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www.robertclack.co.uk
April 2012
Parent Governor
We are delighted that Dr. Neil Geach has been re-appointed to the Governing
body of the school as a Parent Governor.
Robert Clack Debate Club
This year has been incredibly successful and exciting for Robert Clack’s
debate club. Lower school club membership is at highest, we boast around 40
students this year across every year group. We have also seen an increase in
numbers at the Upper School Club where the students prepare for university
style debating. The commitment shown by all of our debaters is outstanding!
The Upper School students Audrey Boum-Enock, Reece Weaver, Kelvin Anim,
Azaan Akbar and Rob Jones have all supported the lower school students by
acting as mentors which has given them all a real sense of ownership of the
club and has given our lower school students a bench mark for them to
achieve as they go through the year groups in debate.
As always the Robert Clack teams have performed very in competitions again
this year. Urban Debate League (Year 7-10) has got off to a good start, with
two or our four teams winning both debates in the first round of the
competition. We also had the pleasure of hosting the tournament this year,
which was a privilege to do. We must extend our thanks to the kitchen and
site staff for their wonderful support on the evening.
Robert Clack entered four teams into this Years Debate Mate Cup. All four
teams performed very well with two or our teams winning all of their debates.
It was however ‘Team Kelvin’ that progressed to the final to continue Robert
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Clack’s success in this tournament. This team was made up of Kajal Ruperall
(Year 10), Diellza Nishori (Year 9), Jola Bytyci (Year 7) and Sonakshi Dua (Year
8) who debated for the first time at the competition! The girls were amazing,
but lost the debate with a narrow 3-2 spilt from the judges. We are currently
waiting to hear if they had enough speaker points to progress to the national
final as highest runner ups.
It is however with the upper school students where the biggest successes are
happening. Miss Hanna launched the BPW Public Speaking competition this
Year for our 6th Formers, Audrey Boum-Enock, Rosie Fuller and Simbiat Salami
reached the regional final of the competition and finished 3rd in the region.
For the first time this year, we have entered the ICYD competition at Imperial
College London, which saw Mohammad Alware and Zenaida Anim (both Year
9) and Kajal Ruperall and Katie Allen (Year 10) take on private schools, both
teams performed very well showing they have the potential to mirror the
achievements of our older debaters. The high standard of the debaters at the
competition did not phase our students and they were very much on par with
students who have debate as a part of their curriculum.
We also entered three teams into this year’s Oxford Schools Debate
Competition. The teams were made up of Reece Weaver, Kelvin Anim, Audrey
Boum-Enock, John Hattam, Azaan Akbar and Rob Jones. All three teams
performed incredibly but it was to be Reece and Kelvin’s day, the boys
progressed to the national final which was held at the Oxford University union
on the 10th March. The boys faired well and again represented the school
brilliantly in what was possibly their last competition with us here at Robert
Clack.
Kelvin, Reece and Audrey have also worked incredibly hard together this year
with ESU Mace debate competition. They have competed against private
schools, this however did not phase them and they have reached the England
final of the competition. An outstanding achievement as this was the first time
that we have entered this competition.
At every event all of students are fantastic ambassadors for Robert Clack
School and are an absolute pleasure to work with. Miss Hanna and I are very
proud of them all.
Miss Valentine
Sixth Form Volunteers
Our Year 12 sixth formers have been involved with Age UK Redbridge and
have been volunteering their time and expertise in ICT to help 60+ clients use
computers. Over the past 15 weeks these students have given up their
Thursday evenings to cater to a range of abilities in ICT. All 18 students have
thoroughly enjoyed the experience and hope more people will be involved next
year should this project continue.
Mr I Saleem
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Dance This term
This term is going to be a very exciting and busy one for Dance at Robert
Clack! First up is a performance from Optic Dance Company at The Queens
Theatre in Hornchurch on Sunday 20th May. If you would like to support us at
this event the tickets are available from the Queens Theatre box office. Next is
the Robert Clack Gym and Dance show on Wednesday 30th and Thursday 31st
May, where performances from over 100 Robert students will light up the lower
School Hall. Tickets for this will be available from the middle office week
beginning 14th May.
We have also been lucky enough as a School to have been awarded a ‘Big
Dance Grant’ which we are using to put on a large scale outdoor Dance event
in Barking Town square based on the story of Alice in Wonderland. This
involves over 25 Robert Clack Students and students from two other local
schools. The performance will be on Thursday 28th June and 4pm and 6pm and
will start in Barking Town square, no tickets required so just come along.
Also as part of ‘Big Dance 2012’ the Students at Robert Clack have been
selected to perform as part of the Big Dance Finale in Trafalgar square. This
will be choreographed by the renowned choreographer Wayne McGregor, and
students will have the chance to work with professional dancers from his
company in the lead up to the event. Please come and see what will be a
fantastic performance on Saturday 14th July.
Students will perform in ‘Fierce determination’ the Secondary Dance Platform
at the Broadway Theatre, Barking on 5th July. Tickets are available from the
Broadway Theatre Box office.
Hope to see you there!
Miss Horner
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Castle Competition!
Last Thursday the History Department held their annual Year 7 Castle
Competition and all staff and pupils were extremely impressed with the effort
and Historical accuracy of some of the Castles. Well done to everyone who
took part! The 48 Winners will be announced in lessons next week by your
History Teacher where you will receive your prize.
Miss James
‘This task demonstrated to us how we can really show our knowledge on a
topic and how much detail you can include. It also gave a chance to have a
deeper understanding of what the Normans achieved and allowed us a closer
look at the Castles England is now so famous for. A truly enjoyable task, it was
great to see the achievements of our friends and peers in our year level’
By Megan Haxell and Jola Bytyci
Sickness
It is a legal obligation that children of school age attend school regularly. If a
pupil is sick, the parent or guardian should telephone the school that
morning. He or she should be kept at home until well, and a note of
explanation sent to the Form Tutor on the day of return to school. If no
telephone call has been received by 9.30 on the first day of absence, the
school’s Attendance Officer will make contact to confirm the reasons for
absence.
If a child falls ill in school parents will be contacted to arrange for their child to
be collected and taken home. In the event of an accident requiring urgent
medical attention an ambulance will be called and parents informed
If your child has to leave school during the day for an appointment, please
send your child in to school, on the day of the appointment, with note stating
the time they need to leave school, along with the appointment card where
possible. Your child will then be able to obtain a pink slip which will release
them from their lesson.
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Dates for your diary
Wed 2nd May
Year 12/13 Presentation Evening, Gosfield
Road
Wed 16th May
Year 11 Presentation Evening, Gosfield Road
Sat 19th May
Quiz Night hosted by Mr Carder & Mr Howarth,
Upper School
Wed 13th June
Year 7 Presentation Evening, Green Lane
Wed 20th June
Year 8 Presentation Evening, Green Lane
Wed 27th June
Year 9 Presentation Evening, Green Lane
Holiday Dates
Mon 7th May
Bank holiday
Fri 1st June 2012
Break up for half-term
Mon 11th June 2012
Return to school
Thurs 19th July 2012
Break up for summer
Tue 4th September 2012
Return to School
Fri 26th October 2012
Break up for half-term
Mon 5th November 2012
Return to School
Tue 18th December 2012
Break up for Christmas
Wed 9th January 2013
Return to School
Fri 15th February 2013
Break up for half-term
Mon 25th February 2013
Return to School
Thurs 28th March 2013
Break up for Easter
Mon 15th April 2013
Return to School
Mon 6th May 2013
Bank holiday
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Fri 24th May 2013
Break up for half-term
Mon 3rd June 2013
Return to School
Tue 23rd July 2013
Break up for summer
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