Year 9

MR MICHAEL EDGAR

HEAD OF YEAR 9

I wish to thank all Year 9 students for the patient way they have coped with such a difficult time in their education.

It would be an understatement to admit how happy I am going to be when we welcome most of you back into school in the new year.

Please keep safe over the holidays and do not get complacent with regards to your COVID precautions.

Have a well earned rest and we will see you in January.

I have asked your form tutors to summarise this first term of 2020 over the next few pages.

YEAR 9

TASTER DAY

On 16 November we held our annual Taster Day.

Students held zoom lessons in the following subjects which will be available to study further in Year 10.

Business Studies

Economics

Graphic Communication

Media Studies

Photography

Physical Education

The students were very enthusiastic and engaging and we hope this helped them in deciding their GCSE subject choices for next year.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY 2021 | YEAR 9 PARENTS EVENING WEDNESDAY 13 JANUARY 2021 | GCSE OPTIONS EVENING THURSDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2021 | FINAL GCSE OPTIONS LINK TO GCSE 2021 PROSPECTUS

MR MASON | 9CE

9CE have been fantastic throughout the first term.

It must be so hard to remain motivated and positive toward school during this time, but they have all displayed an admirable attitude every single morning during registration.

We have used time in MELs lessons to discuss relevant issues that have affected us all throughout the duration of the pandemic, such as, mental health and wellbeing. The students have also been embracing the philosophy of Ubuntu and achieving success by helping others to be successful too.

I cannot wait for the start of the new term in January, when the Year 9 students will finally be returning to school.

It will be amazing to see the students in person for the first time since school closed earlier on this year and to meet some new members of the form group.

MR BANNISTER | 9CH

9CH have had a great term and are raring to go, ready for 2021 and term 2 back in school.

This term has been great for remote competitions like Dear 2020 (for which we were robbed of victory!) and the TikTok Christmas song competition, featuring form-member, Callum MacLeod, as a cavorting elf and many other hilarious entries from 9CH.

Speaking of Callum, it is with great sadness and fondness that 9CH must bid farewell to our own member of the Clan MacLeod, Callum, and also top class entertainer and all-round good guy, Lewis Male. As their tutor from Year 7, I have witnessed them both mature and grow into kind, funny and interesting young men. Lewis is pursuing a career in the Texas professional rodeo circuit and Callum is moving down the road to Dubai.

We wish them both the very best of luck!

MISS HAND | 9GR

9GR have made a positive start this term. I have seen them mature as they have considered their GCSE options for next year and discussed their future career prospects with each other during registration.

Their hard work and effort has not gone unnoticed by their subject teachers as I am constantly inundated with positive house points which has helped to see Griffin climb up to 2nd place in the leaderboard.

In addition to this, I have received numerous emails from teachers praising the behaviour of 9GR which makes me extremely proud as their tutor.

Keep up the hard work next term 9 Griffin!

MR LEE | 9HY

I would like to congratulate the new starters to 9HY: Annushay Assad, Bann Abushamah, Ali El-Hennawy, Miles Baker and Mahmoud Kadadha on their start to the school year.

We could not have predicted the challenges that their new school year would have brought to these students, but they have applied themselves superbly. It will be great to get them into a classroom and allow them to settle into the BSAK environment.

Also, I must not forget the rest of my form. It is always a joy to see them in Zoom registration every morning, whether we are discussing current affairs or battling-it-out for the top-spot on the Kahoot leaderboard.

However, nothing beats having students in the classroom and I am really looking forward to a more normal start to the year in January.

MRS MAYALL | 9PE

I'm thrilled to be the new tutor of 9PE. I genuinely look forward to morning registrations.

This group is friendly, happy and truly supportive. An excellent example of BSAK citizens.

What a fantastic start to the House Competitions. 9PE won the “Dear 2020” competition, it was a real team effort. A huge amount of collaboration and hard work went into producing original and creative video and this is testament to the group.

I'm delighted and proud that so many of the form have ranked highly, appearing in top categories for effort and attainment on the last set of reports - 11 students have an average effort of 7 and above!! Go 9PE!!! A very warm welcome to Abdulrahman, Avisheh and Karen I am very pleased to have you as part of this wonderful tutor group.

Take care, stay safe and I look forward to meeting everyone in person very soon :)

MRS SCHOOLEY | 9PE

What a start to the new academic year!

I have been so immensely proud of how resilient, supportive and determined 9PH have been in facing all the challenges that the new term has brought. They have tackled everything with plenty of grit whilst caring and supporting each other. This has also been recognised by their teachers through a fantastic set of reports and a constant flow of House Points.

Thank you for being a wonderful welcome for me at BSAK! I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you over zoom, however, I cannot wait to meet you in person next term!

Have a well deserved rest over the winter break =)

Zoom Mental Heal th

& Wellbeing Assembly

Run by Year 9 Rep Ahmad Jallul and Form Reps:

Rayhan Manoly Mehr Siddiqui Aasil Af ridi