News
Planting Seeds for the Future!
Over the last few weeks a group of Year 8 students have been working with Mr Hubbard to plan and develop an area of garden in the new build.
They have researched the types of plants and flowers most suited to the location of the flower border and are now looking forward to seeing the plants bloom when they move into the Academy.
Samba Workshop
The Performing Arts department has been busy sharing their musical talents with Year 5 students at Goldenhill Primary School this week.
On Wednesday 22nd May, Mr Johnson and a talented team of Academy students spent an entire day demonstrating and practising on Samba equipment with the primary school children in preparation for a final performance.
The Academy students were not only fantastic performers, but they were excellent teachers who taught the necessary musical skills to primary students, demonstrating how to perform as a Samba band.
At the end of the session ten brave primary students were selected to perform in front of the entire school and the performance was electric. All students (and teachers) were thrilled, and were asking to do the same again tomorrow!
Well done to all those involved, it was a truly fantastic day.
Primary Transition
Over the last few weeks the Academy has played host to Year 5 students from our partner primary schools in the area. Visiting primaries have included Packmoor; Dove Bank; Thursfield; Mill Hill; Whitfield Valley; Moor Park; Holden Lane; Ball Green; Goldenhill and the Star Academy.
Each school has had a tailored experience to include Food Technology, in which they designed and made danish pastries, glass making, felt making, health related fitness and music.
Students from each school also had the opportunity to play table tennis, after enjoying a lovely picnic outside in the quad.
Mill Hill Primary School students taking part in team sport activities during their visit on Tuesday 14th May.
Award for Academy Travel Plan
Ormiston Horizon Academy is the first secondary school in Stoke-on-Trent to be awarded a Bronze Certificate by Modeshift Stars for our contribution towards sustainable travel.
The Academy Travel Plan details activities and events run to support both students and staff in making healthy choices whilst, at the same time, helping to reduce congestion around the Academy.
Our investment in a secure shelter for bicycles and scooters has encouraged more students to cycle to and from the Academy. Many students have also participated in safety awareness sessions during Curriculum Enrichment Days, including Bikeability and a visit from the CRASH team.
Modeshift Stars provides a national framework for the implementation of sustainable and active travel activities and is the only national accreditation scheme for rewarding sustainable academy travel plans.
We are now aiming for the next level of the award as we move into our new building in September.
2013 County Cup Champions
Congratulations to all of the Under 15 boys basketball team who won the 2013 County Cup final last night.
The Horizon Academy team beat Sir Graham Balfour High School 25-24 in what was a close and very exciting match. A last second block from Jack Briggs 10CFJa was the difference in the end.
The boys were excellent throughout and deserved the win.
Aiming High
Twenty-three Year 11 students set their sights high last week with a two day residential visit to Stanley Head.
Whilst most students kept their feet firmly on the ground studying for their GCSEs, there was still time to experience the new high wire tree top challenge.
Students had to overcome a series of obstacles on a circuit over 30ft high and finish with a parachute jump from the climbing tower.
Zac Davenport 11NKHp, one of the first to finish recalls “an exhilarating experience and that was just the lessons, the high wire was a bit scary but once you got used to it, it was great fun.”
Y9 Hospitality Visit
On Friday 3rd May Year 9 Hospitality and Catering students sampled a wide variety of foods during a visit to the Trafford Centre.
Kick starting with a tour of the Krispy Kreme Doughnut factory, students enjoyed complimentary doughnuts and juice before visiting the hospitality suite of the Trafford Centre.
Lunch was served at Chao Baby, where Thai food was on the menu, following which the group visited GBK (Gourmet Burger Kitchen) to look at styles of service, condiments and menus.
Students later visited the food hall at Selfridges where they were invited to taste test a variety of products from their stalls.
Students took many photographs to help with design ideas for their afternoon tea task.
Salters Chemistry Festival
On Friday 26th April twelve Academy students attended the ‘Salters Chemistry Festival’ at Keele University.
The day included a variety of activities including paper making, testing and cleaning water, model molecules and investigating solar panels.
Everyone had a great day, especially Jake Blunt 7LATp who secured a prize for the Academy by impressing the university staff with his excellent questions.
Routes into Language
A group of Modern Foreign Language students from Year 8 visited Keele University on Thursday 25th April to experience their annual ‘Routes Into Languages’ event.
Students took part in taster sessions of various languages including German, Lithuanian, Chinese, Arabic and Italian.
During the day there was also a guided tour of the university grounds, including a visit to the stables where the ghost of Mrs Sneyd, the handless woman, is alleged to haunt!
All students thoroughly enjoyed their visit and many of them have since expressed an interest in attending Keele University.
Impossible Teapots
The ‘Fired Up Stoke’ project is now in full swing. As one of four secondary schools in the area taking part, the Academy’s Year 10 GCSE students are currently working with local artist Alison Howell making art works with clay. Once finished these will be exhibited during the British Ceramic Biennial 2013.
On Friday 26th April students assembled pieces based on the theme ‘impossible teapots’. Here are a few pictures of the day and the work so far:
