St. Boniface's Catholic College Blog for week A 28.1.13

If you know of any member of our community who would like access to this blog then could you please direct them to:

www.stbonifaces.blogspot.co.uk

It was lovely to meet so many of you last Wednesday 15th Jan at the Year 9 Options evening. I do hope that you found the evening informative and that your son has been able to select the subjects he wants. There has been a slight delay in the co-ordination of returns due to staff illness but I will be looking at them over the next week. If there are any problems we will be in contact.

Thank you for all the hard work in ensuring that your son was able to come to school with the weather being the way it was last week. There was a little disruption due to the snow and ice for about an hour or so but "normal lessons were soon resumed" - caused quite a groan from the boys as I am sure you can imagine.

We have a year 7 cross country runner representing Devon in the South West Championships on the 2nd February in Bristol as a result of last weeks efforts. We wish him luck and very well done!

We have just had delivery of a lot of new games equipment for our year 7 and 8 pupils to use during their break and lunchtimes, many thanks to the post 16 Big Brother team for arranging and overseeing this.


Pupils who catch the bus home from outside the back of the Tamar pub need to be especially caucious at the moment please - the pub is undergoing a redevelopment which has meant that they have needed to block off their car park - some boys are trying to cross the car park as a short cut to get to their bus stop. If your son is one of these could you please work with us to explain the dangers he is taking - there are large holes in the car park and a lot of heavy machinery, as such we have told boys not to enter the blocked off car park but there are still some who are trying. to. Staff members are present at the bus stop but some pupils are running over to beat the staff there!

Could you also remind your son of the need to be careful when near roads please. Some younger boys, whilst waiting for their bus, are pushing each other and this is causing them to step out onto the main road at the Crownhill bus stop. Thanks.

Year 7 on Monday 30th January have a session with a professional violinist who is visiting the College.

St Boniface's has students with a wide range of abilities and talents. We want to ensure that our most able students have high aspirations and have every opportunity to fulfill their potential. Most recently, we are arranging for exceptional Year 9 students to take advantage of the Dux Awards Scheme and attend a Russell Group university for a day ( http://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/our-universities.aspx ) to encourage students to consider top universities and higher education.

The College Chaplain is running a Holocaust Memorial workshop on Monday for pupils.


On the Horizon:

There is a school training day on Friday February 15th, school will be closed for pupils as per the College calender ( found on our website - www.stbonifaces.com )

Mentoring Day is rapidly approaching, Friday March 1st - St. Davids Day (well I am Welsh). Parents can contact teachers at any time and do not have to wait for mentoring day to discuss academic progress if they are at all concerned. Mentors are a first, but not only, port of call. The mentor at the College can also make appointments with teachers directly if you have any concerns. Could I remind all parents also that, on the Tuesday after each mentoring day we have set aside time in the evening for teachers to be available for any parents to have discussions with them regarding any concerns. So in the case of our next mentoring day of March 1st - staff will be available on the evening of Tuesday 5th.  Appointments for this are made on the Mentoring Day by going to the College reception and entering details into a folder, the reception staff are available on the day to help.

 Please see below a list of the sporting opportunities available at the College during the week. This cycle is available each week.

 

Activity	Yr	Day	Time	Location
Fitness	All Years	Every day	Lunch	Fitness Suite	Membership form available from Mr Mather
Table Tennis	All Years	Monday	Lunch & After School	Hall	See Mr Turner
Basketball	7, 8 & 9	Tuesday	Lunch	Gym	See Mr James (PE)
Basketball	10 & 11	Monday	After School	Gym	See Mr James (PE)
Basketball	All Years	W, Th, Fr	Lunch	Gym	'Pick up' games
Boxing	All Years	Wednesday	After School	Fitness Suite	Sign up with Mr Mather
Football	7	Monday	After School	Field	See Mr Greenway
Football	8	Wednesday	After School	Field	See Mr Greenway
Football	9	Wednesday	After School	Field	See Mr Weaver
Football	10	Monday	After School	Field	See Mr Mather

WEEKLY BULLETIN  MONDAY 28 JANUARY 2013

(WEEK A)

 Monday 28 January 2013
08:10 – 08:45 Table Tennis Breakfast Club
13:35 – 2:20 Film Club (F136)
13:35 – Christian Union (Chapel)
13:35 – Fitness Suite
13:35 – Geography Club (A9 or A6)
13:35 – Quiz in the Library
13:35 – Various Clubs in the Learning for Life Centre
13:35 – Table Tennis Club for Years 7 and 8 (Hall)
13:35 – Badminton (Gym)
15:20 – 16:15 – Art Club (Week B only)
15:20 – 16:20 Extended Learning Club – Library
15:30 – 16:30 Table Tennis After School Club
15:30 – 16:30 Year 7 Football Training (School Field)
15:30 - Year 10 Football (Tor Bridge)


Tuesday 29 January 2013
13:35 – 2:20 Film Club (F136)
13:35 – Card Games in the Library
13:35 – KS3 Basketball Club (Gym)
13:35 – Fitness Suite
13:35 – Various Clubs in the Learning for Life Centre

Wednesday 30 January 2013
13:30 – Sixth Form Football (Devon Wednesday League Team)
13:35 - Games Club (Art room)
13:35 – Basketball ‘Pick Up Games’
13:35 – Fitness Suite
13:35 – 14:10 Board Games Club (Art Room E123)
13:35 – 2:20 Film Club (F136)
13:35 – Geography Club (A9 or A6)
13:35 – Various Clubs in the Learning for Life Centre
13:45 – ‘Africa Club’ Room (A9)
14:15 – Sixth Form Enrichment (Basketball and Fitness) – Fitness Suite and Gym
15:20 – 16:20 Extended Learning Club – Library
15:20 – 16:20 Gardening Club (LfLC)
15:30 – Year 8 Football (Field)
15:30 – Year 9 Football (Field)


Thursday 31 January 2013
13:35 – 14:20 Film Club (F136)
13:35 – Various Clubs in the Learning for Life Centre
13:35 – Geography Club (A9 or A6)
13:35 – Basketball ‘Pick Up’ Games (Gym)
13:35 – Fitness Suite
13:35 – Prayer and Rosary Group (Chapel)
13:45 – ‘China Club’  Room (A9)
15:20 – 16:20 Extended Learning Club – Library
15:20 – 16:20 Geography and IT Club (Room 109)
15:30 – 16:30 Year 9 Rugby Training and Fixtures
15:30 – 16:30 STEM Club 

Friday 01 January 2013
13:35 – Basketball ‘Pick Up’ Games (Gym)
13:35 – Fitness Suite

God and Father of all people, never let me look down on others or make anyone feel inferior. Show me how to remove any prejudices so that I may appreciate individuals more for who they are. Inspire me to live in such a way that I may discover you in the people I will meet today.

Amen

Have a good week.

Mr. A. Davies

Deputy Head

St. Boniface’s Catholic College

St. Boniface's Catholic College Blog for week beginning 21.1.13 week B

A personal "thank you" to some many of you who have got in contact over last weeks Blog and the initiative, it is good to know that it is a worthwhile exercise!

Please see below the Bulletin sheet for notices regarding clubs taking place each day in school.

The STEM Club, Science Technology Engineering and Maths, starts a new itinerary next week. Past ventures have been looking at wind turbines and non- Newtonian fluids!
Thursday 3.30 to 4.30 - pupils please contact Mr. Smart.

Thank you to students and parents for the response to our drive on appropriate school shoes. There are still a few students who have problems coming into line with the school policy but we are working closely with their parents to resolve these issues.

Could I ask that you have conversations regarding hair length over the coming week or so to ensure that all students comply with policy - out of the eyes in the front and above collar at the back. As a rule of thumb we say that if the students bend forward and then up and if hair flops into their eyes then it needs cutting. Thanks once again for the support with this, it does make a difference.

Dr Summers has asked that if any more parents would like to be involved in our Parental Leadership Team, helping with a parental viewpoint and input into the workings of the school, that they please use her e-mail address, asummers@stbonifaces.com, to contact her. The next meeting of the group is on Feb 14th at 6pm here at school.

Confused over the work teachers are doing on something called BLH, building learning habits, please take a look at www.stbonifaces.com/blh

The year 9 football team gets up and running again on Wednesdays each week, 3.30 to 4.30, all year 9 students are welcome.

Congratulations to two St. Boniface's pupils who have been selected for the West Devon cross-country team - cheer them on at Central Park on Saturday 19th Jan starting at 11am.

A reminder to all year 11 pupils and parents of the forthcoming mock exam in RE on Thursday 24th Jan, please encourage your sons to revise for this. We wish to give all year 11 pupils further exam conditions style practice ready for their up and coming formal GCSE exams.

Congratulations also go to our Year 11 budding Scientists on their recent Science examinations results.

Blue Card reports are being put into envelopes for parents and will be out to you imminently - apologies once again for the lateness but the new school centralized computer system is on track for completion for the end of February.

On the Horizon - for your diaries

The Key Stage 4 Celebration evening is on Tuesday 5th March at 6pm.

Finally a prayer for this week:

Father, may our human family not become separated from you by building barriers of race or colour, of religion or class. Inspire us to recognise that we are all made in your image and likeness, so that we may grow in appreciation of all people, and encourage each other to grow in pride in who are and who we are called to be. May we recognise your Son in our midst and live truly as brothers and sisters.

Amen

Monday 21 January 2013

08:10 – 08:45 Table Tennis Breakfast Club
13:35 – 2:20 Film Club (F136)
13:35 – Christian Union (Chapel)
13:35 – Geography Club (A9 or A6)
13:35 – Quiz in the Library
13:35 – Various Clubs in the Learning for Life Centre
13:35 – Table Tennis Club for Years 7 and 8 (Hall)
13:35 – Badminton (Gym)
15:20 – 16:15 – Art Club (Week B only)
15:20 – 16:20 Extended Learning Club – Library
15:30 – 16:30 Table Tennis After School Club
15:30 – 16:30 Year 7 Football Training (School Field)
Tuesday 22 January 2013
13:35 – 2:20 Film Club (F136)
13:35 – Card Games in the Library
13:35 – Various Clubs in the Learning for Life Centre
Wednesday 23 January 2013
13:35 - Games Club (Art room)
13:35 – 14:10 Board Games Club  (Art Room E123)
13:35 – 2:20 Film Club (F136)
13:35 – Geography Club (A9 or A6)
13:35 – Various Clubs in the Learning for Life Centre
13:45 – ‘Africa Club’ Room (A9)
15:20 – 16:20 Extended Learning Club – Library
15:20 – 16:20 Gardening Club (LfLC)
Thursday 24 January 2013
13:35 – 14:20 Film Club (F136)
13:35 – Various Clubs in the Learning for Life Centre
13:35 – Geography Club (A9 or A6)
13:35 – Prayer and Rosary Group (Chapel)
13:45 – ‘China Club’ Room (A9)
15:20 – 16:20 Extended Learning Club – Library
15:20 – 16:20 Geography and IT Club (Room 109)
15:30 – 16:30 Year 9 Rugby Training and Fixtures
15:30 – 16:30 STEM Club (Mr Smart’s room)
Friday 25 January 2013
There are no clubs currently being run on a Friday.

Welcome to SchoolBlog

Dear Parents and Friends of St. Boniface’s Catholic College,

Welcome to my first Blog aimed at helping to keep you more informed about what is going on at the College each week. I do not intend to write reams of prose and trust that in your busy lives you will find the weekly blog succinct and of use. Please put up with my humour when I try!

 So here goes for the week beginning Monday January 14^th 2013.

·         The College is once again focussing upon school uniform and could I thank you for supporting us in this on-going venture. My understanding is that Governors, staff and parents all appreciate the desire for St. Boniface’s Catholic College to continue to foster the good name it has always had, helping parents to turn young boys into confident young men who are able to play active roles in society. Well dressed, well behaved pupils taking a pride in belonging to the St. Boniface’s family, not surprisingly, do of their best in lessons, their best in tests and examinations at whatever levels and achieve in life. This, along with a spiritual dimension, is our aim for the young people in our care. We have had a focus upon shoes and this will be continuing next week. Hair length is next on the list!

·         There is much activity within the College over our migration from our present computerised management information system, CMIS, to our new one SIMS. The migration is due to take about 6 weeks and our aim is to be better than ever for February 25^th – as with all computers -  here’s hoping!

·         Apologies to all students and parents for the delayed production of the most recent Blue Card reports but CMIS has had many problems – these are now due out by Friday 18^th Jan.

·         This coming Tuesday 15^th Jan at 6pm in the school hall there is a very important evening for all Y9 pupils and parents where we look at the options programme available for KS4 courses and explain the makeup of the Key Stage 4 curriculum, years 10 and 11.

·         For the present year 11 pupils’ discussions and interviews have and still are taking place over plans for their studies next year. Obviously we are hoping that all pupils will find what they want at St. Boniface’s and we are trying our best to accommodate all.

·         Last week we had a very uplifting Epiphany Mass at St. Peters attended by pupils from years 10, 12 and 13.

·         Well done to those in year 11 who sat their GCSE English examinations, they certainly looked as if they were all working very hard in the examination room. Unfortunately with all the palaver over last year’s GCSE English results the examination boards are not releasing final grades before August. This will make it very difficult to find out those pupils who may need to resit their exam but the English department will be scrutinising raw marks released earlier to produce a viable plan for the way forward for any students they are remotely concerned may not have passed.

·         Year 11 pupils also have a second opportunity to improve upon their mock RE GCSE performance with another full mock examination in the gym on Thursday 24^th Jan. It is hoped that further examination practice under the appropriate conditions will help the students produce of their best in the summer examination round.

·         Year 7 pupils appear to have settled in well to their new academic groupings but if there are any concerns or problems then please do not hesitate to contact your mentor here at the College. We would rather hear of a concern early, and resolve it, before it has the opportunity to become a problem.

·         At this stage some year 8 students would rather not spend time doing their homework – could I ask all parents to look on the school website www.stbonifaces.com for directions on homework for pupils, under the “Subjects” banner and then Key Stage 3 or 4. The aim here is to give guidance to both parents and pupils on how to produce good quality homework.

·         Our post 16 students are in the midst of sitting AS level modular exams and may need more “understanding” than would be usual for a teenager.

I do hope that you have not found this blog too long and that it has been of use to you. I attach a programme of activities that are taking place on the various days and would like to finish my inaugural blog with a prayer:

Prayer for One's Family
Father, sometimes the family can get us down. The children are noisy and bills pile up. Relatives and friends make demands on my time and attention.
I try to keep first things first and create an atmosphere where Your name is honored, Your word observed. But I get tired and a hard edge creeps into my voice. Help me to cope with the daily strains of living in a family.
Help me to sustain a climate in which my family can develop fully the talents You have given them and to make of my family the community of love that Your Son came to bring.
Amen.

Mr. A. Davies

Deputy Head

St. Boniface’s Catholic College