Saving the Sea, Singing and Dancing for Gold

Amelia has done some wonderful things to achieve her Gold Passport

Amelia’s journey towards global citizenship began when she saw something sad at the beach…

It was a dead jellyfish. Determined to make a difference, she set her passport target to spread awareness about saving the sea. Using her creativity and imagination, she made a special project to highlight the importance of saving the sea by not littering . Not stopping there, she wrote a story for the BBC 500 Words competition,  about herself and her bunny friend as heroes saving the sea. Her story’s success in the first round highlighted her effective communication of the message.

Amelia’s Musical Journey: Building Resilience Through Song 

Amelia’s love for singing drove her to work hard and improve her skills. She dreamed of sharing her music with others and set her resilience target to perform in front of an audience. Her determination paid off when she was chosen from the preliminary round to represent the junior singer category in the live final of the Staffordshire Young Musicians Competition in July 2024. Facing challenges, she confidently submitted a challenging video during the preliminary round. Not stopping there, she made the decision to join the Staffordshire County Youth Choir, continuing her journey of resilience and musical growth.

 Amelia’s Fearless Ballet Performance: Dancing Through Decades for her passport target of collaboration.

Amelia participated in a ballet contest called “Dancing Through Decades” hosted by Inspire Dance. The event had around 300 audience members. Amelia expressed her happiness at dancing alongside her friends, especially enjoying helping the younger ones by holding their hands during the performance. She was thrilled as she wasn’t scared, and she didn’t forget her steps.

Flipping and Lavender for Gold

Charlotte writes about her Gold Passport achievement this year…

Resilience

I taught myself how to do a front flip underwater. It took a lot of time and confidence but with enough resilience I manage to do it without hesitation now.

Global citizenship

I’ve taught myself sign language. So I know how to say my ABC’s, greetings, goodbye and simple words

Integrity – To help and develop an area of the school garden

I do this every Friday for enrichment and you can already see the improvements from covered in weeds and grass to colourful flowers. Its taught me to be patient and you can see change.                  

Hockey for Gold

Tamika writes about her journey to Gold through hockey and giving to a local charity…

On achieving my gold passport, I have been asked to wite a blog about my favourite
targets. I have chosen these due to the fact that they have not only helped me
physically but have also helped me endure mental challenges.

Resilience – Playing county hockey for Warwickshire

On December 31 st 2023, I said to my auntie that one thing I wanted to achieve in
2024 was to play for Warwickshire girls U13s county side. On that same day, I
received some of the best news of 2023 which was that I had been selected for
Warwickshire’s Academy Centre. I felt over the moon when I was told.

On the 11/12/2023, I played in my first Warwickshire tournament. We won conceding no goals or short corners, with me playing in defence. We then played in other
tournaments around the Midlands such as Burton and Leek.

My next step was to be selected for the final tournament because Warwickshire had selected four teams to play during the season, however, for the final Midlands county final only two teams could be entered. I was chosen to play in one of the two entered. We then went on to win the tournament.

One other thing to add about hockey was that I recently went to a hockey trial for a team called Mercian Marauders. I demonstrated resilience during my training sessions and tournaments which I played in. This enabled me to be chosen for the finals.

Empathy – To do a Christmas tree donation for Acorns Children’s Hospice

During the winter break, my mum told me about Acorns Children’s Hospice holding
small service for people to bring in donations for children. For those who don’t know,
Acorns is a charity that provides care and support for babies, children and young
people with life limiting conditions.

At the service, we were given a sheet with a Christmas tree on it. The task was to ask people for donations of pound coins on it. This task definitely taught me to show empathy and to be grateful because there are some people are less fortunate than others.

You can read more about Acorns Children’s Hospice here.

Leadership – Sutton Coldfield hockey club VS Stratford

On 02/18/24, my hockey team, Sutton Coldfield, played Stratford hockey club. When
we got there, my coach told the team that the opposition were down by one player. I
recommended we gave them a player since my team had more than enough players.
But the real question was, ‘who was going to play for them’.

I volunteered because none of my teammates wanted to play for the opposition as I felt it was important that the opposition should not have player down. To me this showed integrity and leadership.

At the end of the match, my coach and the opposition commended me for my deed. During this, I learnt the importance of fair play and good sportsmanship. I felt proud of what I did because it set a positive example to my teammates.

Taking off and learning to fly…

We’ve previously posted about how students “Learn to Fly” at Chase Grammar School. In this post, Lydia writes about her own journey into the skies…

Since early May 2023 I have had flying lessons in a microlight aircraft EV47 Eurostar.

What have I learnt so far?

I have learnt different climbing and descending 30 degree turns, stalling at different rates, the basics of takeoffs like short field takeoff and soft field takeoffs, landing and several other techniques.

Before and after

Before a flight my instructor will tell me what we are going to do and how we are going to do it.

Then we will do our checks, taxi to the runway usually 2.5 depending on the wind direction in the plane and line up, we will go through the start up checks then either my instructor or I will call on the radio to tell pilots in the area that we are taking off.

After a flight we will have another briefing and then mention what to improve on and what we will do the following week. He will write up the flight in my log book for evidence of a flight.

Excellence in Perseverance!

Kangwa will be leaving us after his A Level exams, but he has made a huge contribution to the school in his time here, and here are some of his reflections about excellence…

When it comes to the topic of excellence, a quote that often comes to mind is one from the Greek philosopher Aristotle, where he states “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

This helps me reflect on the many times in my life where excellence was hidden in things that I once perceived as failure.

Excellence is often not recognised when moving along the path to an excellent result.

It presents itself when you sit down and correct the many failures that led up to the summit of success. In fact, it is very often the case that the final result presents itself long after the excellence which crafted it.

A good example of this for me is my participation in debate competitions representing Chase Grammar School.

About a year ago, our team encountered the disappointment of defeat and although this did hurt, we saw it as an opportunity to improve for the next year that we would participate.

We took the criticisms as points to improve on and improve is exactly what we did. On Saturday 24th February 2024 our team achieved victory in the senior category of the Rotary Youth Speaks ‘A debate’ competition at district level. Although the result was greatly appreciated, what I will always be proud of is the work over the course of the year which went into achieving it and that for me is excellence.

Representing West Midlands in Gymnastics

As well as studying for A Levels, Hannah has been competing in a range of high-level gymnastics events recently…

I competed at the Inter-Regional Acro Gymnastics competition in Southampton, representing the West Midlands.

Isla and I competed in the Grade 4 Disability Womens Pairs and achieved a score of 24.6 winning Gold and are now Inter-Regional Champions.

It was a very long weekend but it was certainly enjoyable.

Rugby, horse riding and giving for Gold

Harrrison writes about his Gold Passport achievement…

I am writing to you to tell you about my three favourite passport targets.

I hadn’t played Rugby until this year. Mr Norris guided me into a positon he said I would play well in and pushed me to work with different groups of friends.

I love this sport and I set myself the passport target of finding a Rugby Club and playing it as a sport outside of school.

I found a Team and affiliated with Burntwood Rugby Club by Christmas.  I have set myself challenges each week in training and in practising. I have played every match, scored more tries than I thought I ever could and played in 2 tournments.

My target I loved helping out people in our town who needed help at Harvest
Festival time. I spent my £5.00 pocket money in Asda on food and donated it to school.

It made me feel good to give to people instead of spending it on things I
didn’t need.

I wanted to be able to ride on my own in a western saddle like I had done
before COVID. So when I went to America I set myself to get Solomon ready to ride,
mount him and be able to ride him without my Mum so we could go out together. I was really nervous but after once on a lead with help I got better every
day and by the end of the week I could do it on my own getting him to
trot and canter.

Stone Age Scones and Sport for Gold!

The gold passports continue! Today it’s Tianna’s turn to write about her achievements this year…

My Gold Passport blog

Resilience

My first favourite target was completing 50 kickups with both feet as it took me around a month to complete because I kept failing but I kept on trying. This taught me to be resilient and never give up. If you’re patient and set your mind to something, it’s possible.

Decision Making

My next favourite target was making a decision at my hockey club about moving up to u12s even though I was still u10. The reason I wanted to stay in u10s is because my sister was asked to move up to u14s and her coach in u12s was also moving up to the 14s but I wanted to have him as my coach. My final choice was to play u12s as it would challenge my hockey even further.

Problem Solving

My last and certainly not least favourite target was making my family a stone age meal from scratch as we were doing the stone age in humanities! I had to go to the shops and buy the ingredients I needed and follow the instructions on how to make the meal. I loved researching and working out how to prepare the meals as well as finding out what it tasted like. It was loads of fun and overall, a good experience in the kitchen in how to solve a problem. My final dish consisted of savoury scones, stone age gravy and chicken.  

Breaking Barriers: The Uncharted Territory of Disability Acrobatic Gymnastics on the International Stage

Hannah explores the world of Disability Acrobatic Gymnastics…

Introduction

In the world of gymnastics, the grace, strength, and precision of athletes captivate audiences worldwide. However, there’s a lesser-known aspect of the sport that has been struggling to gain the international spotlight – Disability Acrobatic Gymnastics. While gymnastics continues to evolve and diversify, the journey for athletes with disabilities to compete on the global stage is still an uphill battle.

The Unseen Challenge

Acrobatic gymnastics, characterised by intricate partner and group routines, showcases the incredible synergy between athletes. There are 5 main disciplines: women’s pairs, men’s pairs, mixed pairs, women’s groups (trios) and men’s groups (men’s fours). And the lesser known disability pairs, trios, and quartets. For those with disabilities, the challenge is not only physical but also embedded in the structures of international competitions. Despite the sport’s inclusivity efforts, the pathway for disabled gymnasts to participate in high-profile events is far from seamless.

The Gap in Recognition

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has made commendable strides in promoting inclusivity, but disability acrobatic gymnastics remains largely overlooked. Traditional gymnastics events like the Olympics and World Championships often exclude these athletes, leaving them with limited opportunities to showcase their talent and dedication on a global scale.

Limited Platforms

One of the primary hurdles facing disability acrobatic gymnasts is the scarcity of dedicated international platforms. While national competitions may exist, the absence of a robust global circuit hampers the growth and recognition of disabled athletes in acrobatic gymnastics. The lack of exposure limits their chances to attract sponsors, secure funding, and gain the attention of national gymnastics bodies.

Changing Perspectives

To bridge this gap, a collective effort is required from gymnastics organisations, event organisers, and the broader sports community. It’s essential to challenge existing norms and stereotypes about disability in gymnastics. By creating dedicated divisions or integrated events within major competitions, the international gymnastics community can take a significant step towards recognising and celebrating the talent of disabled acrobatic gymnasts.

Inclusive Initiatives

Several success stories highlight the potential of disability acrobatic gymnastics on the global stage. In recent years, some countries have initiated inclusive competitions and training programs, showcasing the prowess of disabled gymnasts. However, to truly make a lasting impact, these initiatives need to be embraced and expanded on a broader scale.

Conclusion

The journey towards international recognition for disability acrobatic gymnastics may be a challenging one, but it’s a journey worth embarking upon. By breaking down barriers and fostering inclusivity, the gymnastics community can elevate the sport to new heights, providing every athlete, regardless of ability, with the opportunity to showcase their skills on the grandest stage. It’s time to rewrite the narrative and ensure that disability acrobatic gymnastics takes its well-deserved place among the stars of the gymnastics world.

No single kind of “excellence”…

River writes about how the idea of excellence is more complicated than we might think at first…

What is “excellence”?

In my life I have experienced many different types of excellence in my life and one thing I have concluded is that there is no guideline to the word excellence which applies to every situation.

The Oxford English Dictionary states that excellence is:

“The state or fact of excelling; the possession chiefly of good qualities in an eminent or unusual degree; surpassing merit, skill, virtue, worth…”.

Let’s use the example of the classroom, this would suggest that excellence is only ever displayed when a student gets a grade 9 or close to (if not exactly) 100%. This, to me, is completely inaccurate.

When a classroom full of students is compared to one another, the most excellent student would be the student with the highest score, however, this is completely disregarding the idea that not every student in that room had the same average, nor put in the same amount of effort.

Yes, a student who achieves a grade 9 is excellent at that specific subject, but that may only be for that chapter of the subject or the piece of work.

If a student, who usually achieves a grade 6, achieves a grade 7, then that is also excellence. If a student, who usually achieves a grade 6, achieves a grade 6 on a subject or piece of work that they find difficult, then that is also excellence. In a sea of competitions, everyone can achieve their own little wins and displays of excellence. There is too much comparison to those in different situations to ourselves without considering how we did compared to our last test and how to improve at our own pace. This lack of appreciation for the journey to our own destination is what clouds the view of those around us, we need to relearn how to show our own excellence and stop the constant cross examination of unexplainable differences.

This, however should not take away from the idea that those achieving high grades are excellent themselves. When a good grade becomes an average grade, it loses its wow factor. This is despite any extra work that was put in to achieve this or any outside situations that would tamper with the time left to revise and the time left to focus. When there are no improvements to be made, that is still excellence!

I believe that all of these examples (and more) are true shows of excellence that should be recognised; celebrated; and encouraged.

So, to address the title and the definition: excellence is a display of achievement measured to the scale of the situation, no matter how big; small; common; or rare.

River’s journey to different kinds of excellence: a Duolingo streak, accepting a Platinum Chief Scouts award and Bronze DofE award, and a crocheted jumper