EXECUTIVE hEADTEACHER'S BLOG - 8th march 2024
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World book day 📚, festival of Apprenticeships 🎓 & international womens day
Welcome to my weekly blog - I hope you and your families are well and have had a good week! We've had an incredibly hectic week at school, resulting in a slightly longer blog post than usual. However, I can assure you that every bit of it is worth reading.
What an absolutely electrifying week of celebration it's been! A monumental thank you to each and every one of you who contributed to making this week a resounding success and spreading joy, laughter, and chatter about literacy, careers and influential women throughout our school halls!
On Thursday, our students were positively buzzing with excitement, thoroughly enjoying every moment of the World Book Day festivities. After much spirited debate, they've crowned Mr. Cocks and Bobby as the joint winners of the staff dressing up prize - a well-deserved accolade indeed! See the photographs below...
And let's talk about the generosity that filled the air this morning! Every single student was gifted a free book, igniting a whirlwind of reading, swapping, and animated discussions about their literary treasures. A colossal round of applause to our Teaching Support staff for orchestrating this remarkable feat of giving. Providing each student with a free book is nothing short of extraordinary!
The World Book Day Quiz was a roaring success, with students showcasing their literary prowess with gusto. We're also immensely grateful to everyone who shared their photos and childhood favorites, adding a sprinkle of nostalgia to the day's festivities.
But the celebrations didn't stop there! Our students delved into the World Book Day and National Literacy Trust competitions with gusto, unleashing their creativity in designing book tokens and participating in the Birmingham Share your Story writing competition.
And as the day drew to a close, we opened our doors to parents for our Reading Cafe. It was a heartwarming sight to see families come together, savoring the joy of reading while sipping on hot beverages and browsing through our library treasures. The positive feedback from parents was overwhelming, echoing sentiments of gratitude for the enriching opportunities our school provides.
A heartfelt thank you to Ms Russell for her expert coordination; our extraordinary staff and the DofE library team for your unwavering support and dedication in making today's event a resounding success. Your efforts have truly made a lasting impact on our school community, fostering a love for reading that will continue to flourish for years to come!
In addition to the WBD festivities, the entire Year 11 cohort descended upon the Festival of Apprenticeships at Millennium Point!
The event was buzzing with excitement as representatives from esteemed organisations like Kaplan Accountancy, Mace Construction, BT, AstraZeneca, Virgin Media, as well as the army and RAF, among many others, gathered under one roof. Our students dove right in, like bees to honey, immersing themselves in the diverse array of presentations and receiving invaluable career advice straight from the experts. And hey, they even took some time out to play a few games and snag some prizes along the way!
It's safe to say our students left the event beaming from ear to ear after a day filled with engaging discussions and thought-provoking insights. We couldn't be prouder of their exemplary behaviour and maturity throughout the day. But what truly warms our hearts is when their exceptional conduct is recognised by others.
Just take a moment to revel in this delightful email from Joanna Hughes, one of the stall holders:
"As I mentioned briefly to you as you were leaving the Festival of Apprenticeships today with your pupils, they were without question the most interested, articulate, and charming pupils I met all day. I am also a mother of four sons (including three teenagers), so I have met a lot of teenage boys in my life, and using that benchmark, your pupils were impeccable without being boring. This is exactly what law firms are looking for. I told the three young men I spoke to for the longest (one was a Head Boy) that their questions were excellent and that I could very much see them working at top law firms as solicitor apprenticeships and then solicitors. I also told them they were my favorites of the day! I wanted to Google your school after meeting your pupils today, and I can see why this is said about the school in your latest Ofsted report: Leaders believe that pupils at Lordswood Boys’ School deserve the best possible education. They want every pupil to have a wide range of opportunities. They believe that pupils should be ambitious about what they can achieve."
Isn't that just incredible? It's moments like these that truly reaffirm our dedication to providing our students with the utmost support and opportunities for success. Here's to our remarkable students and the bright futures that lie ahead for each and every one of them!
What a day!
We started with a powerful video from Lordswood Boys' staff outlining the purpose of International Women's Day and what this day means to them.
Followed by starter activities each lesson, showcasing the impact of this day across the world.
Students were desperate to share their opinions of this momentous day with each other and create letters to their families/ art work:
Our local MP, Preet Gill spoke to our Y9 students about the role of women in her life as well as the challenges she has had to overcome:
Followed by a fabulous female orientated menu and a free viewing of 'Wonder Woman' at lunchtime:
Thank you to all of the fabulous staff who have made a day like this happen and for spreading the vital message of inclusion, equality and respect.
Pastoral Updates
Thank you for reading our pastoral update below and for your dedication to guiding your son's behaviour both in and around the school. Your support helps foster a positive environment for learning and personal development. We appreciate your partnership in promoting responsibility and excellence.
HT4 WEEK 3 08.03.24.pdfNOS Updates - 8 March 2024
The National Online Safety programme publishes a weekly #WakeUpWednesday update for parents/carers. This weeks update relates to 'INSTAGRAM'.
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with over 1 billion users worldwide. The platform allows users to upload images and videos to their feed, create interactive ‘stories’, share live videos, exchange private messages or search, explore and follow other accounts they like – whilst at the same time continuously updating and adding new features to meet the needs of its users.
In the guide, you'll find tips on a number of potential risks such as addiction, unrealistic ideals and the influencer culture.
I hope your find this information useful.
instagram-2022.pdfCyber Explorer Cup competition
I'm thrilled to share some heartening news from our school community. Yesterday, on March 7th, 2024, four of our Year 9 students, under the guidance of Mr. Ahmad, our esteemed Lead Professional for Computer Science, took part in a nationwide competition. This captivating initiative, known as Cyber Explorer, is spearheaded by His Majesty's Government Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT).
Cyber Explorer's primary aim is to cultivate the UK's cyber security talent pool by shaping the perceptions, academic choices, and interests of young individuals aged 11-14. It's not merely a competition; it's a platform to ignite and nurture the passion for cyber security among the youth. Participants not only engage in friendly competition but also gain invaluable hands-on experience in critical thinking, teamwork, and cyber security fundamentals.
By triumphing in this competition, teams stand a chance to attend a careers event exclusively tailored for the winning schools. This event promises exciting activities and invaluable insights from seasoned professionals in the cyber security industry.
I'm pleased to report that the event unfolded seamlessly, and our four participants from LBS embraced the opportunity with enthusiasm.
While we await the results, let's continue to support and encourage our students in their pursuits. They are the future leaders and innovators in the realm of cyber security.
Dance, Performing Arts and Extra-curricular updates
From Mrs McKeon, Director of Learning of Foundations Studies and Extra-curricular learning
Performing Arts
During our Dance lessons this week, the students have been learning Bhangra and the origins of the style. The students have demonstrated respect and compassion, and have started to develop the skills, elements and techniques required in this style. Some students have excelled in their performance and are keen to show their talent in our upcoming Cultural Day.
Year 10 have their first Drama exam on Thursday 14th March. Their performance and evaluations of the chosen script count towards a third of their overall grade. They have been busy rehearsing and learning lines; we wish them the best of luck!
English and Drama have collaborated as our Year 8 students have been studying Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Their assessment pieces have showcased their understanding of the language, characters’ intentions and issues within the piece. Well done!
Extra-Curricular
Our clubs are filling up fast! Mr Preece’s Cricket Club on a Monday is a huge success, the students show passion and energy in every session. Miss Kpogho’s Chess Club is preparing for a friendly match with a local school which I am certain they are ready for. Please encourage your son to attend one of our many clubs, if there are any questions then please get in contact through email.
EC Poster.pdfSport fixtures and training schedules for week beginning 11 March 2024
Weekly sports round-up from Mr Janes, Director of Sport
Year 11 Football
The Year 11 Football team hosted Colmers School on Wednesday afternoon in a mouth watering Semi-Final Cup Fixture. The team qualified after winning their group stage back in October. Colmers have proved to be one of the strongest Schools in Birmingham for this particular age group, so the challenge the boys faced was always going to be a tough ask. The students represented the School fantastically, demonstrating character, determination and desire. Colmers went on to win the game 2-1 with their quality proving the difference in key moments, but the LBS students can be proud of their efforts and the way they conducted themselves. Player of the Match - Nicholas Rodrigues.
Thank you to all of the Staff who came out to support.
Year 10 ESA Football
Mr Janes' Year 10 ESA team hosted Kings Norton Boys' School in a League Fixture on Thursday evening. The students started the game poorly, conceding four goals and demonstrating a lack of tactical understanding. Second half after a few alterations was much better, the team played with a higher intensity and made better decisions in possession. A fantastic turnaround saw LBS win 6-4. Adeeb Haroon scored 5 and Idin Ehsani scored on his debut. Player of the Match was Idin Ehsani.
Year 10 Basketball
Mr Noble's Year 10 Basketball team will travel to Kings Norton Boys' School on Monday after School for a League Fixture. The boys will look to continue their unbeaten run this season, they could make it four wins from four if they come away successfully.
Extra-Curricular Provision
Lunch Time Clubs are back on which is great to see. Year 10 enjoyed their Badminton and Table Tennis Tournaments at Lunch on Thursday. We had a few special visits from Staff who fancied a game. Please feel free to pop in if you think you have the skill!
Cricket Provision
On Wednesday night we hosted Halesowen Cricket Club in an U12/U13's friendly. Batting first we scored a mammoth 114-5, Manraaj Benning top scoring with 47. Halesowen scored 99-6 in response. Lordswood won by 16 runs. A massive well done to the students, staying in school until 7pm.
Thursday night we hosted George Dixon Academy (GDA) in a Year 10 League Fixture, we won the toss and bowled first. GDA scored a below par score of 58-6 off 9.3 overs. It was a familiar face of Nathan Nagra who top scored for GDA with 21, Sachin Banda and Hazeem Rana taking 2 wickets each. However, we knocked the total off with ease, winning by 5 wickets.
Indoor Cricket continues over the next few weeks, as the U13's push to win their league. Preparation for hardball games starts soon.
New PE Kit Reminder
As announced in the blog on 15th December, click here, the new LBS PE can now be purchased from Clive Mark using the link below:
http://www.clivemark.co.uk/collections/lordswood-boys-school
From September 2024 it will be compulsory for all students to be wearing the new kit.
If you have any questions relating to the details above, please use the contact details below:
Mr Deeks, Director of Learning - SCP Faculty, j.deeks@lordswoodboys.co.uk
Mr Janes, Director of Sport, d.janes@lordswoodboys.co.uk
Weekly music news & schedules from Mrs Lowndes-Ford, Director of Music
MUSIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
😆😃Frontline Funny 😃😆
Once upon a time, in the hallowed halls of Lordswood Boys' School, the annual World Book Day event was looming on the horizon. Excitement crackled in the air like static on a sweater, but little did the students know, they were in for a literary spectacle like never before.
As the big day dawned, whispers of anticipation echoed through the corridors. The theme? "Literary Legends Unleashed." And boy, did the staff take it seriously.
Enter Ms. Shoker, affectionately known as the no-nonsense Foundation Studies teacher by day, but on this fateful day, she emerged as none other than Harriet Potter, complete with a wand that probably doubled as a marking pen.
But wait, the plot thickens! For across the schoolyard lurked none other than Bobby, the oft-mischievous Site Manager, now transformed into VolderBobby, the Dark Lord of Tools and Mops.
As Harriet Potters students gathered for the start of their lesson, the tension was palpable. Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and smoke billowed from the classroom door. The crowd held its breath as Harriet Potter and Voldebobby faced off in a showdown for the ages.
With a flick of her wand, Harriet Potter cast a spell of wit and charm, while VoldeBobby countered with a barrage of mop heads and cleaning cloths. The audience roared with laughter and awe as they both engaged in a battle that would put Hogwarts to shame.
But just when it seemed like all hope was lost, Harriet Potter unleashed her secret weapon: a giant book of spells and puns. With a clever incantation and a well-timed joke, VolderBobby was vanquished, reduced to a mere puff of smoke and a heap of dirty cloths
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause as Harriet Potter emerged victorious, her glasses slightly askew but her spirit undiminished. And thus, the legend of the World Book Day showdown at Lordswood Boys' School was born, forever etched into the annals of literary history.
As the students filed out for lunch, they couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. Who knew that their teachers were secretly wizards and Dark Lords in disguise? But one thing was for certain: the magic of reading had never felt more alive than it did on that unforgettable day.
As we prepare for the upcoming start of Ramadan next week, we want to ensure that all our students are supported during this sacred time. If your son will be fasting, kindly ask him to inform his Literacy tutor on Monday morning. It would be greatly beneficial to know the specifics of his fast, such as whether it's a full fast or if there are any exceptions, like the allowance to drink water if necessary.
Even while fasting, your son should still anticipate participating in sporting activities and other commitments. However, it's important for him to communicate with his sports teachers or trip/activity leaders so that appropriate adjustments can be made as needed.
To those observing Ramadan, allow me to extend warm wishes of 'Ramadan Mubarak' to you and your families. May this holy month be filled with blessings and joy.
I hope you have a good weekend and I look forward to updating you with more news next week. Until then you can always contact me directly at: l.williams@centralacademiestrust.co.uk.
Mr. L. Williams,
CEO, Executive Headteacher
Central Academies Trust
Lordswood Boys' School • Hagley Road • Harborne • Birmingham • B17 8BJ
Tel:0121 464 2837
Email: enquiry@lordswoodboys.co.uk
For paper copies of any of the information on this website please refer to our publication scheme