Onwards - July 2012 - South Wilts Grammar School for Girls

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ONWARDS The Biology Field Trip Kimmeridge On 2nd and 3rd July Biology students visited the beach at Kimmeridge. Standing in the rain, we were briefed on the following procedure. We were going to be using an interrupted transect method using a quadrat to look for periwinkles, a type of mollusc. We grabbed our buckets full of equipment and ventured down to the rocky shore. Each group chose a different section of the beach and pulled out the tape measure. Placing down our quadrat (a large empty square), we started looking for periwinkles. We all came across more than just periwinkles: sea anemones, a brittle star and many crabs were also found. After a good few hours, we packed up our buckets: made sure we had everything and headed back to the coach. Along the way we had one person slip, though very gracefully. We took out our clip boards with results, put them in a dry place to keep safe and disembarked from our wellies. Sitting on the coach we started on a very welcome lunch. After lunch we headed off to the river Piddle. At the river we were again briefed on the procedure to follow. Our buckets now had been upgraded to equipment worth over £400. Also next to each bucket was a pair or rather large, rather fetching, green waders. This time we were going to be sampling freshwater life to see how polluted the river was. Each creature had a ranking, 10 would mean the river was very clean, 8 would mean slight pollution and so on. Depending on the number of each creature you found, this would tell you how polluted the river was. We were going to use the ‘kick’ sampling method: you would stand in the river, and run on the spot, disturbing the floor. This caused your sample to flow downstream and into your net, which would be placed in front of your feet. My group didn’t particularly want to go in the fetching green waders, leaving the job to me. I’d like to take a moment to set the scene. I’m only 5’2 and the water was at an all time high due to the rain and our group chose the river to start and not the pond, the river being faster flowing .I got into my waders - it did not look good. None-the-less I entered the fast flowing water. We all had a good laugh at all the people jogging in the water in their waders. We brought our samples back to shore and turned them out into the tray. We identified each species and counted the quantity. We took a second sample and counted once more. We then changed to the millpond and took another two samples, comparing the difference between species and whether one area was more polluted than the other. Each group also had an abiotic factor to measure. These were non-living factors such as temperature, pH, flow rate, light intensity and oxygen concentration. Our group was measuring pH and interestingly the orange, murky pond was more neutral than the clear, fast flowing river. With our results written down we packed up our kit, quickly departed from the waders and headed back to the coach. After saying thank you and giving a round of applause to our guide we walked back to the coach. As we all filed on, we discussed our favourite parts, and of course complained to each member of staff individually how bad the British “summer” was. As we took off our wellies we all laughed at each other’s curly hair (which had taken much time to straighten) and rosy cheeks, and got ready for our journey home. Now considering we fell over pebbles and in the mud, were soaked through to the bone, had to wear large green pants, and we almost got swept away, and everyone was looking very wind swept. It was an excellent day outside the classroom. (Sophie Sibley 12AAD) 6
ONWARDS BASE Final Birmingham for Business Studies Six year 13 Business Studies students qualified forthe regional heats of the BASE business studies competition and won the chance to represent the school at the BASE national finals. They had to use their business and finance knowledge to act as consultants for a company involved in making soaps for hotels. After analysing the facts, they had to present to the judges and suggest the correct strategy for the company to adopt over the coming years. This year the competition was held at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham. The students were treated to fine dining and a swanky hotel room as reward for reaching the finals and they had an excellent time. Unfortunately, the students lost out in a gruelling heat against some excellent teams, but the experience will be superb as they move into the world of work and interviews. Very well done to Emma Ward, Ellie Coles, Ellie Selby, Laura O’Donovan, Bethen Copp and Hayley Stevens-Shaw for progressing into the final. They did an excellent job throughout and their mentor for the day was incredibly positive about their work and overall attitude. (Mr Smith) UNESCO 2012 This June, South Wilts were invited to participate in the UNESCO 2012 Youth Heritage Summit in Greenwich. In order to attend we had to make a digital scrapbook explaining who we were, and what our World Heritage Site meant to us. After a visit to our site, Stonehenge, we made a website using interviews and pictures we had taken there. Once our entry had been accepted, the seven of us travelled to the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage site for the summit. On the first day we took part in team building exercises with the other schools and had a dinner in Greenwich University. The next day we travelled down the Thames to the fantastic Ravensbourne University and gave interviews about our Heritage Site which will be screened in the various Olympic stadiums during the games. We also took part in a digital treasure hunt around Greenwich using the scavenger app our youth hosts had made for us. On the last day there was a careers fair at the university, which gave us helpful information about possible careers involving heritage and history. We feel that our time at Greenwich was immensely valuable, as we now have a better understanding of our own past and more commitment to achieving our goals in the future. (Libby Langhorn 10W) The Queens’ Big Thank you Card School pupils across Wiltshire and Dorset were given the chance to submit a design for a thank you card to HM the Queen to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee and say thank you for visiting Salisbury. From the 150 entries, 9 from SWGS were shortlisted to the Final. These girls were Katie Ereira 7A, Lucy Hamer 7A, Izzie Walker 7A, Sabrina Blighe 7E, Amelia French 7E, Sophie Lewis-Evans 8A, Hannah Quirk 8E, Elle Vince 8N and Anna Mitchell 8N. Their card designs will be printed on the inside of the card for the Queen. A huge well done. Amelia French 7E was also awarded the overall winner’s prize with her design being printed on the front of the card. She will also get the chance to meet the Bishop and open the new Diocesan Education Centre in Wilton. Well done to everyone who entered the competition from the Art Department. (Mrs Evans) 7
Page 1 and 2: ONWARDS July 2012 As we near the en
Page 3 and 4: ONWARDS Speech Day Our annual Speec
Page 5: ONWARDS Continued…...The Science
Page 9 and 10: ONWARDS GCSE Computing We will be p
Page 11 and 12: Lulworth Cove On Tuesday 19th June
Page 13 and 14: ONWARDS India On Thursday 14th June
Page 15 and 16: ONWARDS Midsummer Night’s Dream F
Page 17 and 18: ONWARDS Netball 6 girls attended U1
Page 19 and 20: ONWARDS Sports Day 2012 Yet another
Page 21: ONWARDS School Calendar 2012 / 2013

Onwards - July 2012 - South Wilts Grammar School for Girls

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