TheCityTimes - 2013 Spring 2

TheCityTimes Spring Term 2 | 2012/13

“Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up.” - Pablo Picasso

Cover story: music recital at Sutton House

This half term The City Times is championing creativity at The City Academy, Hackney.

From extra-curricular classes and clubs to concerts, recitals, productions and performances, creativity can be found in every corner of the curriculum.

We begin with music. This term the academy welcomed parents to our second music recital of the year, one of two performances hosted

by National Trust property, Sutton House this month.

With a programme of more than 20 performers from

all four year groups at the academy, Ms Crowhurst and the students - with the support of our peripatetic tutors - put on another fantastic evening of variety and talent. These concerts in the intimate performance space at Sutton House provide the perfect opportunity for our beginner musicians to showcase their progress.

Thank you to all the parents, staff and governors who supported the event.

For more photos, visit: wp.me/p3iCHB-uP

Sharp Magazine Almost one year on from winning the Best Online award at the Shine Media Awards, our team of busy bloggers are still going strong. Run as an Additional Studies class by Ms Thomas, Deputy Subject Leader English, the group manage their own review site called Sharp Magazine and write all their own articles: contributing creative writing and exemplar work from their lessons.

Visit sharpmag.wordpress.com to read their latest blog entries.

Second hand uniform: call for donations

What’s in the box?

Has your child out grown out of their blazer? Do you have any unwanted white shirts or blouses now your child is in Year 10?

Over the course of this term, 20 of our aspiring actors from Key Stage 3 worked together to devise, script and stage their very own drama production.

Part of the annual Barbican Box project, our students worked alongside Ms Bellingham and a visiting director in a series of workshops exploring techniques for writing for stage, working together and choreography.

Given a suitcase and the contents within as a starting point, the group came up with a backstory. Who does the case belong to? Why is it packed? Where are they going? The result: Eutopiana, a dynamic and physical journey against the clock.

The cast proudly debuted their short play for the first time at Sutton House - the National Trust property directly opposite the academy - on Thursday 14 March before performing it at the Barbican’s Pit Theatre.

There are plenty more productions in the calendar.

See page 8 or the Events page of our website for details of upcoming shows, including an energetic, African-themed staging of Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Read more about the Barbican Box and National Theatre projects in our students’ blog entries on our website.

Art history Our GCSE art students took a trip back in time this term, visiting the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). Both are rich with artefacts and natural forms, allowing our students to study and sketch them first hand. There is so much to see and do in London for free. See our Out and about column on page 8 for some Easter holiday ideas.

For more photos, visit: wp.me/p3iCHB-uF

Following on from the article in our last issue, our Parent Staff Association would like parents to donate any unwanted uniform items (in good, saleable condition) to sell at our next Parent Day on Monday 3 June.

Please drop off any blazers, jumpers, blouses, trousers or PE shirts to Reception.

We really hope lots of parents/carers will both support and benefit from this new initiative.

City’s Got Talent There is no doubt The City Academy, Hackney has a wealth of creatively talented students and so when our aptly titled, annual City’s Got Talent competition comes around our students jump at the chance to perform; this year was no exception. After two rounds of auditions our finalists took to the stage, performing a range of routines - including stand-up comedy, singing and dancing for an audience of their peers and a panel of teachers.

Our “celebrity” judges, Harry from One Direction, Rihanna and Rita Ora - also known as Mr. Gallagher, Ms Broughton and Ms Aggarwal - did not pull any punches with their feedback but were suitably impressed with the array of talent on show.

Congratulations go to Africa’s Finest (Taiwo Adegbola, Isatou Kanyi, Adja Diop, Jane Mensah, Chantel HesseBradley, Bukky Sonubi, Sara Da Costa and Amani Banemeck) whose energetic and well choreographed act which incorporated singing, dancing and African drumming deservedly took the top spot in the competition.

The talent doesn’t stop there; photos from our end of term Night with the Band concerts will be online soon.

For more photos, visit: wp.me/p3iCHB-vd

The poetic power of the pen Written as part of the first workshop with Irish poet Aoife Mannix, this term a group of Key Stage 3 students were given the opportunity to pen their very own poems which will then be set to music and performed at The Guildhall in July. Proving the power of the pen, Year 8 student Jack Foster-Ogg crafted a page of verse entitled Hill Wall: “I, me, one of those high mountainous hill walls, that’s purpose seems nothing but an obstruction to the onlooker. However, to a native I am the fortification that safe-guards the term ‘history’. I am the mile long stretch that is yet to be dissected. I am the ancient disquisition that is yet to be understood.

I guard the world’s most ardent devotions. For trapped inside my deepest cranny, is a beast who’s fame untold. He who’s not seen, but felt, was once an arachnid being. Yet he became so fraudulently A-moral that his soul devolved to be nought but an impish waif, who suckles all nearby zeal, selfishly and only to turn to fat.”

To read the poem in full on our blog, visit wp.me/p3iCHB-v5

World Book Day

Always willing to go the extra mile, our teachers got creative with their costumes in support of World Book Day on Monday 4 March. What more valuable message is there than sharing your love of reading? From Havisham to Harry Potter, there were some fantastic outfits on show as our staff arrived at work on a Monday morning dressed as their favourite literary characters.

The challenge for our students: to guess who they were and the books they were from. All students are required to have a reading book with them at all times, and this can only be a good thing. Our Accelerated Reader programme is also a great way of supporting and encouraging your child’s reading. See overleaf for details.

In pictures: School Sport and Health Week

Spot the ball competition How close were you? Visit wp.me/p3iCHB-v8 to find out.

In the few short weeks that were this half term the PE department also squeezed in School Sport and Health Week, offering students the chance to try out a range of different sports during break, lunch and after school. From cricket to lacrosse, ultimate frisbee to volleyball, our students gave it their all.

Thanks to Middlesex and ex-England cricketer, Beth Morgan who joined our girls’ cricket session as a guest coach; the club will continue to run as an after school activity throughout this term.

Outward Bound At the start of this half term a group of Key Stage 3 students wrapped up warm for our annual Outward Bound trip to the Welsh west coast. With packs on their backs they hiked their way up hills and down valleys, enjoying some breathtaking scenery along the way. Despite the cold, the students had a great time escaping to the country.

For more photos, visit: wp.me/p3iCHB-vt

Top merit winners

Accelerated Reader

Week 22 Lulu Watuta 33 Merits

Week 22 Nyaling Malang Newgate L

Week 23 Luca Reid 52 Merits

Week 24 Ruben Chaby 45 Merits

Week 23 Rebecca Hussain Aldgate P

Week 24 Darlington Nwosu Moorgate L

Congratulations to all of our top merit winners and Accelerated Reader of the Week winners. For more information about the Accelerated Reader programme and how you can keep track of your child’s reading visit, www.renlearn.com/ar. Don’t forget, you can keep track of your merits on ePortal.

Introducing our new Student Council Following the nominating and appointing of Student Representatives from all 40 tutors groups, our new Student Council has been selected. In the year ahead, all students will have a role to play in the academy’s development, observing lessons, contributing ideas and representing the academy at events. Congratulations to the following students:

Representing Ludgate

Representing Aldgate

Grace Revill AGK

Michaela Bazzoni AGT

Hamzah Bharuchi AGY

Elton Cas AGL

Laura Clavier MGC

Gokhan Tuna MGT

Kayanne Mitchell MGY

Christina Ulus NGK

Franchezca Cas NGG

Head Boy/Girl & Deputy Head Boy/Girl

House Captains

Sakib Ali

In’Naha Ahmed (Aldgate)

Luz Edwards

William Bradford

Charlie Parker LGI

Aaron Owusu LGL

Representing Newgate

Representing Moorgate

Jakaria Uddin MGK

Kyarna Mariah Morris - Diedrick Akinlolu LGM LGB

Amani Banemeck

Kehinde Adegbola (Ludgate)

Jessica Faria NGI

Maisie Cook NGT

Taiwo Adegbola (Moorgate)

Emanuel Alonge (Newgate)

Key dates for the half term ahead

Out and about: holiday ideas and upcoming external events

Wednesday 24 April, 5.30 p.m.

Parent Staff Association meeting Parents and staff are invited to attend the academy’s termly Parent Staff Association (PSA) meeting. The group meet once a term and also host a range of events throughout the year including taster lessons for parents and educational discussion evenings.

Friday 29 - Sunday 31 March Terrible Tudors at Hackney Empire

Monday 6 May Bank Holiday

From the horrible Henries to the end of evil Elizabeth, hear the legend (and the lies) about the torturing Tudors.

Find out the fate of Henry’s headless wives and his punch up with the Pope. Survive the Spanish Armada as it sails into the audience!

Academy closed.

Visit www.hackneyempire.co.uk for details.

Friday 10 May, 5 p.m.

Music recital at Sutton House Join us for the third installment in our series of musical performance evenings at National Trust property, Sutton House (opposite the academy). The event is free and the cafe will be open, serving teas and cakes.

Thursday 23 May, 6 p.m.

The Tempest The drama department are proud to invite students, parents, staff and guests to our annual Shakespeare production. This year our cast of student actors will be bringing a rhythmic, African-themed performance of The Tempest to the stage. Tickets will be available to buy on ParentPay at the start of the summer term.

Further information regarding our upcoming events can be found on our online calendar, www.thecityacademy.org/events.

Term dates 2012/13

Thursday 28 March - Sunday 14 April Easter Egg Trails at Sutton House Take the whole family to follow the Easter Egg Trails at Sutton House this Easter, the National Trust-owned property in Hackney and East London’s oldest private house. Not only do the kids get to run around the 16thcentury building and grounds but, best of all, at the end of the trail they get a delicious Cadbury’s chocolate Easter egg.

Wednesday 3 April, Thursday 4 & Wednesday 10 April, 10.30 a.m.

Artburst: make a play taster workshops An exciting project that uses drama and dance as a way of improving confidence in young people with speech and language needs. For more information, contact the Artburst office: 020 8510 0220 or visit www.artburst. co.uk. Additional, week-long workshops will run during the summer holidays.

Thursday 4 April, 6.30 - 8 p.m.

Reading group for adults On the first Thursday of every month Clapton library runs a reading group for parents. For more information email cordula.vonderassen@hackney.gov.uk or call 020 8356 1620.

Summer term 1 Monday 15 April - Friday 24 May

Saturday 27 April, 10.30 a.m. - 12 noon London lives - graphic novel workshop

Summer term 2 Monday 3 June - Tuesday 16 July

Hackney Central Library - create your own graphic vignettes and develop your artistic skills with Karen Rubins. Book in advance at the library.

Printed on 100% recycled paper.