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23rd September 2016
Also available online
Why study Maths?
How parents/carers can help
Mr Hallam, Leader of Mathematics: From figuring out if you’ve got the correct change at a checkout, to solving a quadratic equation, it is impossible to get through the day without maths in some way. Our daily lives are full of numbers to handle and problems to solve and studying maths equips us with the tools we need.
Support your child at home using the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
Before the changes introduced by the Government, achieving a grade C or above in maths was a ‘Good’ pass. From next summer, the new style GCSE will replace the current qualification in M a t h s . T h e Department for Education (DfE) have now announced that a grade 5 and above will be a ‘Good’ pass. All employers, colleges or universities will expect a qualification so it makes sense for you to work hard at Holly Hall Academy to achieve the highest grade possible. However, the most important reason for studying maths at secondary school is to develop problem solving skills such as exploring and noticing structure, working systematically, thinking strategically, posing questions, visualising, modelling, representing and reasoning. These skills are essential in lots of careers such as engineering, accountancy and architecture to name a few - the list is endless. Finally, you should focus on maths for fun, to further your career and to earn more money!
It is likely that it has been a while since you were studying for your maths GCSE. Don’t worry, there are hundreds of video clips on the VLE that you can watch with your child.. The clips show worked examples, pose questions and provide answers across GCSE grades 1-9.
Use MyMaths to monitor your child’s progress. Sign in to your child’s MyMaths account using their personal login details and see if they have any tasks to complete. You do not have to wait for a teacher to set any work: the MyMaths library is full of online lessons and homework sheets relating to each lesson.
Encourage your child to attend after school homework/revision sessions. After school sessions are run in the Maths Department throughout the week. The sessions will provide revision opportunities or new learning depending on the progress of your child. Your child should ask their teacher what is on offer in the first instance. More information is available on the VLE – Academy Plus.
Purchase a revision guide for only £2.50 (RRP £5.95). Revision guides are extremely useful if used regularly. I recommend New GCSE Edexcel Mathematics Revision Guide: Higher - for the Grade 9-1 Course (with Online Edition) from CGP. ISBN: 978 1 78294 404 1. These can be purchased from the Maths Office at break, lunchtime or at the end of the Academy day.
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A report by Year 11 student Haania Hussain, Leader of the Media Team: On Monday evening and Tuesday morning this week prospective Year 7 students and their families visited the Academy to find our what life is like at Holly Hall. We were pleased to see students from sixteen different primary schools visitin the Academy. They enjoyed the broad range of activities including virtual reality in ICT, having a go on the fitness machines in the Sports Hall, making their very own personalised souvenir on our laser cutter, taking part in the ‘Tower of Hanoi’ challenge in the Mathematics Department and having a look around our new Skills Centre. The atmosphere around the Academy was outstanding as staff, students and visitors engaged in the activities on offer. I would like to thank everyone who took part in this event. I spoke to many visitors during the evening and here’s what some of them had to say … Steve “I have thoroughly enjoyed the evening, especially the WW1 interaction element. Our guide was very good and useful. An excellent source of information.” Tammy “Everyone at the Academy is very helpful and kind. It really did exceed my expectations.” Joe: “Our guide was fantastic. She made my daughter feel comfortable. We had lots of fun!” Emma “Our favourite part was eating the food in French. The whole evening was enjoyable and our tour guide was excellent.” We look forward to welcoming many of our visitors to Holly Hall in September 2017.
WINNER!! Congratulations to Eljay Wright from W rens Nest Primary School who was the winner of our prize draw. Eljay is pictured here with his prize of a Kindle.
YEAR 7 WINNERS 7SSH 96%
Congratulations to our ‘Attendance Superstars’ for Week ending 6th September 2016.
YEAR 8 WINNERS 8ONE 95%
YEAR 9 WINNERS 9MCK 95%
YEAR 10 WINNERS 10DHE 97%
YEAR 11 WINNERS 11WDW 94%
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Mrs Lee, Assistant Principal: This week, students in Years 8, 9 and 1 0 were invited to vote for two students to become their Year Leaders. We are proud to announce the successful students. Year 8: Sabah Mahmood and Amaan Ali “We are both thrilled to be Leaders of Year 8. We are very passionate about the role and our first goal is to recruit more Student Leaders. We are honoured to represent the Academy.”
Year 9: Daisy Lamb and Amman Ahmed “We are very proud to have been voted Year 9 Student Leaders. We were up against some tough competition. We will work hard for our fellow students.”
Year 10: Krystal Burudi and Tyler Arrowsmith “We would like to thank everyone who voted for us. We really appreciate it. We look forward to representing Year 10 in our new roles.”
Year 11: Haania Hussain and Elsad Beqiri “Our job is to work with teachers and students to think of ways to improve the Academy and then implement the changes.”
A report by Maymunah Bashir: This week the Academy participated in the annual ‘Make Your Mark’ ballot. This ballot aims to highlight what young people across the country believe is the most pressing issue in society. Last year approximately 970,000 young people from across various schools, colleges and youth organisations took part. This year we would like to raise that number in order to let more young people’s voices be heard. After all the ballots are counted the issue with the most votes will be debated by the UK Youth Parliament in the House of Commons. In addition to this it will become their campaign focus for 2017. Make sure you voice is heard! For more information go to http:// www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/ makeyourmark/ Pictured: vote
Students placing their Page 3
Mr Townley, Leader of Arts & Enrichment: The Student Leaders fund is building nicely now following a busy spell of fund raising before we all broke up for the summer holiday. With the Summer Fete on Enrichment Day, the sale of pizza and cake in the design block and a range of other events, it brings the running total for September for the student fund to £738.69. This money will be used by student leaders to fund projects and ideas driven by students across the Academy.
Miss Haycock, Leader of PSHE & Transition: On Friday 16th September, Year 7 students took part in a workshop "Operation Bale". It was run by the Safer Travel Partnership, made up of officers working for West Midlands Police, Centro and National Express. Uniformed officers from the partnership delivered a presentation to students promoting anti-social behaviours on the buses, trains and metro and informed them of the strategies to combat incidents they may face. They engaged in three smaller workshops discussing the issues and ways of reporting problems, ensuring the public feel safe and confident to travel on different modes of transport. A competition was also held which the students entered to win a £100 amazon voucher and a Kindle Fire. Here’s what some students said about the workshop: Chelsea Botley and Rima Burkevicka said "I enjoyed listening to the talk. It makes me more understanding of how to behave when walking the streets and by busy roads." Daniel Boyce "It was interesting to know how the police patrol buses and trains to make the public feel safe - we even got to hold their weapons!" 3 - 7 October Callum Rudge - "I found it really helpful to know what to do 12 October when we see anti-social behaviour - text 61016 to report the 17 October crime." Some of the key values and issues that Operation Bale has identified will be promoted to all year groups during tutorials in October. Students will be looking at safer and sustainable travel on the roads.
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Exams Enrichment Day1 Inset Day - Academy closed to students 21 October Academy closes for the halfterm 24 - 28 October Half term 31 October Academy re-opens at 8.45am 31 October Year 7 Settling in Evening 8 November Year 10 Evening Option Subjects Only 15 November Careers Evening 18 November Enrichment Day2/Skills Show 21 - 25 Nov Exams 23 November Parent Forum 29 November GCSE Certificate Presentation Evening 7.00pm 8 December Performing Arts 50th Anniversary Show 13 December Year 11 Parents’ Consultation Evening 14 December Full Governing Body Meeting 16 December Academy closes for the Christmas holiday 19 Dec - 2 Jan Christmas holiday