Issue14 Jan11
LDBS SCHOOLS NEWSLETTER
ISSUE 14 JANUARY 2011 We hope you enjoy this and future issues which will be printed at the beginning of every term. “We cannot publish this newsletter without your help!” (More details at the back). `
CARRYING THE CANDLE... “The Celebra on of the Advent of Free Educa on for all in the Diocese of London 2011” marks 200 years since Joshua Watson first established the Na onal Society. The LDBS commissioned a sacred flame which is travelling around every Church school in the Diocese, star ng at the Church of St John at Hackney and finishing at St Paul’s Cathedral with a large service on 22nd November 2011. From left: The Bishop of London, Revd Rob Wickham, and children from St John & St James, Hackney launching the candle - 11.01.11 and a service at The Green, Tottenham - 12.01.11.
ALL ABOARD... Students at The Grey Coat Hospital, Westminster experienced WEDDING BELLS... their fi h annual pastoral day on Friday 1st October, with their Robert Bulle , P.A. to the Directors most exci ng theme yet; ‘Discovery”. of LDBS married his long me partner The day began with students arriving at school through the front Lucy Brown on 16th October 2010 in entrance and being taken aboard the S.S. Discovery where the the beau ful se ng of Highbury Hall ship, and the day, was officially launched. Birmingham. They moved into their They aended workshops in various Ports around the school – new home the following day having Australia, Japan, China, Italy and Greece – and students received a exchanged contracts the day before log-book to chart their journey along the way whilst exploring the wedding showing how good their poten al and working towards realising their dreams. Guest Robert is at mul tasking! speakers on the day included Captain Edward Argles from the Royal Navy, and Jake Meyer, the record breaking mountaineer and adventurer.
LDBS Schools Newsletter Issue 14 ~ January 2011 page 1 of 11 TIGER TURF... REGENERATION... Just when it seemed that facili es couldn’t get “The dawn of a new phase in the life of the school” was any beer at Burlington Danes Academy, White how Headteacher Andrew Wilcock described the year City the all-weather sports pitches were ahead in his report at the Prize Giving held for students completed on me and on budget. Principal Sally in Yrs 11 – 13 on Thursday 16th September 2010. Coates cut the ribbon to the Astroturf football Reflec ng on the many achievements of Bishop Ramsey, pitch on 17th September 2010, allowing Vice Ruislip students in sport, the arts and public Principal Mr Ribton the honour of striking the first examina ons in 2009-2010, Mr Wilcock spoke of ball on this consolida ng the school’s development on its now well state-of- established single site and of looking forward with real the-art hope. He encouraged students to aim high saying synthe c “People who want to make a difference and who are turf (he prepared to take a risk make very effec ve learners; they missed the make good ci zens, good friends.” target). This theme of hope and aiming high was built upon by The surface the Revd Dr Howard Worsley, former Director of is third Educa on of LDBS, guest of honour, in his address - genera on “The man who planted trees”. Dr Worsley told the tale ger turf, of a traveller who is inspired and challenged by a villager comprising of millions of synthe c blades of grass who offers him shelter and food and who he observes rolled over a sand base, with thousands of small plan ng seeds in large numbers around the countryside rubber crumbs scaered over the top to bind over a number of years, resul ng in a huge harvest of everything together. Principal Sally Coates said: trees and the regenera on of a village and the region “Improving our sports facili es has been a priority within which it sits. He challenged students, parents and since the day I arrived, so I’m incredibly proud to staff to always plan to achieve more by plan ng for the be cu ng the ribbon to the Astroturf today.” future. Adjacent to the Astroturf pitch are three mul - use hard courts, which will be used for tennis, basketball and netball. Director of Sport, Nigel King said “For years we’ve been travelling across west London to use other people’s facili es, so the whole PE department is excited about the extra learning me gained by being able to stay on site. We can’t wait to get started next week.”
TEACH THE MIND;TRAIN THE HANDS; RELEASE THE SPIRIT... LDBS staff were amongst 300 people who aended the official opening recep on at Chelsea ANTARCTICA... Academy on Monday 22nd November 2010 with The day before October half term, some members of special guests: The Secretary of State, Michael Twyford High, Ealing Antarc ca Club alongside the Gove MP; The Lord Bishop of London and most gi ed Y8 Geography students met TV Presenter Professor Lord Robert and explorer Ben Fogle at the Royal Geographic Winston. During the Society. Ben had just returned from the con nent course of the a er filming a BBC documentary about Captain Sco morning, 2 scultures to coincide with the centenary of his death next were unveiled and winter. blessed by the Bishop Everyone was amazed to hear about Sco’s life and of London. One expedi ons, and in par cular about his hut in depicts a stainless Antarc ca which has not changed in 100 years! steel anchor and wooden cross based upon the Academy’s logo and the other, a pair of hands releasing a dove with the cap on “Teach the Mind, Train the Hands, release the Spirit”.
LDBS Schools Newsletter Issue 14 ~ January 2011 page 2 of 11 LONG LASTING IMPACT... On Thursday 9th December 2010, Her Majesty the Queen visited St Mary & St Pancras, Somers Town and their federated school Emmanuel, West Hampstead, joined the celebra ons. The Queen was greeted by members of the public and three local primary schools, while their brass band played a fanfare as well as being introduced to Karen Thomas, Mayor of Camden; Liz Wolverson, LDBS; Alice Aharon, Head of School and Sheila McCalla-Gordon, Execu ve Headteacher. The Queen toured the school seeing Y4 doing History, Y5 learning French (with which she was very impressed as a fluent French speaker), Y2 doing Art and the Founda on Stage. She was interested to hear about the school community and met many members of staff, children, parent volunteers and governors. In 2011 the King James Bible celebrates its 400 year anniversary. It is being read by celebri es and is being videoed for YouTube and The Queen asked two children to read the passageon Na vi es from Luke 2. Becky Cho and AJ LeMaitre (Y6) read beau fully for the Queen and this was broadcast in The Queen’s Christmas Message on Christmas Day. The brass band, the school choir and dancers and all the junior children from Emmanuel and St Mary & St Pancras performed before the Queen who unveiled a plaque, signed the guest book and was presented with a gorgeous bouquet of handmade flowers by the Y1 class.
It was a wonderful visit and words cannot explain the long-las ng impact it has had on the school and local community.