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News
• News Desk |
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News from
St. Paul's Way Community School:
18 June 2004
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A Message from the
Headteacher |
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Dear Parents/Guardians,
I am writing this newsletter as
the sun beats down on the School, reminding us all how close we
are to the Summer holidays. Year 11 students are in the midst of
their exams and we are looking forward to celebrating their
success with them.
Over the next few weeks we are also looking forward to Sports
Day and Arts Week, as well as continuing to welcome next year's
Year 7 and their parents into the School.
I am still concerned that far too many students are failing to
go straight home at the end of the School day and are, instead,
hanging around Shelmerdine Close where a small minority of them
are then making nuisances of themselves to local residents.
Please may I ask you to urge your child to come straight home at
the end of School.
I am also still worried about the poor punctuality of many
students to school. Individual letters have been sent out to
parents of students with unacceptable levels of lateness but I
wanted to emphasise the importance of students arriving on time,
and to say that from September, the School will be focusing much
more heavily on punctuality.
The School has now installed cycle racks for both staff and
students. Within the next couple of weeks, Year 7 and 8
students, initially, will be offered the opportunity to bring
their bicycles in and lock them away securely. This will only be
available, however, to those students who already have - or are
prepared to undertake - the Cycle Proficiency Test.
I am delighted to announce that two members of staff, Parmbir
Dhillon and Shafiq Rahman have successfully completed the
nationally recognised and respected "Leading from the Middle"
course which provides talented Heads of Department and Head of
Years with an excellent stepping stone to future promotions.
Best wishes,
Simon Harris
Headteacher |
School Council
Raises Money
for the Kenyan Orphan Project |
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Over the past year the School Council has put on various charitable
fund raising events. The total this year came to almost £400. The School
Council decided that this year its adopted charity would be the Kenyan
Orphan Project.
The Kenyan Orphan Project aims to provide help and support for the
thousands of orphans in and around the city of Kisumu in western Kenya. It
is situated on the banks of Lake Victoria and was formerly a major trading
port. With the collapse of its trade and the lack of an established
tourist industry, the region has become one of the poorest in Kenya.
Approximately 30% of woman aged 15-49 in the area near Kisumu are infected
with HIV/AIDS. It claims the lives of thousands of parents every year.
With an average of six children per family this epidemic has created a
vast number of orphans.
 The
Kenyan Orphan Project is involved in two ambitious projects. The first is
Port Florence Community Hospital that offers care, treatment and support
for people with HIV/AIDS related illnesses. The second project is the
Kochogo High School which will help provide a sound education for the
orphans of Kisumu.
Bukky Abdul of 10L who is the treasurer of the School Council is seen here
handing over the cheque to Ms Sparkes. It is Ms Sparkes daughter who is
involved with the Kenyan Orphan Project and will therefore give us direct
feedback as to what has happened to the money raised. We look forward to
hearing how the projects develop.
The School Council wishes to thank you all for taking part in the various
events over the past year.
Mr. Leybourne
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Telling It Like It
Is |
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On 13th April 2004, twenty students from the school attended the Burdett
Neighbourhood Centre with PC Austin. They met Doreen Lawrence, mother of
the late Stephen Lawrence, and members of the Commission For Racial
Equality. Ms Lawrence sits on a number of Police policy boards since the
tragic murder of her son. She was keen to hear what life was like for
students from St. Paul's Way Community School.
The students were superb and a credit to the school. They had strong
opinions on the subject of racism and gave a very enlightening account of
what life is like for young people in this area and at our school. Ms
Lawrence intends to take her findings back to New Scotland Yard and asked
me to pass on her thanks. The event was also covered by the press.
PC Steve Austin
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Duke of Edinburgh
Award Scheme |
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Thirty two Year 10 students took
part in their practice expedition from Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th
April. This counts towards part of their Duke of Edinburgh's
Award. The group travelled to Thorrington near Colchester in
Essex. They had to walk 15 miles over two days carrying all
their camping equipment with them. They camped for the Friday
and Saturday night, which was a first for many. All students
managed to complete the expedition and remained in good spirit
throughout. Well done to all of them. Their final expedition
will take place in June. Thank you to Mr. Williams, Mr. Blakely,
Mr. Swain and Mr. Crause who accompanied the group.
Ms. Gardiner |
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Poetry Respect |
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The
stage lights are shining down on you….the audience are
shouting…...all eyes are on you….the MC has just introduced you
….the microphone is ready for your words….
Could you do it? A brave group of
St. Paul's Way students did last month. To a packed hall at the
Ocean in Hackney, they took part in the 'Respect Slam'
London-wide poetry and rap quarter finals. The words of their
poems/raps were all their own - moving and powerful, full of
emotion and wisdom.
Rani Khatun 8A, Mozida Ahmed 8T,
Rabia Begum 8T, Rubena Akthar 8T, Masuma Begum 8T, Rahima Begum
8T, Farjana Begum 8T, Aminur Rahman 8T, Radas Balkevicius 8T,
Troy Giles 8T, Rocklyn Murray 8T and Jodi Wallace 10A all
performed with style and stage presence, captivating us with
words and their performances.
The organisers were amazed at the
talent of the St Paul's Way poets. All were highly praised by
the Respect Slam team and were awarded with a year's membership
of the Poetry Society. They have been invited to perform again
during Refugee Week and at the Whitechapel Art Gallery next
month. Rocklyn Murray was chosen to take part in the Respect
Slam semi-finals in June with his rap 'A Beam of Light'. We'll
be there to cheer him through to the finals.
Well done to all those who had the
courage to take part. It was a great achievement.
Ms Evans
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Geography Field
Trip to Norfolk |
 On April 14th 31 Year 11 GCSE
Geography students went on a three day intensive GCSE Geography
Field Trip to Overstrand, near Cromer in north Norfolk. The
Activities Centre is run by the Kingswood Group which has
activity centres all across the country.
We arrived at the centre at 4.00pm
and immediately began a series of lectures about the Norfolk
Broads, concerning issues such as eutrophication, fragile
wetland environments, managing tourism, Konnick Ponies,
Swallowtail Butterflies, Bitterns and a whole host of other
themes.
The next day, April 15th, we
visited Hickling Broad, which involved a long trip down a narrow
lane (to discourage tourists paradoxically), another place and
Potter Heigham. There environmental surveys were conducted for
each site, data collected, sketches made. In the evening
students had present the data and make a role-play presentation.
On the last day students looked
at a range of sea defences. None of them are long-lasting, as
the sea's eroding power always wins.
After this study we then took
the coach home from the greenery of Norfolk to the grey of
London (Cobbet's "Great Wen"), through Norwich, and pass certain
American Military Air force bases.
The students who went are to be
congratulated on their behaviour, learning and listening skills,
and the way they represented the School and their communities.
The centre was very impressed with these standards.
I also wish to thank the help
and assistance I received from Mr. Pennery, Ms Galligan and Ms
Doughty, as well as the Headteacher for providing the financial
support.
Mr. Jacobs |
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