Artwork, Footwork and Holocaust Memorial Day
Student work
One of the greatest pleasures is having students come and see me to share their work. Courtney Passmore showed me the work she had done in her sketch book on Fauvism; it is brilliant work and she should be very proud of her efforts.
The Year 9 Music Performance group came to find me just performing their class piece, The Beatles’ Let it be. There is so much talent in this class – I look forward to hearing more of their work over the coming years.
Year 10 Physics Trip
We are part of the Devon group of schools who are supported by the Ogden Trust which uses an endowment to encourage the study of Physics, particularly among girls and pupil premium students.
During the year we undertake visits to other schools for a themed set of workshops and experiences. This week we went to Brixham College for an event which examined the physics behind light and photography. Students made periscopes, formed images using chemically treated paper and got the chance to operate a giant camera obscura which is a primitive form of camera. This one is so big that the whole group could stand inside it and see images as though they were inside a giant human eye!
On our previous trip to Kingsbridge Community College we looked at the role of physics within medicine – as you can see one student ended up inside a biohazard containment suit similar to that used by emergency staff in areas where diseases like Ebola are being treated.
Recruitment Evening
We are holding a recruitment evening on Monday 1st February 2016 from 5.30pm. If you know anyone who would be interested, or if you are thinking about applying for one of the roles we are currently advertising, or are interested in finding out what it is like to work at TA, we would be pleased to see you.
As well as seeing our incredible facilities, there will be an opportunity to meet me and the Senior Leadership Team. You will also learn about our distinctive approach and the belief that “everyone succeeds” and that “every student who joins TA is capable of going on to university”. This is underpinned by our desire to deliver a world class education in Torquay and how that can only be achieved by investing in our teachers.
Year 11 reach County Cup semi final
Year 11 on Monday evening defeated Queen Elizabeth Community College from Crediton 2-1 to reach the semi final of the County Cup. In a fantastic game of football TA managed to defeat their opponents with goals from Louie Jay Hayward and a wonder goal from Joe Constantinou. It was a fantastic display of not just footballing ability from the team but also determination and team spirit. TA now have home advantage in the semi final with their opponents still to be decided.
Year 8 Indoor Athletics
On Tuesday our Year 8 Athletics squad competed in the Torbay Schools Athletics Championships at Cuthbert Mayne. They competed in numerous athletic events that had been adapted for indoors. These included the vertical jump, standing broad jump, indoor shot, 2, 4, 6 and 8 lap track events. The boys’ squad finished top of the boys table with 80 points including numerous gold medals. The injury depleted girls squad also competed well against some excellent opposition. Our overall position, when the boys’ and girls’ points were collated, was 3rd. They narrowly missed out on qualification for the indoor Devon championships. Training will resume for the upcoming 2016 athletics season at the start of the summer term.
Holocaust Memorial Day
Every year on the 27th January we commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. It is a day to remember the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, and the millions of people killed Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur. 27 January marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. On HMD we can honour the survivors of these regimes of hatred and challenge ourselves to use the lessons of their experience to inform our lives today. HMD is a time when we seek to learn the lessons of the past and to recognise that genocide does not just take place on its own, it’s a steady process which can begin if discrimination, racism and hatred are not checked and prevented.
Click on link for further information : Holocaust Memorial Day
Every year group this week has had an assembly which focused on the theme of Don’t Stand By. The students learnt about the experiences of Holocaust survivor Ivor Perl who was born in Hungary before considering the importance of not just watching when things happen. A group of year 9 girls travelled to Exeter with Mrs Langler to take part in Exeter’s Holocaust Memorial Day Events, read two of their comments below:
Towards the end of our trip we sat down and listened to the Bosnian Holocaust survivor, he talked about his school life and family to begin with and then it lead to his Holocaust experience. It was shocking to hear that at such a young age he has to go through terrible situations that scarred him for life. The camp conditions were very bad since hundreds of people had to share two toilets. Some of the guards in the camp were people he knew, even friends and he was constantly afraid that he would be killed. His whole family was killed apart from his mother who escaped and I could tell he was getting emotional.
I think he is brave and I respect him for sharing his story. I learned how brutal the past was and I also learned that it wasn’t just the Jews who were discriminated against, there were many Holocaust stories throughout the globe that we all should take notice of and I definitely learned something from the day.
Elizabeth Cook Year 9
During our trip to the Holocaust Memorial Day we watched a short film. The film was based not only about the Jews but about Gypsys as well, it showed the horrifying conditions of what they went through in the Auschwitz concentration camp. It was very educational but also very sad that so many people died, seeing all of the images and the stories really made me appreciate our lives today because of what they went through.
After we finished the film, a lady spoke to us about how it wasn’t just the Jews that were affected, and that Gypsys were actually the most killed in concentration camps, except most people only remember the Jews. I thought it was really sad how no one really remembers them, but after that day I am sure many people will. It was very interesting to learn more about these people because before the day of the Holocaust memorial I only had a brief understanding myself.
It was also very interesting how the women spoke about the Gypsys fighting to their death, that even though they were going to go they wouldn’t go quietly and that’s one of the things I will take away from that experience. It’s quite shocking to know what one human can do to another human.
Overall from the day I now have a much better understanding of what really happened to them, not just discrimination, but all of the suffering. I am grateful to have gone to the Memorial Day and I had a good time.
Lucy Cook, Year 9
Sixth Form students were invited to attend a talk given by Holocaust Survivor Leslie Klienmann on the day itself. Leslie shared his story with the group before they had the chance to ask questions.
After the evening they were asked to summarise their thoughts, feelings and responses. Please find a few of these below:
Listening to a first-hand account made me realise how real and evil the Holocaust was, no matter the amount of documentaries you watch or how much research you put into the Holocaust nothing will ever be more powerful than hearing a survivor talk to you about how their individual experience was. Leslie spoke specifically about how he had nothing left, not even his family but he wasn’t going to allow the Nazis to take his soul which really proved how determined some of the Jews were to simply survive even though they didn’t know when or how they were going to get out. It was incredibly moving to actually speak to someone that has been there!
Beth Wood Year 12
I found the talk mesmerizing and it definitely gave me lots of things to think about and consider in modern life. The bit I found most moving and will stick with me for probably the entirety of my life, was when he was explaining how he was saved by the man who pulled him out of the crowd, but then the absolute horror and pain he must have gone through knowing he was all alone and that his family were no longer with him.
Dan Wood Year 12
For me the most significant and noteworthy aspect of the talk was when Leslie talked of his mother and how when she was questioned about her lack of belongings she simply stated: “I have a healthy family – for what more could I ask”. I found this response to be very inspirational as despite being relatively poor in some aspects she valued herself quite rich in luck for the health of her family. This phrase also stayed with me as I think that Leslie’s mother’s views upon family are what kept him going in both life and hope whilst in Auschwitz as he fought for his life with the belief that his sister would be alive and waiting for him upon liberation.
Abbie Sykes Year 12
It was an eye-opening experience. Hearing a first-hand account was insightful and really consolidated the information we learned over the years of History GCSE and A-level, bringing to life the realities of modern history.
Matt Cotton Year 13
Last night was really moving. I cannot begin to fathom how one man has gone through so much. He was truly inspiring and told a story that will be passed on for many generations
Matt Haddon Year 13
Students of the Week
Students pictured with Mr Bindon are :Callum Thomas, Luke Poole, Mr Bindon, Reece Whitehouse, Corey Rogers, Stiliyana Gandeva
