Apr 26, 2018 - UK Fast shadowed pupils taking part in rugby sessions and filmed them showing off their sporting prowess,
Issue 26 - April 18
TICKETS ON SALE NOW. ADULTS £2.00 CHILDREN £1.00 Message from Mr Mellen
DMSF Update Debate Mate round-up
This week our long standing partnership with DMSF stepped up a gear when pupils were selected to take part in a video to showcase the work of the foundation. Bex and Amy work tirelessly week in week out and make a real difference and create exciting opportunities within our school community. Various groups of students are busy rehearsing for Gortons Got Talent on Thursday 3rd May, this year the competition looks tough. Thank you to all of the staff who have put in extra time for trips, rehearsals and clubs this week - it is very much appreciated. This weekend there are extra revision classes so please check the website for updates of the classes and the times they are running. Have a restful weekend. Mr Mellen
@ CedarMountHigh
DMSF On Thursday Diane Modahl, Bex and Amy were on site to shoot a promotional video with UK Fast starring Cedar Mount pupils, Diane is a great believer that every young person whatever their background or circumstances has the potential to be the best they can be and has transformed the lives of pupils attending her sessions through sport and teamwork. As the foundation gets bigger Diane feels now is the right time to show off the good work the team are doing, what better way to do that than make a film! UK Fast shadowed pupils taking part in rugby sessions and filmed them showing off their sporting prowess, later in the morning we received a special visit from the female boxer Natasha Jonas who spoke about everything from her childhood in Toxteth and huge family, to her journey from female footballer to boxing. She had the theatre in fits of laughter and should definitely consider a career as a stand up once she hangs up her gloves. UK fast are due to return and film montages from members of staff and pupils so keep an eye on the website and our social media pages for the premiere.
@ DMSF_UK
Debate Mate Round-Up With only one session of Debate Mate left it seems the perfect time to reflect on the programme and our participation in it. None of us had any real debating experience when Mecquel, Dan and Maya, our tutors, arrived with us that dark October evening. Sure, we’d all argued debated with teachers (cough-Tafaracough), we’d all, Mollie, used our persuasion debating skills to get our own way with shoes, we’d all convinced others that we were absolutely, unequivocally right about, well, everything… but none of us had had the chance to do so formally. It seems only yesterday we were split into our groups and introduced to Debate Mate but in 16 weeks we have come incredibly far. We have participated in two Urban Debate League competitions, giving up our evenings to visit two fabulous schools. We won more than we lost, indeed we placed 3rd in Manchester, but the greatest lessons have been in hard work, teamwork and compromise. There have been tears, and tantrums, doughnuts and clementines, cheering and despair but we’ve emerged better debaters and better people. Just before the Easter break we joined a number of other schools at Manchester University to compete for the Debate Mate Cup. As team after team filed into the lecture theatre our confidence wavered but we kept each other’s spirits high. We learned a lot about Debate Mate and about competition throughout the day – watched the experts doing their thing, got to ask a million questions and got given our certificates. However, the hardest moments came each time we were separated into our squads and sent off to compete. We each took part in three debates: one prepared and two unprepared. We all did the school proud and acted as fantastic ambassadors for Cedar Mount. Two of our teams remained undefeated throughout – having won all three of their debates. Only four teams in the competition could claim as much but it meant the final came down to points. Tafara M, Sam B, Abu Bakkar, Ali H, Isaiah S, Haashim T and Ben M narrowly missed out on the final but channelled their disappointment into extra loud cheers for our finalists: Mollie R, Mia B, Sahara H, Alisha R, Blumartha C and Ahad U. The debate was “This House Believes Social Media Does More Harm Than Good”. Walked High had brought their A-game and it was clear from the beginning that this was a clash of Titans. We tied on style, we tied on presentation but were very narrowly beaten on content. 2nd place in our 1st year of competition was still an incredible achievement and, really, it gives us something to aspire to for next year! I would like to take the chance to thank GMHigher for their funding of Debate Mate this year and for paying for all our transport– Sheri, Chris and Caroline came to competitions and celebrated and commiserated in equal measure. Here’s to next year!
