London 2012
Welcome to HAM's Get Set Blog
March 2012
Sports Ambassadors Trip
On Tuesday 27th March, Melissa Mendez and Jamal Petgrave were invited to go to Lee Valley White Water Rafting centre with Young Ambassadors from all over London. It was their reward for all their commitment to School Sport and to recognise their contribution to volunteering within theirs schools and local communities. Melissa and Jamal, Harris Academy’s Sports and Olympic Ambassadors, should be commended for their achievements, students across the Academy respect and look up to them.
Melisa Mendez wrote “White Water Rafting was a very fun experience; we all wore wet suits and helmets. All of us were on a big raft that held seven people and we each had to paddle down the route working together to steer the raft safety through the rapids, we all had to steer in different directions to do this. The speed of the water made us travel really fast and it was so exciting to experience something new”
February 2012
Read about Make a Splash at Harris Academy
January 2012
The core values that are developed through playing sport can be applied to a variety of non-sporting situations. The academy aims to highlight methods and strategies that can be used to embed sporting values across the curriculum; we will be hosting a series of whole school events this year that will engage pupils with the subject during this Olympic year:
· 16th March- World in Motion Day
· 25th June- World Sports Day
· 22nd June- HAM Sports Day
· 25th – 29th June- National School Sports Week
· 4th July- Harris Federation Sports Day
· July - Sports Awards Evening
The Olympic Values
Harris Academy Merton has embraced the Get Set 2012 initiative to link with our specialisms of Enterprise and Sport. The Sports Specialism will adopt the core values of the Get Set 2012 campaign and build a programme surrounding these values. Our involvement includes:
· Membership of the GET SET Network
· Working in collaboration with the Youth Sports Trust
· Spreading the power of the Olympic Values through the 14 Olympic Ambassadors
· Developing a cross- curricular Olympic vision
• Supporting our own Olympic themed charity based on the theme of International Inspiration
• Embracing the PE Change Teams initiate to improve PE and School sport
• Promoting our Olympic themed Interfaculty Sports Competitions
• Setting up an Olympic Leadership Academy to lead in local Primary Schools
• Linking to past and present Olympic Athletes to inspire students to succeed
· Planning for NSSW 2012 and our Olympic Sports Day
Our Olympic Ambassadors
The Academy has elected 14 Olympic Ambassadors based on their personal strengths matching the Olympic Values to spread the values across the Academy. The Ambassadors initiative was launched during the Opening Ceremony of Sports Day where the ambassadors paraded Olympic banners around the track marking Harris Academy Merton’s Get Set 2012 campaign.
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Courage |
Charlotte Ralph- Indarsingh & Ade Ashaye |
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Determination |
Shannon Elliott & Matt Wilson |
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Equality |
Rochelle Janman & Jay Patel |
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Excellence |
Patricia Archer & Rikesh Tailor |
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Friendship |
Ianthe Fernand & Tavisen Kistnasamy |
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Inspiration |
Shanice Leith & Jamal Petgrave |
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Respect |
Melissa Mendez & Sam Ward |
These are the Academy’s pupil definitions of the 7 values
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Inspiration |
‘Encouraging others by being the best version of yourself’ |
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Determination |
‘Focusing on reaching a decision’ |
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Courage |
‘Staying strong when things are difficult’ |
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Equality |
‘Treating others the way you want to be treated’ |
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Respect |
‘Showing consideration for others, yourself and your environment’ |
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Excellence |
‘Excelling in something’ |
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Friendship |
‘Supporting and encouraging somebody’ |
Olympic Charity
Albert Town High School, Jamaica
Total raised to date is £1700
Harris Academy Merton believe that the Power of 2012 can inspire students and staff alike, we aim to spread the 7 Olympic and Paralympic values across the Academy and create an Olympic Legacy.
The Academy has elected 14 Olympic Ambassadors based on their personal strengths matching the 7 Olympic Values. The Olympic Ambassadors vision is to instil in the Academy the Olympic Values and inspire students and staff to strive for success. The Power of 2012 has inspired the ambassadors and students at the Academy to develop a Olympic charity project based around International Inspiration. Links have been set up with Albert Town High School, Jamaica, a school that serves a rural unprivileged community in the parish of Trelawny. Harris Academy Merton students have already raised well over a £1000; with this money we aim to inspire their students by purchasing Sports Kits/ equipment and Maths and Humanities resources. Our ambassadors have inspired Albert Town High School to create their very own 14 ambassadors to spread the power of 2012 creating an International Olympic legacy. In turn students at Harris Academy Merton can be inspired by the students at Albert Town who succeed despite of having very little.
International Inspiration – Our School Projects
1. Sports videos
The Olympic Ambassadors at HAM and Albert Town are going to get talented sports students to make 30 second video clips advertising the Olympic values and Sport to others.
2. Poems/ raps/ songs/ spoken word
Students from both schools are going to create a poem/ rap/ song/ spoken word based on the Olympic values. We hope that this will not only advertise sport but also help raise literacy levels.
Albert Town Olympic Ambassadors
As part of the Olympic Charity Seacole and Napier Faculties are supporting, students at Harris Merton have inspired students in Albert Town School, Jamaica to nominate their own 14 Olympic Ambassadors.
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Courage |
Alicia Gordan |
Yr10- Netball |
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Fabian Davis |
Yr10- Football |
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Determination |
Feona Smith |
Yr10-Netball |
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Rojel Barrett |
Yr10- Track |
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Equality |
Enrique Ennis |
Yr9- Football |
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Stacy- Ann Wright |
Yr11 -Netball |
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Excellence |
Tyrone Lemonious |
Yr10- Football |
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Shanice Brown |
Yr10- Netball |
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Friendship |
Jerome Neil |
Yr11- Football |
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Rene Green |
Yr10- Football |
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Inspiration |
Kardel Walace |
Yr10- Track |
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Kerrimone Roberts |
Yr10- Netball |
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Respect |
Ashonie Edwards |
Yr11- Track & Football |
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Rashia Powell |
Yr9- track |
Our Olympic Ambassadors have been emailing the Ambassadors in Albert town. Here is the email sent from Patricia Archer, Year 9, Ambassador of Excellence at HAM:
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Email sent to Ambassador of Excellence, Albert town School, Jamaica.
Hi, I’m Patricia Archer. I’m 14 and live in Mitcham, London. As you might know I’m the ambassador of excellence along with my partner, Rikesh. Our value is excellence which means a lot to me, it pushes me to get further- just like it should for you. We chose you as an Olympic ambassador because we believe that you show excellence and perform to the highest of your ability, with this ability constantly in your mind, you can achieve so more than you think. Many sports that helped me achieve are; netball, basketball, rounders, athletics, and trampolining. All these sports somehow merge to strengthen the whole of my body and improve my body, posture and muscles. Netball: my fellow teammates (which are also my friends) and I, take this game very seriously as we focus 100%). Basketball: although I’m not the best at shooting, I still try my best to get the ball to the end of the court. Athletics: this is where everything counts as I’m in all the fast track events. Although there’s someone faster than me, I still try to beat her. Trampolining: although I’m scared to do the daring flips, I still perfect my expert moves. I hope this helps you to get to know me more, and I hope I get to know a lot about you. I can’t wait to hear from you. Yours sincerely, Patricia Archer.
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Olympic Leadership Academy
Upon graduation of the Leadership Academy leaders will be placed in small groups and will visit primary schools in the Mitcham Cluster School to deliver a free 5 week after school club to Year 4 Gifted and Talented children. These clubs will start after Easter and run up to the Primary School Olympic Sports Day on June 25th hosted by HAM students.
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Kwesi |
Agyei-Benhene |
9 |
B8 |
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Patricia |
Archer |
9 |
Y3 |
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Alisha |
Bryden |
8 |
B4 |
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Zoe |
Campbell |
9 |
Y2 |
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Jessica |
Costa E Silva |
9 |
G5 |
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Khari |
Dyer |
8 |
R2 |
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Shannon |
Elliott |
9 |
B5 |
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Ianthé |
Fernand |
8 |
G4 |
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Tesián |
Folkes |
9 |
B4 |
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Khalisha |
Johnson |
8 |
G6 |
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Eunice |
Kormi |
9 |
G7 |
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James |
Laughton |
8 |
G1 |
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Joshua |
Lessey |
9 |
G4 |
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Gabrielle |
MacDonald |
8 |
B7 |
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Jonathan |
Miller-Annor |
9 |
Y5 |
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Sian |
Mullings |
9 |
B8 |
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Tayla |
Neblett |
8 |
G2 |
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Steven |
Ortega |
8 |
R4 |
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Charlotte |
Ralph-Indarsingh |
8 |
B3 |
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Harry |
Richards |
9 |
B6 |
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Sadie |
Rooney |
9 |
G6 |
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Leiane |
Spellen |
9 |
B6 |
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Shae |
Stacey-Parchment |
9 |
R4 |
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Matthew |
Wilson |
8 |
R1 |
Olympic Values Postcards
Every week teachers vote for a student in each faculty that has achieved an Olympic Value. Winners are awarded with a Gold Slip and an Olympic postcard is sent home.
Athletics Young Games Makers
HAM students have been selected to help at London 2012! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students to get involved in the Games and learn new skills, gain experience and make new friends. Our students have been selected at Olympic trials to help at 2012 in the Paralympic and Tennis Events. Young Games Makers will be responsible for escorting athletes to their events, carrying kit and standing in lane behind an athlete while they prepare for competition.
Well done to the following for being selected!
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Ololade Adams |
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Ashleigh Howard |
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Devaniel Gayle |
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Amber Shaw |
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Luxia Tran |
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Isaac Darko |
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Charlie Simms |
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Tavisen Kistnasamy |
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Shanice Leith |
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Edwin Wamala |
The ‘Young Games Maker Olympic Programme’ launched in the summer aims to get as many London School children involved in helping during 2012 at various Olympic Sporting events.
After HAM hosted the Olympic testing Tennis event we have been more successful than we planned; 14 of our students have been selected as Young Games Makers.
We would like to congratulate the following HAM students who will be Young Games Makers at the London 2012 Olympic Tennis Events:
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Team A |
Team B |
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James Gale |
Adedolapo Lawal-Solarin |
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Cameron Garner |
Melique Ogilvie |
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Sophie Gorman |
Liam Richmond |
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Nachiket Patel |
Shemar Stephenson |
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Josh Gelly |
George Walker |
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Cecilia Tran |
Jamie Dapaah |
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Giles White |
Aniel Ntabola |
On Saturday 17th December ten more Harris Merton students participated in the Athletics test event, if successful they will carry the Athletes kit boxes as they enter the Olympic arena. We wish them all the best in the selection process.
November 2011
The Power of 2012: Charity Dodge Ball Event at Harris Academy Merton raises over £1000 for students in Jamaica!
December 2011
Olympic Young Games Makers
Staff and students at HAM have been participating in a series of dodgeball tournaments throughout November. The aim of these tournaments was to raise money via sponsorship for the Seacole Faculty’s 2012 charity, the Albert Town High School in Trelawny, Jamaica. Albert Town is an underprivileged shift school in Jamaica. We believe that we can enrich the lives of the students at Albert town by providing them with better sports equipment and kit for them to use at school.
The dodgeball tournaments were a fantastic success with pupils showing high levels of skill and determination. The Olympic Values of Respect, Equality and Determination were evident in every tournament. The PE department would like to congratulate every student who contributed during the week.
On Friday evening all the staff gathered for the highly anticipated staff dodgeball tournament. Staff turned out adorned in team outfits for an exciting competition. The camaraderie between staff was excellent, and after a tight group stage and play-off the PE department emerged victorious. The total amount of sponsorship money to be raised by pupils and staff has been exceptional - £1200 has already been collected.
This amount of money will make a significant difference to the lives of many individuals and help Harris Academy Merton spread the Power of 2012.
October 2011
UK Sailing Trip: this September twenty Year 9 pupils travelled to the Cowes, Isle of Wight to participate in a five day residential trip at the UK Sailing Academy. The pupils were selected because of the determination, perseverance and etiquette that they have demonstrated in sporting situations and throughout the Academy. The primary focus of the week was to expose the students to a variety of different activities and experiences that they may have never had the opportunity to endeavour, as well as develop the students’ team building skills.
The week primarily consisted of water based activities such as: sailing, raft building, windsurfing, surfing and canoeing. Many of these activities were new to the students and challenged them immensely; however the response and positive attitude towards learning new skills and trying to master a new challenge was excellent. At one point or another all of the students were taken out of their comfort zone and as a result seemed to thrive throughout the week.
The pupils were a credit to the Academy in the way that they conducted themselves on the trip and the way in which they applied themselves to the activities. Below are some excerpts of Kewsi Agye-Behene’s diary of the week:
Day 1
Today we went keel boating in the sea. It got really rocky in the waves and we had to take in the sails, we all nearly fell in, and the boat would have become flooded. In the afternoon we all got into wetsuits that were really tight and travelled in a mini bus to the south of the Isle of Wight. We went surfing at the beach, but I couldn’t surf properly so I rode the waves in on my belly which was really fun and all I kept tasting was the saltwater.
Day 2
Today we got into our wetsuits and went out on small dingy boats. Me and Harry were sharing a boat, I was driving and Harry was controlling the sail. After we switched over and Harry was driving we tipped over and both fell in the deep water. We both had buoyancy aids on and the speed boat came and picked us up and took us to shore.
Day 3
Today we went windsurfing and it was rubbish. We took the bus to the beach and there was no wind and no waves. In the afternoon we went back into the sea in a small catamaran and it was really, really rocky and the woman had to keep coming past on the boat and helping us at the boats were capsizing. I had a really good time.
September 2011
On the 26th and 27th September 2011, four Harris Academy Merton students attended the Youth Sport Trust Partner School Legacy Programme: PE Change Team camp in Swindon.
The aim of the two day camp was to improve the delivery and vision of physical education within Harris Academy Merton using the inspiration of the 2012 Olympic Games and the seven Olympic values. The two days consisted of them teaming up with an Olympic Mentor, Christopher Cooke, a former Olympic swimmer and Commonwealth Gold medallist. They also worked with students from two other schools in classroom sessions and outdoor activities to identify what is inspiring about PE and to discuss ideas of how to develop the subject using the Olympics in Harris Academy.
The two days were extremely inspiring not only because of the many elite athletes present, but also because of the students themselves; the ideas and passion they have for PE at Harris Academy really showed through in their opinions and good ideas. From this camp both the students and the PE department hope to continue to develop this PE Change Team programme this year and really utilise the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Olympic values.
July 2011
Federation Sports took place on the 6th July this year at Crystal Palace Athletics Stadium. There were some fantastic performances from a number of our students, resulting in us winning a total of 40 medals, including 10 Golds. Congratulations must go to Rochelle Roye who won 2 Golds and 1 Silver, and Shaun Clarke and Roberto Dos Santos who both won 1 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.
On the 15th July 2011, Nine PE Gifted and Talented students visited the University of Bath which is one of the top sporting universities in the country. The trip was organised to show the students how it is possible to continue their education as well training to be an elite athlete.
The day consisted of the students participating in different sports and training practices which were run by elite athletes and coaches. Activities included Beach Volleyball, Athletics, Judo, strength and conditioning training and hand/eye coordination training.
The students particularly enjoyed the Beach Volleyball and Judo sessions as these particular sports really challenged the students to use their skills in different ways; including learning ways to grapple safely in the dojo and completing a diving dig in the sand.
This trip has once again inspired these young students to continue to work and train hard in school and their respective sports so that they achieve their personal best.
On Thursday 14th July 2011, Harris Academy Merton held their first ever ‘Sports Awards Ceremony’. All students from our Academy Sports Teams and their parents were invited to the evening. The students were presented on stage and individuals were awarded ‘Player of the Year’ awards, chosen by their peers and the PE Department, for each sport.
Students from the PE G&T register and from the ‘STARS Squad’ presented to the audience, introducing the evening and informing us of their own particular sport and their ambitions. Michelle Robinson, a former Triple Jumper for Great Britain was our guest speaker for the evening. She gave an inspiring speech to close the ceremony.
All students and parents alike thoroughly enjoyed the evening. It was a great way to end our sporting year, in celebration of our students’ achievements and acknowledging their sporting success.
National Schools Sports Week 2011
Harris Academy Merton once again participated fully in the Lloyds TSB National School Sports Week. This year was bigger and better than last year with the whole school fully embracing the ‘achieving your personal best’ motto as well as becoming increasing inspired by the London 2012 Olympic Games.
With this in mind Harris Academy Merton has embraced the 7 values of the Olympic and Paralympic games. The Academy has chosen 14 students to be ambassadors of these values; determination, respect, friendship, excellence, inspiration, equality, courage to encourage all students to embrace them in all that they do.
All lessons during National School Sports week focused on all areas of sport, from History lessons discussing the impact on sport in South Africa in uniting the country following the end of the Apartheid regime, to javelintrajectory study in Science and amazing banner and flag making in Art which were used on Sports day.
Within the Physical Education Department, all years were set the ‘achieving your personal best’ challenge competing in a mini Olympics event which involved all students completing a long jump, shot putt, 100m and 80m hurdles to the best of their ability. As well as this, the Year 7 students completed the British Heart Foundation jump rope for heart challenge, where as a collective year group they were set a task of skipping the length of a marathon; not only did they smash this target by skipping a total length of 86.5 miles but also raised a fantastic £412 for this amazing charity.
As well as all the fantastic events happening in the school day, there were two other major events to top off the week. Firstly the Interfaculty Rounders and Cricket competition which saw all faculties battle against one another to win the title and the Amazing Olympic inspired Sports Day.
This began with an opening ceremony by our Olympic Values ambassadors parading around the track with the seven values to the whole of the school. The day was triumphed with heroic efforts by all of students and the winners were awarded medals by Olympic Bronze winner Donna Fraser. With winners from all faculties during the day the competition for overall winner was not decided till the very last race... Napier winning by 1 point!
Congratulations to all students who were INSPIRATIONAL all week, the build up to London 2012 has truly started at Harris Academy Merton.
June 2011
On Friday 17th June, Michelle Robinson, (a former Triple Jumper for Great Britain) and Donna Fraser, (a former 400 metre runner for Great Britain) were invited to the Academy to deliver specialist coaching in their athletic events that they competed in. The students selected for this event were from years 7, 8 and 10 and were either PE G&T or GCSE PE students.
The students thoroughly enjoyed the workshops. They were taught specific preparation drills for the athletic events and were made aware of how important core strength is when doing any sport, not just athletics. The students were then able to compete against each other, to do the best that they could, in the events.
Michelle and Donna were both very inspirational. They enforced how much hard work and dedication it took to be the best, and related this to academic studies not solely sport. They expressed to the students that there is no such word as ‘can’t’ and throughout the morning, it was clear the impact that they were having on the students.
The students behaved impeccably and gave maximum effort in all activities. Michelle and Donna were impressed by some of the talent we have at the Academy. Javid Hussein (year 10) and Patricia Archer (year 8) really stood out to them when performing Triple Jump.It was a very successful event and hopefully we will see them both again soon.
May 2011
We are delighted, once again, to be taking part in the UK’s biggest school sporting event – National School Sport Week, which runs from 27 June – 1 July 2011. This is a fun week of sport and celebration, which uses the inspiration of London 2012 to help our young people take part in more sport. During this week there will be cross-curricular events, trips and competitions taking place to introduce our students to the Olympic and Paralympic values.
More importantly with your pledges of support students from Harris Academy Merton could have the chance of carrying the Olympic Flame in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay – a once in a lifetime opportunity. However, to give us the best chance of winning we need you to make a pledge of support for our academy online. It is simple to do, just go to www.lloydstsb.com/nationalschoolsportweek, search for us by school name or postcode – CR4 1BP – fill in your details and click the ‘Submit’ button.
Your pledge of support could make all the difference. We just need 100 pledges of support to be in with a chance of carrying the Olympic Flame. Even if we reach 50 pledges we will still be in with a chance of winning £500 of sports equipment vouchers to help us enable more of our young people to do more sport.
Harris staff play Dodge Ball too!
|
Banke Faboyede |
200m |
30.76 |
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Abigail Holmes |
Shot Putt |
6m68 |
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Rochelle Roye |
100m Long Jump |
13.42 3.92 |
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Melissa Mendez |
100m |
13.35secs |
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Michelle Sebele |
Long Jump |
4.50m |
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Ashleigh Howard |
80m Hurdles |
15.83 |
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Ololade Adams |
High Jump |
1m30 |
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Jude Sterling |
Shot Putt |
9m02 |
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Jamal Petgrave |
80m Hurdles |
13.58 |
These results helped the girls achieve 3rd place overall, and the boys came 4th out of the 9 Academies.