The Harefield AcademyAchievement through Active Learning

Official NewsletterIssue 48 December 2012

Sixth Form raise funds with a smile!

www.theharefieldacademy.org

RedgraveStudent ExecutiveRedgrave House is delighted to appoint, for the first time, House and Sports Leaders. Jade Deighan and Kenny Nyamekye are Sixth Form students at The Harefield Academy who have been chosen to represent Redgrave House.

Our Sports Leaders for Redgrave are Sixth Form students George Lavender & Rebecca Opoku-Adjaye. They have additional duties to perform during PL to support fellow students and PL tutors and their support is very much appreciated.

Evan Clancy is a Year 10 student in Redgrave House who would eventually like to train to become a barrister. Earlier this year he spent two days with Robert-Jan Temmink, a Barrister at Quadrant Chambers in London, going to Court and observing client meetings in arbitration. He also visited the High Court. Mr Temmink commented that Evan was “quick to understand and grasp the issues.” Evan is excited at the prospect of gaining further experience in this field next summer.

Year 7 Summer House Project winnersWe had some fabulous entries for the Year 7 Summer House Project competition and all students received achievement points for taking part. Well done!

1st – Codie Taylor 2nd – Marcus Loh 3rd – Daniel Thompson

Aaron Mather – Taekwondo Champion! Aaron Mather, a Year 10 student in Redgrave House, is going

from strength to strength in his sport, Taekwondo. He already has a black belt in the sport and took part in the English Championships in Cornwall in June. He went also to the World Taekwondo Championships in Canada during the summer.In October he came first in the 15-17 year

old age group at the British

C h a m p i o n s h i p s held in Wales. We look

forward to hearing about future successes!

Redgrave House sisters, the talented Michaela and Josie

CookMichaela and Josie Cook are sisters

in Redgrave House who are both talented gymnasts. Michaela recently

won a Bronze medal at the British Tournament as part of a trio. She is now working towards the British Champion-ships and the trials for the European Championships. Josie has moved up to a new level this year in a pair, and they too are working towards the British Championships in the New Year.

Mrs Chalk

Student Manager

for Redgrave House

“I am delighted to see that,

in the year of the Olympic

and Paralympic Games, many

of our students have been

inspired to follow their

own dreams.”

Amanda Gordon

Head of House

“Live as if you were to

die tomorrow. Learn as

if you were to

live forever.”

Dates for

your diary

Mon 7 Jan – Staff Training Day

Tue 8 Jan – Spring term starts for students

Thu 10 Jan – Year 11 Parents’ Evening

Thu 24 Jan – Presentation Evening 2013

18-22 Feb – Half term break

Wed 6 Mar – Parent Voice meeting

Thu 28 Mar – End of spring term

The Christmas Cracker went with a bang!

This year’s annual Christmas Cracker was performed on Tuesday the 11th of December in The Academy Theatre. The evening began with two performances from the St Mary’s All Band and Choir and then moved on to musical performances from the School Band, Choir and Ensemble groups, performing various Christmas interpretations of ‘Kumbayah’ and ‘Angels We Have Heard on High’. The first act ended with a collaboration from all the bands and choirs uniting to perform White Christmas.

After a short interval when our audience enjoyed mince pies and mulled/fruit wine the second act followed with a variety of dance, magic and drama performances. Students showcased a Ghost Dances inspired revival by Christopher Bruce and Christmas inspired drama scenes.

The whole evening was a huge success which was enjoyed by a packed audience and everyone involved felt very festive indeed by the close of the evening.

The Principal, Lynn Gadd, commented: Congratulations to the VPA (Visual and Performing Arts) team and a huge thank you to all of the staff who performed and helped behind the scenes. This was a night to remember – a big “well done” to everyone.

The VPA Department wishes you all a great Christmas and a very happy 2013.

Mrs Williams, Assistant Principal for VPA

Rubik’s Cube World Record Event 2012Miss King’s Year 9 Maths class took part in and completed a World

Record Attempt for solving the Rubik’s Cube. The World Record

Event took place on the 21st November 2012 at the O2 Arena in

London. Over 100 schools from London attended the event and the

World Record was broken for the largest number of people in one

place to solve the Rubik’s Cube.

Miss King’s Year 9 Maths class learnt how to solve the cube as part

of their studies and they practised tirelessly until many of them

were able to complete the cube in less than two minutes. At the

event The Harefield Academy class was the first whole group to

complete their cubes

and many of our

students helped other

schools to complete

theirs by offering

guidance. The class

also raised over £100

for the charity DePaul

– working for Youth

Homelessness in

London for whom the

event was in aid of.

Year 9 Set 1 students

are now proud owners

of a New World

Record!

Ms King

Annual

Christmas Card

Competition

Our Annual Christmas Card competition

was slightly different this year as we

invited our young students to submit

photographs that they felt combined The

Academy and the festive season. Harry Ellis in

Year 7 took a superb photo of The Academy and

our Deputy Head Girl, Lauren Derrick, added the

animation so that the f inal electronic creation

displayed falling snow…Well done to both of you

for a real festive delight!

Meanwhile, Ben Tricker won the competition

to design a ‘Christmas Postcard’ to send to

those who have yet to supply us with an

email address.

Many thanks to all the students

who took part in this annual

competition.

Ben, Lauren and HarryBen, Lauren and Harry

Shuling JonesShuling Jones

Evan Clancy with Robert-Jan Temmick’Evan Clancy with Robert-Jan Temmick’

Josie and Michaela CookJosie and Michaela Cook

Aaron MatherAaron Mather

Codie Taylor with her winning modelCodie Taylor with her winning model

Callie Brown and Charlie ArnettCallie Brown and Charlie Arnett

Joe Doyle and Hugh VickersJoe Doyle and Hugh Vickers

Children in Need 2012

On Friday 16th November, the THA Sixth Form students came to school in ‘fancy dress’ to raise money for Children in Need. We had the largest number of Sixth Formers ever join in with the fun. Personalised Learning groups were visited by fairies, Supermen, soldiers, babies, dinosaurs and a large collection of animals. The students raised £235.94, our largest total ever. Massive thanks to all the staff and students who dressed up and donated.

Principal’s NotesGosh…what a lot has happened since the last Newsletter. This edition abounds with reports of the fantastic Sports Personality Awards Dinner; sporting success; fund raising; The Christmas Cracker; the Heroes programme; Rubik’s Cube World Record event; excellence in public speaking and so much more. As we go to press we still have the last week of term to look forward to which includes the Community Christmas party and the Year 7 Carol singing.

Throughout the term our young people have continued to amaze me in the most positive way possible. Often it is those who face the greatest degree of challenge in their life who give the most back to our community.

This was certainly reflected in our recent Wall of Fame selection meeting. For those readers who are unaware of our Wall of Fame it is located near the main foyer in the Virtual Area. Photographs are displayed of students who have significantly contributed to our community. A committee of staff and students considers nominations of those thought very worthy of consideration of having their photograph displayed (forever!) on the Wall. The four students selected recently all have the best qualities of our community; be this leadership; service; determination; kindness; overcoming adversity and many other traits. The number of nominations is rising every year. No wonder we have faith in the young for the future!

As we near the end of 2012 we will reflect back on an incredibly successful year both for The Harefield Academy and also nation-wide with the Olympics still playing a part in our plans to leave a legacy for future generations. If 2013 is as good as 2012 we all have a great deal to look forward to.

I hope everyone has a very Happy Christmas and a super New Year!

Denise Lewis Heads Night of Stars at The Harefield Academy

Former Olympic champion Denise Lewis, Gianfranco Zola and Andy Lapthorne were among high-profile guests for The Academy’s biennial ‘Sports Personality Awards Dinner’

Gold medal heptathlete Denise Lewis, football legend Gianfranco Zola, 2012 Paralympic tennis silver medallist Andy Lapthorne and Hillingdon’s Mayor Michael Markham, were just some of the many high profile personalities in attendance at The Harefield Academy’s biennial ‘Sports Personality Award’ dinner, held on 17th October. The event is designed to celebrate the achievements of young elite sports students at The Academy and to support their future development towards national and international achievements. The event also pays tribute to those who give of their time and expertise to assist the students in the achievement of their goals. A total of 40 students were nominated for 17 awards with the main award of Sports Personality 2012 being won by Year 13 student Karley Mann. Karley narrowly missed out on selection for the GB Olympic swimming squad earlier in the year with a time that would have seen her make the Olympic 200 metre backstroke semi-finals. Karley definitely has her sights set on Rio in 2016. Other award

winners included Waford FC for the Community Partnership Award and the U16 Table Tennis squad, who won the Team Award, achieving 6th place in the World earlier this year. Pat Cottis, Executive Director (Specialism) at The Harefield Academy, hosted the evening and commented, “It is great to have so many elite sport students across a variety of sports who can inspire and motivate other youngsters in The Academy to work through their difficulties and strive even harder to achieve their goals. They have a considerable impact on the ethos of The Academy.” The glittering event included two spectacular gymnastic displays by Academy students as well as a gourmet 3-course meal prepared by 12 chefs from The Academy caterers, Cucina, presented and served by 24 Harefield Academy catering students. Commenting on their work, Cucina Director Sam Davies said, “Setting tables and serving food of this standard and on this scale was such a great learning experience for these students. Although totally exhausted by the end of the evening, they all thoroughly enjoyed themselves.” Hillingdon Mayor, Councillor Michael Markham added, “It was wonderful to meet so many youngsters excelling so well in their chosen sports. They are a credit to The Harefield Academy and to the Borough of Hillingdon.”

Interfaith Olympic Conference

A select group of Year 8 RE students took part in an Olympic themed Interfaith Conference held at Swakeleys School for Girls, considering the legacy that the 2012 Games has had upon communities. The students met with pupils from across Hillingdon and examined what communities are made up of and how the Olympics have enhanced local communities - the students even got to hold an Olympic torch! A very successful day with the students producing some inspirational ideas - even the staff were blown away by our students’ response. Well done to the students involved: Riya Kaur, Thomas Heritage, Emily Oakley and Lauren Derrick.

Ms Denham

Victory for THA Public Speakers

The Academy scored another victory when it won through to the zone finals of Rotary Club’s national public speaking competition.

The team triumphed over speakers from St Helen’s in Northwood, Swakeleys, Vyners School in Ickenham and Haydon School.

The THA team, consisting of Kelsey Toner, Diane McHugh and Aideen McHugh, made a clean sweep in the senior section – winning best team prize.

The students, who spoke on the subject of ‘equality for women in society today’ are studying hard for their GCSEs.

THA team triumphed over other schools in this round, run by the Rotary Club of Elthorne Hillingdon, to win their place at the zone finals.

Debatemate

On Monday 12th November members of The Harefield Academy’s debating club journeyed into central London to attend the 2012 launch event of ‘Debatemate’ – a charity that facilitates debating workshops and competitions across the UK. The event, held in Friends’ House, Euston, involved several hundred students from various London schools, and offered participants the opportunity to enjoy a debate involving prize-winning university debaters and previous Debatemate participants. The debate was on whether or not schools should assess students using exams. Harefield students had their voice heard as well, with Chloe Franklin arguing her opinion to the entire audience.

Following the launch event, Debatemate have been running weekly coaching sessions for The Academy’s debating club in preparation for upcoming competitions. Students in Years 8, 9, and 10 are all welcome, and the first competitions will begin in January.

Mr Smith

British Gymnastics Open Competition

The Harefield Academy students enjoyed massive success at the recent British Gymnastics Open competition held at Fenton Manor in Stoke.James Karageorgis (Yr 10) with his partner Filicia Malins took gold in the 11-16 mixed pairs with a total of 56.1 for their balance and tempo routines.Similarly Lewis Falconer (Yr 10) and his partner, Christian Wood took gold in the 11-16 men’s pairs with a total score of 55.35 for their balance and tempo routines.

Sixth Form students Connor and Ryan Bartlett both achieved gold medals in their respective disciplines – Connor in the Junior Men’s Four dynamic, balance and combined routines and Ryan in the Junior Men’s Pair balance, tempo and combined.

Last but by no means least, Michaela Cook (Yr 10) and Jessica Keys (Yr 7) took bronze with Francesca Burrows in their women’s 11-16 trio routines.

Congratulations to all for a dazzling display of strength, balance and musical interpretation within the routines.

We can be Heroes!

The Year 7 students were invited to spend a day with ‘Humanutopia’ working through bespoke activities to help create a better community and learning environment. These programmes help to inspire young people and adults to make changes, big changes, in their lives. A number of Year 7 students have signed up to become ‘Heroes’ and are joining our already outstanding Team of Heroes, who are committed to becoming good role models to the younger students. We wish these newest recruits every success on their route to becoming future Heroes.

Ms. Denham

Callum Davies

raised £110 by

teaching my Maths class

for an hour on Wednesday

14th November to raise money for

Children In Need 2012!

Callum spent a considerable amount of his

own time planning the lesson, learning the

importance of behaviour for learning and AFL

(Assessment for Learning) techniques he could

use to deliver a good to outstanding lesson.

The class was studying for their Maths GCSE

and the topic he covered was Box Plots.

Well done Callum, what a star!

Ms Raza

James and FiliciaJames and FiliciaTyrone Wells, Gianfranco Zola and Mitchell JonesTyrone Wells, Gianfranco Zola and Mitchell Jones

KarleyKarley

Lewis and ChristianLewis and Christian

ConnorConnorRyanRyan

Lauren, Riya and EmilyLauren, Riya and Emily

Thomas, Emily and RiyaThomas, Emily and Riya