Author Visit to School

We recently invited published author, Helen Dennis to school to work with our Year 7 students.  

Helen Dennis has worked as a teacher at the largest junior school in Europe for twenty years. For many of these she was Head of English with special responsibility for Talented and Gifted provision.

Her fiction series SECRET BREAKERS – which she explored at the workshop – was launched in 2012 by Hodder Children’s Books.

As code cracking is integral to the plot of SECRET BREAKERS, and symbols form the basis for discovery in RIVER OF INK, the workshop that she delivered looked at code cracking challenges throughout history and how symbols are used to hide information. Dennis immersed the students in interactive activities using British Sign Language and Makaton and reference was made to symbols in art and architecture, as well as hiding information in code. It was a real ‘hands on’ session!

Using a range of artefacts as stimulus as well as real stories and characters from history, Helen Dennis looked at how authors combine fact with fiction in their writing. Reference was made to the real characters and locations used in both SECRET BREAKERS and RIVER OF INK. 

The Buckingham School hosted our Primary Computer Science Festival on 25 June 2019.  The day was aimed at giving twenty Year 6 pupils from each primary school the opportunity to work with their peers in a variety of computer science based tasks. Tasks included two problem solving sessions, multiple mini activities  based on the excellent unplugged Computer Science Program, and EV3 Robotics, all of which taking place in the Computer Science suites.

The Buckingham school represented the Buckingham school sports partnership in the county finals at Rugby, Football, table tennis & netball. During the opening ceremony the England Netball captain gave all the children inspiration words then they were taken too their sporting venues. All Of the teams performed admirably with the staring team performance coming from the Girls rugby team who didn't lose a game and won the school games cup. 

The Buckingham School

Junior Maths Challenge Success 2019  

Students at The Buckingham School have been successful in this year’s UK Mathematics Trust Junior Maths Challenge.  There were over 270,000 entrants nationally; the top 6% receiving a gold certificates; the next 13% silver; the next 21% bronze.  

Twenty students from Year 7 and 8 entered the Junior Challenge this year which resulted in five students in Year 7 receiving bronze certificates. Year 8 students saw one gold, four silver and nine bronze certificates. Seth, Year 8, who received gold, also received best in year, best in school and qualified for the International Mathematical Kangaroo Challenge. The School is extremely pleased with all students who participated in both Challenges, including those who did not qualify to take part this year. 

The Junior Maths Challenge is run by the UK Mathematics Trust and supported by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. It is aimed at those in Years 7 and 8.

“The Maths Challenges provide material to provoke students’ mathematical thinking and test their problem solving skills in an accessible and yet challenging way. Many congratulations to The Buckingham School on their success in the Junior Maths Challenge; it is great to see achievement in mathematics recognised.” Rachel Greenhalgh, UKMT Executive Director.

Need LTO's words here. Will submit by Tuesday evening.  

An ice hockey weekend – Harry MacGarvey (10SW)

Have this as a link as long article (CSH)

Each year Ice Sheffield hosts one of the largest junior ice hockey tournaments in the UK. Each weekend in June is devoted to a different age group. I attended the U15 tournament with my team (Milton Keynes Storm) on the 22/23 June and I was lucky enough to be invited to join the U18 team the following weekend for their tournament also.

MK had entered two U18 teams and my team was made up of the more junior players so there were no expectations that we would win any matches, we were there for experience. However, we won our first match….against the senior MK team! However, we then lost the second match to Peterborough our local rivals. But, we didn’t let that stop us and we proceeded to win the next three matches. By this point we were lying joint second in the table with 2 other teams. We were told we only needed to draw the last game to make the final. The final match was versus the hosts, Sheffield. We were drawing 0-0 but with 20 seconds to go Sheffield scored and our hopes of making the final were dashed. Our team had played brilliantly and fought hard and we had come so close but we collected our participation medals, said our thank you’s and goodbyes and headed for home.

As we were about to pull onto the M1 we received a message; Please return to the rink, there may have been a miscalculation, we may be in the final after all! We u-turned and got back to the rink to watch Peterborough win their final match and be announced as being through to the final – their opponents still to be decided! Only half our team had made it back by this stage, some were stuck in traffic on the M1 and some were still heading South to the nearest exit to turn around. Lots of confusion at the rink but finally the magic news, we had qualified for the final as we had beaten some of the other teams on the same points as us and our goal difference was better (the actual maths is still a mystery!). We were to play Peterborough in the final, a team that had already beaten us 3-0 in the tournament.

Our team were still arriving as we were lining up to go onto the ice, many had been getting changed in their cars on the way back to the rink, not the best preparation for a final!

We could hear all our parents and the other MK team shouting for us but the match was drawn after full time which meant 5 minutes of sudden death overtime. After a very tense 5 minutes extra playing we were still tied so it went to penalties – best of 3. The coach asked for volunteers and I and several of my team mates volunteered. I was one of the three picked. One player asked to go third and our captain, who had won the toss and chosen for us to shoot first decided to go second. That meant I was taking the first penalty. I stood in front of the puck on the centre line and when the ref blew the whistle I skated towards the Peterborough goal, I went to the right and as I’d hoped the goalie moved with me so I switch left quickly and shot, the goalie got his stick to me and tripped me up but it didn’t matter as the shot had gone in. 1-0 to MK….. Peterborough’s first shooter was put off by our goalie, Darragh Wren (yr 11), and missed, 1-0 to MK. Our captain was up next and scored! 2-0 to MK. The ref skated over to Darragh and told him if he saved the next goal he’d win the final for his team. No pressure! The Peterborough player shot and Darragh caught it in his glove! MK were winners! All the players leapt onto the ice to celebrate and piled on top of Darragh. It was a fantastic way to end the weekend and we were much happier the second time we started to drive home than we were the first time!

We have yet another fantastic achievement to shout about. Two teams of students entered the East West Challenge, a county-wide event, set to challenge students to develop a new sustainable settlement with eco-credentials. The teams, worked independently on the project; using skills such as planning, negotiation and financial assessment to produce their final proposals. The teams then gave presentations and faced intense questioning from a visiting panel. Buckingham School Team Odley were the outright winners against older competition.

We received extensive praise about the students and their skills and we were extremely proud of them. Mrs Fullwood and Mrs Wilkinson said next time the team will be called WilkWood!!

Science Day during STEM Week. Words from LTO. 

PCU photo and next words to support. 

Student Voice from AWA - to cover anti bullying, skirts and virtues. 

Darcey Bussell Dance Fitness Competition

I am excited to inform you that our team of Year 7 dance students have been selected as one of the finalists for the Dance Fitness Competition at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre on Saturday 22 June 2019.

This means that our team will be performing on the Waterside Theatre Stage in front of Dacey Bussell. We will meet outside the Theatre at 2.50pm. I will then escort the dancers in to the theatre and supervise them for the performance. The dancers will need to be in their kit and with their hair already fixed.  We will then have time to see the stage and also practice our entrance and exit. If you are not watching the performance, please could you arrange to pick your child up at approximately 5:30pm from outside the Waterside Theatre. Please complete the attached permission slip and return to me by Tuesday 18 June.

The performance will start at 4.00pm and finish at approximately 5.00pm.  Darcey Bussell will be there to judge the event and also will be there for book signing at approx. 5.30pm. If you would like to watch the performance, the Box Office is now open. Friends and family can use the offer code WHIZZ19 to get a 20% discount on the price of tickets, so please feel free to share it.

You can get tickets at the Box Office by copying the following link:https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-wonder-of-whizzfizz/aylesbury-waterside-theatre
We are so proud of our dance team and are thrilled for them to have this opportunity to dance on a proper theatre stage and in front of Darcey Bussell.

With another hot, hot, hot, ???? Saturday on the way fizzwhizzers, we're taking a look back at this scorcher from last weekend's WhizzFizzFest with Dame Darcey Bussell DBE and DDMIX For Schools. A big thumbs to everyone who took part - you were all amazing! 

Youngsters from several local schools were singing their hearts out at An Evening of Song at The University of Buckingham last week. Well done to Charlotte Davidson for singing and to Finlay Grensted for great guitar playing  - you both rocked! 
> Buckingham Children’s Choir will be back in the autumn and already has gigs in the diary. For info regarding the choir and fun and singing lessons in school - email suzyasmith@aol.com. Also, see Bittersweet Music Buckingham on Facebook.

Sixth Form students at Buckingham Primary School judging their enterprise competition.   

The talk would be about what I do but how I got there and the hurdles I’ve had to overcome to get there/mistakes I’ve made along the way!

To confirm what I do:

Media, PR, journalism for Silverstone Park (business, high tech, property development) and also in motorsport (various drivers, events and manufacturers as clients).

This involves interviewing people, writing (a lot) of news articles/features, briefing media such as ITV, promoting events/clients on social media, working with ‘stakeholders’ to improve their image/message etc.

Background is

10yrs as Meda Officer for the British Touring Car Championship (UK’s biggest motor racing championship so working a lot with ITV Sport etc)

World Rally Championship with Red Bull

Motorsport journalist in Formula 1, Le Mans 24 Hours, national motor racing events for specialist motorsport titles

Working class family background but determined to get out of ‘a hole’ when I left school with no options and no advice

Originally started out on local newspapers

Now run my own small business

People I’ve worked with – Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen, Richard Hammond (we were house mates for 2 years)!

Hope all this makes sense – don’t know if you want to ask who’s interested in journalism, PR, media as a career and see if enough come forward?

Luffield Festival 2019

A number of students participated in this year's Luffield Festival at Stowe School on Monday 24 June and Tuesday 25 June 2019. The event was kindly hosted again by Stowe School.

This festival gives opportunities for students from a variety of schools, including Magdalen School, Stowe School, Thornton College, Swanbourne Prep, The Buckingham School and The Royal Latin School, to work collaboratively to develop their skills through a range of different subjects.

Students participated in dance and drama activities throughout the day, culminating in a performance they presented to parents during the evening.   

NEED TO EDIT PHOTOS.....TWO TO COME OUT. 

My day at the Luffield Science Festival - by William Saunders - Year 7

I was invited to attend the Luffield Science Festival and happily grasped at the offer. This is due to the fact that science is one of my many favourite subjects that just go above some of the others. I arrived at school and after registering myself in form, I left to go and find Miss Curness who was the person responsible for organising the event in collaboration with The Royal Latin School and Magdalen College School. When I arrived there were no other students there as the three Year Eight students that were to also to attend were in assembly, so after a short wait reading my book, I finally met the three people I would be working with. My science teacher Ms Rodrigues was also present. To read more.......

Max's photo Luffield - see email of 4 July, 

We recently welcomed Sandy Canavan, a visiting circuit judge.

She worked with years 10 and 12 in an extended assembly, updating our British Values knowledge and understanding of the justice system in Britain today. She also gave us an insight into her career pathway and how it has become even easier to work in law today for women.

Sandy was really inspirational!

This was a particularly important event for Law and Criminology students in year 12 and students in year 10 considering studying those subjects in the Sixth Form. We always like to invite different speakers into school to learn about various career pathways.

Year 11 Prom at Whittlebury Park 

WOW...the photos say it all.  A stunning venue, a wonderful celebration for our amazing Year 11s.  

As you may have heard, through us or the press, last week we won the National Champion Butcher title at the Countryside Alliance Awards in the House of Lords. It has been an overwhelming and surreal experience for the whole team but we wanted to thank you for the part you have played and the support you give us that makes us Britain’s Best Butcher.

“Brackley Butchers have put animal welfare and their customer needs at the heart of this business. Working with local farmers they can assure the highest levels of animal welfare, sustainability and provenance, whilst promoting the importance of shopping locally. Keeping the craft of butchery alive and brimming with great ideas to encourage people to try something new this butcher not only serves you top quality meat but a side order of banter and a smile.”

The judges’ comments really hit the nail on the head, but it is not just us, it is every supplier, producer, chef and customer that help make it happen and for that, we say thank you. Margaret wrote a few words about the experience for our website, you can see the full story and pictures here.

I look forward to continuing our relationship as the business grows with the opening of our Buckingham shop in September and please remember my door is always open so do pop in and say hi.

specialism week - asked LCH for a write up / photos from PE department. 

Dear Lacey Townes,

Thank you for submitting your entries for Astro Pi Mission Zero!

This year we received more than 5,677 entries, and 4,621 of these just ran on the International Space Station.

We're pleased to tell you that all of your 4 submitted entries were granted flight status. Here are all your teams’ entries, with their flight status:

coding:3: FLIGHT
BucksBois: FLIGHT
ALI-A XTREMERS: FLIGHT
Apple pie: FLIGHT

Download Mission Zero certificates for all your participants here: https://static.raspberrypi.org/files/astro-pi/2019/mission-zero/BucksCoding-5d88051f.zip

Thank you for participating in Mission Zero!

The Astro Pi team