INsight 22nd March 2013

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22nd March 2013

Email: [email protected] Website: www.hollyhallvle.com

Miss Westwood, Mathematics Teacher: On 6th February 60 students took part in the Intermediate Maths Challenge. This week, we received the results and everyone did really well, competing against thousands of students from all around the UK. Well done to everyone who took part, particularly the students pictured who did exceptionally well and received certificates.

SILVER

Joshua Ray (9THO), Pritesh Patel (9STE), Harrison Johal (10SPE)

BRONZE

Troy Fellows (10YOR) (above right) Atif Hanif (9POW) (right)

David Pearson (10ANN), Louise Russon (10DAS), Kieron Poole (10ANN), Jordan Colley (9STE)

Harrison Johal received ‘Best In School’ and ‘Best in Year’, Joshua Ray also got ‘Best In Year’.

Dr Cox, Science Coordinator: The results from the January Science exams were released earlier this month and many students achieved fantastic marks - a tribute to hard work by both students and

staff. Harrison Johal (10SPE) had the highest mark in Year 10 and Zoyah Mahmood (11DHE), Anand Morarji (11PAL) and Ashley Underhill (11COX) all scored consistently high. This is the last year that exams in January are permitted so after June 2013 the next exams will be June 2014! Year 9 have also gained some pleasing test results and will start their GCSE course after the Easter holiday.

On Enrichment Day in April, Year 8 students will be doing a practical activity that will help them to prepare for their GCSE coursework and enable them to get maximum marks. Year 7 students are continuing to work well and a recent survey indicated that they enjoy their Science lessons. The latest recruit to the Science team is Mr Butcher, (Science Technician) who has almost completed his first term with us. He quoted “I am enjoying working with the Science team and facing new challenges every day.”

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We have had another busy term of fundraising at Holly Hall.

COMIC RELIEF

We held a mufti day and a ‘Jessie J’ hairstyles sweepstake. Mrs Clifton and Mrs Mosses ran a Chocolate Tombola which raised an amazing £611! They would like to thank everyone who donated prizes especially Sophie Gibbons (10ANN) and Molly Woodier (11TOW).

We have been selling soft Easter toys for M a r y S t e v e n s Hospice.

Mrs Lloyd and Sophie Gibbons (10ANN) were sponsored to give up chocolate during Lent to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

Mr Denham, English Teacher ran a half marathon to support Leukaemia Research.

Thank you to everyone that helped raise money for these worthy causes. We will publish the total raised next term.

Mrs Reeves, Senior Assistant Principal: The Year 10 Psychology group are currently preparing for their ‘Making Sense of Other People’ unit examination. During the course they have conducted their own memory experiments and gained an understanding of how and why we remember and forget things. They have also learnt how to analyse other peoples’ body language through studying forms of non verbal communication, considered different personality types in relation to their behaviour and investigated the link between serial criminals and Antisocial Personality Disorder. They have also conducted their own research study into whether listening to music affects a person’s ability to revise and remember information. Year 11 have investigated different theories about how people learn new information and what influences how we behave. They have also studied how individuals develop their gender identity and why some people become aggressive.

Some of our lucky tombola winners

Scotty Gs Catering Team sold cupcakes and cookies

Mr Malone, Senior Assistant Principal: Year 9 Parents’ Evenings take place on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th March 2013. Year 9 parents should have received their child’s report by post. There is also a letter giving the date, time and member of staff they are due to meet to discuss the report. Year 9 parents who have not received their child’s report should contact Mr Malone at the Academy.

Miss Annon, PE Coordinator: The U13 girls netball team took part in the Hagley Memorial Tournament this week competing against eleven other

schools. They worked hard in extremely cold temperatures and finished in seventh place, however, we are still awaiting confirmation of the results. Radha Patel (8CHA) wrote “The netball tournament was good fun. The team worked together to try to get the best result.”

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Congratulations to our Year 11 ‘Commitment to Excellence’ award winners for Autumn second half term. Pictured top scoring girls - Bridie Daly, Jessica Rholand and Sadia and boys - Osamah Hussain, Sabeel Mohammed and Nehemia Zazi.

Mr Dhesi, ICT Coordinator: As part of their extended homework task Year 9 students were asked to research the impact of gaming on health and produce a PowerPoint. Video games have been around for the last thirty years. Most of today’s games can be an addiction, as they encourage players to become part of the script such as ‘Black Ops 2’ and ‘Assassins Creed’. These games encourage players to pay close attention to detail, rather than just be passive. Ever improving games consoles provide players with better graphics that give a more "realistic" virtual playing experience. Studies show that video games, especially ones with violent content, make teens more aggressive. Is our desire for the next gadget or the best gaming experience actually damaging our health? The extended homework task was a real success, with over 50% of the students receiving a Gold, Silver or Bronze award for their efforts. Thirteen students (pictured) produced outstanding presentations and were awarded a Gold Certificate during this week’s Year 9 assembly.

Charly Bagley (11PAL) Johnathan Billington (11PAL)

Daniel Brookes (11BRS) Louis Brookes (11PAL)

Tinotenda Hamandziripi (11BRS) Osamah Hussain (11PAL)

Qais Miran (11WDW) Sabeel Mohammed (11PAL)

Anand Morarji (11PAL) Jonathan Olembe (11TOW) Joseph Pearson (11TOW) Raiharn Rabani (11TOW)

Bobby Rai (11HOW) Mickey Wang (11ADM) Nehemia Zazi (11PAL)

Sadia Bibi (11TOW) Sonila Bibi (11COX) Bridie Daly (11PAL)

Eden Espeut-Mills (11COX) Esmee Hobbs (11COX) Jessica Holt (11DHE)

Dakota-May Johnson (11HOW) Zoyah Mahmood (11DHE)

Komal Nawaz (11TOW) Jessica Owens (11PAL)

Jessica Rohland (11PAL) Abbie Round (11COX)

Julia Smykowska (11PAL) Alisha Wajid (11DHE) Amy Walters (11HOW)

Kameron Hussain (9WRD), Kayla Drummond (9THO), Anisa Kauser (9WRD), Nicole Hipkiss (9THO)

Kiera Sanghera (9WRD), Adeeba Shakoor (9BRO, Melisa Oleschuk (9BRO), Cydney Jones (9HAL) (not pictured)

Jean Bayton (9HAL), Jassmin Atwal (9POW), Arcan Abdo (9WRD), Dru Braham (9STE), Osime Brown (9BRO)

Also pictured is Mr Price, Holly Hall’s Chair of Governors who gave out the certificates in a special assembly. “It makes me proud to give certificates to such hardworking students”, he said.

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Tuesday 26th March Roast Pork with Apple Sauce & Stuffing

Homemade Lemon & Black Pepper Coated Chicken Breast

Homemade Leek & Broccoli Bake

Monday 25th March Homemade Chicken Curry with Naan & Mango

Chutney Homemade Beef Ragout

Homemade Vegetable Curry with Naan Bread

Wednesday 27th March Baked Battered Cod/Breaded Place with

Tartare Sauce

100% Beef Homemade Beef Burgers in a Bun

Homemade Individual Cheese & Onion Pie

25th March Saltmine Theatre Company - Drug Misuse Presentation for Year 8

26th & 27th Mar Year 9 Parents’ Consultation Evenings 4.30 - 6.30pm 28th March Academy closes for the Easter Break 12.40pm

Did you know? ...... There is enough fuel in a full tank of a jumbo jet to drive an average car four times around the world.

There are currently 120 students working towards a GCSE in French or Spani sh th i s year . Of these, approximately ninety students in Year 9 are being put in for early entry GCSE.

There are almost one billion French and Spanish speakers around the world so these students can be proud that they could have a conversation with a sixth of the world's population!

Gaining a GCSE in MFL at such a young age is a fantastic achievement so keep up the hard work - we wish them the best of luck for the summer!

For those students studying GCSE French or Spanish, don't forget there are revision clubs which take place at

the end of the Academy day on Mondays and during lunchtime on Tuesdays and Fridays so make sure you come along!

Mr Jabore, Assistant Principal: Kuldeep Kaur, Class of 2011, visited Holly Hall Academy last week to catch up with some of her teachers. Kuldeep was overjoyed to tell us she has been accepted into Coventry University to study Aerospace Systems Engineering. She puts her success down to a wise choice of GCSE subjects and one in particular that caught the eye of her tutors at Bishop Milner 6th Form College. Kuldeep studied Astronomy in Year 11 and gained a Grade C. A fine result considering it is a two year course and she crammed it in within one year and at the same time gaining Grade A in Mathematics and Grade B in Physics amongst other excellent results.

Holly Hall wishes Kuldeep the best for the future and every success with her degree.

Mrs Waters, Learning Mentor: REMINDER: We are selling soft Easter toys

to raise money for Mary Stevens Hospice. They can be purchased for just £1 each at break and lunch times in B4.

SUMMER MENU

Look out for the Summer Menu in Scotty Gs after half

term