Q3 Transition week

Q3 Academy - Great Barr - Transition Week 2009

The air was filled with excitement as students and staff prepared for the Academy on Monday 20th July 2009 - the first day of Transition Week; a week aimed at supporting and inducting new students in to Q3 whilst enriching learning and providing opportunities to progress outside the normal classroom environment.

Monday 20th July will see a whole Academy focus based upon developing the Q3 ethos and welcoming our new students in to vertical tutor groups. The day will involve tutor and tutees working together to solve problems, think about wider issues and generally have fun together. Activities across the Academy will range from meditation and tai chi, to Salsa and Bollywood style dancing. All activities are designed to support the Every Child Matters agenda, and provide opportunity for reflection after a very busy first year indeed.

The remainder of the week will include activities designed to further embed the Academy specialism of Design and Enterprise. During these focus days, we will welcome designers and under graduates to work with students on a brief that would see it's completion as part of the new Design Centre in the new Academy building. Students will work within the Discovery Company for this.
We will also work with Sandwell Business Partnership and outside companies on Enterprise initiatives that we hope, will prepare our students for the world of business later in life.

Many of the Academy staff had organised trips for students to enrich their learning further. Across the week, these will include trips to the Black Country Museum, The National Space Centre and Stratford on Avon. Year 9 will even manage a day out at Alton Towers looking at ride design and engineering. Of course, part of that experience will include testing the rides themselves! Several of our Year 7 students will go to Boreatton Park for a few days on their first team building residential at Q3 Academy.

Groups of students will learn 'How to Save the Planet in 45 minutes' as part of a Science workshop, whilst others will use personal learning and thinking skills to solve problems with workshops led by the Happy Puzzle Company.

The Arts Company will explore 'Space' during one session, whilst also working in collaboration with a Company called 'Artis' on a project called 'Mind The Gap' especially designed to aid transition and assist new students as they begin their secondary journey. Lifestyle will look at activities designed to encourage a 'Healthy Mind and Body', and provide valuable learning about looking after all aspects of well being properly. Communications thought about how to communicate in other languages or media with groups, whilst Social Design will explore the real meaning of spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, whilst also encouraging youngsters to develop empathy for others less fortunate than themselves.

During the week, the Academy has planned activities designed to induct Year 11 students into the sixth form here at the Academy. These will include an Army team building day, a university trip and a social bowling activity to Star City.

For more information see the CBBC website: I've had a sneak preview of my new school

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_8160000/newsid_8161500/8161575.stm

Click the link below or a the special feature presented by one of the Q3 Academy students:
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_8160000/newsid_8163300/8163389.stm