Easter Concert, 31st March at St Mark’s Church

Tickets are now available from the Music Department, priced £4 (£3 concessions). The concert starts at 7.00pm and features a superb array of items from Wind Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Keyboard Club, Samba Band, Choir and Chamber Choir. We would love to see you there!

Creative Writing Course

Two weeks ago a group of Year 12 and Year 13 English students visited The Wallace Collection on a Creative Writing Course led by author Bridget Crowley. The students were taken on a tour around the collection, focussing on eight particular paintings and objects. Bridget encouraged the students to observe and analyse each item, while also enjoying and appreciating the unique setting they were positioned in.

The students were then led through a series of creative writing tasks, inspired by what they had seen. Bridget’s expertise was invaluable and the students created some superb and original writing as a result. Many took the opportunity to ask Bridget her advice on becoming a published author. Judging by the impressive standard of writing delivered on the day, I am sure Hayes will indeed produce some very successful authors in the future.

Hayes Primary School

As part of our specialist programme, Year 4 from Hayes Primary School spent Wednesday 11th March in BGB creating posters for their project on the environment. Before they came, the pupils had either chosen or written poems for their posters about different types of regions: mountains, rainforests, meadows or rivers.

In the first part of their session, led by Mr Cooper, they had to search for different images on the Internet. When they had found several they opened these up in Photoshop and changed the sizes so they had a background image and some other smaller elements, plants, animals etc. that they then cut out and added on in layers. The final part was to add the text, choosing a line or two from their poems they learned how to change the font, size and colour and add effects.

Working in pairs they created more than fifty professional looking posters. They were understandably proud of their efforts and the amount that they had learned about Photoshop in such a short time. They particularly enjoyed working in the Mac suite with the new computers and working with the Sixth Form helpers.

Year 11 Maths Mock

As we get closer to the GCSE exam period, teachers and students of Year 11 will appreciate a clear picture of exactly where they stand in terms of their achievement in Maths. This will be best done by completing a fully fledged mock exam on the first day back.

There will be an exam briefing at 8:30am on 20th April followed by the calculator exam that encompasses the full content of GCSE Maths syllabus. Students will complete this under exam conditions and it is compulsory for them to attend. Please remind them to bring the appropriate equipment including a calculator on the first day back. The non-calculator exam will be
completed in lessons during the week. We strongly believe that this will result in improvement in achievement and would be grateful for your support.

UCAS Convention – Wednesday 1st April 2009

All Year 12s’ will be attending the annual UCAS Convention next Wednesday at Olympia. Letters and medical forms have gone home, please can I urge these are returned (if not already) on Monday morning without fail. All students are expected to attend this event where many Universities and other Higher Education institutions will be exhibiting and answering
questions. Students must attend registration as normal on Wednesday and we will depart together from tutor bases.

Mr R Dodson, Year 12 Achievement Co-ordinator

DNA Computer Asset Marking

We have recently upgraded our security marking on ICT components
within the school. Our assets are marked in 2 ways to identify them to the
police. 1st is a stencil which is “burnt” into the casing of the computers and
the 2nd is a “DNA” gel coating which has microscopic chips identifying
the property owners – and if removed – remains on the person unseen
but detectable by the police. The kit has been ‘tried and tested’ for over 20
years. Selectamark Property Marking kit is recommended by the Police,
Home Office and many Insurance Companies. In some areas its use has
reduced break-ins by 98%.

Sainsbury's Active Kids Vouchers

Please don’t forget to collect your Sainsbury’s vouchers. From the 11th
February to 3rd June you will be able to receive one Sainsbury’s voucher
for every £10 you spend at any Sainsbury’s stores. You can also earn
vouchers at any Sainsbury’s petrol stations and convert your Nectar points
into vouchers by visiting www.nectar.com. Vouchers should be placed in
the collection box at Student Reception or in the PE office.