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ACADEMY NEWS

WE’RE PROUD TO BE SHOWN AS THE BEST SCHOOL IN CORNWALL IN THE TIMES 2015 “BEST SCHOOL NEAR YOU” SURVEY

2nd DECEMBER 2016

BE YOURBEST

Best wishes

Principal’s Report

Sara Davey - Academy Principal

Back at the Academy it is business as usual and it was lovely to see so many parents and carers of Year 11 students last night at the Year 11 Parent Consultation Evening. This has been a tough month for Year 11 with their first set of mock examinations undertaken. The relationship between students, parents and the Academy is very important during this period of preparation for the final GCSEs which will begin in just a few month’s time.

I am delighted to report continued sporting success. This week has seen our Year 10 rugby team progress to round 5 of the National Cup after a victory against Uffculme School from Devon, putting us just three wins away from Twickenham. Well done boys, a report is included in this newsletter. Similarly, the Year 7 5-a-side football team have progressed to the SW England Finals having won their West Cornwall area tournament.

Next week we will welcome into the Academy some visitors from ‘Challenge Partners’ who will be meeting with senior staff and observing lessons and practices as part of our annual review. This is an exciting opportunity for us to share our good practice with senior staff from similar schools around the country as well as have an external eye observing our strengths and supporting areas for us to develop in the future.

It was an early start today for over 40 students and staff who left Penzance before 4am to make the long journey to Birmingham where they will visit the Clothes Show at the NEC. This is always a fantastic trip and has been an inspiration to many students over the years who have gone on to investigate careers in the fashion industry. They will all be very tired when they arrive home in the early hours of the morning and a report will appear next week. This, along with the RE trip to London reported later in the newsletter, reminds me that despite geographical location of Penzance, we still manage to make many visits to major cities and national events.

As Christmas approaches the Academy is starting to take on a more festive look as six Christmas trees have arrived in our main Reception area, each waiting to be decorated by a different House for our annual House Christmas Tree Competition to be judged on the last day of term.

Finally, prior warning that the Academy term will finish at 1pm on Friday 16th December. Full details of any special travel arrangements on that day will be given in next week’s newsletter.

BECURIOUS

Report by Mr Sibley

On Tuesday 29 November five Year 9 Product Design students competed in an engineering challenge hosted by the Royal Navy at RNAS Culdrose and sponsored by Lockheed Martin.

After a formal military briefing Henry Jackson, Sam Oliver, Sam Perkin, Sam Randall and Coby Stevens had to design and build a scale model of a crane that could lift a downed Merlin helicopter from the desert. The students worked in a cold hangar alongside Naval engineers who were servicing the real aircraft.

Up against eleven other Cornish school teams the MBA young engineers worked as a very effective team and came joint third.

During a break in the challenge the students were given a tour of the Merlin training facilities including a £100 million flight simulator. Lockheed Martin make the Merlin helicopters for the Navy and 824 Naval Air Squadron, based at RNAS Culdrose, man and maintain those aircraft. RNAS Culdrose is the national centre for the training of Merlin engineers.

Well done to our five students and thank you to RNAS Culdrose, 824 Naval Air Squadron and Lockheed Martin.

Engineering Challenge

Our REAL Project groups ventured into the wintery countryside this week; to explore and respond to their site specific locations. The areas in West Penwith are St Ives, Marazion, Mousehole and Pendeen.

These visits will lead into the creation of the next REAL Project books, answering the question, 'How do you capture the spirit of a place?'

The students used a variety of methods to respond to the question, including observational drawings, creative writing linked to their sensory experiences, and they also took a range of photographs to document the place as it was that day.

BECURIOUS

REAL Project Trips

St Ives

Pendeen

BECURIOUS

Report by Miss Green

Their learning focus for week three and onwards is to explore a range of ways to expand on their primary research, to devise a finished piece of creative writing and an illustration to present in the book.

All students were excited to learn outside the classroom, and to use art materials in new ways to capture a moment. The weather was perfect, and despite being cold, the students were professional in their approach to the tasks, knowing they were engaged in an authentic learning experience.

Well done Year 7!

Marazion

Mousehole

BEINSPIRED

Recently we had the pleasure of taking 42 Year 10 students on a fantastic RE trip to London. We had a jam-packed couple of days where students had the opportunity to absorb the culture of London.

On the first day we visited London Central Mosque, where we experienced a live prayer session, which we all found very enlightening and were honoured to have had the experience. Abigail - Rose Wallis said, “I now have a much better perspective of religion and an understanding of Muslim prayer - it was very tranquil and relaxing.”

We also visited the Natural History Museum, where students were able to embrace the historical elements of the world.

We were fortunate enough to be able to squeeze in a visit to the West End to watch The Lion King - a memorable experience for us all.

RE Trip to London

BEINSPIRED

On the second day we visited Westminster Abbey, where students were able to compare this Christian place of worship with their visit to the mosque.

For light entertainment, with a historical twist, we took students to The London Dungeons where they had a a swift tour of London's history - gore and all! Annie Badjan said, “The London Dungeons was so different to anything I have ever done and a really fun way to learn about the history of London.”

Before making the long trip home, we were fortunate enough to have a guided tour of Parliament, where we explored the history of the building as well as they system of British politics and how laws are made.

The trip was extremely successful and our students demonstrated mature and respectful behaviour at every venue visited. Zoe Empson said, “It was the best school trip I have ever been on - really good value for money, as we did SOOOO much!”

Report by Miss Westren, Miss Drew, Mr Johns and Mrs Mudd

BEINSPIRED

The Phoenix has Landed in the Library

‘The Phoenix’ is a brilliant weekly story comic, I've been getting it at home for a while and am really pleased to introduce it to our library. It features Philip Pullman's ‘The Adventures of John Blake’, Doug Slogan, ‘Bunny vs Monkey’ and ‘Corpse Talk’, which is a really funny and informative way to learn about historical figures (as long as they're dead!)

Each week I will add the newest copy to a special folder to keep them in order. Do come in and read through the folder at tutor times, lunch times and after school. It's a really entertaining read. Have a look at the free digi copy:

https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/free-digi-phoenix/

Report by Mrs Marsden

BEINSPIRED

I am pleased to announce three new Word Millionaires this week. Well done to Xander Linder (7 Blue), Enid Kirk (7 Cool) and Faith Medley (7 Red) who have all received their Word Millionaire badge, certificate and pair of cinema tickets.

Xander has enjoyed reading ‘Thief’, by Malorie Blackman, ‘I am Malala’, by Malala Yousafzai and the Young Bond novels by Charlie Higson: ‘Bloodfever’, ‘Silverfin’, ‘Double or Die’ and ‘Hurricane's Gold’.

Word Millionaires

Enid has successfully taken quizzes on ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’, ‘Wonder’ by R J Palacio (one of my favourites) and ‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar since the start of the academic year.

Faith is currently reading ‘I am Malala’ after finishing ‘Geek Girl’, ‘Model Misfit’ and ‘All that Glitters’ by Holly Smale.

Report by Mrs Marsden

BEINSPIRED

Alexander Jago-Roe is this month's Accelerated Reader prize draw winner. He has had a brilliant week reading Military Machines, Explosions, C.S.I. Bank Robbery and Alien Abduction in his 'Do Now' time in English lessons. He has scored an impressive 95% average across the four books. Well done Alex.

Report by Mrs Marsden

“Thank You” Mounts Bay Academy raised a staggering £1,100 during our recent Halloween charity fundraising dress-up day.

This money has been passed onto The UK Sepsis Trust and Penhaligon’s Friends, who were both incredibly impressed and grateful for everyone’s efforts. Both charities sent the Academy letters of thanks - well done everyone.

History Excellence

Year 11 Historians have been working extremely hard over the past semester on their Controlled Assessment.

Students have investigated the role of the Royal Navy during the two World Wars and have used sources to test the validity of an historical interpretation. They have been assessing both world wars and comparing tactics and structure of the battles to decide on how much success was based on technology and movement on the battle field.

Students can be seen here using their extensive research diaries to help them construct their formal written answers. They have been researching as part of ongoing homeworks to enable them to justify their comments on the accuracy of the sources used.

They have been demonstrating key skills associated with source analysis.

A big well done from the History Team to all our Year 11 historians as your effort and focus has been outstanding.

BECURIOUS

Report by Miss Walters and Mr Floyd

This week in Real Project 7 Warm were completing more of their adventurer research. Students were asking themselves ‘What makes an adventurer?’ and many students focused on those with courage and determination whereas others looked at those whose knowledge and intelligence made them great. One student has researched Charles Darwin and said “I like him as he was afraid of telling people what he believed and then science backed him up!”. Many students have looked at Bear Grylls and Steve Backshall saying that “they have no fears in the world”. Others focused on local sports woman Helen Glover saying "she was confident in herself and how good she was at her sport”.

At the end of each lesson the students complete their own blog entry. In this they explain what they have done throughout the lesson and support this with images. These blogs are a great way of peer reviewing each others research and also for students to share with their two teachers.

7 Warm REAL Project

Report by The History Team

BEINSPIRED

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 question, videos and help sheets.

All students have the app on their iPad automatically. They can get their login details and more information from:

https://mountsbay.fireflycloud.net/mathematics/revision/pixl-app

PiXL Maths App

Report by Mr Kent

Engagement

PIERCE ChloeFARRELL JessicaSEMMENS KerenzaSIMPSON TheoDOYLE HarryTATTERSALL EllaBRIDGEMAN ShannonDAVY JessicaLUMBERS Maisy-SkySEMMENS Kerry

TREVORROW LorenBUCKLEY CalFINCH SkylarWILLIAMSON JamesENSTON NicolaGRAHAM BonnieMILLER TreveGENDALL ArchieGODDARD KieraLAITY Loveday

Each week the top students using the app will be awarded a prize. This is not a prize for the students who get the most questions correct; 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.

BECREATIVE

Amber Nethersole in Year 11 is our 'Artist of the Week'. Amber has a beautiful drawing quality evident throughout her sketchbook and she has developed the confidence to connect her technical skills with the knowledge and understanding of a range of artists into really delicate watercolour paintings.

Artist of the Week

Report by Mrs Dale

Amber hopes to pursue a career in special effects for TV and film so her GCSE Art at MBA will help make this interesting career choice a reality.

Well done Amber.

BECREATIVE

MBA welcomed Year 1 from Heamoor Primary School on Monday for a critique of their amazing dinosuar pictures and sculptures. The work was set up in the Academy entrance foyer and Year 1 walked over to MBA to see their work displayed in the 'big school'!

They have been very creative producing drawings, paintings, collages and mini sculptures on the theme of dinosaurs. Favourites to draw were of course the velociraptors who were finished with googly eyes and frightening scary teeth! All the children were very keen to talk about their art work to Year 8 students and they described their work with great confidence and enthusiasm.

Year 8 students were absolutely brilliant with Year 1. They were very supportive and kind and really made the children feel welcome to MBA.

Primary Art

Report by Mrs Dale

BECREATIVE

GCSE Music Concert

On Friday the Year 10 GCSE class travelled to the Hall for Cornwall to watch the annual Cornwall Music Hub GCSE concert. It was a wonderful opportunity for some of our students to watch some of the country’s best professional musicians performing pieces from the exam syllabus.

Particular favourites of the group were Schumanns Piano Concert and the Hoedown by Copland. The concert was finished with a phenomenal rendition of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the concert and it was an invaluable experience for everyone who attended.

Music News

Boys Choir

The boys choir are busy rehearsing ready for performances over the Christmas period. It is amazing how much they have grown in confidence and they are sounding brilliant. Keep up the good work!

Report by Mrs Brown

Christmas Events

There are lots of different events happening over the next few weeks, make sure you are attending rehearsals.

Monday lunchtimes - concert bandTuesdays - HPI choir and boys choirFriday lunchtimes - MBA voices

If you are a performer, make sure that you come and get a letter about the events from the Music Department.

BECOMPETITIVE

National Cup Win

On Wednesday of this week the Year 10 boys rugby team played in the fourth round of the National Cup Competition. It was a beautiful day for rugby and with the away team, Uffculme School, having to travel from Devon, the boys headed down to the Mennaye Field at lunchtime for the big game.

Within the first five minutes Fletcher Stevenson had made a break and scored a try. Uffculme School came straight back at us scoring at the opposite end of the field. The rest of the first half was dominated by some great passages of play by Mounts Bay and resulted in another two tries scored by Toby Osborne and Harris Eddy

At the start of the second half Uffculme came back at us strongly, scoring two tries to level the score quite quickly. The Mounts Bay boys continued to work hard and defend well. Their hard work paid off when we were awarded a penalty in the final 10 minutes of the game. Ben Durrant held his nerve to kick the ball between the uprights, scoring us the 3 points that eventually won us the game. Well done to all the boys involved. We look forward to seeing how you do in the fifth round of this National Competition.

Tries: Fletcher Stevenson, Harris Eddy and Toby OsborneConversions: 1x Ben DurrantPenalties: 1x Ben DurrantMan of the Match: Ben Durrant

Final score: Mounts Bay 20 - 17 Uffculme School

Report by Miss Tripp

The Year 7 boys football team have won the West Cornwall Schools District 5-a-side football tournament, and will consequently progress to the South West Regional finals.

The boys progression to the semi final was dependent on them finishing in the top two teams in their group. Having done this, they met Richard Lander School in the semi final, who they beat 2-0. In the final they met Penryn College, who they beat 2-0. It was a difficult competition to win and the boys did so in emphatic fashion, as well as being excellent ambassadors for the Academy. The Year 7 boys are now crowned as West Cornwall Schools champions, a great effort indeed!

BECOMPETITIVE

5-a-side Football Champions

Squad:

Tyler DayusOscar HallsLeo FrostJoe Jenson-TomlinsonJago HillsEzra SavageKempa MarksJoe Williams

Goal Scorers:

Joe Williams x7Oscar Halls x2Ezra Savage x2Jago Hills x1Kempa Marks x1

Report by Mr Lawrence

BEA WINNER

Maths Quiz

This Week’s Puzzle: What is the next number?

12 13 15 17 111 113 117 119 123 ?

Last week’s solution:

888+88+8+8+8 = 1000

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

Purple: 26 PointsYellow: 15 Points

Blue: 6 PointsOrange: 5 PointsGreen: 1 PointsRed: 1 Points

Click here to submit your answer

Closing date for Entries: Thursday 12:00

This Week’s House Totals

BEA WINNER

To enter, simply write an original sentence correctly using the word sculpture. Send in your sentence using the link below.

Competition

Congratulations to Xander Linder who wins 10 VIVO points.

Click here to enter the competition

This week’s word is: Sculpture

Definition: Word meaning:the art of making two- or three-dimensional representative or abstract forms, especially by carving stone, clay or wood or by casting metal or plaster.

Etymology: late Middle English: from Latin sculptura, from sculpere ‘carve’.

The Invictus Trust is a small charity which aims to support and offer services to local teenagers who are suffering

from poor mental health and associated issues.

Their current project is the Anchor Fund which gives financial support to the families of children who are being

cared for in mental health units outside of Cornwall.

The Invictus Trust is dedicated to the memory of Ben Cowburn, a wonderfully vibrant young man whose

struggle with mental health issues had tragic consequences. The Invictus Trust is named after the poem

that inspired Ben.

Cake sale Breaks 1 and 2 All cakes 50p

Mental Health Matters - Non school uniform day Dress for Christmas - £1

Friday 9th December

All money raised will be donated to The Invictus Trust

If you have any enquiries or wish to donate cake for the cake sale then please email : hjames.12@mountsbay.org or lreid.12@mountsbay.org