At the end of this term we tried to make it as enjoyable and meaningful for the pupils as possible. We combined some of the more traditional activities which we have always done at Bayside with some new ones which we hoped would be fun over the last three days of the term. Additionally, all activities involved new elements to ensure we complied with COVID regulations and kept pupils and staff safe before the Christmas holidays. I've posted some photos already. Here are some more as well as a summary of events!
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1. Concert
The concert was watched in year bubbles so it was performed multiple times. The concert was organised by the drama/dance and music departments but involved the participation of pupils and staff in different years.
 
2. Science project finals.
Pupils in Key Stage 3 were engaged in two different projects in class the week before the end of the term.
In year 9 pupils made paper aeroplanes, where possible using paper that needed to be recycled anyway, i.e past exam papers etc. and they were encouraged to try different designs. The aim was to create a plane which travelled the furthest. Each class had two winners who competed against each other at the end of term.
In years 7 and 8 they were engaged in the creation of a chemical car. This again was done as a project in class the week before the end of term and the finals were held at the end of the term. Vinegar and baking soda were used and they focussed on design as well as speed. The pupils thoroughly enjoyed this activity!
 
Pupils in years 10 and 11 were treated to science experiments which they usually do not have time to watch.
 
All the activities had an element of learning in them but they were great fun.
 
3. Flashmob
Each year group were taken to the sports hall in their year bubbles to learn the dance moves to Blinding Lights by The Weeknd taught by the PE department. Dance has recently been introduced to Bayside and the PE Department are encouraging all pupils to engage with dance. On the last day the music will be played over the PA system and the pupils will dance wherever they happen to be!
 
4. Escape Rooms
The geography department organised an escape rooms activity which they did in form classes. We’re told that it was quite a challenge and the form classes became quite competitive!
 
5. Video – Each form class was asked to reflect on the last two years and the difficulties which we have all experienced. They then looked at their hopes for 2022. Each form class then created a video. The videos were shared with all the pupils on our online learning platforms.
 
6. Whole school quiz and Year 12/13 quiz
Each form class participated in a quiz. The questions were read over the PA system. Many of the questions were about the school itself. Some of the questions were asked in Spanish and in French in a bid to promote languages in school.
 
7. Spinathon – Return the Elf to Lapland
Year 13 students organised their spinathon, now done outside to make it COVID safer! There were five bikes in total and a minimum of four were in use six periods a day for a week. The atmosphere was great and well over £2500 has been raised so far.
 
8. Hampers/ pan dulces / and Christmas Boxes
In the background to all the other activities we have had other initiatives going on as well. 350 food hampers were packed for Nazareth House as well as making 100 pan dulces and over 60 Christmas Boxes for the homeless. Years 11, 12 and 13 students were involved in these ventures as well as staff. It is important to give to those less fortunate than ourselves at this time of year.
 
9. Christmas Hat Challenge   
On 1st December the headteacher and head boy put on their Santa hats. They have worn them every day from then until the 22nd December. Each day a new member of staff and student joined until we have had 22 staff and 22 students wearing hats.
 
10. Decoration competition
Form bases and communal areas of the school were decorated during registration over the last few weeks. There were some spectacular creations from the Year 13s Santa’s Grotto and the Year 12s Nutcracker to various winter wonderland themes in Years 7-10. It made the school look really festive!

Staff at Bayside made over 100 pan dulces for Nazareth House. Thank you everyone!

Year 11 students prepared Christmas Boxes for Nazareth House as part of their charity initiative in their COPE classes.

Each form class and year group were invited to decorate their form bases so as to make the whole school look more festive. They were asked to use or reuse materials which would have otherwise been thrown away or recycled so as to make the initiative as sustainable as possible. Sustainability was taken into account when choosing the winners.

The winners were as follows:
Year 7 - RX, Mrs Camilleri's form class, which used toilet rolls and old cans to decorate the door!
Year 8 - BX, Mr Garcia's form class, which reused old posters!
Year 9 - YY, Ms Hermida's form, which recreated a fireplace using old boxes and paints!
Year 10 - GY and RY were joint winner, Ms Martinez and Ms Posso-Harrison's form classes. 
Year 12 - Ms Shoesmith's form class and their 'Nutcracker' made out of boxes and recyclable materials.
Year 13 - Ms Johnson's form class and their Santa's Grotto
Overall sustainability award - 10YX, Mrs Garcia's form class

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 12 and 13

A tree of unity was also put up at the school entrance. It was made out of recycled cardboard boxes and the pupils' and teachers' hands which were drawn on paper which was to be recycled. There are over 1000 hands with their messages and thoughts!

Despite the chill in the air and the levanter cloud looming over Gibraltar on Wednesday morning, it was all smiles down at Bayside School as the sixth form responsibility team and teachers prepared to launch our charity spinathon. For five days, our volunteers will cycle in order to return Buddy the Elf to the North Pole.
We were extremely fortunate to have The Honourable Mayor Christian Santos to launch our first hour of cycling and would like to express our sincere gratitude to our spinathon sponsors: Inmotion, Casais, GMIhomes, Bavaria, Deloitte and Kids Come First for their generous donations to our students4students charity!
A huge THANKYOU also to our volunteers who have been spinning and donating all week! A particular thanks to the Director of Education, Ms Keri Scott, who time out of her busy schedule to cycle for an hour and support our students' initiative.
If you would like to help Buddy make it home in time for Christmas lunch, please send your donations to:
Students4Students Charitable Trust
20001242
​60-83-14

The Food Dept. organised a 'Bake-off' to raise money for GBC Open Day. It was a great afternoon and a really good laugh. £331 and €2 was raised in total.

The winners were Vanessa, Valeska, Natalie and Yolanda.

The ICT Dept was second with their iPad and the Geographers were third with their festive creation.

The wooden spoon was won by the maths team once again and here are some of the other cakes created on the day.

Today our staff and students wore a Christmas Jumper or some other Christmas accessory to raise money for Save the Children. We also had fun as we did this!

​Please read the communication below from the GHA with regards to their flu vaccine for our school pupils.

Dear Parents/Guardian
 
We are inviting your child to the Children’s Health Centre on Friday 10th December to have their flu vaccine. Please note that one parent must accompany the child on the day for consent purposes.
Please attend the clinic accordingly with the schedule provided below.

• Hebrew High 9am-11am
• Prior Park 9am-11am
• College of Further Education 12pm-1pm
• Bayside School 1pm-3pm
• Westside School 3pm-5pm

 
If you have, any concerns or issues that you would like to discuss further, please contact us on 200070143 ext 3351
 
Yours faithfully,
The Child Health Team