Bishop Douglass Catholic School Parent Newsletter

Transcription

1 Bishop Douglass Catholic School Parent Newsletter In Pursuit of Excellence 03 March January 2016 INTRODUCTION We celebrated World Book Day on Thursday and were thrilled that author Lindsey Barraclough came to visit us and delivered writing workshops to pupils in Years 7 to 9. A Level geographers enjoyed a field trip to Yorkshire and the Brilliant Club launch meeting took place at King s College. We look forward to reports on these trips for next week s newsletter. Year 11 and 6 th form have been given copies of their trial exams which commence the week beginning the 13 th of March. Please ensure your child is working hard at home to prepare for these important exams. LENT This week we began our forty days of Lent, forty days of preparation for Easter. Why these forty days of penance? To return to our roots to God, to our better selves and consequently also to our neighbour. In many ways we have tried to be our own gods, to decide for ourselves what is right or wrong, and we have ended up by making ourselves the center of the world at the expense of ourselves, of God and of neighbour. Now is the right time to return to God and to turn to the people around us. In many regions of the world people celebrate carnival in the days Lent with much noise and merrymaking. Often they wear masks for the occasion. But as Lent has begun, this is the time to put off our masks and to turn our face and heart to God and to people. In this holy season we reflect on the true meaning of our lives. Who am I and what am I living for? Am I living for God and the community? We shall be invited to receive ashes on our foreheads with the invitation, Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel. Away then, with all masks and return to God, to your true self and to one another as God s people. Every blessing to you and yours, Fr. Kevin S.X FORTHCOMING EVENTS Monday 6th March DPT Vaccinations for Year 10 and Year 11 Monday 13th March Friday 17th March Science Week KS4 & KS5 Trial exams Friday 17th March Early Closure. Pupils dismissed at 1pm Monday 13th March Year 11 English and Maths mock exams Monday 3rd April Monday 17th April Easter Break MOBILE PHONES Use of mobile phones to message and interact are often a source of arguments and upsets in school. Please control your child s use of social media. I suggest children are not allowed to use their mobile phones after a certain time in the evening when their use cannot be monitored. Mr Tissot

2 BISHOP DOUGLASS PARENT NEWSLETTER WORLD BOOK DAY 2017 AT BISHOP DOUGLASS Staff members that participated in this year s World Book Day. Loving any excuse to dress-up, Bishop Douglass Staff adopted a Victorian-themed World Book Day for 2017! Driven by the demands of the new GCSE English Curriculum where Victorian Literature is a bigger focus than previously, teachers from across departments donned the attire of their Victorian literary favourites! The school corridors and classrooms were awash with Victorian governesses, madwomen who had been unleashed from their attics, mad scientists, mad hatters, maids, nurses, ladies and gentlemen of high (and not so high!) society, chimney sweepers, urchins and even Miss Havisham, Dickens very famous jilted bride from Great Expectations! Students were encouraged to engage with teachers literary characters by taking part in a competition which required some research, inference and deduction as they had to work out who some of the characters were and which novel they were from. There will be a prize draw and 5 lucky students who got all the answers correct will win an amazon voucher to spend on books! In addition to the dress-up day, we had an author visiting the school on Wednesday 1st March. She worked with a variety of students on creative writing an area of interest we plan to really develop as further workshops and sessions are planned for the coming months. Lastly, there will be a creative writing competition with all year groups invited to participate. We are asking students to re-write the opening of their favourite novel and submit an original piece of writing of no more than 500 words for their chance to win a Kindle! We d love to see as many entries as possible for this competition. Ms Prina SPIRITUALITY MATTERS Remember, from dust you were formed and from dust you will return This week we celebrated Ash Wednesday that marked the season of Lent. We were reminded on that day of the Genesis account which told how we were formed from dust of the earth, of which we will return. We remember then during this holy season to not focus on material possessions or gluttonous ideals. We are reminded to repent, and turn to the gospel. As we prepare to celebrate the feast of Easter, let our attention turn to God, and God alone. TOP TIPS FOR PARENTS OF GCSE STUDENTS Encourage your child to empty their bag and file hand outs and information from lessons at the end of each day. they wont seem important until they need them, at which pint they are likely to be lost under a mountain of random papers Ms Townsend

3 BISHOP DOUGLASS PARENT NEWSLETTER WORDS OF THE WEEK Monday: Coherent (Adjective): Logical and clear. If you can t explain this concept in a more coherent way, I will never be able to understand it. Tuesday: Onerous (Adjective): Involving great effort and difficulty. Sometimes revision can appear onerous, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Wednesday: Inadvertently (Adverb): Not deliberate or considered; unintentional. Tim inadvertently stepped into a puddle which ruined his blue suede shoes! Thursday: Virulent (Adjective): Extremely dangerous and deadly and usually spreading very quickly. The firemen had to wear masks that would protect them from the virulent fumes. Friday: Altercation (Noun): A loud and heated disagreement/fight. The verbal altercation between the passengers was heard in the next carriage. THIS WEEK S TOP E-PRAISE ACHIEVERS: Year 7: Kwadwo Addo (7 Ward) (+40) Year 8: Arber Malaj (8 More) (+45) Year 9: Clifford Appiah (9 More) (+35) Year 10: Rodgers Sakala (10 Owen) (+35) Year 11: Tiehina Taylor (11 Owen) (+40) Year 12: Arian Beic-Khorasani (12 Line) (+30) Year 13: Markus Konig (13 Ward) (+20) Kwadwo Addo Arber Malaj Clifford Appiah Rodgers Sakala Tiehina Taylor Airan Beic-Khorasani Markus Konig

4 BISHOP DOUGLASS PARENT NEWSLETTER THIS WEEK S MATHS CHALLENGE SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK S CHALLENGE

5 BISHOP DOUGLASS PARENT NEWSLETTER PHOTOS FROM THE AUTHOR VISIT Year 7s with author Lindsey Barraclough and staff members Mrs Pavlou and Miss Leen who organised the event. Year 11 SPORTS EVENT Friday 24th February A big thank you to all the students taking part in this years Bishop Douglass Year 11 Sports Day and making it a great success. Congratulations to 11 Fisher who won on the day. Below are some pictures of the event.

6 BISHOP DOUGLASS PARENT NEWSLETTER EXTRA-CURRICULAR AND STUDY SUPPORT Before School am Lunchtime pm After School pm Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Evening Evening Year 7 Science Club Science Department Evening EXTRA-CURRICULAR CLUBS WHOLE SCHOOL: Lunchtime pm After School pm Evening Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Bishop Douglass Youth Club (BDYC) Sports Hall *Runs until 5:30pm Rock School E0.5 Debate Mate Room C3.2 Fixture: Year 7 v London Academy Football (Away) Orchestra Gospel Choir Chess Club