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.

Our newly formed Sixth Form Council have now elected their very first President and Vice President. The student council members were encouraged to put themselves forward for the two leadership roles and after giving speeches about why they thought they would make a good council President/Vice President, the election went to a student vote.

Huge congratulations to M Nyatanga (President) and E Julailati (Vice President) who will lead our sixth form council for this academic year. Look out for our new sixth form blog and social media channels to keep up with what we’ll be getting up to this year. 

The rotation of athletics in PE is in full swing, with pupils rotating around different athletic disciplines of throwing, jumping and running. Pupils have built key skills, techniques and knowledge of pacing within long-distance running as well as sprinting and relay techniques for track events. Shot Put, Javelin, Discus and High jump have all been delivered to classes and pupils are showing high levels of progression with techniques becoming more refined in all athletic areas. It’s been fantastic to see pupils link different components of fitness with various athletics events, and therefore showing the development of key knowledge within PE.

Special mention in PE goes out to Lewis who beat Mr Seager (Headteacher) on the multi-stage fitness test (bleep test) by achieving a level of 14.8. A fantastic effort!

Lewis stated ‘I had no real competition from the boss on this occasion’

Prefects are a crucial aspect of the culture in Bloxwich Academy. Over the years the role has grown and has become well established in the school. This year, although the process has been delayed due to Covid-19, we have still followed the strict and professional application method for the pupils to become Prefects. Before lockdown, Year 10 pupils had to write a formal application letter to show their interest in becoming a Prefect. Over the lockdown period, we held the training session online, a first for Bloxwich Academy, and the pupils were put through their paces to understand the integral role required from each of them. Following the training, and the return to school, the pupils were given their ties and began their role within the school.

We would like to congratulate: L Bowyer, J Moseley, J Slater, H Rashidzada, L Dowen, M Erinayo, L Harris, E Instone, A Price, K Sears, M Spellman and R Scott.

The pupils have been responsible for being a role model and showing the younger pupils how to act around the Academy. More recently, the pupils nominated themselves for the role of a Senior Prefect. As part of the selection process, pupils were required to write a formal email and be interviewed by Miss Williamson, Head of House and Mr Chamberlain, Deputy Headteacher. The pupils showed their professionalism throughout and all interviewed and presented themselves to a high standard. The formal application, Prefect vote and the interview feedback were triangulated and the senior team was selected. Congratulations to S Nelson, M Rogan and K Swarnasingam for becoming Deputy Senior Prefects. A special mention and congratulations to G Hawkins, Head Girl and B Johnson, Head Boy.

Every year Bloxwich Academy holds its annual Art and Design show to celebrate the wonderful creative talent our pupils demonstrate. Unfortunately, this year due to Covid-19 restrictions our show was unable to take place, however, we could not deny our parents, staff and pupils a peek of the stunning work our pupils have worked tirelessly to create over the last year.

If you have not yet viewed our digital Art exhibition online through our website or Twitter feed, then please take a look. The exhibition displays work from Year 7 up to Year 13 in different styles, subject matter and techniques. As always, the Art department are immensely proud of the work pupils produce and we look forward to seeing the new and fresh talent emerge over the years to come.