TMBS News October 2022

Year 9s have just started their new block of learning; Block 23: Area and Circumference. To start the block, they’ve been busy learning about where we can use circles in everyday jobs, whilst also discovering pi through everyday circular objects. Thank you to Mr Palmer for saving us the bean tins!

To find out more about our Key Stage 3 Scheme of Work check out our curriculum on the school website: https://www.tmbs.leics.sch.uk/Curriculum/Maths/

Open Evening and our Competition

We loved opening up our doors to prospective students in year 5 and 6. We loved the engagement with our lowest number competition: Who will have written down the lowest unique positive whole number of the evening? Well, the lowest unique positive number written down on Open Evening was… …ONE!!!

Our fabulous winner was from Barlestone Primary who bagged a calculator and a box of jelly babies! Well done.

Also, thank you to our fantastic Year 8 helpers during the evening!!

Arthur climbs to success

I have been rock climbing since I was 6 years old and loved it from the moment I started.

Last year I climbed in the Youth Climbing Series and got to the National final in Southampton. It was really exciting as it was my first National competition. I did so well that in December last year I was picked by Team GB to be on their development team.

I have to compete in Bouldering ; this is climbing low height problems with no harness or ropes over big mats to catch your falls, and Rope climbing, known as lead sport climbing. This is climbing high climbs clipping the lead rope in as you go... I love this but the falls are big! You need an experienced belayer on the other end of your rope so you don’t hit the floor.

This year I have won the “My Climbing Series” for my age category, this was a combination of 4 boulder competitions and 4 rope climbing competitions. I have also climbed for the first time in all the National competitions; Bouldering and Rope. I had to compete in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

I came 3rd overall in the “All Nations Bouldering Series” and I am so proud of myself as I came 1st in the “All Nations Rope Climbing Series” which makes me a National Champion in my age category.

I have to train extremely hard to climb at this level, I train mostly in Sheffield with my GB Coach and love to climb outside in Wales and Derbyshire. During Lockdown my Mum and Step Dad built me an awesome bouldering room so I could continue to train with my coach over zoom.

I’m looking forward to next year working with Team GB and hope to compete in a few International competitions.

Not your usual sleepover!

Year 7 student, Archie has been sleeping in a small tent in the back garden since June! Some nights he has even slept in the open using just a bivvy bag. He's been out there in thunderstorms and is now wrapping up warm as the nights are getting cooler. He is aiming to complete a whole year! Archie is raising funds for the DEC Pakistan floods appeal and has so far managed to raise £620. Considering his target was £100, he's doing very well. If anyone would like to support Archie in his efforts, the link to his Just Giving page is below. Well done Archie, keep going!

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/archiesbigsleepout?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=archiesbigsleepout&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_term=6463dc08beb04eb3940298aa4d28ac8e&fbclid=IwAR3uaGvMRTwt619PoiXtPKBuT8X3t8RhdwTIbNIW2Db307apZGnlRnw65UY

Learning Garden is Blooming Great!

Last term Mrs Fairbrother entered the school Learning Garden into a competition, which she thought was a small competition but it turns out it was for the East Midlands in Bloom best school garden! Here is the feedback received from the judges:

It was a pleasure to visit your delightful garden area set just off the main school corridor. In just one growing season you have created a wonderful serene space where pupils and staff can pause and relax. You have a small vegetable area and wildlife pond, bird feeders and boxes. You have plans to expand this area and would like to develop a wildflower area in the grounds and make the space a part of curriculum lessons in the future. It was a pleasure to meet the staff (Mrs Fairbrother, Mrs Wright and Mrs Holmes) and some of the pupils who have been involved in developing this formerly neglected courtyard space into a haven of tranquility. Work started during lockdown and the calming atmosphere of the garden was appreciated by some pupils who had to be at school while classmates were being homeschooled and also benefits pupils who have experienced loss or difficulties. This challenging project was initiated by Mrs Fairbrother who has no previous gardening experience, but knowledgeable advice has been offered by Bosworth in Bloom group and some of the pupils who already enjoy growing at home. Pupils can drop into the garden during breaks or free time and I see evidence of using the space for playing and practising music, chatting and horticultural activities such as propagating plants by dividing and watering. Year 7 pupils currently have a timetabled wellbeing session which can take place in the garden, but all other garden activities are currently ad hoc. The small vegetable area has healthy looking crops and herbs and an impressive collection of tomatoes in a good size greenhouse. The planting is either pre-existing shrubs or donations and so again has not been planned. The garden space can be used in art, creative writing, and science - in fact almost every subject as well as for supportive chats/counselling in a neutral space. My suggestion is asking for financial support from parents who are often very keen to support environmentally friendly projects. You would need to manage this carefully but a specific request e.g. a camera for bird boxes would be ideal. Your garden space is new but there are several areas within the school grounds ideal for wild flower meadows. The school grounds are large and border woodland so installing bird or bat boxes and insect hotels would be a worthwhile project. This garden is still very much in development but what you have achieved already is commendable, and I feel sure that with more experience, time and planning it could easily be more impressive.

The garden received a Bronze Award, which was totally unexpected and a wonderful surprise. Mrs Fairbrother said "I'm so pleased and proud of our amazing students", and gave a big thanks to Mrs Wright, Mrs Jones, Mr Hazell and Mr Pendleton. Without their help, the Learning Garden would not be what it is.

#Hello Yellow

On 10th October TMBS staff and students supported the World Mental Health Day #Hello Yellow. Students were encouraged to think about theirs and others' mental wellbeing and were set the following challenge: #Togetherwecan

• Show kindness and tolerance to everyone.
• Make time for others
• Make time for yourself
• Ask if someone is ok if you think they might not be
• Be brave enough to say “I’m not ok” and talk to someone

Half Term Rugby Camps

Leicester Tigers are putting on half term rugby camps, hosted by SMB – Brooksby Campus (LE14 2LJ). The camps cater for boys and girls of all rugby abilities aged 6-16 – with experienced community coaches able to provide an excellent introduction to the sport or develop on key rugby skills.

• CORE camp (u9-13s) - run over 4 days, we begin to introduce young players to the contact-based games and technical skill breakdowns within managed sessions.
• DEVELOPMENT camp (u14s-u16s) – providing a more focused offering to the older age groups and working with senior community coaches, sessions focus on developing core rugby skills, movement patterns and game-based scenarios.
• GIRLS ONLY camp (u12s-u16s) – catering to all levels of experience and ability, girls camps consist of two full days focusing on the development of core rugby skills. Girls will get the chance to work with experienced community coaches and enjoy an unforgettable experience.

Please see the poster below for contact details.

Girls Table Tennis opportunity

George Ward table tennis club (Barwell) are running girls only coaching sessions. Each session is with a professional coach and bats and equipment are provided.

The sessions start on 27th October, 5:45-7pm and cost just £2.50 per session.

If anyone is interested please email Mike Holt on mikeholt1@btinternet.com or see a member of PE staff.

Cricket winter coaching programme

Following the successful running of last year’s winter coaching programme, Leicestershire County Cricket Club will once again be running a winter coaching programme this coming winter. The Running Foxes Winter Coaching Programme is designed to offer boys and girls across Leicestershire and Rutland 18-weeks of coaching to help fulfil their individual potential by offering a winter programme that complements their club cricket. The programme involves weekly hard ball cricket sessions at training centres across the county for U11, U13, U15 and U19 age groups and will run across the winter from November 2022– March 2023. The aim of the winter programme is to provide coaching to players of all abilities throughout the winter and allow them to perform more consistently by having set targets based upon Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) deemed appropriate for each age group. More information about the programme, the process and costs are included in the information sheet pictured below.