Kingsbury High School | Princes Avenue, London NW9 9JR +44(0)20 8206 3000 school@kingsburyhigh.org.uk

Primary School Sports Festival

Posted on February 13, 2012 by admin

On Thursday 2nd February 2012 Kingsbury High School’s Year 10 Sports Leadership group held a festival for Year 2 pupils in Kingsbury High Schools’ feeder primary schools. As part of their Sports Leadership Level One course, the group planned and led a variety of multi-skills activities which enabled the younger pupils to develop fundamental movement and sport skills, such as agility, balance, co-ordination, catching and throwing.

Over 200 pupils attended from Fryent Primary School, Oliver Goldsmith Primary School, Roe Green Junior School, Kingsbury Green Primary School and St. Robert Southwell Catholic Primary School.

[text by Ms High; photographs by Camille]

Kingsbury High School Pupil Performs at World Famous Ronnie Scott’s

Posted on February 10, 2012 by admin

A music pupil at Kingsbury High School took to the stage at the world famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz club, London on Sunday 5th February 2012. Luke was one of the lucky London pupils selected to take part in the new initiative entitled Big Band in a Day at the oldest jazz club in the world. Luke spent the day being mentored in workshops run by Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra and the evening performing on stage in front of family, friends, teachers and members of the public.

In appreciation of The Doncaster Jazz Association – which, after 38 years of changing the lives of thousands of young people through teaching Jazz, is to be closed down due to government cuts – Ronnie Scott’s new initiative, Big Band in a Day was born. Big Band in a Day gives young Londoners an opportunity to be mentored by Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra and perform at the world famous venue. The initiative aims to inspire and give confidence to young people.

Ronnie Scott’s trialed Big Band in a Day one Sunday in early January 2012. The event was so successful that Ronnie Scott’s Big Band in a Day will become a regular event taking place on the first Sunday of every month.

Luke, aged 16, applied to take part and was successful. The application required him to detail his past experience and identify his favourite Jazz piece. Luke was joined by other successful applicants from schools in London including Abbs Cross Academy, and Isleworth & Syon school for Boys. Luke plays the Alto Saxophone and is currently working towards his Jazz Saxophone Grade 5 through instrumental lessons at Kingsbury High School. Luke is one of the top students in the current Year 11 GCSE Music class and hopes to continue to study music at A-Level.

Luke, speaking about the event said “It was really good, now all I want to do is go back there! The snow didn’t affect us, it just made it cold, I had no trouble getting there or anything.”

“The best part was when I did a solo, I wanted them to remember me so I could possibly go back, so when it was time to do my solo I took my harmonica out of my pocket and did a solo on that instead! I didn’t know what I was thinking, but it went down well.”

[information provided by Mr Dominé & Ronnie Scott's; images by Camille & Ronnie Scott's]

Posted in Kingsbury High School | Tagged Jazz, Kingsbury High School, London Borough of Brent, Ronnie Scott's, Secondary Education | Leave a comment

Holocaust Memorial Day at Kingsbury High School

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

On Wednesday 25th January 2012, the whole of Year 8 took part in a Holocaust Memorial Excel Day project. Pupils focused on this years theme of “Speak up, Speak Out”, and undertook a variety of activities organised jointly by the Drama and History departments.

Pupils watched a moving and thought-provoking performance of “Then they came for me”, a play based on the life of Holocaust Survivor Eva Schloss, performed by a professional theatre company. They will be showing the same play to the United Nations later this year. Some pupils met Harry Olmer, a survivor of the Holocaust who moved to England after the war was over and whose children attended Kingsbury High School in the 1960′s. Other pupils were able to ask the director of the play Nic Careem questions on the play and the wider issues around the Holocaust. Both sessions were excellent, and the questions and behaviour of the pupils was outstanding.

Pupils also created artwork, poems, letters and other creative responses to the poem “And then they came for me”. The level of thought and effort was astonishing, and the pupils produced wonderful pieces for display.

A massive thank you to all students and staff for making this day such a success, and for all of their hard work.

[text by Ms Lean; photographs by Steve]

Posted in Kingsbury High School | Tagged Holocaust Memorial Day, Kingsbury High School, London Borough of Brent, Secondary Education | 1 Comment

Year 9 Excel Day Enterprise and Languages

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

On Wednesday 25th of January, Year 9 pupils were involved in a series of activities related to language learning and internationalism. All pupils took part in the Eurogateau activity which combined Enterprise and Languages. The pupils worked in teams as a bakery, making and selling paper ʻcakesʼ. They were given a company cheque book and a balance sheet at the beginning of the activity and they had to keep track of their finances throughout as they were competing to make the most profit. Pupils had to trade- when buying ingredients or selling their finished products they had to speak to the Euroagent in either French or German.

Pupils were very enthusiastic and got really engaged into the activity. These are some of their impressions of the day:

” It was really fun and I have learned a lot of new things”
“I loved that we had to manage our time and money”
“It was really challenging and fun, I had a great time”

Other activities that went on during the day were a Chinese taster, where pupils learnt about the country and the language and practised their calligraphy and chopstick holding abilities, workshops about the importance of languages in the work place and university, Francophone music and Brazilian Portuguese. It was a great day where Year 9 pupils really got to know a bit more about other languages and how useful they can be for their future.

[text by Ms N Ribas; photographs by Camille]

Posted in Kingsbury High School | Tagged Enterprise, Europe, Kingsbury High School, Languages, London Borough of Brent, Year 9 | Leave a comment

Year 7 Celebrate Europe

Posted on January 19, 2012 by admin

Year 7 pupils celebrated Europe in style with a day-long competition to explore the varied and exciting countries of the European Union.

The day started with a special assembly where pupils heard about strange European customs – from the Mud Olympics in Germany to La Tomatina in Spain – and teachers added a special touch by dressing up in traditional clothes from across Europe.

Form groups then competed to create the best mini display to promote a European country. Pupils developed their research and presentation skills as they investigated the events, traditions and attractions which they thought would entice others to visit their country.

The event was a lot of fun and was greatly enjoyed by pupils and staff. Deputy Head Mr Jamieson presented the Teachers’ Prize to the lucky winners from 7R at the end of the day – and online voting is now open for Year 7 pupils to decide who will win the Pupils’ Prize, which will be presented on 24 January.

The Celebration of Europe was organised by the Languages Faculty as part of the School’s new programme of Excel Days, which provide regular opportunities for deep learning.

[text by Mr N Jenkins; photographs by Steve]

Posted in Kingsbury High School | Tagged Celebration, Europe, Kingsbury High School, London Borough of Brent, Secondary Education | Leave a comment

Young Ambassador Conference

Posted on January 19, 2012 by admin

Kingsbury High School students and Gold Young Ambassadors Mesha Vadher and Sherain Watson held a Young Ambassador conference on Wednesday 18th January 2012. The conference promoted the roles and responsibilities of adiStars Young Ambassadors, which is an initiative set up by partner of the Young Ambassadors programme, adidas. Pupils from Kingsbury High School, Claremont High School, Jewish Free School, St Gregory’s School, Preston Manor and Woodfield School attended the conference to learn about their new roles as adiStar Young Ambassadors.

Posted in Kingsbury High School | Tagged Claremont High School, Jewish Free School, Kingsbury High School, London Borough of Brent, Preston Manor, St Gregory's School, Woodfield School | Leave a comment

Judo Star Helps Launch Kingsbury High School London 2012 Awareness Campaign

Posted on December 15, 2011 by admin

Commonwealth medal-winning Judo champion, Sky Sports Living for Sport Athlete Mentor and London 2012 hopeful, Tom Davis visited Kingsbury High School on Wednesday 14th December to help launch the school’s Olympic values awareness campaign, P R I D E.

The campaign features an on-going series of posters, produced by the school’s Creative Team, of students sport leaders participating in Olympic, Paralympic and Winter Olympic sports in unlikely locations around the school. The P R I D E campaign promotes the school’s chosen Olympic values of Personal Excellence, Respect & Friendship, Inspiration, Determination & Courage and Equality.

Tom Davis, star of the Olympic Future Flames video, talked to Year 10 students, Shadrak Guichard-Foster, Tara Neli and Samuel Cooper about how important the Olympics are to young people. He told them, “I think the Olympics are massively important, they are a great opportunity to galvanise young people. Linford Christie was my inspiration, watching him run the 100 metres got me in to sport. Young people will all be inspired watching London 2012.”

[information provided by Chris Gibson; photograph by Steve]

Posted in Kingsbury High School | Tagged Jeremy Waxman, Kingsbury High School, London Borough of Brent, Olympics, Paralympics, Tom Davis | Leave a comment

Kingsbury High School Anti-Bullying Champion fronts London Bus Campaign

Posted on December 15, 2011 by admin

Kingsbury High School student, Alizay Agha has been chosen as one of the faces of the Diana Award anti-bullying advertising campaign. Alizay features in an advert on the route 23 bus which runs across the centre of London.

First London, part of First Group plc, has donated advertising space on five of its new London buses to the Diana Award, in recognition of young people’s dedication to improving their communities.

Five young people, each with their own inspiring story, feature in the campaign, Who Inspires You? The five young people represent the five Diana Award categories – the Diana Anti-Bullying Champion, the Diana Active Campaigner, the Diana Champion Fundraiser, the Diana Champion Volunteer and the Diana Courageous Citizen.

Minister for Children and Families Tim Loughton met the exceptional young people who are the faces of the campaign at the Houses of Parliament on Monday 12th December 2011.

Tim Loughton said: “I am always humbled to meet exceptional young people who go the extra mile and give back to their communities. The young people honoured with the Diana Award should be proud of their achievements. They are an inspiration to others to get involved and make a difference.” 14 year old Alizay said: “Being part of such an amazing advertisement campaign and representing an Anti-Bullying Champion makes me feel proud to know that I represent those who work to reduce bullying. I know what it’s like to be bullied and I used my experience to support others and I inspire them to stand up against bullying.”

Alizay was nominated by her teachers for a Diana Anti-Bullying Award for her commitment to tackling bullying. Alizay went through a difficult phase in her life, where she was being bullied severely. After fighting through this she was motivated to share her experience and knowledge on Anti-Bullying with other pupils in her school. She took part in a one week training course with an organisation, PeerLink, a national network for young people involved in conflict resolution and mediation.

She became a trained and certified mediator and along with the other pupils, they set up a lunchtime drop in club and called Unite. Alizay was asked to mediate pupils who were being bullied, and she helped them re-gain some confidence. Alizay has tried to create a new mind-set for pupils in her school focusing on self acceptance and accepting others. Alizay also visits primary schools to educate the younger children on what bullying is and how we can prevent it.

The young people who are part of the campaign also went to Downing Street to deliver photographs of the campaign to the Diana Award Patron David Cameron.

For more information or to make a nomination go to: the Diana Award

[information provided by the Diana Award; photograph by Steve]

Posted in Kingsbury High School | Tagged Advertising Campaign, Anti-Bullying, First Group PLC, First London, Kingsbury High School, The Diana Award | Leave a comment

Anti-Bullying Champions Praised with Diana Award

Posted on December 15, 2011 by admin

Former students Emily Aldrich and Eleanor Rambellas-Roche have been publicly honoured with the Diana Award for their work within Kingsbury High School’s anti-homophobia group, Cambio.

Cambio was nominated because the members of the group worked really hard to make Kingsbury High School a better, more tolerant, place for staff and students. The students were really brave to do this, as a high school can be a difficult place to talk about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) issues, and they worked really hard, despite the pressure of exams and university applications.

Emily and Eleanor received their award at the Diana Award Inspire Day 2011 held at Barclays Corporate in Canary Wharf on Monday 12th December. Clare Nasir – ITV weather girl, presented the Diana Anti-Bullying Champion Award to them.

For more information or to make a nomination go to: the Diana Award

[information provided by Ms O'Neil; photograph provided by the Diana Award]

Posted in Kingsbury High School | Tagged Anti-Bullying, Cambio, Kingsbury High School, The Diana Award | Leave a comment

Art Student Wins £10,000 for Kingsbury High School

Posted on December 6, 2011 by admin

Kingsbury High School student, Shawna-Lee Lewin, has won a £10,000 prize for the school in an art competition. Kingsbury High School submitted art work by students to the competition organised by Viking office stationers. The competition brief was to create an image that ‘reflect what students like about their school’. Shawna-Lee’s entry beat over 3,000 entries from schools across the UK.

The prize money will go towards a sculpture garden that ‘represents how the school respects and embraces its cultural identity’. Shawna-Lee also received prizes which were presented to her by Viking representative, Account Manager, Lee Weber in the Kingsbury High School sixth form assembly on Monday 5th December 2011. Shawna-Lee said “I was really happy to enter and to have won, to give something back to the school.”

Shawna Lee’s winning entry has been featured on the front cover and in the month of June of the 2012 Viking for Schools calendar.

Mr Weber said “I look forward to seeing the results of the sculpture garden.”