St James' Catholic High School
February 2024 Newsletter
MESSAGE FROM HEADTEACHER
In a recent newsletter I wrote to you about the importance of excellent attendance. I am therefore delighted to see this being celebrated in one of the earlier pages of the newsletter, with a group of pupils in Year 11, who were rewarded for maintaining 100% attendance over the year to date. While I acknowledge that genuine illness should keep your child off school, I reiterate the importance of getting them in when they have a minor cough or cold. Our ‘Moments Matter, Attendance Counts’ drive continues to promote excellent attendance, which will be posted on our social media feeds in the upcoming weeks.
Please do enjoy looking through the pages of this newsletter and the many amazing opportunities affording to our wonderful pupils.
God Bless
Anthony Ellul - Headteacher
UKMT Maths Challenge
Our Top Set pupils took part in the UKMT Maths Challenge. They were really focused! Hugely proud of everyone who participated. Fingers crossed for the results
Celebrating pupils with 100% Attendance
Congratulations to our dedicated Year 11 students, the 100 %ers. They enjoyed a well-deserved outing to Hollywood Bowl and McDonald's, indulging in a feast to fuel their final exam preparations. It was a joy teaching them the art of bowling! Kudos to all for their commitment to attendance and punctuality. Mr. Knibb and Miss Darcy had a blast spending time with you! - Mr Knibb
Published Authors in Year 9
Well done to the following pupils in year 9, Cliffmarc and Vanessa who created an original piece of creative writing that was selected for publication in a young writers' anthology
This exciting opportunity allowed them to have their poems published in a book, This Is Me.
Zest - School Musical
We're proud to announce the upcoming school production of "Zest"! Check out part 1 of our promotional video, ands stay tuned for a sneak peek of one of our musical numbers - being posted tomorrow! Tickets for the show are available via ParentPay.
Upcoming Workshops
Community Focus Event
For Information
Please see the flyers below, detailing Community Focus's new calendar of activities taking place in 2024-25:
Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities
Venue: Early Help West Hub - Barnet & Southgate College – Colindale
Date: 22 February - 23 May 2024 (No session during the Easter Holiday)
Time 9:30 – 13:30 (Lunch provided)
'Time to Talk' Day
For ‘Time To Talk’ Day pupils spent time in form opening up the conversation around mental health to reduce the stigma around this topic. They spent time discussing true or false statements and were reminded of support that is available to them at school.
This day was all about creating supportive communities by having conversations with family, friends or colleagues about mental health. We all have mental health and by talking about it, we can support ourselves and others.
We want everyone to feel comfortable talking about mental health. Research shows how important open conversations in communities are to support everyone’s mental well-being. Talking about mental health reduces stigma, helping to create supportive communities where we can talk openly about issues and feel empowered to seek help when we need it.
At St. James', we are a community that looks out for one another. Support is always available. You just need to ask…
-Mental Health First Aiders
-School Chaplain
-Form Tutor
-Mentors
-Head of Year
-Form Tutor
-CAST
-Safeguarding Team
-Mental Health Team.
Chinese New Year Celebrations
Citizen's of the World Club
In light of the Chinese New Year, our Citizens of the World club organised a Chinese New Year-themed party. A few weeks prior, the club had been diligently making decorations for this event. Thank you to Ms Silva who coordinated this.
Chinese Themed Menu
To celebrate Chinese New Year our canteen staff prepared a delicious Chinese themed menu. Including Sweet Chilli Noodles, Hoisin Chicken pizza, Char Siu Chicken and fortune cookie cupcakes for dessert! Thank you to our wonderful chefs.
Children's Mental Health Week
Children’s Mental Health Week took place from 5 - 11 February 2024. The theme this year was ‘My Voice Matters’. My Voice Matters is about empowering children and young people by providing them with the tools they need to express themselves.
When we feel empowered, there’s a positive impact on our wellbeing. Children who feel that their voices are heard and can make a difference have a greater sense of community and self-esteem. This year, we want children of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to be empowered to work together to create a positive change for their mental health and wellbeing.
Our Year 8 pupils attended a very informative assembly, courtesy of BICS. We thank Tammy for her excellent presentation on an important topic!
NFL Trust Tournament
The girls Under 11 NFL Trust Football Tournament took place on the 27 February. The National League Trust supports community programmes at clubs that are members of the three divisions of the National League.
We lent St Teresa's Catholic Primary School in Harrow, the use of our school minibus. They gave it their all and played superbly, getting to the final, well-done girls!
With National Offer Day coming up soon, parents will no doubt be thinking about the transition process! Here to reassure you is our Head of Year 7 - Ms Alleyne, with insights on how we ensure our new students feel welcomed and supported from the start.
'To assist students in navigating this transition period and flourishing in their new environment, we offer an induction program designed to familiarise them with our expectations and the core values of our school: Ready, Respectful, and Safe.'
As parents, one of the most important decisions we make for our children is choosing the right secondary school for their educational journey. The transition to secondary school marks a significant milestone in a child's life, evoking a mix of excitement and apprehension. It signifies a major shift in a child's academic and social life as they move from the familiarity of primary school to a new environment with fresh challenges. At St James' Catholic High School, we have developed a robust transition program to support students as they embark on this new chapter.
We believe that the secondary school transition begins the moment a student chooses to be part of our community. To facilitate this process, we organise a transition day, allowing students to meet their peers, interact with teachers, and experience their new environment. We also host an evening for parents, aiming to collaborate with them in supporting their child's success in secondary school and throughout the induction process.
We also collaborate closely with primary schools in our local area, where we visit students to prepare them for transitioning to our institution. During these visits, students have the opportunity to ask us important questions, easing any concerns they may have about starting secondary school, and equipping them with essential information
In contrast to other secondary schools in the area, we offer a summer school program designed to ensure the smoothest transition possible. This program covers various subjects, including English, Maths, and Science, as well as sessions on expectations, orienteering, team building, and our Catholic ethos. By participating in the summer school, students not only prepare for their secondary school education but also have the opportunity to establish positive relationships with their future teachers and peers.
These values form the bedrock of our school culture, ensuring a supportive and secure environment for all. Additionally, we have implemented an extensive support system, including a dedicated transitional mentor for Year 7 students who may require extra assistance in settling in.
We also strongly encourage new students to engage in our wide array of extracurricular opportunities. From our diverse range of sporting clubs to departments offering lunchtime, before-school, and after-school clubs in subjects such as Maths, Science, poetry, and Art, we aim to support and nurture your child's interests, fostering their development as well-rounded members of society.
Transitioning to secondary school marks an exciting journey, and at St James’, we take pride in our commitment to supporting both parents and students in making this transition as smooth as possible. Our goal is to ensure that each child can achieve their full academic potential and feel fully supported throughout this new phase in their educational journey.
Michelle Alleyne - Head of Year 7
Houses of Parliament Trip
Year 12 Politics and Sociology students enjoyed their trip to the Houses of Parliament last week. They took a tour of both the House of Lords and the House of Commons along with a great workshop where they worked on their political parties and slogans!
Year 12 Sociology
Year 12 sociology students have been introduced to 30 markers! Today we were working together to structure how we could write paragraphs relevant to the question. Each group were allocated 2 paragraphs to form the main body of a 30 mark answer. Quite hard, but with practice, they’ll get the hang of it!
Pancake Day
Happy Pancake Day! Shrove Tuesday, derived from 'shrive,' marks the pre-Lent confession tradition. Catholics traditionally give up rich foods, indulging in pancakes as a final treat before Lent. Year 12 students made American pancakes, and the "Biscuits and Bibles" group had "Pancakes and Prayer," reflecting on 1 Thessalonians 5:17. How are you preparing for Lent?
Ash Wednesday
This year, Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day coincide on 14 February! Don’t forget to begin the season of Lent today by receiving your ashes and spread a little love while you do. A day of reflection, repentance, and love!
Lord Jesus, as Lent begins we ask for the power of your Spirit so that we may become more thoughtful towards each other, more honest with ourselves, and more faithful to you. Help us to walk in your presence and grow as the people you want us to be, Amen
Lent Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ.
You know what it is like to be tempted
for you were tempted in the wilderness;
you know how easy it is to do wrong things
and much harder to do the right way;
you know, too, what it is to be disappointed,
to be misunderstood,
to be let down by friends,
to be cruelly treated and put to death,
yet able to forgive those who wronged you.
Please help us not to give in when we are tempted,
not to be hurt by what others do.
Forgive us if in any way we have wronged you;
help us to forgive those who wrong us;
and help us to follow your example,
Amen
Easter Egg Donations
The season of Lent has begun and we have several charity campaigns that will not only enrich our collective spiritual journey but also make a positive impact on the lives of those in need.
Lent, as you may know, is a time for reflection, prayer, fasting, and alms giving. It encourages us to slow down, rearrange our priorities, and extend care to our neighbours. This Lent, our school will focus on the latter through our support and fundraising efforts for our three deserving school charities: Finchley Food Bank, Caritas, and Aid to the Church in Need.
We are asking for donations of chocolate Easter eggs for our upcoming Easter Egg Raffle. Pupils are invited to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win one. As Lent lasts for forty days but Easter spans fifty, we will draw winners throughout the entire season, concluding with a grand prize drawing on the feast of Pentecost. All proceeds will be evenly distributed among our three chosen charities.
If you would like to donate, please can we ask you to drop Easter eggs at reception. Any donation si greatly appreciated!
Mrs Graham - School Chaplain
Year 9/10 RE Retreat
Year 9/10 had their retreat days a chance to pause and reflect on where they want their lives to go and how to get the best out of them-
'The Room' is an exciting, brand new, original retreat day delivered by Rise Theatre which explores who we are and who God has created us to be. Based on an original dramatic film by Rise Theatre called 'The Room', pupils follow the story of our central character, Daniel Jones, as he navigates his way through a captivating game show.
Elements of the retreat day:
- An immersive theatre experience
- Cinema-in-education - screening of "The Room" film
- Art Activity
- Group discussions
- Testimonies
- Live drama
- Prayer & reflection
Thank you to RISE Theatre for a thought provoking and fun day.
Great Strand, Colindale NW9 5PE
Phone: 020 8358 2800
Email: admin@st-james.barnet.sch.uk