Somervale School students have been finding out all about fair trade and how it can benefit developing countries. The special curriculum day was organised by the Geography department in the school in conjunction with Bath Spa University student teachers. Activities included role play games, designing adverts and presenting research findings to the rest of the year group. “Fair trade workers receive fair payment for their goods – profits can then be reinvested in the business or in the community,” said Head of Geography Martyn Webb. “The students learned a lot on the day including about how to be more ethically minded consumers. It was a hugely successful day and we hope to do more like these with Bath Spa in the future.”
Archive for February, 2008
Bath and North East Somerset Indoor Athletics Champions
Published February 26, 2008 Uncategorized Closed
Somervale students are celebrating becoming the Bath and North East Somerset indoor athletics champions. The school took two teams of boys from Year 7 and Year 8, with eight boys in each team. The competition involved every member of the team in throwing, jumping and running events. Year 7 boys came second, and the Year 8 boys first, which guaranteed Somervale the overall team title. “An excellent result for the boys who performed exceptionally well. It is a well deserved achievement for their dedication and sportsmanship,” said PE teacher Mr Jeff Dent.
On Tuesday
5th February 2008, the Year 10 girls’ football team went to Reading’s John Madejski Academy for the sixth round of the ESFA National Cup. The team turned up expecting a challenge to try to get through to the next round. The John Madejski Academy was a good side with many talented players, and Somervale nearly conceded a goal in the first few minutes. Thanks to a great effort from Vicky Vine, and some good play up the line from Kelly and Marie, Somervale turned it around and the first goal was scored by Lauren Hopson. Later in the game more goals were scored, with a further 3 from Lauren, a hat trick from Keira Minall, and goals from Molly Pratt, Davina Neill and Marie Davis taking Somervale to a 0 -10 win. The player of the match was Jade Woodbury, with an outstanding all-round performance. This result takes the team into the last 32 schools in the country, with the next game to be played at home against Buckler’s Mead in Yeovil on Tuesday 26th February.
Some Year 7 pupils at Somervale School became pinball wizards on Monday. Maths students from Bath Spa University worked with them on some pinball problems. As the ball moves through the maze, how many bounces will there be? Some other pupils were looking at points around a circle to find out how many lines, triangles and quadrilaterals could be drawn. Strangely the results from these two problems are very similar and the pupils found out about Pascal’s Triangle.
The students from Bath Spa are currently studying for their Secondary Mathematics PGCEs. “Somervale School is an excellent school for trainees to learn the art of teaching”, said the student’s course leader. Pupils were very responsive explaining their mathematical ideas to the students. Mathematics teachers supervised the sessions and made sure that all the pupils gained from the experience. The Head of Department, Mr Cox, commented that the Maths department enjoys working with the University and hoped to do more in the future.
A local student has found TV fame after winning a Channel 4 competition. Somervale School student Nik Jovcic-Sas has made a 5 minute programme in the channel’s ‘Raw Cuts’ series. It will be broadcast at 7.55pm on Thursday 14th February straight after the Channel 4 News.
Nik entered a Channel 4 competition last year which involved him making a film about his life. He got through to the last eight and was invited to the studios in London to make a short film which was placed on the internet. Channel 4 bosses were so impressed that they invited Nik back to make a longer version, which was premiered in London last week.
Nik said, “It was a bit surreal, but one of the best experiences of my life”.
The film explores how he has come to terms with his Eastern European ethnic identity in the West Country.
The experience has opened doors for Nik and he hopes to continue working with Channel 4, with the possibility of writing for ‘Skins’ and his film being shown at international film festivals.
