b'NELSON WILLIAMWith Nelson languishing at the bottom of the table priorHouse William has shown a competitive spirit to the lockdown, you might think that its been a ratherthus far in all House activities. A special thanks disappointing year for the House. After winning themust go to our House captain, Ayesha Ehsa, inaugural House Competition, we may have taken aand our vice-captain, Juweria Afran, both backward step in the last few years; however, it is stillof whom led an inspirational assembly on important to celebrate the successes weve had thismotivation for the students in our House at the year. start of the academic year.Ms Hibberts 7 Nelson romped to victory in the YearFor the October Enrichment Day, the Year 11 7 Basketball competition, along with Jamie Callaghan (8N)students got the house off to a solid start by who row, row, rowed his way to success with an astonishing 736 metreswinning the basketball, and finishing second in covered in the allotted time. We continued our fantastic track record onthe handball competitions. The House Football House Spelling with Subegh Sangha (11N) and Hassan Shah (10N) winningfor Year 7 saw the squad in second position, their respective competitions. Hassans continued dominance over the lastand Year 7 also won the House Debate.couple of years prompts the question, is there anyone out there who couldThe Year 8 Enrichment Day in December saw beat him? House William joint winners of the House This year we have chosen to focus a great deal of effort on our HouseDebate, and gain a credible place in the House charity, SIFA Fireside, which helps Birminghams homeless get backfootball. The individual winner of the Year 9 on their feet. Working in conjunction with Sixth Form Legacy projecttable tennis was Hridik Pandey, and the team members, we collected a mountain of toiletries which could be distributedachieved a well-deserved third place overall. to SIFA Firesides clients. I would like to highlight the efforts of Dr Tepes 9The House Handball saw House William as Nelson, who as a form managed to collect several boxes full of deodorant,winners, andthey took third place in the shampoos, soaps, toothpaste and toothbrushes. basketball competition.It just goes to show that the House system isnt only a competition or aboutIn January, it was the return of the House sporting achievements but can be a vehicle for good as well. HopefullySpelling Competition. Special mention should other houses will embrace this aspect so we can all help to support ourgo to Suhaib Akhtar who was the overall winner local communities more. of the Year 8 competition. Congratulations to all the competitors from House William, as each Mr Mohsin point is an asset to each year group.February saw 7 William competing in both the House Table Tennis and the House Basketball, where they produced a strong set of results. Their best performance, though, was in the GALAHAD Handball, where they managed to secure the top spot. All students took part, and were Having secured the House Trophy for the fourththerefore helping to contribute some vital points consecutive year, Galahad began the new academic yearto the overall House competition. 11 William with high expectations, and welcomed a new cohort ofwere the winners of the House Football, and Year 7 students into the fold. I believe that a big part ofthere was a credible placing in the House the success we have achieved has been the consistentdebate for 10 William (fourth).willingness of our students to engage and take part inA Celebration Selfie Poster was the theme any and every activity; and, while coming first is alwaysof the House Photography, and in March the enjoyable, it is the have a go attitude, irrespective ofresults were published. There were 116 entries where you finish, that we promote and emphasise insubmitted, and in the Key Stage 4 competition, our forms and house assemblies. the winning photograph was submitted by At the time of writing, we are in the midst of the Covid-19 lockdown whichZaide Ebrahim (11W). Zaide also took first rather puts everything into perspective, making the outcome of this yearsplace in the competition last year, and so has a competition very uncertain, but I would like to acknowledge some of the notablenatural gift in this area.successes that the students have achieved this year: 7G Haadi-Ali Jivraj The House Rowing is always a competitive event, Individual Table Tennis winner; 8G House Debate winners; 9G House Basketballwith five students from each form taking part in winners; 10G House Debate winners; 11G House Handball and Table Tennisthe event. Four of the champion rowers were winners, with Thien Tran the individual table tennis champion again! All Galahadfrom House William: Mustafa Abbas (7W) rowing forms also played a big part in the House Rowing triumph. 671m, Jiaxi Lu (9W) rowing 770m, Ryan Ali In addition to these events, Galahad also had students in all year groups making(10W) rowing 792m and Mo a significant positive contribution through SIMS which acknowledges academicFohpa (11W) rowing 861m. excellence and very good behaviour. Our most impressive students on SIMSIn the team event, the most are: 7GNeeraj Rehan +197 and Ben Yarnall +186; 8GKai Dawking +195successful year group was and Shoaib Mahmood +189; 9GAmar Aulakh +232 and AbdulrehmanYear 11 who finished second.Shaker +214; 10GDharam Rana +161 and Krishan Patel +137; 11G With lockdown firmly in Zaryam Shaker +118 and Tahmid Ilham +101. place, we can only hope A big thank you and congratulations to all G-Force forms, particularly the Rollsthat our points tally from Royce form 11G whose consistent contribution has been immense, and all ofSIMS will be enough to 11G have received the full house colours enamel badge in recognition of theirbring us closer to victory excellence. this year.A.K. Campbell Mr McCarron31'