Year 7 and 8 MFL2 Book decorating competition
 Our Year 7 and Year 8 MFL2 students have done an amazing job decorating their books on the theme of the language they are studying. Well done to all students, it was so hard to choose the ‘best decorated book’. Winners were Jessica B in Year 7 for her beautifully decorated French book and Kimran W in Year 8 for an amazingly detailed cover for her Russian book.
Mrs Savage, MFL Department
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Kimran, 8ERR
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Jessica, 8SDA
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Some more of our beautifully decorated books.
European Day of Languages
Why study languages competition
To celebrate the European Day of Languages on Tuesday 26th September, students learnt some fun facts about world languages in their MFL lessons and were given the chance to enter a competition run by the Global Schools Alliance producing a piece of work explaining the importance of learning languages. We had some outstanding entries from across the year groups, including poems, PowerPoint presentations, posters and texts. They were all amazing, but a special mention must go to Amelia and Ethan in 8NEQ who received a certificate and prize from the MFL Department for their efforts. All entries have also been submitted to the international competition, and we expect to hear the results of their judging soon!
Mrs Savage
Krish, Darcy, Krisha & Aakanchhya 8NEQ
For me, learning a language is…
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This half-term, 41 BGS students from Year 9 and Year 10 have been selected to participate in two virtual outreach workshops hosted by GCHQ, the largest intelligence agency in the UK. As the government's premier employer of linguists, GCHQ is always seeking bilingual graduates who can contribute to the cybersecurity of the UK.
Most impressively, two weeks ago, seventeen Year 9 students attended an interactive session tailored specifically for French speakers, led by a GCHQ language analyst. The students decoded messages in French and participated in a Q&A session regarding career opportunities at GCHQ.
We are currently gearing up for the GCHQ National Language Competition, which will take place from Monday, November 6th to Friday, November 10th, 2023. This virtual competition pits teams from schools across the UK against each other in solving language-based puzzles to earn points. There is still time to sign up - for more information, please email giglione_m@bexleygs.co.uk.
Ms Giglione, MFL Department
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience as it showcased the diversity among the language analysts at GCHQ. It also presented the methods they employ when working with different scenarios. It helped many of us understand how important learning a language is when it comes to careers that will come after it and how this recruitment is needed for linguists.
Leo Demyan, 9STA
Languages are essential for communication, and they are extremely important to society as well as creating jobs that require a creativity AI can not achieve.
Diep Anh Nguyen, 10LPV
Having a languages degree can be very useful, helps you to meet new people and enhances communication skills. What I also found interesting was how they discussed online translators, and how the job of translating can not always be done by AI, because a lot of languages have phrases that mean different things to their direct and literal meaning. Thank you for giving me this opportunity; it was really interesting to see where my love for languages could take me!
Hana Ostrowski, 10DCC
Being able to learn new languages gives you the freedom to communicate and learn about other cultures. Acquiring new knowledge and looking at things from a different perspective. Knowing multiple languages can also make you more employable.
Elin Mecaj, 10LPV
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MFL News
Dutch challenge
Dutch, which is closely related to English, is spoken in The Netherlands and in parts of Belgium.
 Here are some Dutch words and phrases in different grammatical forms, with their English translations. Fill in the missing words numbered (1) to (8) in the table.
Get in touch with Ms Giglione for the solutions! giglione_m@bexleygs.co.uk
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Year 10 Update
Last Thursday, Year 10 students welcomed a representative from Bexley Women’s Aid for an extended assembly. This covered issues connected to domestic abuse, and coercive & abusive relationships. The message was pitched appropriately for the age group, and encouraged the students to be aware of signs of these behaviours to keep them safe within their own relationships as they become young adults.
I am immensely proud of the year group for the maturity and attentiveness demonstrated throughout the talk. The visiting speaker also commended them on their “maturity & sensitivity”.
Through this half-term I have been impressed by the focus and positive behaviour demonstrated within lessons by year 10 students this term, as the year group embark on their GCSE courses.
I wish all students & their families a restful half-term break.
Mrs Spencer
Director of Studies, Year 10
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Clothes Donations
We are organising an event to highlight sustainable fashion.
From 17/10/23 to 2/11/23 we would like students to donate any old clothes that are no longer being used to the reception.
We will not accept underwear, socks and shoes.
While there is no formal limit, please bring any amount
(within reason).
The clothes will be resold at school the week after the half-term holiday.
We hope this encourages sustainability when it comes to fashion and the responsibility each of us have for our planet.
We also hope to raise awareness of the industrial
causes of climate change.
All proceeds will be donated to charities fighting for sustainability in the fashion industry.
Thank you
Ananya Pawar, Year 12
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PE News
Netball
Wednesday 11th October saw the Year 9,10 & 11 Netball team travel to CSGS for an afternoon of brilliant netball.
Our Year 9 team battled hard throughout the game, but going into the final quarter, were 2 goals down. The final quarter was very competitive with lots of interceptions and great shooting on show. The team managed to secure a draw of 10-10, with Adebola being named player of the match.
The Year 10 team played some excellent netball, with the whole squad working hard to defend, making interceptions all over the court. The attacking play was seamless, making it look easy to get the ball to our shooters. The final score was 16-3 to BGS, with Ava named as player of the match.
 The Year 11’s took on a very tall and experienced CSGS team. The team fought hard throughout the court, forcing CSGS to slow their play down at times. The final score was 13-3 to CSGS. Alice was named player of the match.
Well done girls for a fab afternoon!
Mrs Howard & Ms Leffen PE Department
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Senior House Netball
Rain didn’t stop play, but an adapted version instead! The best turnout we've seen from the seniors in this fiercely contested competition. The battle for the top spot was a frenzy in the mid-court, with clearances from the semicircle and shooting at its best. Joint winners crowned for 2023 were Mabbs and Kirkman. A fantastic evening of netball and great to see so many involved in this House competition.
Mrs Kemp and Mrs Mallin
Meet your Sports Prefects!
After a successful application process, we are pleased to announce the appointment of our Sixth Form BGS Sport Prefects. Congratulations go to the following Year 12 students:
Beth Abegunde-Williams
Jed Baulch
Riley Boyle
Jacob Jeffery
Sophie Pooley
Mateja Smailys-Bartkus
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 Badminton
A huge thank you to our Year 12 Badminton superstars, Evie Nguyen, Yu Xin Zhao and Alex Wong. These students coach and officiate at Badminton Club, allowing lots of students in their younger years to enjoy Badminton!
Thank you for all you do!
Ms Leffen
Year 9 Rugby
The Year 9 Rugby team did brilliantly on Monday afternoon, even with only 14 men! They roared to a 48-15 win over Wilmington GS, and scored some great tries in the process.
Well played boys!
Mr Lines, Head of PE
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ADHD Awareness Month
In addition to Black History month, October is also ADHD Awareness Month. The month-long campaign aims to educate the public, reduce stigma and provide support to those with ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a group of behavioural symptoms that include inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It is one of a number of different neuro-diverse conditions including dyspraxia, dyslexia, and autism, including Asperger’s. It’s a pervasive condition, and people who have ADHD find that it affects them throughout the day, no matter what they are doing.
ADHD symptoms are often noticed at an early age and can be diagnosed when children are in primary school, but sometimes diagnoses happen later in life. The symptoms of ADHD can improve with age, especially if effective treatment and support is in place. The causes of ADHD are not fully understood, but ADHD is known to be neurodevelopmental, meaning it is due to how the brain and nervous system develop.
ADHD awareness month is also a time for celebrating neuro-diversity! We all have unique talents and perspectives and can succeed in life. Did you know that Simone Biles, Rory Bremnar, Ashley McKenzie, Zooey Deschanel and Will.i.am all have ADHD? Many more famous people have been posthumously diagnosed, such as Albert Einstein, John F Kennedy and Thomas Edison. According to Michael Phelps, the most decorated athlete in Olympic history (with 28 Olympic medals, 23 of them gold!) who also lives with ADHD: “There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, there are no limits.”
Our teachers and our SEND team work with students with ADHD to support them and ensure they make progress. This ADHD awareness month, Mrs Coller, our SEND and Inclusion Manager, gave an assembly to new Year 7s about celebrating our differences.
If you would like to know more about ADHD, support for ADHD or ADHD awareness month, you could try the following websites:
https://adhdaware.org.uk/
https://www.ukadhd.com/support-groups.htm
Mrs Meyer, Assistant Headteacher and SENCo
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News items you may have missed
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Greenwich
If your child attends a school in another borough, you will need to apply to the relevant council or school directly. APPLY TO BEXLEY.
Tower Hamlets
Children whose parents live in the borough but who attend schools outside the borough. Parents should apply to the authority where the school is located. APPLY TO BEXLEY.
Medway
Does not specify the location of the school and just has a link to applications.
https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200164/school_information/354/free_school_meals. You may need to go via Bexley after this process.
Bromley
If your child attends a non-Bromley school, you must apply to the local authority where the school is situated. APPLY TO BEXLEY.
Dartford
If your child attends a non-Dartford school, you must apply to the local authority where the school is situated. APPLY TO BEXLEY.
When these applications are completed, a notification should be sent to the school for us to update records accordingly, but it may be worth the parents sending in the email confirmation to us too.
Bexley Application Link
https://www.bexley.gov.uk/services/schools-and-education/free-school-meals/how-apply-free-school-meals/free-school-meals-form
Don't delay, apply today!
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 A Message from the Attendance Office
Dear Parents / Carers,
You may have seen in the national news recently that unfortunately the number of students missing education is at an all time high. Here at BGS we have seen a slight increase in holidays during term time and absences due to sickness. We must remind parents/ carers that they are legally required to ensure that their child attends school every day and that they do not remove them from school during term time for a holiday.
With regard to absences due to sickness, please think carefully when keeping a child at home; there is usually no need to be absent with a minor ailment such as a headache, body ache, stomachache, colds, feeling under the weather etc.
Only the school can authorise an absence; if the reason you have provided is not valid then we will not be able to authorise this period of absence. Please keep absences to a minimum. We work with Bexley Education Authority who issue Fixed Penalty Notices to all parents/ carers who remove their child from school during term time for a holiday. We also make referrals to the EWO service for students with poor attendance.
If you have any concerns regarding your child's attendance please do not hesitate to contact your child's attendance officer for advice and support.
Years 7-11 year Mrs J Jeffery jeffery_j@bexleygs.co.uk
Years 12-13 Years Mrs S Jeffery jeffery_s@bexleygs.co.uk
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
Attendance Office
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 A Message from the Examinations Office
Year 13 Mock Timetable
The Year 13 mock examination timetable below can also be found on the school website via the link here.
GCSE Examination Timetable Summer 2024
The GCSE timetable for examinations to be taken in 2024 is now available on the school website or by clicking on the link here.
GCSE Contingency Days Summer 2024
Please note, contingency days are timetabled for the afternoons of 6th and 13th June, as well as Wednesday 26th June 2024. These contingency days are designed to be used in the event of national or significant local disruption to examinations.
This means that all exam candidates must be available to sit exams from the date of their first exam until Wednesday 26 June 2024.
This decision is not a school decision and does apply to all candidates in all schools.
Mrs Bono, Examinations Office
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Lost Property
We have a high volume of coats, trainers and PE kits from last term. Please ask your child to come to the Reception if they have informed you that something is missing.
Please click on the link here to report lost property or email us directly
reception@bexleygs.co.uk.
Reception Team
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 | 19 Oct 2023 Online booking via eventbrite has now closed. Our waiting lists are now full. Should you no longer wish to attend an Open Morning following publication of the Selection Test results, we would be very grateful if you could please cancel your booking by going to "Tickets" in your... |
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