Insight260914

Email: slloyd-ppa@holly-hall.dudley.sch.uk Website: www.hollyhallacademy.co.uk

26th September 2014

Mrs Collins, Co-ordinator of PSHE/Citizenship: Our Year 9 and 10 students have been developing their SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Education) over the past two years at the Academy by using a speaking and listening tool called P4C (Philosophy for Children). They have been trying to find answers to some of the biggest questions we can ask, like “What is the purpose of life?” as well as coming up with their own which are often discussed in class.

Now it’s your turn to get your mind thinking deeply!

A Philosophical Question will appear in INsight magazine each month for you to try and find an answer to (remember, there is no right or wrong answer at all!). So to get us started here is September’s Philosophical Question…

“Is your identity created by the languages you speak?”

Have a think about the question and jot down your thoughts. Give your answer to a member of staff in Humanities by Friday 10 October. The most thought provoking and imaginative answer will win a cinema ticket!

Have you thought about joining the Academy Choir? Miss Caddick will be starting rehearsals for anyone interested every Tuesday starting on 30 September, from 3:15pm in the Music Room (A5). The choir will be singing a variety of music, including some of the latest pop smashes and cracking retro hits.

Singing in a choir has been proven to boost people’s moods, develop team-working skills and provides you with great performance experience if you are thinking about a future in the Performing Arts. It’s also a great place to make friends – and wow your current ones when they see you in concert!

So, whether you already have experience of singing in a choir or performing on your own; if you just like belting out “Let It Go” in the shower; or even if you have not yet explored the amazing revitalising effect that singing can have, Miss Caddick will be happy to see you there.

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At the end of the Summer term a group of students visited Krakow in Poland. Over the next few weeks we will be featuring a day by day diary. Day 2 was written by Paige Moran (10DHE).

Day Two - “We were shown around the Jewish quarters in Krakow by a Polish tour guide. During the tour we learnt a lot of information about the daily lives during the Holocaust. It seemed that this was a difficult time for them and this was re-emphasised by a survivor of the Holocaust who told her story following the tour. We were all very moved by her story and it was nice to hear that she now leads a happy life with her family, though she will never forget the family members that were lost during that terrible time. It was an interesting but mentally and physically tiring day.”

Have a go at Mr Nation’s puzzle.

I have 10 boxes which I want to pack into 3 crates.

Each crate must contain at least 3 boxes and must not exceed 25 Kg. The boxes weigh: 15 Kg, 13 Kg, 11 Kg, 10 Kg, 8 Kg, 7 Kg, 4 Kg, 3 Kg, 2 Kg, 2 Kg How can I pack the boxes into the crates?

(There is more than one solution) Hand your answer to Mr Nation by the end of Tuesday 30 September.

The winner, drawn from all correct entries received, will win a cinema voucher.

Film Club on Monday 29 September will be showing the concluding part of “The Hunger Games”, which started at this week’s session. Come to B12 on Monday at 3:15pm for a prompt start.

Mr Lloyd, Principal would like to take this opportunity to remind all parents and carers that students should not be bringing fizzy drinks or energy drinks onto the Academy site. Containers of such drinks will be confiscated and only returned to parents or carers. Open containers will be disposed of.

Reminder .... You can now access data about your children, such as attendance and reports, by using our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

A chilling plaque detailing the number of murders committed by the SS in Auswchwitz Concentration Camp and Death Camp Page 2

To request your username and password and view a user guide go to the Holly Hall w e b s i t e h t t p : / / www.hollyhallacademy.co.uk and click on Our Academy > VLE Access Request.

Are you interested in learning a new sport for free? Find out what’s going on in your area at www.west-midlands.police.uk.

Free Football Sessions Males aged 14-25 Dudley Leisure Centre 10 sessions starting Tuesday 7 October 6.00 7.00pm Speak to PC Paul Davies on 0121 626 8127 to register your interest Free Cricket Sessions Males aged 14-25 Dudley Leisure Centre 10 sessions starting Saturday 25 October 1.30 2.30pm Speak to Imam Hashmi on 0121 626 8127 to register your interest

Did you know .....

In celebration of European Day of Languages, Scotty G’s held three themed days this week.

On Tuesday students enjoyed French dishes such as Coq-auVin, on Wednesday Spanish Vegetarian Paella was on the menu and on Thursday Italian Spinach & Ricotta Cannelloni was served.

It was a perfect opportunity for students to taste some delicious European cuisine.

Pictured below: Themed Day

20% of

earth’s oxygen is produced by the Amazon forest.

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Students enjoying Italian

Student-led Leadership Programme Assemblies Recently, you may have been involved in a Student-led Leadership Programme assembly, introducing you to the responsibilities and benefits of joining one of our teams. Each focuses on a different aspect of the Academy. There are currently 63 students involved in the programme, but we are now looking for new recruits, like you!

To join one of these groups search for our Student Leaders page on the VLE. The deadline for applications will be 10 October, all applications should be handed in to Mrs Lee or your Learning Mentor.

Intervention Team This is a new team that will focus on academic progress, mentoring and motivating students to maximise their potential. For more details about this team see Mrs Lee.

Catering Team - Foodies Members: Taraneh Hajiloo Margarita Llabres Diaz Kiera Sanghera Suman Mahmood Celia Llabres Diaz Rhiannon Edmonds Kira Vaughan

Team Leader: Lauren Johal Deputy Leader: George Smith

Our team aims to work with the catering staff to improve Academy meals for students and staff and work closely with the Charity Team to hold fundraising events. We are looking for reliable, responsible and enthusiastic students to join our team.

Events Team - Momentum We are ‘Momentum’, the events team and our slogan is ‘Making Magical Moments’ which we strive to do. Joining our team will allow you to express your opinions, be creative and share your ideas as to what kind of events you would like to see here at Holly Hall.

Members: Jean Bayton Chloe Di Franco Sana Ifzal Zahra Khan Joseph Morgan Bethany Millinchip Sanam Naghman Chandler Newman Melisa Oleschuk

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Saarah Rafiq Adeeba Shakoor Varundeep Tagger Chanel WilliamsBarton Team Leader: Bhavisha Patel Deputy Leader: Mariam Ramzan

Media Team - GWACA Members: Tyler Arrowsmith Miah Bradbury Tayyab Khan Aisha Janjua Anisa Khatoon Thomas Moran Zoe Phipps Jordan Sefton

Team Leader: Paige Moran Deputy Leader: Chelsea Sheldon

We are the GWACA Media and advertising team. So far in our roles we have put up a suggestion box for INsight opposite Mr Lloyd’s office and promoted various events for the Academy. This year, we want to look at doing regular INsight takeovers and continue promoting events.

Sports Team - Motive Members: Charntae Bennett Jodie-Rae Cotter Ruth Grainger Charlie Heathcock Bethany Ireland Hamza Mahmood Zara Nasser

Daniel Phillips Tyreece Renford Emily Smith Team Leader: Radha Patel Deputy Leader: Ben Clare

We are ‘Motive’ and we are a sports team who are aiming not only to get more students involved in sporting events but also to have more sports events in the Academy. Previously we have held a dodge ball tournament in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

Charity Team - COFO We are the COFO Charity Team and we all work together to plan and create different events to raise money or support people in or outside of the community. Also we aim to help charities in the best possible ways we can. This year we plan to get the Academy involved in many fundraising events. We are looking for support from good public speakers who want better opportunities for others and are motivated to do the best they can.

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Members: Jazmeet Atwal Maymunah Bashir Abigail Boden Tyla Bryant-Lewis Kameron Hussain Courtney Gallier Chole Hall Nimra Hussain Zahra Hussain Dawid Jedryszczak

Subaa Khatoon Lauryn Patterson Lydia Runham Kaya Thornley Aiyra Zahid Team Leader: Joe Davies Deputy Leader: Lucy Cooksey

Year 11 Leisure & Tourism students recently visited the Thinktank in Birmingham as part of their controlled assessment. Whilst there, they took part in workshops covering a number of topics such as how the Thinktank operates as a business and customer service. Students completed a tour of the site and enjoyed testing out the hands-on exhibits. The display of the human brain was a big favourite!

Pictured: Ali Abbas, Shahzeb Ali, Rouya Attayee, Charlotte Ellwood, Lauren Griffiths, Cory Hickinbottom, Nicole Hipkiss, Dilpreet Kaur, Navdeep Kaur, Megan Southall, Johnny Vo, Shannon Walker and Rhiannon Westwood

Two former students came into the Academy recently. Amber Williams left in 2011 and went on to Halesowen College. Amber finally passed her Mathematics after four attempts but is now going on to Leeds Metropolitan University to study Psychology.

Justina Ferreira also left in 2011. She is in her final year of an HND at Dudley College and hopes to go to Wolverhampton University next September to complete a top up degree.

Mr Lloyd told INsight “It’s great to see our former students doing so well and we wish them every success in the future.”

30th September 1st October

Y7 Maths Acceleration Support Evening Enrichment Day1

Academy closes at 2.20pm each day for staff performance management interviews

13th October

Open Evening 6.15pm for Year 6 students and parents

23rd October 24th October th

st

27 - 31 Oct

Careers Evening Academy closes for half term break Half term

Senior Maths Challenge

th

Nov

Internal examinations focus Year 11

6th - 10th Oct

21st October

6th November 10 - 13

HPV injection catch up for Year 9 girls

14th October

Academy re-opens at 8.45am Full governing body meeting

th

1st October

Academy closes at 12.40pm Open Day 9.15am Year 6 students and parents Y7 Fresh Start Support Evening

3rd November 4th November

14th November

Enrichment Day2

14th November 26th November

Year 11 Careers Convention GCSE Certificate Presentation Evening 7.00pm Staff training day. Academy closed to students

28th November 9th December th

Performing Arts showcase

th

10 & 11 Dec

Year 11 Parents’ Consultation Evenings

15th - 18th Dec

Internal examinations -

19th December

focus Year 10 Academy closes for the Christmas holiday

nd

nd

22 Dec - 2 Page 6

Jan Christmas holiday

Mr Townley, Enrichment Coordinator: With a new academic year upon us Holly Hall Academy is about to start on an exciting series of activities in our Enrichment programme;

You’re invited to a FREE community event to celebrate World Mental Health Day 12 - 4pm on Saturday 11 October 2014 at Priory Park, Priory Road, Dudley

Year 7 will be based in science with a series of hands on experiments designed to stretch our reasoning and understanding.

Includes Free NHS health checks and advice on looking after your mental health

Year 8 will be working in Performing Arts and English on 'Radio GaGa' being producers of their own radio station for a day.

Fun games and activities for the whole family Enjoy a massage relaxation techniques

and

learn

Find out more about our new Wellmind app and win prizes.

Year 9 will be working with PE in a day called SAFE (self-esteem and fitness education) where workshops in self esteem, SRE and PE activities will be taking place.

Everyone welcome. Find out more at www.dwmh.nhs.uk

Year 10 will be 'looking to the future' with activities based around careers.

Year 11 will be starting to think about life after Holly Hall, a selection of local colleges will be coming in to talk to students about the choices and options they have for their future in post 16 education and training.

Have you lost anything whilst at the Academy?

We have already amassed a quantity of items that have been left behind. If you want to see if your property has been found, come to M r s Ro w bo tt om i n Resources.

Mrs Milosorov requests that any student who has left food made in their Food Technology lesson recently, please make sure that you collect it by the end of the day.

From Monday 6 to Friday 10 October, the Academy will close at 2.20pm each day for staff Performance Management reviews.

Mr Malone, Senior Assistant Principal: The Holly Hall Academy have been discussing bullying in tutorials. All students and their form tutors have signed an antibullying charter for display in classrooms throughout the year, alongside the Academy’s anti-bullying code.

Bullying is behaviour that is designed to hurt a person. It is not a one-off act but is repeated over time. If you require more information on how the Academy can help if your child is being bullied, visit the Parents and Carers section of the Holly Hall Virtual Learning Environment at www.hollyhallacademy.co.uk.

Pictured: Mr Lloyd, Principal signing the Anti-Bullying Charter with students Page 7

Mr Townley, Director of Teaching & Learning Lifestyles: While the rest of Holly Hall students had just broken up for the long summer holiday, a group of our new Year 7 students were just starting their time at Holly Hall in the 'Summer Academy Challenge'.

Students started off with a range of activities in the science department including making air powered rockets and a range of hands on experiments. Moving on to Design, students spent time in textiles making a drinks bottle, mobile phone case and jigsaw. In art students tried 'solar printing' and made a frame for their artwork luckily the sun was shining for us! In 3D design students made plaster castings of their own hands, a wooden sign and a birdbox amongst other things. In catering students produced a healthy meal and pudding to take away with them for their families to eat.

The second week involved a series of visits. Star City was first where Mr Wright beat Mr Parmar hands down at crazy golf, and Mr Townley beat Mr Parmar at ten pin bowling.

The following day, at Wolf Mountain, the students took part in indoor caving, climbing and archery, where the design department retained the archery crown over the maths department. The week finished off at the West Midlands Safari Park where we were fortunate enough to see the new baby elephant 'Sutton'. Students then enjoyed a afternoon of fun on the rides in the amusement park. What a great fortnight we all had!

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