Issue 2 - 29th September 2007

Dear Readers

School closes for half term today finishing a very productive first half term. This morning we celebrated St. Ursula’s Day attending Mass in the Cathedral with all our new Liturgy and Ministers of Holy Communion were inducted.

Open Evening and Mornings .

I would like to thank parents and students who helped at the Open Evening it went really well and the comments from children and prospective parents were so complimentary about the welcome and contribution made by the students. They made it.

The timescales for completed applications for the 2008 intake are very tight but if you have questions do contact the school.

Peer Mentoring .

This new initiative is up and running and again feedback from parents has been very positive. Year 7 students are finding their Y10 mentors helpful and friendly. Equally the students I have spoken to in the upper school are enjoying their role as mentors and I would like to thank them for their contribution. It is quite a responsibility to take on and can be seen as an important gift to another person.

As the year passes students being mentored will learn how to work with their mentor to their best advantage and the positive impact it can make. The mentors will receive further training and I hope will want to extend their mentoring role into other areas as they move up the school.

Independent Learning Programme

All students in Year 7 to 11 have now completed a half day on learning to learn and study skills which I hope that they are putting into active use. Every Thursday morning during tutor time this is being developed and is being picked up during all subjects. I would ask parents to support this at home particularly in developing competences in being determined to extend learning when it becomes difficult. For them to be successful learners moving from the “comfort zone” where they can manage to the “challenge area” where new learning takes place is critical.

Encouragement, praise and challenge are keys to aid success. It is difficult to regularly push oneself into that area as naturally so many of us want to appear that we know things and can do things. Learning has a step that says I can’t do that yet; what I need to learn is how do it; what will it feel like when I can do it. Practising this step is important – it develops persistent, independent learning.

Misuse of mobile phones and internet

We have investigating a few incidences of BULLYING when students have used voice mail, text messages and a variety of internet sites. Most of it happened outside the school day and some of it has involved friends not at this school. It is most unpleasant and will not be tolerated. The usual sanction for bullying is fixed term exclusion; we will also fully cooperate with Police to stamp it out.

Points to consider

• Guidance about whom to share a telephone number or internet access with and an understanding that information about another person’s phone number/computer pass codes should not be passed on without their permission.
• Removal of the phone by the parent
• A new telephone number which is not shared
• If there are any unpleasant calls/messages they should not be deleted as it is evidence.
• Students should not reply to any of these messages but let someone else know.

However underlying all of this is that we should respect others, it is central to our ethos and comes from Jesus’ teaching. We should not gossip, pass on gossip or bully. There seems to be an acceptance that swearing is acceptable between peers but it is not. In school if students are heard swearing they are dealt with but they should not use this form of language anywhere; there should be zero tolerance to it. It is a double standard in our society and almost celebrated when used by some celebrities.

I hope you will support us in maintaining these standards.

School Coats.

After half term students in years 7 to 11 will not be wearing their blazers until Easter. They need to come to school in school coats and these will need to be hung up in cloakrooms at the beginning of the day. They will not be allowed to take them to lessons and should be kept in lockers.

Bellissimo

On Thursday, 18 th October, many weeks of hard work came to fruition at our hugely successful art exhibition of fashion show. An amazing variety of work from all year groups was on display, including work from last year’s U6 A Level art group, many of whom are now continuing their studies at Art College. Numerous compliments were received on the high quality of diversity of the display.

The Fashion Show further demonstrated our students creative abilities and their technical and design skills in textiles. Both our students and the audience thoroughly enjoyed the catwalk display, which was accompanied by Italian images and music. Suitable refreshments complemented the evening’s Italian theme.

The event was a complete sell out and we were especially pleased to welcome Pam Cook and her family on the night. The evening’s proceeds went to the East London branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association and we were thrilled to be able to present their representative Carole Smith with a cheque for £1,500. Further profits raised from the event will also be going to the cause.

Many thanks must go to the vast number of people involved – both students and staff – who gave so willingly of their time and energy to make the evening such a fantastic success.

Y McGoldrick

Raffle Prizes for Bellissimo

Orange Green

83 393

303 169

125 171

284 276

94 371

145 288

114 340

321

To claim your prizes, please collect from Sharon Kempton in Reprographics, bringing your winning ticket with you.

Year 8 Geography Field Work

Farm visit on Friday 28 th September

On the 28 th September, we had an interesting day at Holyfield Farm in Lea Valley. Despite the cold and wet weather, we still managed to learn some great facts about living and working on the mixed farm. There were 150 dairy cows on the farm and we learnt about how they were milked and looked after. We also saw some powerful machinery, like combine harvesters and learnt about how they were used in arable farming. This trip has really helped us with our geographical studies on primary jobs, farming being one. We really enjoyed our day out at the farm and learnt so much about modern farming

Year 8

Walton on the Naze

Here are a few quotes from some of our students who went to Walton on the Naze:

“The weather was lovely when we went to Walton on the Naze.”

“It was an interesting day, and we all learnt a lot.”

“ We learnt a lot about cliffs and slumping”

“It was funny watching Brittany get stuck in the mud”.

“I thought it was a fun day”

“It was funny when Toni fell in the sea, but I learnt a lot about slumping.”

“It was a good day, I learnt a lot about cliffs eroding.”

“Walton was excellent and it was very interesting. Walton was a fun day”

“At Walton I had a great time and learnt a lot”

“I had a really fun day, it was great”

“I had a great time and learnt a lot”

Year 9

Saint Francis Hospice

Would like to express their thanks and appreciation for the Harvest Festival produce sent to them.

Revd Stephen Henwood

Chaplaincy Team Leader

Term Dates for 2007 / 2008

Autumn Term: 04/09/07 to 21/12/07

Half term: 22-26/10/07

Spring Term 07/01/08 to 28/03/08

Half term: 11-15/02/08

Easter closure: 20-24/03/08

(School reopens 25-28/03/08)

Spring holiday: 31/03/08 to 11/04/08

Summer Term: 14/04/08 to 18/07/08

Half term: 26-30/05/08

May Day: 05/05/08

Training day 03/09/07

Forthcoming Events

31 10 07 Year 8 Consultation Day

31 10 07 Chamber Concert, 7-10pm Hall

02 11 07 Year 11 Careers Day

08 11 07 Year12 Open Evening

12-16 11 07 Children in Need Week