Issue 8 26 th October Dear Parents/Carers,

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1 Issue 8 26 th October 2018 Dear Parents/Carers, Merciful Father, hear our prayer and console us, whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. 2 Maccabees 12:44 if he had not believed that the dead would be raised, it would have been foolish and useless to pray for them. Well it s certainly felt like a very busy half term but it s been a very successful one with the implementation of the new behaviour policy which has been well received and supported by many parents/carers and students. As part of our behaviour policy we have introduced a new reward scheme consisting of vouchers. Congratulations to all students who achieved a high number of merits this half term and to the recipients of the vouchers in years 7-11 for achieving a place in the prize draw. The Foodbank appeal has been a roaring success over the last few weeks with the whole school community getting behind this very worthy cause. A huge thank you to all parents/carers and students who have donated items. We will transport all items to the Foodbank warehouse on Tuesday 6 th November and it appears we have exceeded our target which is fantastic! Continuing on the theme of social action we held a non-uniform today in school to raise money for The Holy Family Balamma Satram charity. As a school we are sponsoring two Indian orphan children to attend secondary school who are very much looking forward to starting school and gaining an education with the help of St Thomas More School. Today we have held a MAC Maths Championship which involves our four primary schools competing and completing different mathematical challenges. Good luck to all our mathematicians and we look forward to sharing the results with you. At the start of November we turn our attention towards All Souls Day on the 2 nd November. As a school community, during the month of November we will pray for the repose of the souls of all our deceased members of our school including students, staff and their families. We will be remembering them in our prayers and assemblies after half term I wish you all a pleasant half term and we look forward to seeing students on Tuesday 6 th November. Mrs Thomas Acting Principal

2 News Key Dates Monday 29th October Monday 5th November Tuesday 6th November Thursday 15th November Thursday 22nd November Thursday 6th December Friday 7th December Thursday 20th December Friday 21st December Monday 24th December Monday 7th January Tuesday 8th January Half Term Teacher Training day Term Starts Sixth Form Open Evening. School Closes at 2.30pm Year 11 Prize Giving Year 11 Art Mock Exam Year 11 Art Mock Exam Year 13 Prize Giving Advent mass & Last Day of Autumn Term Christmas Holidays Teacher Training day Spring Terms Starts We still have a number of parents/carers in each year group who have not activated their ParentMail account. This means that you will not be receiving key information about your child. It is vital that you set up your account to receive this. We have written to all parents/carers who have not activated their account with guidance on how to do this successfully. If you have any issues, please contact Lisa McCord, Finance on Mccord.l@st-thomas-more.net

3 Catholic Life Message from the Pope Prayer is never in vain: it always brings forth something new that, sooner or later, bears fruit. On our website we welcome you to explore our Catholic life which underpins everything we do. You will find A gallery of events like our recent pilgrimage to Lourdes A feature on how we celebrate the Liturgical Year. Features on our collective worship where Mass is celebrated for close to 1000 staff and students. Prayer opportunities primarily using our 'School Prayer'. Our rosary group and involvement on our MAC rosary relay chain. Information on our retreat programme to Mater Ecclesiae convent, Alton Castle and Soli House. The role of our Chaplain Fr Matthew Pittam and the Chaplaincy Family Prayer for World Meeting of Families 2018 God, our Father, We are brothers and sisters in Jesus Your Son, One family, in the Spirit of your love. Bless us with the joy of love. Make us patient and kind, gentle and generous, Welcoming to those in need. Help us to live Your forgiveness and peace. Protect all families with Your loving care, especially those for whom we now pray: Increase our faith, strengthen our hope, keep us safe in Your love, Make us always grateful for the gift of life that we share. This we ask, through Christ our Lord, Amen Weekly Prayer Lord, There is nothing as certain as silence, stillness, and solitude, to help me understand the secrets of myself. I come to You in silent prayer. Reveal Yourself and I will be revealed. ~Amen

4 Catholic Life Saint of the Week Give Us a Heart: Give us a heart as beautiful, pure, and spotless as yours. A heart like yours, so full of love and humility. May we be able to receive Jesus as the Bread of Life, to love Him as you loved Him, to serve Him under the mistreated face of the poor. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Pray for Us Teresa of Calcutta Written on a wall in one of Saint Teresa s Calcutta Children s Homes: People are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centred; forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies; succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you; be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight; create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous; be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten; do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough; give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway. Happiness May, today, there be peace within you. May you trust God, that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities, that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing that you are a child of God. Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in the sun. It is there for each and every one of you.

5 Catholic Life Year for Priests The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is set aside by the Church as a day of prayer and intercession for the sanctification of priests. In 2018, in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, it marks the start of a year of thanksgiving, prayer and celebration for the priests of this diocese, in preparation for a national celebration of priesthood to coincide with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart in This year marks the 450th anniversary of the foundation of the English College, Douai, the first institution to form priests for the mission in England after the Reformation. From Douai, colleges were founded across France, Spain and Portugal, and in Rome. These colleges trained the priests, without whom Catholicism would almost certainly have died out in England and Wales. For generations, priests were treated as traitors and lived under cover in fear of their lives; hundreds were martyred for their witness to Christ and His Church. Even in later times, priests were few in number, poorly resourced and socially excluded. Without their resilience and courage, the Church we have today would not exist. This year is a time to thank God for the priests of today, as well as to celebrate the past. Lay people, deacons and members of religious congregations are encouraged to pray for the priests of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, past, present and to come. We celebrate and give thanks for those who have gone before us, and for our present generations of priests, and support them with our prayers. We pray ever more fervently that young men in our families, parishes, schools, colleges and universities will hear and respond to the call to priesthood. This prayer has been composed to draw together our intentions for this special year. You are warmly invited to pray it frequently, whether privately, in families or groups, at home or in church. A Prayer for Priests God our Father, we praise you for the gift of the priesthood in your Church, and for the ministry of priests in service of your people. We thank you for the precious gift of your Son, received at the hands of your priests. We pray for all the priests of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. May they find inspiration and encouragement from the laity, deacons and religious, and from each other. We recall, with gratitude, the priests who have been a source of grace in our lives. [We pray especially for Fr ] Be watchful over your priests, Lord, we pray. Give courage to those who serve you, and grant them their eternal reward. Have mercy on those who have struggled to stay close to you. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place all priests of the Archdiocese of Birmingham under your protection. Be present in the hearts of all our priests. May their hearts burn with love for you. We pray that all priests experience the joy of the Gospel in their lives, and are constantly enriched by your Word. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, renew all priests in their service of God. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, guide all priests along the right path. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, grant all priests patience and fortitude. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, teach us compassion and understanding for our priests. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, open our hearts to respond to our own call to your service. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, nurture vocations to the priesthood in our families, parishes and schools. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, blesses the priests and people of our parishes, and fill our hearts with your mercy. Amen

6 Catholic Life Jesuit Values Autumn Term 2 Next half term we are focussing on Faith Filled and Hopeful as our values. Please support us by encouraging your child to show compassion for others and love towards others. Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:18 Year for Priests

7 Subject Year 9 Spanish Humanities and MFL Faculty Students who have started learning Spanish in Year 9 discovered more about the culture of the Hispanic world in a lesson on why the 'Dίa de los muertos' is celebrated in Mexico Families decorate the graves of their loved ones with flowers and offerings of their favourite food this is called the 'ofrenda' and a table is set with a cut tissue paper cloth ' un papel picado' Across is made of the orange petals from a ' cempasúchil ' flower' Ésqueletos ' decorations are hung everywhere The graveyard is lit up as families gather the life of the loved one is celebrated with music Lourdes 2018 Lourdes pilgrimage. For the attention of Year 9, 10 and 12 Parents/Carers. The 100 deposit to secure a place on the pilgrimage needs to be paid by Friday 9th November via ParentMail Year 9 students have the fantastic opportunity to travel to Lourdes in France this year during May. Students will spend a week in Lourdes where they will form part of the Birmingham Diocese to Lourdes which is the first time the school has joined with the Diocese. This means that students will get to visit the site where Mary appeared to St Bernadette, will spend time with and help some of the sick and elderly pilgrims who travel to Lourdes for healing and will get to meet, spend time with and make friends with some of the hundreds of other young people who will be attending from across the diocese. The pilgrimage will cost 450, a cost which will be heavily subsidised by the fundraising students will do. Anyone who would like to go, or would like any more information, needs to speak to Mr Shannon in RE

8 Subject Year 8 Well Done to Lucy Martin and Grace Smith! They have produced some excellent work for our weekly book club! Miss Wright

9 Events We will mark this event on Friday 9 th November in school with a Tree Planting Ceremony involving representatives from each year group. There will be a two minutes silence at 11am on this day. Could any student who is part of the cadets/guides/scouts come to see Mrs Murphy-Long at 1.25 on November 6 th in Rm 18? This includes any students who have already been to see me. Thank you. Mrs F Murphy-Long Year 7 Year 7 Parents/Carers are invited to join us on Thursday 13 th December in the School Hall am for a mince pie and coffee. This will provide an opportunity to speak to Form Tutors and the Head of Year informally. Mrs Thomas, Acting Principal will also be attending. Many thanks Tsunami Appeal Thank you from Geography for supporting the Indonesian Tsunami Appeal on open evening. You have raised A great effort, in a short time. Thank you. Mrs Evans

10 Achievements Achievements Congratulations to the following students who were awarded the vouchers for achieving the highest number of merits this half term:- Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year10 Year 11 Adisa Osayande Holly Westwood Holly Moynihan Freddie Chiverton Mia Fletcher Catholic Fellowship Sponsored Walk Congratulations to the following students for raising Hugh amounts of money for this worthy cause:- Rachel Dell raised Spencer Museka raised Matthew Jenkinson raised

11 Events The school will close at 2.30pm in preparation for this event on Thursday 15 th November. If your child is able to leave school site at the earlier time, then please inform your child s Form Tutor by contacting the school.

12 Events Early Morning Study Facilities The School Library and ICT Room 28 are open each morning from 8.30am 9.00am for homework, reading and private study. A big thank you to all parents/carers and students who have donated items. We have managed to collect a significant amount of food and drink items to donate on Tueday next week. It was a huge school community effort and a great way to come together to support this worthy charity. Teacher Training Day School closed to students for staff training day Monday 5 th November Students are not required to attend school on this day.

13 Subject ATTENDANCE LADDER TOP TEN FORMS 15th 21st OCTOBER WL % 7TL % 11PW) % 8MH) 10SH % 8MEG % 7HE % 7NT % 11CE % 9BU %

14 Information LEAVE OF ABSENCE DURING TERM TIME UPDATED INFORMATION FOR PARENTS The Supreme Court recently reached a decision in the case of Platt v Isle of Wight Council which has clarified the law on unauthorised leave, including holidays, during term time. The parents of children of compulsory school age are required to ensure that they attend school on a regular basis. The Supreme Court has made clear that attending school regularly means that the children must attend school on every day that they are required to do so. As such, the parents of any child who is absent from school without authorisation for any length of time are likely to be considered as committing an offence under s444 of the Education Act Head Teachers retain the ability to authorise leave in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations When considering such requests for a leave of absence, the school are obliged to act within the law. Head Teachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application. If the leave is granted, head teachers are able to determine the number of school days a child can be absent for. It is for the Head Teacher to decide what is exceptional and it is at their discretion if the circumstances warrant the leave to be granted. The school can only consider Leave of Absence requests which are made by the resident parent. Each application for a leave of absence will be considered on a case by case basis and on its own merits. Where applications for leave of absence are made in advance and refused, the child will be required to be in school on the dates set out in the application. If the child is absent during that period, it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence, which may result in legal action being taken against the parent(s), by way of a Fixed Penalty Notice. Failure to make an application for leave in advance can also result in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued to the parent(s). All matters of unauthorised absence relating to a Leave of Absence will be referred to the Attendance, Compliance and Enforcement Service of Warwickshire County Council It is important to note, Fixed Penalty Notices are issued to each parent of each absent child, (for example 2 children and 2 parents, means each parent will receive 2 invoices in the amount of 120 each, totalling 240 for both children, this is reduced to 60 per child if paid within 21 days). Where a Fixed Penalty Notice is not paid within the required timeframe as set out on the notice, the matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Council s Legal Services to consider instigating criminal proceedings under S444 Education Act Fixed Penalty Notices are issued in accordance with Warwickshire County Council s Code of Conduct for Penalty Notices. Your child s progress academically as well as socially is our shared priority Warwickshire Secondary School pupils recorded 8,895 half day sessions of absence due to holiday in the Autumn/Spring term during academic Warwickshire Secondary School pupils recorded 8,895 half day sessions of absence year 2017/18. This is an increase of 1,816 on the previous year. due to holiday in the Autumn/Spring term during academic year 2017/18. This is an increase of 1,816 on the previous year.