Please bring along any memorabilia.

For more Information please ring Sue or Janet on 0114 2313601

Or Paul Howard on 0114 2310221

It’s Jodie and Sophie. We’d just like to tell you what’s happened so far so you can include it in your blog.

Although the journey to Italy was long and tiring, its been worth it so far! We’ve just completed our second day of skiing: we managed to conquer the red slopes and skied through the forests. The weather was lovely today and we even saw the sun as well.

It’s been really hard but the instructors have been really helpful. There have been many falls, but everyone has improved little by little.

We have made lots of friends from Newfield school and everyone is getting on really well.  The teachers have been really nice and friendly as well.

There will be a read around the world challenge running during form time and lots of other exciting competitions with fabulous prizes to be won. The English department will be running activities every lunchtime so come along and join in the fun!

SUPER-talented schoolboy Ahmed Moula is looking a million dollars – after his teacher bought him a £750 Armani suit out of his own money.

The surprise gift was a reward for 16-year-old Ahmed’s achievement in passing his maths GCSE with top marks, seven months ahead of schedule.

The Parkwood Academy pupil is now looking forward to wearing his new threads at the end-of-term prom.

Munif Zia, the Shirecliffe school’s 37-year-old director of maths, said he had spotted Ahmed’s potential and so entered him for the exams early.

“Ahmed comes from a Yemeni family and at first it was a struggle for them in this country,” he said.

“To get an A* was a tremendous achievement and I thought it deserved recognition – not just to reward Ahmed, but to set a marker for the other students.

“It shows them that high attainment brings high rewards and really gets the message across.”

Munif paid for the two-piece suit – imported directly from Italy – out of his own pocket as the school budget did not quite stretch to such a luxury item.

Munif said: “I decided on a suit, because I knew the prom was coming up.

“But more than that, Ahmed will soon be going for interviews at some of the top sixth-form schools in the city and we want him to look good to match his undoubted academic abilities.

“He’s quite a shy lad and I knew it would make a massive difference to him.

“At the moment, we are putting him on a further pure maths course to accelerate his learning even more before he leaves us in June.”

Munif added: “He’s delighted with the gift, which came as a complete surprise to him. Some people have laughed about spending that amount of money on a pupil, but I think it’s worth it.”

Ahmed was stunned to receive his gift.

He said: “I was quite surprised to get the suit – I love it! I’ll probably wear it on special occasions like a wedding or prom. Hopefully, it will last a lifetime.

“Maths is something I really enjoy.”

Ahmed, of Herries Road, close to the school, has a long-term ambition of going to university to study medicine.

Beaming mum, Ibtisam Mohammed, added: “We are all proud of him for doing so well but I was very surprised to find out he’d got such a reward.

“After coming to the country in 2001 we always told him to make the best of himself here.” Parkwood Academy principal, Mike Westerdale, said: “We are delighted with the progress Ahmed has made at Parkwood and it shows we believe in a culture of success and achievement in our journey to become a world-class academy.

“Ahmed is now pursuing further qualifications in mathematics and we look forward to hearing how he succeeds in his university career, hopefully at Oxford or Cambridge.”

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/suits_me_sir_1_4198917

Parkwood Academy is delighted to have hosted a visit from E-ACT’s charismatic Chairman Dr Noorzaman Rashid to see and hear first-hand about the on-going development of the Shirecliffe Academy, serving the communities of Shirecliffe, Burngreave, Longley  and Southey.

His comprehensive programme  involved meeting with parents, students, staff and governors from the Academy.

Dr Rashid is the Director of Board and Leadership services for Harvey Nash, a global professional services company.

Speaking on Dr Rashid’s visit Principal, Mike Westerdale, commented:

‘It is important that Board members of E-ACT see for themselves the development taking place in their name. At Parkwood we expect to exceed floor standards this year and open a brand new £20m building. Never before has the need for successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens been so critical and all at Parkwood are excited about the part we are playing in the life changing opportunities for the young people and their families that we serve; putting into practice the E-ACT vision of ‘Delivering Educational Excellence’.

HE’S off to the Olympics following a long and dangerous path to reach the UK.

Only six years ago John Rwothomach followed his parents over to the UK to seek refuge from persecution in war-torn Uganda.

And now the stage is set for the biggest show of his life after he became one of the lucky people to be picked from more than 250,000 applicants for volunteer places at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

John, aged 17, is to become a volleyball court side assistant as reward for the volunteering work carried out in Sheffield.

When John moved over from Uganda he had difficulty understanding English but his confidence grew gradually and after shining in sports leadership with his school he was selected to join the Sheffield Academy of Young Leaders In Sport aged 15.

He has since volunteered at many of the elite sporting events hosted in Sheffield, from the Table Tennis World Championships to the European Volleyball Championships – gaining vital experience which has enabled him go on to successfully apply for a place at the Olympics.

John, of Doe Royd Crescent, Parson Cross, is currently studying for his A-levels at All Saints School.

He said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s still not hit me! Volunteering has done so much to improve my confidence.

“I know I’ll be volunteering at Olympic volleyball – and it’s such a great feeling.”

The next large sporting event looking for volunteers in Sheffield is the British Universities and Colleges Sport Championships which runs from March 14 to 18.

The Olympic-style multi-sport event takes place at several venues across Sheffield, with the best university sports people competing, many of who will be looking to compete in their sport internationally in the future

Local Authority Health & Safety Department.

The Eden Project in Cornwall is one of 36 retailers urging customers to return the

red and black bracelets made from the Jequirity bean, the deadly seed of the plant

abrus precatorious It contains the toxin abrin, a controlled substance under the

Terrorism Act that if swallowed can kill in doses of just 3 micrograms. Abrin is

chemically similar to ricin, a chemical warfare agent and the poison used by the

Bulgarian secret police to assassinate dissident Georgi Markov with a pellet-tipped

umbrella. However, it is far more toxic, and can kill in doses 75 times smaller.

People who have bought the bracelets are being urged to bag them and then wash

their hands and avoid touching their eyes. The Eden Project alone sold 2,800

bracelets over a year.

We have been informed that there are no retailers in the local region, but feel you

need to be aware of the potential danger of these items, which could have been

purchased out of the area or received as gifts.

http://www.parkwoodacademy.org.uk/students/post-16-information/