December 2009 Issue - Westminster Academy

VOLUME
35
DECEMBER 2009
WA students win places at the UCL
Horizons Saturday School
Seven Year 10 students have won
coveted places at the University
College London Horizons Saturday
School, through a competitive application process. There were three
applications for every place.
appropriate first aid for people
suffering from asthma, diabetes
or epilepsy.
We formed debating teams to
discuss euthanasia. We debated
the issue from every possible
One of WA’s successful applicants, point of view and my team ar- Gentrit Hashani
Gentrit Hashani, describes what he gued that it should be legal and sity. I would definitely conhas been doing there:
we won the debate.
sider applying for a university
“I’ve been studying archaeology. I Attending the UCL Horizons Sat- place at UCL and I recomidentified species from fossils and urday School has enabled me to mend other students apply
looked at the digestive tract of a meet students from other for the Horizons Saturday
bison under the microscope, find- schools as well as the UCL Stu- School next year when the
ing ancient sunflower seeds. I’ve dent Ambassadors in each class. opportunity arises. I want to
also been learning first aid: what to The Ambassadors talk to stu- thank Mr Sandhu for helping
do until the ambulance arrives and dents about careers and univer- me with my application.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
HMI monitoring inspection by Ofsted
which will now not happen until the start
of the Spring Term. Many policies, including behaviour, have been updated and
the new versions will be available on our
website from January.
Principal Smita Bora
As we reach the end of Term 2, this
newsletter is a celebration of the
many activities, projects and opportunities our students continued to
participate in despite waiting for our
I would like to thank students, staff, parents and the community for supporting
me this term with my main messages to
the students:
•
To raise standards of literacy by attending before school and after
school literacy intervention lessons.
•
To improve levels of numeracy
through the use of programmes
such as My Maths and Sam Learning.
•
To improve the Academy’s attendance percentage, which is currently inadequate, by refraining
from taking students on extended
holidays during term time.
•
To ensure ALL students are participating in at least two hours of
physical activity per week.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year, and look forward to the new term on 6th January.
Westminster Academy Newsletter
Page 2
Meet the Staff – Christine Worrell has
been ‘Called to the Bar’
member of The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, a professional institution for Barristers
in October 2007.
In order to meet the criteria to be
Called to the Bar, Ms Worrell had to
attend twelve dinners at the Middle
Temple. During these dinners she
had to network with senior barrisOn successful completion of the ters and judges. This is part of the
Bar Exam Ms Worrell was “Called process of joining the fraternity of
to the Bar” by the Middle Temple the profession.
on 26 November 2009 and elevated to the degree of Barrister Ms Worrell is interested in practising
at Law.
criminal law and becoming a prosecutor. In effect she would be workChristine Worrell taking silk
A barrister is an advocate repre- ing for the Crown; parliament, the
Westminster Academy stusenting cases in high court in- Queen, and the government.
dents know Ms. Worrell as
cluding criminal court. A barrister
the Cover Supervisor, but
is like a consultant to a solicitor. Ms Worrell is happy to have an inforshe is now also now a bar“Called to the Bar” means Ms mal discussion with any WA sturister.
Worrell is able to pupilage – this dents on how to enter into the legal
After completing a full-time means find a law firm to train her profession. Students can make an
law degree, Ms Worrell was for one year during which she will appointment through Miss Inam in
admitted as a student shadow a senior barrister.
room 114.
WA 6th Form students debate with a prosecutor from the Crown Prosecution Service
Edmund Hall CPS held a debate about the criminal justice
system with Sixth Form students at the Academy.
police should be given more
powers, police behaviour at
recent public protests and
whether the courts were fulMr Hall has been a prosecutor filling the wishes of the elecfor more than twenty years torate.
and has played a key role in Sixth Form members of WA
developing prosecution policy Radio, Victoria, Sonet and
for football-related offences. Mahmoud, interviewed Mr
He discussed with students Hall for a future programme.
examples of famous cases to They said, “The event was
illustrate the work of the CPS. enlightening and has defiMore than 100 Sixth Form and nitely opened our eyes about
Year 9 students then debated the prosecution process and
issues, such as whether the the various rights that young
Edmund Hall CPS being interviewed by Victoria
Odunuyi, Sonet Mudiliyar and Mahmoud Salam
Perez
people have.”
Ms Bora said, “I’m proud of the maturity and insight displayed by our
students in devising their challenging
questions for Mr Hall.”
Westminster Academy Newsletter
Suika Mantilla of The 3 Kings
Page 3
Joshua Diamond, Amina Moussa, Reine Grant and Arta Pacuku of the WA Rock Band
WA students rock Paddington Academy with
Pop, Rock and Urban Music
By Amina Musa and Ms Koerner
Quintin Kynaston, Westminster Academy and
On 19 November, two WA bands took part in the some local primary schools.
Pop, Rock and Urban Concert at Paddington Acad- Amina Moussa says, “I thought the concert was
emy. The 3 Kings , a Sixth Form band, performed amazing. We all enjoyed ourselves performing
their own composition entitled The Godfather while on stage and it was a great laugh. It was the
the WA Rock Band played Use Somebody by The most spectacular feeling you could possibly
Kings of Leon.
imagine. Even though we were up against some
The concert was an eclectic mix of music per- tough competition, we still got up and there and
formed by students from Paddington Academy, did our best. It was astonishing.”
Miss Sara’s Literacy Puzzle Quiz
Complete the questions below and submit them to Miss Sara by Friday 8 January 2010. Prizes will be
awarded to the best three answers.
1. Name the popular phases from the three diagrams below:
2. Design three of your own catchphrases, write your answer below each catchphrase.
Westminster Academy Newsletter
Page 4
6th Form receive CV and Interview Training
at VISA Europe
group, to create the perfect CV. During the
exercise, we were given advice about what
we should and shouldn’t put on our CVs. After handing in the final versions of our CVs,
the best eight were chosen and were taken
the following day to the VISA Europe headquarters in Paddington.
6th Form students with Mr Reddington
By Motaz Mekki
During November, a group of eight Sixth Form students
from the IT Diploma Group received advice and training
about applying for career opportunities. Firstly, the
whole class had to undergo an extensive CV clinic.
Here we had the opportunity, with the help of Visa advisers, WA Teachers and the InPaddington advisory
Upon arrival at the VISA Europe offices, we
were split into two groups of four and then
started our interviews in the Boardroom.
We received constructive criticism about our
interviews and finally got to meet the Vice
President of Human Resources, who rewarded our efforts by giving us sports bags
and movie tickets. He gave us valuable advice on job applications and an insight on
what to expect in the future. Overall, the exercise was a very good experience for everyone who took part and all eight students left
the building with high hopes for the future.
TSIA Video Conference at the American Embassy, London
By Laylan Salih and and Palwasha Pashtoon
On Tuesday the 17th of November, we went to the US
Embassy in order to take part in a video conference exchange with our TSIA partner schools in New York.
We went with Mr. Sladen and Ms. Somerville. When we
arrived at the Embassy, we had to go through a series
of security checks. Then after we were escorted to a
room with two students representing each chosen
school.
We waited a while for the New York students to finish
eating their lunch, in the meantime we rehearsed our
presentation on animal rights and other global problems. Luckily it turned out to be a successful presentation, and the Americans shared their views with us by
video link! We found the whole experience to be interesting and gave us a new insight into American culture.
Equally, we appreciated the opportunity to improve our
literacy skills by preparing and presenting a speech to
Laylan and Palwasha outside the American Embassy in
London
such a distinguished audience. To sum it up,
we had a great day and we gave one of the
best presentations.
Thank you to Mr Sladen and Ms Somerville.
Westminster Academy Newsletter
Page 5
Love in Literature Symposium at
University College School
By Victoria Odunuyi
On Tuesday 3rd November, University College
School hosted the English Literature Symposium: Love in Literature. As well as students
from Westminster Academy and University College School participating in this event, there
were students from Henrietta Barnett School.
We were divided into four seminar groups, each
made of approximately ten students from all
three schools and chaired by a teacher from one
of the three schools. Within these groups, each
student had to read out a previously chosen
poem or prose extract, which they felt represented love, and explain how successfully their
chosen piece does this. After each student presented their chosen item, there was a general
discussion in which the prose extracts or poems
were contrasted and compared, as well as questions being asked regarding the student’s
choice.
The evening was a success, as it joined together
three different schools through the shared interest of literature. It was particularly helpful as English is one of the subjects studied in IB, and Individual Oral Presentation is one of the assessment
requirements of the course, so the event prepared students for this presentation as well as
future discussions in English. It enabled us to
think more openly with regards to the chosen literature, and trying to understand various concepts raised by the other students, which we may
have not initially considered. It also helped in
building fluency when discussing the various
works, as every student spoke differently on their
chosen passage; however they each had their
own interpretation which they shared with the
other students and teachers.
Overall it was an interesting evening, filled with
varied thoughts and opinions on many works of
literature. It not only opened up an assortment of
ideas and concepts on familiar works but also
gave us an idea of what to expect in IB English, or
if we plan to go on to study English at university.
Have a lovely holiday-school opens
at 8:30am on Wednesday 6 January 2010
Westminster Academy Newsletter
Page 6
IB G4 Gardening Project will transform the
area west of the Academy building
how to make use of this piece of land that was not
being used by the school effectively. We would be
planting some bulbs and helping the school to improve this piece of land.
Firstly, we had a discussion of what the G4 project
was about and how it will help us. Then we were
shown by Groundwork what tools we would use,
what jobs they do and how to use them.
After the introductions we were split into groups of
six friends, gathered some tools and made holes
for the bulbs that were to be planted. We were adBy Mahmet Bas and Naqib Mangal
vised not to put the bulbs too close to each other
We, as the Year 12 lB, took part in the G4 probecause they would not be able to grow properly.
ject; this took place a few weeks ago in the
school’s side garden. During the G4 project, we After finishing planting the bulbs, we gathered towere instructed by Groundwork West London on gether to talk about the possible ideas.
6th Form Students planting bulbs
Reyhan gets wise to science and
engineering at her WISE internship
By Reyhan Nas
Mr Giles recommended that I apply for the WISE internship. WISE stands for Women Into Science, Engineering and Construction; they are a campaign organisation that tries to create more opportunities for
girls and women to learn about and try out careers
in these fields.
I was interested in a science internship but did not
know what sort of tasks I would be given to do at
WISE. I was not doing science experiments, I was doing admin. tasks to promote science and engineering
careers. For instance, I helped organise a conference
where female students could learn more about engineering. I went to a talk given by female pilots who
explained in what ways this was a good career for a
young woman. There were 5-6 other speakers talking
about engineering opportunities with photos of what
they did. There were delegate booklets explaining all
Reyhan at the WISE office with the construction kit
the different careers in engineering.
I am interested in physics and now considering medical engineering - designing machines
that are used in hospitals.
The WISE Internship was great. I recommend
it to other girls who are interested in science
or engineering or construction.
Westminster Academy Newsletter
Page 7
WA Interact Club-here to make changes and
Rotary Young Chef competition
Siriphon Prueangprat with her spicy sole creation
Dea Gjinovci overseeing the Young Chef competition
We are the adults of tomorrow, hence we have to
start being responsible for our actions now. The
Westminster Academy’s Interact Club is part of Interact Club can be contacted via:
Rotary International; an international organisa- [email protected]
tion that is heavily involved in running humanitarian and community projects.
Last week the Interact Club organised the Rotary
Young Chef competition with the support of Mr OjeThe Interact Club has been running at Westmin- wunmi. The second floor was full of the aroma of
ster Academy for over a year now. Members of wonderful cooking smells as five students each
the club are students from the Academy that prepared a dish for the sixth form judges to taste.
want to contribute positively to our society. Rotary is defined as “Each member of a Rotary Here are the winners of the Rotary Club Young Chef
club makes a difference. Together, Rotarians Competition:
make change.” Thus, members of the Interact 1st: Amina Ferhat (Year 12)
club meet once a week to discuss ways in which 2nd: Roisin Dore- Hyland (Year 7)
the club can raise awareness about important 3rd: Elia Farah (Year 13)
global topics, and to think of ways of raising 4th: Siriphon Prueangprat (Year 12)
money for the poor and needy. In the past, the 5th: Noufaila Bettache (Year 9)
club has done this through fundraising and holding events to raise awareness about the big is- Amina and Roisin are going to participate in the dissues of our world. Last year, members of the Ro- trict Young Chef competition on the 5th February
tary Club lent micro credit to women in Tanza- 2010.Congratulations; everybody cooked very well!
nia to create chicken farms which would generate income for them. The project achieved some
success and this year’s projects include: raising
money for children in hospices and raising There are parents’ surgeries every Monday between
awareness about ecology and discrimination.
4-6pm. This is an opportunity for parents to come in
and see Mr Barnes, the Associate Principal, face to
The main message we want to pass on is: even
if we are teenagers we can influence our society face about any matters of concern, or pass on their
in a good way; we should all care more about compliments about an aspect of their child’s educaour world, to be a better global citizens. We have tion.
a number of projects coming up in January and
the students of the Academy should look for- Parents can book an appointment by telephoning
ward to hearing more from us soon.
020 7121 0636.
By Dea Gjinovci
Parent’s Surgery
Westminster Academy Newsletter
Page 8
Crossrail Wildlife Presentation
By Mr Vilchez
Earlier this term a group of five Year 7 students
were asked to take part in the Crossrail project.
They visited the East Reservoir Community Garden and the University of East London on the
11th and 25th of November.
The Crossrail project aims to connect east and
west London with a high speed train link. A section of the link is underground with a tunnel
which will run through central London. This underground section will have eight ventilation
shafts within the tunnel to allow fresh air to be
exchanged as well as providing access to
maintenance workers and the emergency services.
In total six schools participated in the project,
incorporating students from all year groups. All
students were asked to design a building that
would cover the ventilation shaft in order to
present it to an audience which included high
ranking officials on the Crossrail project, university students and other participating students.
The students were briefed on the requirements
of the building, namely that they must provide
access to emergency and maintenance services and that they should have a ‘green roof.’
Green roofs are roofs which have been built to
support the growth of plants, which in turn provide habitats for wildlife such as small mammals, birds and insects. The Academy Sport
building itself has a green roof, of which we are
very proud.
Our students designed a beautiful building
which they aptly named “the spectacular solar
spiral”. It consists of a roof top park on an intensive green roof as well as its own renewable
energy supply in the form of solar panels.
Year 7 students at East Reservoir Community Garden
The main learning objective for the students was
presentation skills. In all they delivered three presentations. The first two were given on the first day
in order to practise. The students were then given
two weeks to design their buildings and prepare a
presentation which they later delivered to a large
audience on the 25th of November.
All the schools produced fantastic presentations,
and I dare say that our students did us proud. Brilliant feedback was given about our students’ design
and presentation and some of the ideas that the
students incorporated into the design may well appear in the ventilation shaft buildings when they are
actually built.
Congratulations to the students who took part and
invested so much time and effort in the project.;
Leona Hoxha Kartallozi, Aymen Hajila, Fjolla Ramadani, Diellza Ramadani, and Nora Jamal Wadi.
Diellza Ramadani and Leona Hoxha Kartallozi
Westminster Academy Newsletter
Page 9
Westminster Academy Newsletter
Page 10
One of Jamaica’s favourite poets comes to
Westminster Academy
ber 2009 to celebrate his poetry as part of celebrations for
Black History month.
Yasus Afari wrote his best selling book, ‘Overstanding Rastafari: Jamaica's Gift to the World’ as a follow up to work he
had developed in Jamaican schools. His main showcase was
‘Poetry in Motion’ which is an annual event celebrating Jamaica’s poetry heritage. Yasus’ anthology ‘Eye pen’, provides
examples of the wide range of writing that he has done.
Yasus first gave the students an insight into black history,
before reciting many of his beautiful poems.
When he performed the poem, ‘My mother who fathered me’,
it was extremely moving and touched everyone deeply. He
even played one of his songs, “Essence of life”, to which all
By Miss Suriyanarayanan
the students sang and danced along with him. He encourYasus Afari , one of Jamaica’s best aged the students to interact with him as they delved deeper
known poets, visited Westminster into his past and learnt how he became the poet he is now.
Academy on Wednesday 4th Novem- The students immensely enjoyed the visit and now appreciate poetry in ways they never knew were possible.
Yanus Afari in the Green Room
Marwa and Ubah compete in the Jack
Petchey ‘Speak Out’ Regional Final
Quintin Kynaston School on Wednesday 9 December.
Students from eight secondary schools in West London competed by each delivering a three minute
speech in front of a panel of distinguished judges and
an audience of approximately two hundred people.
Year 10 students from 8 Westminster and K&C secondary
schools receive their Speak Out certificates. Ubah is on the
left
The judges included Sir William Atkinson, Headteacher of Phoenix High School, Kim Catheside, Education Correspondent for the BBC and Prof. Ashley
Grossman, Head of Neuroendocrinology at Barts Hospital.
Marwa was the first student on stage and bravely
Marwa Addouz and Ubah Daahir represented spoke about global warming. Ubah’s speech was
Westminster Academy at the Jack Petchey about discrimination. They both gave strong speeches
‘Speak Out’ Regional Final, which was held at and did a fantastic job representing the Academy.