A Year 9 student from The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College has recently been named as a winner in a national maths competition.

In the autumn term, Eleanor Warren, entered the Desmos Maths Art Competition organised by Mathematics Education Innovation, a charity committed to improving lives through advances in maths education. As part of the competition entrants used mathematic graphing software Desmos to create a piece of art with the theme ‘The World Around Us’.

When selecting winners, the competition’s judges considered creativity and originality, the entrant’s use of the maths and their interpretation of the theme. Eleanor’s art piece use mathematical equations and coordinates to plot each aspect of her work which showed a person struggling to hold the Earth back as it headed towards industrial chimneys. Eleanor was named as one of the winner’s in the Year 8-9 category, as a winner Eleanor was sent a certificate and t-shirt, and her artwork will feature in the school’s newsletter.

Headteacher, Alison Davies said, “It is lovely to see that a number of students entered the competition, putting their maths skills to good use, and I am really pleased to see that Eleanor was named as one of the competition’s winners. The piece of art created by Eleanor is very detailed and I hope she is proud of her achievement.”

A Year 10 student from The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College has recently been awarded several certificates including a preliminary coaching award from The Football Association.

Football mad Ellie Angus who plays for Rugby Town Girls and Womens FC, and is participating in her clubs Young Leader programme, also regularly coaches younger age groups at the club and has achieved several FA certificates.

One of the certificates awarded to Ellie is The FA Playmaker Award which is a new entry-level football course for volunteers, aged 14+, in the grassroots game. Ellie successfully completed the course’s five modules, which focus on the basics of football providing a toolkit and skills needed to get involved and help create a fun, safe and inclusive experience for those being coached.

In addition, Ellie has completed courses which have taught her how to deal with concussion and sudden cardiac arrest. In the future Ellie has her sights on a refereeing course and aims to complete her first coaching badge once she turns sixteen.

Alison Davies, Headteacher, said, “It is great to see that Ellie is getting involved in coaching at her football club. At school she’s also involved in the Young Leaders programme and I know the skills she’ll develop will help her in PE and sport studies lessons. I wish her all the best for the rest of the football season.”

A team from Rugby Police Station recently visited The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College to add security markings to bikes belonging to the school’s students.

The school was initially approached by Cllr Wayne Rabin, councillor for Newbold and Brownsover ward, who helped to organise the event in collaboration with the local police team and school. On the morning of the bike marking event around 30 students opted to protect their bike by having it security marked and added to the BikeRegister.

Registering on BikeRegister means an owner can be reunited with their bike in the event of it being stolen. The details of bikes registered are held on a secure online database which all UK police forces have access to.

Alison Davies, Headteacher, said, “It is always wonderful to see that many of our students use a bike to travel to and from school. This is good because it’s sustainable, eco-friendly, and has health and wellbeing benefits. We’re, therefore, very grateful that the local policing team took time to visit our school, engage with our students and help them to protect their property from theft. We hope the team will visit us again to mark even more bikes.”

A Year 11 student from The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College has recently scooped an impressive haul of 18 medals at a qualifier for a regional dance competition

Megan Gyles, who is the school’s head girl, competed at the Four Counties Dance Festival, in Tamworth, which took place over four consecutive Sundays in November. At the dance event Megan achieved a medal place in every dance she competed in, this included solos in ballet, modern dance and musical theatre. 

By the end of the competition Megan had been presented with six gold medals, six silver medals, six bronze medals, and had qualified for the All England Dance Regional Finals which will be held next May.

Alison Davies, Headteacher, said, “Megan is a fantastic ambassador for The Avon Valley School, since joining us she has always worked hard, tried her best and got involved – especially with our performing arts department. It is brilliant to hear that Megan achieved so many medals at the dance festival and that she has now qualified for the next stage of the competition. I wish her all the best and look forward to hearing how she does.”

Kind hearted Year 7 students at The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College have shown their generous nature by creating gift boxes which will be sent to disadvantaged youngsters many miles away.

Students from the school’s four Houses, Apollo, Fortune, Garrick and Phoenix, brought in items such as toys, toiletries, school equipment and other goodies for the boxes which will be sent to disadvantaged children across the globe.

In total seventy seven filled boxes were picked up by a representative from Samaritan’s Purse the organisation behind Operation Christmas Child an initiative which has sent millions of boxes to children is 130 countries since beginning back in 1990. 

Year 7 Transition Leader, Alison Bearpark, said “Every year we support Operation Christmas Child and it is always brilliant to see how our Year 7 students get behind this project aimed at help those less fortunate.”

Alison Davies, Headteacher, said “Once again our students have shown their charitable nature and willingness to support others. Our shoe box appeal is one of a number of charity events we have running at present, our other events include Miles for Mind and a collection for Rugby Food Bank. I thank everyone who has supported these initiatives.” 

More information Operation Christmas Child can be found here

A geography teacher from The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College has recently had her hair cut, after growing it for a number of years, and has donated the hair to the Little Princess Trust.

Kaylee McHale had her hair cut at Carole Elizabeth Salon, in Brinklow, with the cut hair being kept so that it could be sent to the charity. In addition to donating her hair, Kaylee has also raised £500 for the charity. This amount will cover the cost to produce the wig that will be worn by a young person affected by a medical condition, such as cancer.

The Little Princess Trust was established in 2006, since then, they have provided thousands of real hair wigs to poorly children and young people, aged up to 24 years across the UK and Ireland.

Alison Davies, Headteacher, said, “Over the years we’ve had a number of students donate their hair to the Little Princess Trust and it is wonderful to see a member of staff making a donation too. Acts of kindness, such as this, are great for our students to see and will encourage them to care and help those in need.”

Anyone wishing to make a donation can visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kayleescut. Information about the Little Princess Trust can be found here: https://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/