SCience, Technology,

maths & engineering (stem)

More STEM Fun at LBS! 

Exploring Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions! 🧪✨

On Monday, 01.07.24, our students delved into the fascinating world of exothermic and endothermic reactions through a series of engaging experiments and teacher demonstrations. The practical sessions provided hands-on experience for the pupils, allowing them to explore these types of chemical reactions in depth.

The students experienced a number of exciting experiments outlined below:

Demonstrations:

Exothermic Reactions:

• Hydrogen Peroxide and Manganese Dioxide: The reaction showcased the release of heat, demonstrating an exothermic process.

• Calcium and Sulfuric Acid: Students observed the heat released when calcium reacted with sulfuric acid.

Endothermic Reactions:

• Barium Hydroxide and Ammonium Chloride: This demonstration highlighted the endothermic reaction by freezing water under the beaker, making it stick to the heat-proof mat.

Additionally, there was a teacher demonstration on collecting oxygen gas and testing for it, further enhancing the students' understanding of gas reactions.

Understanding the Reactions:

Endothermic Reactions absorb heat from their surroundings, leading to a temperature decrease in the system. For example, when ammonium nitrate is dissolved in water, it absorbs heat, making the beaker feel cold or even freezing to the chopping board.

Exothermic Reactions release heat into their surroundings, causing a temperature increase in the system. An example is the reaction between calcium and sulfuric acid, which releases heat and makes the flask feel hot.

Conclusion:

Our STEM session was not just informative but incredibly fun for the students! They became young scientists, observing temperature changes to identify exothermic reactions, which made things hot, and endothermic reactions, which made things cool. This hands-on experience was a blast, sparking curiosity and deepening their understanding of chemical processes. The excitement in the room was palpable as they experimented, discovered, and learned in a truly engaging way. We can't wait for the next STEM adventure!

Y8 History Students Explore Harvington Hall 

On Wednesday afternoon, 30 Year 8 History students had the fantastic opportunity to visit the wonderful Elizabethan manor house, Harvington Hall, near Kidderminster. During the guided tour, students learned about the daily lives of Elizabethans, explored the many rooms, and embarked on a hunt for Harvington's famous priest holes, where Catholic priests hid to escape persecution. They were amazed by the remarkable ingenuity and skill of the priest hole carpenters, with some brave students even stepping foot inside them.

A special thank you to Mrs. Thompson and Miss. Bone for supporting this enriching experience. Your dedication made this trip possible. We also extend our gratitude to the students, who conducted themselves in an exemplary manner; our guides commented on how bright, inquisitive, and well-mannered they were. Thank you all for making this day a resounding success!

Bridging Generations: Students Connect with Veterans at Hagley Retirement Village

This past week, a group of selected students from our school had the unique opportunity to participate in an intergenerational interaction coffee morning at Hagley Retirement Village ☕. Initially, the students were a bit shy, uncertain about how to approach the residents. However, this hesitation quickly melted away as they began to engage with the elderly residents, soon showing remarkable confidence in their conversations 😊.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience, finding themselves truly inspired by the residents' life stories 📖💬. From tales of bygone eras to personal anecdotes of resilience and triumph, each story shared was a treasure trove of wisdom and history. This interaction proved to be not only meaningful but also deeply enriching for both the students and the residents 🌟.

One of the highlights for the students was spending time with the veterans residing at the village 🎖️. They expressed profound appreciation for the opportunity to hear first hand about the veterans' significant contributions to British society. These conversations brought history to life in a way that no textbook ever could 📚.

Overall, the experience was heart warming and wholesome, leaving everyone with a sense of fulfilment and connection 💖. We are excited about the potential for building a strong, lasting relationship between our two communities. The students left Hagley Retirement Village with a renewed sense of respect and admiration for the older generation, eagerly looking forward to their next weekly visit 🚶‍♀️.

A special thank you to Mrs. Ali for arranging and facilitating such an awesome event 🌟🙏. Her dedication and effort made this wonderful experience possible, creating memories that will be so valuable for future reflections and learning. 

Stay Safe This Summer: Important Safety Reminders from West Midlands Police 

As we rapidly approach the end of the summer term, please find below the Police Summer safety letter for parents. This important document from the West Midlands Police, aiming to remind our students of the expected behaviour while socialising during the summer break and offers vital safety advice. Topics covered include personal safety, the dangers of swimming in reservoirs, responsible social media use, the risks of carrying weapons, and the legalities of off-road bikes and e-scooters. We encourage parents, carers, and students to review these guidelines to ensure a happy and safe summer holiday. 

NOS Updates - 5th July 2024

The National Online Safety programme publishes a weekly #WakeUpWednesday update for parents/carers. This weeks update relates to 'Fair Play and Friendly Competition'.

With football’s European Championships taking place, it’s likely that young fans will be inspired to take to the pitch themselves – or perhaps they’re naturally sporty already. High-profile tournaments such as this can be a great opportunity to teach children and young people about what constitutes being ‘a good sport’ – not just in terms of technique, but also attitude. 

This guide collates our expert’s tips for encouraging fair play and friendly competition between children. It will help you to ensure that they can relish an enjoyable game of football, rugby or something else entirely — without unhealthy approaches to winning and losing polluting what could be an uplifting experience for all.

You may find the following sources helpful:

https://www.yourschoolgames.com/taking-part/joining-competitions/reframing-competition/ 

https://www.yourschoolgames.com/taking-part/joining-competitions/reframing-competition/aac/ 

https://www.fairplayinternational.org

https://www.youthsporttrust.org/school-support/free-resources

Dance, Performing Arts and Extra-curricular updates

From Mrs McKeon, Director of Learning of Foundations Studies and Extra-curricular learning

Debate Competition Final: Books vs. Movies 

On Monday, 24th June, our debate team competed against Ninestiles Academy in the final round, debating the notion, "This house believes that books are better than movies." Both teams conducted thorough research, using credible sources and factual evidence to support their arguments. The students demonstrated respect for each other and maintained a professional tone when responding to opposing questions.

Witnessing our debate team grow in confidence and self-awareness throughout the journey has been incredible. Debate club is a significant part of our extra-curricular program, encouraging students to consider and understand multiple viewpoints, fostering empathy and open-mindedness. It teaches our students to engage in respectful and constructive discourse, even when disagreeing. It is fantastic to see LBS students showcasing our school virtues.

We look forward to welcoming a new team in September!

Here is a reminder regarding our Extra-Curricular provision. Please find the timetable below of the clubs that we offer. This timetable has been amended slightly for the remainder of this half-term.

Sport fixtures and training schedules for week beginning 17th June 2024

Application for Instrumental Music Lessons 🎵 

A final reminder that all application letters for music lessons at Lordswood are due in. Forms must be returned by Tuesday, 9th July, at the absolute latest, as Mrs. Lowndes-Ford will be sending the September order form to Services for Education. This will allow them ample time to process and organise the teaching timetables. Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your musical education! 🎶 

Practice Rooms and Clubs 🎼

Please note that all practice rooms and clubs will not be running for our final two weeks of term. This pause allows for maintenance work and tidying across the department, ensuring everything is ready for September. If any students would like to support and help the music staff, please see Mrs. Lowndes-Ford.

LBS Music 250 Rewards! 🏅

All reward badges and certificates for Music will be updated and issued before we end the summer term. A huge thank you to all our wonderful students who have participated in our music and performing arts events this year. Our school talent show is scheduled for Friday, 12th July. Don't miss it!

Talent Show 🎼

Our school talent show is scheduled for Friday, 12th July. Don't miss it!