BBC School Reporters On Target for Great Story

18/05/2012 in 2012 Games, BBC School Report, Olympics by pbertrand | No comments

Bullseye!

It was Friday the 20th of April at Lilleshall, and the hopefuls for the Great British archery team were enjoying the first rays of sunshine after a day of persistent rain. Little did the competitors or I know that I would soon master the sport myself!

The eight potential archers were shooting it out to win just six places to represent their country in the London Olympic Games later this year.

A steady hand and a sharp eye were required by the competitors in order to gain the sought after spots on the team. Larry Godfrey and Simon Terry finished in first and second place at the shoot, and will be competing in the Olympics along with Alan Wills. Michael Peart narrowly missed out on joining them in London, finishing in 4th place.

Joining their male counterparts are Amy Oliver and Naomi Folkard, who finished in 1st and 2nd place at the women’s shoot.  Charlotte Burgess missed out to Alison Williamson, who has also made the team after finishing in 3rd place. I caught up with Alison during the day and she told me that it had been an ‘interesting few days’ and that ‘the venue was intended to have an atmosphere reminiscent of the real Olympics’.

She also explained to me how she felt at her first Olympic experience, stepping into the limelight at the opening ceremony, and exclaiming ‘wow…this is it!’

I shared a similar feeling when I stepped up to try archery for the first time…perhaps not at an Olympic level, but daunting none the less. Being handed the bow I did not have high hopes for myself, yet beginners luck was about to reach a whole new level… my first three shots were bulls eyes! Proudly clutching my newly obtained archery GB t-shirt, I wondered if this was how athletes felt stepping onto the podium in anticipation of a medal.  Well, this was probably as close to sporting stardom as I would ever reach anyway! But hopefully not for our team GB archers, as London 2012 creeps ever closer, let’s hope that there are some bullseyes on the cards for them too!

Veronique Hawksworth and Francesca Flynn

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite PicLens

Tags:

£1,275 Raised for Charity

15/05/2012 in Charities and Fundraising by pbertrand | No comments

On May 10, Beijing and London House Assemblies had a special visitor from a very worthwhile cause. Laura Bainbridge, of the Teenage Cancer Trust thanked students for their hard work and imagination, raising such a large amount in a single day.


You might be forgiven for thinking the students handing over the cheque were on a charity drive in their unusual outfits, but, coincidentally, it was Year 11s last Non Uniform Day, where tradition dictates Fancy Dress be the order of the hour.

Thanks to all the students (and staff) who baked, munched, coughed, kicked, fondue’d and all round humiliated themselves for a very good cause!

Our photo shows London’s Eve and Milli and Beijing’s Ella and Liam handing over the cheque for £1,275.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite PicLens

Tags:

FoWBS May Fayre Success

15/05/2012 in FoWBS, Out of School by pbertrand | No comments

The Friends of William Brookes School Annual May Fayre proved even more popular than ever this year and raised well over £900.

May’s weather took a turn for the better on Saturday the 12th and it wasn’t long before the barbecue attracted a healthy turnout keen to sample the burgers and hot dogs.

As well as a professional photographer on hand, there were Brik-a-Brak, Books and Plant stalls, along with a Table Top Sale, William Brooke’s House Stalls, Prize Draw and Tombola. Refreshments went down well and a very inviting Cake Stall catered for those who preferred not to go to the barbecue, and to some who did!

Several live performances from William Brookes Performing Arts Department went down very well and helped create the warm, friendly and cheerful environment that many visitors commented on.

Mr Renwick thanked FoWBS for another successful event, “I thought it was a lovely day with a fantastic atmosphere. A really great effort by all concerned.”

Thanks again to the many, many people who helped out on the day and to those who worked behind the scenes to make our May Fayre so special.

Tags:

FoWBS Table Top Sale

08/05/2012 in FoWBS by pbertrand | No comments

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite PicLens

Tags:

BBC School Report back for more

30/04/2012 in 2012 Games, BBC School Report, Olympics by pbertrand | No comments

Following on from our School Report day on March 15, BBC’s Laura Macdonald asked if we’d be willing to produce a short piece about our three torchbearers and William Brookes School’s unique Olympic connections. Naturally, we jumped at the chance and looked forward to an exciting day out and about in the sunshine (remember March?!).

Click Here to find out more

Tags:

FoWBS May Fayre

30/04/2012 in Charities and Fundraising, FoWBS, Out of School by pbertrand | No comments

 

CELEBRATE YOUR FAMILY WITH A SMILE THIS YEAR

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Every picture tells a story

A local award winning photographer has offered us a fantastic opportunity, which we will run as a fund raising event, and which will enable you to have a selection of photographs taken. The sessions will take place on 12th May 2012 and will be held at William Brookes School during this year’s May Fayre.

The cost is only £10.00, which goes to the School Fund, and you receive a 7” x 5” print, of the photographer’s choice, in a folder mount.

The photographs are taken against a white background, so feel free to wear jeans and co-ordinating tops for a modern, casual look. If you would like to see examples of Phil’s work then please go to

www.clickphotographyltd.com.

After the session you will be provided with details about viewing your photoshoot. Should you then wish to place an order, this can be done with the photographer at a future date. Prints may be purchased at £10.00 for a 7” x 5”, £15.00 for an 8” x 6” and just £20.00 for the 10” x 8” size; all prints are presented in a folder mount. Larger framed prints, Acrylic, Canvass Wraps and a CD option are also available.

The sessions start at 10.00am and are available every 30 minutes for 10 sessions. It is important to book early to secure your slot as there are only 10 sessions available.

If you are interested, please complete the form below and return to Mrs C Henderson, Student Services, with your £10.00 fee. We will confirm your day and time in writing.  Please note that it is a “first come first served” basis.

Yours sincerely,

Friends of William Brookes School

“———————————————————————————————

Please book me a place for a Portrait sitting on 12th May 2012

 

Please circle preferred:      AM  or   PM

 

Name………………………………………………………Tel………………………………….

 

Child’s name & Tutor Group…………………………………………………………………………….

Please find enclosed £10.00 to secure my session

If you would like to take advantage of this offer but are unable to attend on the date above, please let the office know and they will endeavour to provide you with an alternative date.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite PicLens

Tags:

William Brookes Students remember their Roots.

19/04/2012 in 2012 Games, Olympics by pbertrand | No comments

William Brookes School plants special Coubertin Oaks for the London 2012 Games.

With just 100 days to go to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, We are welcoming the world by planting five ‘Coubertin Oaks’ – trees grown from acorns taken from an oak planted in 1890 in Much Wenlock in honour of the founder of the modern Olympic movement, Pierre de Coubertin.

Eldest WBS Student, Laura, mentors youngest Student, Jack.

On Wednesday 18th April at 10.30 am we planted the trees at the School Car Park Entrance and began the 40 tree ‘ribbon’ from Much Wenlock to the Olympic Park.

The acorns were collected and planted by students at William Brookes School in 2004 in anticipation of London winning the bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.  The following year the small oak saplings were transferred to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew where professionals have overseen their growth and prepared them for planting.

Ex Head, Penny Cooper and LOCOG's Bill Morris planting Oak No. 1

A group of schools and colleges have been invited to participate in the project that are part of the Get Set network, the official London 2012 education programme, and situated along the route of the ribbon. The ‘ribbon’ will pass through various points from Much Wenlock to the Olympic Park, including Stoke Mandeville Combined School and The Mandeville School, both close to Stoke Mandeville Hospital – the birthplace of the Parlaympic Games. Coubertin Oaks will also be planted at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, the Forestry Commission’s National Arboretum in Westonbirt and UPS premises in Camden.

Jonathan Edwards and Joyce Pridmore share the honours

As the only Coubertin School in the UK, we have a unique link to The Games and to the Olympic and Paralympic movement. Our Coubertin Youth Ambassadors work tirelessly to make the school and the local community aware of Olympic and Paralympic Values.

We are involved in the Cultural Olympiad through The Encompass Dance Project and are extremely proud that no less than three of our students are Olympic Torchbearers.

This is a very special year for William Brookes School and the ribbon of oaks will be a growing reminder of our Olympic heritage for many years to come.

Mrs Keen, teacher who began the acorn collection, ably assisted by Mrs Dorricott

 

London 2012 Chair Sebastian Coe said: ‘I’m delighted that William Brookes School is getting ready to welcome the world by planting a Coubertin Oak. Through the Get Set network I know that William Brookes School have been learning about the Olympic and Paralympic values, now the school will have its own piece of London 2012 history.’

Royal Botanic Gardens Head of Arboretum & Horticultural Services Tony Kirkham said: ‘Working with the entire team on the Coubertin Oaks planting has been a most incredible and enjoyable project from its conception over 6 years ago; all the hard work and commitment from everyone will leave a long lasting legacy of oak trees linking Much Wenlock to the 2012 Olympic site in London.’

Forestry Commission Chair, Pam Warhurst, said: “We are delighted to be part of this project that connects the 2012 Games to its origin and involves schools in a green Olympic legacy”

All gone, no more whilst Lesley Durbin does the hard work

Mr Renwick and Mrs Jardine after all the soil had run out!

Brogann, Oli, Tara and Zach dig it for BBC School Report 2012

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite PicLens

Tags:

Trio Take Torch Bearing Honours

29/03/2012 in 2012 Games, Olympics, Out of School by pbertrand | No comments

No less than three William Brookes School students have been selected to carry the Olympic Torch in the run up to the Games.

Year 7 student, Sam will take to the streets of Bewdley on May 24, whilst Sixth Formers Saffron and Katie will be cheered on in Kidderminster and Gloucester respectively.

All three are well known throughout William Brookes School by staff and students alike and we will certainly be thinking of them as they play their part in this momentous event.

 

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite PicLens

Tags:

Sixth Formers Storm Youth Speaks Competition

24/02/2012 in 2012 Games, Competitions, Olympics, Sixth Form by pbertrand | No comments

The Rotary International Youth Speaks Competition 2012 held its District Finals in Market Drayton this week, and we were there to talk our way to the top! English teacher, Miss Shenton, gives us the details…

This year I have had the privilege of tutoring Genny (Speaker), Martyn  (Chairperson) and Francesca (Proposer) to compete in this competition. Our team chose the subject, ‘The Olympic Dream: can the country cope?’

At Club Level we were runners up to Thomas Telford School in an event held at ‘The Charlton School’ in Wellington, and we joined them on Wednesday 22nd February to compete at District 1210 Level at ‘The Festival Drayton Centre’ in Market Drayton.

Ten schools competed in total and the standard was very high. The sponsor of the evening and honoured guest was Dominic List (from Channel 4s Secret Millionaire Programme). Our students once again did both their tutor and the school proud as they competed against schools such as Concord College, Grove Sixth Form Centre, Thomas Telford School and others from Staffordshire and Stoke-On-Trent.

William Brookes School were announced the winners after a very long, yet entertaining evening. Genny, Martyn and Francesca were whisked away for photographs with Rotary Club members and Dominic List (who also presented them with their certificates and trophies). The school is now in possession of two trophies and a framed certificate. Each student even received a ginger bread man for their efforts. The judges were very complimentary to all competitors and apparently agreed on the winning school without question.

I would like to thank Genny, Martyn and Francesca for agreeing to participate in this for me, their parents for their continued support and my dad (the lucky mascot) for providing the chocolate!

Huge congratulations go to our three sixth form students who will now be competing in the Regional Final on Saturday 24th March 2012 at Staffordshire University.

Jessica Shenton (Assistant Head of English)

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite PicLens

Tags: , ,

WBS hosts Encompass – 360 degree dance film project

17/02/2012 in Uncategorized by pbertrand | No comments

William Brookes School, The Edge Arts Centre and Shropshire Council have been successful in gaining major funding for an exciting dance and film project in conjunction with next year’s Olympic and Paralympic celebrations.

The project, which is called Encompass, will take place in Much Wenlock in July 2012. The main venue for the dance extravaganza will be a large igloo projection dome where audiences will enjoy 360 degree imagery and dance performances.

The project is currently developing a fully interactive website which will go live early 2012.

Encompass is part of Dancing for the Games, which is inspired by London 2012 and part of the Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands. It has been awarded a combined total of £190,000 by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Arts Council England, Advantage West Midlands and Shropshire Council.

Councillor Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture, said: ‘Encompass will connect young people all around the world. Using dance, digital media and film, the project will create links across continents and wrap dancing images around audiences.  Different styles of dance will collide, merge and collaborate.  Young people from Shropshire and around the globe will form the core creative team, leading the vision for the project supported by experienced professional artists, to create a ground breaking 360-degree dance and film extravaganza.’

Milner Whiteman, Shropshire Councillor for Much Wenlock, said:

‘This is a unique and exciting opportunity for everyone in Shropshire, particularly the young people involved.’

Over the next few months the professional dance artists Toby Norman-Wright, Sonia Sabri and Anna Belyavin will be running dance and film workshops in schools across Shropshire in partnership with local digital media artists Chris Vandyke and Callum Goodwilliam from The Hive Digital Media and Music Centre.

In addition, online tutorials will be uploaded to create an opportunity for anyone anywhere in the county, country or the world to learn different dance styles and then upload their own dance films that could become part of the grand finale event in Much Wenlock in July 2012.

For further information about the project contact Anna Savill the Project Manager by email: manager@encompass360.co.uk

Our photos depict movements being captured for use in the 360 degree projection igloo.

A big thank you to Mrs Jardine and all the students who contributed their time for the three day shoot.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite PicLens

Bad Behavior has blocked 261 access attempts in the last 7 days.

WordPress Loves AJAX