NEWS ARCHIVE PAGE 1 (APRIL 07 - JULY 06)
Links...News...News Archive Page 2.3.4.5
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On May 18th 2007 the Learning Zone launched the Building Bubbles Education Pack with an exciting event hosted by local historic figures from the Club's History. Pie and Mash was served and Education Packs given out to every school in Newham. During the year-long project young people and families have taken part in workshops which have investigated the shared history between West Ham United Football Club and its Local Community. 'The project has been a great success and the launch provided a good opportunity to thank all partners and schools involved in the project. Hopefully schools can now continue to look at the rich heritage of our local area though using our Education Pack as tool to help raise achievement and motivation for their young people.' says Centre Manager Jamie McGachy.
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The Academy of Sound a musical collaboration between West Ham United Learning Zone and Newham Music Academy (with funding from Awards for All) was launched on Thursday 12 th April 2007 with an open audition day. The X Factor style audition aimed to find 15 of Newham’s finest vocal and production talents. Our judging panel quizzed the participants on their background, experience and ability to send out a positive message through their music. The young people who are selected will take part in an intensive 12 week music course and show off their skills live in venues across Newham, including the Newham Festival which draws audiences of up to 30000.

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On March 27th 2007 the Learning Zone held its Spring term Celebration Event. West Ham United’s star goalkeeper Robert Green and Mechanikool P the UK Body Popping champion were our celebrity guests. The duo faced a surprise interview from a panel of Learning Zone Graduates, awarded prizes to our lucky winners and posed for photographs with all our students. Pupils, teachers and parents were also treated to anexhibition of popping by Mechanikool P and a premiere of the Graduate’s Apple Mac edited film, “Who Stole the Olympic Rings?” The Learning Zone would like to thank Robert Green and Mechanikool P for making the day a huge success.
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Courtesy of a grant from Awards for All the Learning Zone has just added music technology and vocal coaching to it's diverse delivery. In the lead up to Summer our new musical project will aim to audition and train a group of 15 students (aged between 14 - 19) who will become part of a "Fame Academy" and perform at events around Newham. The Learning Zone will be working in conjunction with a team of music experts including DJs, producers and vocalists from the Newham Academy. If you create your own beats, play an instrument or sing and are aged between 14 and 19 please contact us.
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On December 7th 2006 the Learning Zone marked the finale of it's “World Community Photography Project” with stunning night time projections of photographs and film on to the exterior of the Boleyn Ground. Developing Kick It Out’s anti-racism theme of “One Game One Community” the photography project aimed to represent the multi-ethnic make up of our students and the diverse local community. Funded by Kick It Out and the Football Foundation the Learning Zone ran an intensive 7 week multimedia course which included working with Greg Hale, a professional photographer. Pupils also led the West Ham United and Blackburn teams out onto the Boleyn Ground pitch on October 29th , the Kick It Out day of action, and exhibited a video of their work on the stadiums giant screens at half-time.
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The Learning Zone's Autumn term Celebration Event took place on December 7th 2006 in the Boleyn Ground's Castle Suite. The event celebrated the achievements of students who attended the six week ‘Playing for Success’ and Family Learning programme. The star prizes for effort and achievement were awarded to a pupil from each attending school. Many thanks to the Student Council who yet again hosted a superb event and to our celebrity guest West Ham United's Dean Ashton who presented the awards and made it a special occassion.
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The Learning Zone has recently produced a new website for pupils, teachers and parents to go on and explore, it contains various features such as news, brainteasers and school downloads where you can download forms such as pupil data forms etc. You can also check out WHU interact showcase which contains the work of truly talented students performing audio poems, music and films. So if you’re interested then go on www.whuinteract.org.uk and check it out for yourself! (By Salma Husseini, Plashet Girls School)

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The Learning Zone Summer School kicks off in July. As part of Newham Learning Community Services annual Summer School provision the Learning Zone will be running a programme of 4 courses lasting a week each from July 24th under the theme Matchday Magazine. Pupils will get the oppportunity to design their own football magazine using West Ham United as their backdrop and work on their ICT, numeracy and Literacy skills. For more information contact the Learning Zone or Stuart Cameron, Summer School Coordinator on 020 8430 6528.
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On July 11th 2006 the Learning Zone held it's final Celebration Event of the academic year. Our celebrity guests were the supremely skillful Newham Generals who joined us just before jetting off to Rio for the final of the Nike Joga Bonito World Championship. The trio wowed the audience with a video of their football magic and faced a live interview from the Learning Zone Graduates which proved tricky even after dealing with Cantona and Mourinho. Many thanks to the Generals who awarded prizes to our lucky winners and to the Student Council for hosting the event.
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