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School & Sixth Form College A Catholic Academy ISSUE SEVEN • AUTUMN TERM 2013 • www.stjohnsrc.org.uk NEWS IN THIS ISSUE • Children in Need YOUNG DESIGNERS • Focus On: History • European Day Of Languages SHOWCASE CREATIVITY • Faith 13 A Learning Community Guided by Gospel Values A Learning Community Guided by Gospel Values 01 A WArM WELCOME TO YEAR 7 Mrs Barnham and I have been heavily involved with animation and basketball and swimming clubs. Miss WELCOME immensely impressed in the way X-Box Clubs. In the Music department Smith has been impressed with the Year 7s have taken the opportunity to standard of dancers, gymnasts and year 7 have settled into life at St participate in the orchestra, Pop Choir, trampolinists. Table tennis and running By the time you read this newsletter we would imagine that John’s. Forte and Only Boys Aloud groups. We clubs have been well attended, and we many of you will be busy preparing for the great celebration Their transition into secondary school have had representatives involved with have large and talented squads for both life has been greatly aided by the MADD productions, and this has proven football and rugby. of Christmas and counting down the days when you can enjoy number of extra-curricular activities that to be so popular that Miss Kirkwood Well done to all year 7 students for the company of friends and family. the students have become involved with and Miss Mitchell have also started a making such a positive contribution to St in and around school. Year 7 students junior drama club. In the PE department John’s. Keep up the good work! proudly represent a wide range of clubs it is fantastic to see so many students including, French and Creative Writing, involved with a wide range of activities. Mr D Smith History and Science Club and Explorer Many students from year 7 have and Film Clubs. Many students are also attended netball, kayaking, Wildcat’s At this special time of year students and staff spiritual, cultural and social understanding at St John’s are working hard to support those through reflective retreat experiences, Drama who find themselves in difficult circumstances. trips to the West End and thought-provoking Charitable activities for “Children in Need” and residentials to Poland. Such a variety of events the Philippines Disaster have taken place over have encouraged our students to develop their CHILDREN IN NEED recent weeks and we have been overwhelmed own unique talents and our newsletter provides StAFF AND by your generosity and willingness to help, an insight into the amazing experiences EVENT - 10N securing funds in excess of £3,000 for such enjoyed by our students, enabling them to On 15 November, form 10N StuDENtS gO worthy causes. Our young people never shine both within St John’s and within the wider raised £612.60 for Children BEAr-FACED cease to amaze us with their enthusiasm and community. in Need. commitment, and it is always wonderful to From Modern Foreign Languages to Design FOr PuDSEy! see them dedicating so much time and effort The group had watched some of the Technology and everything in between, in helping those who are less fortunate than campaign videos and researched the During enrichment time on we have provided opportunities to suit gErArD MOrAN themselves. different charities funded by Children in Friday 15th November the female Headteacher everyone’s interests, needs and abilities. Yet Need and were really motivated to do members of 10H (including Miss This has been a busy and exciting term at as “A Learning Community Guided by Gospel something to help. Students in the class Kirkwood!) went ‘bear-faced’ by St John’s with a wealth of extra-curricular Values” we strive to develop the whole person, came up with the idea of a sponsored removing their make-up to raise events, sporting tournaments, liturgical providing experiences that can be truly life- silence as they are a really boisterous money for Children in Need. experiences, musical extravaganzas and changing. and chatty group and knew that they Those of you that are familiar Catholic Partnership activities. An important In this season of Advent there is no doubt would find it a real challenge. Their with the members of 10N will event for our school occurred at the start of that the acts of giving and receiving are at the reputation for being loud also inspired understand what a challenge this December when Bishop Seamus Cunningham very heart of Christmas. Looking through the many sponsors from teachers who were was for many of the girls, there visited St John’s to bless our chapel and newsletter you will see that it is full of superb keen to keep them quiet for the day! The were even a few tears at one our new Stations of the Cross. We were very stories of how our young people have made the original target was £150 and students stage! Congratulations to all of proud that Bishop Seamus was able to give us most of their own special gifts, enabling them were overwhelmed by how generous the girls that took part, they have his valuable time to celebrate the event with to live life to the full. The joy and fulfilment that people were in sponsoring them, raised over £50 so far! students, parents and staff from our learning our young people generate, when they commit surpassing their target by £462.60. On community. Local ceramics artist, Christine themselves to the many activities outlined in the day students were silent from 9:10 Constant, worked with some of our Year 12 this newsletter, enrich our whole community. until 3:00pm including all lessons and students to create free standing candle holders break times. They carried notepads so During this Advent, as we prepare for and sconces which were developed from the they could participate in lessons and LiSA ByrON Christmas, let us all remember that the students’ own designs. The sconces now communicate with friends. "Although I found it a Head of School illuminate the Stations of the Cross which greatest gift the world has ever received was adorn our chapel. the birth of a baby who came so that we all "I am incredibly proud of how hard all of challenge, the activity may have life and, through Him, we have the the students have worked to raise such During the term students have taken full opportunity to live our lives to the full. an amazing amount of money for such really made me realise advantage of the wonderful opportunities a worthy cause. It was a great challenge available to them from visits to universities, for them, but they were determined to how something so simple museums and exhibitions to developing their succeed after watching the touching could make such a big campaign videos on the Pudsey website. The success of the event has motivated difference." the students to think of other ways they Hannah Dunning (Year 10) We wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas. can work together to raise money and make positive contributions to their community." Miss Murphy (Form Tutor) 02 www.stjohnsrc.org.uk A Learning Community Guided by Gospel Values 03 In the last week of the summer term, Apollo Victoria Theatre for a matinee St JOHN’S NEWS Miss Kirkwood, along with Mr Haslett, performance of 'Wicked'. The show was Miss Carr, Miss Moran and Mr Morley breath-taking and had us singing all the YEAR 5s took a group of 43 students down to way back to the hotel. London for a Performing Arts trip. We SCHOOL RALLIES BLOSSOM A ‘WiCkED’ triP Our third and final day began with a made our way down to London by luxury visit to The Central School of Speech TO SUPPORT THE DuriNg AutuMN tO LONDON! coach and our first stop was a workshop and Drama, where many famous actors with members of the 'Wicked' cast. This have studied. Here we met with two TYPHOON TRAGEDY was an amazing experience and gave us actors who have worked in the likes of CHALLENgE DAy a real glimpse into working as a West Eastenders and Coronation Street, and RELIEF EFFORTS End performer. Following our workshop, On Tuesday, 8th October a group demonstrated how to be Soap actors. of over 160 Year 5 students from we went for a meal together and onto After witnessing the extensive media coverage of Typhoon Haiyan which hit the Again, this was an invaluable experience our Catholic primary partnership the theatre to see our first show - The Philippines recently, we have just completed a ‘Disaster Response Week’ at school that taught us a range of acting skills. schools across the Bishop Auckland Woman in Black. It was terrifying, and to support the call for international aid by the Disaster Emergency Committee. For After some free time to explore Covent area participated in an Autumn- many of us left haunted by what we one week, the whole school has focused upon raising awareness and fundraising Garden and do a bit of shopping, it was themed Challenge Day hosted by St had seen, but it was a fantastic piece of for those in need, wearing white ribbons and leading a wide range of events and sadly time to go home. Words cannot John’s. The day was shared between theatre. activities such as Guess the Teacher competitions, cake bakes and penalty shoot- describe what an amazing time we all numeracy and literacy activities. outs. One pastoral class in particular, 8Y (pictured) managed to raise a staggering The next day began with a trip to Queen’s had on the trip and it was great to make The numeracy section included an £550 from their sponsored spellathon and cake sale.

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