The Newsletter of Bolton St Catherine’s Academy | Spring 2014 INFINITY A life of learning and opportunity OUR OFFICIAL OPENING Thursday 31st January 2014 saw Addressing the staff Paralympic Chief Sir Philip Craven MBE and students attending lead the official opening of the new the event Sir Philip said building for Bolton St Catherines Academy “You might become a better and Firwood High School. person learning French or a few German words or a bit of physics, Returning from preparations in Brazil but really you become a better person ahead of the 2016 Olympic & Paralympic by interacting with human beings.” Games in Rio, Sir Phillip visited the ceremony and along with the Mayor and Sir Philip spoke to young people of Mayoress of Bolton was invited on a tour the importance of self-esteem and Head of Firwood School Karen Walker of the new facilities of both Bolton St self-determination and he added: “You said: “It was a huge honour having Sir Catherine’s Academy and Firwood High maximise what works and you don’t worry Philip open the school. The opening School. The former paralympian praised about what doesn’t. ceremony showed there are two schools the “great staff and students inside” as and one learning community.” “We’ve got four values - inspiration, well as the building and its facilities. determination, you’ve got to be determined Bolton St Catherine’s Principal, Lee Harris Sir Philip Craven. Along with other to achieve whatever you want to achieve. added: “We have been in the building dignitaries then attended an opening for 18 months but not everything had “Courage, athletes do not think of ceremony celebration and were treated been completed, such as the all weather themselves as courageous but everyone to musical performances from students pitches, and we wanted to show how the else does, and equality.” of both Firwood High School and of pupils had settled in the building. Bolton St Catherine’s Academy including Principal Lead Student Ryan Perry, said: “Inviting Sir Philip to conduct the a performance from our A Level drama “It was very memorable occasion to opening ceremony was about raising students - their take on an extract from have Sir Philip see the facilities and the aspiration, and this is what this new Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ for which great environment we have. He gave a development is about.” they received 99/100 - an A*! motivational speech.” Page 2. Page 3. Page 5. Page 6. Page 8. Youth MP Kenya Inspirational Climate for Olympian Success Charity Trip Andy Reid Learning Visit CELEBRATING STUDENT SUCCESS A WARM WELCOME FROM NEW YOUTH MP Bolton St Catherine’s Academy year 11 pupil Ebony Cropper has won the race to THE PRINCIPAL become one of Bolton’s two new Youth MPs along with Thornleigh Salesian College pupil Tresor Mbuyi aged 16. Dear Parent /Carer, Ebony and Tressor campaigned for the I hope you enjoy this spring term edition posts along with 6 other local candidates, of Infinity. The wide range of articles calling upon 11-18year olds in the local reflects the busy year so far and highlights community to vote on the applicant they the achievements and experiences of our thought would best help shape their students. One of our major objectives is futures. Voting closed on Thursday 6th EBONY BELIEVES: to develop the whole individual not just March and the results published on the “Young people are 20% of the population academically but with positive attitudes 13th March 2014 showing that Ebony won but 100% of the future. I want to make and interpersonal skills that will help them with a landslide victory. young people in Bolton aware of the be successful in adult life. A number of articles reflect this Aaliyah Iqbal 13 Ladybridge School 1,309 votes work. The visit of Cpl Andy Reid was James Casterton 15 Turton School 2,092 votes inspirational in terms of developing a positive attitude and resilience. His words Haval Kareem 15 Essa Academy 2,079 votes echoed those spoken at the official Tresor Mbuyi 16 Thornleigh Salesian College 3,468 votes opening of our building by Sir Philip Craven MBE, who told us that the only Joshua Crossley 18 Rumworth School 764 votes limiting factor on what you can achieve is Ebony Cropper 15 Bolton St Catherine’s Academy 4,174 votes what you think yourself. Ryan Wallwork 16 Bolton Sixth Form 2,107 votes Both speakers gave a really important Emily Raby 15 Mount St Joseph School 1,950 votes and inspirational message as we move towards the examination period. Ebony has been a member of the Congratulations to Ebony Cropper from opportunities available for them. I believe in youth council for 2 years after first equal opportunities for all the youth. I believe year 11 on her election as youth MP for being introduced by teacher Miss in inspiring the youth to do great things.” Bolton. Her success is a real reflection Parry. During her time on the council of her commitment and ability to make Ebony has taken part in a whole Now that she has been elected as Youth MP, a positive contribution as well as her host of events from debating in the Ebony will find out the concerns, interests undoubted campaigning skills! House of Commons, taking part in a and needs of the young people of Bolton and transport campaign fighting to lower then discuss these on a local, regional and Wider afield Reverend Sue Forest the cost of buses for young people national level. Youth MPs meet Councillors, Redfern has visited the Tunaimi as well as petitioning to tackle youth MPs and other key decision makers to take Academy in Kenya taking gifts and unemployment. When attending the forward issues of local importance. Ebony messages from staff and students. The youth MP annual sit in with guest will also attend regional meetings and meet Tunaimi Academy has been one of our speaker John Bercow Ebony was with the UK Youth Parliament once a year. international links and adopted charities allowed the opportunity to discuss the since its founder Pastor Donald visited years upcoming manifesto as well as We would like to wish Ebony the best of luck with her new position from all Bolton St Catherine’s in 2010. Staff and the top 5 issues to be brought before of the staff and students at Bolton St students are looking forward to her the House of Commons. Catherine’s Academy. return with messages and photographs from her visit. As we look forward to the important ‘exam season’ I would encourage all students to make use of the extra revision and booster sessions outside the MUSIC EXAM normal school day. As always I would like to thank parents, friends and the community for their SUCCESS continued support of our students and We would like to congratulate three of the academy. our Year 11 pupils for passing their recent music exams, Curtis Heaton (pictured) Lee Harris who passed his Grade 2 Drum Kit with a Principal Merit, Ceejay Smith who passed his Grade 4 Piano and Megan Wong who passed her Grade 1 Piano with a distinction! 2 COMMUNITY CONNECTION CAB @ BSCA Bolton Citizens Advice Beuro are now holding drop-in sessions at Bolton St Catherine’s Academy on Tuesdays from 3pm - 5pm. Please feel free to come along for free, independent, confidential and impartial advice. The Citizens Advice Bureau will be running a 10 week trial at the Academy from Tuesday 18th March from 3-5pm. The drop-in session will take place in meeting Room 1 with waiting in the Main Reception Initially the session will be a drop-in although it may be possible to book an appointment with the adviser if you need to return to discuss an issue in more detail. You are more than welcome to make use of the facility. PENCIL CASES FOR KENYA The Tumaini Academy in Kenya is one Rev Sue, our Academy Chaplain has of the three charities we support as recently returned from Shiriani, Kenya an Academy, this means that a third of where she visited the Tumaini Academy. fundraising we do goes towards helping During her visit Rev Sue met the pupils the students of Tumaini Academy. So our fundraising has been helping far the money we have raised has paid and was invited to stay within the for 24 Windows and 8 doors for their community as a guest of Pastor Donald. secondary school as well as the labour As well as spending time getting to to have them fitted by local tradesmen. know the pupils Rev Sue took 600 We have also helped them to buy pencil cases, one as a gift for each of TEA FOR secondary school text books and most the students which as you can see from importantly money raised here at BSCA the pictures were well received by all. has helped the Academy establish a FREE Pupils at Bolton St Catherine’s porridge programme which feeds 570 Academy have worked extremely hard We are once again running our kids daily. According to Pastor Donald to fundraise for the Tumaini Academy successful 6 week Tea For Free courses. Mzungu “most [students] leave home and so it’s lovely to see how all of their Families are invited to come and cook a with no breakfast at all and no hope for efforts have paid off and how pupil run meal with provided ingredients and then one” meaning that this scheme provides fundraising events such as bake sales, leave with a box of food so that they the children with a crucial meal they jewellery making and the chocolate can replicate the meal again at home.