The Principal, Lynn Gadd, commented: Congratulations to the VPA Aaron Mather – Taekwondo Champion! Annual (Visual and Performing Arts) team and a huge thank you to all of Mrs Chalk Aaron Mather, a Year 10 student in Redgrave House, is going the staff who performed and helped behind the scenes. This was a Redgrave from strength to strength in his sport, Taekwondo. He The Academy Christmas Card Student Manager Competition night to remember – a big “well done” to everyone. Student Executive already has a black belt in the sport and took part in the for Redgrave House English Championships in Cornwall in June. He went Redgrave House is delighted to Achievement through Active Learning The VPA Department wishes you all a great Christmas and a very Our Annual Christmas Card competition appoint, for the first time, House also to the World Taekwondo Championships in Canada was slightly different this year as we happy 2013. invited our young students to submit and Sports Leaders. Jade Deighan “I am delighted to see that, during the summer. photographs that they felt combined The and Kenny Nyamekye are Sixth in the year of the Olympic In October he Official Newsletter Mrs Williams, Assistant Principal for VPA Academy and the festive season. Harry Ellis in Form students at The Harefield and Paralympic Games, many came first in Year 7 took a superb photo of The Academy and Academy who have been chosen to the 15-17 year Issue 48 December 2012 our Deputy Head Girl, Lauren Derrick, added the Rubik’s Cube World Record Event 2012 of our students have been animation so that the final electronic creation represent Redgrave House. inspired to follow their old age group displayed fallingfor a snow…Wellreal festive donedelight! to both of you Miss King’s Year 9 Maths class took part in and completed a World own dreams.” at the British Record Attempt for solving the Rubik’s Cube. The World Record Our Sports Leaders for Redgrave are Championships Sixth Form raise funds with a smile! Meanwhile, Ben Tricker won the competition Sixth Form students George Lavender & to design a ‘Christmas Postcard’ to send to Event took place on the 21st November 2012 at the O2 Arena in held in Wales. We look those who haveemail yet address. to supply us with an Rebecca Opoku-Adjaye. They have additional forward to hearing about . Over 100 schools from London attended the event and the duties to perform during PL to support fellow World Record was broken for the largest number of people in one future successes! Many thanks to all the students students and PL tutors and their support is very much appreciated. who tookcompetition. part in this annual place to solve the Rubik’s Cube. Evan Clancy is a Year 10 student in Redgrave House

who would eventually Amanda Gordon like to train to become a barrister. Earlier this year he Head of House spent two days with Robert- Aaron Mather Jan Temmink, a Barrister “Live as if you were to at Quadrant Chambers in die tomorrow. Learn as Redgrave House sisters, the London, going to Court and if you were to talented Michaela and Josie observing client meetings live forever.” in arbitration. He also Cook visited the High Court. Michaela and Josie Cook are sisters Mr Temmink commented in Redgrave House who are both that Evan was “quick to talented gymnasts. Michaela recently understand and grasp the Ben, Lauren and Harry issues.” Callie Brown and Charlie Arnett Evan is excited at the The Christmas Cracker went with a bang! prospect of gaining further Miss King’s Year 9 Maths class learnt how to solve the cube as part experience in this field next Evan Clancy with Robert-Jan Temmick’ of their studies and they practised tirelessly until many of them summer. Evan Clancy with Robert-Jan Temmick’ This year’s annual Christmas Cracker were able to complete the cube in less than two minutes. At the was performed on Tuesday the 11th of December in The Academy event The class was the first whole group to Year 7 Summer House Project winners Theatre. The evening began with complete their cubes We had some fabulous entries for the Year 7 Summer House Project two performances from the St and many of our competition and all students received achievement points for taking part. Well done! Mary’s All Band and Choir and then students helped other moved on to musical performances schools to complete from the School Band, Choir and 1st – Codie Taylor 2nd – Marcus Loh 3rd – Daniel Thompson theirs by offering Ensemble groups, performing Josie and Michaela Cook various Christmas interpretations guidance. The class of ‘Kumbayah’ and ‘Angels We Have also raised over £100 won a Bronze medal at Heard on High’. The first act ended for the charity DePaul the British Tournament with a collaboration from all the – working for Youth Dates for bands and choirs uniting to perform as part of a trio. She is Shuling Jones Homelessness in your diary White Christmas. now working towards London for whom the the British Champion- Mon 7 Jan – Staff Training Day event was in aid of. ships and the trials After a short interval when our audience enjoyed mince pies Tue 8 Jan – Spring term starts for students and mulled/fruit wine the second act followed with a variety of for the European Championships. Josie Thu 10 Jan – Year 11 Parents’ Evening dance, magic and drama performances. Students showcased a Year 9 Set 1 students has moved up to a Thu 24 Jan – Presentation Evening 2013 Ghost Dances inspired revival by Christopher Bruce and Christmas are now proud owners 18-22 Feb – Half term break inspired drama scenes. new level this year of a New World in a pair, and they too Wed 6 Mar – Parent Voice meeting The whole evening was a huge success which was enjoyed by a Record! are working towards the Thu 28 Mar – End of spring term packed audience and everyone involved felt very festive indeed by British Championships in the Joe Doyle and Hugh Vickers Codie Taylor with her winning model the close of the evening. Ms King Codie Taylor with her winning model New Year.

www.theharefieldacademy.org Principal’s Notes Denise Lewis Heads Night of Stars at The Harefield Academy British Gymnastics Open Competition Interfaith Olympic Conference Debatemate

Gosh…what a lot has happened Former Olympic champion Denise Lewis, Gianfranco Zola The Harefield Academy students enjoyed massive success at the recent A select group of Year 8 RE students On Monday 12th November members of The Harefield Academy’s since the last Newsletter. This and Andy Lapthorne were among high-profile guests for British Gymnastics Open competition held at Fenton Manor in Stoke. took part in an Olympic themed debating club journeyed into central London to attend the 2012 edition abounds with reports of The Academy’s biennial ‘Sports Personality Awards Dinner’ James Karageorgis (Yr 10) with his partner Filicia Malins took gold Interfaith Conference held at Swakeleys launch event of ‘Debatemate’ – a charity that facilitates debating the fantastic Sports Personality in the 11-16 mixed pairs with a total of 56.1 for their balance and School for Girls, considering the legacy workshops and competitions across the UK. The event, held in Awards Dinner; sporting success; tempo routines. that the 2012 Games has had upon Friends’ House, Euston, involved several hundred students from fund raising; The Christmas Similarly Lewis communities. The students met with various London schools, and offered participants the opportunity Cracker; the Heroes programme; Falconer (Yr 10) and pupils from across and to enjoy a debate involving prize-winning university debaters and Rubik’s Cube World Record event; his partner, Christian examined what communities are made previous Debatemate participants. The debate was on whether or excellence in public speaking and so much more. As we go Wood took gold in up of and how the Olympics have not schools should assess students using exams. Harefield students to press we still have the last week of term to look forward the 11-16 men’s enhanced local communities - the had their voice heard as well, with Chloe Franklin arguing her to which includes the Community Christmas party and the pairs with a total students even got to hold an Olympic opinion to the entire audience. Year 7 Carol singing. score of 55.35 for torch! A very successful day with the Lauren, Riya and Emily Following the launch event, Debatemate have been running weekly Tyrone Wells, Gianfranco Zola and Mitchell Jones their balance and students producing some inspirational coaching sessions for The Academy’s debating club in preparation Throughout the term our young people have continued to tempo routines. James and Filicia ideas - even the staff for upcoming competitions. Students in Years 8, 9, and 10 are all amaze me in the most positive way possible. Often it is winners included Waford FC for the Community Partnership Award were blown away by our welcome, and the first competitions will begin in January. those who face the greatest degree of challenge in their life and the U16 Table Tennis squad, who won the Team Award, achieving Sixth Form students Connor and Ryan Bartlett students’ response. Well who give the most back to our community. 6th place in the World earlier this year. both achieved gold done to the students Mr Smith medals in their respective involved: Riya Kaur, This was certainly reflected in our recent Wall of Fame Pat Cottis, Executive Director (Specialism) at The Harefield Academy, disciplines – Connor in Thomas Heritage, Emily selection meeting. For those readers who are unaware of our hosted the evening and commented, “It is great to have so many the Junior Men’s Four Oakley and Lauren Wall of Fame it is located near the main foyer in the Virtual elite sport students across a variety of sports who can inspire and dynamic, balance and Derrick. combined routines and Thomas, Emily and Riya Area. Photographs are displayed of students who have motivate other youngsters in The Academy to work through their Ryan in the Junior Men’s significantly contributed to our community. A committee of difficulties and strive even harder to achieve their goals. They have a Ms Denham Pair balance, tempo and staff and students considers nominations of those thought considerable impact on the ethos of The Academy.” combined. Lewis and Christian very worthy of consideration of having their photograph Victory for THA Public Speakers displayed (forever!) on the Wall. The four students selected The glittering event included two spectacular gymnastic displays by recently all have the best qualities of our community; be Academy students as well as a gourmet 3-course meal prepared by The Academy scored another victory when it won through to the this leadership; service; determination; kindness; overcoming 12 chefs from The Academy caterers, Cucina, presented and served zone finals of Rotary Club’s national public speaking competition. adversity and many other traits. The number of nominations by 24 Harefield Academy catering students. is rising every year. No wonder we have faith in the young The team triumphed over speakers from St Helen’s in Northwood, Callum Davies for the future! Commenting on their work, Cucina Director Sam Davies said, “Setting Swakeleys, in and . tables and serving food of this standard and on this scale was such raised £110 by As we near the end of 2012 we will reflect back on an a great learning experience for these students. Although totally The THA team, consisting of Kelsey Toner, Diane McHugh and teaching my Maths class incredibly successful year both for The Harefield Academy exhausted by the end of the evening, they all thoroughly enjoyed Aideen McHugh, made a clean sweep in the senior section – for an hour on Wednesday and also nation-wide with the Olympics still playing a part themselves.” winning best team prize. 14th November to raise money for Connor in our plans to leave a legacy for future generations. If 2013 Ryan Children In Need 2012! is as good as 2012 we all have a great deal to look forward to. Hillingdon Mayor, Councillor Michael Markham added, “It was Callum spent a considerable amount of his wonderful to meet so many youngsters excelling so well in their Last but by no means least, Michaela Cook (Yr 10) and Jessica Keys (Yr 7) took bronze with Francesca Burrows in own time planning the lesson, learning the I hope everyone has a very Happy Christmas and a super chosen sports. They are a credit to The Harefield Academy and to the importance of behaviour for learning and AFL New Year! Borough of Hillingdon.” their women’s 11-16 trio routines. (Assessment for Learning) techniques he could use to deliver a good to outstanding lesson. Gold medal heptathlete Denise Lewis, football legend Gianfranco Congratulations to all for a dazzling display of strength, balance and The class was studying for their Maths GCSE and the topic he covered was Box Plots. Children in Need 2012 Zola, 2012 Paralympic tennis silver medallist Andy Lapthorne and musical interpretation within the routines. Hillingdon’s Mayor Michael Markham, were just some of the many Well done Callum, what a star! high profile personalities in attendance at The Harefield Academy’s We can be Heroes! Ms Raza On Friday 16th November, the THA Sixth Form students came to biennial ‘Sports Personality Award’ dinner, held on 17th October. school in ‘fancy dress’ to raise money for Children in Need. We The Year 7 students were invited to spend a day with ‘Humanutopia’ had the largest number of Sixth Formers ever join in with the fun. The event is designed to celebrate the achievements of young working through bespoke activities to help create a better community Personalised Learning groups were visited by fairies, Supermen, elite sports students at The Academy and to support their future and learning environment. These programmes help to inspire young soldiers, babies, dinosaurs and a large collection of animals. The development towards national and international achievements. The people and adults to make changes, big changes, in their lives. A students raised £235.94, our largest total ever. Massive thanks to all event also pays tribute to those who give of their time and expertise number of Year 7 students have signed up to become ‘Heroes’ and are the staff and students who dressed up and donated. to assist the students in the achievement of their goals. joining our already outstanding Team of Heroes, who are committed to becoming good role models to the younger students. We wish The students, who spoke on the subject of ‘equality for women in A total of 40 students were nominated for 17 awards with the main these newest recruits award of Sports Personality 2012 being won by Year 13 student every success on their society today’ are studying hard for their GCSEs. Karley Mann. Karley narrowly missed out on selection for the GB route to becoming Olympic swimming squad earlier in the year with a time that would future Heroes. THA team triumphed over other schools in this round, run by the have seen her make the Olympic 200 metre backstroke semi-finals. Rotary Club of Elthorne Hillingdon, to win their place at the zone Karley Karley definitely has her sights set on Rio in 2016. Other award Karley Ms. Denham finals.