CHALLONER update

CHALLONER update
Challoner Update 531
7th June 2013
I
Head Teacher’s Comment
This half term promises to be very busy as usual. We look forward to important events such as our First Holy
Communion, blessing of the CAFOD Office in St. Catherine’s Cottage, Summer Concerts, Work Experience,
Junior and Senior sporting events, school outings, Junior Prize Giving, the PTA Summer Fair and much more. I
look forward to seeing you at some of these events.
Last Sunday our school fencers competed in the Bromley Fencing Club Championships. Our U16s did well,
with Rachel and Scott in Year 10 picking up Bronze medals in their events. Amelia was on top form and picked
up a Bronze medal for the U14s girls and the U11 girls had an all Bishop Challoner final with Beth and Cara
with Cara gaining the last few points to win Gold. Well done and thank you to our parents and Mrs. Restivo for all their support.
Our Senior internal exams have now ended. Well done to all our pupils who have been working hard revising and preparing for these
exams. I wish them success with their results and the subsequent reports.
On Tuesday our Junior School took part in the ISA Athletics Championships with all students doing very well. Ben from Year 4 has
qualified for the ISA National Championships and will represent the South East in the cricket ball throw.
On Thursday our J6 students visited the Houses of Parliament and saw first-hand how Parliament works, both in the House of
Commons and House of Lords as they visited the galleries. Thank you to Mrs. Miller for organising this very educational visit.
This morning our Nursery and Reception to J5 students left early to go out on their summer school trip. The Nursery visited London
Zoo, Reception to J4 went to the Chatham Docks whilst J5 visited the Horniman Museum. They all had a lovely day out and my thanks
go to all the Nursery and Junior staff for organising these trips and ensuring the children have a very enjoyable day.
Next Friday 14th June Bishop Patrick Lynch will be visiting Bishop Challoner School to give a Blessing to the CAFOD office in St.
Catherine’s Cottage. (Three members of the CAFOD team are pictured above). We say goodbye to Jim Simmons, the outgoing
Diocesan Manager, and wish him a happy retirement. We are very much looking forward to welcoming Bishop Pat back to Bishop
Challoner School.
At the end of this academic year we say a sad goodbye to Mrs. Young, the Bursar’s Assistant, after 6 years, who is retiring and looking
forward to spending time with her grandchildren.
We also say sad farewells to Mr. Essex our Geography teacher, who has gained a promotion in another school and Mrs. Aliwell, our
English teacher and G&T co-ordinator who is taking the post of Deputy Senco with a change of career direction. Mrs. Hart has also
decided to take up a new challenge with a view to additional study outside of the classroom. Although they will be sadly missed, we
know that they will enjoy different challenges and success as they spread their wings.
On Saturday 15th June nine of our J3 students will be taking their First Holy Communion. Would you kindly keep them in your prayers.
Over the next few weeks you will be seeing notices in the Update regarding the annual PTA Summer Fair. There will be requests for
help from the Committee. Please do offer any help you can with the preparations beforehand, setting up stalls or serving on them on
the day itself. The date for your diary is Saturday, 6th July. Let’s hope the sun shines for us.
Canon Jack Madden celebrates his 50th Golden Jubilee year of Ordination to the priesthood. I look forward to seeing you at St.
Edmund’s tomorrow for his Mass.
Enjoy the sunshine this weekend. God Bless.
Ms. K. Barry
JUNIOR News
PTA
Fencing Success
Last Sunday our Fencers competed in the Bromley Fencing Club
Championships. Our U16 girls and boys did well, with Rachel
and Scott in Year 10 picking up Bronze Medals in their events.
The U14 girls had a tough competition. Amelia was on top
form and picked up a Bronze medal and in the U11 girls we
had an all Bishop Challoner final with Beth and Cara. It was a
very close match and Cara picked up the last few points to get
the Gold medal.
ISA Junior Regional Athletics
On Tuesday representatives of J4, J5 and J5 took part in the
ISA Junior Regional Athletics at Norman Park.
It was a glorious day we started off with a procession of 19
schools who were taking part that day.
Nursery News
The children in the Rainbow group kicked off the start of
the new half term with a baking session. We planned to
bake animal shaped biscuits to support our theme "The
Zoo" in preparation for our Summer trip to London Zoo
on Friday - how exciting!
We all made 3 biscuits each - a crocodile, a giraffe and a
monkey. The children took these home to share with
their families. To support the activity parents were
invited to extend the learning at home and to talk to the
children about the ingredients they used, the method
they used to make the biscuits and to talk about the
different animals. The learning partnership between
home and school is an extremely valuable source of
learning.
The families were encouraged to do "good sharing"
although I did hear one report that a Daddy had dipped
out on his biscuit! Well done children - next stop "The
Great British Bake off!"
The competition was fierce but our athletes performed
extremely well. Thomas in J4 started the ball rolling with a
third place in the 600 metres; Ben in J4 won a Gold medal in
the cricket ball throw. Our Year 4 boys relay team had an
amazing race narrowly pipped at the post and received a
Silver medal.
It was a wonderful day and our thanks go to the many
enthusiastic parents who came along to support us. Ben will
represent London South at the ISA National Championships in
Birmingham on 17th June.
JUNIOR News
The sun shone for the Year 6 trip to the Houses of Parliament
on Thursday.
After arriving by train at Victoria they walked along to
Buckingham Palace and were lucky to get a good vantage
point to watch the marching bands as part of the Changing of
the Guard. They then made their way to St. James’ Park to sit
and have their lunch in the sun before making their way to
Horseguards Parade and past Downing Street.
They arrived at the Houses of Parliament and saw both the
House of Commons and House of Lords in session from the
Gallery. Colonel Bob Stewart was in the House of Commons
talking about Student Visas, but unfortunately he was unable
to come and say hello to J6 as he had some important visitors
with him.
Watching the Marching Bands
J6 attended a workshop where they held a mock election.
Four candidates were selected for each party and each
candidate was placed in a constituency. Each party had to
give a presentation of their manifestos they would put in
place if they were elected and say how much additional tax
this would cost the people.
Each candidate then cast a vote for the party they thought
had the best policies. As two of the MPs elected had similar
ideas, they decided to form a coalition party. They then
voted who should be Prime Minister and Deputy Prime
Minister.
They just had time to visit the gift shop before the walk back
to Victoria to catch the train back to school.
In Horseguards Parade
Lunch in St. James’ Park
They thoroughly enjoyed their day learning all about how
Parliament works from the inside of the building!
Thank you to Mrs. Miller for arranging such an enjoyable trip.
Outside Westminster Cathedral
Presenting their manifestos
Election of the Coalition Government and
Prime Minister and
Deputy Prime Minister
Outside Buckingham Palace