Stained glass window in school corridor

Girls sitting at bench on school field

Rehearsing in the dance studio

Practical lesson in the Science lab

6th form performance of Antigone

Practicing in the music department

Issue 5 - 20th December 2007

Dear Readers

Term ends on Friday at 12.30pm drawing to a conclusion a very successful term. The events, sports activities, performances, art shows, trips and visits, all show how well students have worked to achieve the standards. I have also been pleased to receive many positive comments about students. This is especially good when it refers to students traveling to and from school. It is sad when some cannot maintain this standard.

At the end of this term we say goodbye to a number of staff who are either retiring or joining another school.

Mrs Simpson is retiring this week having taught in the school for 37 years. She came as a Maths teacher, progressed to being a successful Head of Maths and then joined the Senior Leadership team. Mrs Simpson will be missed tremendously because of the care she takes in everything she does. Her Maths classes enjoy their lessons, they make progress, and they work to the challenging standards and show great respect as they know they are valued. It is the same in all aspects of her work. Mrs Simpson is an expert on the Ursuline way of doing things and keeps our network in touch. We wish her every happiness in the future and we hope that she has time in her days to come to visit us.

Mrs Kingham left at the end of November to take up a new receptionist post at Woodlands School. We miss her and her caring approach to reception, but she is settling into her new post and we wish her every happiness in the future.

Mrs Alkazemi joined the school in January 2006 to teach Physics and Science. She has made a huge contribution to the department since she arrived. We will be sorry to see her go but wish her every success in her new post.

Mrs Ratcliffe is leaving at the end of term to become the Head of Drama in her new school. She has worked with passion, commitment and energy to produce very high standards of drama in the school. She is an excellent teacher who will be missed by us all.

Mrs Havis leaves to take a new post in English. Not only have the students benefited from her skills as an English and Psychology teacher, but also through her role as Head of Sixth Form. She took on this role striving for the best we can offer for Year 12 and 13 students. In addition she has had so many other activities including much charity work. Students and staff will miss her dedicated and caring work and we wish her every success in the future.

Mrs Darkins retires from being our superlative Art technician. We could not ask for more than she has done. Whether it is in supporting students in putting together portfolios for GCSE, A Level or College; managing the art stock and supplying staff; putting up the Art displays in school, she does it with care and great attention to detail. Mrs Darkins finds time for people and it makes such a difference to our lives. We wish her every happiness in the future and hope that she will be a frequent visitor.

We have appointed staff in all of these areas for January 2008; students learning will continue.

Year 11 are now finding out how well they did in their mocks. They will all be interviewed after Christmas to talk about career decisions and preparation for their June exams

So many of the school have been hit by the cold/flu bug and I hope that the Christmas holiday will give everyone a time to recover before we return on Monday 7 th January 2008.

Finally may I take this opportunity of wishing you all a joyful Christmas and every happiness in 2008.

Farewell

After 38 years and 129 days teaching retirement seems like a good idea. Apart from my first year teaching, my entire career has been spent at the Ursuline and I would like to say a fond farewell to all the staff, pupils (past and present), parents and the Ursuline Sisters.

I shall continue to live in Brentwood and hope that I shall still come across the friendly faces of the students, wearing their Ursuline uniform with pride.

I wish everyone continued success and am immensely proud to have been part of it for so long. Yes – I would do it all over again.

Carmel Simpson

“Is Santa Claus really in school?”

As I walked down the stairs I was greeted by Santa Claus, standing in front of a small table over flowing with packages. Girls were crowding around as though Christmas had come 13 days early, carrying small, oblong parcels away from the table.

I reached the table and took a carefully wrapped object from the box and hastily opened it, to reveal one book from the extensive collection of the library.

I received a book I would never think of reading, concerning the fighting in Ireland at the turn of the century.

I’m already reading my gift from Santa, and even though I have to give it back in January, I couldn’t want any other Ursuline Christmas gift!

Taylor Godwin 11C

I got “So Below – Key to the City” from Santa, I don’t normally read books from this genre and would not have chosen the book myself. I have finished it already and it was BRILLIANT!

Josie Green 9J

Thanks to Santa and his assistants for helping the Library to encourage pupils throughout the school to read books from authors and genres they wouldn’t normally try.

Happy Christmas from the Library Staff.

Christmas Market Trip – December 2007

On the weekend of the 14 th, 40 students and 5 brave members of staff endured the overnight bus trip to visit the wonderful Christmas markets in the German town of Aachen.

Students in years 10, 11 and 12 were able to try out their German and sample some of the delicious food during this magical Christmas experience. Many girls came back with plenty of traditional gingerbread describing all of the Christmas treats they had tried. Despite the freezing cold we took part in a guided tour of the old town and learnt about the Romans who discovered the thermal springs beneath the city. Some girls even tried the water, (described by the tour guide as a ‘bit stinky!’) We stayed overnight in a youth hostel and attended Mass in the town’s cathedral on the Sunday morning. We had time for one more visit to the markets before we prepared to travel back home.

The students and staff had a wonderful time and we are all looking forward to going again next year!

Miss J Miller

Music

I have pleasure in confirming that your choir is through to the Area Selection Stage of the BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year competition.

Mrs K Underhill

Geography Department

Imagine a world without maps, what a disaster that would be. People have been drawing maps throughout human history and it could be argued that we now rather take them for granted. To draw attention to the importance of the maps.

Geography Department has taken part in the Ordnance Survey Free Maps for 11 Year-Olds. Soon all Year 7 students will be receiving their free maps of the local area.

These are a great resource and should enable every student to practice their map skills and to find out lots more about where they live. Perfect for planning a winter walk over the festive season.

Mrs M Fearn

Year 12 trip to Epping Forest Field Studies Centre

On Tuesday 20 th November, our year 12 geography class spent the day studying the Loughton Brook in Epping Forest, as part of the ‘AS’ course.

Despite the rain, we had an enjoyable day learning how to measure various parts of the river, and then putting our new skills to use by collecting data from the Loughton Brook itself, using different methods and a variety of equipment.

Although we got a bit muddy (and sometimes very close to falling in!) we learnt a lot, came away with many new skills and the experience was enjoyed by all.

Mrs B Brennan

From ICT Department

BUCHS LAPTOP INITIATIVE

This term the Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School has adopted a ‘Laptops for All’ scheme for the Sixth Form. Currently all Year 12 students have access to a laptop, this will be extended to all sixth formers next year. The school is the first in this area to be involved in this initiative and one of only a few in this part of England.

The laptop computers are of a high specification, with an Intel Cereron processor, 1GB RAM, DVD/CD combo drive, 80GB hard drive and extended life battery. Microsoft Office 2007 and all other software needed for ‘A’ level study is provided.

The sixth formers use their laptops at home and carry them around the school accessing the schools’ wireless network and the Internet.

This is the latest step in the school’s development of ICT access for all its’ students; building on the excellent computer resources throughout the school. It is envisaged that in time this initiative will be rolled out to all students in the school, in much the same way as calculators are now regarded as standard equipment for pupils.

“The scheme has benefited us not just in A level ICT but also in all our other subjects, because of the software that we have available to us. Included in the laptop scheme we received all the latest up to date software.”

Claire Coppin & Francesca Carroll, Year 12

Chaplaincy News

Home is a ‘Holy Place’. We pray that Jesus, peace and love may be present in our homes. As we prepare for Christmas we thank God for the greatest gift, Jesus. May the Holy family of Nazareth be ever present with us in this Holy Season. Let all our celebrations be joyful and full of love for each other.

Amen

Sr Margaret Soper from Brentwood Ursuline Convent launched our sponsorship appeal to send 6 th form students to Sydney 2008. There will be a gathering of young people from around the world and the celebrations will be attended by Pope Benedict. Cerys, Rebecca and Sian received their cheques in the grounds of the Convent

M Tolan

Library News