Past, Present & Future We’ve had a busy start to this half term with Year 7 assessments, pre-university BMAT

examinations (for medicine applications) and Oxford entrance tests being sat by a number of our

Sixth Formers. Whilst this and other important work takes place in the present to prepare our

students for the future, let’s remember the recent past.

Last academic year, in June, we reported on the building of a Minecraft replica of the current lower

school being constructed by our Minecraft Club. An amazing walkthrough video of the virtual

building is now available on our Facebook page at facebook.com/hertswoodacademy showing the

successful culmination of a huge collaborative task, and has already had hundreds of views. With news of our brand

new buildings being imminent, it’s only right to combine a report on the virtual lower school with an image of

what’s in store for the very near future. Watch this space...!

Hertswood Academy Aim High Achieve Excellence

Hertsbeat Monday 7th November 2016 | Issue 12:05

Peter Gillett, Headteacher

For their final project of the last academic year, the Hertswood Academy Minecraft Club chose to construct the Lower School.

It was a huge collaborative effort and they’re pleased to present a video tour on their channel at youtube.com/hertswoodcraft.

You’ll also find videos from our most recent lessons, narrated by the students

themselves. We’re proud to show the fantastic start we’ve had to the year, after

interviewing 42 eager applicants from Years 7, 8 and 9, for just 16 available places.

In their first lesson of the year, the new students took on the existing members in a

building contest, given just twenty minutes each to build a ship. Mazes were the next

challenge, split into four mixed teams and constructing the toughest maze they could.

Just before half term the students took out their virtual shovels for Spleef, a Minecraft

game where you dig out the ground from beneath your opponents.

We look forward to seeing what the students achieve as they progress as a team

towards their end of year project, whatever they decide it should be!

www.hertswoodacademy.org | facebook.com/hertswoodacademy | twitter.com/hertswooduk

Staying Connected with the Academy

With the simple, free MyEd app you can easily keep up to date with information

from the Academy from your Android phone or iPhone.

Send and receive free messages to/from the Academy, including receiving

and responding to absence alerts from the Attendance Team.

Check your child’s timetable, absence/late marks, and attendance record.

View upcoming keys dates and news from the Academy.

Find more information or download the app at www.myedschoolapp.com.

A New Year of Charity by the House Leaders

On Monday 17th October, Fathima from Noah's Ark met with our senior team and a

number of the House prefects. In total since working with Noah's Ark we’ve raised

£7,862 for which we were presented a certificate of achievement.

Noah's Ark is a charity for children with life changing or life

limiting diseases who worked with 150 families last year,

offering them flexible support -- responding to their

specific circumstances with services that encompass the

whole family, ranging from practical and emotional

support, outings for the family and, in some cases, end-of-

life and bereavement support.

Noah's Ark Children's Hospice wishes to expand their service, seeking to serve an estimated 350

young people and their families by building a new hospice. The Hertswood community would like to

support them with their quest and we aim to raise £4,658 this year. The senior team have planned a

number of events throughout the year and we would appreciate your support to hit our target.

Year 8 District Winners by Leyla and Nabrissa (Year 8)

On Wednesday 19th October the Year 8 girls football team competed in an Under 14s

tournament against eight other school teams. Several goals were scored by Lottie Oates,

Courtney Jarvis and Leyla O'Brien resulting in the team finishing at the top of their group

having won three games and drawn another.

We went on to win our semi-final

game with some great saves by our

goalkeeper Nabrissa Badu. In the final

we played Stanborough School — a Year 9 team — and managed to beat

them 4-0 with a hat trick from Lottie and an extra goal from Courtney.

It was a great day and we were all very happy to come home with medals

and such an outstanding achievement to celebrate!

House Design Competition

Help to promote the great work of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice by designing a leaflet. All year

groups can enter, but the leaflet must contain the message ‘in aid of Noah’s Ark.’ Winners will

be presented their prize in the next House Assembly by a representative from Noah’s Ark.

Learn about the charity at noahsarkhospice.org.uk | Deadline Tue 29th Nov | Hand entries to the House Leaders

The winning Year 8 team

Some of our Year 7-10 football players before training