Welcome to the E-Zone

It doesn’t take long for students new to Mount St Mary’s to find friends with whom they can share their unique experiences. We welcomed 39 new students through the E Zone this academic year, each of them became an integral member of Mount St Mary’s family.

Impossible – I’m possible

Last week the E Zone team invited a group of Year 10 students to the E Zone for an informative session on revision techniques, closing the gap on missed learning and positive mindset and attitude towards their mock exams.

All the students invited were new to the country this year and really appreciated the session and the advice on offer to them. Many topics were discussed including; immersing themselves in extracurricular activities as a way of acquiring Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills, effective revision skills and breathing activities to help reduce stress. The session also included a question-and-answer section and tips on how to listen effectively and retrieve information from spoken or written examples.

As always, we appreciate and celebrate the diversity of language and cultural backgrounds of all our students. The group of ten students who attended the session speak a total of fifteen languages and have travelled to MSM from eight different countries. Good luck with your exams!

Leeds City College Printworks Campus Trip

On 19th December, 14 EAL students from Years 10 and 11 visited Leeds City College Printworks campus.

We were shown around by the school liaison team. We watched catering students baking and selling Christmas treats, visited the barbering and hairdressing department, observed the students fixing cars in the mechanics department and met the robots Salt and Pepper in the ICT department. We also learnt about how college is different from school and the various clubs and trips that they offer. We saw lots of past students and listened to current student experience at the college.

Our students were impressed with the facilities and the size of the college. As a result of the trip, several have applied to courses at the college and Year 10s have had more of an insight into what a college has to offer.

Mrs Suzanne Pedro

Brown Girls Book Club

On Thursday 22nd June, we invited New York-based author Daphne Palasi Andreades to Mount St Mary’s, for a virtual Q&A with girls in Years 7 to 10. Some of the girls had been reading Brown Girls, Daphne’s novel, prior to the session, while others picked up their free copy of the book on the day. The novel was selected because it explores the intersection of immigration and adolescence – themes particularly pertinent to our community. The students asked the author insightful questions relating to the writing process and her background, which mirrored many of their own.

Daphne sent the school a follow up email, thanking our ‘bright and curious’ students for their thoughtful questions, and the staff for ‘facilitating a smooth and organised conversation.’

Special mention goes to Lavana Yemene in Year 10, who was instrumental in the run-up to the event, and who impressed us deeply with her close reading of the novel!

Here’s what some of the girls said about the experience;

Year 7 EAL Retribuam

Year 7 EAL students have shown excellent retribuam this term by helping one another across all subjects.

Pictured here, Naod Yikealo (Tigrinya speaker) and Yasin Garwahl (Pashto speaker) are supporting each other with work in French.

Breakfast in the E-Zone

Students have been enjoying a healthy start to the day with fresh fruit available in the E-Zone.

Eritrean Independence Day Celebrations

On 24th May, students and staff celebrated Eritrean Independence Day. Festivities were centred in the E-Zone, which was draped with Eritrean flag bunting made by students.

Laza Teklebiran in Year 9 put the whole school’s knowledge to the test by creating a Kahoot! quiz about Eritrea, which was won by 8REG.

E-Zone Coronation Celebration

In May, students celebrated the coronation of King Charles III with the EAL Team. Students enjoyed eating scones in an E-Zone decked out with Union Jack bunting and were fascinated to learn about the ways Britain has changed since the previous coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Visit from a Japanese Student

In April, the EAL Team were pleased to receive a helping hand from
Miss Rachimi, who was gaining work experience on an exchange trip to the UK.

During her week-long stay, Miss Rachimi offered origami lessons and trained students in their chopstick skills. Miss Rachimi made a huge impact on students, who wished her farewell with heavy hearts.