Newsletterissue 95

NewsletterIssue 95 Quote of this issue Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. Albert Einstein Message from the Principal Dear parents, staff, students and friends of PA, I am delighted to welcome you to the summer edition of our newsletter. This term has certainly been an exciting time at the Academy with a wide variety of events and opportunities for our students to be involved in. One of the most interesting events reported in this edition is the Art trip to Berlin. We believe that travels broadens the mind, and we are always seeking opportunities to take students to different destinations. The generosity of the Stowe Youth Trust enabled students studying Art and Design to visit Berlin. The trip inspired some high-quality pieces which contribute to the coursework students submitted for examination. We are also very happy to receive generous funds from the three wards in Westminster: Queen’s Park, Westbourne Park and Harrow Road; the amount offered will cover most of the cost of the Year 8 PGL trip. In terms of skills building and the Paddington Promise to students, there have been some wonderful events going on in the last few months: students danced at Covent Garden, met BBC reporter Ben Thompson, made it to the Community Apprentice finals, participated in many sports events and enjoyed being recognised during the Sports and Gold Awards events. Many thanks to due to Mr Baker and the Humanities department for introducing the students to the voting system and the rights and responsibilities which go with it: PA students participated in their own EU Referendum. This event was complemented by another fantastic event where one of our students met President Obama - more on page four. One other highlight of the term was an invitation to a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace - Mrs Murphy’s impressions are quite vivid on page two. As the exam season has come to an end, we have sadly said goodbye to our Year 11 and Year 13 students - but in style as you will see from the articles! At the end of this academic year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your support for our school community, and to wish you a restful and enjoyable break. With warmest wishes, Join us on Facebook & Instagram at PaddingtonAcademy Peter Jones Follow us on Twitter @PaddAcademy Principal Paddington Academy 50 Marylands Road London W9 2DR t: 020 7479 3900 f: 020 7479 3997 e: [email protected] www.paddington-academy.org.uk Celebration Garden Party at the Palace Mr Jones and Mr Jones attend a tea party at Buckingham Palace to celebrate HRH The Queen’s birthday This term Mr Jones and Mrs Murphy attended a garden refreshments Mr Jones and I went to get our afternoon party at Buckingham Palace to celebrate HRH The Queen’s tea. I had lemonade with cucumber and mint sandwiches 90th birthday. delicious with the crusts cut off and little pastries. Mr Mrs Murphy reported that: “I felt extremely proud and Jones had tea all served on a beautiful china dish it was privileged to be asked by our principal Peter Jones to fabulous. accompany him to the Queen’s garden party on 24th The guards then asked us to make an alley for the royal May 2016. party to walk through then along came the Queen looking I had previously been to Buckingham Palace for the wonderful in blue with the Duke of Edinburgh followed Queen’s 60th birthday but entering the palace gardens by William and Kate (who looked absolutely stunning) again took my breath away they are fantastic. We then Beatrice and Eugenie followed the atmosphere was passed the lake on our way to the huge marquees. We electric. positioned ourselves in line where the Duke of Edinburgh Walking slowly back through the palace gardens I was greeting special guests as he zig zagged along the line appreciated even more just how lucky I was to have been it was wonderful to be in his company, he lent heavily on invited again in the Queen’s 90th year.” his umbrella and was surrounded by security and guards dressed in red and gold, the sight was amazing! As the royal party departed to their marquee for Paddington Academy 50 Marylands Road London W9 2DR t: 020 7479 3900 f: 020 7479 3997 e: [email protected] www.paddington-academy.org.uk PA Promise Adventures of a Berlinite Art students enjoy an inspiringly creative visit to Berlin The students also attended an alternative walking tour, where they had the opportunity to learn more about the city’s contemporary culture and to explore the wealth of street art that adorns much of Berlin and contributes to the city’s ever changing landscape. Students enjoyed attending a workshop where they were able to experiment with new materials and to create contemporary artworks of their own! Students visited a variety of Art museums and galleries, including the National Gallery, Martin Groupius Bau, Museum Berggruen and the Max Liebermann Villa During the Easter holidays, twenty-seven Art and Design where they analysed art work and presented back to the students had the opportunity to visit Berlin. With generous group. So impressive was the quality of the analysis from funding from the ‘Stowe Youth Trust’, in memory of Dicky students that members of the public were stopping to McDougall, Paddington Academy’s GCSE students were listen! They also made many of sketches and notes in able to explore the artistic and cultural heritage of an response to the art they saw and since their return to ever changing city. the UK, the students have begun work on a project, in which they have contextualised the relationship between the social and political history and culture, art and design in Berlin. This project will culminate in an exhibition in October of the exciting work. Discussions and personal artistic responses that would not have been possible without this phenomenal trip. Along with family and friends, the trustees from the ‘Stowe Youth Trust’ will be invited to celebrate the students’ achievements and judge a prize for the best work! One student described the trip as the ‘best experience of my whole life’. This unique opportunity enabled students to view great historical and contemporary artworks at first hand. As a site of great importance throughout European history, the pupils took full advantage of the opportunity to explore Berlin’s vast history and visited the Brandenburg Gate, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews and the remains of the Berlin Wall amongst many other sites. The pupils explored the cultural history of the city with as much intrigue and respect as they showed for the artworks that they explored. Students were able to collect materials, information and sketch from their experiences to gather ideas for future projects. Paddington Academy 50 Marylands Road London W9 2DR t: 020 7479 3900 f: 020 7479 3997 e: [email protected] www.paddington-academy.org.uk Future Leaders In Great Company Journalism with Reporter Ben Thompson Student Meets President Barack Obama This term Year 10 Business GCSE students received the visit of a special guest - the BBC TV reporter Ben Thompson. On the day the students were introduced to the concept of Brexit. This was specific to business studies as the current EU debate will affect all UK firms, whether Britain stays in or leaves the EU. It was a fun and interactive way of discussing what many see as a dry topic to encourage students to understand why this referendum is so important to businesses and the economy. This term, on 23rd of April, Omar Oaret Sorr - 6th Form student at Paddington Academy - had the fantastic opportunity to meet President Obama. Barack Obama addressed over 400 young people from all over Britain at the Town Hall in London in an event organ- ised by the USA Embassy and The John Adams Society. In his speech, President Obama urged the young generation to remain true to their ideals and not to ‘succumb to cyn- icism’ even if the social problems they were confronting- whether poverty, inequality or climate change - didn’t disappear overnight. The speech was followed by a Q&A The students, guided by Ben Thompson, did their research session where many young people had the opportunity about the topic, gathered pro and con arguments, and presented them in front of an audience once they to interract with the President. practiced TV interview techniques. As a young leader part of the Society, Omar participat- During the workshop the students gained valuable insight ed in a wide range of social and formal events but this into the routes to follow for becoming a journalist. They particular one impressed our student the most. Omar ex- also had a chance to develop their skills that would be pressed his gratitude to the Society and the teachers at required to make an effective TV journalist. This included the Academy for always supporting him. confidence in speaking in front of large groups, a smooth and steady pace of communication and a well-researched The John Adams Society works to foster mutual under- script. standing among the British and American governments while strengthening a network of individuals across mul- Many thanks to the Careers department and Tutor Fair for facilitating this experience for the PA aspiring journalists. tiple sectors who are invested in transatlantic coopera- tion and development. Paddington Academy 50 Marylands Road London W9 2DR t: 020 7479 3900 f: 020 7479 3997 e: [email protected] www.paddington-academy.org.uk Alumni Goodbye and Good Luck Class of 2016 at university) and Yehia for the ‘biggest flirt’ - not sure whether Yehia is planning to change anything judging by his performance at the party that took place later on that day.

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