Christmas concert recording, HPA & CCF returns...
Christmas concert
Following the incredible Christmas Concert in December we have now received the recording that was made on the night. Please take a look at our amazing students’ performances which can be viewed on TAtube below.
High Performance Academy Presentations and Pizza
Our year 8 high performance academy students have been working hard over the last month or so on a research project, following their lectures on Classics, the portrayal of Artificial Intelligence in Media Studies, the History of combat, and Volcanology. They have all written an essay which has been marked using the university grading system (1st class, 2:1, 2:2 and 3rd class) based on their individual learning.
Last week the students gathered to present their work to others in the class, and to receive certificates and awards for the best essays and best presentations. The afternoon was completed by feasting on some well-earned pizza!
My thanks to Dr Jones for leading the HPA and to Miss Piggott, Miss Nash, Mr Crow and Miss Elson for delivering the sessions. They are all very impressed with the dedication of the students – we have some very bright university hopes for the future!
First Parade Back
Back on parade for the RAF and Army cadets. Both sections formed up with a quick inspection and Officer Commanders (OC) briefing.
Welcoming everyone back and setting the scene for the coming months were the first orders. The RAF section will be working hard toward an RAF led training activity that tests the knowledge of the RAF cadets in core subjects, namely, drill, aircraft recognition, first aid, leadership and air rifle shooting. These skills will be put to the test at an RAF competition held in Blanford, Wiltshire in February 2023.
The Army section is in the final stages of completing Air Rifle training which will qualify them to start the training in preparation for the summer camp in July 2023. The cadet Rifle safe handling and weapon training skill will be key elements of the learning for the cadets. The Army cadets are also about to undertake leadership training and St John’s First Aid and ensuring fieldcraft and drill skills are kept up to date.
3 Cadet teams from both the RAF and Army section are training hard toward Ten Tors 2023. The first walk for the year is on Saturday 07 Jan 23. All the teams are showing great promise and are very excited to be a member of a cadet Ten Tors Team. We are also looking forward to working with new cadet staff members who have recently joined the team.
Tubers
A new year means that we have a new group of Year 7s heading down to Tubers each week after school. This week they started with the basics of camera and sound work.
Year 9 Construction
Mr Waring’s group are really getting their hands dirty this week. Before Christmas, they perfected their technical drawing skills and now they are learning the different steps required to build a wall.
House News – Christie
This week, Miss Risk had the pleasure of speaking to Christie students: Cody Burton, Ollie Stanbury, Jan Zen and Chloe Mae Jones, who had plenty to say on the topic of why Christie is the best house at Torquay Academy. The students relayed. ‘Christie is known for being the best house. It is the house that gets the most house-points. We have been the top house in our year but we also tied with Pengelly for being the top house in the whole school. Everyone cheered when Mr Margetts announced this in assembly.’
‘One of the best things about being in Christie is that we are good at sport events. Some people think this is because Mr Jones is our head of house but really it’s because we have a lot of sporty people. Mr Jones is very competitive and he enthuses us with advice on how to improve; he always comes to watch us play if we are in a sporting competition.’
‘One thing that is particular about Christie is that we are excellent at bringing in our equipment; in fact ,we even bring items in for each other so everyone has everything they need. We were even given sweets by Mrs Briddon as we are so good at remembering equipment.’
‘Our tutor, Miss Graham, is very helpful and proud of us. She goes comes around in the mornings to help us with our homework and our cultural capital so we can all get ahead. She even brought in chocolates at Christmas.’
‘However, the best part of being in Christie is that everyone is supportive, kind, caring and thinks of others. If anyone in Year Six is reading this, we would encourage you to try to get into Christie.’
Miss Jones’ English PPE Prep
Miss Jones’ Y10 class have worked exceptionally well in preparation for their English PPEs this week. They have been focussing on developing their essay responses to ‘A Christmas Carol’ and identifying where they have met different aspects of the mark scheme, as seen in the image of their annotated work below.
Y10 Health and Social Care
Year 10 Health and Social Care students have this week been building their knowledge regarding the important skills, values and attributes that health professionals need to show when providing effective Care. This understanding is extremely important as the students will need to demonstrate their knowledge in the forthcoming coursework assignment , which features a case study and the application of these skills and attributes.
In today’s lesson, the main theme was trustworthiness and honesty, exploring the impact these have on service users, particularly how this can negatively affect a person’s experience. Case studies are often used within the HSC lessons as a culmination of deeper understanding, and a perfect example of this is shown with a Midwife who acted dishonestly and then tried to cover up her failings. A class discussion followed with some vital opinions and insights given into the wide range of professional care shown.
Students of the Week
Year 7 – Zach Venter and Emily Lucas
Year 8 – Hannah Brazier and Sam Bowden
Year 9 – Mollie Stacey and Will Godfrey
Year 10 – Elliott Lawton and Bea Corline
Year 11 – Zac Rowland Steele and Jasmine Huxtable
Sixth Form – Holly Roberts and Jack Barrett
House Students of the Week
Year 7
Brunel – George Evans
Christie – Jasmine Edwards
Darwin – Tom Weaver
Fawcett – Mason Findlay-Peers
Harrison – Ruby Fitzgerald
Kitson – Lucie Bowers
Nearne – Tanya Neil
Pengelly – Matthew Campan
Year 8
Brunel – Abigail Hytch
Christie – Lola Benney
Darwin – Hamish Herring
Fawcett – Halayna Hussain
Harrison – Summer Butlin
Kitson – Libbie Grindling
Nearne – Cody Cave
Pengelly – Leonardo Marcheggiani
Year 9
Christie – Isabelle Moxham
Darwin – Jaden Morris
Fawcett – Jayden Field
Kitson – Jacob Crago-Gould
Nearne – Nelly Siuchninski
Homework Students of the Week
Year 7
Brunel – Theo Beresford
Christie – Janzen Flores
Darwin – Olivia Pope
Fawcett – Gustaw Adamczak
Harrison – Trent Blackmore
Kitson – Reef Whayman
Nearne – Hattie Gamble
Pengelly – Ivan Masliakovas
Year 8
Brunel – Kiki Marker
Christie – Freya Coatesworth
Darwin – Brody O’Neill
Fawcett – Felicity Adams
Harrison – Hannah Brazier
Kitson – Nikkita Hookway
Nearne -Analais Biggs
Pengelly – Phoebe Smith
Year 9
Christie – Daisy Faulkner
Darwin – Charlie Green
Fawcett – Lucian Churchward
Kitson – Laila Heavens
Nearne – Harrison Davies
