George Mitchell School Times Spring 2018
Scholarship five can reach for the heights BUDDING lawyers, politicians and architects are among our latest cohort of scholarship hopefuls applying for top independent schools. The school has identified five bright, hardworking pupils with the potential to make the grade at the UK’s most prestigious fee-paying schools. Hasan Patel, Dominika Berta, Anda Guinea, Dominic George and Amy Harris are already under the tutelage of history teacher Ms Fagan. Options open to the students include world famous institutions such as Princes Harry and William’s old school, Eton College. Throughout the process, they will get support with writing personal statements and applications, preparing for entrance exams and selection interviews. If successful, they will follow in the footsteps of former students Nadia Hassan, who won a £35,000-a-year place at Marlborough College, and Martin Woodrow, who now attends University College School. Nadia returned to the school this term to talk to the group about her experiences applying for a scholarship and the opportunities available at her new school. Anda hopes a successful application will
be the springboard for a career in architecture. She said: “Nadia is a real inspiration to me. We talked a lot when she came to visit and she was very open about her experience. “I first read about it in the school newsletter
Nadia sends her best wishes to hopeful students Nadia Hassan was among our first students to win a scholarship. Here she offers her advice and good wishes to our current cohort ..
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I would just like to say good luck to the scholarship hopefuls in their applications. It is not an easy journey, though remember that despite the future results of your applications, I do believe that the process is one that is rewarding. From sitting multiple exams to having several interviews, I am sure that you all will come away feeling more confident. Do not let the level of academia from your competitors nor the extracurriculars they may have done faze you. The schools are looking for high achieving students like yourselves, so keep up the progress as I am sure that the work will pay off soon.
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and I knew from then I wanted to apply. When you see someone like her do it, from your school and neighbourhood, you know it is possible.” Budding politician Hasan said: “It makes you realise what a great school you come to when you get opportunities like this. The teachers here are always trying to push your aspirations, to make you achieve more. “There is a real sense of community spirit at this school and a feeling that if you believe it enough, you can achieve anything you want.” Dominika has set her sights on a career in law. She said: “I didn’t even know what a scholarship was until I read about Martin and Nadia in the newsletter. When you read this in your own school it raises your expectations. “It tells you that at a school like this you can do amazing things, like go to these top schools. It lifts you and the first thing you think is that I now must work harder because I want to be a part of that.” Ms Fagan said: “Nadia’s visit was hugely inspiring to the pupils. She was able to explain to them just how life-changing the chance to study at one of these schools will be.” Headteacher Saeed Hussain said: “As a school we continue to be extremely ambitious for our students. There is a belief among our students that there are no barriers to how high they can reach. “This cohort of students will go on to inspire the next generation of George Mitchell pupils, just as Martin and Nadia have inspired them.”
Zahraa’s hard work will benefit children’s charity YEAR 9 Zahraa Ejaz has been described as an inspiration to fellow students after organising a fundraising event for a children’s charity. The Head Girl for Key Stage 3 persuaded the school to hold a non-uniform day in aid of the United World Schools charity in February. Zahraa raised a total of £520.44 for the charity, which aims to improve the educational opportunities for the world’s poor and marginalised children. During a series of assemblies, Zahraa also spoke to students in Years 7, 8 and 9 about why they are privileged to have an education. With the help of finance officer Christine Theodorou, Zahraa also helped to count the money raised and then wrote to the charity, enclosing a cheque. Zahraa said: “I was doing my homework online one day and like many teenagers, I got a bit distracted. I have always had a passion for education and charity. “I came across this charity and was mesmerised by all the amazing work they do for those in very difficult situations. I realised then I had to do something. “I spoke to our headteacher Mr Hussain and he agreed to let me hold a non-uniform day to raise awareness for this amazing charity. “Coming to a school in the UK, a lot of the time young people take for granted how lucky we are to have an education. “It is something we take for granted but for others it is something they have to struggle for. Doing the assemblies was important because
now other students at the school are better informed.” Finance officer Ms Theodorou said: “Zahraa is truly an inspiration to other pupils. It was important that she took part in the process of collating the money and sending the cheque. “This was her project all the way and she wanted to see it through herself. She should be extremely proud of what she has done.” Headteacher Mr Hussain added: “Alongside
Workshop made students think YEAR 9 students learned about the impact of domestic violence during workshops led by Sixth Form students. Year 12 and Year 13 girls from Sir George Monoux College gave a presentation, showed a film and then led discussions with our pupils at the session held in March. The project is run by human rights charity Journey to Justice, who have worked with the school on a number of projects. Year 9 student Yousaf Arif said: “I had no insight into how bad domestic violence can be and how it breaks up families. It really made me think differently.” Erica Tacu added: “I learned a lot about how you would deal with something like that if it happened to you or your friends or family. I feel better equipped now.” Teacher Ms Tomkins said: “Students got a clear understanding of what is right and wrong in a relationship. I was pleased to see that so many said they did not want to be like the people in the film.”
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the pursuit of academic excellence we also expect our students to display qualities such as compassion and leadership. “As Head girl of Key Stage 3, Zahraa is showing a great example to her fellow students.” Susanna Worth, from United World Schools, said: “Zahraa’s donation is the equivalent of sending 14 children to a school for a year. It is truly life-changing.”
New primary school is gradually taking shape Work is close to reaching the halfway stage of building work on our brand new primary school. Bowmer and Kirkland project manager Ryan Edson explains more... drama studio, school library and IT suite, will ensure the primary school has the facilities to match the recently-completed secondary school. Inside, the primary school will feature bright vibrant colours, specially requested by
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Work is progressing on schedule for the primary school. As you can see from the picture above, the structure of the school has now been put up, which should give an indication of what it will look like when completed. You can make out the outline of the classrooms and see the lift shaft and outline of the school hall. We are now starting to work on the fantastic state-of-the-art gym which, alongside the
the school to make it a welcoming learning environment. Starting next term, we will be giving students the opportunity to visit the site for educational purposes. By summer half-term, we are expecting to be able to offer current and prospective parents the chance to view the school. l Make sure you check the schools Facebook and Twitter page and in the GM Times for further details.
Enthusiastic pupils became sports reporters for the day STUDENTS put their newly acquired writing skills into practice when covering a Leyton Orient football match. Prior to the game, pupils spent five days working with published poets Mojisola Adebayo and Brenda Hillman at the Arvon residential retreat in Shropshire. During the trip in January, students took part in two daily writing sessions, where they learned creative writing, poetry structure and public speaking. They were also tasked with taking responsibility for themselves by getting ready each day and preparing and clearing away meals. Students then turned reporters, where they had to write and film a match report of Leyton Orient’s match against Tranmere Rovers. At the end of the match, students also got the opportunity to interview Leyton Orient vice-chairman Kent Teague. Year 8 Sam Mealing said: “I really enjoyed
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how you were given lots of freedom on this trip. You were able to take responsibility for yourself.” Fellow year 8 Rabia Klarnetadzhieva said: “Apart from the writing, which was really fun, the best part was getting to socialise with our friends away from school. It really made you feel grown up. “Watching the game and becoming a real-life reporter afterwards was very exciting, particularly when we met the vicechairman.” Year 7 Learning Leader and PE teacher Jo Hadaway, who accompanied students on the trip, said: “The improvement in the students’ writing skills after the trip was huge. “They really embraced the project, sharing ideas and becoming more confident public speakers.” The project was a joint venture between On the spot: Year 8 student Theodora Writing the Game and Supporter to interviews Leyton Orient’s vice-chairman Reporter and was funded by Comic Relief.
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Women speakers give students inspiration YEAR 9 students heard from inspirational speakers on a visit to City Hall to celebrate International Women’s Day. There were talks from Waltham Forest antiFGM campaigner Hibo Wardere and Olympics bronze medallist Asha Philip. The day, which was hosted by the Chair of the London Assembly Jennette Arnold OBE, also featured live music and a speech from London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Pupils got the chance to quiz the speakers and pose for pictures with Mr Khan – which made it on to his Facebook page. Zahraa Ejaz said: “It was a hugely inspiring day. These women made me want people to see me not as a good girl but a great woman. Abadhe Ahmned said: “These women taught me to do the unexpected. There are careers out there that they say women can’t do, they showed me you can.”
Tasnim’s story earns her £100 writing prize YEAR 6 Tasnim is the winner of our short story writing competition. Her tale of an elephant who escaped from the circus earned her £100 worth of prizes from developers Bowmer Kirkland.
Prize entry: Year 6 pupil Tasnim
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The Elephant who Escaped The torrential, violent rain pattered onto the charcoal-grey pavements as my family and I got inside our car. The rain was so heavy, that the dirt on our car was no longer seen. The clouds loomed over us like horrifying, howling, hungry wolves hunting for a snack and the tall, terrifying, bare trees danced in the wild, the whistling wind towering over us. A lonely, lifeless leaf luxuriously laid down on the wet ground as I sat staring sadly out of the car window. Suddenly, the radio switched on and it was talking about an elephant who escaped from the circus. My heart skipped a beat, eyes as wide as saucers. I felt very bewildered and shocked. Why would an elephant escape from the circus? Filled with curiosity, I continued listening to the radio, eager to find out more. It was at the very moment, we were passing my school when an enormous, colossal figure started charging towards it. It had huge ears and grey skin. I thought
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hard for a second, what animal it could be? Every step it moved it felt like an earthquake. I immediately realised that this animal was the elephant who had escaped from the circus. The elephant was running towards the school. Every part of my instinct was telling me to help but I was too petrified to even speak. Instantly, the elephant charged towards the building like an angry bull and everything erupted a vast, grey cloud of dust. It was as dusty as blowing on an ancient book but in this case, on the school. The site which looked like and explosion, had debris laying everywhere. The banner, which labelled George Mitchell School, waved in the wind like curly locks of short hair. The elephant was covered in piles of planks and bricks, trying to escape from the misery. The puffy grey clouds sauntered in the sky, ignoring the devastating destruction. Until now I’m still in shock. I guess we won’t have be having school for a couple of months.
Dump children inspire poetry Year 6 children have been learning about the stories of dangerous and adverse situations faced by children working on ‘dumpsites’ in developing countries across the world, through the book ‘Trash’, by Andy Mulligan. The story tells of how three “dumpsite boys” make a living picking through the mountains of garbage on the outskirts of a large city. The children wrote a poem about the plight of such children across the world. Below is one of them.
Book Clubs are helping improve leadership skills OUR Year 10 students have been developing their leadership skills by running Book Clubs for younger students. Every Friday morning, Year 8 students discuss the book Wonder by R. J. Palacio in mentoring sessions led by Year 10s. Students are tasked with reading sections of the book each week before coming together for a group discussion. Wonder centres around a young boy who has been home-schooled due to illness entering the fifth grade at a school in the US. Librarian Jackie Ainsworth, who has helped
to pilot the project, said: “The aim of the project is to increase the students’ emotional intelligence and empathy as well as helping them articulate opinions and share ideas. “They are developing their understanding of evidence-based knowledge and at the same time using the skills they are learning to become better writers. “It is also helping students to communicate with one another better, make new friends outside of the year and peer group and help with their organisation and time management.”
Grant a bonus for libraries OUR primary and secondary school libraries are among the best stocked in the borough after we successfully secured a £10,000 grant to buy books. The school received the funding from the charitable arm of book store giants Foyles after a successful application. Our librarian Jackie Ainsworth ensured the school got value for money by travelling to Peter’s Book shop in
Birmingham to secure a deal for thousands of books. She said: “As a school, we are very fortunate to have received this grant to buy books for our students. “Before travelling to Birmingham I spoke with each department who recommended books for us to buy. “This grant means our pupils will have access to a wide variety of information covering various different subjects.”
NEWS IN BRIEF STUDENTS learned about exciting careers in the services when the Royal Airforce STEM roadshow visited. They learned about Maya the 58 cm robot and took part in the drainpipe challenge during the visit in March. n YEAR 8 pupils learned about a career in the Metropolitan Police Service and got the chance
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to put their teacher in handcuffs at our Careers day. n OUR students spent a £500 book gift from the Siobhan Dowd Trust at Francis Road book story Phlox Books. n OUR Year 4 pupils tested their spelling against their peers at our Primary School Spelling Bee.
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Living on a dumpsite by Year 6 student Fatima Melancholy; hopeful children, as helpless as rats. Gaunt, poor, malnourished children trembling at The thought of dead. But still fierce lion cubs scavenging for food. Skeletal, loved but not taken care of, Forced to live hand to mouth. Suffering... suffering... suffering... You can see a twinkle and spark of hope, In their disturbed faces. You can see and feel the aura of the solemn children Weeping! Living with only one pair of flea-ridden clothes! With dust and dirt on their miniature feet. Suffering... suffering... suffering... Pungent, ranscid, and tormenting air as horrible as the sewers. Hostile and toxic air that kills people’s noses: it is like Poison darting up your nose! Woosh! The smell is so bad that you can actually taste it. It is even worse than 10 million bins put together! Suffering... suffering... suffering... The toxic air harms lives. The pungent air fills the sky. It roars in people’s sleep. It roars during the day. It is as bad as a lion, who hasn’t eaten in three weeks, that is ravenous!
The trash piles are so tall that they are ominous And as tall as the Himalayas. The vexed and envy-full trash mountains were unstable; wobbling side-to-side like jelly. The merciless mountains were tilted like the Leaning tower of Pisa! Suffering... suffering... suffering...
The revolting, hostile trash prison trapping those, who lived and worked in the dumpsites. The merciless, vile and deformed dumpsites Himalayas dwarf the children, who were scavenging for their next meal, and their parents’... Their homes are the shanty shacks obliterated with adults and children inside. Boom! Clash! The children and adults go down... Suffering... suffering... suffering...
Bruges experience helps students towards exams OUR GCSE languages students got the chance to practise their French on a trip to the Christmas markets in Bruges. The annual trip allows students to put into practice what they have learned in the classroom, as well as sample the culture of another country. The Year 10 and Year 11 students tried new cuisines, picked up some bargains in the market and did some sightseeing during the trip held in December. Year 10 Learning Leader Ms Tomkins said: “It is very important for students to get the opportunity to put into practice what they have learned in the classroom. “Real-life experience, which allows students to talk to native speakers, increases confidence and contributes hugely towards success at exams. “It is also important that they are given the chance to broaden their horizons and get a taste for different cultures. Last January, young students visited the French town of Boulogne which featured a trip to the beach and a walk around the medieval town.
New experience: Student Lashawn Chisolm gets to grips with office work
Employers’ words of praise YEAR 10 students have won praise from a host of employers after impressing during work experience placements. Pupils got first-hand experience in a wide variety of different careers including childcare, charity fundraising, data handling and law. Kogish Kumutharaja was praised for his punctuality and communication
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skills while at ‘We Know Data’ in March. And the store manager at Matalan said of our students: “All the students have been brilliant. Very well behaved, with good time keeping, personal standards and good attitude. “The students ticked all the boxes for me. My area manager was doing the visit in-store and he even praised the students.”
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All dressed up for Book Day TEACHERS and students dressed as their favourite literary characters as the school celebrated World Book Day. The day featured staff doing readings from their favourite books and a costume competition that was won by Denis in Year 7.
Pupils get close to nature for Science Week and rats during a visit from Wild Science in March. Nursery and reception pupils planned their own scientific investigations while Year 1 and Year 3 pupils looked at the growth and life processes of plants.
Cakes an ideal way to educate GEORGE Mitchell welcomed schools from across the country for a charity baking competition celebrating LGBT month. The school hosted the 10 finalists from primary and secondary schools for the Educate and Celebrate cake competition, held in February. Each team was tasked with cooking up a delicious cake with decorations inspired by this year’s LGBT Month theme of Geography. Over 700 schools entered the competition by submitting cake designs to the Educate and Celebrate website with the ten most popular going through to a Great British Bake-Off style final. The school were assured a place in the final because we had been given the honour of hosting the award. However, both competitions were won by schools from Durham in the North East, with Toft Hill taking the primary prize and Wolsingham School triumphing in the secondary. The competition was judged by Educate and Celebrate founder Dr Elly Barnes, journalist Scott Nunn and singer Saskia. Ms Barnes said: “Every year we love the competition more as the standard just gets higher and higher. “It is such a fun and accessible way for students and teachers to get involved with
LGBT+ inclusion. Through cake, we can spread the message of equality in a joyful way and eat it too – a bonus.” Curriculum Leader for Design Technology, Mx Lomax, who helped organise the project, said: “It is important that all our pupils, staff and families are aware that this is a welcoming, inclusive school which is tolerant of all lifestyles, races, religions and backgrounds.”
YEAR 2 students learnt about farms and farming for our WOW DAY at George Mitchell Primary Phase in January.
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There was also a focus on female scientists with pupils learning about the ground-breaking work done by women in the field. On the last day, families were invited into school for the George Mitchell Primary Science Fair.
A wealth of opportunities Headteacher Saeed Hussain reflects on another positive term at George Mitchell...
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As we do each term, the school has strived for excellence in every area of our students’ education. This term saw a new cohort of hopefuls join our scholarship programme. The success of previous students Martin and Nadia has inspired our students and there is now tough competition to join the programme. Younger students also proved inspirational this term. As a school we are incredibly proud of the maturity shown by Zahraa Ejaz, who raised funds for United World Schools by organising a non-uniform day. Our Science Fair in the Primary School capped an entertaining and educational Science Week with families joining us for a wonderful showcase of student work. At our termly George Mitchell Sing Off, primary students sang their hearts out, giving excellent renditions of their favourite Beatles songs. It has been a term when we have been able to demonstrate the wealth of opportunities on offer to students at George Mitchell. In the secondary school, students got the chance to practise their language skills at the Christmas markets in Bruges. There was a residential trip to Shropshire where students honed their writing skills before putting them into practice as reporters at a Leyton Orient match. Our girls managed to get themselves on to Sadiq Khan’s Facebook page during a visit to listen to inspirational speakers at City Hall for International Women’s Day. Meanwhile, primary pupils had a visit from the fire brigade and had an enviable visit to the Brixton Chocolate museum. As you will know, next term is very important for our students. Our Year 6 and Year 11s will be getting their final preparation for GCSE and SATS exams. We look forward to welcoming them back, refreshed and ready to face their challenges. Happy Easter holidays everyone.
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PUPILS made friends with exotic creatures, built rockets, took part in experiments and created their own tea bags as the primary school celebrated Science Week. Pupils learned about and how to handle tarantulas, snakes, frogs
GEORGE MITCHELL
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Track and field champs IT has been a stellar term for our Year 7 and Year 8 boys and girls on the athletics track after all four teams were crowned winter league borough champions. The teams put in a series of fantastic displays across a number of disciplines in a series of indoor meets throughout the term. Students pulled off victories in featured events which included high jump, long jump, 200m and 60m at meetings held at the Lee
Valley Sports Ground. Year 7 Lila Mark said: “I have really enjoyed trying all the sports in the athletics league. It has really boosted my confidence and now I am playing lots of different sports. “To win is an utterly amazing feeling because we have all worked so hard as a team to do well. I am glad I was able to win this with my friends.” Year 7 Learning Leader and PE teacher Jo
Hadaway added: “This winter league has been a massive boost of confidence for our students and in particular the girls. “They have worked together so well to ensure that every event is filled in order to score points. This has paid off. “It has been fantastic to see all the pupils try an event to see what they are suited to, so they can go into the summer league with a positive attitude and boost of confidence.”
Basketball girls are real battlers OUR girls’ basketball team have won praise for their determination and perseverance this term. Despite not winning a match, the team continued to turn up for training every Friday and were committed in matches. Ms Hadaway said: “I cannot fault their determination despite not winning any games, their attitude was fantastic. “They simply said, we have to start somewhere, it doesn’t matter if we win or lose. Other schools in the borough also commented on the girls’ perseverance.”
Victory double
On form: the George Mitchell girls’ football team had a successful January
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OUR Year 7 girls’ football team beat Leytonstone School 4-1 and Walthamstow School for Girls 1-0 in matches played in January. Top goal scorers were Angel Samuel and Anastasia Boneva.