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Senior Department Notices and Reminders

World Book Day 2023

Thursday 2 March is World Book Day! We are celebrating this national event by transforming the Drawing Room and the Junior Hall into two huge bookshops provided by the Travelling Book Company. Pupils will have the chance to browse the books and make purchases.

As part of this national celebration of reading, each pupil will receive a £1 book token, redeemable against any book purchased on 2 March.

As in previous years, we invite all pupils and staff to dress up as their favourite character from a book, and we ask that £1 is donated to the World Book Day charity via this link

Please click here before Monday 20 February to complete the Google form confirming whether your child can participate in the book sale, their maximum spend amount and that you are happy for the cost of the book/books to be added to your account. 


Kids Judge BETT 2023

Mr Buddie is pleased to announce that Beechwood has been chosen as one of only EIGHT UK schools throughout all spheres of education to participate in Kids Judge BETT 2023 on Friday 31 March.

Taking place annually at London’s Excel Centre, the BETT Show is described as “three days of inspiring connections, content, and product discovery, bringing together brilliant educators from across the globe.”

Kids Judge BETT is an initiative that allows school pupils to spend a day assessing and  passing their judgement on the products and services being promoted at the BETT Show.  As you can see from that list, there is an overwhelming array of companies exhibiting at the BETT show, and the show takes over TWO huge trade halls of the Excel Centre.

 Ultimately, there is an awards ceremony at the end of the day on the main stage in front of hundreds of delegates, and the companies learn whether they have won these much-coveted awards.  This year the celebrity presenter will be author, poet and activist, Michael Rosen.

This is a truly exciting opportunity for Beechwood pupils to be involved in a very high profile activity.  We been invited to take a team of TEN judges to participate and we would like to invite all pupils from Year 3 upwards to apply to be in our jury.

To be chosen as a member of the Beechwood jury, pupils must meet these criteria:

  1. Be in Year 3 or above;
  2. Be available on Friday 31st March, from 0930 until 1600;
  3. Have at least one parent or Trusted Adult who is willing to be their chaperone for the event;
  4. Be able to arrive at the Excel Centre for 0930 using own transportation method;
  5. Be willing to be wholly impartial when judging a product or service;
  6. Have some interest in the use of technology.

If your child meets these criteria, then the next step is for them to APPLY to be a member of our jury, by completing this online form, copies of which are in the Google Classroom of each Computing class.  Deadline for entries is 1600 on Friday 24 February.

A shortlist of applicants will then be interviewed in the first week of March, and successful pupils will be informed of their inclusion in the Beechwood Park Jury on Monday 6th March.

Mr Buddie looks forward to seeing applications from as many pupils as possible who wish to be chosen to join the Beechwood Park Jury.


News from the Senior Department

Year 7 Latin

7A have been learning how Imperatives, Questions and Personal Pronouns work in Latin.

They had some ‘hands on’ experience by writing valentine cards in Latin to Greek and Roman gods and creatures such as

Aphrodite, Neptune, Apollo, Hades, Poseidon, Ares, Asclepius, Vulcan and Cerberus. Even Lionel Messi was admitted to the bespoke pantheon!!  Here are some of their words – and translations!

  • Cara Aphrodite                 Dear Aphrodite
  • Te amo                                  I love you
  • Mea pulchra dea!             My beautiful goddess
  • Tune me amas?                Do you love me?
  • Donum tibi habeo.          I have a gift for you?
  • Habesne donum mihi?  Do you have a gift for me?
  • Tamen, si tu laeta es, ego laeta sum.              However, if you are happy, I am happy.
  • Messi was told:  Es laetus, Messi, et ride!    Be happy, Messi, and smile!

Bespoke indeed!

Top Form - Latin Valentines Cards


Modern Languages

Over the last few lessons, the Year 7 French pupils have been learning about the topic of clothes. To conclude this half-term’s studies, they treated their classmates and teachers to a series of Beechwood-style fashion shows.

The pupils provided immaculate commentary in French about their chosen attire and we certainly gained a greater understanding of current fashion trends!

There was a wide range of interesting outfits, which you can see in the attached photos and videos.

Year 7 Modern Languages - Fashion Show


Year 7 Geography

In Geography this week, Year 7 have been learning about the weather. Having learnt about the different types of rainfall and the different temperature patterns around the UK, this week the class was tasked with creating their own forecast. In pairs they became cameramen and women and weathermen and women. The final videos were most impressive and demonstrated some superb presentation skills.

     


Year 7 Performing Shakespeare

We would like to congratulate all the students in Year 7 who have worked so hard over the last few weeks on their monologues for the Performing Shakespeare competition. This made it extremely difficult for us to select two performances to represent Beechwood at the regional heats. Nevertheless, we are pleased to announce that Isaac C and Jamie W-S have advanced to the next round. Many congratulations!

From the English Department.

 


Beechwood Debaters Triumph At Youth Speaks Competition

Congratulations to Top Form debaters Aidan, Tommy and Josh on their win this week at the Intermediate Final of the Youth Speaks District 1260 Competition.  Their win means that they have now qualified to compete at the Regional Final in Cambridge next month.

Congratulations to all three, and to Mrs Beavis who has accompanied them all the way.

You can read more about this triumph  here 

 


Mrs Cussans’  Year 6 “Credit Club”

In recognition of their effort and engagement in lessons and their contribution to school life this term, Mrs Cussans invited a number of Year 6 pupils to a special lunch on Thursday.   The pupils enjoyed “waiter service” at the specially laid table in the Boarders’ Common Room, and spent the occasion discussing a variety of topics important to their year group.

Congratulations to the following pupils on their presence at the launch of the “Credit Club” – the name chosen by the pupils:

  • George F
  • Ivie R
  • Archie L
  • Charlotte F
  • Elliot F
  • Riley T
  • Holly C
  • Elliot M
  • Joe K
  • William R
  • Alex R
  • Arabella H

YEAR 6 CREDIT CLUB LUNCH WITH MRS CUSSANS


From the Senior Department Library

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein by Tanya Landman

Tanya Landman’s retelling of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is not for the faint hearted, but is accessible for all. Part of Barrington Stoke’s new classics series, this formidable gothic tale is presented using modern language and is dyslexic friendly, allowing more readers to enjoy this powerful and yet complex tale. 

Landman’s approach manages to retain both the original menacing atmosphere and Shelley’s recognisable style. A superb mix of science fiction, mystery and thriller, this retelling is a success in itself and has the scope to inspire readers to consider tackling the original.

From the Library Team

Head’s Commendations

Congratulations to this week’s recipients of Mrs Cussans’ Commendations:

Nurture Engage Inspire
Year 6 - - Thomas K
Year 7 - - -
Year 8 - - -