08/05/2020

In this section we have asked staff to highlight students who have completed work that is noteworthy, or to celebrate something special that our staff or students have done.

In this first edition I would like to share some things our staff have been doing to support the local community and our key workers.

At the start of lockdown we became aware through relatives and friends working in the NHS and care sector that PPE was a real issue. We were galvanized into action through the work of our exceptional

technician, Mr Jeremy Kilner who very quickly manufactured face visors which we are now regularly distributing far and wide! Mrs Rawnsley, not wishing to be outdone, has been sewing scrub bags for NHS staff providing much needed support. You will be aware that our staff have been out in the community making sure our families have all that they need during this exceptional time. In addition to this, the Academy is also involved in supporting a local community effort, BD4 Love Your Neighbour, by donating

and distributing food for those who may need support. Our Chaplain, Mr Hackett has been working on our behalf to coordinate this for Bradford Academy. I hope you will give him a wave and a smile next time you see him out and about (from 2 meters obviously!)

Our own team of staff have also been out in the minibuses providing much needed supplies and a friendly greeting throughout this crisis. We will continue to do this as long as required.

This past week at the Academy has been a busy one! Learners have been participating in a variety of activities, while keeping up with social distancing and good hand washing practices.

Learners’ daily routine included exercise in the morning and before lunch. This is a great way for learners to give their brains a break, increasing focus, while working on maintaining good physical and mental health. A favourite this week has been high-intensity boxing workouts.

Staying up-to-date on school work is also a key part of each day, with learners completing 3 daily sessions of online learning. Learners can also choose to read daily, improving their literacy skills. Some learners also participated in tutoring online, organised by the Maths department.

In the afternoon learners work on projects, and take part in various activities designed to engage the learners and use

problem solving skills. This week some of these activities linked to Science and STEAM. Learners built a large den using cardboard, designed and tested balloon rockets and egg parachutes, and participated in a scavenger hunt. Some learners achieved level 3 with their eggs surviving a drop

from the ground floor.

The learner’s favourite activity has been ending the day with highly intense and competitive games of BINGO!

BA Be The Best!

Message from the Executive Principal I do hope you are all well and coping with the lockdown. You will know from reports in the press and the daily Downing street briefings that at some point, we will be planning as a nation on how to come out of lockdown. You will also appreciate that this will be a slow and steady process and that as yet, we do not have details of exactly how or when this will happen and when our children will be back at the Academy. This newsletter will be published every two weeks, to update you on any developments and to celebrate the work of staff and students during this time. We have thus far done this through direct contact with individuals and we will continue to do so, but once we get into new routines (whatever they may be), it is likely that not all children will be back in the building at the same time for a significant length of time. This newsletter will then serve to keep us connected; those in the building and those learning from home. I am very much looking forward to planning how we might safely return to the Academy. It will be a challenge, and I am sure that by working together we will meet that challenge. The newsletter will be sent via Weduc and posted on our website.

Ms T Hashmi

Covid-19 Newsletter Edition 1 - 7th May 2020

08/05/2020

Week 6 also coincided with the start of Ramadan. The observance

of Ramadan is very personal and individual and is a time for

sacrifice and renunciation as well as a period of reflection and

spiritual growth. The sacred space was used regularly to offer

prayers throughout the day.

BA Be The Best!

This week’s ‘Star’ Learners:

Information Updates School Mental Health Award

I am delighted to inform you that Bradford Academy is the recipient of The School Mental Health Award which is delivered by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental

Health in Schools. We have been awarded a Bronze standard for our outstanding mental health and wellbeing provision. This award means a lot to the Academy community. It recognises all of the positive work that is embedded within our school community to promote positive mental health. The process of receiving this award was a rigorous one and led by a team of staff including Mrs Jakes, Mrs Whitely, Mrs Hamilton and Mrs Millar. Whilst they led this process, many staff and partners involved with Bradford Academy also contributed to this outstanding achievement and many learners and their families have benefitted from the support we provide and which has been recognised nationally through this award. Well done everyone!

Free E Learning – information from Bradford Local Authority

In partnership with the University of Reading, Future Learn is offering a free e-learning called “Covid-19: Helping Young People Manage Low Mood & Depression”

On this course, young people, parents, carers, teachers, and other professionals can learn helpful, practical techniques to cope with low mood and depression during the lockdown period and beyond. You’ll examine how to help young people structure their day and improve sleep and diet and you will cover the following topics:

Practical advice on structuring the day and promoting

healthy habits

Helpful family communication to keep conflict to a

minimum

The importance of modelling and self-care

Tips on managing your thoughts and your feelings

Using this time as an opportunity for developing resilience

The course will be available online here for two weeks from 4th May 2020 and takes just two hours to complete.

Health and Wellbeing

A moment to pause and to take stock …….

Mrs Jakes’ top tips for coping with lockdown

"I will not stress myself out about things I can't control or change"

Reduce time on social media and watching the news

Communicate with somebody outside your household virtually each day

If you have a bad day don't beat yourself up accept it and move on

Ensure weekends stay as weekends

Plan something to look forward to each day

Establish a daily routine

Mindful colouring

Simon Armitage — Poet Simon Armitage the current poet Laureate ( from Marsden!) sums up the best approach to taking care of your health and well-being.

He asks us to just to focus, and think, and be contemplative. He has created a poem which look at all the situations individuals and societies have experienced in lockdown.

In an interview he summarises his ideas and the following quote says it all really.

“It’s about taking things easy and being patient and trusting the Earth and maybe having to come through this slightly slower, and wiser, at the other end – given that one thing that’s accelerated the problem is our hectic lives and our proximities and the frantic ways we go about things”.

Joshua T– 13A Sofia D– 13D

Adam W– 13A Sofia K– 13C

Hamzah K– 8D Alisha I– 12B

Ismaeel S– 13A Anousha P– 12D

Aisha H– 13B Sanah R– 12B

Alexander D– 13A Safa K– 12D

Hamza A- 12A Kadi K– 12D

Hasnain A– 12A Sameer H– 12B

Amber F– 12A Yusra B– 13A

Konika V– 12A Hadeeqa R– 13A

Laiba S– 12E

Tanaesha D– 12E