The cast list has been announced for our next school production The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

 

Year 10 GCSE Catering Assessment

Our Year 10 students have been participating all week in their GCSE Welsh Board Catering Controlled Assessment Task 1.

The students have had to work to a set brief. They had to research, design and plan four of their own dishes that they could cook.

They have had to work to a strict set time of only three hours to prepare and cook their chosen four dishes and serve them in an aesthetically presentable manner fit for the catering industry.

The students' brief was Afternoon Tea. Fruit and vegetables or dairy foods had to be included in the diet.  

There were some amazing and tasty  looking dishes prepared by the students including  Lasagne, Chicken Curry and Naan Bread, Quiche and Savoury Rice. 
Desserts included Cinnamon Whirls, Scones and Lemon Meringue Pie.  

 

First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme

A £5.3 million project was announced in 2013 by the Prime Minister, David Cameron and is designed to provide the opportunity for a minimum of two pupils and one teacher from every state funded secondary school in England to visit battlefields on the Western Front between 2014-19.  The battlefield tours are a key part of the Government's plans to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

Ahmed Tanvir and Hannah Usowicz had to submit a letter of application to their History teacher stating their reasons for being part of this exciting trip. Mr Leese the Head of Humanities, who is accompanying Hannah and Ahmed said that they were chosen because their letters showed a real passion for History, in particular WW1 and also had some personal connections with the fighting in WW1.

They set out early on Monday and arrived in Ypres in the afternoon. On their 1st day they will visit Flanders field museum, The Death cells at Poperinge and Lijssenthoek cemetery. They will also be attending the ceremony of the last post at the Menin Gate.

On Tuesday they will visit Neuve Chapelle to learn about the role troops from undivided India played in the first world war.

Ahmed layed a wreath to remember Indian soldiers at Neuve Chapelle.
Message reads " For the ones who suffered for us, we will always remember you"

They visited Beaumont Hamel Newfoundland, Sheffield and Thiepval memorials.

They also spent time at the Somme,  The danger tree pictured on the right is a famous marking point at the Somme. It marks the furthest distance the Newfoundlanders  made in their advance towards the German trenches.

Their activities last night involved comparing the differences and similarities between equipment of WW1 and the modern world. Ahmed was lucky enough to be chosen to try on some things.

They also looked at

• Is a preserved battlefield useful for learning about the First World War?
• Why was the attack on Serre on 1st July 1916 such a disaster for Pals? 
•  Is the Thiepval memorial important in shaping how we remember the Somme?
On Wednesday they visited Langemark and Tyne Cot cemeteries to look into how the German people remember their war dead. Both were exceptionally moving and so different in how they remember the dead. An amazing way to round off and unforgettable few days.

 

Birmingham's Young Poet Laureate

We are all so very proud of Lauren who was shortlisted for the young Poet Laureate Auditions for 2014.  Each year shortlisted candidates perform two poems in front of an audience before the judges make their final decisions.  The winner was announced on National Poetry Day - 2nd October.

Congratulations Lauren on having the opportunity to perform on the day.

Lauren's Poem:

I Remember where the Dragonthorn Grew

I remember when the bracken was wild,

When ‘neat’ was not a word,

I remember how the dodo cawed,

And how tangles were preferred

Ferns of luscious green,

Berries of the deepest red,

Giant spiders who hung from giant trees,

And wove their giant thread

Sprites and imps danced at midnight,

And prehistoric insects roamed my lands,

I remember the music of the elves,

Of words I could not understand

Creatures the size of mountains,

Goblins who lived in caves,

Yetis that lived on snowy hills,

And serpents that ruled the waves

I clearly see the watering hole,

Ten miles from end to end,

How each creature would work together,

For on each other they must depend

By water’s edge, grew a wondrous plant,

That words cannot adorn,

It grew once only every decade,

And twas known as dragonthorn

Legend says that the first flower,

Was caught by a dragon’s flame,

And that is why this glorious plant,

Was given such a name

It only had three petals,

Each was a heart in shape,

They shone under a full moon’s light,

And served as a fairy’s cape

But now it is man that has claimed my lands,

And I have found that they will not share,

If they carry on without taking heed,

What will be left for their heir?

Through pollution and hate I’ve suffered,

Through slights you never knew,

But I still remember when the world was peaceful,

And I remember where the dragonthorn grew.

The Great Stockland Green Bake Off

Students and staff at Stockland Green School dusted off their aprons and got baking this week to host a successful MacMillan Coffee Morning.

Students from each of the three Houses Tame, Cole and Rea competed against each other to produce the best cakes as students, staff and the local community turned out to support the fundraising event.

“The quantity and quality of the cakes produced for today’s event are testimony to our family ethos at Stockland Green School” said Sarah Cardwell Assistant Headteacher.

“ Stockland Green has embraced the opportunity to support such a worthwhile event raising over £600 in donations.

We are once again immensely proud of our students our greatest asset”.