IAMShine - Islington Arts and Media School

ISLINGTON ARTS & MEDIA SCHOOL
IAMShine
Spring 1 2012
Spring 1 2012
Happy Birthday!
Charles Dickens Bicentenary Celebrations
It started out as a small idea but very quickly the excitement spread and we
were all involved in celebrating the life of a wonderful writer and social
campaigner. IAMS’ celebrations got underway with a Year 8 trip to the
Museum of London on Friday 3 rd February, organised by Ms Dodds. Year
8’s got to experience everything Victorian, as well as indulge in a very
cleverly put together worksheet, on the life of Dickens.
It was great to see our pupils turn into amateur detectives, as they solved all
the clues that Ms Dodds had put together. The experience gave them a better
understanding of how the city inspired Dickens' novels.
On Tuesday 7 th February, the actual birthday of Charles Dickens, the school
welcomed Radio 5 Live into the proceedings, as we nabbed a guest slot on
the Sheila Fogarty lunchtime show. Our Year 8 pupils, Adnan Ali, Michelle
Stoimenova, and Masood Ahmed, all took part in the show. Adnan and
Michelle read an extract from Oliver Twist live on air, whilst Masood talked
about what life was like for a young boy of his age, back in the Victorian times.
We celebrated the day with a fantastic birthday cake, courtesy of Ms Ashley
Grey who ensured most of our pupils got a slice of cake. Mr Faure-Walker dressed up as Charles Dickens to blow out the
candles, and the icing on the cake was an interview on Radio 5 Live. Even I got in on the act and was also interviewed live
on air! The Radio 5 presenter praised our students and said she will definitely visit IAMS again.
Sonia Swaby - Library & Resources Manager
Getting into character
Throughout the week our teachers brought Dickens characters to life. Geography Teacher Mr
Rob Faure-Walker, cut a dashing figure as Charles Dickens while Mr Fuller, Ms Smith,
Mr Atkinson, Ms Dodds, Peter Carr and Lynette Brown became a fantastic cast of characters
delivering lessons on everything from Literacy to Victorian
Trades. Students interviewed the characters
in costume which is a wonderful example of our approach to
creative learning. Much thanks and appreciation to everyone
involved, who made it a fantastic and unforgettable week.
Lynnette Brown, Lead Learning Mentor
as Nancy and Peter Carr was the
charismatic thief, The Artful Dodger,
from Oliver Twist
Ms Smith, Head of Year10 was
transformed and almost
unrecognisable as Miss Haversham,
from Great Expectations.
Mr Atkinson, Head of Science, was the ever booming
Mr Bumble, from Oliver Twist
Mr Fuller Head of Year 8 was the ever menacing Bill Sykes
from Oliver Twist.

Continuing the celebrations!
The Highlights
The trip : As part of IAMS’s celebration of Charles Dickens’s Bicentenary, Year 8 had the
best of times on the English trip to the Museum of London last Friday. Four urchin tagteams
set off from school to tackle a tricky treasure hunt; hunting down the identities of a
motley cast of Dickensian characters, piecing together vivid scenes of Victorian poverty,
grime and crime, and learning what aspects of London inspired some of the best-loved
stories in literary history. We then took a trip down memory lane to experience what the
London high street would have looked like in Dickens’s era. After popping into the
‘pawnshop’ and the ‘barber’s’ for a ‘short back-and-sides’, Greg Gorczynski (8B) was
caught in the ‘public house’. In an exclusive interview he enthused, “this exhibition has
surpassed my greatest expectations; I am going to ask my dad if we can take my camera and
explore London together this evening, just like Dickens did!” After debating the pros and
cons of the Victorian ‘bustle’, we had to be brought reluctantly back to present-day Finsbury
Park, to be reunited with parents and carers. Yet, most were overheard to have left asking
for “more”.
Ms L Dodds :Teacher of English
Other events: Thanks to Mr Urtone, 8D wrote their own drama about the horrors of child
labour which they acted out in costumes at assemblies. It was wonderful to watch their
confidence grow through performing live. And thanks to Ms Swaby, Year 7 completed a
Dickens Quiz and Ms Osedeme's Tutor Group won the prize. Well done one and all, the
man himself would have been proud!
8D pupils performing at assembly
Fast Track To Oxford!
Year 8s at the museum
Pupils exploring the exhibitions.
Francis writes about the trip:
....we started to explore the museum
and look at the exhibits to find to the
answers. It was very interesting as
we learnt more about him and the
characters in his stories. I also
found out that his father was sent to
prison for debt! Which was very
upsetting for Charles and that’s why
his stories often are about people
having hard times.
The exhibition was very stimulating
and atmospheric there were prison
doors, statues of his characters,
images of objects and Charles
Dickens himself and his diary in
which he wrote every day. It made
us feel as if we were in Dickens
time. But we were thankful that life
is not like that for children today.
We learnt a lot about the life and
times of Dickens and we are looking
forward to all the other activities in
school celebrating his anniversary
of his life in that time
Francis McKnight 8A
Year 10 Students Visit Oxford University
On February 7 th , ten gifted and talented Year 10 students visited Wadham College,
one of the 38 colleges that make up Oxford University. The purpose of our visit was
to give us an insight into life at Britain’s oldest university, and to get us thinking
about our pathway to higher education.
On arrival, current students gave us a short tour of the campus. Many of us had
expected it to be larger and more modern, so were surprised to find it looked like a
miniature version of Hogwarts. We were particularly impressed by the dining room
and liked the idea that the students get served an evening meal every night.
Tasnim, Poppy and Keir engrossed in the taster sessions
The academic taster sessions covered a range of interests. In the morning, we were offered the chance to study Russian literature
in an hour, to analyse a real case in a Law seminar and to test our skills in logic with the Computer Science department. Students
at the University have access to a wealth of resources, including over 100 libraries and fantastic museums. In the afternoon, we
learnt about shrunken heads at the Pitt Rivers Museum and studied Islamic Art at the Ashmolean Museum.
The day closed with a Q&A session with undergraduate students and a presentation on higher education choices. It felt quite
daunting thinking about university choices at this stage, but we were advised that the decisions we make for GCSEs and A levels
can affect our options in the future. Reassuringly, we were told that there is no such thing as an Oxford “type” and that 60% of
the students at the university come from state schools. We hope to raise that figure in the future!
Lauren Boyd and Stefan Okolo 10D

Golden Boots
Arsenal Double Club achievement awards.
Key Stage 3 pupils are given the opportunity to take part in Arsenal’s award winning
Double Club scheme. The Arsenal Double Club was established in 1998 by Arsenal in
the Community. It was named after the “double” win that year and because the project
aimed to give school pupils a “double” experience, learning through football and the
playing of football. It was developed to motivate and engage pupils, particularly boys, to
read and write. The pupils’ passion for football is a way to attract their attention.
Originally, it was an after school literacy programme in primary schools but has over
years been developed for Key Stage 3 and other modules included numeracy, ICT and
French. The Double Club at IAMS started 6 years ago and due to its success is now
Ramzi, Ahmed and Rikki, Year 8s receiving the
awards fro Mr Errington
embedded into our curriculum. We run three classes of Double Club per term. Each class has a smaller than normal class size and
pupils receive 3 hours intensive English work. Pupils also get the chance to attend sessions run at lunch and after school and
attend Arsenal matches, meet players and play on the Emirates pitch. This terms Golden Boots winner are:
Year 9 : Jan Niplay, Hazim Fadol, David De Faria, Reece Marson. Year 8:Ahmed Abokar , Ramzi Ibrahim , Rikki Gavaghan
Mr L Errington: Head of PE
Taking The Lead
Some of our young Creative Leaders have been selected to participate in the borough wide
project between Primary and Secondary schools to help raise literacy and develop
collaborative learning. The project will help our Creative Leaders to develop their peer
mentoring and leadership skills, their interest and understanding of art, provide them with an
opportunity to respond to art through writing, increase their awareness of cultural
opportunities within London as well as exploring how they might make use of web based
resources. They started last term by exploring poetry and this term they are writing through
art. Cem writes about the trip to view the paintings:
On 8 th of February ten of the Creative Leaders, who have been selected for the Poet Laureate
& Writing Through Art Project, went to Kenwood House in Hampstead to see the paintings.
We looked at most of the paintings, but we especially looked at the five that we have to write
about through Fronter. We will support primary school pupils with their literacy when they
write to explain their own feelings about the paintings we saw. When we went in the gallery
it had an old atmosphere and old furniture. Most of the pictures in the gallery were created
around 200 years ago and they were all the real paintings, which made some of us shocked.
We had to look at the paintings closely because we are going to write about them as well as
support the primary pupils. Despite the cold weather, it was a really nice trip and we all
liked it.
Cem G. Bektas 8A
Creative Leader, Lily
Dickson 7B, interviews
new Year 7 pupils
Why did you choose to come to
this school?
Bogomil: I chose it because I
want to get more friends and
want to learn.
Robyn: I chose this because I
like arts and media and it has a
good rating.
What do you like about the
students?
Bogomil: They are nice and I
like the children in my tutor
group.
Robyn: My friends are nice.
What do you like about this
school?
Bogomil: I like the sports like
rugby and football also I like the
double club it has interesting
lessons.
Robyn: I like the sports, football,
rugby.
Creative Leaders at Kenwood House
Bowled Over!
How do you like ‘B’ block?
Bogomil:It is nice and new.
Robyn: It is looks good and I
like it.
At the end of January students with over 95% attendance went bowling near Finsbury. After playing a couple of games of
bowling we went to eat. We had been told since September that we should keep our attendance up and what would happen if we
didn’t come to school often. After all the assemblies we had about attendance and attitude we finally had our reward! It was a
really good trip and all of us had a lot of fun. It was really nice of Mr Fuller taking students on a trip like this. So if you listen to
your teachers, you will also be rewarded and get selected for the next trip.
Cem G. Bektas 8A
What do you get for coming to school every day? The answer is obvious at IAMS - a great education! But we also like to reward
those students who excel by turning up almost every day and working hard! To this end, 26 students in Year 8 earned a trip to
Ten Pin Bowling in Finsbury Park. A good time (and good food) were had by all and the whole year are looking forward to the
next trip after Easter. So as Cem writes , 95% attendance and excellent behaviour are the ticket price if you want to come along!
Mr Fuller: Head of Year 8

Calling all Book-Worms!
Please excuse my enthusiasm, but I am writing this on a wave of wonder after another great Book Club meeting. Sitting
in the library at lunchtime with a group of students who can barely contain their opinion on the book we have read, is a
truly delightful experience as students chastise, discuss and celebrate the various aspects of the selected story.
The IAMS Book Club was only set-up this year yet we have had three successful meetings already with the numbers
nearly at capacity now. We in the English department noticed many students walking around with books under their
arms or even bumping into students in the corridor as they were so engrossed in their book. It was obvious that a
regular, comfortable meeting place was needed for these students to come together and share their views on the books
they were reading. Furthermore, in discussing books in this way, is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their
original interpretations and present their personal, critical stance on literature which is needed to achieve a level 8 for
reading and especially for their future G.S.C.E.s
From the daring adventures of Viktor Frankenstein to the crazy escapades of Calypso Summer
and now the hilarious reflections of Adrian Mole (it’s his 30 th birthday don’t you know?), the
IAMS Book Club will keep you laughing, arguing and reading every month! Keep up-to-date
with all our activities on our notice board in B- block, next to BG10.
Book Club is available for Year 7, 8 & 9 pupils and is held on the last Thursday of the month in
the Library at lunchtime. To enable a longer sessions we will move the club to after-school when
the evenings get lighter.
Ms R Aitchison: Teacher of English
Get Active!
Jeanette Kwayke one of the UK’s finest athletes and the sixth fastest women on the
planet came in to talk to year 7 and 8 pupils about the new Sky Sports/Nike fitness
club. The club is to get girls interested in sport and keeping fit. Jeanette is going to
take a break from her training for the London Olympics later on this term to come
back in and see how the girls are doing. We are running sessions after school on
Wednesdays, to improve their fitness and future health, please encourage your
daughters to participate.
DIARY DATES
21 st & 22 nd February
Performance of ‘Greased’
@The Platform 7pm
2 nd & 5 th March a.m: English Controlled
Assessments
p.m: GCSE Maths Exam
6 th March Yr10 DTP vaccinations
7 th March GCSE Language Exams begin.
9 th March Staff INSET
( no pupils in school)
13 th March Yr 9 Options Information
Evening. 5.30-6.30pm
22 nd March Yr9 Parents Evening
30 th March End of term.
SCHOOL CONTACT DETAILS
Tel: 020 7281 5511
Fax: 020 7281 5514
Email:contact@iams.islington.sch.uk
Web address: www.iamschool.co.uk
PARENTS
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY THE SCHOOL MAY
NEED TO CONTACT YOU. PLEASE ENSURE THAT
THE SCHOOL HAS YOUR UP TO DATE CONTACT
DETAILS.
PLEASE INFORM BINNY KEENAN ON EXT 202/221
We also have Basketball training is on Tuesdays and Rugby on Thursdays and we are
hoping to arrange fixtures for Spring and Summer terms.
We would also like to congratulate the Year 9 and 10 boys football teams who are
through to the semi-finals of the Islington and Camden Cup. Let’s hope they can win
these matches, particularly the year 10’s as the final is at the Emirates. All the other
years are still in the cup and have their early round matches coming up after half term.
Ms Evans has organised for a Year 7 and a Year 8 netball team. Every Tuesday we
travel to Highbury Fields to compete against other schools and year groups. At the
beginning of February the year 7s and 8 mixed together to play against Year 10s from
other schools! It was hard but we raised to the challenge! We had two brilliant
captains, Sapphire and Osgie, not to mention the rest of the brilliant players. I think
Ms Evans has trained us into an excellent netball team to represent IAMS
Paris Lawrence 7D
Miss Evans would like to congratulate the Year 7 and 8 girls netball team which have
joined the Islington League for the first time. They have been making great
improvements and have shown a great team spirit.
Mr L Errington:Head of PE
Breaking Down Languages Barriers
Since September 2011 students going into KS4 who speak English as an additional
language are now given the option of taking an iGCSE (international GCSE) in
English as a Second Language. This is taken alongside GCSE English and
complements achievements made in GCSE English as well as other subjects. For
further support, the Pupil Support Faculty has launched a homework club and a
breakfast club. The homework club, named ‘Time to Fix up and Catch’ is aimed at all
pupils who needs support with their homework or just want to come and do extra
work. The breakfast club is on every Wednesday and supports pupils who are new to
learning English.
Ms K Birch: Head of Pupil Support