The Harefield AcademyAchievement through Active Learning

Official NewsletterIssue 50 March 2013

Coe HouseGifted and Talented students attend the launch of ’The Brilliant Club’

at the University of Sussex

The Brilliant Club launch event on 8th March at Sussex

University broadened many of our students’ horizons. The

day-long trip was attended by twenty-two of our Gifted and

Talented students in Years 9 and 10 and involved a carousel

of activities on the University’s campus. The Brilliant Club

is an organisation that widens outstanding students’ access

to top UK universities. Students are selected on the basis of

having high academic potential before being assigned to a

PhD tutor studying at an elite institution, and are required

to complete a short research project over several tutorials.

From left to right: Nicole Reynolds, Lauren O’Connor and

Grayce-Paige Pereira

Friday’s event marked the programme’s commencement,

and first on the day’s itinerary was meeting the tutors.

Facilitated by them, our students began exploring

magnetism and whether or not terrorism is justified as part

of the Engineering and Philosophy courses respectively.

Next, our Year 9 and Year 10 students participated in an

engaging, thought-provoking lecture on study skills and

research ethics, before being taken on a tour of the Sussex

campus. Halls of Residence were a particular source of

fascination and, despite the wet weather, students were

in positive spirits throughout the trip! We look forward to

reading their research papers and to their graduation from

The Brilliant Club at Oxford University in the Summer Term.

(Miss Nawab/Mr M. Smith)

Football Contract – Every Boy’s Dream!

Congratulations to Ryan Debattista on his recent signing for Barnet FC.Ryan is a Year 13 Harefield Academy student who has been following the Post 16 Football Development Excellence Programme run at The Academy in partnership with Watford FC. Ryan has worked hard on his studies and in training over the last two years, a commitment that has now paid dividends. Barnet FC was just one of several clubs who have been monitoring Ryan’s form as a midfielder with a high goal scoring record. He will undoubtedly be an asset to Barnet and who knows where his future will be. He is obviously on the road to success. Well done Ryan!

(Mrs Cotterell)

Harefield Academy Gymnasts Achieve Gold!

As recently reported, Harefield Academy students enjoyed massive success at the recent British Gymnastics Open competition held at Fenton Manor in Stoke.Following on from their success, Connor, Lewis, James and Ryan all competed in the 22nd International ‘Stars Above the Boug River’ Tournament. This annual acro gymnastics competition brings together competitors from all over Europe including Portugal, Poland, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia and Israel. Ryan Bartlett who is part of a Junior Men’s Pair achieved silver medal position, just missing out to a Russian Pair in the final. His brother Connor, however, achieved gold as part of a Junior Men’s 4.

Not to be outdone, Year 10 students James Karageorgis and Lewis Falconer also achieved gold medals in their 11-16 Mixed Pairs and Men’s Pairs respectively, producing outstanding displays in both their balance and tempo routines. Congratulations to all.

(Mrs Cotterell)

“A very warm welcome to all of our Year 7s who are an absolute pleasure to have in Coe House” from Sponsor David Meller, Head of House: Mrs Waters and Student Manager: Mrs Stillman.

Coe House Presentation Evening Award Winners

Some current Coe House Year 12 students receiving their GCSE Certificates; Charles Ponting, Jared Williamson, Hollie Esson (Pele) Josh Holland and Jamil Choudhury

Congratulations to all the winners, we had some very prestigious awards given to Coe House students this year and we are very proud of you all.

Abrar Mahay – The Humanutopia Award

Callie Brown – SubjectAward (Dance)

Head of House Comment – Mrs E WatersI have worked at The Academy for nearly 5 years, and I relished the

opportunity to take on a new role of Head of Coe House.I enjoy working closely with the students and staff

team; through this I believe we have become a very strong House.Our Year 11 and Sixth form students are working

incredibly hard towards their forthcoming examinations; this relates well to our Olympic

value of being ‘Excellent’.I would like to congratulate all of our students for all their ‘Excellent’ work this academic year. May it long to continue.

Dates for

your diary

Monday 15th April – Start of Summer Term

Thursday 18th April – Y9 Parents’ Evening March

exam results (15:30-18:30)

Monday 6th May – Academy closed -

May Day Holiday

Monday 27th – Friday 31st May –

Half Term holiday

Friday 19th July –

End of term

Student

Manager’s

comment –

Mrs Stillman

The theme for this half term is

‘Change,’ something that is such

a huge part of being a teenager.

How we react to change and how we

make changes to improve ourselves

or our situation is what truly makes a

person. It is a privilege to help Coe

House students identify changes

they want to make, learn

from their experiences

and make positive

choices.

Coe House

AttendanceThe battle between Coe and Pele Houses for the top spot of The Academy attendance continues, with Coe House

currently at 93.47% and Pele at 93.79%! C1 92.43% C2 92.19% C3 93.06% C4 93.57% C6 94.95% C7 91.87%We have a lot to look forward to in the summer term

including inter-house competitions, school trips, sports day and of course the GCSE exams! Make sure

you make every day count…Please remember to telephone The Academy for

every day of absence and to ensure written confirmation or medical evidence is given

to Mrs Down – Attendance Officer, on your child’s return to school.

Adeeba Ali – receiving The Magdi Yacoub Institute Award from Mr Huyser – Assistant Principal for Science

www.theharefieldacademy.org

Up and coming rapper ‘Frenzee’ visits The AcademyUp and coming rapper ‘Frenzee’ visits The Academy

Urban Rapper ‘Frenzee’ performs at House assemblies

(front page from left to right; ‘Frenzee’, Drew Wedlake, Jasmine Loh, Liberty Woods and Lauren Derrick)

Harefield Academy students were lucky enough to enjoy a visit by an up and coming rap artist named ‘Frenzee’ who performed at each of our House assemblies. Frenzee is a 21 year old singer/songwriter from Bristol who recently won the competition ‘Britain’s Next Urban Superstar’. He was accompanied by singer and guitarist Drew Wedlake. The performers are currently undertaking a school tour together to perform and talk to students about what inspires them and why it is important not to feel pressured by their peers; sentiments which Frenzee expresses through his lyrics. (Mrs Huyser)

Principal’s Notes

I wrote my section of the previous (February) Newsletter sitting in the lounge of the Grove Hotel on a Sunday morning. Whilst it is always very pleasant indeed to be at the Grove, the reason for me being there was not entirely for leisure. In June 2004 I had also been at the Grove on a Sunday. On that occasion I had been one of several candidates being interviewed for the Principal Designate’s post of the “not yet born” Harefield Academy. Strangely, I had not been nervous then and had thoroughly enjoyed the conversation I had with the Sponsors as they were obviously so passionate about their dream that was (in September 2005) to become The Harefield Academy. The very recent Sunday visit was so that I could be on-hand if the Sponsors wished to ask me anything before and after the interviews for the new Principal. On this occasion, I was incredibly nervous and I was not the one being interviewed! I imagine that my nerves came from the desire for the Sponsors to find a new Principal that shared their and my continued passion for Harefield. In offering the post to Mark Poulter I have no doubt that the Sponsors have made an excellent choice and I look forward to introducing Mark to everyone in Harefield during the summer term.For the moment though it is business as usual. Although our days at The Academy are so interesting and varied I am not always sure what “usual” looks like. I certainly commend this edition of the Newsletter to all of our readers as, yet again, our students and staff have been very busy and extremely successful.As I write this letter it is snowing outside of our house in central London! I hope the Easter break brings a little more warmth and lots of happiness to everyone!

Lynn Gadd

Adrian Mole Performance…a great success!

Students at The Harefield Academy worked hard over the past few months in preparation for their performance of Adrian Mole aged 13¾ and their efforts certainly paid off. The students performed to three audiences starting with a performance to their peers in Year 7 and then two evening performances for parents, teachers, fellow students and local members of the community. The cast of 20 all worked with enthusiasm and commitment to produce their own version of Sue Townsend’s play and TV documentary from the 80’s. Brett Moore a Year 10 student played Adrian Mole and his portrayal of the geeky, naïve teenager was fantastic, completely summarising the characterisation of Adrian Mole through his mannerism and comic timing. Adrian’s father, George, was played by Sixth former, Michael Wileman, who showed a real flare for the performing art acting with sadness, emotion and heartfelt frustration, portraying a working class, unemployed loser as his wife Pauline, played by Lauren Nwaeze (Year 11) leaves him for another man. The students really captured the idea behind the Diary of Adrian Mole, exploring the frustrations of a teenage boy who dreams of marrying his sweetheart, Pandora (played by Eve Middleton, Year 8), publishing his poetry, understanding his parents’ marital mishaps and gaining financial security. The audiences certainly came away having laughed a lot with some reminiscing about their youth.

(Mrs N. Williams - AP VPA)

Comic Relief – Red Nose Day 2013

On Friday 15th March THA Sixth Form students raised money for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day by hosting a ‘Soak a Sixth Former’ event during the lunchtime. Despite the poor weather conditions, all students who had signed up for the event turned up and took their soakings from the younger students with good humour and a great sense of fun! The monies raised from both ‘Soak a Sixth Former’ and from selling red noses at PL have been added together and the Sixth Form has raised a total of £164.64 for Comic Relief. A huge thank you to everyone who helped and to all those who donated their money.(Miss Fitzgerald)

From left to right Grant Bentley (18), James Miles (18), Russell Butlin (19), Kyle Rhatigan (17), Heidi Henden (17) and Lauren Derrick (18).

Kelsey Toner - Winner for best speaker!

THA scored another victory when Kelsey Toner (Year 10) won overall best speaker in the senior section in The Zone District Final of the Youth Speaks competition. Youth Speaks is a national competition run by Rotary Clubs throughout the British Isles. There are three participants in each team and each team take on the role of Chairman, Speaker and a Proposer of a vote of thanks. The subject of their presentation is of their own choosing and their contributions are constrained by time limits of 2 minutes, 6 minutes and 2 minutes respectively. There are penalties for under-running as well as over-running.Ian MacFadyen OBE, Constable & Governor of Windsor Castle, presented Kelsey with her prize and congratulated her on being able to speak in front of an audience so eloquently and professionally.

(Mrs Gordon)

Legal Experience Day

On Friday 22nd February six students who are aspiring to be lawyers were treated to a legal experience day at the international law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. As well as hearing from paralegals, trainee lawyers, and a partner at the firm, the students were challenged with a complex negotiation skills exercise. This required them to act as rival teams of lawyers negotiating over a contract, hoping to secure the best terms for their respective clients.The students were commended by the lawyers observing them for their excellent problem-solving approach and their maturity in finding mutually acceptable compromises. The legal experience day launches a mentoring scheme that will see two of our Sixth-form students, Stephanie Dadzie and Debbie Fashakin, receiving continued guidance from a lawyer at the firm.

(Mr M. Smith)

Clockwise from bottom left: Debbie Fashakin, Pascale Ntsam, Ciaran Miles, Evan Clancy, Annabelle Katumba and Stephanie Dadzie

An Adventure! On Saturday the 2nd March, Mr Church, Mrs Brady and Mr Smith took some Y11 Mathematics and English students, on an adventure. The adventure started with a morning money session at Brooklands College. After a short bus journey an organisation called Mybank ran an interactive workshop covering pay slips, government spending, managing a budget, tax and the difference between needs and wants.

The real adventures began after lunch as the Year 11s headed back to Brooklands College and attacked the low ropes assault course.

Then we darted into London for a rapid meal and enjoyed a performance of Mamma-Mia. It was the first time the students had been to a London Theatre production. All three members of staff would like to thank the students for a great day out and congratulate them on their fantastic behaviour.

(Mr Church)

Year 8 Visit to the Tate Modern Selected Year 8 Art students had the great opportunity to view the work of the Pop Artist, Roy Lichtenstein. S t u d e n t s produced a series of studies from the paintings and sculptures on show. This visit was useful as students are currently studying the artist and creating pieces of art in his style. It was a great day and has inspired many of the students to carry on with art as a GCSE.

(Mrs Gupta)

World Book Day 2013 at The Harefield Academy Thursday 7th March 2013

and beyond…

World Book Day launched at The Academy on Thursday 7th March when a lot of our students received money off tokens to spend on new books for their collections at home.

Throughout the week beginning 11th March, our assemblies promoted reading for pleasure and students took part in various activities during PL. A book mark design competition took place to test out the creativity of our students and we will be running a poll to track the favourite reads of staff and students. The Watford Paired Reading programme involving Year 12 and Year 7 boys has now moved on to Lewis House and has been met with real enthusiasm from the younger students. Our DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) initiative continues to run and goes from strength to strength. The message is clear here at The Academy; reading is here to stay!

(Miss Hanlon)

Left to Right - front row Sonia Soumeur, Jordan Sprague, Callum Davies, Lauryn Nwaeze, Brett Moore, Michael Wileman, Kye Payne and Alex DeasLeft to Right - back row Matthew Smith, Jake Brown, Eve Middleton, Roshaunna Hamilton, Olivia Brennand, Lauren Medcalf, Marcelina Trabszo, Claire Wood, Chloe Franklin, Caitlin Baker and Lucy Wood

Left to Right - front row Sonia Soumeur, Jordan Sprague, Callum Davies, Lauryn Nwaeze, Brett Moore, Michael Wileman, Kye Payne and Alex DeasLeft to Right - back row Matthew Smith, Jake Brown, Eve Middleton, Roshaunna Hamilton, Olivia Brennand, Lauren Medcalf, Marcelina Trabszo, Claire Wood, Chloe Franklin, Caitlin Baker and Lucy Wood

From left to right Katherine Messider, Chanel Hogan, Kia Antoine, Charlotte VarleyFrom left to right Katherine Messider, Chanel Hogan, Kia Antoine, Charlotte Varley

Luke Ross, Alby Newman, Larna Newman, Georgina Taylor and Fiona UnderwoodLuke Ross, Alby Newman, Larna Newman, Georgina Taylor and Fiona Underwood

Crystal Howlett and Georgina TaylorCrystal Howlett and Georgina Taylor