The MFG

The latest from The Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form
December 2012

Discovering a world of Physics at Leeds University

Students of The MFG were invited to attend a special event at the University of Leeds which offered 15 Key Stage 4 students an insight into scientific careers and specifically, Physics degree courses. Students will soon be making choices about their future, deciding which A level courses to study and which career path to follow, so this experience was an invaluable opportunity for them to work with leading academics and current students from some of the regions most exciting universities throughout an action-packed day. Students discovered what it is like to study Physics at a top university by experiencing teaching and learning first hand on campus and then using this opportunity to ask questions about university life and making applications to study higher education.

Miss Sharpe explained, The day was definitely action packed with enquiry based challenges set to develop the thinking skills of our students. The students involved from York and Leeds University, who supported our students learning throughout the day, were excellent role models. They advised our students to understand fully the requirements of the courses they may wish to follow and learn which activities inside and outside

school can enhance their chances of university application success; our students found the experience inspiring.

Students Debate Modern Issues

The MFG was invited to attend a prestigious event at Leeds Metropolitan University which offered a group of 15 Sixth Form students the opportunity to experience a simulated UN Security Council debate on intervention in Syria. The Economic and Social Research Council and University organised this event as part of their National Festival of Social Science. Students were provided with a pack of preparatory materials to brief them on their country and they were supported by Leeds Metropolitan Undergraduate students to help them understand the material. Students were briefed on the situation in Syria and the operation of the UN Security Council by one of the Leeds Metropolitan academics. They then received a series of lobbying presentations from country and NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) representatives. Throughout the day our students interacted in groups of various sizes, with students from other Sixth Forms, to deliberate on their personal and country positions to decide whether there should be an intervention in Syria. They then presented their ideas in a mock debate in front of an audience of 50 people. Christian Smith,Year 13 said, I would highly recommend taking part in the day at Leeds Metropolitan University, even if a student does not have a direct interest in politics or social science, as it gives you a chance to develop skills (enquiry, debating, leadership and team work skills) that you would not usually have the chance to develop in front of an audience of 50 people, until university or later life.

Showcase

Miss Sharpe explained, The event was excellent and provided our students with an insight into university life, as well as helping them to develop their own analytical, thinking and communication skills; it also provided an opportunity to strengthen their knowledge of international affairs.

Graphics Day
On Thursday 8th November 2012, we competed against 4 other schools in a Graphics Competition led by ID30 Design Ltd, Huddersfield at Moor End Academy. The schools The MFG competed against were Moor End Academy, Salendine Nook High School, Honley High School and King James High School. In total, 21 Year 9 students took part in the competition, which was introduced by Peter Turner, who is Chair of Friends of Beaumont Park and ID30 Design Ltd. The design brief was to design a logo for the new visitors centre in Beaumont Park which will be printed on all future promotional material. Peter Turner and ID30 Design Ltd who judged the competition explained it could have been won by any of the competing students. After much deliberation, the competition was won by a student at Salendine Nook High School. The 3 Year 9 students who were

chosen to represent The MFG and Sixth Form, due to their current outstanding achievements in Design and Technology, were Michelle Mirza, Mariah Shaw and Sarah Bennett. Mr Bailey, who took the 3 students to the competition stated, The girls performed admirably considering they had to work with software which was slightly different to that which they are used to here at The MFG. Mariah, Michelle and Sarah worked hard to produce their logos - they demonstrated an excellent work ethic and were motivated throughout the duration of the competition. Whilst it was a shame their efforts were not rewarded with a prize, they should feel proud that they reflected The MFG in a very positive manner and that they were chosen to best represent us because of their hard work and dedication toward the subject of graphics.

Engineering and Construction

In October, 35 students from Years 10 and 11 participated in an Engineering and Construction Roadshow. Engineering is an area where the number of jobs for school leavers at 16 and 18 is growing. The workshop gave students a lot of information about this exciting career opportunity. They gained the inside information on the skills, qualities and progression routes available to them. Involvement in this workshop also provided students with support for their CV development, Further Education applications or job applications in the future.

Showcase

Storm marches on!

Storm Marsden in Year 8 has been incredibly busy this November with the Spen Valley Scout and Guide Marching Band within the National Youth Marching Band. On the 10th November she paraded through London for the Lord Mayors Show, and then at the end of November she took part for the 3rd year running in the Birmingham International Tattoo (a two day event).

Arabian Nights with a Twist!

Students in Year 9 have been studying a brand new series of lessons in English this half term, and have been involved in some experiences which are taking them beyond the classroom. Working alongside students from All Saints Catholic College in Huddersfield, students have been learning about storytelling and its history. The big question for their learning this half term, Why do people tell stories? is focused on the tales from Arabian Nights, and involves them devising, writing and telling stories of their own. To help them develop their storytelling skills, a group of students from both schools was visited by Jo Hirons, a professional storyteller, who enchanted the students with tales of soldiers, shoes and sphinxes, amongst other things! Students were able to hear some of the stories passed on through the oral tradition of storytelling from one generation to the next,

and got the opportunity to try on authentic Arabic costumes to help them get into character. They will now share their experiences with the other students in their classes, and write their very own version of the Arabian Nights tales, but

with a Mirfield twist!

A First Class Gym and Dance Studio in a First Class Facility

The Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form is proud to announce the opening of The MFG Sports Centre on January 8th 2013. The 1.0 million investment in the Sports Centre is the latest addition to the Academys campus that will ensure its student body has access to first-class facilities whilst also offering members of the local community an easily accessible place to exercise and keep fit. The Sports Centre features a fitness studio, equipped with the latest cardiovascular and resistance machines from Cybex, a leader in sports science development. In addition, the studio will have Olympic free weights, a vibrogym and a range of equipment designed to improve strength, tone and fitness at all levels. Memberships for the gym are now available, albeit in limited numbers and joining information is available at www.themfgsportscentre.com The dance studio, equipped with

sprung floor, mirrored walls and ballet bar, also boasts a state-ofthe-art sound system and is unmatched locally. This superb space will enhance any exercise class and makes for a professional teaching environment, for activities ranging from dance and relaxation classes to martial arts. This is in addition to our full-size Olympian STP (synthetic turf

pitch) that is flood-lit and marked for a range of sports - a facility which is normally only the reserve of professional sports clubs. This extensive range of facilities, available to hire by local clubs and organisations, now makes The MFG one of the leading sports facilities in West Yorkshire. Mrs Simpson, who is managing the sports facilities, said, The centre is an amazing resource for our students, our staff and our local community - the standard of equipment is second to none and we look forward to an outstanding sporting future. Mrs Barker, Principal of The MFG, said, A healthy body and a healthy mind contribute to success in life.

MFG visits the Good Food Show

Students from Years 8, 9 and 10 visited the Good Food Show in Birmingham. These are a few photos, as well as some staff who managed to persuade a couple of famous chefs to be snapped! Some of the students wrote about their experience - see the next page!

What students thought of the Good Food Show

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The Sho best thi w n Ha i was t gs of t r h h joye y Bikers at we g e Good dw ot to Foo alkin cook f from ood watch d . I re tryin Year 8 g round the a , food g all of 9 and with my lly en1 t I rea . It was he free 0. I lov friends e lly e r njoy eally w samples d o ed it Kat , tha rth my of ie S nk y mone enio ou. y. r

Yesterday (29th Nov) students from Years 8, 9 and 10 went to the Good Food Sho w. I really enjoyed my trip because of how big the plac e was, how many stall there were and things to tr y. My favourite stal l was the saucy fish one becaus e the free sampl es were amazing. I loved seeing th e Ha iry Bikers because they w ere very enterta ining and so funny! Thank you for ta Kezian Bentley king us!

Growing awareness of Mens Cancer

Eleven staff members at The MFG have been taking part in the now very popular Movember awareness campaign. During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of mens faces in the UK and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for mens health, specifically prostate and testicular cancer. Once registered at movember.com each Mo Bro must begin the 1st of Movember with a clean shaven face. For the entire month each Mo Bro must grow and groom a moustache. There is to be no joining of the mo to the sideburns (thats considered a beard), theres to be no joining of the handlebars to the chin (thats considered a goatee) and each Mo Bro must conduct himself like a true gentleman. A Mo Sista is essentially a woman who loves a Mo. An individual that is dedicated to supporting the Mo Bros in her life through their moustache growing journey; whether it be a friend, colleague, family member or partner. These inspirational women are committed to raising awareness of mens health issues and much needed funds for mens health along the way. Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November and through their actions and words raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of mens health. Since its humble beginnings in Melbourne, Australia Movember has grown to become a truly global movement inspiring more than 1.9 Million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to participate with formal campaigns in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK, South Africa, Ireland, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Belgium and the Czech Republic. In addition, Movember is aware of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas supporting the campaign and mens health causes across the globe, from Russia to Dubai, Hong

Kong to Antarctica, Rio de Janeiro to Mumbai, and everywhere in between. No matter the country or city, Movember will continue to work to change established habits and attitudes men have about their health, to educate men about the health risks they face, and to act on that knowledge, thereby increasing the chances of early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment. You can still donate to this worthy cause by visiting
http://uk.movember.com/team/506217

Jubilee Winner
We are delighted that Joseph Thomas in Year 9 has won a prize in the Good Schools Guide A Jubilee Portrait for Schools Competition. Joseph was runner up in the Year 8 category amongst a huge entrant for his picture of the Royal Family. Very well done to Joseph, he receives a cheque for 50 and a certificate, and his picture is available for all to see on the Good Schools Guide Flickr page at www.flickr.com/photos/goodschoolsguide/7307277918

Year 8 Celebration
Year 8 are holding a Celebration of Success evening on Tuesday the 18th December 5.00-6.30pm in relation to the Be The Best You Can Be and Values programme. We are expecting 80 students involved and 160 parents to attend. The evening will include presentations from students on Be The Best You Can Be, reading, their work on values and their work on charity events. Parents will have the opportunity to see some of the outstanding work the year group have produced. The intention is that the evening will be a relaxed one with Christmas refreshments.

Trampolining Excellence
Congratulations to Emily Powell (Left,Year 8) and Jodie Ramsden (Right, Year 7) who both competed in The Yorkshire Schools Regional Trampolining Championships where 20 competitors from 10 Schools were represented in the U13 event. Both students are performing at an excellent standard for their age and can successfully complete the complex 10 bounce routine reflecting A Grade in GCSE PE. The involves performing with fluency, consistency in height and good form both front and back somersaults linked by a variety of twists and different landings on the trampolining bed. As Miss Sharpe, PE teacher, explained, There were over 150 parents, students and coaches in the audience, in Sheffield, which created an enlightening atmosphere for both Emily and Jodie to perform in, but also one in which they had to ensure they controlled any nerves that this tense, yet exciting, situation created. I am very proud of both students achievements and am looking forward to seeing them continue to develop with the same enthusiasm and commitment that they have shown since they have been at The MFG, so they can continue to develop more complex skills on the trampoline.

Christmas Concert
For a lot of people, The MFG Christmas Celebration is the start to the Christmas period. This year the celebration will take place on Wednesday 12th December at 7pm, and for the first time will be held in the newly refurbished Chapel at The Community of the Resurrection on Stocks Bank Road. There will be carols, music and readings, and, of course, mulled wine and mince pies afterwards.

Year 13 BTEC Business

Year 13 Business students were given the opportunity to hear about Birstall Shopping Park from the Parks Regional Manager, Denis Copeland. Students are currently working on a retail unit as part of their final year for their BTEC Subsidiary Diploma in Business. The school has developed a strong partnership with the shopping park which gives students real insight into how it operates. The team at Birstall have also been invaluable in helping students with parts of the curriculum and providing an insight into the world of work. Denis Copeland said, The students were fantastic and asked some excellent questions about the park and its activities.

The Olympics come to The MFG

Year 13 Leisure students organised an Olympic fun day for Sixth Form students on Wednesday 21st November. As well as helping with their coursework, they managed to raise over 200 for Children in Need. Events included were: an egg and spoon race, three legged race, 100 metres, a long jump event and a relay event. Congratulations to all the organisers and those who took part. It was a fantastic afternoon and a great effort in aid of a very good cause.

Year 9 Fundraising
Year 9 took part in a variety of fundraising initiatives including sponsored walks, cake selling, organising a summer fete, Live for Life Music concert, raffles and quizzes. The year group raised over 1100 last year for their chosen charities including Kirkwood Hospice, Make a Wish Foundation and Help For Heroes.

Year 10 Readathon
Year 10 have just come to the end of an amazing Readathon. From 15 October to 30 November they have been getting sponsorship to read a number of books. Monies collected are now coming in and the funds go to support the childrens charities Readwell, CLIC Sargent and Roald Dahls Marvellous Childrens Charity. These charities help very ill children and their families. Representatives from each Year 10 form have organised and coordinated the Readathon which has promoted reading for pleasure as well as fundraising to help seriously ill children. Reading for pleasure is the single biggest factor in success later in life.Study after study has shown that those who read for pleasure are the ones who are most likely to fulfil their ambitions. Bali Rai With this in mind all year groups take part in reading activities and reading for pleasure is an essential part of life at The Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form.

Year 10 Sky Sports for Living & Charitable Giving

Year 10 launched their Sky Sports for Living programme on Wednesday 28th November. Professional athlete mentor Paul Broadbent worked with Year 9 and 10 students during the day inspiring and motivating students to rise to new challenges and develop their leadership skills. One of the leadership groups then led our first taster session for Year 7 with Will Hepworth and Jacob Ghani introducing Danish Long Ball. A great time was had by all and we have many more projects planned for these leadership groups over the coming year. Year 10 also gave 100 of Santa gifts to The Safe Anchor Trust for their Santa cruise specials helping local disadvantaged youngsters.

Kitson Hill Road, Mirfield, West Yorkshire, WF14 9EZ Telephone: Fax: Email: Web: Twitter: (01924) 483660 (01924) 483661 [email protected] www.themfg.co.uk @mirfieldfree

Dates for your Diary Monday 10th December Wednesday 12th December Friday 21st December Monday 7th January Thursday 17th January Year 11 Mock Examinations begin Carol service at The Community of the Resurrection Autumn term finishes Spring term begins Year 11 Parents Evening

We wish you all a restful Christmas break, and a Happy New Year!