
PITT M
SAWBRIDGE M
STEPHAN T
FARRELL-BROWN S
TILLEY D
WALLIS A
This week the top form using the PiXL Maths App was 11 Blue.
Each week we will publish a list of the top 20 students in the Academy as well as the top registration group. This is not a list of students who have achieved the highest scores,
it is an engagement score, as we want students to be challenging themselves. The top 20 students are listed below. Keep up the great work Year 11.
maths
https://mountsbay.fireflycloud.net/mathematics/revision/pixl-app
This Week’s Puzzle:
Last week’s solution:
18 - multiply the numbers in the corners
Could you write next week’s puzzle?If you would like to set the numeracy puzzle for a future week click here. You will win
house points.
Win an Amazon voucher
Whoever submits the most correct answers over a semester will win an Amazon
voucher – prizes are also awarded to the top scoring parent/carer/staff.
House Competition
Blue: 55 PointsOrange: 20 PointsGreen: 16 PointsPurple: 14 PointsYellow: 12 Points
Red: 11 Points
Click here to submit your answer
Closing date for Entries: Thursday 12:00
This Week’s House Totals
BE A WINNER
Maths Quiz
To enter, simply write an original sentence correctly using the word organic. Send in your sentence using the link below.
Competition
Congratulations to Kaea Griffiths who wins 10 VIVO points.
Click here to enter the competition
This week’s word is: Organic
Definition: Relating to or derived from living matter; :(of food or farming methods) produced or involving production without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial chemicals.
Etymology: late Middle English via Latin from Greek organikos ‘relating to an organ or instrument’.
BE A WINNER
MIXXJAMMounts Bay Academy presents
The Acorn Theatre, Penzance Tuesday 5th December / 7 - 9.30pm
£2 u16s / £3 adults Bar open
Consumer Satisfaction Survey
The Litmus Partnership is working with the Cornwall Cluster
schools to carry out a survey about the catering services you
receive. We would like to hear your views even if you do not
use the catering facilities! As we have a section directed
towards “Non-Users”
Please complete an online survey located at:
litmusconsumerinsight.co.uk/CCGroupC
The survey is available from Monday 13th November until
Friday 8th December.
Section A will ask you a few questions about yourself.
Section B will ask you to rate, on a scale of 1-10, how satisfied
you are against 16 statements a
bout your school meals (1
being ‘very unsatisfied and 10 being ‘very satisfie
d’
Then we will ask you to rate, on a scale of 1-10, how
important you feel the same 16 statements a
bout your school
meals (1 being ‘very unimportant’ and 10 being ‘very
important).
Section C will ask you to make any additional comments you
wish relating to your school meals ~ simply type away!
Thank you for taking part in this su
rvey, your time in doing so is
appreciated.
Catering Survey
litmusconsumerinsight.co.uk/CCGroupC
The survey is available until Friday 8th December.
Section A will ask you a few questions about yourself.
Section B will ask you to rate, on a scale of 1-10, how satisfied you are against 16 statements about your school meals (1 being ‘very unsatisfied and 10 being ‘very satisfied’ . Then you will be asked to to rate, on a scale of 1-10, how important you feel the same 16 statements about school meals (1 being ‘very unimportant’ and 10 being ‘very important’).
Section C will ask you to make any additional comments you wish relating to your school meals ~ simply type away!
Thank you for taking part in this survey, your time in doing so is appreciated.
Our students have been completing a survey on behalf of the Cornwall Cluster schools.
They would like to hear your views even if you do not use the catering facilities!
There is a section directed towards “Non-Users”. Please complete an online survey located at:
Join Our Team
From time to time we have teaching and non-teaching vacancies at the Academy. If you want to join our team look on the vacancies section of our website here:http://mountsbay.org/academy-information/vacancies
Latest Vacancy
Science Technician.
We have a vacancy for a Science Technician to cover maternity leave from January 2018.This is a temporary post likely to be in excess of 9 months in the first instant.
For more information please go to the 'Vacancy' section on the Academy's website, or contact
Mr Phil Davies, Business Manager. T: 01736 363240E: [email protected]
NE
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SEMESTER
WINTER
WE ARE
MOUNTSBAY
MONDAY 4th DECEMBERSnowsports Trip Parent Information Evening18:00 Canteen
TUESDAY 5TH DECEMBERMixXjam Year 10 & 11 Music Gig19:00 - 21:30 Acorn Theatre
WEDNESDAY 6TH DECEMBERYear 7 REAL Projects trips 09:00 - 11:45Cot Valley, Land’s End, Trengwainton Gardens & Penzance town
Year 7 Christmas Disco18:00 - 20:00 £3 a ticket
THURSDAY 7TH DECEMBERYear 9 Parents’ Evening5-a-side Football, West Cornwall Schools FinalsTruro SchoolCounty Table Tennis CompetitionLeave 08:30, return 15:00
FRIDAY 8TH DECEMBERWinter School GamesTruro School, leave 07:45 am, return approx. 14:30Year 10 Geography Field TripPlymouth, leave 08:30, return 16:00BTEC Dance & Year 8 WILD project09:00 - 15:00 Penlee House
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