George Mitchell School Times LEARNING can be fun TOO
TIANNA ALL KITTED OUT Year 7 uses prize for netball team
Younger students in the spotlight
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Hasan’s already making a mark in British politics GEORGE Mitchell School student Hasan will become the youngest-ever speaker at a political party conference. Aged just 15, he is a year younger than William Hague was when the former Home Secretary gave his famous speech to the Tory Party conference in 1977. Hasan was chosen to represent Leyton and Wanstead Labour Party at the conference following a members’ ballot this week. Despite being unable to cast a vote, Hasan, who won’t take his GCSEs with us until next year, will address party delegates in Liverpool this September. Hasan says he will use the platform to highlight government cuts to youth services. He said: “I want to take the concerns of the young people in East London to the heart of the political debate in this country. “My own youth club closed down this year and I knew the impact that would have on my peers.” Surprisingly, given his political allegiances, he is happy to be compared to William Hague. He said: “Like me, William Hague went to a
state school. He was young, he had a belief that he could make the world a better place. I don’t agree with his politics but I respect where he was coming from.” He added: “I am lucky in a sense because I attend an excellent school that nurtures talent and gives you unbelievable opportunities to pursue your dreams. “But what about young people who don’t attend a school like that? Who is making sure they stay on the right path, what is their future?” Headteacher Saeed Hussain said: “If you teach young people to be engaged, if you teach them that if you have the right attitude, there are no barriers to what they can achieve. “We are extremely proud as a school to have played a part in shaping this remarkable young man. “Like many of our pupils, Hasan has been given the right tools to make a mark on the world.” Hasan’s story was featured on ITV News and in national newspaper the Daily Mirror in June.
Proud: Hasan with the Labour manifesto
Party crowns a memorable day NURSERY children and staff threw a patriotic party full of fun and games to celebrate the royal wedding. They joined millions across the world to watch the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on television. Parents made food for the party and children snacked on sandwiches and biscuits to celebrate the nuptials in May. They also played games and took part in craft activities, including making their own crowns. “We had a good time and we played in the garden, we made crowns and we ate sandwiches
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and biscuits,” said nursery pupil Abdullah. “We wore red, white and blue because they are the colours of the Union Jack and it was the royal wedding.” “We got to wear red, white and blue for the royal wedding and it was a really fun thing to do,” added Laishah. “There was music and we got to do lots of dancing.” Nursery teacher Ms Paisley said: “The event had a really good community feel to it, all the children were involved. “We had parents bringing in food for the party and we spent the day celebrating British values.”
Sporty Tianna reinvests prize cash in netball kit SELFLESS pupil Tianna has used a grant she received through a prestigious award scheme to buy a new sports kit for her peers. The Year 7 scooped a £250 prize when she was handed a Jack Petchey Award for her dedication to extracurricular activities. Those honoured under the scheme can choose how the money is spent and do not have to use it to buy new equipment for their schools or organisations. However, sports-mad Tianna, part of our netball, basketball, athletics and football teams, asked for her grant to be reinvested in the PE department. Tianna chose to purchase bibs for the school’s netball teams after she and teammates played in a recent tournament without the kit. She said: “I was so happy to win the award, I could not believe it when I found out but it was such an honour. “I wanted to use the money to help the school and when the new bibs arrived, the whole netball team were so excited, everyone wanted to show them off.” The Jack Petchey Foundation works with more than 2,000 schools and youth organisations in London and Essex to recognise the achievements of young people. The organisation has awarded more than £118 million since it launched in 1999. Our Jack Petchey coordinator Paula Brocki said: “For Tianna to be so selfless with her money was amazing, it was so lovely of her to give back to the school. “She received the award for her dedication
ALL KITTED OUT: The netball team show off the bibs bought by Tianna (right) to our sports teams so for her to invest in new kit really reflects the fact that the prize was thoroughly deserved.” Headteacher Mr Hussain said: “For all the focus the school places on academic achievement we do not overlook helping pupils develop characteristics such as community spirit and kindness. “In one small act of kindness, Tianna has shown herself to be a shining example both to her peers and her community.”
THERE was plenty to keep our younger students entertained recently, with nursery children making feathery friends when baby chicks visited the school in May (left) while both primary and nursery pupils learned about art traditions from across the world and throughout history for Art Week (right).
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Fab Moose singers get by with a little help from their friends A YEAR 5 class were crowned top of the pops during George Mitchell’s popular singing competition. Moose class won the primary school’s GM Sing-Off event for spring term after wowing a judging panel of teachers. This term, the competition’s theme was Beatles number one singles, with each class performing a hit from the Fab Four’s back catalogue. Children from Moose class chose to sing the 1963 classic Twist and Shout and the song proved popular with the judges. Student Mujtaba said: “I was
so shocked when we won because I thought we had messed up our song because we had gone out of time but it turned out everything was fine.” “The whole thing was really fun, I enjoyed being on the stage and performing so much.” “When we found out we had won, we all felt really proud of ourselves,” added Yusra, another winner from the class. “I really like doing things like this at school. We had so much fun learning to sing the song and performing.”
Romeesa’s on right track for medical career
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profession with people who really need your help would be a great honour for me. “At George Mitchell, alongside all the important academic stuff, we are also taught to be responsible people. This is part of what has inspired me to become a doctor.” More Able coordinator Miss Fagan said: “I have worked quite closely with Romeesa and she is a very high achieving and motivated student. She has done so well to earn a place on this scheme. Hundreds of people applied for a handful of places and she was very deservingly selected.”
Ambition: Romeesa is keen to follow a career in medicine
Deputy Headteacher bids fond farewell to school
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Thank you to all students for a fabulous four years at George Mitchell School. It’s been hard work but also exciting to see you succeed and develop into young people with such talents and aspirations for the future. I’m really looking forward to hearing about all your great achievements over the next couple of years. I know I will take lots of good memories from George Mitchell School with
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Our Deputy Headteacher Belinda Chapple bids a fond farewell to George Mitchell after four years at the school.
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BRIGHT student Romeesa has been chosen ahead of more than 1,500 other young people for a medicine career pathway at a top university. Romeesa was among just 30 applicants selected to take part in a week-long residential course at University College London (UCL). The Year 11 student was accepted on to the prestigious programme after submitting an essay about her interest in medicine. She was encouraged to apply to the programme by George Mitchell’s More Able coordinator, Grace Fagan. She has now set her sights on studying medicine at university and one day becoming a doctor. Romeesa said: “I was really honoured that I was offered a place and pleased with myself. A lot of people applied and very few got in. “I did not even know about the scheme until Miss Fagan told me about it and then she even helped me to apply. “This is the kind of opportunity and experience I am going to need to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor. “I can’t thank this school enough for all the support they have given me. They have really pushed and challenged me to pursue my dream.” During the week-long course, Romeesa will learn basic medical tests and procedures from doctors at the university. Romeesa says she wants to work in a specialist cancer unit helping patients beat the disease. She added: “Working in the medical
me to my new school in September. Remember: “Dream no small dreams, for they have no power to move the hearts of men.”
You can find more pictures of the stories covered in the newsletter by following us on twitter: @gmatschool
Paul steals the show with track and field excellence
Borough’s best: Paul (centre) shows off his medal
YEAR 2 student Paul has been crowned best in the borough for his age at the Waltham Forest Quad Kids sports competition. The sporty student’s combined score was the best in the field of more than 300 competitors from across the borough. He topped the Year 1 and Year 2 students after competing in a 300m race, 50m sprint, long jump and a throwing event Vortex.
Pupils excited by building progress OUR student council got a sneak peek of the new primary building before it opens in September. The group of pupils were taken on a tour of the site to find out what their new classrooms will look like. Muna from Year 4 said: “The classrooms actually looked really impressive, I cannot wait to see what they are like when they are finished.” To mark the move to the new building, the school council will choose new names for each of the classes. Classes are currently named after animals and pupils have been proposing new themes on which to base names in future. Themes suggested by pupils include constellations and famous authors. Zara, also from Year 4, added: “It is still in progress but from what I saw, it looks nice and
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modern and new. It is going to be really good when we get to move over there. “It is very exciting to be at the school during the move to the new building and to be one of the first classes to use the facilities.” The new building is expected to be completed in September in time for the new academic year. It is part of a £20 million redevelopment project which has already seen our secondary site renovated. Headteacher Mr Hussain said: “The benefits of having modern, world-class facilities are already beginning to bear fruit in our secondary school. “Come next September both our primary and secondary school students will have access to the building, and equipment to match the outstanding education provided at George Mitchell School.”
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Paul was part of our championshipwinning Year 2 team, which also included Osman, Risha, Shaun, LouAnne, Anas, Azra-Betul and Clarissa. The team were also rewarded with medals for showing leadership by officiating at the inter-school competition. Quad Kids is an annual sports competition run by Waltham Forest School Sports Network, featuring two track and two field events.
OUR nursery students played with a fire hose, sat in a fire truck and tried on uniforms during a trip to Leyton Fire Station, while below, they also had success planting beans in pots and watching them grow.
School joins the battle against discrimination STAFF and pupils came together to stand up against discrimination as part of a worldwide event. The school chose to observe the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia in May. At George Mitchell, more than 50 teachers chose to take part by wearing t-shirts for the day bearing slogans in support of the cause. Students in both the primary and secondary schools were encouraged to think about discrimination in ways tailored to their specific age groups. Since it was first staged in 2004, the day is used to draw attention to discrimination suffered by LGBTQ+ people across the globe. Zed Lomax, Head of Design and Technology, who organised the day, said: “It was fantastic that even the primary school got involved and the teachers were so enthusiastic about taking part. “It was a day to think about how we treat each other at school and in the wider community. “It is also about thinking about people in other countries who maybe do not have the
Determined: The staff members who took a stand against discrimination opportunity to be themselves in the same way we can be in this country. “Everyone who took part in the school,
both teachers and pupils, was really engaged in the idea and really wants to challenge homophobia.”
Athletics girls leap at chance to compete GIRLS across the school are excelling in Athletics after being encouraged to take part in a new club. Around 30 girls have signed up to get involved with the sessions, taking part in Athletics Club every week. The girls are also taking part in regular meets, competing against other schools from across Waltham Forest. “It is fun, you get to find out what you are good at and in Athletics there is an event for everyone,” said Year 7 student Angel, who takes part in the 100 and 200 metres. “I enjoy it because it has been really cool to be involved and it doesn’t really matter if we win or lose, it is about having fun doing it.” Year 8 middle distance runner Ya Ling agreed and said there was more to the club than just competing. She said: “I really enjoy going to the club and meeting friends. “Some of the girls there I became friends with through Athletics.” “When you work as a team, it helps you to be better at what you are doing as everyone is cheering you on.” PE teacher Ms Hadaway said that she had been delighted by the girls’ enthusiasm for the sport. “It has been really inspiring to see the girls taking part in Athletics,” she said. “They love it, they argue over who gets to
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New passion: Some of the girls who have become members of the Athletics Club do what event and they all want to give it a try.” “The winning is not the most important
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thing, I want them to be active and enjoy it, even if they come last they can be happy they did their best.”
Year 10 day trip reward for hard work YEAR 10 Jack Petchey Foundation winners were rewarded for their effort with a trip to the Royal Conservatory at the South Bank in June.
Songwriting masterclass sparks pupils’ creativity X FACTOR songwriter Jamie Scallion gave students a musical masterclass during a visit this term. Jamie, who has worked with chart-toppers Florence and the Machine and jazz-pop pianist Jamie Cullum, taught Year 8 and 9 pupils how to develop and write their own songs. Pupils were so enthused by the workshop that many took their writing journals home to work on what they had learnt. Jamie talked about his time as a touring musician with the X Factor, which inspired his book The Rock ‘n’ Roll Diaries. English teacher Ms Banbury said: “The students really enjoyed themselves and took pride in their journals. “It was surprising how quickly Jamie was able to show students how to go from initial ideas to a full song. “After the workshop I ran a series of lessons using song writing to develop writing skills. “The students have really developed more sophisticated writing, teamwork and creativity.”
Fashion experts influence students’ designs YEAR 10 students got help designing fashionable outfits from industry experts. Designers Kamran Sarwar and Patrick Russell, who between them have worked with household names such as Louis Vuitton, Kenzo and Harvey Nichols, led workshops in June. Students made clothes for a catwalk using recycled material during a visit to Newham College’s Fashion and Tailoring Department. They also took part in activities that developed their
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capacity to think artistically whilst developing their public speaking skills. Textile teacher Ms Brown said: “We had the pleasure of working with two industry specialists – Kamran Sarwar and Patrick Russell. “The students were fully engaged with the activity and were able to develop their making skills as well as their public speaking skills.” The clothes designed by our students were showcased at Newham College’s Open Evening at the end of June.
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Memorable year for our diverse school in so many different ways Headteacher Mr Hussain reflects on another successful year at George Mitchell School... improve year on year. We look forward to celebrating our results with students later in the summer – so watch this space! Our wonderfully diverse school offers the students the opportunity to achieve not just academically but creatively – with Sing-offs, Arts and Science Weeks and drama workshops, plus a variety of exciting trips. There has also been success on the sporting field with our female students coming to the fore in track and field, netball and football, among others. Most pleasing though is the atmosphere that permeates George Mitchell School. We have created a supportive and caring learning environment where students are happy and have the opportunity to flourish and fulfil their potential. It just remains for me to wish you a very happy summer.
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When this term comes to an end, bringing with it the completion of another truly exceptional academic year, our staff, students and families will have truly earned their much-deserved summer break. This year has seen our secondary students move into their new secondary school, which has the facilities to match the world-class education offered at this school. They will soon be followed by the primary phase, who are expected to move into their new accommodation in the October half-term later this year. This year has seen the school become one of the top performing secondary in the borough of Waltham Forest for GCSE results. Our results have brought with it a number of prestigious accolades, not least a letter from the Regional Schools Commissioner, Sue Baldwin, who wrote to the school to congratulate us on being ranked one of the top 200 schools in the country. We have set extremely high standards at this school but have no lesser ambition than to continue to
Young reporters retreat to polish writing skills STUDENTS have been praised for their creative writing skills after taking part in two literacy projects. Year 8 students spent a wonderful week at a creative writing retreat before writing match reports for a Leyton Orient match. The Writing the Game project is a partnership between charity the Arvon Foundation and the Leyton Orient Trust. Writing the Game whisked students away for a week to The Hurst, Arvon’s centre in the Shropshire Hills, where the students enjoyed being outdoors in the countryside and learning to be independent and responsible by deciding and making their evening meals and looking after the house. They received an inspiring masterclass from professional authors and journalists to improve their writing skills. Upon their return, they spent a day in the Press box for Leyton Orient’s match against Tranmere Rovers, later writing match reports. Pupils were also given the opportunity to film interviews with Orient vice-chairman Kent Teague and several players. The school held a celebration evening in recognition of students’ hard work and to thank organisers, which included a short film about the project – which you can see on the school website. Year 8 D’Jhone said: “The project seemed
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educational at first, but soon I just felt like I was having fun and I did not realise how much I was learning after that.” Year 8 Sofiane added: “We had a great week away and we also had an amazing experience getting to go to Leyton Orient and watching the game in the Press box.We had to write a report
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about the game but afterwards they took us to the pitch and we got to interview the players.” Project leader Ms Hadaway said: “This was an inspiring experience for our students. “It helped them develop in so many ways and gave them opportunities and experiences that we hope will enrich their lives.”
Roberto claims athletics double OUR super athletes raced to gold against some of the best young athletes in the borough this term. Students bagged a host of medals at the Waltham Forest Athletics Championships meet in June. The star of the show was Year 7 student Roberto (right), who celebrated a double
after securing gold in the 300 metres and then a silver in the shot put. Other pupils among the George Mitchell winners included Year 8 student Dean, who took silver at the long jump competition, while Year 8 student Dilan won bronze in the javelin and Year 10 student Trinity claimed silver in the discus.
OUR Year 7 netball team pose for a picture after tasting victory for the first time in May.
YEAR 1 children visited the Museum of Childhood to support their learning on toys throughout history.
YEAR 6 students took a break from revision for their SATS exams by enjoying the sunshine on a trip to the Olympic Park
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