b'Miss Abdullahi Can you share a little bit about your pleasure to start this new chapter. FromThose moments make everything worthwhile. journey to Handsworth?decorating my classroom with the help of my What message have you tried to getMy journey to Handsworth has been aYear 9s to seeing students thrive in so many over to students over the past year? whirlwind. After moving into educationways, Ive been fortunate to build a littleThat life beyond school is just as important and teaching at Oldbury Academy, thencommunity within a community. There haveas their grades. I hope Ive helped them see King Edward VI Aston, I experienced bothbeen unexpected (but definitely avoidable)that compassion, respect, and aspiration highs and lows. There were lows that mademishaps. A broken door. The chaos ofare just as valuable as any exam result. If me appreciate HGS even more (includingbooking a computer room, which feels likethey leave my classroom with a stronger eating a box of Celebrations at the bus stopan impossible task and arguably a recessionsense of self, the ability to think critically, and because the students simply didnt deserveindicator. But this school has kept me on mythe confidence to care for themselves and them), and highs that reminded me why I lovetoes, and I wouldnt have it any other way. others, then thats success.this profession: the passion and enthusiasm Do you have any highlights of your firstof students, and the colleagues Im lucky to year at HGS? What do you look forward to inwork alongside every day. Seeing the students succeed, academically the future?How did you find the first few weeks and otherwise, has been a real highlight.Continuing this journey, challenges and all.and months at the school?Its in the everyday moments: the quietHGS has already given me so much, and Finding my feet and settling in felt surprisinglyconfidence of a student who finally believes inI look forward to growing further with my similar to becoming the new kid in Year 5,their ideas, or the joy of a classroom debatestudents and learning from them as much as just without the gap-toothed smile. Stomachthat spirals in the best possible way. Its alsoI hope they learn from me.aches and all. But it has been an absolutein the trust and rapport that grow over time. Mrs Mann MR WONG How did you find the first few weeks and months at the school?Hi everyone! My name is Mr Luke I have really enjoyed my first year here; Ive felt very welcomedWong, and Im excited to join and had the opportunity to meet lots of other new staff. I alsoHandsworth Grammar School as started at the same time as my form, 7W, so it has been greata teacher of A-level Economics VERY NEW to have a whole class to go on this new journey with. and GCSE Business Studies. Before joining HGS, I worked ARRIVALS Do you have any highlights of your first year at HGS?as a supply teacher and office My highlight so far has definitely been World Book Day/ administrator in other schools. week and the amazing events we managed to run. It wasThis is actually my first full-time fantastic to see how engaged students and staff were, andteaching post in the UK since10km daily, though I dont have as I was especially impressed with the effort put into the housemoving here in 2022but I bringmuch time now due to work. I also FLIGHT:competition creating amazing book doors. I am also really1862with me over 20 years of teachingenjoy hiking and have practised proud of my form and how much they have grown andexperience from Hong Kong. karate for over 20 years. One developedtheyve settled in and taken the opportunitiesOne thing that really amazes me isof my personal goals is to climb given to them during the course of the year. the difference in school culture. Inthe highest peaks in England, Hong Kong, students stay in oneWales and Scotland. So far, IveHow do you spend your spare time away from classroom while teachers moveconquered Snowdon and Scafellschool? Any hobbies?around. But here, I have my ownPikenow Im just waiting for a Most of my time outside of school is spent with my family androom, and students often dropchance to climb Ben Nevis!my cat. We spend most weekends and holidays visiting newby to say hiwhich I find bothAnother passion of mine is places and doing activities together. I love going to the theatrelovely and amusing! Teachers evenJapanese comics and animation, to watch a play or musical and spend a lot of time, clich as itdecorate their own rooms, which isespecially One Piece. If youre a is, reading.such a fun and personal touch. fan too, feel free to drop by andWhat message have you tried to get over to students I have a real passion for teachingshare your thoughts with me! over the past year?Economics because its such aLastly, as a new teacher at this I try to remind pupils that the most important things are to bepowerful subjectit helps explainwonderful grammar school, I have true to themselves, always try their best in all endeavours andso much about human behaviourhigh expectations for my students to try to be a good person by doing the right thing, even if itsand how the world works. That in terms of attitude, behaviour, hard.said, I understand it can beand academic performance. I trulyWhat do you look forward to in the future?abstract and challenging at times,believe that all of you are capable I look forward to a long career at HGS with lots ofwhich is why Im here to guide andand talented, and thats why youre opportunities to continue my own growth as a person and asupport you every step of the way. here. Lets work together to help professional. Mostly, I look forward to meeting and teachingOutside the classroom, Im knownyou achieve your brightest future!many, many more pupils and helping them, even in a smallby many students for my loveLooking forward to a great year way, towards reaching their goals. of running. I used to run aboutwith you all!62'