UOB SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Spring Edition 2023 | Issue 09
CONTENTS Message from the Principal Something Wicked This Way Comes... For the Love of Music World Book Day A Journey of a Thousand Miles... Sport at UoBS In Other News On the Welsh Coast A Story of Dedication & Perseverance Our Sixth Form Term Dates 1 2 4 5 6 8 10 11 12 13 14
We look ahead to the summer term from Monday 17 April – and indeed preparations for the coming School year 2023/24. We now know the details of the children and families who will be joining the University School from September 2023 into year 7, and our minds are already focused on induction plans to ease anxieties that can understandably arise from transition from primary to secondary schooling. I extend a warm welcome to our new families as we look ahead. For our pupils in year 11 and students in year 13, teachers and leaders at the School continue to prioritise a range of academic and pastoral preparation – empathetic of the important tasks ahead for those young people – and ambitious to support each to successful progression come August. If your child is a member of one of our public examination cohorts I encourage that you support them in putting in place a balanced revision programme over the two week School holiday period – alongside time for rest, relaxation, and recreation. When the examination period arrives we wish all of our children success. My staff and I are mindful that so many of our families are facing additional and exceptional challenges at this time, including pressures arising from the cost of living and increasing hardship. We may not always be able to offer direct help, but I would encourage that our parents and carers reach out to our pastoral staff members to raise awareness of any difficulties or anxieties. It will often be of limited comfort, but I reflect on the place of hope and optimism during testing times. To close, whilst we all enjoy a short time over this holiday period to rest and breathe, we find ourselves also at holy periods. I therefore wish you a peaceful Easter, and Ramadan Mubarak. With kindest regards, Colin Townsend Principal Dear Parents, Carers, and Friends of the School, I write with the spring 2023 term now behind us, to introduce the University School’s spring newsletter. In the normal way, I am bowled over by the breadth and number of activities, excursions, expeditions, enrichment, and wider learning opportunities which have occurred, alongside our day-to-day core business in and out of the classroom. These support so richly our intent to widen horizons, open eyes, and foster character. At the time of writing I look across the School forecourt where minibuses will whisk away children and members of staff for their latest Duke of Edinburgh experience - and I invite you to enjoy learning about other activities and accomplishments through this edition of our newsletter. MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL PAGE 1 'When it rains, look for rainbows; when it's dark, look for stars.' Oscar Wilde Poet & Playwright - Ireland (1854 - 1900)
PAGE 2 SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES... We had two showings for the play and we want to thank everyone who attended to watch and support our pupils and students. We were left speechless after seeing such talent on stage. "It was a great experience, and I loved the reactions of the audience during the play!" Pupil cast. "I saw the performance yesterday and it was amazing! ...our staff and pupils/students were able to create a fantastic event with their creativity, commitment, and talent...this is above and beyond and everyone involved deserves a massive round of applause." UoB School Parent. "Well, the final performance of Macbeth by the pupils was just incredible. The performances were on point, the atmosphere was electric, and I have never been more proud to be part of such a wonderful community. Simply magnificent." Mr Cobane. "Shoutouts to the entire cast, stage managers, light and sound crew for bringing together such a great production and putting on a fantastic performance on both nights. Special thanks to Emma K, Danyal K, Tarah F, and Tehami I for stepping into roles at a moments notice, Izzy H for her terrifying scream, and Freddie J for sound management." Miss Barrington. For pupil Jhanavi PK, it was a particularly special day, celebrating her first acting debut in a School play with her grandparents who travelled all the way from India to see her perform! "Excellent performance. Thank you to Miss Barrington and staff who did a stellar job at putting this together. Inclusion matters and UoB School demonstrated how it can be done." Jhanavi's mother. Thank you to the entire Macbeth cast and team (pupils, students, and staff), with special thanks to Miss Barrington for managing the entire process. Macbeth begins this tale as a brave and loyal warrior to King Duncan but an encounter with three evil witches leads him to murder the King, his best friend, and innocent babies. Finally, consumed with paranoia, he metaphorically and then literally loses his head. Shakespeare’s most dramatic of plays dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those who seek power. This term, we were treated to a spectacular pupil production of Shakespeare's most dramatic plays, Macbeth.
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PAGE 4 Our Spring and Chamber Concerts this year were a fantastic oppportunity for soloists and School ensembles to showcase their hard work and perform in front of family and friends. Pupils and students worked incredibly hard to ensure a polished and entertaining programme was delivered with a wide range of music from classical piano through to jazz improvisation. It is wonderful to see so many pupils and students from across all key stages performing to such a high standard, displaying courage and enthusiasm for music-making in all the many forms it can take. Seizing such opportunities gives our pupils and students a chance to build on character virtues such as resilience, determination, teamwork, creativity, and self belief. These essential life skills will also help them in other aspects of further study and employment. Our School Rock and Pop band 'Shady Side' recently attended the Services for Education Rock and Pop Gala Concert at South & City College, Digbeth. Pupils performed with confidence, sharing their passion for the rock and pop genre with family, friends, and fellow young musicians. Our band performed Billie Eilish's 'Happier Than Ever' and 'Kilby Girl' by The Backseat Lovers. The audience thoroughly enjoyed our performances! Well done Megan C, Levi C, Joel C, Tiana L, and Anaya L - Shady Side Band. We are very proud of all who have participated in our musical opportunities, they are excellent ambassadors for the School, and we look forward to watching them continue to grow and flourish. FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC
WORLD BOOK DAY BookBuzz This year, we were once again able to participate in the Booktrust BookBuzz scheme and gift every child in Year 7 and 8 their very own book, which they chose from a list of 17 titles. Marcus Rashford’s You are a Champion was the runaway favourite, closely followed by Anthony Horowitz’s Nightshade and graphic novel Starcat. Top borrowers this term: 1. Kashif B Year 8 2. Ethan S Year 7 3. Sarah V Year 7 4. Nina K in Year 7 5. Alice M in Year 7 6. Tarah M in Year 7 7. Zhi Yong C in Year 7 8. Timothy W in Year 7 9. Innayah Y in Year 7 10. Nazela A in Year 10 We collectively borrowed 3,500 books between the months of December and March! TOP Class borrowers were: 7X1 PAGE 5 We were delighted to have welcomed award-winning, World Book Day author A.M Dassu to our School to celebrate World Book Day. It was an absolute joy to meet her and hear her talk about the inspiration behind her writing, “…to challenge stereotypes and humanise the stories of others.” “I honestly cannot praise this School, its teachers, staff, and pupils enough. It’s incredible. The ethos is just so positive and everyone is so welcoming, warm, and happy. I had such a brilliant day. It was a joy to meet with the pupils and see the excitement around my book Boot It! Just amazing.” A.M Dassu. With thanks to The Bookshop on the Green and Old Barn Books for helping us gift a copy of Boot It! to every child in Year 8. We also ran a range of popular bookish quizzes with pupils and students from all year groups taking part winning some fantastic book prizes on the way. Pupils and students from all year groups also collaborated on writing a collection of book-themed acrostic poems (see below). UoB School World Book Day Poem We love reading, Over and over again. Reading is to the mind, Like exercise is to the body. Don't forget to read everyday. Because reading helps you improve, Open your mind, Organise your time and Keep reading. Doors open, And minds widen. You should always read! Harry Potter Book Night Monday 26 June 2023
Our sixteen successful applicants began their journey to Boston for our second Aristotle in America Trip. Fully funded by the Turing Scheme, our young people were given the chance to explore a different culture abroad. PAGE 6 A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES... Montrose School in Boston welcomed and hosted us for the duration of our stay. We attended a sample of lessons, got involved with their team sports, met senior leaders, and received campus tours. The Montrose School is also part of a network of schools that situates character education at the core of all they do. The Student Government (their Student Leadership Team) and our pupils had great discussions about how character education was delivered in both schools – the differences and similarities between US and UK culture. Our pupils not only came back having made friends, but with greater cultural awareness and lots of ideas to bring back and implement here. We also visited Harvard University. Receiving a tour around campus from two 'first generation' freshman enabled us to really understand what it was like to study at such a prestigious university. Along our travels we met a Japanese school group who were also visiting Boston and staying in the same accommodation as us. We were delighted to have met them. One of the best experiences we had was teaching each other phrases and songs in our own home languages!
PAGE 7 Amongst all of the wonderful cultural exchange opportunities we walked along the Freedom Trail, taking in Boston's rich history as well as going ice-skating on the Frog Pond and exploring Boston's Modern Art Museum. The highlight for so many was our incredible last day, whereby the very early wake-up call was well worth a first ever visit to New York City. We went to the top of the Rockefeller Center to soak up all the views of the City, walked to Times Square, Central Park and even managed a few shops. Pupils were in awe of the Big Apple and all want to go back! Have a look at our IG highlights for more pictures: @uobschool. “We were hugely proud to see our pupils' confidence grow over the time we were away, seeing them represent our School so wonderfully was really special. Pupils have been creating a piece of work to showcase what the trip meant to them, and we hope to share this more widely very soon.” Miss Exton. Picture: Montrose School
SPORT AT UOBS PAGE 8 Our PE Department have moved into 2023 competing in many more sporting opportunities across the Key Stages. Basketball Senior basketballers are flying high with recent confident wins against both St Georges School and Starbank School. The talent doesn’t stop there though. We recently sent a development squad to play against King Norton Boys School in order to build up match experience. We narrowly missed out on a win on this occasion, however it was evident that there is great potential amongst a very determined squad of players – roll on next season! Football A friendly match between Year 9 and 10 pupils saw the Year 10 team come out on top winning 5-0. Such great character was displayed from both teams – compassion, kindness, teamwork, and resilience – that’s the beauty of sport. We have had some incredible success in the West Midlands County Cup competition. The U13 Girl’s Football Team beat Phoenix Collegiate 5-2 in the quarter final stage. Then qualifying to play Gospel Oak in the semifinals. Unfortunately, after a hard fought match, they suffered a 2-1 defeat. Well done to you all. Indoor Cricket Recent county competition matches saw the School face some extremely high quality, experienced players. Although our teams did not qualify to the next stages of this competition, every match provided valuable insight as to what needs to be done in preparation for any outdoor cricket matches next term.
P A G E 9 L e a d e r s h i p i n P E W ell d o n e t o o u r Y e a r 1 0 S p o r t s L e a d e r s w h o s u p p o r t e d t h e r u n nin g o f t h e Cit y S c h o ol Games Seated Volleyball Competition. Leaders developed their confidence through officiating matches and were a credit to our School. Table Tennis Our table tennis players are going from strength to strength. Regular, weekly coaching opportunities for key stage 4 and 5 have really made a difference in player proficiency and subsequently, our competitive standings within the City is on the rise. With a recent win for our U16 Boys vs St Georges, Edgbaston, it increased our confidence moving into the School Games Competition. This was hosted by UoB School, with our team coming in second place. Year 7 Netball Tournament Well done to the team who won 2 out of their 5 matches at the tournament. The pupils played against high quality competition with the opposition teams having a number of county level players. It was a great experience for all of those involved. Examinations A special mention to all pupils and students who are taking an examination in Physical Education in either Sports Studies, GCSE PE or A level. We have recently seen a positive surge during the final few weeks to gain the highest potential marks in the NEA (non- exam assessment) element of the subjects. The PE Department have seen an array of performances as we gather all the required evidence for moderation. Not only are pupils and students working tirelessly in the written elements of their NEA, they are also showcasing great practical performances, and excellent coaching sessions. We hope to see that determination and commitment continue through to the summer examinations.
Physics Awards Year 11 pupils and Year 12 students took part in the UoBS Physics Challenge. The questions were challenging and would push the most able physicists in the country! We are proud of their achievements: Silver Award Ben S Year 12 Jan L Year 12 Hannah T Year 12 Cameron T Year 12 Bronze Award Luke C Year 12 Lucja M Year 12 Tara P Year 12 Sithika A Year 12 Zaeem U Year 11 Commendation Ojasvi G Year 12 Lukas L Year 12 PAGE 10 IN OTHER NEWS... Muay Thai World Champion! Congratulations to Jamie T in Year 10 who, earlier this year, became World Champion and won a gold medal with his Muay Thai Club. Fantastic achievement - well done Jamie! Because Character Matters... A huge shoutout to pupils Ali E and Faisal E (siblings) who managed to complete 40 swim lengths each (800 metres) to raise money for the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee). Raising a total of £80. World Oral Health Day As part of World Oral Health Day, students from the School of Dentistry at University of Birmingham delivered workshops for our Year 7 pupils to raise awareness about the importance of oral health and hygiene. Pupils learnt about the anatomy of teeth, how diet can affect the condition of your teeth and gums, and what we can do to maintain our lovely smiles for years to come. Thank you to UoB and the dentistry students.
PAGE 11 Year 12 A level Geographers travelled to South Wales to study the carbon cycle, coastal processes, and the impacts of regeneration. Field trips and visits are a vital process of the course, enabling students to pick up valuable practical skills which will help them in their independent investigations later on in the year. Although it was a wet and windy experience - the views definitely kept them going! (Pictured opposite). ON THE WELSH COAST British Athletics Programme We would like to congratulate Year 10 pupil Maddie D, who has been selected to be a part of the British Athletics Futures Programme - competing in Dubai in February 2023 against world class para-athletes (pictured above). National Careers Week Marking careers week, we welcomed engineers and staff from Mott MacDonald - a management, engineering, and development consultancy. They delivered interactive workshops to our pupils about routes into engineering and their apprenticeship opportunities - providing industry experience within a global engineering firm (pictured opposite). Pupil with the most green stamps this term: Rithicka S in Year 8 with 174 stamps. Form Group with the most green stamps this term: 8Y2 with 2869 stamps. Pupils with most green stamps in each year group: Year 7 Eloise C with 172 stamps. Year 8 Rithicka S with 174 stamps. Year 9 Ali H with 102 stamps. Year 10 Donkaow N with 118 stamps. Year 11 Jonathan F with 47 stamps. Green Stamp Achievements
Pupil Eloise started dancing at the age of 5. She tried out a few dance styles before opting to pursue freestyle dance. Freestyle comprises of 2 elements - fast and slow. Fast is a mixture of jumps, spins, kicks, and dance moves to music with a fast tempo. Slow is similar to contemporary with a more graceful style, and includes jumps, kicks, and spins. Dancers are divided into age and difficulty levels and progress through the different categories of difficulty by competing against each other. Competitions can be either day competitions or over an entire weekend, with the highlight of the calendar being 'Disco Kid, King & Queen' held at Blackpool Tower ballroom in December every year. At each competition the dancers take to the floor in a series of rounds until the final 6 dancers remain. The dancers have to ensure their routine is perfect and catches the judge’s eye so they can receive a 'mark' to enable them to progress to the next round. It can be highly competitive and one poor round can mean the end of the competition. Perseverance is most definitely required! Eloise trains 3 times a week with a dance company, and she also takes contemporary and acro classes. In addition, she practices her routines at home on most days. She is currently in the under 14 starter category and recently attended the London Championships winning both the fast and slow sections. Her next competition is at the end of March in Southport and, if she is successful, she will move into the intermediate category. As well as the great physical exercise, Eloise has learnt a lot through dancing. She has learnt that success requires effort and hard work and if you have a bad day, you brush yourself off and try again. She has also made some great friends and enjoys celebrating their success as much as she enjoys celebrating her own. Well done Eloise – stay determined and committed. Team UoBS is proud of you! PAGE 12 A STORY OF DEDICATION & PERSEVERANCE
PAGE 13 Successful start to Alumni Mentoring We welcomed back our Sixth Form Alumni this term, for the first of many, weekly, oneto-one mentoring sessions with our current Year 13 students. The sessions enable students to work on assessment papers, go through revision techniques, and ask any questions they may have about examinations with the help from undergraduates who were in the same position this time last year. OUR SIXTH FORM Fitness Challenge The newly formed ‘Fitness Challenge’ competition consisted of various gruelling challenges that pushed our competitors to their limits. They were tested on their endurance, strength, agility, coordination, as well as their mental toughness. Some admirable victories were seen against local rivals King Edwards VI Camp Hill School and Swanshurst School. Work Experience Launch Year 12 students have started their work experience journey. The Sixth Form team ran sessions on how to research for placements and apply for work opportunities. There were also workshops on how to prepare a CV and practise for interviews. Work placements will take place during our School Challenge Week 03 - 07 July. Year 13 Revision Sessions Our teaching staff will be delivering revision sessions over the Easter break for Year 13 students to help prepare them for the upcoming examinations. Welcome! We have a new member of the Sixth Form Team! Mrs Lowrie (pictured opposite) has joined us as Sixth Form Admissions and Administrative Officer and will be taking over duties when Mrs Kershaw leaves UoB School at Easter. Based in the Sixth Form office, she will be a new point of contact for incoming queries from parents, carers, students, and new applicants who contact the Sixth Form. We are delighted to welcome Mrs Lowrie to Team UoBS. We also want to wish Mrs Kershaw the best of luck in her new role.
PAGE 14 Summer Term 2023 Term Starts: Monday 17 April 2023 BANK HOLIDAY: Monday 01 May 2023 BANK HOLIDAY: Monday 08 May 2023 Half Term: Monday 29 May to Friday 02 June 2023 *Staff Research Day/Technicians' Conference: Friday 30 June 2023 Challenge Week: 03 - 07 July 2023 (for all pupils and students) *Staff Professional Development Day: Monday 10 July 2023 Term ends: Friday 21 July 2023 from 12.15 *no pupils or students to attend/non-teaching day. Autumn Term 2023 *Staff Professional Development Day: Monday 04 September 2023 *Staff Professional Development Day: Tuesday 05 September 2023 Induction Day for Year 7 & 12 ONLY: Wednesday 06 September 2023 Term Starts for ALL pupils & students: Thursday 07 September 2023 *Staff Professional Development Day: Wednesday 11 October 2023 Half Term: Friday 27 October to Monday 06 November 2023 (11 days incl) *Staff Research Day: Thursday 07 December 2023 School closed: Friday 08 December 2023 Term ends: Friday 22 December 2023 from 12.15 *no pupils or students to attend/non-teaching day. Spring Term 2024 *Staff Professional Development Day: Monday 08 January 2024 Term Starts: Tuesday 09 January 2024 *Staff Research Day: Friday 09 February 2024 Half Term: Monday 12 February to Friday 16 February 2024 Term ends: Friday 22 March 2024 from 12.15 *no pupils or students to attend/non-teaching day. TERM DATES
U niv e r sit y o f Bir min g h a m S c h o ol 12 Weoley Park Road Selly Oak Birmingham B29 6QU t: 0121 796 5000 e: [email protected] w: uobschool.org.uk Keep in touch @uobschool © University of Birmingham School 2023.