Prize Giving Evening
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Learning How Sticking my neck 2 To Fly 5 out for turtles! Ian Hislop Visits Ashmole Juniper Hall Trip 3 Academy 6 Editor of Barnet Athletics i Newspaper Championships 4 Visits Ashmole 7 Year 7 Music Selling Cookies 5 Concert 8 for Charity A s h m o l e A c A d e m y Autumn 2014 Volume 3, Issue 9 Message from the Head Prize Giving continued to do extremely well both at A level and at GCSE. At GCSE, for example, the 5 or more A* to C pass Evening rate fell nationally by 7% yet Ashmole’s results went up to 79%, maintaining the success of our students amongst the top league of comprehensive schools in the country, as well as locally. Well done to every student and a big thanks to every teacher and parent/carer for their help in making that happen. The Autumn Term is as busy as ever. The school marked the anniversary of the start of World War I with a week of curricular activities. More about that Dear Parents, Carers, Friends and in the next edition of the newsletter. Students Our new Sixth Form Centre is now In these short wintery days with in full use by the Sixth Formers who Christmas approaching, the summer seem to enjoy the full benefits of the seems so far away. However, we must centre. Any parents/carers who are at in our first @shmole of 2014/15 the school on a Saturday with a letting, congratulate the students on their will have seen that the Starbucks café is examination successes. now open between 9 am and 3 pm on Dr Dan O’Hara congratulating Alice Hunter – 13M1, the winner of the Nationally exam results fell at GCSE that day. Grayling Prize and A level. With all the changes that are occurring with examinations, and Finally, the school has submitted a new with exams becoming more difficult, bid to secure a primary free school. We N Thursday 13th November, He presented awards to all our this so called volatility in results will now eagerly wait to hear the results of ODr Dan O’Hara, who is the prize winners including sports continue for some years to come. this, probably in March next year. Senior Lecturer for the English colours and special awards. BA, from New College of the Afterwards, he spoke to the At Ashmole, our commitment is to Season’s Greetings to everyone provide stability to our students and Humanities was the guest of audience of over 200 students the community. I am therefore very Derrick Brown honour at our annual Prize Giving and 400 parents about his own pleased to report that Ashmole students Head Teacher Evening. experiences at school. www.ashmoleacademy.org 2 Focus on Talent @ Ashmole Learning how to Fly – Chasing the Dream me it’s different. For me, it means So I went and did it alone. I flew exploring the world every day, 2 traffic patterns by myself and having the best job in the world, returned to land just before sunset being in the best office in the with a perfect smooth landing. world, with the best views in the Touchdown: the first chapter into world from 35,000ft. becoming an airline pilot complete After years of being on the ground, and a step closer to my dream... looking up skywards, I decided Next summer I aim to have with my parents that I would be completed my PPL, and after starting flying lessons. During my Year 13, start the rest of the flying two month long summer holiday licenses required: I still have a in Greece, I learned how to fly. long way to go! I know how I’ll During this time I flew 20 flights get there and I’m sure I can make registering 23 hours in my logbook my dream a reality with personal in a Cessna 172. I then completed motivation and support from my my FIRST solo flight. very supportive family who are It was a very dusty and windy proud of me. evening and I didn’t think I Alexandros Zabetas 12J1 T only 16 years old, I have for flying and aviation from a would actually get to fly solo and I would have to wait until next Aalready flown solo and I very young age. I remember See my video (Cessna 172 PPL summer. However, to my surprise am halfway through my Private daydreaming in class, gazing into Flight Training in Greece) on my instructor said to me “Now Pilot License. I’m on my way to the skies at the condensation YouTube becoming an airline pilot. Here is trails from aircraft flying over it’s your turn to do it alone!” – I was ready for it. I wasn’t scared. Visit my YouTube channel to my story so far. and wondering how they can fly. For you, flying probably means I had learned all the checklists, follow my progress: youtube.com/ I have always had a passion crowds, queues and delays, but for emergency procedures off by heart. aeroalexGR Khush Patel Golfing Achievement Whitewebbs GC. I went along with informative and talked to me a lot A: I’ve got a feel for what it’s like him to one of the sessions (he wasn’t about what is required to become a to play in a highly competitive very good). My dad asked if the professional golfer. international field and learnt how club offered junior lessons. They to be more independent. Also as I Q: How did you feel winning the did... These lessons took place at the played so badly in the first round, I regional final? weekend in small groups. From there had to learn how to snap out of a bad I built up my golfing skills and that’s A: It was a bit of a surprise to situation and press the restart button. how I got into the game... be honest. The final was during This helped in the end as I played my GCSEs, two days before my fairly well in the second round and Q: Did you meet anyone famous chemistry exam, so there was a finished with two decent rounds in during the competition? lot of pressure. I had to play each the last two days. A: The competition was created by round then rush straight home to EAR 12 student Khush Patel Q: Who is your golfing idol? Sir Nick Faldo. He was there at the get revision done. In the last round closed with a level-par round of Y final for the whole 5 days, he watched I was in contention so I felt more A: At the moment it has to be Rory 71 to win the Faldo Series England us prepare and play and offered short confident to win amongst the top McIlroy... For the fact he has won South Championship earlier this year clinics on how to play certain shots players. When I came off the course 2/4 majors this year. Also the way in June. He recently participated in etc… During the second practice I didn’t know that I actually won he composes himself on and off the the Faldo Series Grand Final hosted day I was on the range practicing. until I saw the leader board. I rang course. My idol uses to be Tiger, but my mum straight away. She thought I have lost some respect for him since by Sir Nick Faldo at The Greenbrier, He came over and gave a one to one I was joking and even checked on the he did what he did... I still look up West Virginia, USA in October. session for about 30 minutes or so. internet for the live scores. She was to him as he has a certain charisma It was quite nerve racking at first Q: How did you get into golf? over the moon. when on the scene. because I didn’t want to hit bad shots A: For my dad’s birthday my mum in front of him... But I managed to Q: What have you gained from this Interviewed by bought him a few golf lessons at avoid that. However he was quite experience? Sophia Karydis, 12J www.ashmoleacademy.org Gifted & Talented @ Ashmole 3 Ian Hislop Visits Philosophy Club Ashmole Academy NE of the most enjoyable are interested in and that we may Oaspects of Philosophy Club is not have the time to learn more the sheer range of topics that are about in our other subjects. With covered. We can go from discussing growing numbers attending each the importance of feminism in week, there is never a shortage of our society, to debating about unique ideas, enabling us to view Mr Brown with Ian Hislop the ethical issues surrounding important issues from different the death penalty, to questioning perspectives. N Friday 11th July, Ashmole his views on such topics as politics, whether, as humans, we really do Academy played host to the religion and education. Sabrina Matica-Hickey O have free will. Philosophy Club well-known editor of satirical 13M1 The occasion proved both allows us to discuss topics that we magazine ‘Private Eye’, Ian Hislop. enjoyable and inspiring for students Mr Hislop, also famous for his and staff alike. Student Anthony participation in satirical quiz Constantinou said ‘I loved it! The show, ‘Have I Got News for You’ whole event left me feeling that it along with historical documentary is possible to achieve anything in and film work, was interviewed your career if you work hard and by Assistant Head Teacher, Rob MedSoc enjoy it’.