St Columba’s Catholic Boys’ School Week Ending Friday 27 November 2020 Issue CCXCIII Weekly News 17 pages Fred’s Prayer for the Week Almighty Father, in your providence every hair of our head is counted, every tear is noted, and every prayer heard. We thank you for your faithful goodness to us, Message and ask for a peaceful day. from the Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Head Teacher God bless, Fred (Chaplain) Two parrots were sat so we will be able to went into bins, rather than morning and at the end of on a perch … one said support you. the floor, the seagulls might the day and students should to the other lose interest in their regular be wary about running out “Can you smell fish?” Even in these strange times visits? Also, on the topic from between parked cars. we are able to maintain of reminders please talk We have had to send some the normality of raising with your son about how 28 Days Later…. It will be groups of students home money for worthy causes. to safely get to school and Christmas! to isolate in response to This week we have had get home. Halcot Avenue positive Covid19 test results our Non-Uniform Day for is always very busy in the Stay Safe of students or staff within students and staff and so far, Mr N Fisher their Bubble. It might not you have given over £1,200 always be obvious why for The Mizen Foundation House Points Overall Totals (as at 27 Nov) some students in a year (we hope this total will rise as group are in isolation while a non-uniform day will be held for those currently self-isolating 402 398 others are not; we follow 377 369 all Public Health England before Christmas). Following 335 advice and we cannot the murder of their son, 277 identify individuals – they Jimmy, in 2008, Barry have a right to privacy. and Margaret Mizen set up a charity to promote a Obviously, we want all message of forgiveness, students in school but we peace and hope. Mr want to protect everyone Creighton reports on this from C19. Thank you to on page 2 and also how families who have kept us Yr 10 are working whilst informed about test results they are isolating. – it helps us keep everyone safe. If your son has to The local seagull community isolate and access to a appear to be very well computer and the internet informed about our will be a challenge, please new break time schedule let us know via KS3COV- and skilled at emptying [email protected]. their bowels on students and sch.uk or KS4COVID@ staff. Can you remind your st-columbas.bexley.sch.uk son that if their rubbish BECKET LOYOLA XAVIER CAMPION FISHER MORE 01322 553236 [email protected] www.st-columbas.bexley.sch.uk @stcolumbascbs 1 Year 10 Virtual Drama Club Year 10 may have been asked to work from home for the The Drama Dept are starting an online after-school club for Yr 7 last week or so but that hasn’t stopped them learning! and Yr 8 focusing on Improv Skills. The club will take place on Teachers across the curriculum have been reporting to me Mondays at 3:30pm on Microsoft Teams. of the excellent quality work that is being sent in and the high numbers of students taking part in ‘live lessons’, via If you’re interested in developing your performance skills, and Microsoft Teams. This will benefit you all in the long run having fun learning Improv, then this club is for you! gentlemen. Well done and keep it up! Improv is form of Drama that is unscripted and requires quick thinking, teamwork, and imagination. It’s a lot of fun! Places are very limited, and the club will have strict rules to ensure all participants remain safe. If you are interested in joining then email Mr Tucker-Bell or Mr Warburton as soon as possible. On Thursday afternoon, Yr 10 were invited to a virtual assembly from The Mizen Foundation who were the recipients of the money raised at our most recent non-uniform day. The Mizens returned, albeit via Teams, to St Columba’s to share the story of their son Jimmy. Their story is incredibly moving and inspiring and I am very grateful to them for sharing it with Yr 10. The assembly finished with questions submitted by students which were honestly answered by Margaret and Barry. I am sure their story will have a profound impact on the students in Yr 10 as it has done with many boys in the past. If you would like to read more about The Mizen Foundation and donate please visit their website: http://mizenfoundation.org/ Mr Creighton Head of Year 10 01322 553236 [email protected] www.st-columbas.bexley.sch.uk @stcolumbascbs 2 Spotlight on Staff on Students and Staff! Ques&on Answer What is your name? Mr Tucker-Bell What do you do in school? I teach drama I’ve been teaching for 10 years, and here since September How long have you done it for? 2020 Various – retail, white-van-man, customer service…. Looked Have you had any other careers? aNer specialist school work at St Catherine’s for a number of years Theatre and Music are my two main hobbies. I write and compose – have a studio at home, and a theatre group who I What hobbies or interests do you take work to the Edinburgh Fringe with. I’ve made three have? albums over the last few years, songs, instrumental music, etc, and have been doing thought for the day on Radio Kent following a few interviews about the theatre work! My favourite book is “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carolos Can you name a favourite book? Ruiz Zafon. Set in Barcelona, it really evokes the place and And why…. era, with great characters and a narra&ve that really draws you in. Pan’s Labyrinth – I love the way it juxtaposes the horror of Can you name a favourite film? And war with a fantasy/horror story. It’s incredibly imagina&ve why…. and leaves so much to your own interpreta&on. Recently fell in love with the Polpo recipe book, and their Can you name a favourite meal? fennel meatballs and their tomato sauce are off-the-scale good! Katy Perry or Taylor SwiN? Neither. Madness! Dr Who or Bake-Off? Both! I refuse to choose! I’m A Celebrity or Strictly? Strictly at a push! Favourite Holiday des&na&on? For rest: Gran Canaria. For fun: Florida! As I teenager I was part of a group that won the “Bri&sh New Can you share one unexpected fact Potato Songwri&ng Compe&&on” and met Worzel Gummidge about yourself? (Jon Pertwee) and heard him swear. Spotlight on Students Ques&on Answer What is your name? Brunno Barbosa What Form are you in? 9OR (9X) What do you love about St I like the prac&cal lessons the school offers Columba's? What is your favourite subject? D.T. What hobbies or interests do you • Cars have? • Rugby Can you name a favourite book? The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis. It turns a plain game of And why…. chess into an ac&on-packed thriller. Can you name a favourite film? And Back to the Future and Terminator because I enjoy Sci-fi. why…. Can you name a favourite meal? Sausage and mash with gravy. Neither! Dizzee or Skepta? • Classical Music by Beethoven • Gas Gas Gas by Manuel Karamori I’m A Celebrity or Strictly? Neither… 01322 553236 [email protected] www.st-columbas.bexley.sch.uk @stcolumbascbs 3 Nando’s Challenge! You may be asking, why only books using the ‘Accelerated 100% each time, the words one chapter? Some of our Reader’ programme or within the books are added A chance for Yr 7 to win a students find it a challenge discussing current affairs. up and they could be also £50 voucher for Nando’s has read a novel: it may be due in the chance of winning a become available. Who is up to them not knowing what To be in for the chance of St Columba’s Catholic Boys’ for the challenge? to read, the front covers winning that £50 voucher, School ‘Millionaire’s Badge’. This don’t look enticing, they have all they need to do is the badge will allow them to gain What you need to know and do: never read a type of genre following: a raffle ticket to be entered in before or even because they • Read a book that is in their for the draw. Once a fortnight, Yr 7 will be haven’t enjoyed reading in colour range taken to the library in their the past. These first chapters • Once the whole book has They can do quizzes at home English lessons, where reading will be recommended from a been read, complete a quiz as well as in school. The library will be at the heart of all they different staff member every on that book via ‘Accelerated will be open before school, do. As we all know, reading is two weeks, they will experience Reader’ break time and lunch time. a pivotal role to our education, new genres, fiction and• If they get 100% get a ticket vocabulary and future. non-fiction. This will help from Mrs Brackstone This is a fun way to encourage them to engage in books that • This ticket goes into the our students to read, and a For the first half of the lesson, they would not normally read draw for the end of half term great opportunity to buy the students, will be exposed to a or pick up.