Year 8

MRS SARAH NORAY HEAD OF YEAR 8

How wonderful it has been to see the students back in school this term.

I have had so many great comments from staff about increased student participation in lessons and it has been a pleasure hearing students in classrooms and break times expressing how much they are enjoying being together again. I can already see their confidence building and I know this will only continue to be the case.

Ultimately we want the school community to be happy and most of all safe and therefore it is essential that everyone plays their part at looking after one another and following the Covid safety procedures.

Thank you to all those who have been doing such a good job of this since their return.

CONGRATULATIONS

100% SPRING ½ TERM DISTANCE LEARNING ATTENDANCE

January saw a huge number of students achieving 100% attendance in their Zoom lessons. This made me incredibly proud as a Head of Year because of the amount of time students had been on distance learning by this point and showed me how resilient they had been in maintaining their motivation for such a prolonged period of time. Knowing they can overcome such huge challenges should give them hope that they can achieve anything in the future. It has been a busy term with a great deal of success for Year 8.

THE PASSION

PROJECT

Was a huge success and it was brilliant to see the range of topics the Year 8’s chose and their enthusiasm for a vast range of activities. Not only did it highlight what great chefs we have in the year group but showed us the many other talents the year group possess!

Topics ranged from sculpture, fishing, ukulele, roller skating, comic book writing, art and some superb talent in sportsmanship and exercise!

Congratulations

A special congratulations to Dominik Jordan 8CE who was the Passion Project winner for Year 8. His film exuded passion and reflected Dominik’s dedication to his Spartan family. Getting so many of them involved in his film was a true testament of what an advocate he is and displayed a real sense of community!

Congratulations also to Jude Roberts 8HY who gained first place in Race 2 of the Daman Falcon Series Cycling Event on Hudayriat Island. Jude rode aggressively, breaking away in the last 2 km to form a solo victory. After coming 3rd in the first race of this series, his training is really paying off and it is exciting to see how the rest of the series plays out. This is an incredible achievement for anyone, let alone someone of Jude’s age! Definitely one to watch, a huge well done to him.

WORLD

BOOK DAY

Year 8 demonstrated their team spirit with gusto for World Book Day earlier this month, with costumes ranging from the classic Peter Pan, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and even Cobra Kai!

Winners 8CH dressed up as a wonderfully dynamic team by creating the World of Harry Potter in one classroom!

POET

LAUREATE

The Poet Laureate position in school will allow one student in Key Stage 3 to express the student body's thoughts about the world around them through poetry.

I am delighted to announce that 8HY’s Sara Sheikh has been honoured with this position and I know she will document her own voice and that of her peers beautifully. I look forward to reading her work.

Finally a big thank you from me to all the Year 8’s. For brightening the school corridors and the benches outside and bringing life to the school that was missing for so long. It has been such a pleasure speaking to you face to face and getting to know you these last few weeks and I look forward to the rest of our year together.

Have a wonderful Spring break!