A Message from the Headteacher

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I hope that this Newsletter finds you well. I should firstly like to thank you all for your support insofar as uniform is concerned. As I am sure you aware, we have again been focusing on ensuring that students are in the correct uniform for School and that disallowed items, such as hooded tops, baseball caps and jewellery, personal stereos and mobile phones all stay at home. Please continue to remind your children that they risk having those items confiscated if they bring them into School. Also students must wear black shoes. Trainers - even black trainers - are not acceptable.

To restate: hooded tops - rather than coats with hoods - are not allowed and will be confiscated. The only top that students may wear inside the building is the School's own sweatshirt or our cardigan. (Both are available from Khalsa Schoolwear, 388 - 390 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 0AH.) A plain black jumper is not acceptable.

As you know, the plans for the rebuilding of St. Paul's Way Community School are progressing well, and over the next few weeks, I want to arrange some meetings with parents to get your views on what you would like to see in the new building. I am also sending home, with this newsletter, Tower Hamlets' Building Schools for the Future newsletter, which I hope you enjoy reading.

Whilst attendance is still excellent, punctuality in the morning is still a problem for some students. Please would you ensure that students are waking up and leaving home in sufficient time to be with us before 9.00am.

On that note, I should like to remind you that the School runs a breakfast club each morning. The club provides students (and staff) with toast, juice and hot drinks and there is always a wonderful atmosphere. It really is an excellent way to start the day. Please encourage your children to come along, if they leave home without the chance for breakfast.

With very best wishes,

Simon Harris
Headteacher

Festival Stars

On Friday 15th September, Miss Mitchell and Mr Simon took a group of students from 9S on a successful trip to the Tate Modern Art Gallery, to take part in a workshop. Last term, the students were part of an art workshop to design and make a banner for the Thames Festival Puzzle Pathway.

The students of 9S worked in collaboration with two artists, Shona Watt and Pete Gomez. They worked together to create an art work that was inspired by the Brazilian artist, Beatriz Milhazes. The work was displayed along the Thames Path of the South Bank as part of the Mayor's Thames River Festival (with up to 1 million spectators). The banner will also be displayed in Kolkata, India as part of the Riverfront Festival (with over 1 million expected spectators) and as part of the 3 Gorges Festival in Chongqing, China (with up to 15 million spectators). The trip was exciting and rewarding for all involved. We are all proud of our international rising stars. Well done !

Students involved were: Alex Arnez, Rubina Akther, Shakila Ahmed, Muyaheed Ali, Ahmed Ali, Alfa Begum, Darren Boakye-Adjei, Muhaimen Choudhury, Tahmina Tarin, Fadumo Mohamed, Sonia Rahman, Mustafa Razack, Farzana Yasmin and Fatima Begum.

Miss Mitchell, Art & Textiles Department

BSF - Our Students Get Involved

St Paul's Way Community School has been awarded £25.57 million - the largest amount of money of all schools in Tower Hamlets. A purpose-built school will be constructed on the existing site and work is due to start in summer 2008. A Bidders' Day will be held in January 2007. This is an opportunity for potential contractors, architects and builders who are interested in bidding to work with Tower Hamlets to hear about our BSF project. They will have the opportunity to hear what young people in Tower Hamlets think is important for the future of their schools. This will be our opportunity to present 'their voice, their vision' for the future of St Paul's Way Community School.

A selected group of 25 students have been involved in promoting the rebuild. Working alongside the Leaside Project they will be presenting their ideas in the Rich Mix centre where they will be using a mixture of film and oral presentations. The students are being encouraged to be as innovative and inspiring as possible - they could for example use rapping to present their ideas, incorporate break-dancing etc.

Students from St Paul's Way Community School visited the Laban Dance School in Deptford to get some design ideas for their new school. They were asked what new design features they would like to see in the new St Paul's Way Community School. Marjana Islam wanted “more bright colours and different areas of the school to be colour coordinated", while Kamran Hamid thought that it would be good to have “big clean windows, a grass area where we can sit outside and lots of litter bins". Another student, Ravena Islam, suggested the need for “bigger spaces, bright colours and more glass so that we can see outside. Inspiring pictures in the classrooms, like pictures of dancers in the drama room”.

Mr N Uddin, Deaf Support Base

London Student Voice Competition

Mamun Roshid, 9P

Signed Up!

Deaf students have also been given the option of learning some sign langugage. Thirteen students now take lessons on Friday mornings with visiting deaf instructor Michael, who works for the Borough's Hearing Impaired service. St. Paul's Way is very proud of its deaf students and their achievements. The children can access spoken language using their hearing aids and radio aids, but these lessons will enable them to learn more about deaf culture and to communicate with deaf friends. SPWCS is a deaf friendly school and we are striving to become even more positive and inclusive. Good luck to all the staff and students on these courses!

Ms. Bentham, Deaf Support Base

PSHE

Here are some student comments:
"On Tuesday 17th October, 7P had a live web chat conference with Mr John Biggs. They asked him many questions about Tower Hamlets and the Olympics." Marjana Begum, 7P

"The children were very enthusiastic and very excited to chat and see Mr Biggs on the internet. He gave an answer for every question and inspired the children." Farhana Aktar, 7P

Ms Khera, PSHE Co-ordinator

School Noticeboard

Special Mentions
Well done to Ahtik, Fahmida and Charlie from 7T for showing great enthusiasm and ability in Science. Ms Uddin

Oguz Karakus, Sarah Caplin, Husna Begum and Waheeda Begum for fantastic effort and enthusiasm during Photography lessons (Option 3). Keep up the good work guys. Ms Silcox

The following students deserve commendation for their Geography work with Mr Jacobs:
8T: Sabina, Royej, Rukmul, Nazir, Anwar, Lubna, Maryam, Shamin, Rahima, Jahid and Shakil; 8U: Haroon, Mousa, Salma, Nazifa, Melissa, Aftab, Marjana, Mumen, Jubayer, Farhana, Mamun and Joli; 9U: Tuhel, Fahima, Reshma, Rumana and Jobrul.

The following students achieved an A grade in their GCSE Geography practice exam in Year 11:
11L: Farzana, Hazera, Mhd Razzack, Noorjahan and Sabina; 11P: Emdad, Hussnara, Jamil, Johirul and Saima; 11S: Jasmin, Madalena, Rahima Begum and Yasmin; 11T: Yasmin; 11U: Saidur Rahman; 11W: Murad; 11Y: Victoria, and Husna. Well done to them all.

Fire Safety Lessons
In the week before Bonfire Night, all Year 8 and 11 PSHE lessons were taught by Claire Purton of the London Fire Brigade. Lessons focused on the dangers of arson and playing with fireworks. Students were given valuable, life-saving tips on what to do if they discover a fire in their homes.

HSBC Outward Bound
Twenty-five Year 9s are involved in the HSBC Outward Bound Project. They went on a trip with Mr Blakeley and Ms McGaw to the Lee Valley to do canoeing, caving, rock-climbing and other activities. Students worked with pupils from other schools to improve communication and teamwork. After this trip, 20 pupils who have done really well will be chosen to go on a week’s trip to the Outward Bound Centre in Wales in March.

Boys' PE Clubs
There are lots of things to do at Boys’ PE clubs, and all boys are welcome. Please see the noticeboard outside the Boys' Changing Rooms for details.

Sports Coaches
We have had a number of sports coaches working within lessons and lunchtime clubs for Rugby, Judo, Cricket, Netball and Football. Girls and boys from Years 7-10 have been involved. The aim of these sessions is to promote interest in these sports and encourage students to particpate in these activities in clubs within and outside the school.

Girls' Football
Two teams from Years 7-8 and 9 are representing the School in the Tower Hamlets Football League every Monday. This week we won one game and drew the other. A special well done to Melissa Hector 8U who scored a hat-trick! We are still looking for new recruits - training takes place every Wednesday after school.

Junior Sports Leader Awards
Two visits to Stebon and Marner primary schools took place last week for some Year 10 and 11 pupils. The aim of the visits was to practice leadership skills. All students involved found this to be a positive experience. They are now one step closer to obtaining the award.