Perkin Post First Edition

22/10/15

Intelligent engagement with the wider world.

On Friday 3rd October, Year 9 had their first football interform of the year, and it was definitely something to remember. All seven forms entered the astro-turf displaying fierce and competitive demeanours. The teachers and spectators were full of energy,

ready to bring home glory or to graciously accept defeat. The matches were electrifying and tense; when the whistle blew, exhilaration exploded in the air. There was screaming, laughing, crying (and injuries for the most committed). After great commotion of the matches and the subsequent counting and re-counting of points scored, there were finally two teams who made the final: Pascal and Newton! It was a thrilling final full of suspense and expert dribbling. Unfortunately, even Devante’s enthusiastic cheering didn’t work and Newton, who played exceptionally well, went home second in the sports leader board while Pascal once again rose to victory!

Fantastic Footballers

The Editors

New year, new start...new articles! Welcome to this

year’s first edition of the Perkin Post. We have a

brand new student reviews section, each edition will

also feature a description of a new club being run this

year– this time it’s computing club! Enjoy your half

term holiday (don’t forget to spend some of it

completing our games page)! Eesa Ashraf, 8N Zulekha, Powell, 9W

What’s the story? Who took the Year 8 glory?

After school on Friday the 18th of September, spectators gathered for the action-packed Year 8 football inter-form. The September sun was beating down on the footballers as they tried to score the most impressive goals in good-natured games against the other houses. Support burst from the side-lines, where teachers and students crowded round to cheer on their sporting heroes; it was the fans who ensured that all the players did their very best and took part with massive grins lighting up their faces.

The competition was stiff; the ball was skilfully manoeuvred from one side of the pitch to the other, and only kicked out of the astro-turf a hand-full of times. However, Watson came out on top with Rutherford second and Newton in third. What a fantastic afternoon!

Miss Cryer, English/Drama teacher

Why did you want to teach at William Perkin?

“I was excited about introducing Drama to the school as a new subject. I’d

also heard a lot about William Perkin, and it sounded like a school that I

would love to work in.”

What do you love most about your subject?

“I love how every lesson is different. I never get the same outcomes.”

What do you do in your spare time?

“I like to go to the theatre, watch TV and I enjoy walking and cooking.”

Which movie character would you be?

“I would be in Star Wars and I would play Han Solo.”

Mr Santos Interview:

What do you like about being head of Year 8?

I like the chance to guide students’ development

and the privilege of being a part of their journey.

What do you do in your spare time?

I wish I had spare time!

If you could be any famous scientist who would

you be and why?

I’d want to be Nikola Tesla. He was a creative

genius and was incredibly forward thinking. He

invented: the AC current; x-rays; radar technology;

hydroelectric plants and earthquake machines.

Miss Ford, Languages Teacher

Why did you want to teach at William Perkins?

“I like helping students to achieve in school life, and I love

having the opportunity to do that at William Perkin.”

What do you like most about your subject?

“I love exploring new cultures and experiencing new things in

my life. I like pushing myself outside of my comfort zone.”

What do you do in your spare time?

“I like to cook and hang out with my family and friends. I love

going to the theatre and movies.”

What are your favourite Spanish, German and French words?

Spanish: frilera – Sensitive to the cold

German: der ohrwurm - A song that you can’t get out of your

head.

French: l’es prit de l’escalier- When you think of the perfect

comeback a little too late.

Terrific New Teachers!

New Clubs!

Week four was not a normal week here at William Perkin. It started with

a buzz in the air, the building was chockfull of anticipation. Why? It was

Love Literacy week of course!

Tutor time on Monday was an exciting affair and kicked off an amazing,

vocabulary expanding week. Monday’s word was ‘neighbour’.

‘Neighbour’ is an exceptional word as it doesn’t follow Monday’s rule of

the day ‘I before e except after c’.

Monday also saw the in-form heats for the Spelling Bee with the weakest link

competitions happening in each and every form. The most cerebral two

spellers from each form went through to Friday’s whole school Spelling Bee

(more on that later!)

Tuesday was a new day with a new word, this time it was ‘quaffing’

which fitted the rule ‘q and u stick together like glue’. I believe nearly everyone

got positives for using that fun word!

The mid-point of Wednesday was an exciting one in Love Literacy week as we

also celebrated European Languages Day. There was a much anticipated bake

sale with some impressive and delectable cakes. Scrumptious! And even

better, there was a competition in assembly which celebrated all the

languages we speak as a community as well as challenging us pupils to count

them! There was also a poster competition. As we go to print, we are eagerly

anticipating the results of these exciting competitions! Wednesday’s word of

the day carried on the theme of linking a word to a rule. We all attempted to

cram our conversation chockfull of ‘chockfull’s as an ‘exceptional word’ for the rule ‘if in doubt, leave it out’.

On Thursday we focused on the spelling rule ‘when -ing comes to play,

e runs away’ and the exceptional word ‘ageing’ which does not follow this rule.

Friday was the climax of the week and the spelling rule reminded us

that we can ‘affect others with our actions’. We all focused on ensuring that

we used ‘affect’ and ‘effect’ in the right way, remembering that an affect is

active really helps! The ultimate Love Literacy event was held after school in

the form of the exciting and exhilarating annual Spelling Bee. This time it was

even more dramatic than ever with lights and sound effects provided by Mr

Bland and his dedicated team. It was a tough competition but Einstein successfully defended their title and won

for the second year in a row!

The brand new computing club has now been opened up to students of all year

groups! With a maximum of 18 students it has been wildly oversubscribed. The club

is being run by the newest IT teacher; the wonderful Mr Robinson. Mason in 9W

says “Computing club is fun. You get to learn how to make games. I would describe

it as entertaining and amusing.” It runs every Tuesday in room 1.12. Check your

emails to see if you’re in—I can’t wait to attend next week!

No-one Loves Literacy More Than Us!

New Books!

‘The 5th Wave’ by Rick Yancey

About: A girl named Cassie who is stuck in an alien invasion that has hit Earth. She is

desperately trying to find her little brother.

However, there is a twist! These aliens don’t look like aliens; they look exactly like

humans! They are trying to inhabit the Earth and humans are being killed off in their

millions. Cassie thinks she is one of Earth’s last survivors until she stumbles across

the mysterious Evan Walker, who may be her only hope…

Audience: this is aimed at teenagers of any gender and is a very good read for

anyone who enjoys dystopian literature. I particularly enjoyed that each section tells

the story from the perspective of a different character.

New Films!

Pixels is about aliens who misinterpret video-feeds of classic arcade games from the

late 20th century as a declaration of war, and invade Earth using technology inspired

by games such as Pac-Man and Space Invaders. To counter the alien assault, the

United States hire former arcade champions to lead the planet's defences. There are

some familiar voices featured in the film: Adam Sandler; Kevin James and Ashley

Benson. This movie is rated 12 so viewer’s discretion is advised.

New Music!

Jamie Lawson is the protégé of Ed Sheeran. And while he tries to step out of Ed's shadow, the similarities are undeniable. A man with a guitar, soulful lyrics and an irresistibly folky voice. His songs are catchy with-out being annoying and he is made all the more endearing by the perseverance it has taken for him to ar-rive at this point. After decades playing in tiny venues across the UK, he has finally made it. Climbing up the charts and into our hearts, he is definitely one to watch.

Highlight: his surprisingly awesome cover of Rihanna's ‘Umbrella’.

Remarkable Page!

Next Time in the Perkin Post…

Look out for our write up of the Bishop of London’s visit (preview photo on the front cover) as well as

more teacher interviews, reviews of books, films and music to get you through the Christmas holiday!

Dramatic Times!

Adventures at HOAC! After a nervous first week for Year Seven, we were rewarded

with a wonderful trip to HOAC. Hillingdon Outdoor Activity

Centre is an awesome place and was the perfect first trip for

the new Year 7s as it taught us to work together and built our

team spirit. As we set off, we were all terribly excited; as we

drove there, the coach was full of conversation, laughter and

delight. The miserable weather, which dashed in glittering

streaks from the heavy sky, dampened our clothes but not our

spirits.

My half of Year 7 did raft building first. We were taught to tie

different types of knots which each had their own purpose in

keeping our raft secure. My team was lucky to have someone

strong to help us tighten the knots until they stayed put— some other teams weren’t so lucky and had

to work together to ensure their knots were sturdy! And then came the main event; racing on the rafts,

while the barrels stayed securely fastened together in the water, the rowing was the unexpected

challenge! At the end of the day, Year Seven were absolutely exhausted but thankful for the thrilling day

we had experienced. The coach back to school was serenely silent.

It is an exciting time to be at William Perkin for the drama queens and kings among us. Miss Cryer has

grand plans for an impressive and all-consuming school

play, and if drama club is a measure of the talent—it’s

going to be fantastic! Preparations have kicked off with a

vengeance this term, acting and singing auditions have

demonstrated just how many amazing actors and

melodious voices we have at William Perkin. Miss Cryer

has had an incredibly tough job choosing which students

should take the lead in the 2015 production. If you are

interested in getting involved off stage, look out for bulletin

notices informing you how you can help out. It will be all

hands on deck to get the stage ready and source the props!

Match the teacher on the left to a photo of their baby on the right...but there’s a twist, one of these

cuties is actually the teacher himself as a child!

Games Page!

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