March 2018 Issue #158
The student newsletter of Green Spring Academy Shoreditch
Celebrating women’s right to vote February 6th marked the 10th anniversary of the first UK women to be given the right to vote.
Senior leaders each had a commemorative rosette to give to a girl who showed resilience and determination, while also making the most of her education. I was quite surprised to receive a rosette but I really appreciated it and felt empowered and determined. Ms Gibson gave it to me in Maths for my drive. This meant a lot to me because the Suffragettes are an influential part in women’s history and they are inspiring to young women today. Although I may not have faced the struggles of the Suffragettes, it is clear to say that they helped us tackle sexism and stereotypes. Congratulations to the following girls who received a rosette: Kaya Da Silva (Y8), Fatima Koroma (Y9), Tanjina Begum (Y9), Fatima Akther (Y(), Khudeija Radia (Y10), Marilyn Abeyi (Y10), Nadiya Begum (Y11), Shania Musa (Y11), Jonathanne Kengamu (Y11), Taznim Aktar (Y13). By Yusra Mohamed, 7TPa
Y8 Film club Year 8 Film Club was set up by Mr Stokes - a group of 5 Year 8 students meet on Wednesday after school.
So far, we have made a film about the 100 years since women landowners over 30 got the vote. We also made a film about the Year 11 Open Evening. We are now planning a short comedy/ horror film, which we are excited about. We have learnt great film making skills including
In February, 6 students (including myself) went to visit a warehouse in Blackwall. As we arrived, there were a group of people who warmly welcomed us in. The team there help thousands of families in London to recover from difficult situations. First love not only provides food to those who can’t afford it but also provides counselling, careers advice and somewhere where someone can speak to a friendly face and have a cup of tea. GSAS helped to raise over £1,700 and nearly 1,000 items in our December food bank appeal. We learnt about the hard situations some people are in and how we can help them. We went to help sort out all the food on the shelves– it was a lot of fun and we didn’t want to leave! By Jasmine Russell, 7MCa
Headteacher’s Awards how to set up a camera, how to use the lights and how to film and take photos. By Shala Lazarus 8JWa & Augusta Spanyol-Woods 8JWa
Social Action at GSAS At GSAS, we have many opportunities for students to take part in Social Action. One of them is cleaning the dining area during lunch – numerous Year 8-10 students have been helping to make sure the dining area is a nice and clean environment for everyone to enjoy. Additionally, several Year 9 & 10 students are helping out in Reading Club in the Library after school in order
First Love Foundation visit
to help students gain confidence with their reading. Finally, many Year 7 & 8 students help out in the Library: ‘The Library is a fantastic place to be and full of great books. In the Library we have 20 volunteers who dedicate their break time to tidying the shelves and making the Library a great place to be!’ said Leo Shabi, 7AJo. By Lasharn Southwell, 10CWi
On Thursday 11th January, Heads of Year gathered with parents and carers to celebrate the success of 42 GSAS students. Students were awarded with certificates, badges and a £10 voucher. I believe that the younger students felt quite special as the ceremony was in the main hall of the school. Parents loved the atmosphere – my mother cried from the teachers’ praises! It was an important event for everyone – well done to everyone who took part! By Nam Hoang, 10CWi
World Book Week 2018
Mulberry Annual Lecture
On the week of 26th of February, Green Spring Academy celebrated World Book Week.
On Monday 5th February, a select group of year 12 students were given the opportunity to attend Mulberry Annual Education lecture. This event allowed me and other students to have an insight into the school and gave us an opportunity to communicate with students from different schools. It was a pleasure to be part of such a prestigious event – even though it was out of our comfort zone, it was an amazing new experience that will help us in the future. Iqra Amani said ‘Networking was an enriching exercise, helping us to develop our communication skills and learn how to interact confidently. Whilst the evening was an educational experience, we also enjoyed the refreshments and canapés!’.
We had many activities throughout the week, which included a Harry Potter Book Quiz, a Spelling Bee, a Design a Book Cover competition and much more. Each day throughout the week there was an announcement on the tannoy and we had to drop everything we were doing in the lesson and read for a certain amount of time. On the Thursday, we had a cupcake sale and, on the Friday, we had a Fancy Dress Party, where students came to school dressed up as their favourite book character – the best outfit won a prize! By Nebeyu Nolawi Dawit 7JSc
DofE Silver Training session
On Thursday 15th March, 30 Silver Duke of Edinburgh participants took part in the First Aid training and learnt how to put up a tent. I did the First Aid training and we learnt about Danger Response Airways Breathing, The Three P’s: Prevent, Promote, Pressure, the recovery position and how to put on a bandage. It was both enjoyable and interesting. We learnt useful skills not only for our Duke of Edinburgh award but for life as well. The other group learnt how to put up a three-man tent and how to pack a rucksack for a three day hike. By Catia Djalo Camara, 10CWi
The evening was followed by an inspiring speech by Marin Alsop who told us about her journey to becoming the Principal Conductor and Music Director of the Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra – along with all the obstacles and challenges she faced to get there. She had a great sense of humour and she made all students want to succeed and feel ready to face all future challenges. By Al Ameen Ayanda, 12INw
The Grinning Man On Thursday 8th February, Drama students from year 11 went to the Trafalgar Square Theatre to watch a musical called The Grinning Man. I enjoyed it a lot because it was dramatic, funny and had a great story behind it with a deep meaning. By Zacharia Mohamed, 11IDe
Year 10 Poetry– a poem written by Mahfuz Ahmed, 10Aba When you think of the future, what do you see? Is it an image of yourself successful and proud of everything you thought you’d be, When you wake up does it ever seem like, reality, or is it something you confine within the limits of your mind, but time is your enemy and time is killing us while we think we’re killing time. I know success can either define or destroy you, a tight walk between your dreams, fencing between hope and hopelessness, through the stress and hardship you’ve been through, because at the end of the road you’ll only realise how much you’ve sacrificed, how much you’ve lost and how much you’ve found, and right when you think you’ve given up, hope comes around, and picks you back up because life is like that, it pushes you
over the edge only to pull you right back. But he made the way for you, and through the difficult days he paved a way for you, dark nights to new days your Mother prayed for you, and even though you strayed his mercy would always work in unpredictable ways. Your fears would be overtaken by his grace asking for forgiveness, asking for him to raise you up, give you the love, the patience to erase all struggles that always stopped you from reaching above, every misstep that eventually led to a blessing. I want to know if my Lord is pleased with his slave, I want to remember this world through the eyes of faith. I’m just a traveller in this world, trying to find my place
Congratulations to Ameera Adefila and Jaheim Subrate for winning the Jack Petchey award this year - a fantastic achievement.