Following the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus, Olive Academies is following the advice of Public Health England (PHE) and the Local Authority to ensure the health of our whole community, including students and staff. As the situation is rapidly developing, it is best to check the government’s online advice for the latest and most up-to date information. There is also a PHE blog containing further information and advice. We will contact parents and carers directly should there be any additional advice that PHE or the Local Authority ask us to share with you. Encouraging good hygiene – As always, if you have symptoms of a cold or flu, then there are measures you can take to stop germs: Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
This week we took five of our students on a special visit to New City College – Redbridge. The group were given a tour of the Redbridge campus and had the chance to find out about their post-16 catering courses and see the college’s teaching kitchens in action. This was a great opportunity for students to think about their future careers and training opportunities. At the end of their visit our students were treated to lunch in the teaching restaurant, with delicious food cooked and prepared by the New City College students. All our students were also presented with goody bags and a prospectus at the end of their tour. It was a special day and our students were fantastic ambassadors for Olive AP Academy – Havering. They were inspired by what they saw and learnt about the post-16 catering courses on offer at the college. We were delighted that our students have also been offered an opportunity to return to New City College in the new year to take part in an actual lesson in the teaching kitchens with the college’s chef. We’ll keep you updated…
We are very proud of our staff and students who worked together to create this Remembrance Day display in the academy – complete with clay poppies. Anyone who would like to make a donation can do so on The Royal British Legion’s 2019 Poppy Appeal website.
Our impressive new state-of-the-art classrooms and learning space were officially opened at Olive AP Academy – Havering on Thursday 17 October 2019. The special launch event was attended by the Mayor of Havering, local councillors, staff and members of the community, who enjoyed a tour of the academy building and displays of work created by students. Our student ambassadors did an amazing job, welcoming our special guests, putting on displays in the science lab and teaching kitchens and sharing their work. All the guests commented on what a professional job they did – and how impressed they were in the students’ confidence, attitude to learning and new skills. The refurbishment of the academy was funded by the local authority, London Borough of Havering and includes new classrooms, a science lab, new canteen, a multi-purpose hall, atrium and teaching kitchens. Philip Whall, Chair of the Olive Academies Multi Academy Trust said at the event: “The launch of our refurbished building with amazing new teaching facilities for local young people wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Havering Council. We are proud to be working in partnership with them, ensuring that Havering’s young people have the best possible opportunities to succeed and achieve.” The Mayor of Havering said: “Partnership, pride, passion and good old fashioned hard work have brought about what’s been achieved here at the academy. Seeing the students’ work and achievements and meeting the academy’s young people presents the borough in the most positive light.” The improved building will not only benefit our academy pupils. The facilities are also used to run after-school youth clubs and holiday activities organised by Havering Youth Service. The space is available for hire to the local community for weddings, parties, special events, clubs and sports groups. Facilities can be hired on weekday evenings, weekends and during school holidays, with a discounted rate for community groups and registered charities. More photos from the launch event will be shared here soon!
Olive AP Academy – Havering are settling in well to their fantastic new and improved building – everyone is so proud of it and taking good care of it. Our facilities assistant, Mr Siddiqui, has been working with staff and students on all aspects of maintenance – and we thought you would like to see them busy at work looking after the new academy flowerbeds!
The annual Havering Learning Partnership awards were held last Thursday evening to recognise the progress, best practice and achievements of all Havering schools over the past year. A total of 19 schools, academies and colleges submitted nominations and attended the presentation. Three Olive AP Academy – Havering staff were nominated and we are proud to announce that each of them received an award for their outstanding contribution to the students and work at our academy. Congratulations to Lisa Jobson, Yasin Siddiqui and Joshua Law. The academy was also awarded a special prize in recognition of our recent positive Ofsted Report and the improvements made at our academy over the last year. This prize for Olive AP Academy – Havering was awarded by all local schools involved in the Havering Learning Partnership and the Local Authority. Ray Lawrence, headteacher, collected the award on behalf of all the staff. We are proud of our awards and every one of our staff. What a great night for Olive AP Academy – Havering!
Earlier this week a group of students from our academy had the opportunity to meet Tony Adams – ex-England footballer and Arsenal legend. He came to the academy to meet our students and share his story and life experiences with them. He was truly inspirational. Tony was born in Romford and grew up in Dagenham. He spoke with honesty about the challenges he has faced in his life. We hope his story will help our students believe that their ambitions can become a reality too. We are immensely grateful to Tony for coming to visit Olive AP Academy – Havering – we were all so pleased to have had the chance to meet him and hear his story.
As part of the broad curriculum we offer at our academy, groups of our students take part in Olive Way projects. One of the groups have been busy with outdoor learning, constructing from scratch their own vegetable bed using timber and planting their very first crop of vegetables. Our young people worked hard together and we are proud of what they achieved.
