It has been fantastic to have our pupils back in school doing Physical Education. In Core PE this half term, pupils have developed skills, techniques and tactics in either Football, Badminton, Netball or Swimming. Classes will continue their rotation on these sports over the next half term. 

With the ever-changing adaptations in the current climate for the delivery of PE, the pupils have worked extremely well and upheld safety measures that have been in place within the PE department. 

In netball, pupils are learning rules and regulations, different methods of shooting, footwork, passing techniques and attacking play as well as building subject knowledge with tactical awareness for game-play and how to analyse strengths and areas for development in self and peer assessment.

In swimming, pupils are learning various strokes including backstroke, front crawl, breaststroke and butterfly as well as different survival skills. Pupils are building on previous learning and showcasing good levels of skill progression and most of all having a love of learning for PE. 

In badminton, pupils have learnt a range of skills and techniques from serving and different shot selections TO having developed tactical awareness and subject knowledge by understanding positioning, rules, regulations and the scoring system.

In football, pupils are learning various skills, such as, passing, shooting, dribbling, attacking and defending as well as building subject knowledge with tactical awareness for game play and how to analyse strengths and areas for development in self and others performance.

Celebrating success in PE: 

A big well done and fantastic effort to O. Quinn (8W1) for dedication to home learning and effort in PE, She has really developed subject knowledge and developed her understanding of different methods of training. 

A recognition of outstanding class work of, B. Sliwinski (10T1), J. Myatt (11S1) and K. Benton (13W1) in BTEC Sport L2/L3.

Great enthusiasm and dedication shown from the Year 11 girls in PE for efforts towards living an active and healthy lifestyle, the pupils have designed personal training programs, and shown massive improvements whilst performing in trampolining. 

We want to ensure all parents and carers that the Physical Education delivery at Bloxwich Academy is strictly following COVID-19 government guidelines as well as liaising with various sporting governing bodies to ensure safe delivery of sport at the Academy is in place. 

PE Kit Expectations:

Indoor PE: plain white t-shirt, plain black shorts or tracksuit bottoms/leggings and trainers. Swimming costume/shorts and a towel when pupils are on swimming (pupils are allowed to wear a t-shirt if they would like to when they are on swimming).

Outdoor PE: rugby jersey or plain white top, plain black jumper (no hoods), plain black shorts or tracksuit bottoms/leggings and trainers or boots.

Optional kit but recommended: Shin pads, football boots, gum shield

No jewellery is allowed in PE and long hair must be tied back. If pupils have an injury or are unable to do PE for some reason, they must provide a note in their planners which has been signed by parents. Pupils WILL still require their PE kit, as they will take part in the lesson in some form that is none physical. COVID-19 restrictions are not an excuse for pupils to miss PE as the PE department ensure that necessary guidelines are followed strictly to minimize pupil risk.

This term, training has continued under some very challenging circumstances but this has not deflated the enthusiasm of the cadets and staff at Bloxwich Academy.

The Senior Cadets and Corporals have being conducting online lessons to achieve their part 2 status. This enables promotions to Leading Cadet, Senior Cadet and promotion to Corporal.

The senior team have also being delivering lessons to the Year 8 cohort, as five of the senior team have recently passed their instructor qualification. The instructor qualification allows the instruction to wear a gold lanyard on their uniform in recognition of the gained qualification.

With the lockdown roadmap in place from the government and RAF headquarters there a few training events planned for when the cadets are released from lock down restrictions, these include a Year 8 trip to RAF Cosford museum, a senior cadet visit to the helicopter museum, and a rock climbing trip on the Welsh boarder. The CCF at Bloxwich Academy owns its own climbing equipment and the cadets want to put into practice what they have learnt so far in the school gym on a live rock face!

During lockdown the Contingent Commander (Mr Hall) has been promoted to Flying Officer up from Pilot Officer.

To keep up with demand for face-to-face training the school are running two Wednesday training sessions during the Easter break. This just shows the dedication of the cadets and their Adult volunteer staff and officers.

The CCF is open to pupils of the school once they reach Year 8. Some Year 7 pupils are already trying to reserve places on next September’s intake!

The Contingent Commander, Officers, SSI and Cadets thank you for your continued support.

Flying Officer Hall,

Contingent Commander,

Bloxwich Academy Combined Cadet Force (RAF)

On the 19th March, Bloxwich Academy held a Red Nose Day to support Comic Relief Day. This Year it felt more important than ever to have some fun and raise money to support people who are living incredibly tough lives. As Sir Lenny Henry comments, “We need the power of funny to turn laughs into lasting change.” On the day staff and pupils wore something red and donated money to the charity. Sixth Form pupils sold doughnuts in the canteen at break time to raise money for as well.

Donations collected for Red Nose Day help tackle important issues including homelessness, hunger, domestic abuse and mental health stigma, all of which have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The money raised goes towards supporting amazing organisations across the UK and around the world.

Our support is urgently needed across key areas:

• Food Banks
• NHS charities
• Mind – Mental Health
• Families and Women charities
• Homeless
• Crisis
• Age UK

We managed to raise over £232.21 , a big thank you to everyone who helped and supported the day’s events.

Well done all.

Miss S Stanley

Bloxwich Academy Secondary will be celebrating Red Nose Day!

Pupils are invited to wear something red along with their full uniform on Friday 19th March 2021 with a donation of £1. All raised funds are to help charities such as MIND, Crisis and AgeUk.

There will also be doughnuts for sale in the canteen for 50p.

As part of Children’s Mental Health Week all remote learning activities on Friday will be away from computer screens. Your child’s teachers have designed a wide range of creative learning activities that can be undertaken from home without pupils having to be sat at their device all day.

Pupils should only sign into Teams for their registration period, to access the booklet and then submit photographs of their work.

Pupils should choose a minimum of three different activities that they can complete either independently or as a family. We would advise planning your activities today so that you can gather any materials or ingredients that you may need before tomorrow.

When all the creative learning activities chosen have been completed and photographed, the work can be uploaded and submitted to the form tutor in Teams. (Guidance of how to do this is on page 2 of the booklet). Pupils that show excellent effort will be awarded House Points for their respective house.

We hope that everyone enjoys a day of fun and creativity that supports their physical and mental wellbeing and we look forward to seeing some fantastic work.

To support pupils with their ongoing remote learning, Bloxwich Secondary are offering a range of stationery and equipment for learning, as well as sanitary products and mindfulness activities. Pupils or their parents/guardians can attend school to collect these items between 9am and 2:30 pm on Friday 5th February. This will take place during ‘Screen Free Friday’ where pupils will complete learning activities that do not require an electronic device. This is part of our ongoing effort to support our pupils physical and mental health.  

This week is National Children’s Mental Health week and this year’s theme is Express yourself! We would love to see how you all express yourselves whether it be through art, story writing or singing. Upload pictures/videos or stories to your teachers on teams and let them know it’s for Children’s Mental Health Week. Pupils will be taking part in activities during PSHE and Form Time throughout the week.

The latest statistics show that 1 in 10 children have a diagnosable mental illness. However, in these trying times, it’s understandable that most children are feeling the pressures. Things like mood swings, being low and problems with behaviour is to be expected. 

Thursday 4th February is Time to Talk Day. On this day, we would like for you to spend some time talking to each other about anything and everything. 

If you would like any more information about Children’s Mental Health week or resources to use at home, please visit https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/

If you have any concerns about your child’s mental health, please contact the school for further advice. 

Keeping our minds healthy and active. Device Free Challenges.

Challenge 2

The Big Garden Birdwatch

Pupils are to sign up to the RSPB website HERE. Spend an hour counting the birds you see in your garden and then tell us what you saw.

Take the ‘which Garden Bird are you’ quiz HERE.

Did you know?

Kestrels have remarkably keen eyesight even in extremely poor light, allowing them to hunt almost until dark.

Owls can rotate their necks 270 degrees.

Challenge 1

Following Christmas, Britain sees a significant increase in the use of plastics which have a big impact on our environment and global warming.

Create an under the sea display using plastic waste from around your house.  You could also make a jelly fish, crab and fish from plastics and other wastes.  Make a display explaining the impacts of plastic waste on the oceans.

Facts about Plastic

• On a yearly basis, around 8 million metric tons of plastic ends up in our oceans, seas and rivers.
• It takes approximately 450 years for the ocean to break down man-made plastic items.
• “Microplastics” – A smaller piece of plastic. These microplastics have now made their way into our diets through the sea food we consume.
• 100 million marine animals die every year from plastics invading their homes.
• By the year 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

This term’s training has continued under some very challenging circumstances but this has not deflated the enthusiasm of the cadets and staff at Bloxwich Academy. The recent recruitment drive has seen many Year 8 pupils sign up to the cadet programme to enhance their skills. The section now stands at a massive 60 cadets. The training that has been undertaken is getting the new cadets ready for their part 1 assessment that will be conducted early next year.

Again, a round of promotions has been conducted and the squadron now has enough middle management and officers so that the squadron has three flights contained within it. The Contingent Commander has to keep reminding himself that they are not troop formations (that’s what flights are called in the army). The Contingent Commander takes great pride in seeing the cadets run their own unit in such a short period of time.

The CCF is open to pupils of the school once they reach Year 8. Some Year 7 pupils are already trying to secure places on next September’s intake.Upda

The Contingent Commander, Officers, SSI and cadets wish you all a very Merry Christmas and thank you for your continued support.