Autumn 2017
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Exam Successes
New Head Girl Teams
Year 7 Lockerbie Trip
Creative Arts Exhibition
Year 12 Induction Trips
Chamber Choir Tour http://kaywa.me/v5Qax
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Creative Arts Exhibition
GDST Rally Success Chamber Choir Prague Tour Assessment Morning
Year 12 Induction Day University Fair
Prize Giving GCSE Results Day
Night of the Unexpected
FEATURE STORIES
A Level Sucesses
What’s inside…
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Once again, record A-Level outcomes for our Y13 Students! A huge congratulations to all of our Year 13 students who have risen admirably to the challenge of more demanding, linear A-Level qualifications. It was amazing to see so many smiling faces once the ‘dreaded’ brown envelopes had been opened! Over 20% of all of the grades were A* or A grades and over half of all of the grades were awarded grade B or above. In the national context of the new examinations this is a fantastic achievement for our students. Well done to all of the girls, their parents and of course to the Belvedere teaching and support staff, who always go the extra mile to support our students. We all wish you every success as the majority of you now embark on your first choice university courses. Work hard, always remember what it means to be a ‘Belvedere Girl’ and be sure to stay in touch!
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e h t f o p o t , e r e d e v l e B : GCSE ! n i a g a e c n o class A huge well done to all of our students in Year 11. Once again, the standards they have set have been amazing. Even though exams in English and Maths were much tougher this year (as has been well-publicised) well over 40% of all of the grades were A*-A or 7-9 in the new grading system! With nearly 92% of all of the grades at A*-C, all of the students should be very proud of their achievements. We look forward to welcoming the vast majority of the cohort into the Sixth Form. Thank you, as always, to all of our supportive parents and to all of the staff who continue to push our students to the very highest levels of success!
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Annual Prize Giving 2017 Belvedere’s Prize Giving event is always an impressive and prestigious affair, which can easily be taken for granted when one has attended it for many years. We were reminded just how special and unique it is by our Special Guest and Chief Executive of the GDST, Cheryl Giovannoni, who was not only new to such an event but was also a new visitor to our Anglican Cathedral. Over 2000 people, including members of our Local Governing Body, gathered to celebrate the successes of our students whether it was for their academic excellence, their contribution to academy life or for embodying all of the attributes of a Belvedere Girl. We were also pleased to welcome back over 50 of our Leavers, many of whom have already started their courses in their first choice universities. Our Principal, Mr Kennedy, gave a speech reflecting on the highlights of the academy year where he reminded us all that The
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Belvedere Academy is now 10 years old; a birthday that we had all missed due to hectic academy life. Once the prizes had been awarded to over 350 students ranging from Year 8 to Year 13, Ms Giovannoni gave some inspirational words focusing on the power of young women and their ability to shape the future. Our Head Girl, Jazmin Mooney, echoed these remarks in her impressive Vote of Thanks. The ceremony was punctuated by outstanding performances from our Choir, Chamber Choir and Orchestra, led by Mr O’Keeffe. A musical highlight was definitely the opening performance of Toto’s Africa, which was led by the Choir, but included all 135 members of Year 7, complete with rain special effects. Congratulations to all of the students who received prizes and for those who did not, it’s never too early to start achieving for next year!
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Prize Giving is one of the most prestigious events in the academic calendar and I was delighted to have been given the honour of addressing the academy, parents and guests. The amount of work that goes into such an event is often under-estimated. I am pleased that the team and I could be a part of all of the ‘behind-the-scenes’ preparation. My planning for Prize Giving 2017 started a few weeks before when I wrote my speech.
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In a period of applying to universities and preparing personal statements I found writing my speech a welcome escape; I was confident with the message that I wanted to deliver. I was supported by various members of staff, particularly Miss Speed, who was my first audience member and she shared helpful tips on presenting with regards to the acoustics of the cathedral. On the day itself, I had nerves and excitement in equal measure. I found leading
the procession along with my deputies to be the proudest moment of my school career. I enjoyed watching the Prize Giving as it is a great way to recognise the hard work of the students. My nerves were quickly replaced with excitement and when on stage I felt comfortable and thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt a great deal of pride when delivering my vote of thanks; it was certainly an experience that I will never forget.
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Good afternoon everyone. I am honoured to be standing before you today as the Head Girl of the academy. I would like to first thank Cheryl Giovannoni for attending today as our Guest of Honour and for her inspirational words that I am sure we will all take away with us today. On behalf of the academy I would like to say, ‘thank you Ms Giovannoni’. Today is a day of recognition and congratulations. A day for all the people who have contributed to your academic success to celebrate you! This is not just a Prize Giving, it is a giving of thanks. On this day, October 20th, over 150 years ago Abraham Lincoln recognised Thanksgiving as a national holiday. This emphasises the strength of appreciation, whether this be to your parents and carers or peers and teachers, it takes a great support system to achieve great things; something that I have definitely found to be true throughout my school career but particularly in my final year of the academy. Just by looking at the amount of prize winners today shows the magnitude of what can be achieved in an academic year. Earlier this month I was fortunate enough to attend the Young Leaders’ Conference hosted in the Royal High School of Bath. It was here that I heard three powerful women speak of what it takes to be a leader,
one of them being Cheryl Giovannoni who advised ‘if you are not happy with the modern-day leaders today, be the leader that you would like.’ This is something that heavily links with the notion ‘be the change in the world that you wish to see’ and it is apparent that you are all doing just that! This year alone has seen amazing achievements for Belvedere; another outstanding academy production directed by the Drama and Music department showed distinct talent from students of Year 7 to 13; sporting success yet again at the Annual GDST Rally which boosted our famous Belvedere spirit whilst competing, and a record number of applications to join Belvedere both in Sixth Form and Year 7. Although the ‘end goal’ whatever it may be, should act as a constant motive, the way in which you arrive at said goal is equally important and let that not be forgotten. For progression is one of the most important qualities to exhibit and maintain. Do not limit yourself or allow for limiting comparisons because as young ladies we can always grow, develop and progress, something that Cheryl Giovannoni has actively shown throughout her successful career. If today you did not receive a prize then let that be your ‘end goal’ for next year. Work hard and take every opportunity and there is no reason why you should not be standing on this stage in 2018.
Last week saw International Day of the Girl, a celebration which aims to empower girls across the globe. Girls are a source of power, energy and creativity and that is apparent in our prize winners this afternoon. So, do take risks and don’t be frightened to make mistakes. Celebrations such as this aim to acknowledge the successes of women, but show unfortunately as girls we will have to overcome many obstacles and the GDST principles should help us to do so: Girls First, Networked, Bold and Principled. Although today a lot of emphasis will be put upon the academic excellence that we all strive for, let it be known that personal achievement and satisfaction are equally as important and can be found in the academy’s extensive Enrichment programme, from sporting teams competing at city championships, to international tours by the Chamber Choir and, of course, Duke of Edinburgh. We work to ensure that you are all equipped for life beyond Belvedere. For me, Belvedere is a wonderful learning environment, a place that fosters everybody who enters its doors and promotes the principles that will carry you through your life. And it is with that I know the girls of Belvedere will leave as that: resilient, determined, confident ladies. Thank you
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“Not long ago came the time to wrap up warm, put away our electronics and kiss our parents good bye. On a rainy Monday morning us girls headed to form before quickly departing on the three coaches. On arrival, we were all shocked by the grand elegance of Lockerbie Manor. Once we were sorted into our rooms everyone unpacked, made their beds and got more excited as the first day came to an end.
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because we were so exhausted and ready for bed. What made the Lockerbie trip so worth it was we were put into activity groups with other girls in different forms. I have made so many friends, so many memories and I loved every minute of it. My main advice for next year’s Year 7 would be to bring waterproof trousers! Thank you to everybody who made my experience wonderful.” Rosie Galvin
On our trip we had a wide range of activities. The activities I enjoyed were zip wiring, survival skills and archery. Doing a total of nine activities over the holiday everybody was famished and enjoyed the great homemade food. My favourite meal was the chicken pie but there was a great variety for others as well!
“Lockerbie was an amazing trip full of adventure and fun! Activities included abseiling, climbing, shelter building, blind trailing, survival skills, archery, orienteering, low ropes and a zip wire. My favourite activities were the zip wire, because it was so exhilarating, and archery in which I achieved a bullseye.
Free time allowed us to catch up with our friends and share our new experiences with one another. Getting to sleep was no hassle
In the evening enjoyable spending time
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it
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with my friends just chilling; it was also a good opportunity to make new friends and mix with people that we don’t usually have contact with in school. Some of the activities were really muddy (and I mean really muddy) but that was all part of the fun so I wouldn’t advise taking your new or favourite clothes! I fully recommend the trip to any Year 7. I have so many wonderful memories, I promise you, you won’t regret it!” Liberty Jones-Murray
“In Lockerbie we did so many great activities - from climbing to blind trail and even a quiz. We all tested our confidence and conquered our fears, but in the end we all had fun. When we got there we were greeted by the leaders and staff of the manor and showed to our rooms (which were very nice) and then started our activities. We had such a great time and I am sure everyone enjoyed it!“ Emma Shepherd
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Tender Workshop In June, 25 Year 9 pupils took part in a two day Tender workshop, where they used drama, poetry and song to discuss the importance of health relationships. Tender is an arts charity that works with young people to promote healthy relationships based on equality and respect.
Wildlife Art Enrichment Year 8 students have been taking part in a Wildlife Art Enrichment to look at the work of artists and explore the Animal Kingdom in Art.
They have been looking at the work of Marian Voicu and zentangle artists. There will be much more to come this year and we still have one more place available in
Here are some of their beautiful works.
the group. If anyone would like to join in the fun, contact Miss Preece.
The workshop was led by Nettie Porter, who works with Tender via Liverpool John Moores University, and aimed to give the girls the skills and confidence to act as ambassadors for good relationships. At the end of the two days, the 25 girls put on a performance for the rest of Year 9, where they showcased songs, poetry and drama developed across the two days. This gave all of Year 9 the opportunity to learn more about good relationships and danger signs to look out for.
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Thanks for hosting the Academy Gifted and Talented day at Belvedere. There were 200 students in attendance... all of the schools who attended were deeply impressed with Belvedere and the conference facilities you provided. You may not be aware of the delicious lunch that your caterers provided for the staff, or of the swift response to provide lunches without warning for students who had forgotten to bring food with them. All very kind. The atmosphere was very special. Every good wish - and thanks again. Julie Arliss, ACADEMY CONFERENCES.
Great facilities available: Sports Hall, Multi-use Hall with stage, Dance and Drama Studios and Lecture Theatre. 12
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Record numbers attend our Assessment Morning
Two years ago an amazing 575 students passed through the doors for our Year 6 Assessment Morning; no doubt the record numbers were a reflection on our ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted report. However, last year, possibly in light of the outstanding GCSE results this summer, we had a record breaking 659 applicants - was that number ever going to be bettered? This year saw over 800 students coming to Belvedere for their Year 6 Assessment - a real indication of both the success and the popularity of the academy! The queues started early; people were waiting from 7.20am! The line of Year 6 students stretched the length of Belvidere Road. With over 800 students, plus their
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parents and friends, the queues numbered close on 2000 people! The strategic operation of registering over 800 students and getting them in to the correct rooms began. Our amazing sixth formers helped the Year 6 students, directing them to where they need to be with military precision! Once the girls were inside, and settled, the assessments began; but there was also time to relax, play a few games and make new friends. Good luck girls, we look forward to welcoming some of you in Year 7 as Belvedere Girls.
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Success at the GDST Rally “The GDST Rally is a highly competitive day out amongst girls from all different GDST schools and the level of competition
fierce competition (as always!). However, we came out of the other side as unbeaten champions, scoring half a rounder more
teams compete in their sports, including tennis, volleyball and trampolining. When all of the events had concluded we gathered
is unbelievable. I have attended the Rally every year since 2013 as part of the tennis team and every single year has been amazing! Being able to captain one of the strongest tennis teams we’ve ever had this year was a great way to end my last year at the Rally with Belvedere and the PE department. Our B Team did extremely well in all matches and our A team managed to retain the title as Trust Rally winners, having not lost a match all day! It was a great sporting day out and I would personally like to thank the PE department for all they have done for me these last 7 years and the great sporting memories I will take away with me!” Tia Morris
than our closest competitors, Shrewsbury. All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed the Rally, hosted in Sheffield, and winning the tournament was a great way to celebrate our last year in the academy.
in the Sports Hall to receive any awards we had earned. Finally, we boarded the bus after an eventful day and even though we were tired, we were pleased with the awards we had achieved. On reflection, this event was an opportunity to showcase our talents in sport.” Jasmine Parry
“Being selected as a part of the Senior Rounders Team for this year’s Rally was an honour, especially as it’s our last year being able to participate. We competed against 6 teams in a round robin fashion, facing some
As co-captains, we would like to thank the PE department for giving us countless opportunities to participate in sports events representing the academy; we are extremely grateful to leave our last rally on a high note!” Phoebe Rhodes and Jazmin Mooney “After an early start, we boarded the bus for the rally at Sheffield Girls’ School. We were a little nervous but mostly excited about the day ahead. Following a short introduction from the school, we began our events. We played all competing schools in rounders, which brought out our competitive spirits and sense of fun. Once we had finished, we watched our other
“Over the past few years of being at Belvedere and attending the Rally, this is the first time I have attended as a team captain, specifically of the swimming team. I always enjoy the day out, however this time it was more memorable because I got to captain my team to 4th place in the competition out of seven teams. It was very exciting to watch everyone swim and also make it to the finals as the competition is very high but, overall, I think it was a great day out. And a big well done to the swimming team and everyone else who competed.” Katana Rumble
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S ’ L H ROALD DA
Roald Dahl’s Night of the Unexpected was a glorious celebration of our pupils’ talent and shone as a beacon of true cross-departmental collaboration. With a cast, orchestra and crew of over fifty, the show created a buzz around school like no other. As always, the show sold out with tickets still in high demand; this is a sign of the quality of the performances that Belvedere creates and the amazing support given by peers and families. Overall, one thousand audience members viewed the evening of talent, which took us on a journey of Roald Dahl. Act One saw a dramatic and unexpected series of monologues, duologues and songs popping up across the theatrical space all performed by talented pupils from across the academy. This included a
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magical rendition of ‘Pure Imagination’ and a collaborative snap shot of ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s’ best-loved characters. The Grand High Witch terrified tiny audience members with her fierce incitement to kill small children, and the strange old man from ‘James and the Giant Peach’ entered with his brown paper bag full of crocodile tongues. When The Twits walked down the aisle of the auditorium, the audience laughed with glee as the disgusting pair tricked each other time and again with their cruel jokes followed by a revolting rhyme or two. We then took a short journey down the road to Toxteth where we found Jack and his single mother struggling to make ends meet but with a plan to make it rich from the sale of their cow. Act One’s rollick around Roald Dahl’s creations ended with a beautifully staged ensemble performance of ‘When I Grow
Up’ from Tim Minchin’s ‘Matilda’. The performance wouldn’t have been what is was without the support of the whole academy, notably the organisation of Miss Miller and the expertise of Miss Calderbank and her students for making lots of the amazing costumes. After a swift drink at ‘George’s Marvellous Medicinal Bar’ run by our supportive staff, audience members were enthralled by Act Two, the abridged version of ‘Matilda.’ This hit West End show was complete with a riot of songs and dance routines detailing the dramatic and heroic tale of one little girl’s protest against the bullies. The witty lyrics and playful tunes were superbly sung by a cast of over 30 pupils from Years 7-13 and orchestrated by our talented musicians, including Mr Deakin and Mr Lamb, and conducted by Mr O’Keeffe. Our Drama teachers Mr Hill, Miss Blundell and Mrs Cox all worked tirelessly behind the scenes, casting the play, rehearsing each week and directing every detail from set to costume, dance routines to dramatic scenes. It’s proved to be an epic adventure!
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Congratulations to Alex McCaldon who has been selected to play for England in the Under 19 Home Internationals Lacrosse Tournament in April and is working towards being selected for the Under 19 World Cup in Canada 2019 to represent England on a world stage. She has been playing lacrosse for almost 4 years now with the Liverpool ladies senior team and has been selected at county level, playing for the under 18 A team from 2015-present. From county level, she was put forward for regional trials where she was selected for the North under 18 A Team. In 2015 she trialled for the England regional academy and got selected. She trained at the regional academy for two years and got put forward for the trial for the National England Academy in summer. In addition, this summer she also got signed to an organisation called NCSA (Next Student College Athlete). This organisation is based in Chicago, America, and creates an academic and lacrosse profile and sends them to universities across America to get university coaches in contact with players. Her aim is to get recruited for a lacrosse scholarship and study in America after 6th Form. She loves playing lacrosse and would advise anyone to go and give it a try. It is not a very publicised sport but it is an amazing game that everyone should try at some point in their lifetime.
England call up for Belvedere’s Alex original photography - Louise MacDonald, Y13
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Game design for International Slavery Museum In the summer a group of Year 9 students were invited to work with the International Slavery Museum to create an educational resource. The girls visited the museum and used their Enrichment time to produce a game that would tell the story of Resistance. The grand opening of this resource took place in August and it has been very well received. The public cannot believe that it was made by students! Gemma Newby, one of the game designers, reflects on her experience. “The project that we spent time working on was to create a game to show what it was like for enslaved Africans to escape using the Underground Railroad. In the first couple of weeks we came up with different options for the game. In this project we hoped to teach people more about the Transatlantic
Netball Fixtures Tuesday 17th October V Bellerive Year 7a, 7b, 8, 9, 10, 11 (Home) Wednesday 8th November V Bluecoat Year 7a, 7b, 8, 9, 10, 11 (Away) Tuesday 14th November V Arch Blanch Year 7a, 7b, 8, 9, 10, 11, & Senior (Away)
Slave trade and the lives of escapees. We also wanted to teach people that we should all be treated equally and that no one is superior to anyone else. As well as the members of our History Club a lot of people were involved in the creation of the game such as; the Education Team at the International Slavery Museum and the artist Hwa Young Jung of Re-Dock. We all believe that this project is very important and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is an era of history that should not be overlooked or forgotten. I was very interested in this project as I find history very interesting. I was particularly interested in this project as I think it is a very good way to get the message across. I believe that the game will attract a wide
Monday 11th December V L’pool College Year 8, 9, 10, 11 (Home) Tuesday 23rd January V St.Hilda’s Year 7A, 7B, 8, 9, 10, 11, Senior (Away)
Cross Country Competitions Wednesday 18th October at Camphill Woolton Wednesday 21st February at Sefton Park
Monday 27th November V L’pool College Year 7A, 7B, & Seniors (Away)
Wednesday 14th March at Wavertree
range of audiences and spread the word about the severe struggle that many enslaved Africans faced. I most enjoyed creating my own character for the game. We looked at different resources and studied a few case studies, which really helped us to fully understand and enabled us to create realistic characters to feature in the learning game. To help us with the project, we took a trip to the International Slavery Museum. We were taken on a very interesting tour with Yazz from the Education Team where we got to see key artefacts that helped us with the game. In the Education Centre we learned more about the Underground Railroad, saw more artefacts and then made our own versions of Quilt Codes, which will be used in our game.”
PE Enrichments The PE Department’s Enrichments are as popular as ever. Well done to all the girls taking part and those selected for our Sports Teams. Keep up the good work everyone! Dance Festival The PE Department are hosting a Dance Festival on Thursday 7th Dec at 7pm. Pupils will be performing 11 Decades of Dances and Dances from Around the World. Keep your eyes peeled for more information from the PE Department!
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October 2017 saw the biennial Belvedere University Fair take place, with almost forty universities from across the UK visiting Belvedere to speak to students and parents. All girls from Year 8 to 13 were invited and we had a huge turnout! The event gave pupils an opportunity to speak to a wide range of universities and learn more about student life, courses and entry requirements. Having the event in school meant that universities could give Belvedere girls their undivided attention, and our girls certainly made use of the expertise on offer! Many unis had long queues all night, but our students’ enthusiasm was infectious and the uni representatives were pleased to be taking questions until the end. Before the fair kicked off, The University of Leeds offered a talk on preparing for university life; a great starter to the evening. The University of Leicester offered a talk about student finance a bit
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later on, which hopefully demystified the complicated student loans rules somewhat. We lost count of the amount of universities that commented on how outstanding our pupils were, in particular the maturity and knowledge shown by the younger students; how fabulous to see so many Y8 & 9 pupils thinking about the future at such a young age! Several university representatives were left with hoarse voices as they didn’t stop all night, and countless ran out of all their prospectuses; so keen were our girls.
The University of Hull representative said he couldn’t ever remember being asked so many questions about medical degrees, whilst Northumbria said it was one of the busiest they’d attended, particularly in terms of the number of pre-16 students and also parents who were involved! Overall, Belvedere girls yet again represented themselves brilliantly, and hopefully pupils and parents were able to find out some useful information to help them with their next steps.
“Really helpful, I found the representative from John Moores University really enthusiastic and they helped me plan my future”
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“The university fair really helped me to see my future clearly; I really liked the representatives from Queens & Staffordshire”
“I found the university fair very useful, especially finding out about courses and requirements”
“The representatives were really helpful, and each university was unique. It really helped me to consider my further education” 20
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The Graphics department organised for two university lecturers to visit Belvedere to give a workshop for the Y12 and Y13 students. Mike Lambourne - Programme Leader BA (Hons) Graphic Design and Visual Communication gave an invaluable insight into life as a Graphic Design student at university. Blackpool is a very successful college for Graphics students and Mike also highlighted the benefits of becoming a Graphic Designer - for example with “Creative industries worth almost £10 million an hour to the economy*” there is always a need for designers and always jobs created in the creative sector - *www.gov.uk “a degree in the creative arts prepares you for a job in one of the UK’s fastest growing sectors” www.cbi.org.uk
Blackpool comes to Belvedere! I really enjoyed the workshop, it has given me a collection of new skills to apply to my future projects. Many of the things I learnt I would never have thought of doing myself. Thank you!
A Level Graphics students experience a degree workshop
Paula Smithson - Programme Leader BA (Hons) Illustration - ran a fabulous illustration and bookmaking workshop. The students were told to lose all inhibitions and made to draw with ink and sticks so that there was no chance of changing things. A series of exercises using acrylic paints, marker pens, unusual paper sizes and letter stamps, left the students wondering where the project was leading. The whole session came together when all the elements were combined to make a concertina book.
“I really enjoyed the workshops, it would be great to have two hour lessons to really explore techniques in more detail!”
“I really enjoyed the workshop, it has given me a collection of new skills to apply to my future projects. Many of the things I learnt I would never have thought of doing myself. Thank you!”
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“I really enjoyed the workshop and the techniques we looked at; exploring ways of using resources in different ways that came together for a draft of a final project. It really gave you a feel of the wider ideas and uses of illustration in graphic design as well as different ways to create books.”
“The session was an extremely interesting and creative process. Paula and Mike’s bubbly personalities lit up the room, introducing us to aspects of graphic design that we could use in future work.
“I think that it gave me more of an insight into how I can experiment with a lot of different media and styles to create a really effective and eye-catching piece.”
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“The workshop was very helpful as it helped me to experiment with a range of different textures. I enjoyed the activity because at first I wasn’t aware of what I was making until I finished making it at the end; I thought that the idea was very creative and the outcome was really good.”
Their visit was excellent, providing insight for our own university choices.”
Interesting facts from Mike’s speech UK’s Creative Industries generate nearly £9.6million per hour The UK’s creative industries are now worth a record £84.1 billion to the UK economy.
“I thought it gave an interesting insight into the university and highlighted key aspects such as Blackpool being one of the two lowest costing universities in the UK. My favourite part of the visit was the creative making as I got to experiment with new skills and materials.”
“The workshop was good, it taught me new skills and made me think more outside of the box. This will help inspire me for my future projects. Using different materials to make up designs was a really enjoyable thing to do and allowed me to be more creative.”
The figures show the sector growing at almost twice the rate of the wider UK economy - generating £9.6million per hour. www.gov.uk
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Year 12 Induction Day “Speaking from the point of view of a student already at Belvedere, I thought that the Year 12 Induction Day would be a fun little day out ice-skating. But, it was so much more. It was a chance for internal and external students to mix together, following
the academy and I am sure other internals will agree with me. I didn’t think I would be enjoying 6th Form as much as I do right now. It is a step-up from a subject and work perspective but there are already so many opportunities that have been offered
an intensive but fun Induction Week.
to every single one of us in Year 12. The Induction Week was such an informative and exciting way to start 6th Form at Belvedere on a high and I am sure that the rest of this year will be the same.“ Alex McCaldon-McNally
Firstly, ice-skating was not like I expected. I thought it would be a few hours on the rink and then back to school. However, each form were given two challenges. First of all, as a form group we had to produce our own ice princess costume for a member in our form to wear whilst ice-skating. This was a lot of fun as it was our first ever form activity on the first day back in September. This was a great opportunity to learn new students’ names and to touch base with existing internals. I am a member of 12MC and our form came together immediately. Our dress was so well designed and everyone got the chance to get involved in creating the outfit. On the morning of going to Widnes ice-rink, we were told by the 6th Form Team that we had to create our own figure skating routine to show to the other forms near the end of our session at the rink. This was another great opportunity to bond and form friendships with people that you were not friends with before or new students, and I can happily say I have done that from our Induction Week. After ice-skating we were transported to Camp and Furnace for something to eat. This gave everyone time to relax and consolidate friendships that have been developing through the first two weeks. In addition, we also got to know the 6th Form Team. They really settle everyone into 6th Form well as it is a big change from lower down in
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“On Friday 16th September, Belvedere Year 12 took a trip to Silver Blades ice rink in Widnes followed by a scrumptious lunch in Camp and Furnace. Whilst on the ice, everyone got a chance to mingle and get to know one another. Ice-skating really helped ‘break the ice’ for a lot of the girls who did not know each other, especially nervous external girls new to the school, including me. Each form took it in turns to choreograph and perform an ice skating routine. This was a fun experience for everyone, especially those who were watching the girls who had never even put on a pair of ice skates before. Surprisingly, there were no trips to Alder Hey, despite the many tumbles the girls had taken on the ice. As an external Belvedere girl I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I immediately felt like I was accepted into the Belvedere family and I know many of my friends who are also new to the school felt the same. The iceskating along with the lunch, and even the coach ride, was successful with helping the girls form new friendships, which helped to create a comfortable environment in and out of school.” Halle Clugston
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A cut above the rest! Year 13 Graphics students show amazing skill in paper illustration! As part of their Personal Investigation, Year 13 Graphic students have been showcasing some amazing illustrative talent by experimenting in making imagery by only using paper! Quilling has been making a bit of a revival in the arts and crafts movement and Siobhan Greenlees’ letter ‘R’ shows how she has perfected the art. Quilling or paper filigree is an art form that involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to create decorative designs. Typography is not something you would often associate with paper, more often it is printed on to the paper. Esraa Abou-Elkawam’s hand drawn font that was carefully cut out of card gives the type a different dimension. Further experiments with projecting imagery on to the paper, take the image to a different visual level. Esraa has also experimented with layering and masking in her flower-heart piece, which successfully layers imagery to give a sense of depth and dimension, again with only using coloured paper! Influenced by Helen Musselwhite, the artist who visited Belvedere a few years ago, Lauryn Thomson’s amazingly detailed owl in nature piece would not look out of place on a children’s story cover. Again, the skill involved in layering coloured paper to reveal and make imagery appear realistic is exceptional.
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Welcome to your 27
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new Head Girl teams 28
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On 15th June, The Belvedere Academy
The exhibition showcased GCSE, AS and
treated to some fabulous creative textile
hosted The Creative Arts Exhibition 2017. On show was the amazing work created by our extremely talented Art, Graphics and Textiles students.
A2 students’ outstanding achievements, allowing the students to celebrate in style.
creations. Also on display this year were some fabulous photographic prints. These very impressive pieces formed part of the Graphics GCSE coursework, along with examples of animation from our creative Graphics students.
The private view was a huge success, with over 300 guests attending; including students, friends, families, local gallery owners and Art lecturers from local universities.
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Guests were treated to tasty canapĂŠs (created by the Lower School and GCSE Food Technology students), refreshments and music, to help celebrate in style. Alongside the professional graphic design and wonderful original art, the guests were
All guests enjoyed what proved to be a truly fantastic evening; one which left guests in awe of the standard of the work exhibited.
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Geography fieldwork for Year 10 Y7 conquer Moel Famau
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On Monday 26th June, the whole of Year 10 invaded Liverpool City Centre to conduct our fieldwork. We went into the city centre to record whether there was any evidence to suggest that Liverpool has been culturally influenced.
Overall, it was an enjoyable day out and we even managed to sneak a bit of shopping into our lunch break!
We completed questionnaires on Bold
On Tuesday 27th June, Year 10 also visited Formby Beach to record the gradient of the beach. Luckily, the rain held off so we managed to record the steepness of the beach, as well as measure the wind
Street, Church Street and Liverpool One, as well as completing a land use survey to identify the nationality of shops and restaurants in these areas.
speed. It was a long and busy day, as we had lots of data to collect, however it was good fun being out of the classroom and experiencing the outdoors.
On Wednesday 21st June, half of Year 7 ventured up Moel Famau; it was very tiring but it was good fun!
We then started on the long climb back down to the coach, as it was downhill this was a lot easier!
We arrived at 11am and began walking; we walked in groups and encouraged one another as we climbed up. We took the hard route, meaning that it was very steep; the encouragement from one another kept us going! We listened to music on our way up to keep us motivated; this really helped as we all sang together. Once we reached the top, we felt proud of our achievements, ate lunch and explored the ruins.
Once we arrived at the bottom, we took a refreshing break and had an ice cream from a nearby ice cream stand. I think Year 7 bought all of the ice cream and soft drinks, leaving the lady’s stock completely empty; it was much needed! Overall, it was an amazing day and we all had a fabulous time!
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Y10 & 12 Careers trip to Liverpool Women’s Hospital Belvedere was lucky enough to be invited to Liverpool Women’s Hospital for their very first schools’ careers event! One of only two schools to be invited along, a group of our Y10 and Y12 pupils were able to ‘speeddate’ and learn more about 14 different career pathways in the NHS. From midwives to estates management, radiographers to HR executives, operating theatre technicians to pharmacists, our girls were able to gain a real insight into the many different jobs available and the qualifications needed to succeed. As Emily, Y12, says “I thought it was very well organised and informative and it really opened my eyes to the number of careers there are in the NHS. I also thought it was helpful to hear first hand experiences of those who have been working in the
NHS for many years and those who are currently in university too. The staff were very friendly and encouraging which made me feel comfortable asking any questions I had.” Emma, Y10, eloquently describes what she learnt and the impact the event had on her: “I was interested in taking part in Liverpool Women’s Hospital careers event because I wanted to find out more information on particular jobs within the NHS. Throughout the day, we were put in groups to receive information about a variety of careers that take place in hospitals such as Liverpool Women’s, which we didn’t know about before we arrived. There were two information stands that stood out to me, which were being a neonatal nurse and a
radiographer. I learnt that a neonatal nurse is someone who takes care of premature babies that can weigh the minimum of 260 grams, which can be compared to the size of a normal pen. Also, babies who are born can be born at least 23 weeks early. A radiographer is a practitioner who produces x-rays/medical images and ultrasounds. We were given the chance to figure out how to work a machine, which showed us a scan of a baby. Overall, the experience of taking part was worth it because it could potentially change my job opportunities as I found there are over 1,000 jobs in Liverpool Women’s Hospital.” The event was very hands on; a great experience for all involved. Let’s hope we get invited back next year!
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New Shelving for Library Thanks to a combination of fundraising, donations, and a lot of work, the library has been fully fitted with brand new shelving. The old shelving dated back to the 1960s and though it had served us well for many years, it had long fallen into a state of disrepair. Replacement furniture was always going to be costly. To achieve this end, there have been a number of initiatives over the years to generate funds.
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enough to be the beneficiaries of a grant from The Garfield Weston Foundation. Over the recent summer break, the books were boxed up, the old shelves removed, new shelving installed and all the books put back again in time for September. The reaction from the staff and students has been very enthusiastic, with lots of positive feedback.
One such endeavour was the sale of school calendars, with our 2016 Belvedere ‘Then & Now’ edition being particularly popular, especially with our Old Girls; some of whom kindly donated additional funds.
The shelving is now angled and includes more ‘face out’ displays to encourage browsing. Our ‘shelf seats’ provide more seating as well as storage. The white wood and cornicing detail blend perfectly with the existing Georgian colour scheme and architecture. The library looks brighter and more welcoming than ever.
Another fundraiser was a whole school non-uniform day. We also received a very generous donation from our Parents’ Association. And finally, we were lucky
Much appreciation and many thanks go to everyone who has supported the library refurbishment, which should serve Belvedere well for years to come.
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Students Visit Chinese Circus Show On the 28th September 2017, some Year 9 students attended a performance by the Chinese Circus. The performance itself was awe-inspiring and the girls really enjoyed watching all of the fabulous acts. Some of the acts included: Gymnastics 体操, Kung fu 工夫, Ballet 芭蕾, Cycling 骑自行车. Below are some comments from the students that attended.
“Thank you so much for a wonderful time at the Chinese circus. I loved the water act the most.”
“Thank you so much for this opportunity. I cannot choose a favourite part as it was all so amazing. It was such a high quality show. 谢谢!”
We would like to thank all of the students involved and Edge Hill University for organising such an eventful and exciting afternoon.
“Thank you Edge Hill University for this wonderful experience. My favourite part was the Chinese warriors. 谢谢!” “I enjoyed all of the Chinese Circus performances; the atmosphere was amazing and the acts were incredible.” “The atmosphere and setting were amazing! The Chinese Circus was unbelievable and everyone was so talented.” “Thanks, I had an amazing time and I loved the ballerina act. I also liked the silk people who jumped in the water!” “I really enjoyed the Circus, because they were all very talented and it was thrilling. Thank you very much!”
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DRAMA NEWS
DRAMA NEWS
DRAMA NEWS
DRAMA NEWS
DRAMA NEWS
Results
GCSE
A LEVEL
The Drama department ended last year on an unbelievable high as their students achieved the best results so far! Every single GCSE and A Level student, of which there were over 30, achieved a grade B or above! These results put Belvedere amongst the best in the country yet again. Mr Hill was particularly delighted with his GCSE class where 94% of them achieved an A/A* grade and almost half the class A*s!
THE COMPANY This year Mr Hill has had the pleasure to form a Belvedere Theatre Company to really stretch, challenge and present our most talented actors in the academy. With the most challenging audition process for both teacher and student over 30 of our best performers battled for a spot in the
top 13. These performers will perform in the academy as well as see live theatre and train with industry professionals. We are also planning to enter city competitions and end the year with a studio performance! We are honoured to teach them and proud to work with them.
Drama Department celebrates production collaboration. It has now become tradition that students are awarded a metal Tragedy/Comedy mask pin when they have been successful in gaining a place and performing in a whole school production. This is an incredible feat and one that is demonstration of commitment, talent, and most of all, a symbol of community.
DRAMA NEWS
DRAMA NEWS
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This year we were pleased to hand out 24 bronze badges, which is proof that we are showcasing lots of new talent in our productions, 13 silver badges to those who have now been in two academy productions and, for the first time, 8 gold badges for those special girls who have been in every academy production since the department was reformed.
DRAMA NEWS
DRAMA NEWS
Looking for rooms for community hire? Look no further... Weekends, evenings, summer holidays? We have successfully opened our doors and facilities to summer schools, church groups, dance companies and fitness groups; isn’t it time you thought of hiring our facilities to host your community event or club? You’ll be surprised how little it costs, so call us on 0151 727 1284 or email facilities@belvedereacademy.net
Belvidere Road Church has been running its services and holiday clubs at the academy for over three years now. We have been extremely impressed with the facilities available to us at the academy. We comfortably host our Sunday Services, our Wednesday midweek meeting, and our Friday evening children’s and youth clubs. And there’s plenty of room for the kids to play too! Why not pop along on a Friday evening (6:15) or Sunday morning (10:15) to see more? Graeme Back, BELVIDERE ROAD CHURCH.
Great facilities available: Sports Hall, Multi-use Hall with stage, Dance and Drama Studios and Lecture Theatre. 35
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Singing at Church of Our Lady before Týn, St Vitus Cathedral, St Nicholas Church, The British Embassy and The Czech Museum of Music 46 girls and 5 staff met on the afternoon of July 9th to board a coach bound for Manchester Airport. Following a relaxing flight, we were soon in the beautiful city of Prague where we had the first of many fine Czech feasts, before checking into a lovely hotel. Little did we know that this was going to be one of the best weeks of our lives.
met with rapturous applause and even tears from the audiences. After a stunning performance in St Vitus Cathedral (the most prestigious cathedral in the Czech Republic) and the gardens of the British Embassy, the busy first day finally came to a close with a concert at The Czech Museum of Music.
Considering the success of our Barcelona tour last year we certainly had a tough act to follow! We needed this second tour experience to be extra special. We knew that our second tour had to be as close to perfect as possible for our singers, their families and our concert attendees. Prague delivered just that!
The following day saw the choir perform at St Nicholas Church to a full audience. They even had to close the doors to the church to stop letting more people in! Our final performance was in the iconic Church of Our Lady before Týn. This service was led by the newly crowned Head and Deputy Choristers; Charlotte Flynn and Charlotte Roberts (both of Year 10).
We are now a choir with an outstanding international reputation and long may this continue. The choristers performed exquisitely at all five prestigious concert venues and were
To say it was an emotional performance would be an understatement. Personally for me, it symbolised the journey that the choir have been on over the last four years, and is a testament to all of the hard work put
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belvedere in by the pupils. To start from very humble beginnings in S27 (Music Room) on a cold, rainy September afternoon in 2013 with the first rehearsal and just 19 choristers, to then arrive at such quality in just four years of singing, in arguably one of the most beautiful churches in Europe, fills me with the utmost pride. It is easy to forget sometimes that this is a school choir! The impact on our group has been immeasurable. To step onto such a prestigious international stage and hold our own as a performance group is a bonding memory that will last a lifetime for each member. The Belvedere Academy Chamber Choir has developed into not just choristers, but a close knit family of pupils of all ages and backgrounds, who use singing as a connection, not only with each other but to the heart and mind of the listener. There were countless remarkable moments, but a few stand out. The performance in The Czech Museum of Music was simply sublime.
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I will cherish that 45 minute concert close to my heart forever. It was at that particular moment that I knew that this group of young people were no ordinary school choir. As soon as the choir began singing, their voices swept through the modernlooking museum and the sublime acoustic took the performance to an other-worldly level. The audience, along with myself, were transported to a musical paradise in a 45 minute master class by the young choristers. It wasn’t all work and no play however! The girls enjoyed and deserved a lot of relaxation time in Prague whether it was bowling in the hotel, shopping, or just enjoying time together. Just after The Church of Our Lady before Týn, the girls also had fun in what is said to be one of the best waterparks in the whole of Europe. I think I still have the bruises to prove it! If our last day couldn’t get even better, the girls let their hair down and threw some dubious shapes at a private boat party as we cruised down the Vltava at night time, soaking up the sights!
There’s no doubt that the busy concert schedule, with the promise of touring and exotic sightseeing has been key to our recent recruitment and retention over the last four years. Since 2013 the choir nearly tripled in size as well as quality. A huge thank you must go out to the eversupportive parents and families of the choristers and the four other members of staff who helped make this tour so successful. Thank you to Mr Deakin, Ms Speed, Mr Hill and Miss Murray. We have been home for two months now and the dominant question is “Where are we going next?” Well, the answer is Venice!
“Prague was, to put it simply, amazing. This was the second tour the choir has been on, and it was honestly one of the best weeks of my life. It was such an honour to be able to sing in the amazing places that we did, and being given the opportunity to be Head
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belvedere Chorister this year really excited me, and I’m still so honoured. For me though, the highlight was being able to go to one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with the big, happy family that is the Chamber Choir.” Charlotte Flynn (Year 10 and Head Chorister)
“I had an incredible time in Prague, and I will never forget it. The whole tour was magical; between singing in so many beautiful venues to having the honour of getting Deputy Head Chorister, I wish I could go back! Being able to share this experience with some my closest friends made Prague the highlight of my year.” Charlotte Roberts (Year 10 and Deputy Head Chorister)
Engineering your future In October, a group of Year 12 and 13 girls attended an event at Liverpool Football Club alongside Mrs Traynor. Engineering Your Future is a one-day career events providing an opportunity for our girls to see that engineering is a career worth pursuing, and to help them make an informed choice. It is jointly coordinated and sponsored by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institution of Chemical Engineers, The Nuclear Institute and the British Computer Society, and is fully supported by STEM Learning and the Northwest STEM Centres.
While they were there, the girls learned about specific areas & aspects of engineering from the companies and organisations invited, along with a lunchtime marketplace offering more information on ‘Routes into Engineering’. The sessions were designed to be practical and interactive, and provide an insight into life as a professional Engineer or Technician. The pictures show just some aspects of the day from designing bridges for Chester Zoo to trying on life saving firefighting equipment.
“Prague was an amazing experience, which I shared with the best people I could have shared such magical moments with. I will never forget it!” Amy Roberts (Year 11 and Ex Head Chorister)
Music Department up for an award The Belvedere Academy Music Department have received incredible news that we have been shortlisted for “The Best School Music Department” at the 2018 UK Music Teacher Awards for Excellence! The winner of the award will be announced on 22nd February at a glitzy gala evening in the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Hotel in London, and will be hosted by a Classic FM presenter! Mr O’Keeffe, Head of Music, said, “Just to be one of the five shortlisted schools out of every Music Department in the UK is an honour in itself, and is a testament to
how much we have achieved over the last 4 years. The musicians and choristers that make up our Music Department are incredibly excited, as are both Mr Deakin and I! Fingers, toes and treble clefs crossed for 22nd February!” The full shortlist can be found at www. musicteacherawards.co.uk
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To help prepare for their Personal Investigation coursework in Year 13, Mr Dykeaylen was pleased to be able to take his Y12 Graphics students to the Manchester Art School Degree Show (Manchester Metropolitan University). With such an array of exciting, vibrant and experimental work, he was confident that the students would be inspired and also gain an appreciation of the wide range of subject disciplines and qualifications they could apply for going forward from their A Level Graphics course. The MMU show covered such a wide range of disciplines: Graphics, Fine Art, Film and Media Studies, Textiles, Architecture, Multimedia, Photography, Three Dimensional Design, and Interior Design. It’s often good to look outside your core subject and get inspiration from other design areas. The students also felt this: “The MMU trip gave me an insight into university life if studying Graphics, providing me also with ideas for my own work. It was a great day out which allowed me to be surrounded by an array of interesting art.” “The trip we went on was inspirational; looking at the degree level work was really enjoyable and gave me lots of ideas for the projects that I will do in the future. The football posters were really relevant to the work I am looking at now and really helped me gain focus for my project.”
“Going to MMU allowed me to look at degree level work, which told me what I need to do to get to the next level above A Level standards. I found looking through the folders of the students the most useful as it was interesting to see how original ideas have been developed and adapted to get to the final outcome.” “The exhibition was very detailed and creative. I think it has helped to put my work into perspective for Year 13 and has also shown me what I need to produce when it comes to Graphics at a degree level.” “I thought that this trip was really informative and I could see the degree level work up close to see just what is expected at university level. I thought that all the graphics sketchbooks are especially interesting as you can see the working behind the final responses. I thought all the work was really impressive and it opened up my eyes to see what the work above me is like.” “I thought that the trip to Manchester Met was extremely eye opening and interesting in regards to the career path that I want to follow. The graphics portfolios were very inspiring and impressive to look at and take notes from, there were also graphic designers that caught my attention which I found visually appealing and whose work will influence my works and designs.”
ousands... th by en se be d ul co rt ve ad Your from teens to parents to grandparents ...
...it makes sense to advertise your business or event in the Belvedere magazine. The Belvedere Academy magazine is published several times a year, with 1500 electronic copies being widely distributed among parents, primary schools, local businesses, nurseries and churches. Advertising with us in the magazine will reach a large target audience throughout Liverpool. The magazine is also published on issuu.com - offering global exposure to your brand. The magazine is designed by Mr Dykeaylen and articles are contributed from both pupils and staff.
GREAT RATES! The advertising rates and advert dimensions are: • PRIME POSITION FULL PAGE COLOUR ADVERTISEMENT ONLY £250 Position - back cover or on the inside front or back cover. 210mm x 297mm.
• FULL INSIDE PAGE COLOUR ADVERTISEMENT ONLY £200 210mm x 297mm.
• 1/2 PAGE INSIDE PAGE COLOUR ADVERTISEMENT ONLY £175 Landscape 210mm x 148mm or Portrait 148mm x 210mm.
All revenue is put back into the production of the magazine.
Low cost, high coverage, wide audience range. FORTHCOMING DATES FOR YOUR DIARY DEC
04 DEC
18 DEC
19 JAN
09
Yr 13 Parents’ Evening, 4:00-6:30pm
It’s easy to book your space: To place your advertisement, please contact Mr Peter Dykeaylen on 0151 727 1284. Advertisements should be submitted electronically as either high resolution JPEG files or as PDF files, either on CD or emailed to p.dykeaylen@belvedereacademy.net Cheques should be made payable to GDST Academy Trust. All copies and payments must be received one month before publication.
Carol Service, 1:30pm, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
Autumn Term ends, 1pm
The magazine is also published online at issuu.com, publicising both the school on a global level and also any potential advertisers.
Many thanks to teaching staff who have contributed articles and photographs. For more news please visit www.belvedereacademy.net If you have any comments or suggestions for the magazine then please contact Mr Peter Dykeaylen: p.dykeaylen@belvedereacademy.net
Spring Term begins
The Belvedere Academy, 17 Belvedere Road, Princes Park, Liverpool, L8 3TF. 0151 727 1284 E: info@belvedereacademy.net www.belvedereacademy.net
Record GCSE Graphics Results! Fantastic results from our recent GCSE Graphics cohort. ALL students either got A* or A, in fact well over 50% of the students were awarded the top A* grade. Lots of hard work has clearly paid off; well done, girls, on making Graphics the most successful GCSE subject this year! Some of the fantastic and varied GCSE work is showcased below...
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5 GCSE 1. digital illustration 2. experiments with ink 3. typography 4. digital photo-manipulation 5. collage 6. packaging 7. print making on to silver foil ALevel 8. mixed media illustration 9. handdrawn and computer illustrative poster 10 negative space ‘Goldilocks’ poster 11 3D pen, photography and image projection of Michelle Obama
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