LLDDBBSS SSCCHHOOOOLLSS NNEEWWSSLLEETTTTEERR ISSUE 10 SEPTEMBER 2009 e 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). W 1st DAY….. GATE OF OPPORTUNITIES….. new pupils were welcomed on 7th he London Diocesan Board School 162 September to the Chelsea Centred Initial Teacher Training Academy with a special assembly attended (SCITT) course began in 1999 and T th rd by the Bishop of Kensington, the Rt. Revd celebrated its 10 year on 3 July of Paul Williams, Councillor Merrick Cockell, training high quality graduates (Ðphoto) to Leader of the R.B. of Kensington and become successful, confident and effective Chelsea, and Councillor Timothy Coleridge, teachers. Farewells were said to Michelle Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea. Cavendish, Course Manager for the last 4 In addition to addresses given by both the years who moves onto pastures new in I- Bishop and the Leader of the Council, Learning and also to Barbara Smith, SCITT prayers were led by the Bishop and the Executive Committee Member and Principal, Andy Yarrow and there were Headteacher of St Michael’s in Highgate readings by three of the new students: who retired in August. Shannon Lienert, Molly Louise Wells and Asarena Simon, Headteacher of St John of Christopher Carr-Jones. Students were Jerusalem, Hackney said: "Aim high for presented with a commemorative gift from success because without you, children have the Academy's sponsors, marking the no futures - because you are the keeper of Academy's first day. An October the gate of opportunities for children..... inauguration ceremony, which will be led by Smile - know the children; they will never the Archdeacon of Middlesex, Stephan forget how you make them feel. Be Welch, will provide an opportunity to flexible; listen to change. Want the best; celebrate, officially, the opening of the have high expectations and instill it in new school. Ð ALL THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND them. Strive to be that special teacher; ST GUESTS ON CHELSEA ACADEMY’’S 1 DAY inspire and excite children about learning. Think about the individual need of the children; no two children/class are the same. Be resilient; bounce back when you get a knock. Don't be negative; be positive. Have a good laugh; support and if you don't know something, ask”. LDBS Schools Newsletter Issue 10 ~ Sept 2009 1 of 12 ’SIR’ IN ANTARCTICA….. and victoria sponge.! Ð (LEFT) STIRLING AND ver Easter, whilst all the other PARIS WITH LOCAL MP LYNNE FEATHERSTONE who declared this “the most wonderful exhibition teachers were busy marking and ever by a primary school.” She added that “I lesson planning, Tim Miall, Physics O was gob smacked and awestruck by the scope teacher at Twyford High, Ealing attended of the project, by the brilliance of the a selection week for a scientific expedition artwork, the depth of the collection and all the to Antarctica. Tim was 1 of 4 Science information.” (RIGHT) ANNIE WITH HER BEAUTIFUL teachers across the country to be selected PAINTING OF BIG BEN. and will be swapping the classroom for the glaciers of Antarctica for 6 weeks in Autumn 2010 with an educational charity called the Fuchs Foundation. Base camp will be in a largely unexplored region of the continent, carrying out scientific research which can then be filtered down to students. This will be the second Fuchs Foundation trip to Antarctica for teachers, and they will be the only privately funded scientific expedition in Antarctica. Whilst in Antarctica there will be opportunities for phone link ups, blog updates and for Tim to STATE OF THE ART..... get the pupils involved in this exciting n mid June, Twyford High, Ealing project. celebrated the opening of their The foundation was set up in the memory I fantastic new Chapel, and a new of Sir Vivian Fuchs (Polar explorer) with building which includes a state of the art the aim to ‘inspire future generations by performance centre and media facilities. sending young teachers to the Polar Regions The Bishop of London (Ð) performed the to do scientific projects in hostile dedication and opening of the Chapel. environments’. LONDON EXPERIENCE..... t Mary’s Junior, Hornsey decided to turn their school into a museum S celebrating London. Each year group studied a different aspect of London: Y6 - religious building blocks of London; Y5 - London in World War II; Y4 - landmarks of London; Y3 - the history of London Zoo. In addition to this, each class made a huge model of a London landmark and these were WALKATHON..... displayed in the hall, recreating a n 10th June, 360 students and 45 wonderful vista of London. Local members of staff from St dignitaries were invited and came along to Augustine’s High, Kilburn braved the visit the exhibition and stayed for tea in O tube strikes and walked to Hyde Park to the children’s café, sampling a fantastic begin their 7 mile Walkathon in aid of array of cakes baked by the children, Lavenda Springs Orphanage in the Sumburu including hot kings cross buns, angel cake district of Kenya. They raised £2800! LDBS Schools Newsletter Issue 10 ~ Sept 2009 2 of 12 CELEBRATION OF LIFE….. Senegalese wrestlers while an incredible n 26th June St Michael’s, Camden drumming group kept everyone’s energy Town held a 'Celebration of Life levels up in the heat of the afternoon. O Day' to raise money for the Aside from the hard work, the students restoration/development of St. Michael's also visited Ile de Gorée, a UNESCO world Church, Camden Town. Everyone went to heritage site, where they learned about school wearing either something which the slave trade and experienced first hand showed an activity they liked doing out of how life might have been for the slaves school e.g. a sport, a dance or something who were separated from their families and which they aspired to be e.g. a doctor, a sent abroad. A visit to Bandia nature vet. The children gave Father Philip North reserve also held big treats for the group; (Parish Priest) and Peter Garvie (Pastoral the girls were barely 2 metres away from Assistant) a send off (Ðphoto) as they 2 one month old giraffes, and they also started their mammoth fundraising cycle saw 2 three tonne rhinos, water buffalo, challenge where they visited 29 Cathedrals some very rare antelopes, giant tortoises, covering over 1000 miles in 2 weeks. monkeys, crocodiles and even a couple of warthogs in the café! The welcome shown by the whole community was very warm and the group spent time with the local tribe’s chief, as well as having lunch with the mayor and their visit made national tv. They all firmly believe that they “won’t take anything for granted again”, and hope that more students will be able to enjoy the opportunity to experience such a different way of life in the future. The group are busy planning for the Senegalese students visit in October. DREAM TEAM..... girls and 2 teachers from Bishop Wand Sec., Sunbury 10 returned in June from the first leg of an exceptional exchange with their partner school in Dakar, Senegal. (Îphotos) The two schools linked up under the British Council’s “Dreams and Teams” project, which aims to build the leadership skills of young people whilst involving them in international links to further their cultural awareness. Students from both schools spent a busy week organising a sports festival for young children in the community of Ngor, a friendly village just outside Dakar. The festival itself was a huge success and featured a football tournament, sack races, skipping, dance competitions, swimming races, and even the appearance of some very famous LDBS Schools Newsletter Issue 10 ~ Sept 2009 3 of 12 A TALENTED TEAM….. and the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey. Y6 children from eight schools our pupils (one each from Y3-4-5 and joined together to mark the end of their 6) (Ð) from St Mary’s, Finchley, time in primary school, to celebrate, and stormed their way through the Quiz F to prepare for the adventure of starting at Club heats which began with area finals in secondary school. November. More than 700 schools from Children from each school were represented across the country took part in the general in the procession, and led elements of the knowledge quiz and St Mary’s was one of service: reading, intercession, the anthem seven schools to make it to the National and an instrumental interlude. Liz final, which took place in Oxford Town Hall Wolverson (LDBS) was the preacher, and th on 10 July and they WON!! the Revd Ralph Godsall, Priest Vicar led Lorna Jaffe, Deputy Headteacher said “It the service. has been so beneficial for the children; it Schools represented were: Burdett-Coutts has improved their confidence socially as & Townshend; St Barnabas; Churchill well as academically! Their peers are Gardens; St Clement Danes; St Gabriel’s; extremely proud of them and the whole St Matthew’s; St Peter’s and Westminster school has enjoyed being part of the run up Cathedral. to the competition. Celebrating their intelligence is sadly not something that SUMMER…. happens often enough and they rarely have the chance to display their talents and Summer arrives with a hot heavy sun, expertise publicly as much as those with Children are happy for its time to have sporting or musical achievements. This fun, experience has greatly boosted their self Listen to the buzz of the busy working esteem”. bees, Look at the wave of the emerald trees.