Year 8 Messages from Ms Mercier Peart
We are already half way through the summer Term and getting ready for our end of year exams taking place after half term from Wednesday 5th to the 14th June. Year 8 students will be receiving their timetable in due course.
In tutorial recently, the boys have learnt to make a revision timetable and to put a bit of time aside every day for their revision.Each teacher will put work on satchel one regarding revision, work that is also taking place in class.
Once the exams are over we are getting ready, with great anticipation, for our summer camp in July, at the Mill in the lovely Surrey Hills.
I would like to congratulate all the boys who are on 100% attendance and on top of the positive points in our reward system, and take this opportunity to congratulate Ms Holderer and 8L who are ahead inthe summer quiz competition. Keep going!
Some WES alumni came back to WES last Friday to share their experience during our careers workshop with Future First. It was lovely to see ex-students (young men now) explaining some of the further education and career paths you have out there and the importance of doing well in school. Thank you to all of them.A few photos from the event are included here.
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I hope you all have a good half term and a bit of sun!
Our School's International School Status
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Ms Rodgers, Head of MFL writes:
We are delighted that WES has been awarded International School Foundation Status by The British Council in recognition of its work to bring the world into the classroom.
The International School Award celebrates the achievements of schools that do exceptional work in international education. Fostering an international dimension in the curriculum is at the heart of the British Council’s work with schools, so that young people gain the cultural understanding and skills they need for life and work in today’s world.
It encourages and supports schools to develop:
• An international ethos embedded throughout the school
• A whole school approach to international work
• Collaborative curriculum-based work with a number of partner schools
• Year-round international activity
• Involvement of the wider community
William Ellis’s international work includes hosting French, Spanish and German language assistants, running a Mandarin, Arabic and foreign film club, taking students on residential trips abroad and day trips to the BFI institute in London for immersive workshops in the target language. The school also hosts international students. In February 2024 a German Year 10 student spent two days at William Ellis as part of his school work experience and the MFL department will also be hosting a French student in June.
We will be striving to continue to develop the work in this enriching area and hope to progress to Intermediate level and eventually to International School Award Accreditation in years to come.
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Ski Trip 2024
Mr Altmann, Assistant Headteacher, writes:
Back to Ischgl (Austria) and Samnaun (Switzerland)!
Having visited this area of the Alps back in 2019, I decided that we should definitely return and explore some more. It was great to be back in a German speaking part of Europe, though coping with the local Austrian and Swiss dialects was a little tricky even for me!
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WES students with their instructors
I have always found cross border skiing rather fascinating; the food, architecture and language (or in this case dialects) can change from one valley to the next. Though you no longer have to ski through a turnstile and show your passport to a serious looking border guard, as I did as a boy!
The Föhn wind was whipping through this part of the Alps at the time, which caused some disruption, but boys and staff thoroughly enjoyed the trip regardless.
I could go on…but I think I’ll let the boys take over from here,
Donnie and Otis in 7B write:
Our ski trip to Austria and Switzerland at the start of the Easter break was incredible!
The main highlight was definitely going out of our comfort zones, seeing how it was my (Donnie’s) first time skiing, and how Otis did a ‘black run’ for the first time. Our ski instructors helped us improve and refine our skills. The ski resort was huge, spanning two countries! There was a wide range of slopes for all skill levels, I even managed to do a red run! The accommodation was very nice, too.
Aside from the skiing, we did many activities. Such as swimming and bowling. Our hotel rooms were very nice, we had lots of space and a storage area. We also watched a movie and ate pizza (which was delicious) in a pizzeria right next door to our hotel!
Our favourite activity, apart from the skiing of course, was the bowling because it was the Austrian version, where you had to knock down all the pins first. Our ski equipment was good quality and had lots of different sizes. We were very organised when getting on the coach to Isgall.
Overall it was an amazing experience where we got to spend time with our friends and learn how to ski and how to improve!
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Snowball fight!
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Our lovely pool
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Mr Altmann in Austria and Mr Levitt in Switzerland!
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Austrian bowling
Year 10 Art and Graphics 'Cabinet of Curiosities' Project
Ms Kendall, Art and Graphics Teacher, writes:
In partnership with Lauderdale House our very talented Year 10 Art and Graphics students have been taking part in a project inspired by nature and by the eccentric collections of former Lauderdale resident, James Yates. This is the second year that our students, along with Year 10 students from Parliament Hill School, have collaborated with Lauderdale House on this project.
Students have sculpted clay designs based on the raw natural materials from the grounds of Lauderdale House and have worked with wax to create moulds for bronze pieces which will soon be cast. They have also created gelli printworks and work in Sumi ink.
The work will be displayed as part of the Highgate Festival between 8th-30th June. Please visit the exhibition at Lauderdale House next month if you can.
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Year 7 and 8 Science Competition
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Ms Cockcroft, Science Teacher, writes:
Calling all budding naturalists in Years 7 and 8!
The Science department is running a competition. To enter, you need to download the Seek app by Inaturalist (free) and open the Challenges. These involve using your smartphone to identify species of plant, insect, funghi, etc. There will be a certificate for the top ten challenges completed for each year group and a mystery science prize for the top 3.
The competition will close in mid July. Students will need to show their challenges to their Science teacher that week to be entered.
Free and low-cost half-term holiday activities for children
During next week’s half term break families can find free and low-cost sports, arts, play and youth activities near them on the Camden Rise website.
Camden Summer University
Camden Summer University means young people can stay safe, have fun, learn something new, make new friends and have something useful to show when applying for university, apprenticeships or work. They can choose from nearly 70 free courses in arts, media, fashion, sport, cookery, work and life skills at prestigious venues including the British Museum, the British Library, Central School of Speech and Drama and London Zoo. It’s free to enrol for students aged 13-19 who live or go to school Camden. The programme will run from Thursday 25 July to Friday 23 August 2024. Check the website from 5 June onwards to view courses - bookings open on 17 June. You can also download the Camden Summer University 2024 leaflet.
Camden Moving on to Secondary School Event – 13 June
Parents and carers of children in current primary school Years 4 and 5 can find out more about Camden secondary schools and how to apply at the Council’s annual Moving On event which is being held at the prestigious Francis Crick Institute in King’s Cross. The Camden Moving on event is taking place on Thursday 13 June, from 4.15 to 6.45pm. There are still some places available. This is a great opportunity for parents and carers whose children are starting secondary school in either September 2025 or September 2026.
Meet the Parents forums
Meet the Parents are running some June 2024 events for parents of primary pupils who are moving up to secondary school, allowing parents and carers to ask frank questions from other families whose children currently attend Camden secondary schools.
The MTP events, held at local primary schools in June, are:
- 4 June - Kentish Town C of E Primary School from 6.30pm
- 11 June - Fitzjohn's Primary School from 6.30pm
- 18 June - Yerbury Primary School (Islington borough) from 6.30pm
- 19 June - Brookfield Primary School from 6.30pm.
If you are interested in becoming a MTP volunteer to share your family’s experience of William Ellis please let us know via admin@williamellis.camden.sch.uk and we can pass on your details.
Parental Support Programme at The Brandon Centre
A reminder that The Brandon Centre's 'Love and Lmits' programme is open to Camden and Islington parents/carers of teenagers aged 12-16 years old. A leaflet about this programme was attached to last week's Attendance Newsletter email, or to find out more about this programme please see the Brandon Centre's website.
The Brandon Centre will also be holding a
Free 2 hour online workshop on Tuesday 4 June 10:00-12:00 for parents of children aged between 5 – 17 years, to help parents:
- Make mealtimes enjoyable
- Setting healthy boundaries
- Understanding emotional eating
- Helping children and young people to have a healthy relationship with food and so much more.
Camden Clean Air Cycle Ride
This event is an inclusive, non-competitive bike ride, open to all riders regardless of experience. The event aims to unite the community in celebration of cycling, cleaner air, and the vibrant sights of London. This year marks a milestone as the event rebrands from the Camden Clean Air Cycle Ride to the London Clean Air Cycle Ride, ahead of the launch of the London Clean Air Initiative.
Camden aims to encourage sustainable and active travel, and has designed a route that encompasses cycle lanes and quiet streets around the Boroughs of Camden, Westminster, and Islington to demonstrate how cycling is safe and accessible.
Camden are committed to making the cycle ride more accessible every year, in the belief that cycling is for everyone. For any riders that prefer to be guided, they can book a marshalled ride at no additional cost. More confident riders can opt for a self-guided ticket and ride at their own pace. Thanks to partner Forest (aka HumanForest), free e-bikes will be available to pre-book. This ensures that those who don’t own a bike, or are less able to cycle long distances can still join the ride. Camden are also collaborating with fellow local not-for-profit, Your Bike Project, to provide free bike hire for those in receipt of benefits.
Details:
When: 29th June, 2024 at 10:00 (departures from 10:00am to 12:00pm)
Where: Start and Finish line will be at Granary Square, King Cross
Route: Click here to see the 2024 Route
Free tickets and bike hire available for people on benefits and UC (please email vpensabene@camdencleanair.org)
Free e-bike hire on a first come, first served basis
Tickets are available at http://lcacycleride2024.eventbrite.co.uk/