The Albanian
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Albanian Finchley Catholic High School, Woodside Lane, Finchley N12 ODA October 2018 Volume 26, Issue 1 Message from the Head Our new academic year has begun very positively. Our students have already undertaken several activities Thank you to our parental community for working to support the common good, which is a huge focus for collaboratively with us for our students’ benefit. We us here at our Catholic School. really appreciate your support, cooperation and open communication as it enables us to meet our students’ Thank you for supporting our boys and girls to needs more effectively. Staff try to ensure that parents participate and be involved in events which continue to are in receipt of the information they require and will find make a very real difference for the Community. You will interesting and useful. If there are any areas in which see in this edition a few pictures from our Cafod fast you need further details or explanation, please let us day, MacMillan Coffee morning and our 6th form Mary’s know so we can further strengthen our working Meals fund raiser. partnership . In addition to these events, Year 10 students have Please remember to check our website regularly for raised funds for a mental health charity and a number of updates and follow us on Twitter (@fchslondon) for other charitable events are already planned for next half news and updates. term. We had our Year 7 Welcome Event on October 4th, One of the most enjoyable aspects of my role is the time which was a wonderful occasion. Our new students all I spend visiting lessons each day. It is a real highlight for received a presentation folder from our Chair of me to see our students involved and interested in their Governors, Jane Inzani. This personalized folder is to learning and thus making progress. Our young people be kept for students’ 7 years with us, and be used to are extremely fortunate to be in a school full of collate certificates and awards to celebrate their enthusiastic, talented professional staff who go to achievements. extraordinary lengths to ensure our students are learning effectively and have access to a multitude of A film was also created by staff at school, to show the extra curricular and enrichment activities. Thank you to boys at work and enjoying all curriculum areas and everyone who makes this a reality for our young people. different activities. Our Year 7 cohort sang a couple of numbers they had been rehearsing with music colleagues, which parents and staff really enjoyed. I wish you all a restful and enjoyable half term break. I was so impressed by the boys’ singing that I requested With every Good Wish, they perform for all staff at our morning briefing the following Monday. It was a very special way to start our week and thanks again to the boys for sharing their gifts Niamh Arnull with us all. Safeguarding your Child Safeguarding your son or daughter is a hugely important role. They receive advice about a number of issues through PSHE lessons, their curriculum and registrations. We need your help and support in reinforcing these issues. Below is some advice from nationalonlinesafe- ty.com which (we hope) will help you keep your children safe whilst online. 2 2 Safeguarding your Child 3 3 Spiritual Life R Parsons First Day Celebration chapter in their lives. time of reflection and a reminder of Fr Norbert Fernandes and Fr Mehall their relationship with God being a Mass for Year 7 Lowry came to celebrate the Mass, vital aspect of their life at FCHS. which was lovely as they both have connections to our school and the On their first day as members of the wider community. school community our new Year 7 Students and staff led the readings, students, with their families, prayers, the offertory and helped by attended Mass to celebrate this new altar serving. We hope this was a They took part in a meditation, a Williams, Mr Twomey, Ms Boland Year 12 Day Retreats debate about whether social media and Mr Crosby. The students had a can have an impact on self-esteem, a wonderful day and we hope this will Over two days, Year 12 took part in a reflection task where they explore be an experience that they take retreat as part of their induction into what makes them who they are and forward into the coming year and the Sixth Form. The theme of the that it is more than just what is on the their time in Sixth Form. retreat was ‘My True Self’. We asked surface, and took the time to write students reflect on their true identity, prayers for the coming year. the beautiful creation God made in The day took place at the beautiful them and how they should be proud Northern Heights centre near Elstree to share this with the world. accompanied by Ms Parsons, Ms 4 4 Spiritual Life Deanery Mass After Mass we had refreshments in th The Mass had a great community Canon Parsons which included a On 20 September, FCHS hosted feel, as many of the staff from differ- beautiful celebration cake made by the Annual Barnet Deanery Mass for ent schools led the Liturgy of the our Chef Manager, Julianna. This staff from both local primary and Word and offertory. The Mass was celebration brought a lovely sense of secondary schools. It was a wonder- supported by pupils from the choir belonging and partnership between ful Mass celebrated by Bishop John including a stunning Communion the schools which we will continue to Wilson and Fr Kevin Ryan. Bishop reflection from Oliver Barrett and our grow throughout this school year John’s homily reflected on the true Sixth Form Event Prefects were also and into the future. calling we have to teach young peo- on hand to welcome those attending. ple, and the realisation that it is a gift. Times to give a talk on ‘Religious community. John gave a detailed Evening of Religious Art’. The talk included pieces of reli- explanation of not only the history of Art gious art that are included in the new the paintings and artists, but also the RE GCSE syllabus, among many symbolism and stories behind each others. painting. We hope this will be a start On 27th September, we welcomed It was wonderful evening attended of many evenings like this. John Dixon, former lecturer and art by parents, students and teachers correspondent for the Catholic from our school and from the local 5 5 Spiritual Life R Parsons collected money for donations’. James says that being part of the CAFOD Harvest Fast They also created a positivity wall group means ‘that we are spreading Day where students wrote messages to the word of God and we are James, a member of the Justice uplift and brighten someone’s day. trying to tell people to start doing and Peace Group explains what we This worked alongside the message this to save the world’. did to support this important event. of the day which was ‘Brighten up’ If students would like to join us, we ‘We had a fast day. This meant The day itself was run by the meet at Monday Lunchtime in Room that we got a small portion of Justice & Peace group, which is 1. Speak to Miss Parsons for more food, so that we understand what made up of a group of students who details. people in poverty go through on meet to discuss social justice issues a daily basis. Some people also and try a make our school and wider a community a better place. tration that you can download to join We hope this will be great way to Chaplaincy Website in with our prayers for the week. show the active and colourful Catho- Over the last couple of months, we You can also have your prayer in- lic landscape of the school and the have been developing a new web- tentions added to ours by submitting wider community. site all to do with Chaplaincy at them on our ‘Intention Page’. These FCHS. It has information about the intentions will be offered up during Catholic Life in school, articles Masses held in the school, and dur- about events in school and links to ing prayer group. parishes that our community are members of. You can find the chaplaincy site via There are also interactive areas to the school’s main website. Use the enjoy as well. There is a Prayer Re- main menu to follow the ‘About Us’ flection page with the Prayer power- link, ‘Faith and Ethos’, then click on points which students use in regis- the ‘FCHS Chaplaincy Page’ tab. 6 6 Events A huge thank you on behalf of the Hospitality students who provided Friday break-time coffee, tea and treats in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. The total amount of money raised amounts to just under £250! This will no doubt make a huge difference to our local community and many families. Thank you once again and there will be more to come from this group of students! L Hourican Sixth Form Executive and Prefects A massive thank you to the Sixth Form executive and prefects for organising our contribution to ‘World Porridge Day’. The Sixth Formers arrived at school at 7am to set up and make the porridge in the food tech room. Many staff members and pupils enjoyed a healthy breakfast and we raised £265.26 for Mary’s Meals who provide chronically hungry children around the world with one meal every school day.