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We love praising and rewarding students who do the right thing! One of the main ways we do this is through awarding Q-Points. These recognise behaviours that set students on the path to success. 
Students have the opportunity to receive Q-Points every lesson. Teachers award a Star of the Lesson to the student who shows the most engagement and enthusiasm that day. Character Awards are also given out for specific behaviours such as asking great questions or appreciating the work or effort of others. Teachers also give out Great Work awards to a selection of students who produce high-quality work. 
Students can also receive Q-Points for attending extra-curricular clubs or subject interventions. Total points are used to determine students' eligibility for the Rewards Trips at the end of the year, and termly subject award nominations. Please ask your children regularly about the Q-Points they are receiving and keep an eye on the ClassCharts app to see these rewards in real time! – Mr Mills 
Contacting UsAs outlined in Mr Bury's message to parents and carers last week, we have introduced a new ticketing system to improve our responsiveness when you get in touch. Please email all queries to contact@GBR.merciantrust.org.uk and we will make sure they are passed on to the right colleagues. This address is only for use by parents and carers. We're keeping an eye on open tickets to make sure they receive a timely response. We aim to respond within three working days, although many tickets are resolved more quickly. Please bear with us if there are slight delays while we adapt to the new system. Pathways Evening Paves the Way for Year 9Year 9 students and families attended our Pathways Evening this week, where they had the opportunity to visit different subject areas and see what they can study at Key Stage 4. This event is a key milestone for students as they plan their future studies. 
We were thrilled to see such a fantastic turnout with almost the entire year group in attendance, and it was great to hear students asking questions about the different subjects they could study. 
The deadline for returning Pathways Forms to your Personal Tutor is Friday 14th February. – Mrs M Schwald-Samuel 
Year 9 Get Creative with MonoprintingThis term, our talented Year 9 students have been connecting with the natural world through an exciting monoprinting project. Drawing inspiration from the intricate beauty of nature's patterns and textures, students have been experimenting with this expressive art technique to produce stunning prints. 
The work showcases their artistic skills and growing confidence in exploring new techniques. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and look forward to seeing how their creativity continues to develop. 
Year 9 student Ashton has impressed us all with his skill, producing a detailed print that beautifully showcases texture and detail. – Mr Kumar 
Diving into Tech Adventures with Computing ClubKey Stage 3 Computing Club is open to all students in Years 7-9 in Room 304, on Week 2 Tuesdays with Mrs Smith. No special skills are needed, and students can jump straight into the fun side of computing! Students enjoy a variety of hands-on activities, such as programming robots to perform tricks, and tackling the challenge of disassembling and reassembling an old computer. 
Students will embark on exciting programming adventures with software like Python, Kodu, and Minecraft for Education, try photo-editing using Photopea, and create their own animated GIFs and videos using Canva. The best part? Every software tool we use is free, safe, and ready for students to explore at home. – Mrs Y Smith 
Mercian Trust Academies Unite At UniversityOn Wednesday 15th January, students from eight of the nine academies within The Mercian Trust participated in our Educational Equity Meet at the University of Birmingham. This significant event marked the first in-person gathering for students who had previously collaborated through online meetings, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose across the Trust. Our students were greeted by the stunning campus, bathed in sunshine and clear blue skies. 
They had a tour of the campus, including the iconic 'Old Joe' clock tower, the Great Hall, where university students were undertaking examinations, and the state-of-the-art sports centre renowned for hosting hockey events during the Commonwealth Games. Back in the education building, discussions with Helen Evans, a doctoral researcher specialising in student engagement and equity, centered on what enables students to thrive in their educational journey as well as challenges holding them back. 
The day concluded with the group voting on the key challenges to prioritise for future research. The quality of discussions was exemplary, with a special mention to Amelia and Ameera for not only receiving praise from university staff for the quality of their discussions and contributions, but also for winning the teambuilding challenge – constructing the tallest freestanding marshmallow tower! – Mrs Perry 
GCSE Students Inspired by Blood Brothers PerformanceOn Wednesday 22nd January, a group of GCSE Drama and GCSE Music students had the incredible opportunity to attend a live performance of Blood Brothers at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. The experience left a lasting impression, with students gripped by the intense storytelling and emotional climaxes that define this iconic musical. 
Drama students were especially engaged, as Blood Brothers forms a key part of their written exam preparation. They observed firsthand how the themes, characters, and dramatic tension are brought to life on stage, deepening their understanding of how drama is developed and performed. The climactic scenes, which had many students jumping out of their seats, sparked thoughtful conversations about staging and character development. 
Music students were equally captivated, analysing how the musical score intensified the emotions of the performance. A highlight for many was the chance to look into the orchestra pit, where they discussed the instruments used to create the rich, evocative soundtrack that supports the narrative. 
The performance left many students emotional, with several admitting they were moved to tears by the heart-wrenching story. Overall, the trip was a valuable and unforgettable experience that brought their studies to life, leaving them inspired and eager to apply what they learned to their classwork. – Mrs Karim 
Journey to Employment WorkshopA group of Year 11 students were selected to be a part of our recent Journey to Employment workshop. This was split into two halves, one teaching students to write CVs and the other focused on job interview techniques and tips. Students had the opportunity to write a CV and interview each other using guided questions given by our facilitator Vince Gordon from the Grace Foundation. – Ms Anderson 
Uncovering the Mask Performance and WorkshopsThis half term, the Ethos programme is full of various events and activities. Year 8 were visited by Rites Of Passage Productions, who did a performance and workshops focusing on identity. Students were captivated by the performance and were engaged with interactive workshops. The message was clear throughout the day – be brave enough to be yourself and not hide behind a mask. – Ms Anderson 
Mr Strachan Celebrates ZAFTA Win!Mr Strachan hosted Zog down in History this week in recognition of the careful planning of his Key Stage 5 lessons. It was a great reminder about the importance of high-quality teaching and learning for all age groups! – Mr Mills 
Upcoming Events
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