Category : Front Page News

Haringey Indoor Athletics Championships – 26th Feb 

The Dukes PE team attended the Haringey Indoor Athletics Championships at Lee Valley this week with some outstanding performances from our pupils, most notably:

Cavalli in Year 8 who won the 200m and Long Jump.

Kamarion in Year 9 who won the 200m for a second year running!

John who won the 800m for Year 9.

Zeeshan in Year 10 who came 2nd in the 60m.

Marcell In Year 10 who came 2nd in his heat in the 200m.

Darius in Year 8 who came 3rd in the 800m.

Diego Year 8  who came 3rd in the 60m.

As well as Nathan (Y10), Daniella and Tanaye (Year 8) who all represented their school with distinction. What a fantastic set of results – all students who attended did us proud!

Year 9 Trip – Tottenham Hotspur’s Training Ground

A lucky group of year 9 students also got to go on a trip to the Tottenham Hotspur’s Training ground this week. The pupils were supporting the delivery of coaching qualifications for the Spurs under 18 academy team. A member of their academy coaching team approached Mr Green to commend him on their behaviour and the standard of their football. Well done all!

‘Kindness: A Legacy of the Holocaust’ – Performance at Duke’s 

Our year 10 History, Sociology and Drama students this week got to watch a performance of ‘Kindness: A Legacy of the Holocaust’ presented by ‘Voices’ theatre company.  

The play was written by Cate Hollis and Mark Wheeller and used actual words from a Holocaust survivor; Susan Pollack MBE. Students got to experience the power and importance of this emotional production and were also treated to a fascinating question and answer session with the actors after the show. 

Some students in year 10 said:

“I learnt about how much individuals had to suffer silently with no care, no right or voice. They were outcast just for religion they believed in.”

“I liked how the production was historically accurate and didn’t repeat the mistakes of some more pseudo-historical works. The production was great at portraying the Holocaust in a respectful and sensitive way”

“Great acting by all involved, it provided a brilliant insight into what many families faced during the Holocaust.”

A Successful week for options interviews

Our year 9 students this week took part in their individual options interviews for their KS4 options. The students were really well prepared and mature during their interviews all displaying the commitment and forethought required for the process. It was brilliant for all students involved to have this opportunity and we know that all students are looking forward now to the next stage of their educational journey.

 

 

 

 

Pc Fontana 1160NA

Email: p251871@met.police.uk

www.met.police.uk

27/02/2024

 

Dear Parents/Caregivers

Subject: Warning Regarding Dangerous Vape Devices in Haringey

I hope this letter finds you well. We write to bring your attention to a concerning issue affecting our school community. There have been reports in London of young individuals experiencing health complications after using vape devices containing drugs.

We wish to emphasise the importance of informing parents about the hazards associated with unregulated vape pens, given the recent surge in related incidents. Law enforcement authorities across London, including our local police officers, have seized numerous vapes from students in the past weeks. Some of these devices are currently undergoing testing to detect dangerous Class B substances such as Spice or THC, the active component in cannabis.

It has come to our understanding that certain reusable vape pens are being illicitly filled with drugs by dealers. Officers have received information about students falling ill after using these altered devices, which are then believed to be distributed among young people through platforms like Snapchat and other social media apps.

Parents/Caregivers must be aware that unregulated vape pens pose a serious threat to the health of young individuals. Those contemplating the purchase of these unauthorised, home-filled devices are unaware of their contents and the potential dangers they pose. THC and Spice are harmful psychoactive substances that can lead to severe health problems, necessitating heightened vigilance on the part of parents/Caregivers.

THC, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, and Spice, a group of synthetic Class B drugs, are known to mimic the effects of cannabis. Inhaling Spice through a vaping pen is particularly hazardous for young people, leading to various health issues such as breathing difficulties, chest pains, heart palpitations, seizures, extreme anxiety, paranoia, suicidal thoughts, psychosis, vomiting or diarrhoea, and acute kidney injury. In some instances, a single dose can prove fatal.

Our Haringey Police Schools Officers are collaborating closely with our schools and partners to share information and intelligence on this matter so we can better understand the issues. We urge parents, guardians, and anyone with pertinent information about those supplying these vapes to contact the Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org, https://crimestoppers-uk.org/fearless or by calling 0800 555 111.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. Your cooperation and awareness are crucial in ensuring the safety and well-being of our children.

Sincerely,

Haringey Borough Badminton Tournament

On Tuesday our Year 9 boys team (Ersi, Jaylan, Adam K and Yaseen) finished 5th out of 8 schools. They were marginally bettered by our Year 11 boys team (Andrey, Iverson, Ahmed, Dominique) who narrowly missed out on 3rd place to Alexandra Park. 

However, on this occasion it was our Year 11 & 10 girls (Mia, Isa, Muskaan, Rasheka) who were the standout performers, earning a very impressive 2nd place in the Key Stage 4 competition.

Silver medals and plenty of cheesy grins can be seen in the great shots of our fantastic students – well done to all involved!

DJ Academy Makes a Splash

The weekly DJ Academy sessions have been going well with lots of our students learning the basics of DJing and performance including beat, tempo, lyric writing and vocal style. We’re very much looking forward to seeing what our students will put together once they complete their sessions and present their work in the showcase next term!

We wanted to update you on the appointment of a new Principal to Duke’s Aldridge Academy.

As you will be aware, after 14 years as the Principal at Duke’s, Ms Monica Duncan will be retiring at the end of this academic year (summer 2024).  The recruitment process to find Ms Duncan’s replacement has been a very thorough one: the experienced recruitment agency working with us on this contacted more than 450 people about the role, and long list interviewed candidates before recommending a smaller pool of candidates for Aldridge Education to take through to final interviews.

After a highly competitive process, we are pleased to have offered the role to Mr Olu Kubweza, who is currently the Vice Principal at Langdon Academy in East Ham.

We are confident that Mr Kubweza will bring a fantastic mix of experience, skills and commitment to Duke’s. He previously taught at Forest Academy and joined his current school, Langdon Academy in 2016. He has played an instrumental part in the teams that drove significant improvements in both schools, and his proven track record of success means he is dedicated to the highest possible standards and to supporting every learner to achieve their full potential.

Mr Kubweza is also incredibly passionate about the local Tottenham community – he grew up in N17, and in fact completed his teacher training at what was then Northumberland Park, and is now Duke’s.

We want to reassure you that our focus now is on ensuring a smooth transition for our staff and students, and on making sure that the vision and values of Duke’s are retained and nurtured for the future.

Mr Kubweza sent a few words that I wanted to share with you all – he says:

 

“I am absolutely delighted to be appointed as the next Principal of Duke’s Aldridge Academy. Each time I have visited, the unmistakable energy and character of the place has been entirely captivating. Of course, I recognise that student energy, having grown up in N17 and have missed it dearly.

“I am also really looking forward to working with the dedicated and skilled professionals I have already met, and those I have yet to meet. I greatly admire Aldridge Education’s philosophy around levelling the playing field for all, and how they go about achieving it. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to be part of this movement.

“The return to Tottenham, the town that moulded me, is the icing on the cake. I am excited to see what these incredible young people can achieve and even more thrilled to contribute to their journey.”

 

We are sure you will give Mr Kubweza a warm welcome when he formally takes over as Principal in the Autumn.