St Benedict`s Newsletter - St. Benedict`s Catholic High School

St Benedict’s Newsletter
Issue No 33
Date Friday 5th June 2015
MARLE HALL
As they say, no news is good news but it has been eerily quiet from North Wales, where 32
of our Year 9 outward bounders have been spending the week. When the telephone reception improves we
look forward to sharing their experience of Marle Hall next week, along with what the other Year 9 students got
up to in their absence.
ARVON BLOG
The half term break was a very productive one for 15
of our students. Nicole Levermore, in Year 13, writes a personal account
of what was to be her final trip with St Benedict’s:
Our stay at Arvon was a week filled with writing, development, good food
and laughter. Devon is a beautiful place, and the scenery that surrounds
the centre is astoundingly gorgeous and tranquil. The scenery was an
added bonus to the brilliance of the centre and it’s approach to writing,
learning and teaching.
The writers that accompanied us on our trip (Peter Samson, Alexis Zegerman and Christopher Wakling) were
fantastic, approachable and incredibly skilled in their areas. This made their tutorage feel like a huge privilege
on our part, and I’m definitely sure that I enjoyed every minute of our morning and evening sessions with them.
Free time was spent writing and editing our work, reading, and playing fun games as a group. The friendly and
welcoming environment at Arvon made it easy for the group to bond, despite the fact that we ranged from
Years 8 to 13. This bond enhanced our literary skills, as everyone was eager to share their work and get tips
from the writers, teachers, and other students.
Overall, our trip was a great success, and I feel inspired to continue enhancing my skills in poetry, prose and
play-writing. I would definitely recommend Arvon to any person looking to get away from the stresses of
modern life and just focusing on doing what they love — writing. Thank you to the team at Arvon, the writers,
and our teachers, Mrs Hursey and Mrs Davies, for making this experience truly unforgettable!
CREATIVE MINDS
Next Tuesday our Year 9s will come off-timetable from 10am for an enrichment
opportunity that will teach them about the media and creative industries. Students will either be learning about
routes into the media sector and developing transferable skills in a group-based competition, or working with
Adele Hamilton on a 'Creative Minds' day, linked with the Arts Award. More information can be found in the
letter that was sent via ParentMail this week.
HAVE YOU GOT THE BOTTLE?
St Benedict’s ‘Nuture Group’ are getting the ‘greenhouse effect’ as
building gets underway to produce a greenhouse made entirely from recycled materials. This week they have
been calling upon the support of some of their classmates who volunteer at lunchtimes to help them construct
it. Now they need to call upon you at home to supply more materials before the production line slows down.
Instead of chucking out those 2 litre soft drinks bottles, could you please wash them, remove lables and send
them in with your child for the next few weeks. Plastic bottles are being collected at the Scholastica Centre.
When it is complete, the group will nurture plants, fruit and vegetables that be either taken home or cooked up
by Anita and the girls in the school canteen. Thanks for your donations.
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PHOTO CONSENT REMINDER
Special thanks to all the parents who have already signed and returned
their child’s photographic consent forms. Most of the Year 7s were recorded on arrival last Autumn. Now the
rest of the school has to follow suit. Can we politely remind all parents, who have not yet done so, to sign and
return the forms sent via Parentmail last week. A copy can also be found on the Parents’ Page of the school
website. Your consent is needed for use of pupils’ images and names in the public arena. Once on record, it
will be valid while your child is at St Benedict’s. Thank you for your time and trouble.
MUSIC IN THE AIR Our students with a flair for music have been putting the final flourishes on their pieces
for their Music Concert taking place on Tuesday 16th June, in the Sixth Form Centre at 7pm. A good
percentage have been playing musical chairs for the past few weeks, giving up at least two lunch breaks to
make both the choir and band rehearsals. They hope you can spare some of your time to come and appreciate
them. Everyone welcome.
BACKSTAGE PASS WORK EXPERIENCE PILOT
From the 21 – 23 October 2015 RSC
Education will be working with famous Hull Truck Theatre and eight secondary schools in
Birmingham and Hull, as well as young people across Warwickshire, to pilot an exciting new
theatre-skills work experience programme.
It promises to give students a unique introduction to the world of theatre, as well as experience of applying for
a job and the opportunity to work alongside staff and creatives at the RSC. Successful candidates will follow
the processes involved in bringing an RSC production to the stage, focussing on Henry V, directed by RSC
Artistic Director, Gregory Doran.
The RSC will also be recruiting 10 Warwickshire school students for the pilot programme. Applications are now
open to anyone aged 14 to 18 with a 'CV' postcode. To apply, please direct students to the following link on our
website: http://www.rsc.org.uk/about-us/work/backstage-pass.aspx where they can download the necessary
information and application form.
For further information, please contact Georgia Munnion on [email protected] or on 01789 403432.
ROUNDERS ROUND-UP
The Year 8 girls learned a valuable lesson in ‘warming up first’ on Wednesday
when they played in a local friendly rounders triangle against Studley High School and hosts Alcester Academy. After a sticky start against the former losing 2:5, they found their batting form against the latter winning by
7:3.5. These friendllies was the perfect warm up for the South Warwickshire Tournament being held at AGS
next Tuesday. We wish our girls good luck.
HOUSE ROUNDERS
Fisher House prove they are a force to be reckoned with, transferring their recent
strength on the running track to the rounders pitch. On Thursday they ran circles around their rivals in the
House Rounders competition:
1st Place - Fisher (15points)
2nd Place -Beckett (11points)
3rd Place - Clitherow (6 points)
4th Place - More ( 3 points)
10 Fisher : Outstanding in their field!
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BILLY UNVEILED
Young performer, Billy Vale in Year 8, would like to extend his
thanks to everyone who sponsored him to attend the World Championship of
Performing in California next month. Having secured the necessary £4,000 to be part
of team UK, he made a pledge to honour his talented late brother George, that every
penny raised over and above, would be donated to the Birmingham Children’s
Hospital.
True to that pledge, Billy has enlisted the help of his singing and acting mates and
personally organised a concert of musical theatre treats. He also has an impressive
guest list of dignitaries coming to enjoy themselves and endorse his efforts .
“Billy Vale and Friends” takes place at St Benedict’s school on Saturday 27th June at 7.30pm. Please see
the attached advertisement for more details plus ticket order form.
LETTING OFF STEAM
A student with a most unusual hobby is Liam
Kane. For the past three years, the Year 8 pupil has been a member of
the Severn Valley Railway's Junior Apprentices Club.
Liam regularly unwinds at the weekend by helping to maintain Britain's
busiest heritage railway, learning all aspects of safely operating and
maintaining this popular tourist attraction. Last weekend Liam had the
rare privilege of spending the day learning to drive this steam engine and
is pictured explaining the way it works to some admiring passengers.
UGANDA BOUND
Over thirty Year 11 students and staff are on board for St
Benedict’s next visit to Uganda in October, when they are in the Sixth Form.
In preparation for this, parents and students are invited to a meeting next Tuesday 9
June at 6pm in the Sixth Form Centre. It will cover several important aspects of the
trip including: the context of the visit, the itinerary, health and safety issues, finance
and expectations.
LAST CALL FOR HOST FAMILIES
The PTA are delighted with the generous reply already received from
many of you, but alas the school needs to appeal to the hospitality of a few more families to accommodate an
Amercian student for two nights (July 11th and 12th). In return the school receives a valuable donation towards
the PTA’s school fund.
If you think you can, the original letter with contact details can be found on the Parents/Letters page on the
school website. Thank you
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Tuesday 9th June
Year 11 Uganda Meeting in the Sixth Form at 6pm
Friday 12th June
Non School Uniform Day (Donation details to follow)
Tuesday 16th June
Music Concert. 7pm in the Sixth Form Centre
Friday 19th June
PTA Quiz Night Doors 6.30pm/ Quiz starts 7pm. Have you sorted your team?
Wednesday 8th July
Sixth Form Induction Day
Friday 10th July
St Benedict’s Feast Day
Saturday 11th July
PTA B’Fest. Festival of music and fun. 11am to 2pm
Friday 17th July
Last Day of Term
All welcome
CONTACTS
Telephone: 01789 762888
Fax: 01789 400192
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.st-benedicts.org
Send your news to: [email protected]