St. Boniface's Catholic College Head's Blog for week beginning 3rd March 2014

WEEK A

Hello once again!

 I am very pleased to be able to inform everyone that Bishop Mark has kindly agreed to come to St. Boniface’s on Monday morning to meet the staff and pupils and have a wander around. We are all excited and hope that we have at least a dry morning!

Some other fantastic news is that with the support of the diocese we have secured a £20,000 injection of funding aimed directly at supporting pupil achievement via new resources, text books, revision guides, equipment etc – new purchases are arriving in school on a daily basis.

We also now have WiFi available to post 16 students and in certain areas of the College for research purposes for pupils. This is the first stage in updating our school wide computer system. More modern, faster machines have arrived in Design Technology with more en route for ICT and other areas of the College.

Tickets are now available for our 150^th Celebration Dinner at Plymouth Albion on Mrach 28^th. Please contact Mrs Hudson at reception for more details – we have had bookings from as far afield as Coventry to date with many familiar faces already coming! I am sure it will all be a very peaceful evening…

I hope that you found the mentoring day on Friday of use, please remember that teachers can be contacted at any time using their College e-mail addresses if you have any particular concerns.

 Our second Year 11 Parent/Teacher evening takes place on Tuesday 4^th March, opportunities to discuss progress and the mock examination results – with only 7 school weeks left now before the GCSE examinations begin. I have been impressed with the academic improvements particularly in maths and English since our last data capture exercise for year 11.

Well done lads and let’s keep going right through to your exams!

 I hope that you have received a report card from your son, post 16 versions will be coming out this week. I have been looking closely at the year 7 reports, as I write comments, and have been very pleased to see how the vast majority of pupils have been making significant academic progress as well as achieving very high grades for behaviour and effort. It was a real joy to be able to write some lovely remarks on their reports.

I know that Mr Johnson, our Chair of Governors, also wishes to send a letter to you on Monday 29^th with a recent update so please do keep an eye out in the bottom of bags and blazer pockets for this as well – with a bit of luck some of us may even get handed the letter from our sons…. I can only hope!

 Have a lovely week,

Mr. Davies

 

The P.E Department are collecting Sainbury's Active Kids vouchers, the department is aiming to collect 6000. This will allow the department to replace sports equipment. Please could you son bring any voucher to the P.E office or give the vouchers to their tutor.

 Thank you,

 P.E Department

 

PTFA Quiz Night: Friday 7th March

The PTFA will be hosting a quiz night in support of Project Motiv-8 (Fitness Suite Refurbishment) on Friday 7th March in the School Hall.  We have raised approximately £4000 to date for this worthy cause and have purchased 4 pieces of new equipment and have quotes for flooring and mirroring.  Please help us to keep raising more!

 This event will start at 7:30 and teams of 6 cost £21 (£3.50 per head). Bring your own food and drink for a fun night of quiz, raffle and Irish bingo.

 If you wish to book a table, please return your cheque payable to St Boniface's Catholic College PTFA or £21 cash in an envelope to the College reception. If you wish to come with less than 6, please do, we can always fit you in!

 

Year 7

Happy New Term to everyone, let’s hope Spring is on the way!

 A very busy start to the new term this week, in just 3 days, the students have already achieved 132 merits! 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!

It was so nice to see so many of you attending the Mentoring Day on Friday, again another great opportunity to discuss and celebrate your son’s academic achievements.

On Wednesday, 7G hatched a plan for Miss Printy’s 21^st birthday(!) I had to keep her busy talking about data in my classroom at the beginning of lunch, whilst her little team of merry men turned her classroom into a surprise party, with music with a Mrs Printy playlist, party food and games, gifts and even personalised balloons! I know she was really touched with the effort and asked me to pass on her thanks publicly. Particular thanks to Callum and Tyler for their fantastic organisation skills. I managed to snap a photograph of the birthday girl with her tutor team!

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 half term and a great first week back. Enjoy the weekend,

 

Miss Beales

 

Year 8

The boys appear to have hit the ground running after the break! Numerous positive comments have been recorded on the system and the boys’ merit mark books are filling quickly! A large number of boys have already hit the first milestones so that is fantastic news and a true indication of the great effort and commitment that is being shown. There has been a delay in printing the certificates due to staff illness but the boys will receive them as soon as possible. Well done to all!

The football team have their first fixture of the term next Thursday against Lipson so we wish them good luck with that. Please note, boys that the training night has changed so please catch up with Mr James to confirm the new evening.

Thanks to Mrs Davidson for leading our last assembly just before the break. We had some very interesting information on St. Valentine’s day!

We’re looking forward to seeing all the parents and carers tomorrow at Mentoring Day. When I scanned the recent Blue Card data, that will obviously be the main focus of tomorrow’s meetings, I was so impressed with the vast majority of boys who had gained top grades for Effort and Behaviour. This is another key indicator for me in demonstrating the excellent work that is going on within the Year group. Long may it continue!

Mr. B. Tucker

 

Year 9

And they are off!! The start of term 5 of 6, scary the year is galloping by, and as I said to the boys in assembly this week it will be summer before we know it. I hope you had a good break.

Talking of breaks, we send our good wishes to Ben who unfortunately fractured his wrist requiring surgery just before half term, hope it soon mends as I know he is a keen pianist, table tennis player and was about to take his black belt grading inTae-Kwondo.

It is always nice to see the boys return after a holiday they always look so well turned out, uniform and haircuts etc.  It struck me as I stood in the yard on playground duty this week watching them playing football or just standing around chattering how much they have changed  maturing both in terms of personality and appearance, particularly their hair styles etc. It really is a gift to be so closely involved with boys as they mature into polite young gentlemen.

This week we have been continuing with our careers support with several students attending the Art College to see the type of courses available to them, and next week we have a visit from the Royal Navy to talk about possible career paths.

This Friday – 28^th Feb - is mentoring day, by now your son should have made you an appointment to meet his mentor, if for whatever, reason you cannot attend perhaps you could contact them either by letter, email or phone just to let them know any concerns or appreciation you may have. As a result the school will be closed on Friday.

Well that is the first week done, as I said they were galloping along, so until next week….

 Mrs. Mcloughlin

 YEAR 10

I hope you all had a restful half term!  Well done to the GCSE Geography classes who worked very hard last term to get their controlled assessment completed.

Thank you to Mrs Hudson and Mr Tucker for leading us in assembly on Monday.  As part of our overarching theme of “safety” this term, next Monday 10E will deliver an informative assembly about the risks associated with alcohol.

 Message from Mr Claricoates

All Y10 Public Services students must return the permission form for the Dartmoor trip to Mr Claricoates by next Wednesday March 5^th. The Dartmoor walk is on the 7^th March and any student who has not returned this form will not be able to take part.

Also, any Y10 students who wish to sign up to the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award must do so no later than Friday March 7^th.  Payment and paperwork should be returned to student reception ASAP.  Those who have signed up and paid should attend a lunchtime meeting in the Public Services classroom (A11) on Thursday March 6^th.

Mr SCOTT

 Year 11

Just a gentle reminder to all the parents that didn’t manage  to find the time to attend mentoring day this Friday because of  various other commitments that they can always contact their son’s mentor by e-mail or by phone, at any time. Furthermore, if you wish to talk to me, his head of year or head of key stage four, Mr Ramage, please don’t hesitate to contact us.  Another opportunity for the Parent / Teacher consultation is available for you next Tuesday night, the 4^th March, 2014.  This will provide you with the opportunity to speak directly to your son’s subject teachers.  Don’t forget to remind your son to book a slot for you with the teachers you want to see. A lot more boys are attending the intervention classes that are now on offer, (see table below) and they are beginning to see the ‘fruits of their labour’ with significant academic progress coupled with a clear change in their general attitude towards their studies. 

Year 11 Intervention timetable both week A and B

	Lunch time	After school 3.30 pm – 4.30 pm
Monday	Geography DT English (Miss Venn in A2)	Maths (all maths teachers to hold their own separate intervention group) Maths  ( drop in) Mr Allerton 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 Maths (drop in) Mr Allerton French Art ICT English ( Mrs Davison) 11O English (Mr Evans) drop in for all Public services
Thursday	Science Geography DT RE (11O only drop in)	Geography History French German English (Mrs Davison) 11O English (Mr Evans) drop in for Business Studies Public services
Friday	Geography DT	RE English (Mrs Davidson) 11O English (Mr Evans) drop in for all English (Miss Venn in A2) Maths (drop in) Mr Allerton
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. Monday period 2 group of selected boys attending Maths intervention.

 

Please keep on encouraging your son to attend these sessions, they are definitely working. You should now have his examination timetable for his summer examinations.  Miss Gimblett would be grateful if you could send in to her the signed sheet acknowledging your son has received his time table and that he is aware of all the rules, regulations and code of conduct with regards to sitting external public examinations.     

A key feature of success on any academic course is excellent attendance.   Generally, the boys attendance in year 11 has been very good and it will be even more important that your son maintains the high standards that most of the boys have attained in the next couple of months, to ensure he doesn’t miss out on the invaluable information and knowledge that may be critical in helping them to pass his examinations. To this end, we have organised a motivational keynote speaker to deliver a speech next Tuesday morning, the 4^th March, 2014, that will deliver some timely advice and inspiration to your son with regards to his preparation for his examinations.  Hopefully, this will help him to focus that little bit more and encourage him to be even more determined to succeed.  

I’ll be finalising the order by the end of next week for the leavers’ hoodies, so if you could remind your son to make it known to me, if he hasn’t already done so, that he is interested in purchasing a leavers hoody, I’d be grateful.  There is now a twitter account, @SBCCYEAR11, open for you to follow which is just for year 11.  I’ll be using this account, in conjunction with e-mails and the headmaster’s blog, to keep you up-to date with events in the last few remaining days of your son’s time before he sits his examinations. Please put into your diary that the Key Stage 4 Celebration Evening that will incorporate your son’s leaving service, led by students and Father John, will be held on Tuesday the 6^th May at 6pm at St Peter’s Church.   The evening will consist of a celebration of your son’s achievements and effort as well as his time with us at St Boniface’s College.  Finally, congratulations to Andrew for his performance in a local production of ‘Les Miserables’.   By all accounts he was outstanding.   He’s a great ambassador for the college.

Mr. Redfern

 

Post 16

 

This Friday was our first whole sixth form revision day.

 

The mock examinations picked up a number of issues that need to be addressed that directly link to examination performance:

·         Revision techniques

·         Organisation

·         Handling the stress of exams that determine your future.

·         Use of ICT, the importance of past papers, examiners reports etc Essay writing to maximise marks.

·         How to answer science based questions.

·         The importance of statistics in other exams.

 

There were also be sessions on student finance, apprentices and the uni experience.

 
A lot of students did well in their mocks and showed a good knowledge of the subjects but examination technique and knowing what is required is now key, it is a short time until examination season.

 

Wifi has been installed in the common room and new computers in the study. We await the governors decision on the new furniture.

Mrs Cox should return on Monday and we welcome her back, as she has been sorely missed.

 

Mr Tew

 

 

Extra-Curricular Clubs 2013-2014

JANUARY- APRIL

 

	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

 

 

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

 

 

Prayer for Students

Father of Light and Wisdom,
thank you for giving me
a mind that can know
and a heart that can love.

Help me to keep learning every day of my life--
no matter what the subject may be.
Let me be convinced that all knowledge leads to you
and let me know how to find you and love you
in all the things you have made.

Encourage me when the studies are difficult
and when I am tempted to give up
Enlighten me when my brain is slow
and help me to grasp the truth held out to me.

Grant me the grace to put my knowledge to use
in building the kingdom of God on earth
so that I may enter the kingdom of God in heaven.
Amen.