The Year 9 Physics ‘Big Quiz’, which took place in the Great Hall of Birmingham University, an expansive room that boasts a wooden floor and the motto and crest of the University emblazoned in the roof, was an engaging and interactive event and one that I would gladly participate in again. The quiz had three multiple-choice sections where we had to choose a, b, c or d which each corresponded to an answer on the board, and  we also had three written answer rounds which total up to six rounds.  There were five regular rounds covering the main topic of Physics, and a specialist round concerning Nobel prize winners in Physics.  At the start of the day – around 10.15 – we had a word search to complete between our groups. Although we worked quickly and effectively, we only came second and therefore did not win the spot prizes (a hotwires set for each of the members in the winning team). After we had finished the wordsearch, there was a refreshment break where we were each handed a chocolate bar and a drink. There was also a short speech from Dr. David Evans about the quiz rules.  At 10.45, we completed rounds 1 to 3, with each round focusing on a different topic in Physics. After the first three rounds we had half an hour for lunch which was swiftly followed by a keynote lecture from Dr. David Evans who is one the UKs leading scientists working on the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. The lecture focused on telling us about how a man called Peter Higgs thought of the question: “What is mass?” Although most of us associate mass with weight, they are two very different things. The lecture informed us of this and told us how a hypothetical, invisible field resides over everything and when a particle passes through that field it creates a dip, the more mass the particle has got the more of a dip it has. Dr. Evans and his team are on a search for the Higgs’ Boson which would prove Peter Higgs’ theory correct, but so far their attempts have failed to discover anything and the hypothetical particle is still proving itself to be elusive.  After the lecture we completed three more rounds and the prize giving ceremony finally arrived. Although we did not come in the top 3 we still did considerably well when you take into account the fact that we came 13th out of over 90 schools. So, overall, it was a very enjoyable day and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is lucky enough to be offered a place.

Zeshan, Year 9

This year’s Christmas charity event will be run by members of 13 Newton. The decision was made to run a Shoebox Appeal through The Rotary Shoebox Scheme.

The Rotary Shoebox Scheme sends shoeboxes filled with various gifts throughout the year to many different countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Toys are especially useful all year round for birthday presents in the orphanages, homes and hospitals. All age groups, including teenagers, have welcomed the boxes. They have delivered to children and teenagers in orphanages, hospitals and also to street kids, to adults in TB and AIDS hospitals, to disadvantaged families, to women’s refuges and to older folk in hostels with no supporting families. Shoebox gifts have been delivered to Belarus, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Albania, Croatia, Romania and Kosovo.

We are aiming to have all shoeboxes filled by Wednesday 14th December. All pupils across the years have been encouraged to bring in any of the following:

• Toys such as ‘Matchbox’ type toy cars, small bouncy balls, jigsaws, fluffy toys, dolls, colouring books, felt tip pens, Lego, yoyo’s, bubble blow, etc.
• Gifts for teenagers: make-up, toiletries, sportswear, scarf, gloves, hat, writing materials, deodorants, comb, mirror, football memorabilia, etc
• Household Goods such as hand soap, toothpaste and brushes, envelopes, letter paper, biro pens, etc.
• Above all, the gifts should be either unused or in a very good condition, remembering that the recipient will be opening the box in eager anticipation and, especially with the toys for the children, quite possibly the first real gifts they have received for as very long time.
• NO FOOD PLEASE!

Additionally, 13 Newton will be running a Christmas Raffle on Friday 9th December to raise funds for shipment of the boxes, which will take place during AM registration and at break and lunchtime in the cafeteria. Tickets are 20p each.

*The first prize will be a non-uniform day for the winner and their form on the last day of term before the Christmas holidays.

*The second prize will be a big box of chocolate.

The winners will be announced on Monday 12th December.

A big thank you to those who have brought in gifts for the appeal.

For more information about the Rotary Shoebox Scheme and their work, please visit: www.rotaryshoebox.org/

Ms Forth and Mr Kleczkowski

 School Term starts on Monday 5th September 2011.

Year 7 should arrive at 8.35am.

Year 12  should arrive at 10am.

Years 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13 shoud arrive at 11am.

All years will finish at 2.55pm.

Handsworth Grammar School will be having a non-uniform day

In aid of the East African Crisis

on

Tuesday 19th July, 2011

Staff and Students are asked to donate £2 to come in non-uniform