On the 20^th November, 6 Year 13 students and 5 Year 12 students, accompanied by Mr Jones, visited Queen Elizabeth Hospital where we were treated to a variety of presentations on how Physics is used in the world of Medicine. These presentations covered how computing, science and engineering degrees are useful and can be a pathway to a job working within a hospital. Included was a video produced for young patients with tumours, explaining how masks and vacuum packs are used during scans; there were also talks from current apprentices taking a degree sponsored by the local NHS trust.

One notable talk was by a Radiologist who gave a valuable insight to the treatment of cancer patients and the machines which are used to destroy tumours.  We were also informed about how mechanical engineers play a pivotal role in the maintenance of the equipment and work in collaboration with the other physicists to help save patients’ lives.

We also had a tour of one of the wards of the hospital and were shown the ‘Cyber Knife Unit’, the place where patients are treated with precisely targeted radiation to destroy tumours.  Here we explored the design and specifications needed to house the equipment and learnt how the risks to both staff and patients alike due to radiation are minimised.

In short, it was a highly valuable visit for everyone involved and showed many of us that there is a very wide scope of professions should we pursue a degree in the sciences.  Many thanks are due to Dr Geoff Heyes at the QE for organising our visit.

Ibrahim Kabir and Brandon Masih

This week we have sent 3 cheques to Charities we have supported this term:

A cheque for £2,250 was sent to The British Heart Foundation as a result of the fantastic fundraising efforts by Year 7 with their annual sponsored walk.

A cheque for £2,650 was sent to Children in Need as a result of a variety of fundraising activities by our students and staff such as the proceeds from the whole school non-uniform day, the Sixth Form food sales, the Key Stage 3 Football Tournament and Year 9 joining in with the BBC Countryfile Ramble.

A cheque for £1000 was sent to support the Birmingham Homeless Christmas Meal.

The above is a fantastic effort by our school community and we thank everyone for their support and hard work.

On Monday we will launch our annual Foodbank campaign in support of the Trussell Trust, Birmingham. It is a sad fact that in 2018 the numbers of people needing to use foodbanks and the numbers of people who are homeless have increased as reported on the news only today.

Thank you for your support.

Every day people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income. Trussell Trust Foodbanks provide a minimum of three days’ emergency food and support to people experiencing crisis in the UK and specifically in Birmingham.

Over 13 million people live below the poverty line in the UK.

Foodbanks feed some 1,200,000 people nationwide. Of those helped, approximately 500,000 are children.

At HGS we can do something to help, if every student in the school brings in just one item we will be able to donate more than a 1,000 items to the Trussell Trust’s FoodBank in Birmingham.

Tins and packets are the best items to donate. Please see the list below for ideas about what to donate.

We will be collecting items as above from Monday 26th November 2018 until Thursday 20th December 2018.

Please bring your donations to your Form Tutor or to Ms Brown in Room 3.  Please give as generously as you can.

We can make a real difference and be a force for good by working together to help other people who are less fortunate than ourselves.

Thank you.

The u’14s basketball team got off to a winning start in the first game of the new season on Tuesday 13th November in the North Birmingham League.

A decisive 28 – 8 win against local rivals St John Wall Catholic school gave our boys the best possible start to the basketball league campaign.

Taylor Bewry (9A) was the star performer, scoring a number of baskets in the team made up of year 9 and year 8 pupils.

Chabota Changula (9G) making his school team debut also scored three baskets, and special praise must go to the year 8 pupils who did so well including Tim Lowman (8G), Uwa Osagie (8H) and Aman Salan (8W) who also scored on his debut for the team.

We look forward to an enjoyable season.

Mr Conway

If you are in years 9, 10, or 12 and interested in doing your Duke of Edinburgh award, please come to the meeting on Tuesday 20th November at 3.15 in Big School.