Who will win? Entries are in for this year’s Playwrighting Competition. One again, several playwrights are brave enough to take the Director’s Chair to move their ideas from the page to the stage. These performances will take place on Friday 28th April in the Auden where the winning plays and productions will be announced. Judging from the range of styles and imaginative writing, it will be a truly dramatic event!
Julian Barnwell Academic Enrichment Talk
We welcomed Julian Barnwell for the academic enrichment talk to our Sixth Form pupils to illustrate the discovery with his brother Lincoln Barnwell in 2007 of the Royal warship, The Gloucester, which sank off the Norfolk coast in 1682. It was fascinating insight to the history of the time; the North Sea Survey; the archaeological find and to hear about the upcoming exhibition at the Castle Museum.
Creative Industry talks
Pupils from Gresham’s and visiting schools were treated to inspirational talks from leading lights in the creative industry.
Debra Hayward, British Film Producer with Monumental Pictures, talked about her career, her role and the huge number of possible careers paths in the Film & TV Industry.
Debbie-lee Pinching, RADA trained stage manager and theatre producer, gave a fascinating insight into her role in theatre and the huge variety of work and roles in the sector.
Paul Wilkins, a freelance creative consultant, gave a fascinating insight into styling, art direction and visual campaigns. Paul talked about his training and how he got into the industry.
A superb field of speakers, advice and encouragement to our pupil audience.
STEAM WEEK PUPIL WINNERS
Chloe-Leila G was joint winner at the STEAM Fair of the Lotus expansion time trail with a time of 2 minutes and 27 seconds. Chloe-Leila received her Lotus goodie bag for her win from the Headmaster in chapel.
F1 McLaren did a virtual Maths Challenge in STEAM Week which was organised through OG Kunz Chow, (W 2009 – 13) Aerodynamicist F1 McLaren. Three Sixth Form pupils got a superb result and were winners with the correct graph reading answer and won a F1 McLaren polo shirt presented by the Headmaster in chapel.
Music and Munch
February’s Music and Munch featured, as always, an eclectic mix of instrumental and vocal performances, combining popular music, classical hits, ragtime and musical theatre. A standout performance from Pullo W, who fully encapsulated his character Bill Sikes, complete with cockney accent, opened the concert. This was followed by equally amazing renditions of ‘What baking can do’ from Ruby S and ‘Both sides now’ from Naomi H-S. For the instrumental portion of the concert, there were two assured piano performances from Milan H and Rose T, a funky saxophone piece from Edie C, and to complete the set, a lovely violin duet from Evie M and Chloe-Leila G which demonstrated great musicality and listening. The next Music and Munch will be on Friday 3rd March at 1.15pm in Tig’s – all are welcome.
Choral Concert
There was a fantastic Choral Concert at the beginning of February. Schola Cantorum sang pieces to celebrate the Presentation of Christ in the Temple within an atmospherically lit Chapel. Highlights of the concert were Julius R’s two solo performances of movements from the Bach cantata ‘Ich habe genug’. A special mention must also go to Johnny D (soloist) and Jimmy T (organist) for their solo performances in Nunc Dimittis by Howells. Well done to all of our musicians who were involved.
Instrumental Concert
The Instrumental Concert was the instrumentalists’ opportunity to showcase what they have been rehearsing this term. There were performances from Concert Band, String Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble and Brass Ensemble, with all the musicians coming together at the end for a final Orchestra performance. The programme was varied, ranging from popular music arrangements to classical music.
What a wonderful two showcases of all our musicians. Thank you to everyone who supported these events and well done to all our musicians.
EPTA Piano Competition
On Saturday 4th February, the Music Department hosted the Norfolk region round of the annual EPTA Piano competition. EPTA, or the European Piano Teachers’ Association, was founded in 1978 and today has associations in almost every European Country. The aim of the organisation is to promote best practice and to raise the standard of piano teaching. The competition ran from 9.30am until after 6pm, with a range of classes from Elementary to Advanced to cater for students of all levels from around Norfolk, eagerly supported by parents and friends who came to watch. Under the adjudication of Jill Morton, students from each class were put through to the next round which takes place in Covent Garden in London on Sunday 5th March. Prep School pupils Santiago O, Year 5 and Nathanial G-B, Year 6 came out top in their class whilst at the Senior School, Rose T in Year 11 was put through in her Advanced Class. Well done to these pupils and for Hansen W, Year 5 and Milan H, Year 11 and Hannah B, Year 13 for taking part and playing so well and all receiving such good feedback. Good luck to our three winners in the next round!
Our VEX Robotics team secured the top 2 positions at the VEX Robotics Competition that took place in Sunderland on Wednesday 8th February. The pupils competed with and against 20 registered teams from all over the UK. The action-packed day required high school and sixth form students to execute the 2022-2023 VEX Robotics Competition game, Spin Up presented by the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation.
As regional champion recipients, the team has qualified for the National competition in Telford in March extending their journey as they seek to qualify and compete in the VEX Robotics World Championship in Texas USA.
Georgina B, Chloe-Leila G, Avis F, Gabriella H, Emily M and David K prepared for the tournament by working together to design, build and program a robot using VEX V5, that could quickly and efficiently solve specific challenges that come with playing the 2022-2023 VEX Robotics Competition game, Spin Up.
Each week, they applied what they’ve learned about STEAM in the classroom, to build these semi-autonomous machines. An equally important set of skills is learned through the competition — communication, project management, time management, and teamwork.
Robert Hazelwood, the team’s advisor (STEAM Coordinator) said, “I am extremely proud of this group of students, some have been developing their skills in VEX for over 2 years within the Dyson Building. This achievement is the reward for hours of extra-curricular commitment and vast amounts of resilience and teamwork. To achieve a top 10% position nationally is an achievement in itself. I hope they enjoy the national competition and who knows, we could be travelling to Texas for the World Championship!”
The VEX Robotics Competition team meets every week during GAP’s. The pupils learn about electronics, programming, mechanical systems, animation, 3D CAD, computer-aided machining, web design, and materials fabrication.
On Monday 6th February, Dr Louise Betts brought 17 Prep School pupils to the Dyson Building to build and fire some air powered rockets with Dr Taylor (Head of Chemistry). During this after school activity, the pupils all designed, built and decorated their own rocket before launching them. As it was dark, they attached glowsticks to the rockets before launching them across Chapel Lawn. The event was a great success and Dr Taylor is already looking forward to the next batch of Prep School pupils coming to build more rockets.
This rocket building activity will also form a new addition to the STEAM Outreach events, where pupils from over 25 local primary schools will spend an afternoon enjoying STEAM activities in the Dyson Building.
Congratulations to Teddy, Hugo, Beatrice and Santiago who beat off fierce competition and qualified for the Quiz Club National Science Championship finals!
For the last three weeks of the half term, pupils studying Biology in Years 10, 12 and 13 have been able to participate in some advanced Biotechnology practical work, courtesy of the AMGEN Biotechnology experience.
Various pieces of equipment have been borrowed from the John Innes Centre in Norwich, which has enabled the pupils to carry out some advanced genetics experiments which are usually only completed either in a university or research laboratory.
Year 12 have been learning about Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), the use of restriction enzymes to cut DNA and gel electrophoresis. They have taken a plasmid containing a specific gene (rfp protein from a species of sea anemone that causes red fluorescence) and used restriction enzymes to cut that piece of DNA from the plasmid. Using the same enzymes and a ligase the pupils have then taken another plasmid (containing an activator sequence for the gene) and inserted the removed rfp gene sequence into this plasmid. Following PCR to amplify the DNA obtained, the pupils then were able to carry out gel electrophoresis to confirm they had successfully created a new hybrid piece of DNA.
Year 13 were able to take this one step further. Learning about genetic engineering, they were able to take the transformed plasmid (containing the rfp gene and an antibiotic resistance gene) and insert that into bacteria to create genetically engineered microorganisms. Some bacteria will not have taken up the plasmid, so they were cultured on a gel with antibiotic so the bacteria that had the plasmid would survive and grow and as they had the fluorescence rfp protein, they were visible as pink colonies. A control group with no plasmid were grown to demonstrate the antibiotic was effective against those bacteria without the plasmid containing the resistance gene.
To confirm the plasmid had successfully been incorporated into the bacterial DNA, a sample of transformed bacteria were taken and PCR was used to amplify the DNA. The groups then carried out gel electrophoresis, comparing the bacterial DNA with the engineered plasmid. Two fragments the same size were found, indicating the transfer of the plasmid had been successful.
Some separate science classes in Year 10 were also able to experience some of these techniques, as they carried out a simple crime scene analysis exercise. Pupils learnt how to use micropipettes and used restriction enzymes to cut the DNA of 5 ‘suspects’ along with DNA found at the ‘crime scene’. They then carried out gel electrophoresis to analyse the different samples and determine whose DNA was found at the crime scene. In the photo below, the DNA from the crime scene is on the right hand well, and the 5 suspects are the wells to the left. Can you work out whose DNA it was?
These experiments have given our pupils a chance to carry out advanced practical work and experience the sort of tasks that will be carried out in a genetics laboratory in a university or research institute. Thanks to Phil Smith of the Teacher Scientist Network and John Innes Centre for lending the school the equipment that has enabled the experiments to be carried out.
Elastic Band have been practising hard during their Tuesday morning sessions. Beginner players are always welcome!
Year 7 and 8 mountain biking club enjoyed a trip out to Letheringsett.
On Safer Internet Day, which took place on February 7th, The Senior Digital Leaders visited houses to give talks and raise awareness of their role in shaping Digital Policy and Online Safety in the school, with the aim of helping pupils to reach out.
They campaigned to raise awareness for this year’s Safer Internet Day theme: “Want to talk about it? Making space for conversations about life online.” They created a tutor discussion and competition Kahoot activity.
The Digital Leaders also gave a talk in Chapel to raise awareness of the benefits and dangers of life online, and that it is safe to talk about it. Their campaign was to highlight the 25% of British people who don’t feel comfortable talking about their life online, which they represented with blue tongue staining lollipops.
