Fabulous half term

Students have excelled themselves over the first half term of the year in a range of ways that inspire each other, and the whole academy community. It was shown this week in particular in the way members of Year 9 approached their Outward Bound trip to Wales, the music students' success at the Watford Colosseum, and in an unexpected letter in the local press.

18 members of Year 9 headed to Aberdovey in Wales to complete an activity course with Outward Bound, kindly sponsored by HSBC. The trip aimed to develop listening, communication and teamwork skills and all of the students performed admirably in a variety of activities from jumping for a trapeze to kayaking, and especially in completing a two day hike and camping trip in rain, hail, thunder and lightning. The students learned a great deal about themselves, with plenty of new friends from other local schools and with a new found appreciation of sunshine.

The Music Department have been working with the Watford Community Housing Trust, and took part in their competition for local schools to write a song for 'Trusty' their mascot. All four entries from The Bushey Academy reached the final stage of the competition and were then open to a public vote to select the winner. I am delighted to say that one of our groups won the vote, and they performed their song live at the Watford Colosseum on Saturday. Congratulations to the girls below!

A letter was published last week in the Herts Advertiser that epitomises why I am Proud to Belong. I don't know who the students referred to below are, but that is part of the appeal of the letter. They could be any of our students. I should add that I know there are a great many excellent schools in St. Albans, and I am sorry the writer has not experienced the positivity of these local schools in the way I have. 

Here is an edited version of the letter, with the link to the full text below:
SIR – I am an old age pensioner, living in St Albans. I find the manners of the pupils of secondary and academy schools to be in poor taste.
When travelling on buses in the St Albans area, you will find pupils of the above with their feet on seats, and the pupils will remain seated while the likes of me and older and infirm pensioners have to stand on the buses.
So you can imagine my surprise today when travelling back from Watford on the 321 bus, my being offered a seat by a pupil from Bushey Academy.
The pupil was one of two travelling on the bus, and were of the lower age group of the academy, aged 11/12 years. It would seem manners are still being learned in Watford schools and academies.
http://www.hertsad.co.uk/herts-life/letters/letters_october_6_2014_1_3799879

I wish you all a restful half term break, and look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday 3rd November for the exciting term ahead.