St Francis of Assisi Catholic Technology College Headteacher: Mrs P. Mullins, B.A. (Hons), M.A.
NEWSLETTER
Dear Parents,
15th July 2011
As the school year ends, I want to congratulate my staff and students for all their hard work. As always, our young people show a great attitude and commitment to the life and work of our school. Just recently, our sixth formers have been praised from all quarters for displaying tremendous care and support for the sick and elderly during their pilgrimage to Lourdes. His Grace, Archbishop Longley, made a point of telling me how well they had done while on pilgrimage. I am immensely proud of their witness to our faith and the fact that each year they and their staff sacrifice a week‟s holiday to do good works. The end of the school year also signals a time when we lose members of our staff for a variety of reasons such as promotion to other posts or to retirement. We say goodbye to Mrs Holden, Mrs Patton and Mrs Harrison (lunchtime supervisors), Mr Jennings (DT technician), Mrs Munslow (reprographics) Mr Lloyd (Special Needs), Mr Foden (Maths) Mrs Osborn (Special Needs) Mrs Ray (Music) and Mr Powers (PE). Some have given very long service to our school and we wish them every happiness in the future. I am especially sorry to lose my Deputy, Mr Haywood, but delighted that he will become the new Headteacher of another Catholic school, Bishop Milner in Dudley, from September. His contribution to St. Francis has been enormous. His leadership on all of our curriculum matters are a huge part of our school‟s success. His new school will benefit from his considerable expertise and are blessed to have someone of his calibre. We wish him every success and blessing in his new role. (continued…)
(…continued from previous page) Enjoy the summer – whenever it arrives – and look after yourselves. I thank you, the parents, very sincerely for your support and your continued commitment to our lovely school. Yours sincerely, P. Mullins. NEWSLETTER DATES 2011/2012 Issue 1 Issue 2 Issue 3
Fri. 9th December Fri. 2rd March Fri. 13th July
SCHOOL CONTACTS If you have any concerns about your child then please contact one of the following Heads of Achievement & Learning: Year 7 Mrs Beaumont Year 8 Mr Howes Year 9 Mr Brown Year 10 Mrs O'Leary Year 11 Mr Conway/Miss Pearce Year 12 Mrs Haynes / (Ms Brayshaw) Year 13 Mrs Haynes / (Ms Brayshaw)
DATES FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2011—2012 6th September 8th September 23rd September 21st October 31st October 16th December
School opens for Year 7 School open for all students Inset Day School closes for half term School opens School closes for Christmas holidays
Year 7 News Shakespeare Studies In June Year 7 visited the home of Shakespeare and took a trip to Stratford for the day. Pupils spent the day exploring Shakespeare‟s Birthplace, his grave at Holy Trinity Church and taking in the sights and atmosphere of Stratford. Pupils were lucky enough to also have a talk from a leading expert on the life and times of Shakespeare. Victoria, 7F said: “We visited the birth place of Shakespeare and learnt all about him, his plays, his life, his family and even his death. I particularly enjoyed seeing the church; it was phenomenal. The stained glass windows shone everywhere as people looked down the line where Shakespeare was buried. I also learnt that a book that held all of Shakespeare‟s plays was worth £4.5 million. We had lunch by the river and it was a really beautiful, sunny day. We all had a great day. We should do trips like this all the time!”
Year 7 News Rugby Success By Niall, 7F Year 7 has been very successful in rugby this year. The first rugby tournament that we competed in was against a range of other schools in Walsall and held at Walsall Rugby Club. We brought two teams to play for St Francis and my team drew once but won all of the other matches, and so we got through to the County finals. Unfortunately we only a won a few matches at the County finals so we didnâ€&#x;t get through, however, because we won the first tournament it meant that our team was the best team in Walsall and also meant we won a trophy! James and I went to an awards ceremony to collect our trophy which was held at The Lords Mayors Parlour in Walsall. Mrs Beaumont and Mr Powers came along to support us and it was a special evening.
Year 8 7 News Enterprise Aware Year 8 has been taking part in an Enterprise challenge set by Mr Howes as part of their Catholic Citizenship curriculum. All forms were set the challenge to work together in teams and explore the theme of enterprise. Each form was given ÂŁ30 and had a set period of time to use the money to generate additional profit. Year 8 rose to the challenge and developed some creative and interesting ideas on how they could raise money. Events included a sweets stall, Football Challenge, art drawing, nail painting and a mini fete. All form groups embraced the activity and made an outstanding profit for charity.
Examples of some of the jewellery made and sold by 8C.
Year 9 News Bu Katie and Shannon On the weekend of Friday the 24th June Year 9 went away to PGL Liddington. We were split up into different groups as soon as we got there, however many of us were with our roommates and we were all very happy about that. We did encounter a few minor problems with the coaches on the way though....
Our first minor problem was that our third coach broke down on the way to our school and by the time it would have arrived we wouldn‟t have been able to get to Liddington on time. This resulted in us squeezing on to the two coaches that had already arrived and a mini bus. Once all of our bags were loaded, we were ready to head off for a jam-packed weekend at PGL! After a slightly longer than expected journey, everyone was separated and put into our designated groups where we were introduced to our team leaders, Will and Polly. My group was group 3, and our first activity was „survivor‟. This consisted of us venturing into the woods and building our own shelter. We also learnt how to start a fire. This was great because my team had the best shelter! After each group had finished their first activity we went back to the centre and took our suitcases to our rooms, unpacked and then had tea. Everyone was then allowed „corridor time‟, where we could just chill and talk in the corridor about what we had been up to.
The next day was an early start. At 7am we were woken up and told to get dressed into our activity clothes. We had breakfast and then got straight into our first activity which was raft-building with PGL leader James. It was extremely funny and an activity I would advise everyone to do if they get the chance. In the end everyone was drenched as we decided to have a swim and play games in the water. After burning all those calories we were ready for lunch!
After a filling lunch our next activity was abseiling. It was also great fun and an activity that I will never forget. And finally the last activity of the day was aero-ball. This was basically a trampoline split up into four different sections and each section had a pocket. The four people playing would have a soft ball and had to get it in the opponent‟s pocket. I must admit I wasn‟t the best at that game.
Year 9 News After our final activity of the day concluded, everyone returned to the centre, had dinner and then went got dressed for Mass. Mass was held at a nearby church. We were made to feel welcome and as though we were a part of their community. It was lovely. Once it was finished we returned back to Liddington PGL centre, where a mini-disco had been set up for us. Everyone then got dressed up and ready for a little party! The night started off slow, but we were all taken by surprise when Harry got up and suddenly started dancing to „Raise Your Glass‟. By the end of the night everyone was on their feet and watching the dance-off between the three lads, Harry, Romelo and William (who are all great dancers). Romelo won the dance-off but in my eyes they were all winners! That was a night that will never be forgotten.
On our last day at PGL everyone was really tired from all the fun that had been had the day before, but we continued to smile and enjoyed our last three activities, which were: giant swing, quad biking and Zip wire. The sun was beaming but with a lovely breeze which is what we all needed for all the energized activities. Then we went to our second activity, quad biking, which was also really exciting. Once we got the bike working we were ready to begin the course. A couple of us crashed but that was the whole point of practice. The sun was beating down on us all. Some of us forgot to put sun protection on but it was alright because we had lunch next, giving us time to put the sun cream on, so we didn‟t burn, instead we developed a nice glow! After lunch came our last activity which was Zip wire; sadly I didn‟t do it because I‟m not too keen on heights. A lot of people said that the first time it‟s quite nerve racking but once you have done it once you want to do it again and again. The last activities went all too quickly and sadly it was time to go home. It was rather sad saying goodbye to the PGL team. The journey back wasn‟t the best in the humid weather conditions but we eventually arrived at school for 7pm and were desperate to get home for a well-earned rest!
Year Year 10 9 News News
Work Experience Whether it‟s working on a farm or helping clients in a salon from 18th – 22nd July, Year 10 will be embarking on a five day work experience as part of a taster into their future life of work.
By Megan 10C
On Thursday 14th July, a “Dress to Impress day” will take place and students will be briefed on the purpose of their work experience and what they should hope to gain from their work experience. This will be followed by a “Did we Impress?” day on Friday 9th September. If there are still any queries about work experience please speak to Miss. Clensy in music about any concerns. We hope that this will be a week to enjoy and the experience will give a useful insight for Year 10 into the world of work.
In Other News… Irish Dancing Competition Winners Over the Easter holidays two of our Year 10 girls took part in the World Irish Dancing Championships in Dublin. Eleanor and Niamh of 10N beat off competition from around the world to take part in this championship. After plenty of hard work the girls beat international competition to win a World Championship medal for the 16 hand reel which is a particularly complicated dance and takes a skilful dancer to perform it successfully. Big congratulations to both of them on their achievement!
Year 11 News Y11 Leaver‟s Prom 2011 The much anticipated Y11 Prom took place this year at Drayton Manor on 7th July. The Prom gave the Year 11s the perfect opportunity to unwind after toiling away for their examinations and to celebrate as a year group together for the final time. The party started at 7.00pm, with students arriving in style in stretch limos and hummers. This year‟s theme was „The Oscars‟ and St Francis‟ finest were as glamorous as stars from the silver screen. Mr Conway, Mrs Blackmore (Year 11 Heads of Achievement and Learning) and Year 11 tutors were there to greet the students as they arrived, and many other staff came along to celebrate the end of an era. After a turn on the red carpet, a three course meal and dancing, students said their final goodbye and looked forward to their successful futures.
Year 11 News
English MFL News News
MFL Strasbourg/Black Forest Trip 2011 By Edward, y12 Strasbourg; a stupefying, bewildering, paradigm-shifting savoir-vivre. The thought of living in an idiosyncratic environment for almost a week with unfamiliar people can be rather daunting, especially if you‟re as introverted as I am. But I am confident that, thanks to this excursion, my perception of the world has changed dramatically, to the point where I now see England as being somewhat monotonous and lacklustre. Singing along with the Dawson‟s Creek theme tune on every coach journey; sitting near the bar outside the Hotel Wacker; playing cards after evening meals to decide who buys the rounds; asking to borrow a seat as an excuse to converse with the locals…yeah, it‟s all part of the awesomeness! You really know the benefit‟s kicked in when you‟re traipsing around Morrison‟s with your parents on the day after your return and you become completely alienated just by hearing the sound of the English language again!
Strolling around the streets of Freiburg on the second day really was something, and ironically made me feel as though I actually was at home, Strasbourg being better still! Our boat trip around this beautiful, serene utopia filled my spirits immensely. It‟s also a splendid means of composing oneself after the huge adrenaline rush you receive from the coaster ride at Hasenhorn - a mountain located in the Schwarzwald in south-western Germany. Make sure you can tell “beschleunigen” from “bremsen”, otherwise you may find there‟s only a 5cm aperture between yourself and the preceding cart!
MFL News Imagine falling from a drop height of 219ft (67m) in excess of 78mph (126km/h) at approximately 4 times the force of gravity with your eyes closed. That‟s the thrill of the Silverstar, currently boasting its prestige as the tallest rollercoaster in Europe, located at Europa Park which lies between Strasbourg and Freiburg. Being the largest theme park in Germany and second most popular theme park resort in Europe, you know you‟re in for a treat! (Please note: If you do own an expensive contraption such as an iPod, it‟s probably beneficial not to carry it with you on this ride, if you don‟t want to be frantically running to and from the Fundbüro on an hourly basis!) All in all however, it‟s simply the dream of any enthusiastic linguist who wants something more than just a list of qualifications on their application form. For me, it was both a brilliant learning curve and a fascinating vacation full of wonderful memories with people who have become friends for life!
MFL News Linguists of the Month March 2011
Ellie y11 Ellie is a talented dual linguist. She makes consistently good effort in both languages, with the potential to achieve very good success at A Level. We look forward to seeing her potential. May 2011
Francis y7 Francis produces consistently good written work and makes exceptional effort at all times. He is developing into an excellent linguist.
ICT News Year 11 ECDL Successes Congratulations to the leaving Y11 ECDL cohort. 100% of these students gained both ECDL Extra (worth Grade B GCSE) and the full ECDL. This is a record high for our ECDL pass rate! We would like to wish these pupils success in all their future endeavours!
Year 9 ECDL Successes Our Year 9 ECDL cohort has been exceptional this year and have gained record numbers of early qualification passes. We would like to congratulate our successful students on their superb achievements. These students have worked really hard all year! Pupils who passed the ECDL Extra (worth Grade B GCSE) are Callum, Sarah, Harry, Jack, Sarah and Laura Some pupils have managed to complete the full ECDL on top of the ECDL Extra are Joseph, Katy, Erika, Troy, Lili, Nichola, Sarah and Dominic.
English News We are delighted that Robin and Daniel in 9C1 have been shortlisted as the Lichfield Young Poet Laureate 2011 as part of Lichfield Festival‟s celebrations. Robin and Daniel wrote a poem entitled: “A Window on the City” and are now two of ten pupils from across the county who have been shortlisted. Their poems will now be read by the National Poet Laureate; Carol Ann Duffy who is judging this year‟s competition. If either are successful then they could become Lichfield‟s Young Poet Laureate for the year and will be able to get involved in lots of activities at the Lichfield Festival and throughout the year. Good luck!
RE News Year 9 students were given the opportunity to attend the Islamic exhibition and Birmingham Central Mosque as part of their Religious Education on other world religions. Here students learnt about the key aspects of Islam and how Muslims put their faith into practice. Students discovered that Islam does have some similarities to Christianity and that many religions pray for same things but in a different way. The staff at the Mosque and the exhibition, commented on how well behaved our students were and the level of respect they showed. They were also impressed with the standard of interesting questions that our students were asking. „Your students are a credit to the school‟ was a key phrase echoed throughout all of the trips. It was clear from the follow up student voice that students have really benefited from this trip gaining knowledge and understanding to help them with their ISA and in their roles as Catholic faith citizens of the future.
Alicia said:
Jack said:
I really enjoyed going to the Islamic exhibition centre and seeing a mosque. I learnt a lot more about the Islamic family rites, and how equality is encouraged into the faith. I now know a lot more about respecting other cultures, I know what to expect of someone from a different faith, and how to recognise different cultures from the clothes they wear and how they act. I thoroughly enjoyed going to the Mosque the most, because I didn‟t know what to expect. When I went inside I realised how different it is to a Catholic Church. I enjoyed visiting the two different sections of the mosque, the men‟s section and the women‟s section. I learnt that there are two different sections so men and women do not get distracted during prayer by one another.
I enjoyed going on the trip to the Mosque as it was a new experience for me and I‟m sure it was for the rest of the group as well. It was interesting to learn about the different aspects of Islamic culture and faith. I particularly enjoyed the detailed models and artefacts that were at the exhibition. It was awe-inspiring to explore the Mosque and all the wonderful features, like the big overhead chandelier for example. The people that showed us around knew a lot about Islam and were willing to answer questions we had. They were also very helpful in answering our questions, and welcomed us freely into their culture and society. Overall, I enjoyed the whole experience, as it was a day where we learnt outside the classroom, and learnt first-hand what the Islamic culture was like and what it involved. This was one of my favourite trips throughout the whole of Key Stage Three!
R.E News Emily said: I enjoyed visiting the Islamic exhibition and the Mosque because I got to learn about other faiths and about how they worship in their Mosque. The project we did before the trip helped us answer questions that they asked. I learnt about science in the Islamic faith, its history, the five pillars and family life. It wasn‟t what I expected. The Mosque was a lot bigger than I thought it would be. Inside there is a huge chandelier and over 400 prayer mats incorporated into the carpet, we had to take our shoes off as a sign of respect and we visited the men and women‟s area. We also got to hear a prayer being said in Arabic, and we got taught how to write our name in Arabic at the exhibition. We learned a lot more about how devoted Muslims were to prayer and visiting sacred areas, such as Mecca and Medina. We learnt about how many Muslims have discovered different things throughout time, which was interesting because I didn‟t know a faith could be traced back to such things as science. The presenters also knew a lot about their faith and were able to take questions on anything we didn‟t understand, they explained a lot about the different topics of Islam they also explained it in a lot of detail. Overall the day was very enjoyable and it was interesting to learn about someone else‟s way of worship and prayer.
Sports News by Mr Connell As we come to the end of another academic year, it is time to reflect on the considerable achievements of our students in a sporting context this year. We celebrate our examination success and it is equally as important to celebrate the achievements of our young people, who contribute a great deal to our school in other ways. A great deal of praise must go out to all of those students who have represented the school in one of the many school teams that we put out in local and regional competitions. First and foremost, the PE department pride themselves on maintaining the excellent reputation that the school has in terms of sporting behaviour and our students never fail to adhere to the highest standard and expectations placed upon them. The sporting calendar has seen St Francis of Assisi CTC represented across a full range of sporting activities. We have also managed to have a considerable degree of success in a number of sports. Our year 7 boys have proved to be a very competitive year group and have been successful in a number of local competitions. The football team were unbeaten in their league season, as were the basketball team. The basketball team went on to add the cup competition to their list of achievements. The boyâ€&#x;s rugby team were also a success and won the Walsall Emerging Schools competition. They then went on to represent Walsall at the Staffordshire Emerging schools competition and performed admirably to finish a creditable 5th in the county. Again, we had another successful year in table tennis at St Francis. Our KS4 boys won the Walsall schools completion as did our KS4 girls. The boys went on to represent Walsall in the West Midlands championships at Wood Green Sports College. They beat everyone in sight until they met Wood Green in the final and unfortunately were beaten at the final hurdle, so a big well done must go to Shaun, Arian, Michael and Sam. The boys are going on to represent Walsall in the Black Country School Olympics. On an individual level, all of the aforementioned boys made it through the group stages in the individual championships, only to meet the boys from Wood Green in the knock out phase. Shane in year 13 went further and made it through to the final, only to be beaten in a tense game by a student from Willenhall Sports College (who is in the England development squad). Lauren in year 8 went one better and was crowned West Midlands champion, without having to break sweat, Lauren went on to represent the County in the next stage.
Sports News By Mary, 8N
Tag Rugby Since the beginning of 2011 a group of girls from Year 8 have been taking the Tag Rugby world by storm.
Myself, Serena, Jodie, Harriet, Molly, Mollie, Niamh, Phoebe and Grace decided to give a Tag Rugby tournament a go with encouragement from the P.E staff. We had never played the game before but quickly picked up the rules and before we knew it we had won our first tournament. The P.E staff soon noticed our potential and the training began for the next big tournament – we wanted to win! We were nervous when we arrived at the tournament but were confident in our ability after all the hard work we had put it. The tournament was tough but we won all our games to get the final. In the final game we battled to the end and it came down to the last golden try; we were unsuccessful at the very last moment but were really proud of our performance in only our second game. Shortly after, another opportunity arose for us to enter our team in the Black Country School Games. Once again, we worked really hard as a team and before we knew it we had won every game and the final. We were so excited and are still really happy with our performance and all our hard work. We are looking forward to next year and hopefully there will be more Tag Rugby opportunities for us.
Applied Law News As the first year of Applied Law at St Francis of Assisi CTC comes to an end, Year 12 students reflect on the success of the course so far. Applied Law is a BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma, which is the equivalent of one A-Level. It is graded as Pass (equivalent to an E-grade), Merit (equivalent to a C-grade), or Distinction (equivalent to an A-grade) and carries the same UCAS points as these grades. Ryan and Lauren have both achieved a Distinction in Year 12 and are on course to repeat this success in Year 13.
This year I started my A levels, the subjects I chose to study were Business studies, History, Physical education and Applied Law. As law is a new subject taught at the school I didnâ€&#x;t know what to expect on my first day but from the first time I entered the class room I was hooked on the subject and I found every topic interesting. The lessons themselves are laid back and always enjoyable making it a more relaxed environment to work and I feel more confident to get involved in the class discussions. In Law I have learned about the British constitution, Case law, the different forms of courts, the criminal and civil legal system and much more, but law is not just all written work as we had guest speakers from actual Solicitors (Lawyers), we also had a day out to Aston university in Birmingham to sit in on a lecture about the different forms of law as well as having lessons where we worked in groups on a scenario where we had to argue our cases and come to an agreement on the outcome of the case. I have recommended Applied Law as a chosen subject to the current year 11s who will be coming into year 12 come September and I would recommend Applied Law to anyone considering coming back to 6th form at St. Francis. By Ryan
Applied Law News
Lauren says: Law at times can be a difficult subject, but once you understand it, it then becomes easier to complete work/assignments. Personally I have enjoyed this subject a lot as it is interesting and enjoyable. The unit that I have enjoyed the most is the latest unit; this is because it involves some interesting cases and some interesting class debates. Law involves a lot of classroom debates, which has been a good chance for us students to have our own opinion and a chance for everyone to take part. It does involve a lot of work that needs to be done, but at the same time it is an enjoyable subject. We have done 3 units in year 12 which involve 5 assignments for each unit. We had started with an induction pack which prepared us for the rest of the year. These are some of the topics that we cover in each unit. Unit 1 – Dispute solving in the legal system Introduction to criminal law Who‟s who in the English legal system Who‟s who in the civil courts Youth courts Who‟s who in the criminal courts Unit 2 – Understanding law making Law making in the UK Acts of parliament and delegated legislation Principle of statutory interpretation European law Unit 3 – Aspects of legal liability The tort of negligence The elements of crime Application of specific non-fatal offences Sentencing I recommend other pupils to take law as one of their A-Levels as they may then discover a new interest and wish to continue law at university. It will also benefit them as they will have a better understanding of the law which always helps. I believe that other students who take law will enjoy it and will have a great interest in the subject.
School Noticeboard Gardening News Congratulations to Francesca Andrews in year 10 who was runner up in a national competition to design a garden. There was a choice of category and Francesca chose to design a vegetable garden. As a result of Francesca‟s fabulous design the school has won a year‟s adoption of Wenda the Orangutan. Wenda is a Sumatran Orangutan, a species whose population is listed as critically endangered.
Francesca with her prize in the school vegetable garden.
How does your garden grow? Mrs Majster and Mrs Brooks have been working with the ASDAN group to make the front garden at school more appealing for visitors, staff and pupils. The team were asked by Mrs Mullins after the groups green-fingered talents were noticed for their work in the vegetable patch and garden in school. The front garden is now very colourful, warm and inviting for all that visit St Francis – be sure to look out for it next time you pass. Well done team!
Hall of Fame for St Francis St Francis has been awarded two awards from Walsall Council and Serco recognising our achievements over the last few years. We are delighted with the awards and recognition for the hard work of both staff and pupils. The awards are: Commended for Improvement 5+A*-C including English and Maths 2005-2010 Best Performance KS2-4: Three Levels Progress in English and in Maths 2010
School Noticeboard Appealing to all people with business experience Do you want a chance to help young people at St. Francis of Assisi CTC? Do you want to share your wealth of business experience by being part of an internationally-recognised business programme? Do you want to make a real difference to young people by volunteering to be their business advisor? If so, then being a Young Enterprise Business Advisor is just for you. From September a small group of Year 10 students will need the expertise of an adult who has experience of working in the public or private sectors to guide them in setting up and running a Young enterprise Company. The philosophy of Young Enterprise is the students „learn by doing‟ with the guidance of a teacher and a business advisor.
Your commitment is to meet with the students fortnightly (weekly if possible) for an hour over one to two years to help them make progress in establishing and running their company. The Black Country Young Enterprise Programme Manager will train you up so you are well prepared. You will find it extremely rewarding to see how you have made a significant difference to the lives of these young people. Young Enterprise is also valued by many employers due to the benefits it brings to the person who acts as the business advisor. If you are willing to help, and to find out more, then please contact me by email on againey@stfrancis.cc. You can also find out more on www.youngenterprise.org.uk Mr A Gainey Head of Business Studies
Did you know…? St Francis of Assisi has just been awarded Level 2 Dyslexia Friendly School status. This is an enormous achievement for the school and recognition of the hard work of our Dyslexia Centre.
School Noticeboard TRANSPORT INFORMATION APPLICATIONS FOR FREE BUS PASSES FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 2011/2012 This is a reminder to those parents that receive free bus passes that you should reapply before the end of July (Except Staffordshire). Walsall parents – Application forms are available on the school website and from the Transport office. They should be completed as soon as possible and returned to SERCO at the address shown on the top of the form- not to the school. Don‟t forget to make it clear to SERCO if you want a Central Connect pass. The issue of Central Connect passes is at SECO‟S discretion but they won‟t consider your application unless you ask. Sandwell parents – Sandwell LA will automatically process existing pass holders. Any parent that wishes to apply or is unsure as to their eligibility can obtain information and an application form from Trudy Saddington at Sandwell L.A on 0121 569 8331. Staffordshire parents – I should receive next year‟s passes and these will be distributed before the end of term. If your child does not receive a pass and you think that you should be entitled to one then please contact Staffordshire County Council on 01785 278719/278718. Photo ID Cards Students who have Travel West Midland, Scholars or Centro bus passes need to have a Photo identity card. These can be purchased (and a plastic wallet) from the Travel West Midlands shop located in the main bus station in Walsall. Without them the drivers can refuse to let you travel. Students that use the Central Connect Services 738,739 and 740 Fares will increase on these services from September 2011. On bus cash price one way £1.50. 1 Term pass £165.00 Full annual pass £430.00
School Noticeboard TRANSPORT INFORMATION FOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE AGED 16 OR OVER STUDENTS WILL NO LONGER BE ENTITLED TO SUBSIDISED TRANSPORT. Students who have Travel West Midland, Scholars or Centro bus passes. 16-18 photo cards. Once students reach the age of 16 you cannot buy a „child rate‟ pass or pay a „child rate‟ fare unless you have a 16-18 „child rate‟ photo card. Applications for the 16-18 photo cards will be available from Mr Tafano at the beginning of next term Sandwell Students: At present students may be able to claim travel expenses. Collect an application form from Mr Tafano or Contact Trudy Saddington on 0121 569 8331 and ask for one or by E – Mail to. trudy_saddington@sandwell.gov.uk) Staffordshire Students: Students who return to school will have to apply to purchase a bus pass from the Integrated Transport Unit, DSD, Riverway, Stafford ST16 3TJ. Telephone No 01785 278718 or E-Mail student.transport@staffordshire.gov.uk. The cost is £430 for Catholic students. Non Catholic students can apply for a vacant seat pass at a cost of £430. Passes can be paid for monthly or by term. If your family cannot afford the cost you could apply to Staffordshire Council for assistance or speak to Mr Tafano, in certain circumstances the school may be able to assist. Students will not be allowed to travel on the bus unless they purchase a pass.
Mr Tafano the School Transport Manager is available via the school office on 01922 740300 or on mobile 07990 894802 (E mail www.mtafano@stfrancis.cc) from 8.30am until 4.30pm Monday to Friday in school term to answer any transport queries. School Transport information is available on the school website at www.stfrancis.cc. Under General Information.
Chaplain‟s Notes Grapevine Well, I feel rather exhausted, but content. Reason: two major pilgrimages in less than a month! From 11 May I led a pilgrimage of 35 people to the Holy Land, in the footsteps of Jesus. It was a very nostalgic experience for me as I had last been to Palestine as a student in 1971. I had spent six weeks as a student at Tantur, a theological institute just off the main road which led from Jerusalem to Hebron. We would catch the bus from the Holy City and get off at Rachel‟s Tomb to walk into Beit Jala, a village opposite Bethleham, where we were living. What a shock to see it now. The road ended at a 10 metre high wall, just after Tantur, forcing our coach to turn sharp left into Bethlehem through the Israeli checkpoint. Since we spent five nights in the „little town‟ where Jesus was born this was a regular event. So sad to see how the Palestinian people, both Christian and Muslim, have to live under the Israeli occupation of their land. Bethlehem is at best a ghetto and at worse a concentration camp. Only the privileged with the necessary passes may travel in and out of the place made so famous by the Church of the Nativity built over the cave where Jesus was born. This situation is replicated all over the Occupied Territories. Two nights were spent in Nazareth, the town of Jesus‟ childhood and home to the Holy Family. Although a Palestinian town in Israel proper, and without a wall, it is still subject to many restrictions. No building is allowed beyond a certain perimeter, making it impossible for the town to grow, meaning that the people live in a tightly confined area with high unemployment. What a contrast when the next pilgrimage took me, with the school, on the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. Here there were no walls and no soldiers pointing guns at us. Here the young people of our Sixth Form excelled in their service of the sick and in the good example they gave to all. It was a pleasure to share those happy days with them and we look forward now to next year. We have much to thank God for. But as we give thanks, let us pray for those who are deprived of justice and freedom, especially in the land where Our Lord Jesus Christ was born, ministered, died and rose again. We should do all we can to help them in their suffering and needs, perhaps through Friends of the Holy Land, a charity which has its base in our own diocese. I wish you all a very happy and relaxed summer holiday, whether it includes pilgrimage of just lazing on the beach. Fr. Michael Leadbeater (School Chaplain)
Extra Curricular Activities Carnegie Book Award 2011 Our reading group students have recently enjoyed taking part in Carnegie Award Shadowing for the second year. The Carnegie is a prestigious book award, given each year to the best novel written for children or young people. The Shadowing Scheme is a national scheme which encourages school reading groups to judge the books for themselves and allows students to submit their reviews of books they‟ve read. Over the past two months, eight students have met every week in the Learning Resource Centre. Settings ranged from medieval Italy to present-day Zimbabwe, with genres including romance, science fiction and gothic fantasy. Along the way we enjoyed discovering new authors and talking about what we‟d read. We found we were challenged, moved, sometimes surprised, but always entertained. For our final meeting, we hosted a visit from Aldridge School‟s reading group. We talked about the books, took part in a quiz, and acted out key scenes from the novels. Finally it was time for the moment of truth and the winner of the Carnegie Award was announced as Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness. Everyone who took part found shadowing the Carnegie a very enjoyable experience and we can‟t wait to do it again next year!
Extra Curricular Activities Walsall Schools’ Book Challenge 2011 On 11th May, a team of students from Y7 and Y8 travelled with Mrs Roberts to Queen Mary‟s High School to take part in the annual Walsall Schools‟ Book Challenge, organised by the Walsall Schools Library Support Service (SLSS). The quiz tested a variety of skills: listening, observation, reading comprehension, plus a set book which all the teams had read in advance. It was a closely-fought contest, but in the end the St Francis team triumphed. They were awarded a trophy for the school and each team member won a goody bag and £10 book token. As the winners we have the opportunity to host the quiz next year, and we‟re looking forward to defending our title!
By Jess, Year 9
(Picture shows the team collecting their prizes from Louise Davies SLSS Manager)
Race for Life
On the 19th June, my mom and I ran the Race for Life which is a five kilometre run through Sutton Park. We raised over a hundred pound between us and it was a good day out. It was very emotional yet heartwarming. Everyone had their reasons to race pinned onto the back of their clothes and reading them all truly made me feel moved. My friends and I finished the race in around forty minutes, and my mom and her friends finished in just over an hour. We all got goody bags and a medal and it was a great experience. Hopefully, we will do it again next year, with even more sponsors. I encourage more people to do it, because the money goes towards the science labs on making a cure for cancer, and I hope one day, cancer is defeated. The pictures show the group of us, and me and my mother before the race.
Extra Curricular Activities St Francis’ Pilgrimage to Lourdes During the May half-term break, twenty-two sixth form students, six members of staff, Father Leadbeater and his wife, and two friends of the school accompanied the Birmingham Archdiocese Pilgrimage to Lourdes. It proved to be an incredible experience for all, whether it was their first time in Lourdes or their tenth. A highlight of the week was the positive comments received about the conduct of our SFA student pilgrims. They were commended on several occasions for their courtesy, friendliness and maturity when caring for the sick. As a team leader for the brancardiers, Jamie was exceptional. At all times his job was made easier by knowing he could rely on his deputy, Hannah, and the great willingness of his fellow students from SFA to get jobs done.
Another highlight was the Night Prayer in the Accueil for sick pilgrims. On the Monday evening our students displayed both their singing talents and devoutness by performing a mixture of meditation , prayers and hymns which was described as „powerful and moving‟ by Father Gerry, the Pilgrimage Director. Further highlights included Mrs Lawrence receiving a gold medal for ten pilgrimages to Lourdes and Father Leadbeater receiving a silver medal for five years. Lunch with Bishop David McGough should also be mentioned, as should our student‟s participation in Mass, processions, helping at the baths, lighting the school candle, singing across the river from the Grotto…honestly, the list is endless!
Extra Curricular Activities St Francis Pilgrimage to Lourdes All trips have their challenges too. Ours included Mrs Lawrence tearing ankle ligaments by falling over an uneven pavement, so we ended up with our own sick pilgrim in a wheelchair! Also, the 21 hour coach journeys there and back are something we all want to forget!
Fundraising for next year‟s trip has already begun! Thank you in advance for your support and generosity. Please put Saturday 3rd December in your diary to attend one of our major fundraising events, the Lourdes 2012 Christmas Bazaar!!
Challenges apart though, the pilgrimage was an inspiring and deeply moving time for all, as can be seen by these reflections from both students and staff:
„One of the best weeks of my life! Loved working with the old people and seeing them enjoying themselves‟ Kirsty, Year 12
„Lourdes was a great experience I can‟t wait to go back‟. Matthew, Year 12
„Lourdes was an amazing experience and one I will never forget…saying night prayer at the Accueil was a truly heart- warming moment‟ Isobel, Year 13
„Lourdes is a great place…where you can be yourself and put your faith into action‟ Miss Briars
Extra Curricular Activities WIZARD OF OZ Several members of our school from year 7‟s all the way up to sixth form have been working very hard to prepare for our school production of the Wizard of Oz. On Monday 4th July they performed in front of several primary schools. Several members of staff have roles in the play including Mr Garrett, Mrs O‟leary, Miss Sutton, Mr Hurrion, Mrs Beaumont, Mr Howes, Miss Johnstone and Mr Hughes. I asked some members of the cast including Megan who is playing Dorothy what we can expect, “There are some twists in the plot that we hope everyone will find funny”. We also managed to raise £207 for Mrs Mullins, Mr Haywood and Mr Mitchell to dress up as characters from the Wizard of Oz.
See the next newsletter issue for a full review of the Wizard of Oz production.
Newsletter Information Want to feature in the What’s On section? If you want to write a review on an event, film, book, show or concert then email Miss Nolan at hnolan@stfrancis.cc a review of no more than 300 words and you might find yourself appearing in the next newsletter.
WANTED REPORTERS Are you a budding reporter or interested in design? The newsletter needs you. The newsletter team would like students to volunteer to report on all our wonderful news and help with the design and layout of the newsletter. If you are interested, email Miss Nolan at hnolan@stfrancis.cc to find out more.
The next date for the newsletter is December 2012. Can‟t wait until December for the next issue? Then, log onto the VLE and School website from September for up-to-date news before the next school newsletter. Thank you to all students who contributed to the newsletter. Special thanks to the St Francis newsletter team: Year 9 Jessica Aimee Shannon Katie Year 10 Megan Marie-Clare To be involved in the writing and production of the newsletter, contact Miss Nolan at hnolan@stfrancis.cc
ZUMBA! Calling all parents! Do you want to take up a new hobby and keep fit? There is a new ZUMBA class taking place on Friday afternoons at St Francis. The class takes place on Friday at 3.45 – 4.45 and costs £3.50. If you are interested in joining in the fun, email Miss Nickless at rnickless@stfrancis.cc