St. Boniface's College Headteachers Blog for week beginning 17.3.14

WEEK A

Well, where oh where did that week go!

Hi once again and I hope you all had a good week.

I was very pleased today, Friday, to see our Year 7 so involved in a Day of Awareness - huge thanks to Mrs Printy, the RE team and Mrs Chapman for arranging the whole day and ensuring the boys had a great time. These are the types of events that make St. Boniface’s the special place that it is. I am already looking forward to the other days planned for the other years.

We have also been participating in the CAFOD Family Fast Day today, lessons have had a driver towards what the purpose of the day is and why, unfortunately in the twenty first century, we need to think of others who will be going to sleep tonight very hungry.

Could I ask all those who want to buy tickets for our 150^th Anniversary Dinner to do so via Mrs Hudson in reception, phone 01752 779051, by the end of next week please 21sy March. We need to let Plymouth Albion know final numbers.

Our Year 8 Rugby players were out at the West Devon Tournament today so I hope that they have had a lovely day with maybe some silverware attached! I’ll let you know.

Also for Year 8 on Monday 17^th  there is an all day Plymouth Festival of Sport at Marjons. Hope they get to fit in with the schoolwork – Good Luck to all involved.

With only 27 school days now left until the start of the GCSE season we are all working hard to ensure those sitting their external exams are as well prepared as possible. I hope Year 11 parents are seeing their sons working hard at home – revision should be well underway. A copy of the interventions on offer each week can be seen below – please keep encouraging them at home and reminding them of the opportunities available. It is very pleasing for me to have Year 11 pupils coming up to me with excitement telling me of their grades and how well they are doing – now we need to convert this hard work into final grades on their examination papers.

 

Year 11 Intervention timetable both week A and B

	Lunch time	After school 3.30 pm – 4.30 pm
Monday	Maths (all teachers to provide an intervention group) Geography DT	French English ( Mr Trimmer ) English (Mrs Davison) 11O English (Mr Evans) drop in for all
Tuesday	Geography DT
Wednesday	Maths Geography PE DT	Science Drama French Art ICT English ( Mrs Davison) 11O English (Mr Evans) drop in for all
Thursday	Science Geography DT RE (11O only drop in)	Geography History French German English (Mrs Davison) 11O English (Mr Evans) drop in for all
Friday	Maths (drop in only) Mr Allerton Geography DT	RE English (Mrs Davison) 11O English (Mr Evans) drop in for all
Interventions happening during timetabled lessons	English –  ‘Master classes’ students withdrawn during timetabled lessons for targeted interventions every Thursday 8.50 am – 4.30 pm with Ms Lowman. English -Plymouth University P2 only Wednesday groups of six students.   Maths – Miss J Gimblett  students extracted from lessons to attend intervention lessons every Monday.

 

I hope you saw some of our post 16 students in the local press last week. Mr Redfern had arranged for local business providers to come in and run workshops for the day. I am sure that all the students learned a lot and it was lovely to see an

ex- student doing very well and giving some of the presentations – thanks Sam.

 

We are expecting our next Ofsted monitoring visit before April. As you can imagine there is a slight buzz every time my phone rings. We believe we have made significant strides since the last visit and are all eager to have an opportunity to demonstrate this. There is a good feeling in the College and we are all working for each other – staff and pupils. I just hope and pray that the Ofsted team see this. We do still have many areas that we need to continue to work hard on to improve and we are all focussed on ensuring that we can be recognised as a Good College by Ofsted in the not too distant future.

 

Speaking of the not too distant future, our journey into becoming an Academy and belonging to the Catholic and Anglican Schools Trust, CAST, grows ever closer. We are still expecting conversion on April 1^st and the administration, support and finance staff are all working extremely hard behind the scenes to ensure we hit this target date.

Could I finally take this opportunity to thank all the students for their kind understanding and special comments after Wales narrowly lost in the rugby match with England last week. Monday morning was a nightmare!!

Hope you all have a lovely week and God Bless.

Mr. Davies

 

Year 7

We are now at the half way mark of the term and what a wonderful way to celebrate, with a bit of sunshine!

Students appear to have been enjoying the sun as much as I have, by collecting up so many merits, almost 500 already! What an absolutely fantastic achievement! I am so incredibly proud boys, well done! Merits have been awarded for a range of reasons from excellent effort and outstanding progress, to great class work and home learning. Some students have even been volunteering for litter picking duties during lunchtimes and have been rewarded for their positive contributions and being ambassadors for the environment of the college. Well done Year 7! Postcards have also been handed out to many students this week, for excellent art homework. Well done to all students who have received these.

This week’s assembly was presented by 7K and Mrs Harrison and Mrs Machin. It was a lovely assembly based on “Lent”. Students were treated to some wonderful readings by 7K and a great animation explaining Lent to the students. Well done to those students involved, you all read so eloquently.

To continue the extremely high standards that Year 7 demonstrate, please can I ask parents to make a note of the following;

·         Students should adhere to the hair and uniform requirements at all times. Please ensure that the correct outer wear garments are being used (particularly with the adverse weather conditions currently). Students should only be wearing black or navy blue coats, thank you.

·         Mobile phones should not be on during the school day. They should be switched off and in bags so that learning is not disturbed.

·         Home learning should be completed for all subjects in a timely manner. Please can parents insist on checking planners and guiding the students with organisation.

·         Please can parents ensure their son has a reading book in his bag every day to support our reading scheme. This is to further help and improve literacy standards whereby all students will undertake 30 minutes of silent reading each day.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend in the sunshine, long may it continue!

Miss Beales

 

Year 8

Well done to the boys for another week of commitment and hard work. The ‘conduct points’ are now well over 2,000!

I led the assembly last week on the theme of Lent which followed on from our Ash Wednesday service. This time of year is so important in the church’s calendar and it is to be hoped that the boys participate in this occasion over the next few weeks in whatever way they can. Congratulations to the large number of boys who received postcards from Miss Gosling for their excellent Art work!

Twenty-six of our Year group are off to Marjons with me on Monday for the annual Festival of Sport. They’re all looking forward to it and so am I! The event is aimed at those boys who don’t play organised sport outside of school and who don’t represent the school in extra-curricular sport. The only entry criteria is that they enjoy sport and exercise! Here’s to a good day!

The football team gave it their all in their game against Plymstock yesterday afternoon but, unfortunately, couldn’t secure a win. It’s fair to say that they are finding it tough in the top league but the forthcoming fixtures will provide an interesting test of character that I’m sure they will respond positively to. Good luck!

Mr. Tucker

 

Year 9

So far so good, as far as me giving up certain luxuries for lent, how about you? Seems we may have also given up the rain for the time being, long may the sun continue. The boys have been sharing resources this week in tutor in an effort to understand more fully the reasons behind our Lenten observances.

This Friday was a CAFOD fast day with soup being served in the canteen and proceeds and collections going to CAFOD to help aid overseas development in the more needy areas of the world, thanks to the boys for again rising to the challenge.

The week started off on Monday with a visit to our weekly assembly by  our local PSO’s giving a talk on Anti-Social behaviour,  racism and homophobic  comments, raising awareness of the consequence of inappropriate language and behaviour, they are currently visiting all schools delivering a similar message. What was also interesting was what they had to say on the topic of energy drinks and how they can impact on behaviour; the boys were shown just how much sugar each drink contains –staggering when you actually see it, ask your son all about it.

Right I’m off to enjoy some of the good weather while it lasts, enjoy your weekend.

 

Mrs. Mcloughlin

 Year 10

Following a recent student voice meeting with the Head of Year Prefects, we’re exploring low level disruption and how it can be tackled. Strategies have been implemented in some classes, that are already having a positive impact on the behaviour and atmosphere for learning.  My thanks to my prefects who have been instrumental in developing strategies that work best for them.

Mr Ousey and 10G led us in an excellent assembly Monday on the theme of ‘drugs’. The use of a ‘drug bingo’ to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs was inspired and appreciated by the cohort.  The boys who took part were very confident and made the event memorable.  The tutors were asked to tick off their bingo cards… but alas, as with drug abuse, there were no winners.

The Year 10 Common Room continues to give sanctuary to students at lunchtime – despite the warm weather this past week, the room has been a social and academic hub for many… I’m sure the air conditioning is appreciated too!

We continue to drive forward with the identification of pupil needs – both academic and pastoral, and implement suitable intervention strategies that deliver real impact for our students. Parental support is much appreciated.

Mr Scott

Year 11

The celebration and awards evening for key stage 4 will be held on the 6th May 2014, so make sure you get your tickets before they all go.

Please keep on encouraging your son to go to the many interventions on offer, as the data suggests they are definitely working.

Congratulations to Owen for being offered the chance to become a professional footballer with Plymouth Argyle. Owen will serve an apprenticeship with them and then hopefully get the chance to play for the first team. 

Mr Redfern

 Post 16

Another good week for the sixth form. Revision lessons and extra lessons are being arranged by each subject. You should be receiving some revision guide from each subject including links to the syllabi and past papers, key terms etc.

Revision should now be in full swing…

Apprentices are now at the interview stage for most students. Charles has won a scholarship to coach football in America, Hayden has an apprentice with Argyle for next year. We wish them the best of luck.

Thursday is our annual UCAS trip to Exeter for the Higher Education fair at Westpoint. We have 100 students attending the convention on University life and Finance. All the Universities will be there. The Students must be here at 8:15 in the sixth form area, for an immediate leave. If you are late we will leave without you. We return at 1:30. Mufti should be sensible, if it is not acceptable then you will be refused admission, and money can be brought for snacks etc. We will be back at 1:30 for lunch at College.

This is a time where you can decide your future and make a good impression on your future career path.

Any questions then please email

STEW@stbonifaces.com

Mr. Tew

 

May there always be work for your hands to do. May your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane. May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you, and May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. Amen

 

January – April Clubs and Activities

 

Week A	Clubs/activities
Monday	Library lunch time – quiz for years 7, 8, 9 Library after school – extended learning – 15:20 – 16:20 Learning for life centre – lunch time – card club – D Grieve Christian Union – lunchtime – C Rogers - Chapel Film club – lunchtime – C Redfern Art homework catch-up – lunchtime – J Wills REwind – lunchtime – E Heduvan Geography clinic – lunch – K Beales Maths drop in sessions – lunch – N Allerton Fitness club (lunch) Year 7 & 8 basketball (after school) School play - Lord of the Flies – after school - P Trimmer French revision – after school – J McFarland Year 7 music club – D Ousey
Tuesday	Learning for life centre – lunch time – card club – D Grieve Film club – lunchtime – C Redfern KS3 badminton – lunch Drama club – lunch – P Trimmer Instrumental opportunities – D Ousey, C Crossman Geography clinic – lunch – K Beales REwind – lunchtime – E Heduvan Art homework catch-up – lunchtime – J Wills
Wednesday	Library lunch time – careers club for all years Fitness club – lunch School play - Lord of the Flies – after school - P Trimmer Guitar club – D Ousey Learning for life centre – lunch time – card club – D Grieve Library after school – extended learning – 15:20 – 16:20 Film club – lunchtime – C Redfern Maths drop in sessions – lunch – N Allerton Geography clinic – lunch – K Beales Games club – lunchtime – K Gosling’s room – Mrs Williamson-Firth REwind – lunchtime – E Heduvan Art homework catch-up – lunchtime – J Wills
Thursday	Library after school – extended learning – 15:20 – 16:20 Learning for life centre – lunch time – card club – D Grieve Wind band – D Ousey Fitness club - lunch Careers club – lunchtime – room 109 – R Hudson – CV writing, interview techniques Film club – lunchtime – C Redfern Geography clinic – lunch – K Beales REwind – lunchtime – E Heduvan Art homework catch-up – lunchtime – J Wills
Friday	Library after school – extended learning – 15:20 – 16:20 Film club – lunchtime – C Redfern KS4 badminton – lunch Android club – lunch – years 9-11 W Neethling GCSE music – D Ousey REwind – lunchtime – E Heduvan Maths drop in sessions – lunch – N Allerton Geography clinic – lunch – K Beales Art homework catch-up – lunchtime – J Wills RE revision after school – 15:20 – 16:20 – E Heduvan

 

 

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
BEFORE SCHOOL	Breakfast Club Fitness Basketball All Years	Breakfast Club Fitness Basketball All Years	Breakfast Club Fitness Basketball All Years	Breakfast Club Fitness Basketball All Years	Breakfast Club Fitness Basketball All Years
LUNCH TIME	Fitness Suite + Basketball   Year 9 Basketball	Fitness Suite + Basketball	Fitness Suite + Basketball   GCSE Revision (A18)	Fitness Suite + Basketball	Fitness Suite + Basketball
AFTER SCHOOL	Year 9+10 Football PG All Years, Boxing AW	All Years, Badminton Marjon Students	Year 7+8 Football RJ AS Revision 3.40-5pm (A18) DM	All Years, Table Tennis External coach Year 10, 11, 12, 13 and staff. Hash (Cross-Country/Orienteering) DC	A2 Revision 3.40-5pm (A18) DM

Extra-Curricular Clubs 2013-2014

JANUARY- APRIL