Stonewall Bronze Champions

Since December 2016, Birchwood High School has been a Stonewall School Champion. Stonewall is Britain’s leading LGBT+ charity, campaigning for the equality of lesbian, gay, bi and trans people. Belonging to the programme demonstrates our school’s commitment to tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HBT) bullying and celebrating difference and diversity in education. This has seen Birchwood staff and students start an equality group, present assemblies to raise awareness, build links with other schools in our community and work to ensure that acceptance without exception is a central part of school life. Last week was the culmination of a lot of hard work when Birchwood received the news that we had been granted the Stonewall School Champion Bronze award. As a nationally recognised award, we can all be very proud of what has been achieved to date, working and learning in a school where difference and diversity is respected and celebrated. The work now begins towards gaining Silver status in the new year.


Christmas Fayre

The PSFA would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported our first ever Christmas Fayre. Following on from our request for tombola prizes we were overwhelmed by the generosity of staff, students and parents. The PSFA team were helped on the day by some marvellous volunteers and we couldn’t have done it without their support! The event was really well attended, there was a lovely Christmas atmosphere and we’ve had some great feedback from stallholders. The event raised approximately £1200 and we will be asking staff and students for project ideas to put the funds towards.


District Cross Country

Year 9 Boys win at District Cross Country

Well done to Caleb for winning the Year 9 Boys District Cross Country, which was held at Grange Paddocks recently.


Globe Theatre

Year 11 Globe Trip

Year 11 visited the Globe Theatre in London to enhance their knowledge of William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, which they are studying in class.
The day started off with a tour of the Globe, giving them key contextual knowledge to aid the students with forming top-level English responses. The students were then led off to various workshops. The aim was to enhance their knowledge of particular scenes, help them to form their own interpretations based on the themes and techniques used within the scene and also with the understanding of relationships between characters through role play and acting, such as Lord Capulet and Juliet.


Le Touquet

Le Touquet 2018

Year 9, recently returned from their fantastic trip to Le Touquet. During the week the students immersed themselves in French culture, food and history. They had fun cooking traditional bread in wood fired ovens at an artisan Boulangerie and tried snails after visiting an organic snail farm. Other activities the students tried included Opalaventure high ropes course and exploring the caves at Arras where soldiers stored food and lived in during WWII. Students said they felt it had been the best trip they had been on.


Christmas Raffle

Happy faces all round!

On Wednesday the Cafe held its annual Christmas Raffle and these were the lucky winners.

 


Christmas Tree Ornament Workshop

Christmas Tree Ornament Workshop

The Art Department are raising funds for the PSFA by holding a Christmas tree ornament workshop in C23 on the following lunchtimes in December:

  • Monday 3 December
  • Monday 10 December
  • Monday 17 December
  • Wednesday 12 December
  • Wednesday 19 December

The workshop is open to all students and cost £1.00 per student.


Carols by Candlelight

Carols by Candlelight

This years Carols by Candlelight takes place on Thursday 13 December, 7.00pm at St Michael's Church, Windhill, Bishop's Stortford. Tickets are FREE and available from the Finance Office. Mince pies and non alcoholic mulled wine will be served. There will be a collection in aid of St Michael's Church.


Fundraising

First major House fundraiser of the year

The whole school took part in our first major fundraiser of the year. Students came into school wearing non uniform and donated £1.00. Staff and students generously donated cakes for our cake sale. Many Sixth formers and staff dressed up in Halloween costumes giving the whole event a spooky atmosphere.

Our competitions included:

  • All forms taking part in a carve a pumpkin competition and the winners were 8CLE.
  • Brady Payne in 11CCO won “Guess the sweets in the jar” competition.
  • 12THS won the Halloween quiz and finally the Best Dressed member of staff went to Mrs Cuddington.

The staff raffle winners were:-

  • Luxury Darceys Candle Winter Bundle – Mrs Byers
  • Gift Voucher for Rosey Lea Cream tea for 2 people – Miss Morrison
  • Voucher for Handsome and Gorgeous in Bishop’s Stortford – Mrs Cox
  • Voucher for Heroes' Diner – Dr Allen
  • Voucher for Coach and Horses in Thorley – Mrs Barnard
  • Bath Bomb Collection from Heavenly Bubbles – Mrs Young.

We raised a massive £1503.97 for our charities Essex and Herts Air Ambulance, International Ambassador Programme, Sparkle Malawi and The Fire Fighters Charity.


Book Review

Book Reviews of the Month

Aguero by Matt and Tom Oldfield
Aguero is the tale of the boy who would go on to re-write football history. His 94th minute goal for Manchester City on the final day of the 2011/2012 season was the most electric moment in Premier League history. This is the story of how a small boy from Argentina became the biggest hero of all.

Sky Song by Abi Elphinstone
This is a story about an eagle huntress, an inventor and an organ made of icicles. But it is also a story about belonging, even at the very edges of the world.

All the Things that could go Wrong by Stewart Foster
Dan is angry. Nothing has been the same since his big brother left and he’s taking it out on the nearest and weakest target: Alex. Alex is struggling. His OCD makes it hard to leave the house, especially when Dan and his gang are waiting for him at school. Forced together during the summer holidays – what could possibly go wrong?

...and one for the parents:
How to Stop Time by Matt Haig
Tom Hazard has a dangerous secret. He may look like an ordinary 41-year-old history teacher but he has been alive for centuries. As long as he keeps changing his identity he can stay one step ahead of his past… The only thing he must not do is fall in love.