The Sports Centre is now open for membership!

See Page 6 for more information!

The

MFG February

2013

Girls are Shooting Stars!Our Under-13 girls’ football

team progressed to the quarter finals of the English Cup last week with a 5-0 win against Kepier School from Sunderland. They are now in the final 8 teams in the whole country. We have never had a team progress this far before. Kepier hadn’t conceded a goal in their run to the last 16, but our desire and work rate overwhelmed them.

The team players are Georgia Ibbeson, Alice Stephenson, Evie Snee, Olivier Tetley, Bailey Kane, Alex Beevers, Sophie Hoyle, Emily Kirby, Becky Woollin, Amber Beck, Courtney Benson, Jasmine Middleton and Charlotte Ridge.

As well as this amazing achievement, other football teams have been very busy. The U12 girls are Spen Valley 5-aside winners and the U13 girls were crowned as Huddersfield 6-aside winners.

Both these teams are competing in Yorkshire finals this month.

Having won the Spen Valley 5-aside competition, the Year 7 girls won the West Yorkshire 5-aside tournament on 28th January beating Temple Moor in the

final 4-0. They won all five games and didn’t concede a goal in either tournament. They now represent West Yorkshire in the northern England finals.

The winning Under 13 Girls’ Football Team

The Latest from The Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form

Interactive Learning with iPads

Recently The MFG has taken delivery of three sets of ten Apple iPads. These can be used in lessons to learn specific skills, investigate and learn in a kinaesthetic way.

Most students say that they learn best by touch and by moving things around so these directly impact on their learning style.

In future newsletters we will highlight the various subjects the iPads have been used in, and how they are improving learning.

The photo to the right shows a Year 7 Mathematics lesson where students were investigating shapes using Geoboard, an app which students can use to create shapes and work together to learn about properties of shape like congruence, similarity and symmetry. The teachers noticed that the engagement of students was excellent, and due to the touch nature of the iPads, the pace of learning was dramatically increased.

As well has the hundreds of thousands of apps written for iPad, they are being used in Geography and IS to support collaborative research. Teachers have found that iPads dramatically increase the engagement, pace and teamwork which can take place in a lesson. Students like the fact they’re not waiting for a PC or laptop to boot up then logon! The iPads become a tool in the lesson, not a distraction, reflecting real-life, relevant use of technology.

We look forward to developing the use of this amazing technology across the Academy.

“The iPads are fast, neat on a desk. Year 9 researched landslides and were so excited showing each other their video clips.”Geography Teacher

“Students being able to manipulate shapes themselves and discuss their properties enables much faster learning to take place.”Mathematics Teacher

Anti-bullying week

The MFG held an Anti-Bullying Week during November 2012 to coincide with the National Bullying week to raise awareness of bullying in different areas of life.

Many activities in school were planned leading up to the week which helped students understand the effects of bullying, and what to do if they feel they are being bullied or have other concerns. These activities included making a poster in tutorial and signing up to an anti-bullying pledge that nationally people are being asked to make to eradicate bullying in the workplace or at home. Of course in today’s technological world, bullying takes on a whole new dimension!

Years 7-10 had assemblies which included examples of Olympians who had suffered bullying, in recent times this included Tom Daley.

Each student received a laminated information card designed in-house, giving details of who to contact in the event of bullying, cyber-bullying, texting, etc. (for example Childline).

Students were involved in special lessons in Integrated Studies and English where they looked at poetry linked to the affects of bullying.

To make the focus of the week visible outside the classroom, displays around school showing that bullying can come from many areas including verbally, through technology whether via the internet or mobile phone or body language etc.

The students’ attitudes were very mature during the week and they benefited from frank discussions on the issues.

Goodbye to Issy

Issy Moore in Year 8 has been accepted into Elmhurst School For Dance in Birmingham to study ballet dance. Issy has been offered a full 5 year scholarship at £30,000 a year by the Government. She will start at Elmhurst after the February half-term. Issy will be boarding at the school and will take part in numerous ballet classes each day.

Issy has attended the Katie Philpott School Of Dance since the age of 2, developing her skills and performing in many shows and performances. In September 2012, Issy was offered a place for weekend classes at the Yorkshire Ballet Scholarship Centre.

Students in Year 8 wish Issy lots of luck in her new adventure!

Keep in touch with The MFGRemember, you can keep in touch with The MFG using a variety of different methods:

Our web sites:

• www.themfg.co.uk - the main Academy web site• www.thinkfutures.net - our world class careers portal• www.themfgsportscentre.com - information and booking for the new

MFG Sports Centre

Twitter (age 13 or over only):

• @mirfieldfree - news and information from The MFG• @thinkfutures - up-to-date careers information • @mfgpe - latest results and fixture information from the PE

department

You don’t need a Twitter account to follow us on Twitter. Text FOLLOW mirfieldfree to 86444 and you get a text every time we tweet. You will be charged at the same rate as receiving a text from someone you know. Use OFF, STOP or LEAVE to unfollow.

Facebook (age 13 or over only):

• facebook.com/mirfieldfree

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Presentation

The following 9 students received their Duke Of Edinburgh's Bronze award at a ceremony at Huddersfield Town Hall on Tuesday 22nd January along with participants from other schools and award groups:

Fergus Barron, Rebecca Rogers, Ellie Wright, Francesca Barron, Leah Pheasey, Safaa Naeem, Emma Douglas, George Spencer, Harry Brown.

 Rebecca also received her Silver Award. The following 4 were unable to attend: Cat Pinder

and Emma Cox (Bronze,) Ed Parkin and Will Banyard (Silver.)

 They had all completed expeditions locally, in the

Yorkshire Dales or in Derbyshire. These required 1 or 2

nights camping with 2 or 3 days walking, carrying all equipment and showing self-sufficiency in navigation, campcraft and planning. They had to work together as teams and cope with whatever the weather threw at them. They also completed varied activities in the Volunteering, Skills and Physical sections, showing enthusiasm and commitment and giving hours of their time. Some completed the award within a year and some took four, but we are very proud of them all!

Thank you!

A big thanks to Mirfield fabric mill John Cotton who recently donated dozens of rolls of fabric for use in our textiles department.

Dates for you diary are on the

last page!

The MFG Careers Fair is on 12th February - don’t miss it!

See above for more details.

Jake’s Cycling is World Class!

Jake Womersley in Year 12 has studied at The MFG for the past 6 years and during this time he has had many achievements in cycling resulting from his phenomenal dedication to his training in his pursuit of excellence.

A recent success included Jake representing the Great Britain Cyclo Cross Junior Team (16-18 yr olds) in the European

Championships in November which were held in Ipswich. On another interesting note, his Auntie was also selected to represent Great Britain Elite Women at this event.On his return, Jake informed us that from the European championships cyclists are selected for The World Championships, to be held in 2013 in America. As a result both staff and students at The MFG have been keeping their fingers crossed that Jake would be selected to represent Great Britain on a World Arena.

We therefore have great pleasure in sharing with you that Jake has found out recently, after he finished competing in a wet and very muddy race, that he has been selected to represent Great Britain in the Cyclo Cross World Championships to be held in Louisville, Kentucky, in February 2013. This is absolutely fantastic news for Jake, his family, friends and staff at The MFG. Jake is one of only two U18 athletes who have been selected to represent Great Britain.

The talent and commitment to achieving excellence obviously runs in the family as both Jake’s grandfather and Auntie have represented Great Britain in road racing and mountain biking in the Olympics. We are very proud of Jake’s continued achievements and look forward to hearing about his adventures and successes in the World Championships in February. Good Luck Jake!!!

But what is cyclo-cross?

It’s high-energy hard bicycle racing held outdoors in the autumn and

winter, in all kinds of weather; snow, rain, mud, ice, dust. The racing has been described as a “bike race mixed with steeplechase” on a course that includes pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles where racers are required to quickly dismount, run

and remount. Obstacles, or as riders like to call them “features”, can be a long sandpit, a flyover with or without stairs, a run-up again with or without steps, barriers and tight turns.

Throughout the race which can last from 40 minutes to 60 minutes, depending on the age/expertise of the racers, fans line the 1.5 to 2 mile (2.5 to 3.5km) course, cheering on the racers every lap. This means that an elite men’s race of 60-minutes will see from seven to 11 laps, while elite women race 40 minutes. The other two races at the World Championships will be Junior Men aged 17 and 18, who will also race 40 minutes (Jake’s event) and under-23 men, aged 19 to 22 who will race 50 minutes.

The racing is heated from the start, it’s an all out effort to get to the front and limit mistakes, called bobbles. The first laps are full throttle, with a lead group trying to pull away, and then often, for a few laps, racers settle in, watching each other until the next attack. Racers try to find the best spot for their next attack, where can they drop their competitors? Twice every lap, racers have access to a mechanical pit where they can quickly exchange bikes with their mechanics in case of issues or if they need to get the bikes washed due to heavy mud. Stories of heartbreak, breakthrough, emotional wins, suffering and resilience all exist in the exciting world of ‘Cyclo Cross’.

Miss Sharpe (PE Teacher)

Stop Press! We are delighted to inform you that Jake was the top GB rider in the World Championships, and 17th

overall. A wonderful achievement!

Cycling is a very expensive sport, and the Academy is raising funds for Jake. If you are interested in sponsoring

Jake, the please contact Miss Sharpe at The MFG.

Sports Centre now open!

The MFG Sports Centre has opened for business. The gym is getting lots of great reviews so if you are still thinking about joining as a member why not make an appointment to have a look around.

Lee Richardson, our personal trainer, is busy setting up fitness programmes for our members - you could benefit too. Memberships are available from £10 per month - details and application forms are on the website www.themfgsportscentre.com, or can be collected from reception.

We are also offering fitness classes for those of you not wanting a gym membership. We have an increasing variety of activities taking place in the evenings, all run by professional sports coaches ranging from boot-camps, to Pilates, to Zumba. These sessions are weekly  "pay and play" sessions. Information is available at the Sports Centre reception.

“The facilities and equipment are fantastic and easy to use, staff are friendly and helpful. I can really feel the difference after being out of exercise for nearly a year due to injury. I would highly recommend the MFG gym to others!”

Staff Gym member

The opening of the Sports Centre. Mr Ewen (Head of PE), Mrs Barker (Principal), Lee Richardson (Sports Facilities Manager) and Sixth Form Sports Leaders.

Year 9 Celebrate their Reading

In December, English teacher Miss Tighe

organised a Celebration Event for Year 9

students that took part in a Reading

Intervention Scheme during Tutorial.

Parents were invited to come and watch

their sons/daughters deliver a presentation

about the book they had been reading.

They were given certificates for their hard

work.

Grease is the Word!

The No.1 greatest musical, “Grease”, continues to rock

'n' roll around the UK and it is with great pleasure that

we bring it to The Mirfield Free Grammar!

It’s the classic story of boy meets girl, however, when

wholesome good girl Sandy Dubrowski and leader of

the T-Birds Danny Zuko fall in love over the summer,

they never expect to see each other again. But when

they both discover that they're now attending the same

high school, social differences challenge their

romance.

“Grease” is the original High-School musical, featuring

all the well-loved songs from the hit movie including

“Summer Nights”, “Greased Lightnin'”, “We Go

Together” and many more.

A staggering cast of 60 students have tirelessly

rehearsed to perfect their singing, dancing and acting skills

throughout the last 5 months, giving up many hours to produce a night you will remember. So

come along and enjoy the toe-tapping, hip-shaking world of 1950’s America as we take you on an

unforgettable journey to Rydell High!

“ G r ea s e ” i s b e i n g p e r f o rm ed on T ue s da y 1 2 th F eb rua r y t o F r i d a y 1 5 th F eb rua r y ( F r i d a y i s n ow so l d ou t , bu t

T u e s da y h a s a b u y o n e g e t o n e f r e e o f f e r ! )

T i c k e t s a r e o n s a l e n o w - £ 6 a du l t s a n d £ 4 con ce s s i on s .

Megan Henry as Sandy and Ben Rhodes as Danny

Kitson Hill Road, Mir!eld, West Yorkshire, WF14 9EZ

Telephone: (01924) 483660

Fax: (01924) 483661

Email: mfg@themfg.co.uk

Web: www.themfg.co.uk

Twitter: @mir!eldfree

Dates for your Diary

Thursday 7th February Year 12 Parents’ EveningTuesday 12th February Careers Fair (see page 4)Tuesday 12th February - “Grease”Friday 15th FebruaryMonday 18th February - Half TermFriday 22nd February Thursday 7th March World Book DayThursday 21st March Year 10 Parents’ EveningThursday 28th March Teacher Training DayFriday 29th March - Easter HolidayFriday 12th March