The Brunts Academy

Brunts Times

Issue 4

March 2020

AMBITION I INTEGRITY I INCLUSIVITY I ENDEAVOUR I RESILIENCE

Dear Parents/Carers,

Whilst we find ourselves in unprecedented times, it is even more important that we stay in touch with you

and showcase some of the fantastic work from our students and good news stories during the last half

term.

We are all in new territory and have a responsibility to find a way to make it work. To that end, the staff at

across The Evolve Trust have worked incredibly hard to make sure that work for students and subject

specific guidance is available on the Teams platform in year groups and now against your child’s class

teacher’s name. We very much value and appreciate your support in engaging the students with their

work and the activities that are being shared by subject areas. We absolutely accept that many of our parents/carers will be

out of their comfort zone with the subject specific content, it is absolutely fine to work with your children on reading,

spellings, Maths and some of the other online platforms. These can be really useful and have been shared in the parents

update letter during the penultimate week of term. We don’t want parents/carers to feel under pressure to deliver learning at

what is an already challenging time. Just be there to guide your child and if you have any questions, please do get in touch.

Additionally, our Scholastic Excellence Leaders will be sending out weekly updates for each year group with some top tips for

students to engage with so please encourage your children to log on and get involved.

Once again, follow the guidance from the Government, stay safe and stay in touch. We can’t wait to open our doors to our

students once again but until then, take care of yourselves and your family.

WELCOME FROM THE PRINCIPAL

COVID-19 UPDATE INFORMATION

The Academy site remains closed and our provision for vulnerable and key worker family children is at the Bramble Academy.

We have had to take the decision to cancel all planned events and trips up to May Spring Bank Holiday until further guidance

is given by the Government. We will of course get any further information to our parents as soon as it becomes available but

thank you in advance for your patience, especially those parents who have signed their children up to trips during the

summer term.

Contact details: If you need help with technical support for using the Teams platform at home, need to contact someone

specific at the Academy or if you have concerns about your child’s destination post September please email us on the

addresses below.

Please do get in contact if you require any help and don’t forget, email the helpdesk on helpdesk@evolvetrust.org if

you have any technical issues with log in details and passwords.

Access to Teams – please refer to the user guide shared on Weduc on the 18/3/2020.

If any of our Free School Meal families or families that do not have access to the internet require subject specific packs then please contact the school on the school email address StaffBrunts@brunts.evolvetrust.org

Please contact Mrs Barnard on KBarnard@brunts.evolvetrust.org if you have any specific questions on Post 16 and Post 18 education for Years 11 and 13 respectively during this time.

This is a fabulous FREE resource for the students which is available from many websites for home learning. One for Maths and

the Science are available through Amazon. Please follow the link below.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Head-Start-Level-Maths-2017-2018-ebook/dp/B06XD29GX2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=20K164YYF0K7S&keywords=head+start+to+a+level+maths&qid=1585567341&sprefix=head+start+%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1

HOME LEARNING

YEAR 8 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

The BAE Systems Education Roadshow Team ran an interactive Education STEM Roadshow session for Year 8 students at the

Brunts Academy on the 25th February 2020. This Roadshow was devised in response to the Government's acknowledgement

that there is already a shortfall of ‘home grown’ scientists and engineers to meet the needs of the country. The session

focused on giving our Year 8 students an insight in to the world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, with a

particular focus on energy. The content of the show was closely aligned to the Science curriculum to support learning in

schools and featured many interactive elements for both students and teachers alike. The event was interactive and fun, with

plenty of games and even a rowing competition for the athletically inclined!

SOCIAL, MORAL, SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

A group of Year 9 students attended a trip to London earlier this

month to visit Facebook headquarters as part of a programme they

began in 2019. The Hope Not Hate Charitable Trust are the country’s

largest anti-racism charity and are extremely passionate about their

National Ambassador’s programme, empowering young people to be

well informed and make positive changes to others’ behaviour. The

charity have worked with the pupils earlier this year on the dangers of

being prejudice and looking at ways they can overcome negative

behaviours in society before embarking to the capital.

Whilst in London students were able to take in some of the sites in a

whistle stop tour as well as being invited into one the world’s largest organisations…FACEBOOK. They were able to meet a

range of employees spanning from apprentices to Chief Executives. The afternoon was full of engaging discussion and creative

tasks. Our very own Carter Giddy won one of the competitions and received a wireless phone charging dock. The students

were a credit to the school in the way they conducted themselves, showed enthusiasm throughout and fully engaged in the

entire day.

YEAR 11—UNIVERSITY PRACTICE!

With a change to normal revision practices at the Academy, the English department hosted the first 'Literature lectures' with a

focus on Animal Farm this half term. It was an hour long 'whistle stop' tour through all of the important aspects of the text.

We started by covering the reasoning behind the novella before covering the key events in chronological order. We then

focused on how the characters in the text are allegorical of real figures and different social strands and then considered the

important themes. In total 81 students turned up and this is something we will definitely repeat in the coming years.

CHILD OF COURAGE BRUNTS 6TH FORM MANSFIELD RADIO SHOW

A beautiful and inspiring afternoon was held at the awards

for some of Nottinghamshire’s young children of courage,

at Portland College. 12 young people were nominated, one

from each of the local

schools. Our nomination,

Charlette was very

overwhelmed, but

excited. Charlette was

nominated for her

courage and resilience

she has shown over the

past months.

A CREATIVE LEADER IN THE MAKING

To promote our proposed Post 16 open evening, Tom

Charlton – sixth form student, Mr Atkin – Director of School

Improvement and Mr Lucas – Principal made an appearance

on Mansfield 103.2 Radio this month.

For those of you interested in listening to the programme,

please follow the link below. https://m.soundcloud.com/

mansfield-103-2/whos-taking-care-of-business-evolve-trust-

110320

Poppy in year 9 was nominated for the Trinity Arts Award 2019 in leadership following her

outstanding contribution in the Emerge Festival 2019. Poppy enabled a large installation to be

produced and exhibited at the festival. This piece was produced to raise awareness of climate

change and specifically plastic waste.

Poppy got her local community to collect plastic waste over the course of a month, this was

physically used in her installation to illustrate the amount we consume over a short period of

time. She collaborated with the Cantamus choir to produce a piece of music that would go in the

background of her installation in addition to whale noises to illustrate the effect of plastic waste

on animal life and the environment. In addition, Poppy worked with a group of pupils across KS3

to produce a range of hand made brooches using these plastics to recycle them into wearable

items that members of the public could purchase on the day of the festival for a small donation.

Poppy is a passionate, talented and inspiring young person.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH

8 DofE groups spent the day at Blidworth

Bottoms on Saturday 14th March as part

of their expedition training. Staff

supported the students with their

navigation and map reading skills

focussing on: Bearings, using catching

features, hand-railing and using

boundaries. The students displayed great

team work throughout the training.

SPORTING SUCCESS - IT HAS BEEN AN ACTION PACKED FEW WEEKS FOR OUR SPORTS TEAMS...

A huge congratulations to the Year 8 Girls Sportshall Athletics team who won the District Qualifiers

event at Manor Academy for the second year running taking first place in a number of events

including relay, 2 lap race and speed bounce. Well done to Matilda, Lila, Lilly, Zoe, Matilda and Erin

who represented the Academy incredibly well. The girls would have progressed to represent the

District at Harvey Haddon on 1st April in the County Finals. Unfortunately this event will no longer

take place.

Well done to the following students who represented the Academy at the District Indoor Athletics

event in February: Isaac Egiebor-Igberese, Leo De Lucis, Max Wakelin, Kirils Garajevs, Charlie Hogg,

Christian Bates, Oliver Brooks, Matilda Evans, Lilly Flint, Lila Hippsley, Olivia Cobley, Erin Barksby

and Zoe Spencer.

TOILET ROLL CHALLENGE!

To show students hidden staff

skills, the PE Department led

the way with the toilet roll

challenge this week. Mr Lucas

got the roll moving all the way

across the county to Mrs Bond

to finish up.

Mr Paling is seen here in his

garden keeping the move

going. Watch out for next

week’s instalment.

Girls NLD Rugby Success:

Congratulations to the Mansfield RUFC U15

Girls, which included Kenzie and Fiona who

go to Brunts Academy. Both students have

been selected for NLD team and they played

their first game on Sunday at Northampton.

They beat East Midlands and lost to East

Counties by 2 points.

THE CLASS OF 2020—YEAR 11 LEAVERS ASSEMBLY

Year 10 and 11 Netball Success:

Well done to the year 10 and year 11 netball team who came runners up

in the County Netball tournament. They beat Joseph Whittaker 12 -1 and

unfortunately narrowly lost 3-4 to Selston School. All students

represented the school excellently and should be very proud of their

performance.

Well done all.

Nottinghamshire County Cup Finals at Nottingham Rugby Club. Our team lost by a try in the last seconds of the match to The Minster School. We are really proud of the boys who have all have worked extremely hard all year.

It is with sadness that we say goodbye to our Year 11 students in unexpected and challenging circumstances. They have worked

tirelessly to prepare for their exams and they have really shown us what fantastic futures await them. We welcomed the Class

of 2020 to a leaver’s assembly in the final week before full closure to have a celebration of their time with us. We trawled the

archives for some classic year 7 photos, lots of pictures from sporting events, a showcase of the amazing rugby team and some

values and funny awards at the end. The obligatory shirt signing took place and the students then left the hall with a guard of

honour from the staff before some food and more photos outside. It was a lovely afternoon and we promise to support all our

Year 11 students on to their next steps, including welcoming many back into our sixth form in the autumn.

SAFEGUARDING AND SUPPORT

ENERGY DRINKS—THE WARNINGS….

Week 6: Porsha B (Yr9), Kenzie E & Fiona W (Yr10), Emily P and Jack C

(Yr11) and Harrison L (P16)

Week 7: Connie T & Madeleine R 9Yr8), Robyn H (Yr9), Keeleigh B (Yr11)

and Jake HW (P16)

Week 8: Josh I (Yr7), Ashton G (Yr 9), Somma S (Yr10), Ellie S (Yr11),

Deepak K and Thomas C (P16)

INFORMATION CORNER COVID-19 SUPPORT

Since January, I have had the great pleasure of handing out the ‘Students of the week’ certificates. Staff are nominating

students in each year group weekly who display our core values of Ambition, Integrity, Endeavour, Resilience and Inclusivity

and this provides us with a fitting way to end the week on a positive and recognise those students who go the extra mile. So

congratulations for this half term go to:

Year 9 Options: Many thanks to all our families who attended the Academy in the final week to help your children choose their options for September 2020. The deadline has now passed so if you have any final returns, please email staff@brunts.evolvetrust.org – there will also be follow up calls this week for outstanding returns.

We received information with regards to Mental Health

services as many people are adapting to the daily changes

brought about by the Coronavirus. Please see advice below

particularly if you are concerned about your own mental

health or someone you care about.

Ongoing Support from the Mental Health Support Team for

Students - Mansfield and Ashfield:

Please ask those individuals/parents/carers who this may be

of help too, to contact CAMHS SPA on 0115 8542299 or via

the online portal https://

www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/camhs-self-referral

We had started to notice an increase in the number of

students arriving to school with energy drinks. These are

prohibited on site and are confiscated if seen. However, we

are trying to educate the students of the short and long term

risks associated with regular consumption of the liquids. The

poster opposite which was sent in to school says it all. Our

students can stay hydrated without needing these drinks.

Thank you in advance for your support.

During this time of uncertainty, we are fully committed at the

Academy to support our families in safeguarding our pupils.

We will be in regular touch with our families but please get in

touch with us via Weduc, the school staff email address, call

the Bramble Academy on 01623 635928 where the switch

board is based currently or COVID19@evolvetrust.org