Year 12 Biology
As a part of their practical work, Year 12 biology students were investigating the effectiveness of different antibiotics on bacterial culture Microccus Luteum. This is a common bacterium that can be found on or hands and surfaces. The students mastered common aceptic techniques that are widely used in a microbiology lab.
Artist Darcy Turner runs a workshop for Year 10
On Wednesday 23 June, Year 10 art students enjoyed an amazing new sculpture experience. The artist and inventor Darcy Turner delivered a whole day workshop exploring his Stixx machine sculpture techniques. The students had to respond to their current coursework theme of Layers and produce a 3D sculpture.
Virtual Young Musician Competition 2021
Mr Grogan and Mr Stock would like to congratulate the following students for taking part in our Virtual Young Musician Competition 2021. The overall winners were Emily Robson and
Jorja O’Grady, with runners up Isabelle Ramsay (Voice) and Jessica Newton (Piano). The standard of musicianship was outstanding, and they had a really difficult time deciding on winners. The winners and runners up will be performing in our Summer Prom Concert on Friday 9 July on the Piazza.
Junior Maths Challenge
Many of our students volunteered to take part in the annual Junior Maths Challenge. This was an online, timed challenge with some very difficult problems. Our students performed extremely well, and I would like to give a special mention to the students pictured as they achieved certificates for their particularly high scores. Thank you and well done to all that took part.
Miss Bull, Maths
Colour Container Workshop
Thursday 10 June and Friday 11 June, 7.00pm to 8.00 pm.
The PSFA will be running a Colour Container Workshop in partnership with Well Bean Gardening.
Tickets are £15 each.
Email: ticketspsfa@gmail.com for booking and more information.
National Careers Week 2021
NCW2021 goes live 1 - 6 March
• Sign up to the Virtual Careers Fair that will be running all week.
• Check out the National Careers Week TV.
• Look out for the 'Skill of the Day' posted on Teams each morning!
• Read about some ex-Birchwood students and what they are up to now.
Art tiger
The art being produced during lockdown has been amazing!
Keep drawing, dancing, painting, performing and singing. Remember all expressive and performing arts is good for your health and wellbeing.
Head Boy and Girl cycle, run, walk challenge...
To keep the Birchwood community physically and mentally healthy during lockdown our Head Boy and Head Girl have launched two challenges, one for the walkers and runners, covering the distance of 1400km for Lands End to John O’Groats and for the cyclists, to cover the distance of the Transcontinental race a total of 4000km.
Already a number of students, parents and staff have signed up and are using the challenge to beat the January blues and the lockdown lows. As a school, Birchwood is always looking at ways in which to
engage the community in offering as much sport and physical activity as possible. So if you have an idea of how we could support a local club, group or individuals in meeting their New Year fitness goals or supporting their club to develop or enhance their offer please contact community@birchwoodhigh.org.uk.
We would love to hear how we can support you.
Winter House photographic competition
Congratulations to everyone who took part in the Winter House photographic competition, we had some superb entries. We are very lucky to live in this area and it can make such a difference to our wellbeing to get outside and see what is all around us.
The winners are as follows:
1st place, Brian Hormbrey, Year 12
Hadham House (500 House points)
2nd place, Cameron Neary, Year 7
Dane House (250 House points)
3rd place, Samantha Utley, Year 8
Waytemore house (150 House points)
LGBT+ History month
February is LGBT+ History month in the UK - an annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. In 2005, educators and activists Sue Sanders and Paul Patrick organised LGBT+ History Month as part of a Schools Out UK project, a programme that aims to educate young people about the issues members of the LGBT+ community face and to make schools feel inclusive for everyone, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.
The event was first held in February to coincide with the abolition of Section 28, a hugely controversial piece of Conservative government legislation which banned local authorities and schools from “promoting” homosexuality. After widespread opposition and condemnation, Section 28 was abolished in 2003. Alas, due to the ongoing pandemic, we will not be able to celebrate the month in the usual way at school. However, we will hopefully be able to run various events later in the year to ensure that acceptance without exception remains a central part of our school community.
Please also check out Fusion groups Twitter page - @fusion_bwood - to read up on profiles of famous LGBT+ figures - past and present - as well as information, talks and resources on all things LGBT+.