Fiddler on the Roof

This week saw our fantastic students take to the stage in our summer musical, “Fiddler on the Roof”. This was a triumph, showcasing the very best acting, singing and instrumental talent our school has to offer. Over 140 students from Year 7 to 13 performed, played and produced work of the highest standard to delighted audiences across the three nights. ‘Fiddler’ is a challenging production, both in its comedy and in the moments of struggle which require students to perform with maturity, commitment and care. Theo Cohen’s astonishing performance as Tevye demonstrated all of these things and more, delivering one of the most remarkable performances we have seen at CSG; he was captivating, hilarious and intensely moving each night as he led us all on a journey through Anatevka. What a joy it was to see him bring such gentleness and strength to this challenging role. He was supported by a brilliant cast of students, notably Delphia Kenny, who portrayed Golde’s fierce and protective nature with incredible maturity and skill, as well as singing beautifully. Also stunning were Avni Lowe, Naïma Gakwaya and Tahiyah Rahman in their moving portrayal of Tzeitel, Hodel and Chava. Each daughter goes on her own journey and has to contend with the force of the community's traditions and values, while trying to carve their path. These students all performed with sensitivity, power and tremendous skill, managing to bring these difficult characters to life and make them sympathetic and loveable. The whole cast sang, danced and acted joyously and were each so invested in delivering the universal message with the text. A review from someone who watched the show perfectly captures my feelings about all of these exceptional students:

“They weren’t acting, it was not presumptuous. They were transported. They spoke the lines and sang the words like they meant each and every one.”

It’s hard to overstate how proud I am of all of these young people and the extent of their achievements. This show was completely transformed by the hard work and talent of the outstanding band, who were so impressive in their level of skill and dedication – they are one of the most special things about this musical with audiences remarking on the professional standard of their work every night. Students backstage kept the show on the road, with Max Hopkins and Emiko Ando Latter leading the team as Stage Managers and doing an excellent job! The students performed to three wonderful audiences, who packed out the hall with so much support and love. A massive well done to everyone, this has been one of the most joyful and important experiences I’ve had at CSG.

Ms E-P, Ms Segal, Ms Spalter and Ms Hacker

Special Activities

On Wednesday and Thursday, students stepped outside the classroom to participate in our Special Activities days.

The school was buzzing with energy as students enjoyed a range of experiences – from the outdoor thrills of tennis, swimming and orienteering challenges to creative pursuits like oil painting, jewellery making and producing their very own music videos.

Many groups ventured farther afield to explore the London Zoo, dive into Roman archaeology, or connect with animals at Hackney City Farm.

Today, Special Activities culminated in a series of fantastic student presentations. It was wonderful to watch our students showcase the dances they had learnt or the sights they saw. A huge thank you to all the staff members who worked tirelessly to make these activities happen!

DofE Gold Expedition: Lake District

Following a challenging and damp first night, our Gold DofE students were relieved to see the rain finally subside. As the expedition progressed, the weather steadily improved, with temperatures rising each day to provide a much-welcomed boost to morale.

The physical demands of the journey were significant. After the gruelling Fairfield Round on Day 1, a 17km circuit renowned as a Lake District highlight, Day 2 presented a new test of endurance. Carrying full expedition packs, our two teams navigated separate routes toward the far end of the Langdale Valley. Despite the "toil" of the trek, the teams were rewarded with a spectacular campsite nestled among the peaks, where they took well-earned rest to nurse tired shoulders and sore feet.

By Day 3, the route led the students toward Loughrigg Tarn. Careful navigation and strategic planning brought them to a stunning lakeside campsite. While the lack of showers and swimming restrictions tested their resolve, the breathtaking views more than compensated for the lack of amenities. The students’ culinary efforts during the evening provided some amusement for the assessors, though the teams remained undeterred by the feedback on their campsite menus!

The final morning saw the group rising early, energised by another clear night and the prospect of the journey home. Despite the complexities of the final navigation legs, the group reached their destination with professional efficiency.

The trip concluded with an unexpected logistical challenge when the original train to London was cancelled. However, through quick thinking and a bit of luck, the group managed to scramble onto earlier connections, ultimately arriving home over an hour ahead of schedule.

This was an exceptionally successful expedition, with all students passing the assessment thanks to their resilience and careful preparation. We look forward to their upcoming presentations, which will mark the final step in completing this prestigious section of the Gold Award.

Mr Doyland

Sixth Form Careers' Conference

On Wednesday 1 July we had our annual Sixth Form Careers' Conference, where our Y12 students got to hear from a variety of professionals about different career paths available to them after their education.

There were 41 sessions on offer to students, with the professionals speaking to students about their backgrounds, how they got into the role, and what a typical day in the life of their job was like.

Students then got a chance to ask questions to the participants, whose roles ranged from Senior Policy Advisor at the Treasury, to a Consultant Head and Neck Surgeon, from a producer at Chanel 4 News, to a Business Correspondent at The Economist.

It was an incredibly inspirational day for our Sixth Formers and a brilliant opportunity for them.

Ms Ellis

TESCO Fundraising Campaign

Our school was selected to participate in the TESCO Healthy Start Fruit Initiative fundraising campaign.

This means that if we are successful, the school will receive funding of £1500 to provide daily fresh fruit provision to our school breakfast club and beyond, directly enhancing the nutritional intake of our most vulnerable students.

The project with the highest number of votes in your region will receive £1,500.

So, PLEASE, every time you shop at Tesco, go to the Cashier to pay, and ensure you receive a blue token to add to the box which sits beside the cashier. Or, if you do self-checkout, ask the Cashier for a token to pop in the box. 

Voting continues until the end of October – I will remind everyone again next term.

Voting for this project is taking place not only in our local Camden Road Tesco but in other stores too, so if they are on your way home please remember to vote there too.

• Camden Express NW1 9HG
• Heath Street, Hampstead Express NW3 6TR
• Russell Square Express WC1N 1QJ
• Belsize Park Express NW3 4UE
• Tottenham Court Road Express W1T 5AS
• Chalk Farm Express NW3 2BL
• High Holborn Express WC1V 6BS
• Swiss Cottage Express NW3 5EN
• Camden High St Exp Express NW1 7JY
• Kentish Town Express NW5 2JU
• Kilburn Express NW6 5UA
• Belsize Road Express NW6 4RY
• West Hampstead Express NW6 1SG
• Fortune Green Road Express NW6 1DR
• Farringdon Road Express EC1M 3JB

Thank you for supporting the school.

Duska Cutler
Clerk to Governors
Fundraising Assistant & Appeals Administrator