Rotary Technology Tournament

On Tuesday 14th March some student from year 8, 10 and 12 took part in the Rotary Technology Tournament. The tournament involves teams of students interested in engineering and science compete in a one day event to devise and build a solution to an unseen technical task. Solutions are tested and judged against competing teams. Our students took part in the foundation (year 8), intermediate (year 10) and advanced (year 12) competitions. Well done to all students who took part, especially our advanced and intermediate teams for winning their events.

Year 8 Foundation Team

Students Hamza Mahmood, Yusha Jeena, Qasim Abbas and Sienna Bond demonstrated outstanding concept generation and exemplary build quality.

Year 10 Intermediate Team

Year 10 Design & Technology GCSE students Jay Patel, Megan Taylor, Isabel McNulty-Senior & Yusuf Mohmed. Teamwork and planning proved to be one of their strengths along with hard work and persistance. Adapting their design after testing proved to be the right decision and they came first in their group challenge.

Year 12 Advanced Team

From A Sixth Form Perspective: The Rotary Technology tournament is a competition run nationally across the UK, headed by Rotary International. It was a fun way to compete with local schools in the area by creating a product to carry out a scenario set externally by the Rotary charity. Students had to design and construct a crane which had an actively working pulley mechanism which worked both clockwise and anticlockwise (using the idea of polarity), controlled at a set distance from the track. The crane had to have a system which would allow it to lower the arm, picking up a so called “package” placed under a bridge.
The older students where set the “advanced” challenge, which was the most difficult, where the jib of the crane had to have the ability to lower, placing down the package upright, and also detaching the hook from the jib.
The “advanced” team consisting of; Adam Patel, Hollie Smith, Mohammed Karolia and Joe Speight used their knowledge of materials, physics and mechanics to put together a perfect product which resulted in Heckmondwike Grammar winning the competition, in both the advanced and the intermediate events. A special well done to the foundation team for their ingenuity and creativity during the task.
We would like to thank Rotary International for allowing us to present the skills of Heckmondwike Grammar in an exciting way, and bringing this once in a lifetime opportunity to us.

By Adam Patel & Mohammed Karolia

The Year 13 Information Evening scheduled to take place at the school this evening, Thursday 8th March, has been cancelled. This will be rearranged and a new date will be communicated once confirmed.

The HE+ visit to Cambridge has now been cancelled. The coaches are making their way back to Greenhead College. Students have been asked to contact parents if they are dependent on a lift home and advise of estimated return times. Miss Grimes and Mrs Sheard will stay to supervise students awaiting a lift. We will look to re-arrange the visit.

Having spent two years fundraising, planning and preparing for an expedition to Sri Lanka, and spending an incredible two and a half weeks travelling through the country, I really didn’t want to stop working with World Challenge. The time building up to expedition was amazing, with fundraising balls, Mirfield show and the bonfire helping all 18 of us reach the money goal, so ending all that after a whirlwind in Sri Lanka seemed so disappointing. The best thing about the company, obviously aside from the opportunity to travel the world, is the positive, inclusive attitude of everyone working there, and that is something I have felt since becoming an ambassador.

Being an ambassador for World Challenge basically involves presenting and talking about my expedition in different schools whose expedition planning is just beginning (I think my family are thankful for it mainly because they’ve had enough of hearing about Sri Lanka!). I work with Sally and Suzy (school account managers for World Challenge) and present with them in schools across the North of England meaning I am able to meet so many new challengers and teachers who are excited about their expedition. The World Challenge Summits have also provided a chance to chat to teachers and leaders about my experience and their destinations. Being one of 15 CATs (challenger ambassador team) across the country, I have been able to meet yet more likeminded people when down at the main offices in High Wycombe: a long way, but definitely worth it.

The way I became an ambassador, and got onto World Challenge originally, was by taking the opportunity, despite not really knowing what I was letting myself in for! The whole process of applying, being interviewed, travelling across the country and presenting in front of students, parents and teachers has been so enjoyable and meant I have become more confident and comfortable, talking about something I am so passionate about. I hope the relationship I have with World Challenge will continue after my ambassador time is over, and if not, it has encouraged me even more to travel as much as I can. The chance to do World Challenge at school really started this off for me and I would say it was the best opportunity I got from Heckmondwike Grammar. So grab it when it comes around!

Bronwen Brown – Head Girl

Our Year 8 student, Asish Chittamura, recently competed in the Yorkshire Badminton Championships. He won silver medals in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles competitions.
What a fantastic achievement.  Congratulations and well done from all at Heckmondwike Grammar School.

The sixth form consultations, due to take place on Wednesday 28th February and Thursday 1st March, have been cancelled owing to the continued poor weather conditions. All appointments due to take place on 28th February will now go ahead on 14th March. Appointments originally scheduled for 1st March will be held on 21st March. All students attending these consultations will receive a new letter detailing the rescheduled appointment information. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

The HGS Soul Band started off the new term with another booking at the internationally renowned Marsden Jazz Festival. Performing within five weeks of the first half-term meant the band had to quickly dust off their instruments after the summer holiday and rehearse a programme ready for the festival. On top of this the band had some new members in key areas of the band.

The band played the Sunday lunchtime slot in the park bandstand. Luckily it was fine weather and there was a large audience gathered to hear the band. The band kicked off with Ray Charles’ ‘What I’d Say’ and followed it with the classic soul track ‘Gimme Some Lovin’, which included a fine debut vocal performance from our trombonist Michael Upham.

Performing a variety of soul, jazz, blues and pop tracks the band featured solos from David Brown, Alex Smith and some super sax solos from Georgina Moore. We performed pieces from our older repertoire of ‘Green Onions’, ‘I Heard it through the Grapevine’, ‘Mama Do’ and ‘Mercy’; newer pieces (for us) such as ‘Blues Machine’, ‘Monkey Man’, ‘Mustang Sally’ and ‘Don’t Know Why’; and two old HGS favourites of ‘I Feel Good’ and ‘Tequila’.

The band welcomed back a couple of last year’s members to play with us. Even though they are now starting their studies at University it was great to see them back helping out. Along with these ‘old timers’ it was great to welcome some new faces to the band – Sommer Berrington on keys and Rowan Lightfoot on trumpet. A particular well done goes to Gemma Hall who took full control of the drums this year and did a fantastic job keeping us all in time.

Not content with just debuting on trumpet, Rowan Lightfoot also took to the Microphone and sang a fantastic rendition of the song ‘My Girl’. Definitely one for the future!

After finishing with the classic ‘In the Midnight Hour’ the band completed their set and packed away in record time with another local band waiting to take the stage. Feedback from the audience, organisers and members of the next band on was excellent.

The department undertook a very busy schedule of events in December. These included a Christmas Showcase evening, the Carol Service, carolling with the Brass Group, performances at Prize Giving and a visiting orchestra performing for our year 8 pupils.

Our Christmas Showcase was again performed to a packed out Swann Hall. Performances were given by the Concert Band, Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Soul Band, String Group, Guitar Group, Percussion Group and Dance Club. In addition, there were four excellent drama performances written and performed by our very own Youth Theatre Group.

Our traditional carol service took place once again in the local St James Church. With welcoming carols played in the foyer by the HGS Brass Group the evening service started off in conventional manner with the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City performed solo by year 7 pupil Cerys Harrison. The traditional 9 lessons were read by a variety of students from all year groups and were interspersed with a variety of carols. Musical performances were given by the Senior Choir, Concert Band, Junior Choir, String Group and Guitar Group, as well as a jazz piano solo of While Shepherds Watched by year 13 student Ruth Jennings.

The Soul Band entertained our guests at Senior Prize Giving as they arrived at our new venue of Dewsbury Town Hall. Our singers excelled at performing in this wonderful venue, with vocals from Holly Ward, Rowan Lightfoot, Kirsty Gregory and Fiona Maynard. The 45 minute set included pieces such as Uptown Funk, Monkey Man, My Girl and Don’t Know Why. Michael Upham also joined Fiona in a rendition of Baby it’s Cold Outside. There were improvised saxophone solos from Georgina Moore and guest Matthew Rhodes (this year’s winner of the HunterArt prize). The band were then featured during the ceremony with a performance of Mercy. 

Later in the evening the audience were treated to something very special. Year 13 A level music student Megan Dransfield gave a solo rendition of Puccini’s aria O Mio Babbino Caro. This was a truly stunning performance that was rightly highly praised by staff, students and our visiting guests. Megan was accompanied by her singing teacher Mr Hall who then provided the background cocktail piano music at the drinks reception afterwards.

Not content with winding down to Christmas on the last day of term, we welcomed the ‘Musica’ Orchestra into school to perform for our year 8s. Performing a wide range of pieces, from Star Wars to Bohemian Rhapsody, the Orchestra entertained us all – whilst subtly introducing classical music and the instruments of the orchestra to our year 8 students. There was a conducting competition, hunt the Haribos event and some of our older students got the chance to perform with the orchestra.

Mr Hall is running a choir workshop between 10am and 12pm on Friday 16th February 2018 in the Music Room. The workshop will include developing warm ups and singing techniques plus a range of music to sing. All students are welcome.

Please sign in at the main reception on arrival.

Kirklees College would like to invite budding chefs from all surrounding schools to take part in The Young Chef of the Year 2018. Participants will have two hours to create four portions of a restaurant style plated dessert and sweet sauce.

Any year 9-11 students who are interested in taking part in this fantastic event should speak to their form tutor for more information.

The entry deadline is Tuesday 20th March 2018, however, we would like to have all interested students starting the process of applications by the Wednesday 7th March as they will have to develop their dish, cook and take a picture to go along side their entry.

Happy Cooking!!