Newsletter Feb 2014

Wren Academy Newsletter
February 2014
Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome to the February edition of our Newsletter.
We are always seeking to strengthen our role as part of
the local community. This has not always been easy.
As a new school, we had no existing relationships to
build upon. Over the last five and a half years we have
worked hard to create and sustain relationships with
groups and individuals who live and work around us.
Gradually, these efforts have begun to bear fruit and we
now have a range of community partners.
In all of our partnerships, the Academy tries to give as
well as receive. We know that members of the local
community have much to offer us but also that we can
make a valuable contribution too.
One of our most rewarding projects has been to work
with older members of the local community in helping to
improve their computer skills. An article on this project
appears inside the Newsletter. Expanding upon this
idea, we have recently joined a project called Intergen
which places local older people to work on a voluntary
basis in schools. We look forward to seeing Intergen
volunteers at work in the Academy soon. If you know
anyone who may be interested in becoming an Intergen
volunteer, then please get in touch with us.
Our work in developing community links is far from
complete. Indeed, there will always be more to do. One
area we are looking to encourage is the number of
community groups letting our facilities at Wren. Please
let our Finance Director, Marc Lewis, know of any groups
who may be interested in lettings.
Best wishes
Michael Whitworth
Principal
Friends of
Wren Academy
Many thanks to all those who helped with refreshments at the
‘Grease’ evenings. We have now started our fund raising for
computers but are always looking for more ideas, support and
help.
Our next fund raising event is the spring quiz night on Thursday 6
March. Tickets cost £5, all of which will go directly into the fund
raising pot. Feel free to book tickets as a team or as individuals,
who will be put into a team once you arrive. If you’re very brave
you can work alone. The prize is intellectual esteem, and an
Easter egg, as we would like all profits to go to the computer drive.
We are short on prizes for our raffle. If anyone has any unused
gifts, tokens, etc. That they would like to donate, these can be left
at the Academy Reception.
FWA Quiz
night
Thursday 6 March 2014
7pm at the Academy
£5 per person
Payment on the door, or via Parent Pay
Please note that this event is for parents only
We are discussing two summer events and more news of these
will follow once plans are finalised.
Second Hand Uniform
Once again, a big thanks to the FWA team.
Miriam Cornes
Chair – Friends of Wren Academy
If you have any items that you would like to donate, such as
blazers, kilts, jumpers, polo shirts and PE shirts etc, please
can you leave these with Reception. Please ensure items
are washed and ironed and in good condition. We would
appreciate it if blazers could be dry cleaned before donation.
Friends of Wren Academy
Enrichments - African Experience
This year, students have been learning about the history, geography and
culture of African countries. One of our favourite activities was designing
and making our own traditional African masks. As Alexix in Year 8 said:
“it was fun to take inspiration from traditional masks and use this in our
own masks".
Traditional African masks were used for lots of different purposes,
including contacting the spirits, to bring luck in the harvest, and to scare
away enemies. Students used a range of materials, including feathers,
tin-foil, and coloured paper to make their own masks.
Students have also been looking at the history of slavery. We have
watched sections from the TV series Roots, and discussed the life of the
main character – Kunta Kinte – who was taken away from his family and
friends and sold into slavery.
As Alexix points out: “It has been shocking to see how traumatic life was
for many slaves, but it is very important for us to remember their bravery
during this period in history.” In future, pupils are looking forward to
looking at the abolitionist movement, and designing our own anti-slavery
posters. We will also be looking at the achievements of some important
kings and queens in African history.
Justin Berko-Boateng
Teacher of Maths
[email protected]
Rachael Moss
Teacher of Humanities
[email protected]
Newsletter Brain Teaser
Focus Day
Courtesy of the maths department
Year 9 & 10 Focus Day: Sex and Relationships Education
Congratulations to Mrs Heather Kashi, as well as Yvonne and
Nick Tsioupra for their correct entries for last month’s brainteaser; their
names will be entered for the end of year draw.
Our most recent Focus Day for Year 9 & 10 students was on Sex and
Relationships Education. Year 10 were joined by two outside visitors
from the Brook Clinic – a nationwide charity providing advice on this
topic – who organised two sessions for the students: an assembly and a
workshop. This is a necessary and important topic to cover with young
people, but it isn’t always an easy one. I am pleased to say that all the
students approached the activities and discussions with the appropriate
level of maturity and gained something from the experience. Both guests
from the Brook Clinic noted this and were impressed with the
contributions that the students made.
January’s brainteaser solution was: there were 54 external sides (the
number of faces on 9 cubes). 2 litres of paint are needed for one cube
so 18 litres of paint are required to cover the figure.
This month’s brainteaser is:
How many triangles are in the figure?
Y9 were also lucky enough to have two outside speakers participating in
their sessions, with both of them commenting on the mature and
respectful manner in which the students approached such a potentially
difficult topic. The students had many thought provoking questions
throughout the day which made for excellent discussion points.
SOLUTIONS MUST INCLUDE A FULL EXPLANATION
Answers to be emailed or given directly to Mr Gallagher.
Peter Gallagher
Teacher of Maths
[email protected]
Allie Roe
Head of House – Piccadilly
Tom Hopkins
Head of House - Holborn
[email protected]
[email protected]
Drama Department
Theatre Trip to ‘The 39 Steps’
A review by Ayesha Allen and Olivia Talbot – Year 11
On Thursday 6 February, Year 11 and
Year 12 Drama students went to watch
the production of ‘The 39 Steps’ at the
Criterion Theatre, Piccadilly Circus. The
play was a melodramatic comedy of four
actors that played around 130
characters and was based on a
Hitchcock classic spy thriller.
At first we didn’t quite understand the
jokes but then we eventually understood
the type of humour they were trying to
convey. It was fast paced and full of
actions, the timing was impressive and
the action showed diversity in each
character using accent and quick
costume changes.
We found the performance useful for our upcoming performance exams
as some of our plays will include multi-rolling, just like the play. Watching
the play also helped us to understand the importance of timing and
precision when trying to create a particular effect, especially in a play
with a small cast.
We appreciated the street dancers and performers outside which added
to an unforgettable experience. Though transport was not on our side,
due to the strikes, it did not stop us from having a great night. Lastly, we
are incredibly thankful for the teachers who took up their time by taking
us there.
Kazzum Theatre trip to ‘The Waiting Game’
A review by Cameron
Camina – Year 9 Str/JCo
This January, a group of
students in Year 9 were
selected to attend a
performance by Kazzum
Theatre Group, called
'The Waiting Game'. This
performance was based
upon a workshop that some
students in Year 9 were
lucky enough to participate
in, and this workshop
revolved around a topic that
we had studied the previous year, about refugees and their struggles.
A year later, the same group had the chance to witness a brilliant, sitespecific promenade performance; one that took us through the corridors,
winding staircases and back alleys of a historic East End building. We
were all immersed within the performance and had a chance to interact
with the cast in each scene – and this gave the performance a bigger
impact upon all the people who watched it. It was good to learn from the
actors who we saw throughout the play, during moments that were
sometimes comic, and sometimes menacing. It all made for a great
learning experience, that all
of us enjoyed a lot.
I am sure that future next
year groups and all the
other people who go to see
their work will enjoy what
Kazzum theatre has in store
for them! A big thanks to all
the actors and coordinators, and the teachers
who made the trip possible,
because it was great fun to
take part in!
Focus Day
Geography visit to the Crystal Sustainability Centre
On a very wet day in January, Year 11 and 12 Geography
students went on a field trip to visit ‘The Crystal’ and Canary
Wharf. The Crystal is a museum about sustainable cities which
allowed students to look at a number of different aspects of
making cities more sustainable. As sustainability is the key
concept in Geography GCSE and AS Level, this museum covered
large parts of their specifications. Students then travelled by DLR
to Canary Wharf. Both the DLR and Canary Wharf show evidence
of rebranding and regeneration in London and students spent time
looking at how this area of London has been transformed.
Sabrina Nanji
Head of Geography
[email protected]
“It was interesting to see how much money and time is being
invested into sustainable infrastructure. From the museum, we
could see evidence of this in the Emirates Cable Car which,
unfortunately, we couldn’t ride due to the weather. I enjoyed how
interactive the museum was”
Nicholas Papadopoullos (11Lud/RMo)
“The place specific detail I acquired on the trip will definitely help
me to improve my GCSE grade. We learnt about sustainable
energy, transport, waste management and water. We particularly
enjoyed building our own sustainable city”
Raj Goulden (11Bow/RSi)
Focus Day
Year 8 Drama Day
On 29 January, we had one of the most fun focus days yet – Site
Specific Theatre. My group was led by a teacher who came in for
the day called Sophie. We had lots of fun creating a drama
performance based on the work of a drama practitioner called
Antonin Artaud. As a group, we elected two student directors to
listen to our ideas and help organise the performance which took
place around the whole of A-block. We used vision and sounds to
make the audience uncomfortable such as screaming, growling
and standing close to the audience silently – which we were told
was very effective in an audience feedback session. After we had
performed twice, we then went to watch two other groups perform;
both of which were based on different practitioners to ours. One
performance which was particularly memorable and entertaining
was the group who created a performance based on school life.
Overall, the day was thoroughly enjoyable and I would love to do it
again.
Zinnia Lyall – Str/JCo
Holocaust Memorial Day
Sporting News
On 27 January, the Academy marked Holocaust Memorial Day.
Year 9 students had the opportunity to visit North Finchley Reform
Synagogue to hear the story of a Holocaust survivor and to
complete a series of remembrance activities.
Results
We heard the stories of Anne and Bob Kirk, a couple who had
both been sent on the Kindertransport by their families from
Germany in 1938. They never saw their families again as they
later died in concentration camps. It was a powerful experience,
and we all learnt a lot about what it felt like to be marginalised and
persecuted. We were also struck by the stories of the few people
who did speak out and take action to support those who were
being persecuted, and were encouraged to think about how we
ourselves could follow their example. In the final section of the
visit, we reflected on groups around the world today who are
marginalised and persecuted and observed a one minute silence
to remember them.
The students in Year 9 were a real credit to the Academy, and the
volunteers at the Synagogue commented on their excellent
behaviour and mature attitude throughout.
Alice Hill
Head of Religious Education
[email protected]
Tuesday 28 January
Year 9 Netball Vs St Martha’s
Year 7 Football Vs FCHS
Tuesday 4 February
Year 10 Football Vs FCHS
Lost 0-3
Drew 1-1
Goal scorer Nabid Salik
Lost 1-9
Goal scorer Dami Olayinka
Wednesday 5 February
Year 7 Girls Football Vs Ashmole
Year 8 and 9 Girls Football Vs Ashmole
Won 5-0
Lost 2-5
Thursday 6 February
Year 7 and 8 Boys Rugby Festival
Won team of the night
Thursday 13 February
Year 8 Indoor Cricket Vs Ashmole
Won by 6 wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday 25 February
Year 9 Netball Tournament
Wednesday 26 February
Year 10 and 11 Girls Football Vs Ashmole
Senior Girls Football Vs Ashmole
(Away)
(Away)
Thursday 27 February
Year 8 Rugby Vs FCHS
(Away)
Year 10 Boys Badminton North London Final
Building Learning Power at Wren Academy
“While we teach, we learn.” Seneca - Roman philosopher.
This term, a group of Year 10 students working towards their Duke
of Edinburgh Bronze Award, have volunteered to spend one hour
per week
teaching older
members of the
local community
how to use
information
technology.
Each Thursday,
a computer suite
transforms into a
vibrant learning environment where the students are the teachers.
Tablets, lap tops and smart phones appear out of bags and
pockets as our visitors hand them over to our teenage experts to
begin their latest lesson. It is humbling and fascinating to observe
our students develop their own learning habits as they learn to
plan, listen, empathise, question, and revise their approach in
order to teach effectively.
Overwhelmingly
they persist to
successfully teach
new skills which
enable our older
visitors to get the
most from devices
that were mere
fantasy when they
were teenagers
themselves.
Equally admirable is the sense of collaboration, fostered through
the Academy’s curriculum, that ensures that each student forms a
purposeful working relationship with their older tutee. The hour
flies by for both adults and children and everyone leaves with a
great sense of achievement and understanding of how they have
learned as well as what they have learned. Now that is Building
Learning Power in action!
John Keohane
Advanced Skills Teacher
[email protected]
Library Corner
We Read Conference
The short list for the We Read Conference has just been
announced and the 24 Library Ambassadors have just started
reading them in preparation for the conference in the summer.
Each Library Ambassador will also write a review of each of the
books and the reviews will be posted on the conference website
www.weread.org
On the day, they will meet the six authors and, if their reviews are
deemed good enough, they may even win a prize. In the last few
years we have entered large numbers of excellent reviews and
have come away with a good number of prizes as well!
These are the books they are currently reading:
Nicky Raddon
Librarian
[email protected]
English Department News
Year 10 trip to Shakespeare’s Globe
Next half term, all of Year 10 will have the exciting opportunity to
visit the Globe Theatre and see ‘The Merchant of Venice’. Not only
are pupils going to be able to experience what it was like to watch
one of Shakespeare’s most famous comedies in all its glory, but
they are also going to be able to reflect on this experience for their
English controlled assessments.
Having studied the play in their English lessons, students will be
able to follow the progression of the plot and analyse the director’s
decisions. They will be paying particular attention to the character
of Shylock who is often presented as a complex and engaging
character. When Shakespeare first wrote ‘The Merchant of Venice’
it would have been common for him to be presented as a villain
who merely wanted his ‘pound of flesh.’ However, more modern
productions often present Shylock as a misunderstood and
victimised character who only wants to protect his family. It will be
up to the students to decide how they feel about Shylock having
seen him on the stage.
Once students return from their trip, they will be planning and
writing a monologue from Shylock’s point of view. They will be
able to apply all the excitement and interest from the play to their
own writing as well as their opinions about his character. This
assessment will form 7.5% of their English language GCSE.
Alix Seth
Assistant Head of English
[email protected]
500 Words Competition
The English faculty would like to draw parents’ attention to the 500
words competition that is currently being run by BBC Radio 2. We
would like as many Wren students to take part in this exciting
competition, as it is a fantastic opportunity for our students to have
their creative writing skills nationally recognised. The students can
enter online at www.bbc.co.uk/500words where more information
can also be found.
The competition is open to students that are aged 13 or under,
and entrants can write about any topic of their choice. The closing
date for entries is Wednesday 26 February 2014. We wish all
students the best of luck with their entries.
Y7 DBE and English Dracula Diorama Competition
Here are a few pictures of some of the chosen dioramas:
During the autumn term, Year 7 students were given the task of
creating a diorama of their favourite scene from the play version of
Dracula, which they had been studying in their English lessons.
This competition was designed to broaden the students’
awareness of stage craft and enable them to explore the school’s
specialism: ‘Design and the Built Environment.’
The English faculty was inundated with incredibly creative and
imaginative designs. The dioramas are a fantastic example of all
of our Year 7 students’ hard work and creativity in this competition.
Ms Snowsill, Miss Thomas and Miss Hughes had the very difficult
task of choosing a range of the dioramas to go on display in the
English corridor. Congratulations to all of the students who took
part in this competition for the dedication and imagination they
showed in creating such lovely designs.
Jessica Hughes
Teacher of English
[email protected]
Grease is the Word!
A capacity audience of over 300 people packed into the Wren
Academy hall on Friday 24 January for the final performance of
our 2014 production. The classic musical ‘Grease’ transported us
back to 1959 and proved a hugely popular choice for everyone
watching.
From the moment the lights dimmed and the production opened
with the familiar melody of ‘Grease is the Word’, it was clear we
were in for a special occasion. What followed was a blend of
drama, humour and popular songs brilliantly performed. Almost all
of the tunes were immediately recognisable and encouraged the
audience to join in. The songs rattled along from ‘Summer Nights’
to ‘Those Magic Changes’, through ‘Raining on Prom Night’ to the
class ‘You’re the One that I Want’.
The ensemble cast composed of students from Years 7 to 12 all
produced memorable performances. There were great voices and
some fine acting. The production also showed that the Academy
has more than its fair share of natural comedians.
By the end of the show, the enthusiasm of the cast and the
students’ evident pleasure in the production had rubbed off on the
audience. Watchers were keen to join in with the closing songs
and by the end of the show almost everyone in the hall was on
their feet.
A great evening ended with thanks to everyone involved in putting
on such a fabulous production, cast, band, backstage, sound and
lighting crews and all of the staff involved.
Academy Calendar Dates
Spring Term 2013/14
Parents will be invited to the items in bold.
February
Mon 24
Inset Day - Academy closed to students
Tues 25
Term resumes
Fri 28
Author Visit
Y11 ADT trip to Tate Modern
March
Mon 3 - Fri 7
Y12 Geography trip to Dale Fort
Wed 5
4.00-7.30pm
Y8 Parent Consultations
Thurs 6
7.00 pm
FWA Quiz Night
Wed 12
Focus Day
Thur 13
Y9 & Y10 Computer Science trip to Bletchley Park
Tues 18
Y10 trip to The Globe
Wed 19
Y7 Girls Greenwich Trip
Thur 20
Y7 Boys Greenwich Trip
Thurs 27
9am-9.30am
Mon 31
Parent Prayer
AS Mock exams begin
April
Wed 2
Fri 4
4.15pm-5pm
Family Communion
End of Term
Please note that dates may be subject to change. Please consult our website
for current information.