LDBS SCHOOLS NEWSLETTER ISSUE 30 AUTUMN 2016 - SPRING 2017 We hope you enjoy this and future issues which will be printed at the beginning of every term. “We cannot publish this newsletter without your help!” (More details at the back). SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING... On Friday 20th January 2017, in his role as President of the London Diocesan Board for Schools (LDBS), the Bishop of London led a thanksgiving service for their work throughout the Diocese. The service at St Paul’s Cathedral also recognised the 100th anniversary of Lady Margaret’s Secondary School, the 175th anniversary of Archdeacon Cambridge’s Primary School and the 200th anniversary of Ashford Primary School. Several London Diocesan schools had roles in the celebration, including Holy Trinity Tottenham Primary School Steel Pans, Ashford Primary School outlining the history of their school, singing by the choir of Christ the Saviour School and dancing by raines Foundation School. The Venerable Luke Miller, Chairman of the London Diocesan Board for Schools, paid tribute during the service to recently‐retired Director of School Support Services, Liz Wolverson who joined the LDBS in January 1987 and in her role as Director of School Support Services led a team working with 156 Church of England schools in the Diocese of London as well as a number of community schools that are affiliated to LDBS. Following the service, Liz said: “The last 30 years have produced change on a scale that has never been seen before and the LDBS has had to be responsive to the education agenda at all times. Although my time as the Director of Schools Support Services at LDBS came to an end last year, I am continuing to work towards the development of Church of England Schools in my role as CEO of the LDBS Academies Trust. I know the LDBS will continue to lead the way in facing the challenges ahead and I am so proud of all that we achieved in providing children and young people with the best possible opportunities to shine.” Liz retired as Director, School Support Services at the LDBS in November following her appointment as the LDBS Academies Trust (LAT) full‐time CEO. LAT was formed in 2012 as an academy sponsor, and now contains seven schools in the boroughs of Haringey, Barnet and Brent. The Trust has been set up to establish, maintain, carry on, manage and develop Church of England schools. LDBS Schools Newsletter Issue 30 ~ Autumn 2016 - Spring 2017 page 1 of 20 OUT OF THIS WORLD... MESSY FLOUR... London said goodbye to the 132nd Bishop of London The LDBS Academies Trust (LAT) ‐ St at a Candlemas service held at St Paul’s Cathedral, Andrew's and St Francis, Holy Trinity, St celebrating Bishop Richard’s thirty‐three years of Ann's, St Michael's and St Paul's and All ministry in London on Thursday 2nd February 2017. Hallows' joned Before beginning the formal service, the Bishop and together on a procession of 200 clergy welcomed crowds at a Wednesday 1st ‘pop‐up’ cathedral in Paternoster Square. The Bishop March 2017, and told the crowd: “I began life as an ink monitor in a held a Shrove primary school. I retire in a digital world. It’s a long Tuesday Service. distance from steel nibs and copperplate to smart The Bishop of apps and the Twittersphere, but it gives us an Edmonton, Bishop opportunity for communicating.” Rob, made The Bishop then sent his first‐ever tweet: pancakes with a KXC@KXChurch flourish... which Jesus is the Light of the World #lightoftheworld #bf2l the children will #BishopsFarewell2London 5:48 PM ‐ 2 Feb 2017 remember for a The invitation to post social media messages of long time. praise and thanks had the event hashtag #BF2L trending at 9th place in the UK, while a live report by BBC London News emphasised the growth that the GROW... church in London has seen The Bishop of Edmonton and Cllr Elin during Bishop Richard’s tenure. Weston (Lead Member for Schools, Children During the service the Bishop and Families) cut the ribbon at both of St handed over his Crozier – the Mary’s, Hornsey sites and blessed the hooked staff he carries as a buildings after the symbol of his office – to the completed multi‐ Bishop of Willesden, Pete million pound Broadbent, who will be Acting expansion programme Bishop of London until a new which took 18 months appointment is made. to complete. This will Following the end of the give the children an service, Bishop Richard came to environment where the West Doors of the Cathedral and blessed the they can learn and capital and its population one last time, a mirror of grow. the blessing he performed when he was first installed as Bishop of London. ST PAUL... On Monday 19th September 2016, Mrs Brown, Miss Patsalis, Fr Stephen Coleman (Curate at St Paul’s Church Winchmore Hill) and a group of eight children from St Paul’s, Winchmore Hill School Council, attended a Eucharist service at St Paul’s Cathedral in which prayers were said for the school. After the Eucharist, the children enjoyed a tour of the Cathedral, ably guided by Fr Stephen, who showed them the painting, ‘The Light of the World, and the banner for the Mother’s Union of the London Diocese. Fr Stephen introduced then to the Reverend Canon Michael Hampel (Precentor at St Paul’s Cathedral) who told them stories of St Paul, depicted on the Cathedral ceiling. LDBS Schools Newsletter Issue 30 ~ Autumn 2016 - Spring 2017 page 2 of 20 WORLD CHALLENGE... REFURB... Greig City Academy, Hornsey was nominated for St Clement & St James , Kensington refurbished two awards at Haringey Council’s 4th their playground over the summer holidays. Outstanding for All Awards. Since 2013, this event has recognised those students, teachers, schools and groups who have performed outstandingly. GCA’s robotics team was nominated in the secondary school STEM category and the school as a whole was nominated for its outdoor education programme in the Sport and the Arts category. They were shortlisted in both categories and then had a tense wait for the results at the awards ceremony on 5th December 2016 at Alexandra Palace. The robotics team were named the STEM winner and shortly afterwards the school took the award for Sport and the Arts. The robotics team went on the following day to win the regional final of the VEX EDR robotics competition and are now gearing up for the national final. INSPIRATIONAL... On Thursday 3rd November 2016, Sir John Cass Red Coat, Stepney were lucky to welcome guest speaker and Paralympic Gold medallist Danny Crates to their annual prize giving ceremony. After losing his right arm in a horrific accident in 1994 at just 21 years old, Danny moved into Paralympic sport and quickly began to dominate In December 2016, Y10 art students visited the – famously winning gold in the men’s 800 meters Saatchi Gallery where they explored the gallery T46 final at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, space and worked with artist Amy Leung to a year which also saw him set a new world produce some interesting investigations focused record. around the theme of inclusion. Amy visited GCA Danny explained to the audience how he did not in January 2017 to continue working with allow the loss of his arm to hold him back, and students and produce a portfolio of artwork that that you can either sit back and talk about the will be exhibited at the gallery. terrible things that have happened, or you can do something about it. Danny said: “I can see the potential the students of this school have, and I wish them every success for the future.” LDBS Schools Newsletter Issue 30 ~ Autumn 2016 - Spring 2017 page 3 of 20 HAPPY 150TH BIRTHDAY... On Wednesday 12th October 2016, St Luke’s, Cubitt Town celebrated 150 years with each class dressed up from different decades; from the Victorians to our present day. They went on procession from Christ Church to school, led by the carrying of St Luke's. The Bishop of Stepney welcomed all our guests and the Mayor of Tower Hamlets helped to prepare a time capsule. They performed an operetta called 'St Luke's Shipwreck', written by Jonathan Pease and released balloons to celebrate the day. LDBS Schools Newsletter Issue 30 ~ Autumn 2016 - Spring 2017 page 4 of 20 21st September 2016 Pupils and staff at Burdett‐Coutts and Townshend, Westminster marked the United Nations World Day of Peace on International Peace Day on Wednesday 21st September 2016. Both staff and pupils arrived at school wearing white and took part in a number of activities during the day where they learned about the importance of peace and the lives of peacemakers of the past and present. Collective Worship was held in St Stephen’s Rochester Row, where they recalled the story of Jesus calming the storm and amazing his followers by bringing peace. Pupils were challenged to look for peacemakers amongst their class and were given ‘Peace Passes’ to pass on the peace. Y2 Browne class were so busy being peaceful they ran out of passes. LDBS Schools Newsletter Issue 30 ~ Autumn 2016 - Spring 2017 page 5 of 20 MICHAEL MORPURGO... On Monday 14th November 2016, Michael Morpurgo visited St Cuthbert with St Matthias, Earl’s Court and is known best for his novel ‘War Horse’. He read a story called ‘Coming Home’ and said it was his first time reading it to anyone. He talked about himself and how he was a former pupil of the school and when he was young he asked someone about writing books and they said to him “if you really want to be a writer, you need to believe in yourself and don’t give up”.