The new Ormiston venture academy uniform will be ready for collection on Tuesday 17th – Friday 20th August 9.00am – 4.00pm, an extra day for collection will be  held on Wednesday 1st September 9.00am – 4.00pm 

You can collect the uniform from the sports hall and access to there will be through the double doors situated near the bus park. this will be sign posted on the day.

Over the course of this term the Yr10 Photographers have been on two trips to collect the visual data they need to complete their project on ‘Norfolk Landscape’.

This particular project is the largest and most involved of all the GCSE coursework and requires the students to have an understanding of the different types of landscape that is found in our county, together with the animal and plant life that inhabits that area.

The first trip was to Ranworth and Malthouse Broads, to look at fresh water habitats, reed beds, plant and animal life and the inland tourist effects.  Students were able to spend time at Ranworth Village Staithe before walking through the Norfolk Wildlife Conservation Centre, to Ranworth Broad.  There they were able to go into the floating thatched Visitor Centre, with it’s excellent views across the Broad.

Walking back through the reserve one of the wardens showed just how dangerous the area was, should anyone stray from the boardwalks, when he lifted a 10’ post from the side of the path, to show that the soft mud was covering all but 2’ of it.  Easily deep enough to drown a human.

From the Broads we went to North Denes, in Yarmouth, to provide the opportunity for beach and coastal margin images to be taken.

It was not the clearest of days but students all managed to collect images of both interest and quality.

The second trip was to Morston, in North Norfolk, where there was the chance to photograph marine landscapes and the salt flats.  Students went out to Blakeney Point on one of Beans Boats, which pulled into the shore to allow another party to dis-embark at the Point.  We went on and were lucky to spot one seal – for some reason the seals were not there in numbers this year – but the weather was hot and clear – for the first time ever.  Just ask Ms. Palmer what it can be like!

There were, however, thousands of sea birds; nesting and diving for food around the boat.  Students were taken in close to the pebbly shore, where they could see Oyster catchers nesting among the stones.

Having reached dry land  again, students had to find suitable areas in which to take ‘Joiner’ images.  Joiners are a photographic skill where a series of small images are placed together to create a large picture – similar to a jigsaw, but with overlapping edges.  It was at this point that a student went too near the edge of a mud pool and slid in – dirty, smelly and wet!  There’s always one – but on this occasion, it was not the ‘one’ you might have imagined.

Images have all now been downloaded and there are some excellent results.

Apart from the image at the top of the page, all images are by the Oriel Yr10 Photographers.

Oriel’s annual readathon took place at Gorleston library and was, as usual, a huge success. Students learned all about Gorleston’s historical heroes and villains before embarking on a guided tour and ‘Info-quest’ competition. Other activities included reading, reading, reading, reading…

It was fantastic to see so many avid readers with their faces buried in the pages of their favourite book. Many students went that extra mile by dressing up as their favourite character; I particularly liked ‘Karate Kid’!

Thank you to all students involved for making this a thoroughly enjoyable day for us all. You were a credit to yourselves and to the school – well done.

In December five of our Year 10 students travelled to North Norfolk to spend the week working and living alongside the students at Gresham’s.  They had been for a day’s visit with their parents, but there was some nervousness on the mini bus on Sunday evening – especially from Hannah who would be alone in the Girls’ House that night, as Sophie was still recovering from the effects of flu.  The five are: Hannah Boniface, Sophie Cameron, Max Ralph, Faisal Al Yousef and Musa Hlabangana and they will be returning in September, for the second week.

As in any school week there was good and bad, the highlight for all being their day flying.  All five wrote notes about their experiences, excerpts of which follow:

Faisal wrote:
When I found out I had been selected to go to Gresham’s for a week, I was really excited and pleased that I had been chosen out of the whole year group.
When we first visited Gresham’s I was amazed at how big and tidy the school was compared to Oriel.
The first 24 hours was the hardest part of the trip. I was unsettled and felt homesick. I was told to give it time and a chance so I did and as the week went on I became more used to the routine.
The best experience at Gresham’s, by far, was the flying. It was amazing to control the plane and experience the unforgettable.
In the second part of the exchange I am most looking forward to seeing everyone again and hopefully doing some shooting which would be a good fun.
I thought Gresham’s was a fantastic school with nice kind people but I think Oriel is what I’ve got used to and I like to think is where I feel more comfortable.
Overall I enjoyed my experience and look forward to repeating certain aspects of the day at Gresham’s.  It was an experience I will never forget.

Hannah’s thoughts:
Walking around Gresham’s was an eye opener; I wouldn’t have thought that a school could be as big as that. I felt lucky to be selected for the student exchange when I was walking around.
My first 24 hours in Gresham’s was hard because I went on my own, Sophie had to go a day later as she had Swine Flu. I felt nervous but I still tried my best to make new friends. When I first saw every one in the house ‘Oakeley’ they invited me in and made me feel welcome. It was a lovely environment.
My best experience in Gresham’s was going flying, it was the most exciting experience that I have ever done.

Muzomuhle’s diary:
When I was told that I had been chosen as a Gresham’s exchange student I was looking forward to it but was not really sure if I was up to it because I knew their life-style was totally different to ours, as it is a boarding school and, on top of that, a private school which I knew would be strict .
When we arrived everyone was welcoming and I soon knew my way around Tallis and it made it easy. We were introduced to the people who would be helping us around the campus. Rory was helping me around, he was great and funny. When we got to our room we unpacked our clothes and stuff and went down to the TV room where there was a pool table and guys were watching ‘Top Gear’ on Sky. We had to go to our rooms at 9.30pm.
The best part of the exchange was when we went flying at the RAF base but to get there it was a long slow 2 hours on the mini bus. We  went to the tutorial room where we watched a DVD to show us how to fit the parachute, the suit, helmet and what we should do when stuff goes wrong while we are flying.
Hannah and Sophie were first to go, followed by 2 Gresham’s students. Then it was me and Faisal to go. We were sent to a room just at the side where the tutorial planes were stationed. We were both given a flying suit. Mine was tight but I just managed to get it on. We then got a parachute, helmet and cushion for the seats. We waited for about 5 minutes then it was my turn to fly. When I got on the plane my helmet  was connected to the plane’s system. The pilot, I think, was a middle aged male, he asked me if it was my first time flying and showed me the plane’s controls while we were taxiing waiting to take off.
When we were up flying the view was amazing – almost as if I was using ‘Google Earth’. He showed me how to control the plane. It felt like a video game. It took a few tries to get the hang of the controls, then the fun part started, he showed me how to do the ‘loop the loop’ and he did two of them so I could get the hang of it. The first try I did was scary, instead of moving the control first, I moved it sloooooowly and the gut feeling was long and lasting. The pilot wasn’t really in a good mood.
Then we did it again and I nailed it. Awesome! Then we went back to land and it felt like it was only 5 minutes after our take-off.

Max:
When I was told I was chosen for the exchange for the Gresham’s partnership, it was in my mind that it would be an amazing ‘once in a lifetime’ experience.
I must admit that the school’s facilities were brilliant and the rugby was a challenge as I have never played with such experienced players.
I was put with Max Hunter, a Year 10 student at Gresham’s. He was a very good guide and very sociable (he let me play his Les Paul Guitar) but so were all the other people and the friends I have made are truly remarkable people.

And finally, Sophie:
When I found out that I had the opportunity to go to Gresham’s for a week, I was rather excited. I really wanted to make the most of the experience, after all it’s not every day that you get picked, one out of the whole of my year to go. I felt like I should definitely try to make the most of it.
My first 24 hours were hard; I went a day late because I had been ill with swine flu and the effects of flu were really taking its toll on me. But I managed.
My best experience at Gresham’s would have to be when I went flying. It was an amazing experience, I have been flying before but this time I got to do aerobatics! Barrel rolls, turning on the wing, loop-the-loop and many more.