Variety Performance Leeds Champions - The Co

May 13 | Volume 2, Issue 4
Variety Performance
This April The Co-operative Academy of Leeds in
conjunction with Northern Ballet Phoenix Dance Theatre
produced a sell-out variety performance that wowed its
audience.
The Phoenix Dance Theatre is a local arts organisation with
over 30 years’ experience. A group of our students were
given the opportunity to work with the theatre to enhance
their annual performance show. As part of the partnership
The Phoenix offered students the opportunity to meet
company dancers and staff and were invited to take part in
workshops.
Not only was the final show a huge success and a credit to
students’ hard work and enthusiasm but it was a fantastic
experience for them to develop new skills. Students were
provided the opportunity to develop their understanding of how a theatre company works and the different skills required to create a
production from start to finish.
The final show, which took place at the Phoenix Dance Theatre, provided the professional setting for a professional performance.
Performances on the night included a scene from the musical Gel, contemporary
and hip hop dance, singing, comedy, beat boxing and majorettes. Each act
received an overwhelming response and everyone involved in the show left on a
high.
Variety Performance
1
Congratulations to all who made the evening such a success and massive thanks
all staff involved but especially to projects leaders Miss Wheatley, Miss Hamilton
and Miss Harris
Leeds Champions
1
Leeds under 15 champions
2
Attendance News
2
Leeds Champions
University Maths Quiz
2
Business Mentoring
2
Fever FM
2
Paperworks Prince
2
Careers Event
2
Hull University Residential
2
Dragon’s Den Enterprise
2
UK Team Maths Challenge
2
Czech Republic Visit
2
SEAL
2
Film Festival Competition
2
Community Summer Fair
2
Dates for your diary
2
Turn to Page 2 for the report on the Under 15’s Football win
Page 2
Leeds under 15 champions
The final of the under 15 Champions Cup kicked off under leaden skies, but
the bright flamingo pink football of THE CO-OPERATIVE ACADEMY OF LEEDS
soon warmed the crowd.
ALFIE BEESTIN played a superb match, as did AHMED AHMED and MARCEL
CHIGUMIRA who time and time again made audacious first time passing.
From one of these passes, Marcel ran on to score the opening goal high into
the net. Two goal bound headers from Alfie were clawed away before the
lively ROMARIO NAN pounced on a keeping error to double the lead.
In defence ATTAULLAH YAQUBI and NASEEM AHMED were fierce competitors
in supporting the ice cool centre halves ATAL HABIBI and VIANDRO VANDUNHEM to keep the hustling bustling Swallow Hill forward line at bay. A free
kick outside the area against Naseem was harshly awarded, and a pin-point
kick finally beat the impressive DYSON MUSANGO for 2-1 at half time.
FEYSEL NEGESH came on and was soon linking up well with captain BRUCE
FERNANDO and our flowing football that was causing Swallow Hill all types of
problems. At this point we were playing an unselfish game, trying to create goals for each other. Problems of our own were soon to follow
as a penalty was awarded, and we were abashed to see an equalizer against the run of play. Coach JP refused to chastise the team,
instead we showed great tenacity to try and win the match and emulate the year 11 cup winners of 2011.
RONALDO NAN was playing out of his skin on the wing and created chance
after chance but it would not go in! Extra time! Sadly we couldn’t find a
decisive goal despite some great skill from the midfield and determined
defenders.
Penalties! We held our nerve as Bruce, Romario, Ronaldo, Feysal and Marcel
all put their penalties away with aplomb. This was matched by Swallow Hill
until the final kick which was pushed onto the bar and saved by Dyson, who
was instantly mobbed. The subs HASEEB MOHMOOD and GILBERTO VANDUNHEM ran on with the whole squad and celebrated with a couple of triple
back flips! A great scenes as handshakes and cheers were given for Swallow
Hill - good to see.
We certainly had more than had our money’s worth as the cup final had
indeed been a classic! Alfie, Viandro and Naseeeeem all good contenders for
men of the match, but it was a great team performance! Mr Ward/
Mohammed Jamil DV7
Attendance News
The Academy attendance is improving so make sure you GIVE IT 100% after half term for your
chance to win a Kindle Fire and other prizes. Please ensure you send your child to school every
day. Holidays or extended trips during school time are not permitted. Families should not make
travel arrangements without schools permission. If you do you could be subject to a fine.
Page 3
University Maths Quiz
On Saturday 16th March 12 students took part in a competition with other
schools across West Yorkshire. The competition took place the Leeds University
and there were 14 teams all competing for the trophy.
On arrival the students were split into two teams of six and enjoyed taking part in
some activities to warm up before the main event.
There were 18 questions all related to different topics of maths. The students
had to work together in their teams in order to solve the maths problems.
Number, algebra, handling data, shape, space and measure were all tested. The
students worked co-operatively and enjoyed the event. Unfortunately we did not
medal on this occasion but there’s always next year!
After the quiz all the students stayed for the TAXI! lecture, which really challenged them and gave them a university experience. The
purpose of the lecture was to encourage the students to ‘play’ and experiment with existing maths rules and apply them to new situations,
proving how a circle can actually become a square…!?!
Business Mentoring
A selection of our Year 11 students have been taking part in business mentoring sessions
with volunteers from the Department of Health, DWF, Eversheds, and OHS since October
2012. The sessions have been part of the ‘Make the Grade Programme’ run through
Leeds Ahead. The aim of the programme is to inspire and encourage students to reach
their potential and have a positive attitude towards their learning.
The group sessions required students to step out of the comfort of a classroom and into
the hustle and bustle of the busy Bridge Water offices. The students were assigned
mentors who over 6 sessions gave them individualised employability guidance. They
looked at selection of topics including being able to identify their strengths, how to write a CV, how to conduct themselves in an interview
and being able to work as a team.
Students who took part in the sessions felt that this was a really beneficial programme and it has improved their self-confidence. They
also felt that they have a better understanding of what they might want to do once they leave school and how they might go about
achieving it.
The teachers and mentors involved in the programme complimented the students and saw a visible improvement in their attitude and that
through taking part the students were able to raise their aspirations.
The Co-operative Academy of Leeds as well as Ahead Partnership wants to express their thanks to all the business mentors involved in
this exciting opportunity and we hope for the same success next year.
Page 4
Fever FM
As a part of Stephen Lawrence Educational Standards (SLES) work, a group of student along with by Mr. Thompson and Mr. Ali chaired a
40 minute radio programme on Fever FM. The programme involved answering phone calls and texts from the community about
community cohesion and the importance of education for young people.
The SLES representatives are part of the student forum group and spoke about racial harmony in the school and how the Stephen
Lawrence programme influences and benefits school life within the Academy. During the programme the Principal, Miss McCarthy was
able to provide additional feedback to question posed my members of the community, giving a deeper insight into the role the Academy
plays in the wider community. Miss McCarthy answered telephone question via a live link to the Academy explaining how the Academy
provides a cohesive learning environment for all of its 76 different language speaking students.
This was a positive experience for the students and provided them with a platform to celebrate their positive attitude towards cultural and
racial diversity. Students were a credit to the Academy and a positive role model for their peers. Keep following the Academy’s proactive
contributions in the community by visiting the website www.cal.coop/news
Many thanks to Fever FM for giving us this fantastic opportunity and we hope to be invited back soon.
Paperworks Prince
Helen from Paperworks has complimented one of our year 11 students on their conscientious
work with Paperworks.
‚Prince got in contact after meeting me at a careers event run by the Ahead partnership. A week
or so after the event he emailed me asking if he could volunteer with us during his school
holidays.
I was impressed by Prince’s tenacious attitude; he went to the effort of contacting me, requesting
support from his teachers and parents as well as arranging to visit our office.
Prince has volunteered with us during his school holidays ever since. He carries out work in our
workshop and supports trainees to get jobs done to the required standard. He has done a range of work for our customers as well as one
off projects. Recently Prince made a slideshow of our pictures for us to have on display at our open day.
The main reason I value Prince as a volunteer is the effortless way he treats everyone as equals. This makes trainee’s feel at ease when
working with him and his calm approach makes him popular among the whole team.
Prince abolishes many preconceptions people have about teenagers; he is hardworking, friendly and ambitious. I hope he will continue to
volunteer with us for the foreseeable future!‛
‚It has been really good! I thought it was going to be limited but there’s loads to do and it’s for a great cause. I want to go into medicine
so this is good experience. I will be able to build on these job skills in other jobs‛ Prince
Page 5
Careers Event
The Co-operative Academy of Leeds in partnership with Leeds Ahead
successfully hosted a Year 11, Sixth Form and community careers event on the
2nd May. Over 20 companies were involved in the success of the event,
providing students and their families the opportunity to network with local
business and service providers. The event was a huge successful and gave
attendees a better understand about the different job roles, career
opportunities and further training options.
There was a balance of business genres involved, such as Evershed, Reel
Staffing, and Lloyds TBS etc. Arcadia proved popular and attendees quizzed the
senior staff about the variety of roles involved in retail. Both the Army and The
Thackeray Museum were great additions to the event and students were
surprised at the variety of job opportunities they could pursue if they continue to
apply themselves in their studies. The Co-operative ambassadors widened
attendee’s perception of businesses, highlighting how apprenticeships provide a
practical route into business.
Community and career organisations such as Learning Partnerships, Job Centre
Plus, Shine and Pathways provided real job and volunteer opportunities as well
as advice and guidance about writing a show stopping CV, job application and
cover letter.
We also welcomed higher education providers such as Bradford University,
Leeds City College and Leeds College of building who gave both students and
parents/carers information about further education and training available in the
region.
Overall there was a great sense of community as a mix of students and their
families mingled the room dipping into the different services on show. The
participation and enthusiasm from the businesses and organisations created a
buzz, which definitely encouraged the attendees to engage and think about their
future in the working world. Everyone involved in the event complimented the
positive interaction from students and admired their thirst to learn how their
studies lend themselves to fulfilling a successful career.
Thank you to everyone who got involved in making this a positive afternoon
Hull University Residential
Ten of our Year 11 students have gained a place on a residential summer school at Hull University which will run after their exams are
over, from 1-5 July. It is designed to introduce them to university life and they will attend taster lectures and gain information about
applications and finance. It will also give them a taste of student social life with evening activities. During the week students will work with
participants from across the region with plenty of opportunities to make new friends and share new experiences. They will stay in student
accommodation with present Hull students as mentors. They will work with these University ‘Buddies,’ who will share their university life
experiences and our students will gain a greater awareness of the range of opportunities open to them in higher education. The students
worked very hard on their applications for this summer school and it will be a brilliant experience for them.
Well done Rani Mahmood, Emmanuel Sule, Chris Marambwa, Oliver Routh, Prince Bhebhe, Hamad Haroon, Emma Hunt Shelley, Winta
Alem, Sakar Salar, Charity Nkrum
Page 6
Dragon’s Den Enterprise
The University of Leeds ran a project called ‘Enterprise and Financial Literacy into
Schools’ across 7 different Leeds schools. The project involved university students
coming into the Academy to deliver sessions about managing money and
understanding different financial terms. The second part of the project involved
students having a budget in which to bring an enterprise idea to life. On the 9th May
19 of our KS3 students visited the University of Leeds to pitch their ideas to a panel
of judges in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ styled event. The day started with a tour of the
University campus which gave students a glimpse into university life and gave them
the opportunity to ask the tour guides about their experience and career aspirations.
Of the 20 teams involved in the competition The Co-operative Academy entered 5
teams which included ‘Go Green for the Future’; ‘HD valeting’; ‘Price of Beauty’;
‘Rainbow Smile’; and ‘Leeds Limited Edition’. After lunch students were split into 5
small rooms where they overcame their nerves and pitched their business ideas to
the first set of judges and a selection
of opposing teams. All competing
teams then collected in a lecture hall
where the winner of each round
would again pitch their ideas to win
the title of ‘Enterprise Champion’.
Well done to ‘The Price of Beauty’
who were chosen from their round to
represent The Co-operative Academy of Leeds in the final. The girls gave an engaging
presentation of their henna and nail art business. They were professional and cheerful when
faced with tough business questions from the panel of judges. Everyone showed team spirit
in supporting the girls in the final who were named runners up with the winning team going
to another schools’ fair trade chocolate company.
Well done to all of the students involved in creating innovative business ideas, confident
presentations and well-thought out marketing plans.
Special congratulations to Ajra Jaan, Anisa Ahmed and Umaira Fatima pictured above with their trophy.
Thanks to Mr. Thompson who lead student through the project.
UK Team Maths Challenge
Four students represented The Co-operative
Academy at the regional final of the Team Maths
Challenge in April run by the UK Mathematics Trust.
The team consisted of two students from Year 8,
Aiman Zaidi and Amy-Leigh King, and two from Year
9, Shuhaan Miah and Emran Habibi. The
competition, which was held at The Mount School in
York involved thirty one other schools the region.
During the day there were four different rounds
including a very active and exhausting Maths relay. Our students worked very well together and had to summon up all their Maths
knowledge to calculate answers at high speed. They were up against some stiff opposition but represented our school very well. In the
‘Cross number’ round they scored a brilliant 55/60 and in a mini relay they obtained full marks.
Congratulations to them for a fantastic performance.
Page 7
Czech Republic Visit
As part of the Rice Project two of The Co-operative Academy of Leeds’ teachers Miss
Vince and Miss Mahmood visited Leeds’ twined city of Brno in the Czech Republic. This is
the Rice Projects’ 4th visit to the city as part of their joint learning initiative which aims at
improving school’s overall achievement and attendance of Roma students.
The Co-operative Academy of Leeds is one of the five Leeds school involved in the EU
funded project. The Leeds school is paired with four schools in Brno and as a part of the
5-day visit the group spent time in these schools, learning about how the schools are run
differently.
During the visit the city celebrated International Roma Day by hosting a big festival
showcasing some traditional dancing. The Rice Project set up a stall during the festival to
promote awareness and to interact and learn from the community.
The celebrations didn’t end there. The Lord Mayor of Leeds joined the project in marking
the 10 Year Anniversary of being a sister city with Brno by taking part in a dedicated
celebration evening. To continue the festival spirit the partnered schools will join us at The
Co-operative academy of Leeds for The Rice Project Roma Festival on the 24th June.
SEAL
What is SEAL? SEAL stands for Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning. It is a
focussed and coordinated attempt by the UK Government to teach our children and young
people the social and emotional skills that they need to learn effectively.
We take into consideration five broad social and emotional aspects of learning:
Self-Awareness, Managing feelings, Motivation, Empathy, Social Skills
Why SEAL? We have introduced consistent SEAL objectives throughout the school to be
used by all teaching staff. Here are the SEAL objectives that we have used this term:
Expressing myself – How does the way I speak to others affect what happens to me?
Feeling good – How can I have fun without hurting others and their learning? What can I
do to calm down? Aiming for goals –What goals will I set and how will I go for them? How
can I break a plan down into smaller steps? Bouncing back – What can I do to bounce
back if I fail?
This term students have also been taking part in a competition during coaching to increase
their awareness of SEAL and how it can improve their learning. Look at all the entries
pictured right. Visit our website to see who was named the winning Coaching Group.
Film Festival Competition
Young people have until Friday 31 May to get their entries in to The Co-operative’s
annual festival and be in with the chance of seeing their film premiere on the big screen!
This year the festival will be held in partnership with Bradford’s award-winning National
Media Museum from Wednesday 17 to Friday 19 July. The festival is free and open to all
young people, aged 22 or under. Full details of how to enter can be found on the Festival
website at www.co-operative.coop/filmfestival, on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thecooperativefilmfestival or via Twitter by
following @coopfilmfest
Page 8
Community Summer Fair
Dates for your diary
Date
Friday 24 May
Monday 3rd June
Thursday 13th June
w/c 17th June
Tuesday 18th June
Friday 21st June
Monday 24th June
Friday 28th June
Thursday 4th July
Saturday 13th July
w/c 15th July
Wednesday 17th July
Friday 19th July
Tuesday 23rd July
th
Event
Last day of Spring Term
Academy re-opens after Easter Break
Meet the Coach
Enterprise Week
Sponsored Walk
Year 10 Interview Practice
Roma Festival
Teacher Training Day, World of Work (primary school), Year 11 School Prom
One World Day
Community Summer Fair
Rewards trips
Variety Talent show
Sports Day
Final assembly, Last day of summer term