Adaptability | Respect | Curiosity | Determination

Featured this time:Virtually meeting new studentsHome learningSupporting the NHS

BOW VOICEThe magazine for Bow School | Spring 2020

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Headteacher’s WelcomeWelcome to the latest edition of Bow Voice, one that you are probably reading in very different circumstances to normal.

I want to start by saying that I have been inspired by the strength of character and determination to succeed that I have witnessed in recent weeks, and I want to thank everyone associated with the school for the resilience they have displayed during this period.

In a typical show of determination, students and staff have not let the school’s closure hinder them. We have donated goggles to local GPs, staff have been volunteering to help make masks and students have been busy creating their own messages of thanks to NHS staff.

For those readers who are considering joining the Bow community in the future, I hope what you read in this magazine serves to show why I continue to be immensely proud of this school and everyone who counts themselves part of our family.

I believe it’s important that we look forward to a bright future once the school fully reopens. We have hundreds of new families starting in September and it gives me great pleasure to welcome them all. Our transition team, headed by Mr Morris and Mrs Pickering, have been quick to make sure these families know what they can look forward to and we will continue working closely with them until every new Year 7 student feels at home.

They are joining a school that has shown itself in recent weeks to be hugely creative, talented, compassionate and supportive. We can’t share everything that students have been working on, but hopefully you can build a picture from some of the extraordinary examples provided.

Finally, let me finish by saying that no matter the challenges that face us, I know that the Bow family will always be there to help when it is needed. This is a school where optimism shines through and I know that we will emerge a stronger community than ever before. I look forward to seeing, and in some cases meeting you all soon.

Danny Lye, Headteacher

44 Twelvetrees Crescent, London E3 3QW

T: 020 7536 5525 F: 020 7987 4504

W: bow-school.org.ukE: bs@bow-school.org.uk

WELCOMING NEW STUDENTS TO BOW

Regular readers will know the emphasis we place on our Transition Programme; this is the range of activities that we host for those Year 6 students who have been offered a place at Bow. Normally we would have many different workshops taking place at school between March and September, specifically for new students, to get rid of any anxiety that anyone might have about leaving primary school.

School closures have meant we haven’t been able to run our regular programme, but this hasn’t stopped us welcoming our new Year 7s into the Bow family. Here’s just a flavour of what’s been going on and what we still have planned.

“ School closures have meant we haven’t been able to run our regular programme, but this hasn’t stopped us welcoming our new Year 7s into the Bow family. ”

Check out the amazing

school video

created by staff

for students

ONLINE FRIENDSHIP AFTERNOON

Every year we host an evening in March for all our new families. This was sadly cancelled this year, so we’re doing it online!

Families submitted questions and our Head of Year 7, Mrs Pickering, will be answering them on video so that parents and students have a chance to get to know a lot more about the school.

We’ve also created a special video to show everyone around the school. This will give everyone a chance to get more familiar with the new surroundings.

Check out the amazing

school video

SUMMER CHALLENGES

• Work packs for Science, English and Maths

• ‘All about me’ questionnaire: a chance to tell us more about yourself

• A creative summer holidays project

Mrs Pickering answering parents’ questions

Students have adapted brilliantly well to learning from home. They have rolled up their sleeves and got on with it because they know we need to make the best of the situation. There is no stopping our students when they set their minds to achieving something! Here’s just a flavour of some of the work taking place across the school.

LEARNING AT HOME

Our creative writersIffat, Year 11I awake slowly, yawning. Gradually, awareness filters through my groggy mind and I push myself up, only to be hit by my bedroom’s early morning chill. Despite going through this every day, I never get used to it. At least it has helped me wake up enough to ignore my bed’s seductive warmth, protesting creaks and groans as I shuffle to its end, lean over, and yank apart my curtains. The resulting scraping sound rips through my mind and forces me fully into alertness. Wrapping my duvet around me into a cocoon, I settle on my bed; I have a busy day today and nothing invigorates me more than watching the sunrise.

James, Year 10

Abruptly, a blaring siren went off by the watch tower. Alfie observed by the fence as people from the other side were corrupted by trepidation. A thud came from the old gateway to the small camp, which was already on its last legs. He was isolated on the other side of the fence, seeing everybody turn around and look to where he was standing. Another thud. Whatever was out there was getting closer. This time the people walked towards the fence keeping them and Alfie apart. Their walk turned into a run. They grabbed the metal fence like an eagle grasping its prey. More thuds against the front gate followed up, as Alfie watched a whole population scream for help from the other side of the fence.

“ Iffat’s work is impressive because it is an example of the flair and individual writing style she has developed over the years. Her writing is coherent and cohesive whilst she capably explores a range of thoughtfully chosen language features.”

Mr Edmead

Farea, Year 9

Your hair stood on end, a shiver raced down your spine and a lump came to your throat. This was it… the place your late mother had always spoken about and told you to go to until she took her last shaky breath and closed her eyes forever. You close your eyes, breathing in the earthy smell of the lake, you remember the memories during your mother’s funeral. You were in tears at that time, you were wearing black clothes and you just looked down, pure sadness in your eyes. Slowly people approached you and gave you an “I’m sorry for loss” stroke on the back.

There’s no suppressing students’ creative flair Students across the school are continuing to express their artistic creativity. We’ve been inundated with so many different projects that students have been working on. Here’s just a flavour of them.

Esaam and Fatema have been studying Euan Uglow, a British painter, and these are their stunning efforts to replicate and present his work.

Ana’s (Year 7) hand-stitched dress

CAN YOU CRACK THE RIDDLE?

The Maths department are posting testing teasers for students to crack – can you work it out?

The PE Department are determined to keep us all fit and healthy. They have launched #WorkoutWednesdays, a live stream of a stay at home fitness session so that staff and students can all join in. Watch out Joe Wicks!

#WORKOUTWEDNESDAYS

Bow School @BowSchool1#mathsriddle1 a merchant can place 8 large boxes or 10 small boxes into a carton for shipping. In one shipment he sent a total of 96 boxes. If there are more large boxes than small, how many cartons did the merchant ship?? #curiosity #riddle #determination

Bow School @BowSchool1#mathsriddle2 in an alternative universe 1/2 of 5 is equal to 3, if the same proportion holds what is 1/3 of 10? #curiosity #riddle #determination

Bow School @BowSchool1#mathsriddle3 a solid, four inch cube is coated with blue paint on all six sides. This is then cut into smaller one inch cubes. These new cubes will have either 3, 2, 1 or no blue sides. How many of each will there be? #curiosity #riddle #determination

GIVE A LITTLE BIT

One of our Year 7s has cut her hair to donate it to Little Princess Trust. They provide free real hair wigs

to children and young people with hair loss, and fund vital research into childhood

cancers. You’re amazing!

As per government advice, the school has been open for students who needed us. They have been working hard with staff on a number of projects, including how we can say thank you to our NHS workers.

SAFETY FIRST

Our very own Ms Choudhry has been working hard alongside colleagues from neighbouring St Paul’s Way to create PPE for the NHS. We’re very proud of their effort, generosity and determination to help.

GOGGLEBOX

Through Bow Governor and health professional, Dr Phillip Bennett-Richards, we have donated goggles that we normally use in Science classes to GPs to help keep them safe. They can be found in 10 practices around the local area. We’re very pleased to be able to help in any way we can.

SUPPORTING THOSE WHO NEED IT

THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOXThe STEM club have been desperate to find different ways of helping, so we set them a series of problems that needed creative solutions. Here is some of what they came up with.

Handshake Alternative

The problem is:people can spread germs by touching other people. Our hands carry more germs than most other parts of the body.

One of the solutions is: people are asked not to shake hands when they meet each other.

A problem with this solution is: people still want to greet each other in a polite and friendly way.

Can you find a better solution? Design a way that people can shake hands without actually touching each other.

I think instead of handshaking people can BOW or NOD their heads – Yahya, Year 8

Health Check

The problem is:A fever is one of the first signs that someone is getting sick, but it is hard to tell if someone has a fever just by looking at them.

One of the solutions is:people have their temperature taken when they enter a public building. If they don’t have a fever, they are given a sticker with the date on it, so others can see that they are ok.

A problem with this solution is:the stickers get caught up in people’s hair and/or fall off their clothes. They then fall on the ground and need to be removed.

Can you find a better solution? Design something to help us tell whether someone has a fever or is feeling unwell.

You can use a BRIGHT COLOURED BADGE to notify people that you don’t have a fever. It will be secure because it has a safety pin and less chance of you losing it – Mohammed, Year 7 and Anaz, Year 9

No Sanitiser Left BehindThe problem is: germs on our hands can enter our mouths when we eat.

One of the solutions is: apply hand sanitizer to our hands before we eat every meal or snack.

A problem with this solution is:if people are eating out somewhere it is easy for them to forget to take their bottle of hand sanitiser with them and leave it on the table.

Can you find a better solution? Design a way to stop people leaving their hand sanitizer bottles behind.

MAKE SANITISER STATIONS LIKE WATER FOUNTAINS – Mohammed, Year 7

You can use a KEYCHAIN HOLDER for the hand sanitizer which can be attached to your bag or trousers. This way you’ll always have it with you – Muhammed, Year 7

Dream BedroomThe problem is: children who are sick with a virus can easily spread it to other children or their families.

One of the solutions is: children who are sick stay in their bedrooms until they are well.

A problem with this solution is: it can be very boring staying in your bedroom all day.

Can you find a better solution? Design the most awesome bedroom ever!

THANK YOU FROM US TO YOU

44 Twelvetrees Crescent, London E3 3QW

T: 020 7536 5525 F: 020 7987 4504

W: www.bow-school.org.uk E: bs@bow-school.org.uk

@BowSchool1 instagram bowschoolofficial youtube.com

WORKING ON OUR WELL-BEING

At Bow, it’s our firm belief that students will perform better academically when they are able to mentally cope with the anxieties and stresses that face us all.

To support students while they are working from home, we have adapted our PSHE and Citizenship curriculum to focus on mental health and well-being.

We have been setting daily challenges to get everyone to try things differently, take ownership of their mental health and raise awareness of how we can better care for ourselves and those around us.

Bow School @BowSchool1#dailywellbeingchallenge Make breakfast or lunch for another family member #positivemessage #bowcommunity #respect

Bow School @BowSchool1#dailywellbeingchallenge Send a positive message to five of your friends - notice how it makes you feel to spread positivity #positivemessage #bowcommunity #respect

Bow School @BowSchool1#dailywellbeingchallenge Write down 3 ambitions you have. Think about what you can do each day to help achieve them. #positivemessage #bowcommunity #respect

Bow School @BowSchool1#dailywellbeingchallenge Make a playlist of your top 5 songs and share with a friend #positivemessage #bowcommunity #respect

Bow School @BowSchool1#dailywellbeingchallenge Find three inspirational quotes and write them down. Think about how and why they inspire you - here’s one to get you started - “sometimes we’re tested not to show our weaknesses but to discover our strengths” #positivemessage #bowcommunity #respect

PSHE CHALLENGE