Newsletter Issue 13 - Bedford Academy

Communications Maths and BusinessSummer 2012Year 11 celebration!Students in Year 11 from across all of the Learning Villageshave received awards for their efforts throughout the year,with students from the Communications Learning Villagedoing very well in all categories.Abi Ford (CO8 Senna) and Reneta Pruckute (CO6 Hawking)came 1st and 2nd in the Academy with the largest amountof achievement points awarded in the academic year. Weare very proud to have had both of these students in ourLearning Village this year.Five students (Ryan Lee, Callum Bonson, Abi Ford, NaimulIslam and Sophie Meech) didn’t get any behaviour points at allduring the academic year and eight students (Leanne France,Anjola Osundara, Hobiba Begum, Charlotte Wray, RenetaPruckute, Abi Ford, Naimul Islam and Rukshana Begum) got100 per cent attendance for the academic year.Get crafty!Every week, Mrs Large runs an afterschool enrichment classmaking cards to help raise money for our Learning VillageCharity, The Bedford and District Cerebral Palsy Society.Students make creative cards for all occasions using a rangeof different materials which are provided for them. This year,our card sales have raised over £50 for our chosen charity.This is due to continue into next year, with a new ‘make andtake’ option, where students can come and make a card fora special occasion and then make a donation to the LearningVillage Charity to keep the card they made.Inter-form competitionEach term, students in the Communications Learning Villageget the opportunity to win a trip of their choice to a localattraction by winning the inter-form competition. Studentscompete for the trip (and the village cup) on attendance andthe weekly quiz, where 1st, 2nd and 3rd places are awardedin both.In the Autumn Term, CO9 Telford won the competition andchose to go on a trip to McDonalds and the cinema. In theSpring Term, C10 Winston won the trip, choosing again to goto McDonalds, and bowling in Milton Keynes. At we go topress, the race to be Summer Term Champions is very tight,the winner will be announced in the last week of term.Most improvedcommunications studentThe award for Most Improved Communications Studentwent to Callum Bonson, who won the award for hisapproach to his coursework and deadlines in the run upto his exams. Callum was also commended for being anexcellent member of his tutor group, CO3 Curie.Naimul namedcommunications Year 11student of the yearThe Communications Student of the Year is Naimul Islamfrom CO9 Telford, who won a host of other awards too!Naimul won this award for his dedication and hard workthroughout Year 11. Naimul has an excellent attendance,punctuality and behaviour record and was recommendedby his teachers for being the sort of student that was a‘pleasure to teach.’ Congratulations Naimul!PromThe 2nd AnnualBedford AcademyProm took placein mid-July at TheSharnbrook Hotel.The Academy’sprom committeehas worked hardsince Januaryto arrange thisevening and it isa highlight of theBedford Academysocial calendar.This years PromKing and Queenare Ryan Mouldingand Katie Lambe(pictured right).Puzzle Day reviewby Marjana Begum, Lakiesha Kumari, Chelsea Giffard,Tia Forbes, and Dale WellsThe puzzle day has been a fantastic experience; it taught usmany skills and abilities that we can use in the future such as:opening our minds, thinking clearly outside of the box; alsonot to think that everything is impossible at first but to try itout!To begin with the mentor, Phillip, did a demonstration toget us engaged and listening using a metal handcuff-likeobject that seemed impossible to open; however, it was notimpossible as we found out later on during the day. We wereall flabbergasted when he revealed his secret which didn’t lookvery difficult.The first activity was a game called Penguin Pile-up whichchallenged our teamwork skills, mental abilities and strategicthinking. This game taught us that, if at first you do notsucceed, persevere and try a new method. Overall we hadcompleted a vast amount of activities, ranging from gamesto puzzles. These taught us vital life skills which can help usthrough our individual lifestyle.The first sessions had 58 Year 9 boys - who were the loudestof course. Twelve students from Abbey Middle joined 45 Year10 boys and girls for the second session. Finally, 12 studentsfrom Harrowden Middle school were gracious enough to jointhe Year 9 girls and were eager to participate in the eventsduring the third session which was the best!This is what Mrs Russo from Harrowden wrote back toBedford Academy;‘’I would like to thank you on behalf of Year 8 pupils who attendedthe puzzle challenge afternoon. This was enjoyed by all and severalof your Year 9 pupils were very helpful with our pupils.”The activities we did were great fun and were enjoyed byeveryone including the teaching staff; Mr Ogunronbi, Mr Lewis,Miss Sheehan, Mr Todd and Mr Adams. Even Mrs Smith had funand couldn’t resist participating at the three different sessions.Many participants have told their parents/carers that they havehad a brilliant day and would happily agree to do it again.Finding your inner entrepreneurInitiative, teamwork, creativity and risk-taking help make us thesuccessful people we want to be.That’s why on the 6th July, Bright Futures, a specialistenterprise education provider visited Bedford Academy to leada day of fun and enriching activities for all Year 9 students tohelp recognise and hone these very qualities.Enterprise skills enable students to become independentthinkers and develop a positive “can do” attitude to life. Theday instilled long-lasting beneficial effects that will supportBedford Academy students in terms of the way they approachchallenges and therefore the success they achieve in life bothat school and beyond.The day began with icebreaker fun activities to get studentsin the right frame of mind. This was followed by a number ofshort activities that introduced students to entreprensurshipand social enterprises. We then moved on to problem solvingtasks involving a healthy dose of competition.After lunch students watched a video of a young successfulentrepreneur who was a student just like them only a fewyears ago. The day closed with an evaluation offering studentsthe opportunity to reflect on the day and consider what theylearned.