HOUSE : Basketball
Well done to all the students who participated!
On Thursday 10th November, 30 students, who are considering pursuing a college pathway, visited both the Broxbourne and Ware Hertford Regional College campuses. They visited different departments and thoroughly enjoyed participating in taster sessions in Hairdressing and Art & Design.
The remainder of the year group had taster lessons in A Level subjects that they are thinking of studying in September. These students were able to attend sample sessions in every subject offered.
Last week Year 11 Russian took part in the International Spelling Bee with our partner school in Yakutsk (https://arctic-school.com/en/home/). Mrs Willett was proud of all of Year 11 for being willing to try something new. Congratulations in particular to Venus Sahan and Daisy Reid for making it to the second round and very well done to Esme Sabin as the overall winner. Our students were surprised to find out that whilst we were in lesson 1, the students in Siberia had finished school and also that it was -40 there! We heard a performance of the traditional local instrument called a khomus and found out a bit about each other’s hobbies.
It is that time of the year when the nights seem to be drawing in, but as has become traditional in Product Design in November, we find it to be illuminating and colourful. Year 12 students have once again produced some fantastic lamps as part of their initial mini-project. As well as the lamps students have produced design sheets to support their research, design thinking and development. Many of the lamps were on display at the Sixth Form Open Evening on Thursday 10th November. Please see the photos of a few of the different lamps.
On Tuesday 31st October Year 8 students participated in a virtual STEM morning. Through a live stream students meet Engineers. The students were given two Challenges. Working to a tight deadline, students built an Eco Factory Roller Loader, this was a marble run to safely move a product from A to B, the slower the better. Well done to the winning group, Jemima, Kennedy, Liv, Millie, Charlotte and Emily. The second challenge was called BEST Pitch, teams had to brainstorm and come up with an idea for an invention or piece of tech, and then present their ideas to the others in their form group. The winning idea was a Colour Changing Radiator. Excellent work by Mia, Gabby, Mia, Sienna R and Sienna Musk.
“I really enjoyed the virtual steam week video call because it was fun and gave a lot of inspiration to do a stem involved job. My favourite part is when we had to make a marble take the longest to touch the floor whilst moving. Overall, it was a great experience and recommend it for future years”. Amelie Langford
On Wednesday Medical Mavericks spent time with Year 9, they explored different professions in the NHS and had a chance to try out a range of medical equipment.
• Ultrasound • Pulse Doppler • Keyhole Surgery • Blood vessels infrared Vein scanner • Recording an ECG • Exploring the eye • Hearing • Reflexes
What the students had to say:
‘I really enjoyed Medical Mavericks. It was really fun and exciting to learn about what practice is like with different professions. I love learning about the less well known jobs. The activities were interesting, I especially enjoyed the drunk goggles and looking at growth plates to see if I was going to grow taller. Great experience.’ Athene 9IS
‘I loved the Medical Mavericks lesson. I really enjoyed being able to use all the equipment that would actually be used in a hospital.’
‘The Medical Mavericks was an interesting experience. It allowed us to do things with proper/ modified medical equipment. I enjoyed doing keyhole surgery. Drawing blood was definitely the worst, it was difficult. I was the session had been longer!’ Cecilia 9IS
‘I really enjoyed Medical Mavericks, as it gave us a taster activity into what the different Jobs are in the NHS. I think it was really cool how they can tell if we will grow taller or not. That was my favourite.’ Marlee 9IS
On Thursday morning Dr Tina Chowdhury came in and talked to students in the Upper School about her research and work in Bioengineering. Dr Chowdhury works with a cross-disciplinary research team at Queen Mary’s. Her work looks into preterm premature rupture of the fetal membrane. Her team are working hard to find solutions and also investigating the possible cause, including black carbon particles (from pollution) and their presence in the fetus.
Simon Green and Chelsie Graffato gave a presentation to Year 10 about Green Building Design. Simon is a local Green Building Design consultant. They shared the experiences with the students, describing the different areas of building service engineering, the skills required and the pathways into engineering.