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The last week of term saw an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of hundreds of students across the Academy. Our Rewards Assemblies were a joyous time for highlighting the students who do great things every day. Some have already achieved the prestigious Q-Points Platinum Award in just two terms – a remarkable feat! They celebrated with Mr Bury in the Library, enjoying refreshments and well-deserved praise. 
Q-Points can be earned by achieving Star of the Lesson, Great Work, or Character Award commendations in lessons, or by attending extra-curricular clubs and interventions. There are awards for Bronze (250), Silver (500), Gold (1000), and Platinum (1500). Students can also receive Subject Awards for outstanding effort, or our most coveted Academy Excellence Award. 
Students have received badges along with their certificates. We encourage everyone to wear these with pride and showcase their achievements to the Academy community. There may even be some perks for students who do so. Watch this space! – Mr Mills 
Enjoying the Warm WeatherAs temperatures are forecast to keep increasing, students are welcome to leave their blazers at home for the rest of this week. We still expect all other items of Business Dress to be worn smartly, and students will need to wear their blazers again from Tuesday. We recommend that your child brings a water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day. Year 8's Parisian Journey: Language, Landmarks, and LaughterOver the Easter break, some of our keen Year 8 linguists had the amazing opportunity to visit Paris and surrounding areas to see some beautiful landmarks and put their French skills to the test! The staff were all truly impressed with the efforts of students and watched them come on leaps and bounds with their confidence and improved pronunciation in just a few days. Alors, très bien fait et bravo les enfants ! 
On our way to the beautiful Château, we visited the stunning seaside town of Boulogne-sur-Mer and explored Europe's largest aquarium, Nausicaa, home to over 58,000 animals from 1,600 species. This gave us the chance to marvel at the wonders of the ocean, and, most importantly, snap selfies with some adorable penguins! 
We were up bright and early on Saturday morning to head into the centre of Paris to experience the glitz and glam of Le Grand Rex. An interactive tour of this stunning Art Deco cinema and listed building allowed us to be whisked away to the fascinating world of the silver screen to experience what it is like to be a director, projectionist, and star of the big screen! 
After devouring our handmade baguettes during a picnic lunch, we took a relaxing stroll around the base of the Eiffel Tower. Then we boarded a sightseeing cruise down the river Seine to take in the stunning sights of the City of Love. 
The afternoon delighted football fans, who enjoyed a 'kickabout' in the training rooms and the thrill of running onto the pitch to the roar of 80,000 cheering fans, even if it was just an audio recording! The Stade de France is the national stadium of France, and even those of us not into sports really enjoyed the stadium tour and seeing all of the incredible bands and artists who have played here since it opened to host the FIFA World Cup in 1998. 
We had a very typical French Sunday morning at the local market in Brie-Comte-Robert putting our French to the test buying the ingredients for a lunch that was not only balanced and nutritious, but that also tasted great...miam miam, délicieux ! Then what better way to round off a Sunday than to visit the medieval town of Provins where we got to witness La Légende des Chevaliers (The Legend of the Knights) in a horseback jousting adventure that made us laugh and cheer! 
Of course, no Mr Price trip is complete without a day at Disneyland for our petit moment de magie (this might not be quite the way Ms Durrant would describe it after experiencing the Tower of Terror for the first, and likely last, time). – Mr Price 
Spreading Positivity: Anti-Bullying EventAt the start of April, our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors held a 'Positive Affirmations' event in the Design Centre. Students could get involved at breaktime by drawing around their hand and writing a positive message, to then be added to our positive affirmation flowers. 
A large number of students across all year groups added their own hand and it was heartening to see students smiling as they participated in spreading the message of positivity and kindness. Some of our favourite messages included 'be yourself, always!', 'never back down, believe in yourself', and 'your presence in this world makes a difference'. 
The Anti-Bullying Ambassadors are planning other events and activities in the future, including delivering assemblies. If a student ever feels they are being bullied, as well as speaking to a member of staff, they can always email the ambassadors at anti-bullying@gbr.merciantrust.org.uk. – Miss B Smith 
Hands-On Learning for Bright FuturesThis half term, Mrs Leybourn's Key Stage 3 groups have been busy working on their practical activities. Year 7 students have been working on the Ugly Doll project, developing their understanding and application of decorative techniques. The students have brought in old textiles items to recycle, created a pattern piece, and are now adding applique and embroidery stitches to decorate their work. 
Year 8 students have been designing and manufacturing a small maze game to develop their knowledge of materials and health and safety in the workshop. In the project, students have to design their own maze and measure, mark out, cut, and sand MDF to ensure a high-quality finish. 
Watching our students pour their creativity and effort into producing such impressive outcomes has been truly inspiring. Well done to everyone involved! – Mrs Leybourn 
The Wonderful World of Board Games!In room 133B every Tuesday at the end of the day, Q3 Academy Great Barr's Board Games Club continues to meet and enjoy the varied world of modern board games. 
Whether you want to bring along your favourite game to play with your friends or be introduced to something new from our wide collection, there's something for everyone to enjoy! Why not come along and join in the fun? – Mr Mills 
Keeping ActiveStudents had an excellent Spring Term in Wellbeing Active, with most year groups focusing on handball and basketball. Their hard work has paid off, as they have made clear progress in both sports, showcasing improved skills and teamwork. 
Students are eagerly moving on to summer sports, including tennis, cricket, athletics, and rounders, promising another exciting period ahead. – Mr Richardson 
A Star AttendancePlease note that the Academy will now issue attendance communication by email. See full details here. Miss Tromans Scoops ZAFTA!Miss Tromans, our wonderful Science Teacher and Assistant Head of Year 8, was recognised before the Easter break for her tireless commitment to high-quality teaching. She has taken up Zog's challenge of High Participation Learning with infectious enthusiasm – who will follow her next? – Mr Mills 
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