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Newsletter No 175
Dear Parent/Carer and Friend of the School,
 
Another busy and eventful term comes to an end at William Ellis and it is interesting to consider the diversity of activities in which some of our boys have been involved. My thanks, as ever, to the staff of the school for their involvement and organisation with regard to these events.
 
On March 12th a group of Year 11 students completed the filming of their entry with regard to their Citizenship project. Their version of Prime Minister’s Question Time was filmed at Camden Town Hall Council Chambers and will be judged in the National competition in due course. Advice was sought from and given by a range of sources including Alastair Campbell and Glenda Jackson MP. The boys gave a very good account of themselves and thanks are due to Mr Pomeyie for his organisation and co-ordination of the event and to one of our Parent Governors, Daniel Landin, for his assistance with the filming of the event. We were also delighted to hear that all three of our candidates who sought election for the Camden Youth Parliament did very well but congratulations are due to Axel Landin who was successful in seeking nomination and elected in by his peers across Camden.
 
Year 10 had an Employability Day on March 13th giving them an insight into the world of work and to give boys different perspectives on the work place. A variety of speakers and facilitators ensured that the objectives of the morning were achieved and that the sessions were thought provoking and interesting.
 
The Junior Ski Trip took place from March 3rd – 11th and was, by all accounts, a successful trip, with all the boys making progress with their skiing and being praised for their behaviour and positive attitude to tuition.
 
One of our parents, Mrs William, has a relative who plays professional rugby for Saracens, one of the leading professional teams in the country. So when she had the opportunity to win a training session in a raffle she very kindly donated the prize to the school.
 
We were delighted, therefore, to meet Tevita Vaikona and Dan Scarborough, both international players, who then led a training session on February 15th. At 6’2 and 16 stone Tevita certainly made an impression on the boys and he shared many of his skills and perceptions of the game with the boys. Dan had to coach from the sides as he had a match that weekend. The boys and Mr Rourke thoroughly enjoyed themselves and realised how much commitment is required in becoming a professional sportsman.
 
Year 9 Students have had their mock SATs exams on March 20th. This is an important part of preparing for the real SAT Papers during the week of May 7th – 11th. It is important that boys spend sometime during the Easter break revising and preparing themselves for their assessments as they give a comparison with regard to other Year 9 students across the country.
 
Year 9 also had their Options Evening on March 13th and should now be in the process of discussing and deciding upon their GCSE options for Years 10 – 11.
 
Malcolm Rose (Deputy Headteacher) and I were delighted to be guests at the 95th Annual Dinner of the Old Elysians on Saturday March 24th. It was an enjoyable evening full of memories of the school and school days. The guest speaker was Professor Stephen Crowe CB, an old boy of the school who has recently been involved in the planning around the Super Casino to be possibly established in Manchester. Great interest was shown in the development of the school and some of our recent successes. Such continuity is very much part of William Ellis School and I thank the Old Elysians for their invitation and their part in the life of the school.
 
Mr Forrest, Ms Hart and Ms Xiao Yu are taking a small group of students to Shanghai over the next two weeks. As part of our relationship with the Yunnan Nationalities School in Kunming we are also exploring a link with a school in Shanghai which in turn has a link with Yunnan. The British Council is most interested in this developing relationship and how it can serve all three schools. I will hopefully be able to write, in due course, with more details of how this arrangement will go forward and how it will benefit students at William Ellis School.
 
You may be aware that for some time now we have been part of the Jack Petchey Awards Scheme in terms of Citizenship. This has developed very well and in the new term we will be exploring their involvement in sponsoring further citizenship work at the school including facilitating an Outward Bounds course as part of a World Challenge initiative. I will write with more details in due course.
 
Lastly, a reminder to Year 11 Students to attend the Easter Revision programmes being run in school and to organise their revision timetables for the lead into the summer exams. The Easter break is a chance to recharge the batteries but also provides the opportunity to focus on the examination papers ahead and preparations for those examinations. I hope they will use this time wisely.
 
ooo0ooo
 
 
YEAR 7 VOLCANO MODEL COMPEITION
 
Mr Forrest writes:
 
“Once again the Geography Department held a very successful Volcano model competition with a huge range of entries in terms of their size, form and the materials used in their construction. There were over 30 entries and entrants thoroughly enjoyed ‘exploding’ them after school one day earlier this term. All entrants received a small prize. The top 6 – as judged by the Geography Department – made by: Matthew Cutler (7BWH), Michael Medina (7BWH), Se Oba-Smith (7RDA), Abid Noori (7DBA), Rufus Williams (7DBA) and Azmi Elias (7OTA) will receive an additional small prize after Easter.
 
CHINA 2007 STUDY TRIP
 
Mr Forest writes:
 
“Immediately prior to half-term we received notification from the British Council that our joint-curriculum project application had been successful. With the trip planned for Easter 2007 we had to get our skates on but at the very last minute sufficient students from Years 10 and 12 were recruited for the trip to proceed. The trip focuses on sustainable approaches to living and will include a joint survey of Chinese and UK students, as well as a visit to the new eco-city close to the Shanghai – Don Tan. Time will be spent in our link school in Kunming, also in Dali City, both in YunNan  Province. Ms Hart and Ms Xiao Yu (our Mandarin teacher) are also accompanying the trip. The intention is that the next joint curriculum project trip will have a Science focus and Ms Hart hopes to develop a joint initiative with our link school for Year 12 students in 2008, or 2009. We are grateful to HSBC, via the British Council and Bradt Publications/Lonely Planet for supporting us with guide books.
 
 
YEAR 7 CHESS
 
Mr Forrest writes:
 
“Nearly half the Year group have attended Chess Club on Thursday lunch-times. Boys with outstanding records so far include: Chris Palmer (7BWH), Joshua Lopes (7BWH), Seb Humphreys (7OTA), Wei Lin Yu (7OTA), Ming Shun Sam Thong (7DBA), Remus Bigg (7DBA) and Denon Yarwood (7DBA).
 
In June the 16 boys with the best records will play in a knockout competition to establish the Year 7 Chess Champion 2007.
 
 
MUSIC DEPARTMENT NEWS
 
Miss Brennecke writes:
 
“As you may be aware the music department has a number of extra curricular music ensembles running throughout the week (check notice board for information).
 
Recently the String ensemble & Clarinet group were entered for the Spring Grove music festival. This is a competition in which William Ellis competed against a number of other schools to win a cash prize for the music department. Both ensembles played fantastically and were totally professional. Unfortunately the string ensemble didn’t win their heat. But the clarinet group did, and therefore made it to the finals, but were pipped at the post by a very nice private girls’ school.
 
I would like to thank everybody that supported us, and especially the instrumental teachers that lead these ensembles - Helen Lord and Malcolm Abbs.
 
The pupils that competed were -
String group                        Alex Harvey Moffat
                                            Azmi Elias
                                            Ben Mansilla Campbell
                                            Conrad Landin
 
Clarinet group                     James Walker
                                            Ryan Downie
                                            Jan Majstr
                                            Tom Grylls                                                        
WELL DONE!
 
I’d also like to mention that we will be running a new lunchtime composition club for year nines on Tuesdays 1.20 - 1.50 with Miss Ward.
 
LASWAP NVQ
 
Mr Rose writes:
 
“Through the generosity of the ‘easyGroup’ company, over 50 of the La Swap NVQ students based at Talacre Community Sports Centre have all been kitted out with smart new tracksuits carrying the Camden and ‘easyCruise’ logo. The students were clearly pleased and proud to wear these tailor-made ‘uniforms’ identifying them as part of the Talacre team.
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou himself presented the tracksuits in the company of Councillor Jill Fraser, Mayor of Camden in a ceremony at Talacre on March 22nd. He saw the group in action with youngsters drawn from Camden Special Schools. He seemed to enjoy the occasion and had the chance to demonstrate his basketball skills (or not, as the case may be).
Finally, my best wishes for the forthcoming holiday and we look forward to your son returning to school on Monday 16th April at 9.40am for Registration.
 
 
Yours sincerely,
RICHARD TANTON
Headteacher