Author Archives: Mr J Rennalls

 

 

 

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.

It’s been a busy week again for us at Duke’s with various trips, activities and events. We’ve also been marking Safer Internet Week with a series of interactive assemblies and activities and our parent forum on Monday 5th February included a presentation on this to inform our community. 

We’ve also had….

 

Poetry Live!

A group of our Year 11 students took part in a trip to see ‘Poetry Live’. It was an enriching experience filled with moments of pride and admiration. Throughout the event, the students exhibited exemplary behaviour, actively engaging with the poets and taking diligent notes. 

Their respectful demeanour not only reflected well upon them but also upon our school. A particular highlight was when one of our students showcased remarkable courage by posing a question to Poet Laureate Simon Armitage about his intentions behind the powerful poem ‘Remains’. This act of bravery not only demonstrated their deep engagement with the subject matter but also highlighted their confidence and intellectual curiosity

This was a fantastic experience. 

 

Jack Petchey Speak Out

On Tuesday, 6th February, two of our students represented Duke’s at The Jack Petchey Speak Out Regional Final which was held at Fortismere School in Muswell Hill. 19 speakers from across Haringey delivered presentations on a range of subjects to an audience of over 150. Among this number was Toby who delivered a speech on using time wisely and Thayn who spoke on the dangers of jealousy. The standard in the competition was incredibly high and both speakers did Duke’s proud; speaking with confidence, enthusiasm and energy. 

Well done, Thayn and Toby!

 

Hamilton Theatre Trip

A lucky group of 30 year 9 students went on a trip to see the annual Education Matinee of ‘Hamilton’ in the West End. The trip was a roaring success and all students came back inspired and enthused.

The students were also treated to a fantastic post show discussion which demonstrated a number of technical aspects of theatre making and the performing arts industry – every experience is a learning one for our students. 

 

DJ Academy 

Our partnership with local ‘DJ Academy’ began in earnest this week. A group of students started working with the team of musicians and artists to begin their journey into the world of DJing. This happens every Tuesday after school and the students are building their skills of spoken word, rhythm, beats and rhyme. 

 

Principal Interviews – Student Panel  

Also this week we held the interviews for a new Principal for Duke’s. Our student panel represented the student body incredibly well, having the opportunity to ask questions of prospective candidates but also answer questions on life at Duke’s. A huge thank you to the students involved in this process – they conducted themselves with maturity and integrity. 

 

Apprenticeship Week 

We are spreading Apprenticeship week over weeks commencing 5th and 19th February due to clash with Safer Internet activities. In addition to the presentations on the screens these two weeks, students in Years 7/8 and 10 have had the opportunity to link live into sessions provided by Gatwick Airport – Introduction to Apprenticeships in Engineering and Stem and with  Morgan Sindall  on T Levels. Students particularly enjoyed l;istening to the young people sharing their experiences and journeys. The remaining students will be accessing the sessions via a recording the week commencing 19th February. 

Apprenticeships were also an agenda item at the Parents’ Forum held on 5th February, where parents were provided information in the format of a model lesson. All the adults enjoyed the competitive nature of the  Do Now activity and could demonstrate their learning with the Exit Ticket quiz.