St#Gregory#the#Great#Catholic#School Newsletter$ Volume9Issue%13 th 11 December2015 Tel:%01865%749933 Fax:%01865%717314 Email:'admin.4145@stgregory.dbmac.org.uk www.stgregory.oxon.sch.uk @StGregsOxford MISSION&STATEMENT:& We$walk$in$God s$ways$where$together&we&live,&love,&learn&and&celebrate School&Prayer This%Sunday%we%celebrate% Gaudete%Sunday,%the%Third%Sunday%in%Advent."Our" prayer&is&from&the&cafod&advent&calendar&which&tutor&groups&are&following, Lord,& Pope%Francis%says% God s'love'constantly'impels'us' to#find#new#ways#forward.# Impel&all&of&us&to&find&new&ways to#care#for#the#planet#and#its#people.# Amen School&Awards 1. Dr#Jakoby#nominatesMaelys'Djomo,'Erin'Chambers,'Ella'Solomonand$Latisha$ Singh&(all&8bM)#for#their#recent&effort&in&improving)their)work)in)physics. 2. Mrs$Hodgkins$nominates$Jamil$Kako$and$Milena$Balulis%for%applying(their(food( technology*skills*to*makingthe$delicious)soup$served$during$advent'reconciliation. 3. A"school#award#goes#to#Chelsea#McDonagh#(9CGP),#nominated#by#Ms#Fenton#for$ her$hard$work$and$effort$this$term,"which"has"enabled"her"to"make"great"progress 4. Awards'also'go'to'all'the'students'who'led'our'antibullying(assemblies(this(week.( You$can$read$more$aboutthese%and%the%launch%of%our%antibullying%campaign%in%this% issue%of%the%newsletter. 5. The$following$students$have$done$fantastic$work$on$developing$their$thinking$skills$ in#the$core$programme:"jade"dollamore,"jake"francis,"dontay"hart,"james" Lusanta,(Sagar(Nath,%Taylor%Proffitt,%Sam%Sutton%and%Anna%Ward%(all%7JPS).%Well% done&dr&jakoby 6. Alanna%O Connor%(12PTR)%receives%an%award%for%acting%on%feedback%to%produce'an' outstanding*piece*of*psychology(homework(on(animal(studies(of(attachment.
Dear%DebAnswers'fromour$school$nurse I"liked"the"antibullying(assembly(this(week,( but$two$of$my$friends$are$arguing$and$i$don t$ know%if%i%should%do%something. It s%good%that%you%are%concerned%about%your%friends.%bullying%isn t%a%fallingout$or$a$ friendship*breakup,"although"sometimes'this'iswhere%it%can%start. Bullying(is(usually(behaviour(that(is: repeated intended$to$hurt$someone$either$physically$or$emotionally often&aimed&at&certain&groups,&because&of&race,&religion,)gender)or)sexual' orientation. It#takes#many#forms#and#can#include: physical)assault teasingand/or'name'calling making#threats cyber&bullyingbullying(via(mobile(phone(or(online((e.g.email,'social'networks)and) instant&messenger). Bullying(makes(its$victims$miserable$andundermines)their)confidence.It#can$cause$ sadness,'loneliness'or#anxiety.it#can#also#affect#attendance&and&progress&at#school. I m$pleased$you$liked$the$antibullying'assembly:"we"wanted"itto#raise#awareness#and# motivate(everyone'at'schoolto#make#a#stand#against#bullying.ourantibullying( campaign(is(being(ledby#the#student#council,supported)bymrs"weston"and"myself."" Nobody&should&have&to&put&up&with&bullying&and&we&want&to&ensure&that$nooneat# school&toleratesbullying.))together)we)can)stop)bullying)and)create)a"safe%placewhere% wecan$all#live,&learnand$grow. If#you re#concerned#about#your$friends,$you$could$tell$them$how$unhappy$their$ quarrelling*is*making*youfeel.%don t%join%in%with%name%calling%or%other%unkind% behaviours.,talk,to,a,member,of,staff,$for$example$your$tutor$or$head$of$year.% If#you#see#bullying#happening#to#anyone,#tellthe$nearest$adult$straight$away. Parents(and(carers(with(concerns'shouldcontact&the&school&and&ask&to&speak%to%the% Deputy'Head'of'Year.""This%way,%we#work#together#and#take#the#same#approach.
Year%11%Learning%Review%(Thursday%17th%December%4pm7pm)% All#Year#11#parents#shouldmeet$their$son/daughter s"subject"teachers"to# discuss&their&progress&since&september&and&the&latest&ppe&results.&student& snapshot(reports(will(be(available(plus(the(opportunity(to(attend(some(additional( presentations*from*the#english#and#maths#departments.##appointment#sheets# were#given#to#students#this#week,#so#you#should#have"seen"yours."ask"your" daughter/son$about$it$if$you$haven t.$we#expect#all#parents#to#attend#this# crucial'meeting'to'support'year'11'students'in'their'exam%year.%please% contact&your&child's&tutor&if&you&require&any&further&information.& Sixth&Form&Parents &Evening We#had#a#fantastic(83%(turn(out(for(the(Sixth(Form(Parents (Evening&last&night.&Thank& you$to$parents$and$carers$for$coming$in$to$support$students%with%their%studies.%we ll%be% phoning'with'an'update'for'those'few'parents'who'couldn t'make'it. IMPORTANT)NOTICE)BTEC%SPORT%EXAMINATIONS Monday'14th'December'9am$Year%12L2 Tuesday(15th(December(10:10$and$12:35$Year%11%NU Wednesday(16th(December%9am$Year%11%DH Year%10%PPEs" PrePublic'Examinationscontinue(next%week.%%Students%should&make&sure&they&arrive& at#school%with%the%appropriate%equipment%for%each%exam.keep$up$the$good$work Year%8%Snapshot% Snapshot)reports'were'given'to'year%8students'this'week.''If#you#haven t#seen#your# child s(report(yet,(do(ask(them(for(it.(please&contact&your&child's&tutor&if&you&need$ another(copy. Admissions Please&be&advised&that&the&Board&of&Directors&of&the&Dominic&Barberi&Multi& Academy(Company(is(consulting(on(the(Admissions(Policy(for(201718#for#St# Gregory'the'Great'Catholic'School.'The'closing'date'for'comments'is'31 st January'2016.'Information'about'this'Policy'may'be'found'on https://consultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk/consult.ti/admissionarrangement s2017/consultationhome UCAS%Update Our$improved$university$application$process$is$clearly$paying$off: 45#Applications#Sent 111"Offers"Received 4"Interviews 10#Students#have#received#all#5#offers#and#can#now#decide#their#university#choices.
Year%10%&"11"English"&"Media"News" Memrise'Revision OurEnglish(department(isusing&the&website&and&app&Memrise&(www.memrise.com)& with%students.%wecreate&quizzes$on$key$terms,$definitions$and$on$students'$knowledge$ of#the#texts.#as#students#answer#questions#correctly,#they#will#be#brought#back#into#the# quiz%at%various%intervals,%to%check%that%knowledge%is%100%%secure.% Your%son%or%daughter's%English%or%Media%teacher&will&give&out&an&invitation&code.&Once& a"student"has"joined"the"site,"they"will"be"able"to"take"the"quizzes"and"check"their" progress'against'other'students'in'their'year'and'class.'the'groups'and'courses'are' private(and(can(only(seen(by(invited(members.%quizzescan$also$be$downloaded$so$ that$they$are$available$offline.$for$more$information$please$contact$ms$mccabe. School&Council&AntiBullying(Assembly The$school$council$this$week$ran$the$assembly(as$you$may$have$read$in$this$week s& Dear&Deb )."The#theme#was$'Saying$No$to$bullying'.$All$our#students#have#been#asked# to#sign#a#pledge#to#commit#to#this.#this#will$befollowed'up'in'january'when'students' will$take$part$in$writing$a$student$policy$against$bullying.$ The$students$who$took$part$in$the$assembly'this'week'were:Fallon#Cavanagh#Yr7," Ayesha'Rehman'Yr"7,"Jamil"Abdelhamid"Yr.9,"ElliseWatson'Yr7,"Aman"Kaith"Yr"7," Fabio&Pereira#Yr8and$Aileen$Robinson$Yr8. Well$done$also%to#Freya&Clare,&AishaKhanam,'Nicole'Danescu'and'Fahima'Islam'who' spokein#assembly#this#week#very#personally#about#the#gen#verde#visit#and#the#great# impact'it'had'on'them. Spot%Awards We#have#a#large#number#ofspot%award%winners%this%week:"Kai$Abbots,"Kalesha'Ali," Sharifa'Ali,"Erin%Allen,"Charlotte)Belcher,"Luke%Bennett,"Aleksandar(Besevic,"Tayla% Bradley,"Hubert'Brunszkiewicz,"Connor%Bryan,"Sadiqa&Chaudhary,"Bradlee'Christian," Bailey'Clark,"Arthur&Conmy,"Charlie(Coulthard,"Jayden'Cunha,"Trasor&Cyubahiro," Stella&Da&Silva&Rocha,"Jv#Dani,"Jordan'Dontot,"Aleisha(Dublin,"Nasriya'ElHosny," Nudiario(Fernandes(Sam,"William&Fitzgerald,"Baylie'Geddes,"Ketan&Gill,"Kathan& HaggarRosewall,"Adam%Hamad,"Ashley'Herrera,"Leon%Holifield,"Chiara&Iorio,"Giulia& Iorio,"Wesley&Jodo,Jaeden&Johnson,"Paige&Jones,"Sedra&Kako,"Rida%Kamran,"Bartek' Kapuscinski,"Jack%Kavanagh,"Zalan%KerrWakeham,"Aisha&Khanam,"Hamza%Latif," Dorian'Leszczewski,"Edi$Lopes,"Kaila%Lusabia,"Numayr'Malik,"Chloe"McDonagh," Sophie'McDonagh,"Tori%Morris,"Joseph'Moss,"Logan&Moss,"Caoimhe(Murphy,"Basit& Naqvi,Kyle%Nolan,Elly$Ochiela,Grace"Oliver,"Villem&Paju&Kyndel,Karan%Pal Thapar,Devantae'Patterson,Maisie&Pinnington,"Carmen'Powell,"Alfie&Quirke,"Ivan% Ramboyon,"Katrina'Randall,"Emily&Reeve,"Maya$Reilly,"Andrea'Reyes,"Azaan%Riasat," Rebeca&Ribeiro,"Joyti&Sahota,"Ellie%May%ScraggGodfrey,"Lily$Simmons,"Destiny(Smith," Sanchez(Sony,"Bart%Soroka,"George&Storey,"Rory%Thomas,"Kyron&ThompsonHughes," Erda%Topuzi,"Pedro&Valentinok,#Jessica'Walter,"Abbie%Walters,"Liam%Woodley,"Natalie' Worrall,"and"Eva$Zhang$GarciaValcarcel."Remember,"spot"awards"forLEARN&can& happen&at&any&time& it#could#be#you#next
Data$Checking$Sheets$and$Free$Meals$Forms$ A"Data"Checking$Sheet$will$be$given$out$to$primary&school&parents(and$secondary school&children&on&monday.""please&make&sure&you&check&the&information&it& contains,%write%in%any%corrections,%sign%and%return%it%either%to%main%reception%or% to#your#child's#form#tutor,#by#friday'the'18th'of'december."" There%is%a%Free%Meals%application%form%on%the%back%of%the%Checking%Sheet.%%If%you%think% you$might$be$eligible,$please#complete#the#back#of#the#form#and#we#will#let#you#know" when%we%have%confirmation.%(please'continue'to'give'your'child'a'packed'lunch'or' money&for&lunch&until&you&hear&from&us.)&& Please&apply&even&if&you&do¬&wish&your&child&to&take&up&the&meal&everyday.%%% Every&eligible&application&also&releases&up&to& 1,200&per&child&of&vital&extra& funding.(it(means(we(can(target(this( Pupil(Premium (where(it(is(needed(most. You$only$need$to$complete$one$form$for$all$your$children$at$the$school,$and$you$do$not$ need"to"apply"again"if"your"child"currently"receives"free"school"meals."" If#you#have#any#questions,"please"call"me"on"749"933"oremail:%j.wyatt@dbmac.org.uk.11 Miss$J$Wyatt,$Data$Manager$$ Sports'News Last%week%the%year%7%Netball%team%had$their$first$game$onMonday'vs.#Lord#Williams s School&and&their&first&tournament&on&Wednesday&at&Rye&St&Antony&School.&The&team& consisted)of,)shannon)ghee,)renee)mason,)olivia)bruno,)okeokiti,&maryam&hamid,& Kalesha'Ali,'Precious'Blackstock,'Megan'Walters,'Natasha'Worrall,'Ines$Cabrita$De$ Jesus%and%Tilly%Tyrell.%The%team%played%very%well,%unfortunately*losing*their*match* againstlord%williams sbut$they$got$through$to$the$plate$competition$at"the"tournament" which%they%lostby#onegoal.&a"great%performanceto#build#onby#all.#well$done$girls Next%Match%Monday%7th%December. Fundraising*Event Our$Year$11$students$will$be$serving$hot$chocolate$and$other$drinks$from$the$ Main%Hall%during%break&time&on&Tuesday&15 th and$thursday$17 th December as#a#fundraising#event#for#a#new#drama#group%run%by%students%for%the%students. Holiday(Reading(Challenge Our$library$isrunning&a&holiday&reading&challenge& see#the#last# page%of%this%newsletter%for%details.%we%want%everyone%reading%this% Christmas.*Parents"andCarers& that$includes$you
Paying&for&School&Meals We#have#seen#a#large#increase#in#the#number#of#students#using#Gregory s# restaurant(but(there(still(appears(to(be(some(confusion(about(how(to(top(up( accounts(and(the(amounts(required. A"main"meal"costs" 2,"a"sandwich" 1.50."Hot"snackscost%between% 1.10%and$ 2.00%and%drinks%between%40p%and75p.%%Each%account%is%limited%to%a%spend%of% 4.00%per%day%(which%can%be%adjusted%for%individuals%if%required). There%are%two%options%for%topping%up: 1)The$easiest,$fastest$and$preferred$way$to$top$up$is$online$at$ www.parentmail2.co.uk.1you1will1need1a1code1to1access1the1account1for1the1first1time,1 please&contact&the&main&office&at&stgregory@dbmac.org.uk&if&you&do¬&have&one.&& You$can$add$funds$to$your$child s$account$at$any$time$throughout$theweek$and$it$will$ be#available#for#them#to#spend#within#1#hour. NB:If#a#new#parentmail#code#is#required#then#please#call#the#school#number#to#request# this. 2)If#you#don t#have#internet#access#at#home,#your#child#can#bring#cash#for#the whole&weekto#the#student#office#in#the#newman#building#on#a#monday'morning onlyfrom%8am.""please"put"the"money"in"an"envelope"with"the"amount"and"your" child s(name(written(on(the(front,(this(will(then(be(added(to(their(account(on(that(same( day.%all%students%are%issued%with%a%receipt%to%take%home. And$Finally We#were#treated#to#a#fabulous#Carol#Service#on#Wednesday#from#pupils#of#DBMAC# schools,'including'both'the'primary'and'secondary'phases'of'st'gregory s.'the'music, readings,"dramatic"presentations"and"of"course"the"carols"brought"the"spirit"of" Christmas)into)the)heart)of)our)school.)On)a)personal)note,)I)was)particularly) impressed(by(the(brass(section( our$earlier$investment$in$ whole$class$brass $paying$ off#i#think.#mrs#enticknap#will#be#running#a#series#of#workshops%for%anyone%interested%in% adding& Gloucestershire&sheep&farmer to#their#dramatic#repertoire#of#regional#accents. Bishop'William'Kenney'has'asked'us'to'pass'on'his'letter'which'you'can'read'on'the' next%page.%you ll%be%getting%the%annual%data%checking%sheet%on%monday.%this%isn t%such% a"good"read"as"bishop"william s"letter,"but"it"is"vital"please"check"it"and"return"it"by" next%friday.% Dr#R.#Caseby Vice%Principal
Rt. Rev. William Kenney CP Regional Bishop Coventry, Oxfordshire & Warwickshire St Hugh s House 27 Hensington Road WOODSTOCK Oxfordshire OX20 1JH Tel: +44 (0) 1993 812234 E-mail: wk@sthughs.plus.com December'2015 To the Catholic Schools in the Southern Pastoral Region. Dear Friends, Many of us are perhaps thinking this Christmas of the millions of people who are fleeing their homes because of war, famine, and utter poverty. After the various atrocities which have been committed in Paris, over Sinai, in Lebanon, in Libya and in many of other places many are beginning to regard the strangers and refugees as not being trustworthy or as people who are dangerous. It was, however, to the Shepherds that God revealed his Son for the first time. The Shepherds at the time of Jesus were not to be trusted as they were nomads moving from place to place looking for grazing for their sheep. They were not respectable. The first message, the first noel, was to these people. Every person is made in the image and likeness of Almighty God, whoever she or he is, whatever she or he has done. This Christmas, if we really want to live this feast, to celebrate it, then we need to treat each person we meet not as a stranger, not as someone we do not like, but as a sister or brother made in the image and likeness of God. We will then know what that message of God among us means. We do not need to wait to meet a refugee or a foreigner at the front door. We can begin with our own family, our own relations, especially anybody whom we at times find difficult. We need to try and enjoy their company, to take part in the party, whatever that may be, to give presents, to sing carols, to go to church, to eat well. Everybody should be included. When we have taken on the mind-set of God himself and treat all people as our sisters and brothers, then we will not only welcome the refugee and the foreigner, but we will also be able to sing in all honesty Glory to God in the Highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favours I hope that everybody has a holy, happy and enjoyable Christmas. If you want to give me a present this Christmas, say a prayer for me. God bless +William Kenney CP
Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham Holiday(Events: Christmas)Holiday)Course)for)Boys)and)Girls)aged)412#years# Shop&&&Drop &Run$by$Oxfordshire$Skill$Acquisition$Academy$in$Partnership$ with%oxfordshire%junior%foxes%(professional%football%coaching%for%boys%and%girls% of#all#abilities).#www.osaacademy.co.uk Course'Content:'Matches,)Skills)&)Drills,)Masterful)1V1 s)and)fun)games)to) practice(techniques. Dates:'21 st 22 nd December'Times:10am3pm$ Venue:St#Gregory#the#Great#Catholic#School#Prices:Per$day$ 15,$Full"Course" 30. Limited'spaces'so'book'early'to'avoid'disappointment ABowerman@osaacademy.co.ukTel:%07595221811 DMcgovern@osaacademy.co.ukTel:%07508069731 Christmas)Reading)Challenge We#want#to#get#everyone#reading#over#the#Christmas#holiday: Borrow%a%book%(or%lots%of%books)%from%the%library%next%week Read%it Write&a&review&using&the&form&below Hand%it%in%to%the%library%in%January Each%review%will%gain"you"an"achievement"point"and"the"tutor"group"with#the# most%points%wins%a%prize Christmas Reading Challenge Title:. Author:. Review: Name: Tutor Group: