2nd March 2012

Forget London 2012, the only Olympics on the minds of budding Year 9 scientists from across the Bolton borough was a Physics Olympics. The second such "Olympics" held at Bolton School saw teams of four gifted and talented students from 16 local secondary schools compete in a series of day-long challenges while utilising the expertise and facilities at the School. Teams of four pupils moved around the laboratories undertaking five 30 minute Physics-related tasks. Delayed Timing involved pupils having to maximise the time a ball-bearing spends on a ramp over a set distance; Generation X saw them constructing a turbine to turn a generator to produce the highest possible voltage; they attempted to build and launch an air-powered rocket in the Pressure Bullseye challenge; Sink or Swim, using marbles, tested their understanding of buoyancy; and Jelly Baby Towers their construction skills.
A team of Sixth Form Girls had their business minds put to the test in the Northern area heat of Target 2.0, and the girls performed exceptionally well to gain third place. Target 2.0 is The Bank of England and The Times' annual Interest Rate Challenge which gives teams of students aged 16-18 the chance to take on the role of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee and decide what the interest rate should be. The girls won the regional heat of the competition back in December, earning them a place in the Northern area heat.
Year 2 pupils at Beech House enjoyed a 'Traditional Tales' day on Friday, dressing up as their favourite story characters! An array of colourful characters filled the school including Robin hood, Snow White, Princesses, Knights, Pirates and even the Gingerbread man! Pupils took part in a celebration ball complete with a parade, waltzing and party food, and much fun was had by all! While Hesketh House was also transformed into a scene from the pages of a storybook on Thursday as the girls dressed up as princesses, princes and other Royal characters to celebrate World Book Day. The Royal theme was chosen to link in with the Diamond Jubilee celebration, and the colourful costumes ranged from traditional fairytale characters to Egyptian and Indian princesses, and even knights, court jesters and Prince William and Kate Middleton!
The hunt for the Bolton School Girls’ Division Masterchef is officially on! The first heat began with the year 9 girls going head to head making their own versions of stuffed peppers, which were sampled by the hungry judges. Fourteen contestants were whittled down to ten and there will be further heats in the coming weeks leading up to the quarter and semi finals and the live cook off grand final on May 11th.


And a date for the diary - Bolton School will hosting a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Fun Day on Saturday 10 March. The event will include a variety of displays detailing the RNLI's work with activities for youngsters, displays by the RNLI beach rescue, an inshore inflatable lifeboat and an opportunity to try out the kit used by lifeboat crews. There will also be a display marking the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of The Titanic with extensive memorabilia relating to Sir Arthur Henry Rostron, born in Astley Bridge and a former pupil of Park Road, Bolton School's Junior Boys' School. Rostron was the Captain of the Carpathia, the ship that went to the aid of the floundering Titanic and helped rescue 706 people. The event will run from 10.30am-4.00pm in Bolton School's Arts and Conference Centre.