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2019/20
IN THIS ISSUE: Performances : P7 Future leaders : P3 Fundraising : P8 Extra-curricular : P4 Getting out on trips: P6
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Over 15 after school clubs to choose from!
Welcome from the Headteacher Dear Year 6 students, Welcome to Clapton Girls’ Academy! I hope you enjoy reading this issue of The Year 7 Review, designed to give you an insight into life as a Year 7 student at Clapton. Our students have worked incredibly hard this year and have been involved in a huge range of extra-curricular activities. I look forward to meeting you all soon. Headteacher Ms Feltham
Welcome Year 7s! I am Ms Evans the Head of Year 7 and I also teach Languages. Moving to secondary school can be daunting but also very exciting. Our amazing Year 8 student ambassadors and the Year 7 Form Tutors are here to guide and help every step of the way. We have an exciting year ahead and I look forward to meeting you all!
Year 7 Tutors
7C Ms Whitchurch 7L Ms Khalique
Head of Year 7 Wishing you a very warm welcome to Clapton Girls’ Academy, I’m Ms Campbell, the Year 7 Engagement Support Assistant. My role is to ensure that your first year is successful, and that you are well prepared for the rest of your journey with us.
7A Ms Omazic 7P Mr Atkinson
Over the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to visit some of you at your primary schools which has been great fun, and I hope to visit more of you before the summer holidays. Looking forward to seeing you all on taster day!
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Year 7 Engagement Support Assistant (ESA)
7T Ms Curtis
7N Mr Bolton
Remember to tell your friends and family that they can keep up to date with the latest academy news by following our social media. Every day we post photos and information about all the exciting opportunities our students get involved in as well as their brilliant achievements.
Future Leaders
At Clapton, we focus on championing women’s achievements and have a range of leadership opportunities designed to help you gain confidence and valuable experience to become future leaders and strong independent role models.
A grand total of 30 Year 7s were chosen for the challenging leadership role of student ambassador this year. “Becoming an ambassador has really improved my confidence. I now find speaking to people I don’t know too well, much easier. Our role is to help new year 7s settle in and enjoy their first year here at Clapton. We are always here to help and answer any of your questions as best we can.” Cerys 7N
Words of Wisdom
Being a Student Ambassador “To become a Student Ambassador you have to go to an interview in the school with PC Keyes (our Safer Schools Partnership Officer) and a school governor! It was quite nerve-wracking, but they were really nice. My interview was in a group with other Year 7s. As a student ambassador I give new students tips and reassure them, and help them with their transition from Year 6.”
“Go to clubs! They helped improve my confidence.”
“Give all the clubs a go because you might find something new you like.”
“Don’t worry, you will find your way around the school in a few weeks.”
“Don’t be shy to talk to someone new because we are all ‘new’ together.”
Renee 7L
Student Ambassador interviews 2019
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Florence Nightingale
Marie Curie “Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood.”
“I attribute my success to this - I never gave or took any excuse.”
Keyboard Club
Linklaters Mentoring These are just some of the clubs we host at CGA!
Clay Club “Clay club is a fun and relaxing club where you learn to make and create sculptures with clay.” Mariya 7N
Wictoria 7P
Beauty by the Geeks “I went to Beauty by the Geeks club and I loved it so much. We made a lot of beauty products and I made new friends.” Lina 7N
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Debating
“ I have taken part in Beauty by the Geeks, we have been making different cosmetics. I have made lip balm and jelly soap. I think it is a good opportunity to learn how to make new, cheap and easy products.” Dior 7L
Knitting “Knitting is not just for grannies! I never knew how to knit and now I’m an expert!” Nosa 7C
Gardening
Hello everyone my name is Wictoria and I have been in a Linklaters mentoring programme. This means I had a personal mentor every other week and we would go there to talk, play games and plan projects. When I first met them I was very shy but they encouraged me to come out of my shell. Each week I was set a new challenge and I would have to complete it for example, “to meet a new person”. It was quite challenging at times but, because of my mentors, I’ve become more confident and if they were here right now I would thank them very much. If you have the opportunity to have a mentor do it! Thanks for reading and IYear hope7 you love are our expected school and students to have a greatatyear. attend least two clubs per week.
Valentina Tereshkova “It doesn’t matter what country or what political system you are from. Space brings you together.”
Basketball “I enjoyed basketball club as it helped me to work in a team and made me confident.” Tara 7L “Basketball is a club that you develop in, becoming better at teamwork and more confident in yourself.” Shenay 7A
Rosa Parks “Each person must live their life as a model for others.”
Both tennis and basketball are extremely popular at CGA. Our Year 7 team got to the Junior NBA Final Fours and finished 4th overall. Our Year 7 team are also the Greenhouse Schools champions.
Emmeline Pankhurst “We are fighting for a time when every girl born into the world will have an equal chance with her brothers.”
Tennis
“Tennis club is really fun. You play games and improve your skills.” Grace 7L “On Tuesday I attend judo, and really enjoy learning new skills as well as having fun. When I first started at CGA I didn’t know anybody, but now I have made loads of new friends by attending clubs.” Ava 7A
Languages
Technology “I have really enjoyed learning Spanish at school because it is a great opportunity to learn a different language. I can’t wait to go to Spain and try it out!” Lyna, 7A
At Clapton we learn two languages - French and Spanish.
“Bonjour. I like editing and marking my French tests because it allows me to see exactly what mistakes I have made and then I improve.” Ruya, 7L
Product Design and Textiles have taught us how to make die and hot water bottle covers. In Food Technology we have learnt how to make Sushi and bake.
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30
We have 30 student ambassadors These Year 8 students will help mentor new Year 7s during their first weeks at Clapton Girls’ Academy.
The BushCraft Company
Trips
“My favourite activity was building shelters out of forest materials, stoking our own fire and cooking burgers on it.”
Throughout Year 7 you will have the opportunity to go on several trips during the school day.
Ruya 7L
In the Summer term there is a residential camping trip. Here you will have the chance to take part in outdoor adventures and develop your team work skills.
Balliol College
“We played a game called Sniper where you had to get as close as possible to the leader of the game with out them noticing you. We had to be really quiet and camouflage our faces. Whoever is closest after 10 minutes wins! I also loved sleeping in a tent and hearing the wildlife at night.” Ellie 7P
“I really enjoyed visiting Balliol College, Oxford. It’s one of the oldest colleges in Oxford and we learnt that it was built in the 12th century. I liked the old buildings and the city of Oxford. I also learned that a lot of Harry Potter scenes were filmed there!” Naseebah 7T
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Skiing
“The ski trip to Austria was exciting. Our instructors were very helpful and caring. I was a beginner, but by the end of the trip I felt like I had always known how to ski.” Harisa, 7A
Don’t forget to check out CGA News! Every fortnight our newsletter, CGA News, is sent to parents/carers. It is full of information, important dates and exciting news about what you have been up to in school. Get your parents to keep up to date by making sure we have their current email address.
Focus Days
Performances If you like performing, there are loads of ways to get involved at Clapton. There is a Summer Arts Festival and a Winter concert which showcase talent across music, drama and spoken word. This year music students put on gigs at Clapton Café. If you are not sure about performing, you could learn what it takes to put on a show by working back stage in costume and set design!
Focus days are days when we are taken off timetable to take part in lots of different activities and learn new things that compliment what we learn in lessons. These are the days when we might go off site and visit new places.
Clapton Café
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Invite your family and friends to an Open Session to find out more about Year 7! Visit www.clapton.hackney.sch.uk for more details.
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Sept Open Morning
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Oct Live Tour
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Oct Live Tour
Oct Open Evening
Sept Live Tour
Fundraising We join in with national fundraising campaigns throughout the year. It was so much fun this year seeing students and staff in their outfits on Winter Jumper day and in their red noses for Comic Relief.
Breakfast Club Breakfast Club provides free bagels and juice for all students every morning from 8 - 8.45am. Come along, eat, get to know each other and play one of our board games!
The LRC (Learning Resource Centre) is an important part of Year 7 life. There is a great selection of books to read. This is us on World Book Day collecting our free books from our local bookshop, Pages of Hackney.
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Examples of excellent work done by our current Year 7s when they were in Year 6 are on display at our school. We are looking forward to putting up new work from the Year 6s coming to Clapton in September.
Work by Maisie, Yr 6
Year 7
For more information, pictures and stories about Year 7 life at Clapton, visit the dedicated Year 6 area of our website.
clapton.hackney.sch.uk/parents/ welcome-year-6