newsletterARight RoyalOccasionA Happy, Holy ChristmasFrom All At St Mary's

ST MARY’S students gave the performance of their lives for Her Majesty the Queen at New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion theatre.

Our Year 12 dancers were honoured to present a special excerpt from their version of the hit show Save The Last Dance after first performing it at the Floral in October.

And after the final bow, when the curtains came down and thespotlights dimmed, both students and staff of St Mary's joinedwith the Mayor of Wirral and local dignitaries in an informal reception to meet the monarch and His Royal Highness theDuke of Edinburgh.

The Queen and the Duke were attending a special ceremony to unveil a plaque and officially open the award-winning £11 million theatre and conference centre. They were later ableto enjoy views over Liverpool Bay from the Floral’s impressivePanoramic Lounge with lunch prepared by top chefs, includingWirral’s own Claire Lara, winner of Masterchef: The Professionals 2010.

...the hotly-awaited St Mary's Theatre Company production of ANNIE! Rehearsals are now underway for our major Arts production for 2012, the Broadway and West End stage hit Annie. Be prepared to laugh, to cry and to sing along with Little Orphan Annie as she tries to find her parents.Tickets for the show in February will be strictly limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

See inside for more pictures and turn to the centre pages for our Floral Dancers special feature.

HUNDREDS of shoeboxes have left St Mary’s foyer bound for the needy children of the world.

The boxes, all donated by St Mary’s students and pupils at our partner primary schools, are filled with toys, trinkets andsweets. They will be distributed by the Samaritan’s Purse charity organisation Operation Christmas Child.

And our Annual Hamper Appeal has been a great success too! Scores of hampers will be distributed locally by members of the Wallasey St Vincent De Paul Society.

A great big thank you to all who have donated items to both appeals.

WE SAVED OUR BEST DANCE FOR THE QUEEN

Boxing Day Comes Early

Coming soon to a theatre near you...

St Mary’s Catholic CollegeWallasey

Christ within us all

Log on to St Mary’s website to see the Dance Festival video clips now

newsletter2_Layout 1 05/12/2011 13:55 Page 1

Page 2

Hoping for Hoping for Bronze: A ‘taster’ Bronze: A ‘taster’ but not a but not a ‘tester’ (yet!)‘tester’ (yet!)

T HESE Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award hopefuls (pictured left) took part in their first

trek...a taster, not a tester, expedition. They sauntered along the nursery paths of the Wirral Way, and the weather was dry as has become traditional for this particular annual event. It was more gentle stroll than hike, designed to prepare their legs for a more punishing pace when they join a real expedition next term in the Yorkshire Dales.

T ALK about bringing home the silver! St Mary’s students have broken the record for Silver Duke

of Edinburgh’s Awards this year with an amazing total of 59 medals. The youngsters, now mostly in Year 11, earned their prestigious awards by working in the local community, helping the elderly, supporting a variety of youth initiatives and giving their free time to help in charity shops and animal welfare centres. And, of course, managing to complete two gruelling D of E expeditions across open countryside which are a true test of grit and determination. Councillor Ann McLachlan, Wirral’s Cabinet member for Children’s Services and Lifelong Learning said: This is a fabulous achievement for St Mary’s College. This is one of the world’s leading achievement awards and is recognised by both employers and universities. I would like to congratulate all the young people involved.’ St Mary’s headteacher Mr Tony Boyle said: ‘The long-established partnership between Wirral Council’s Youth & Play Service and St Mary’s College has helped thousands of young people to achieve the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. It provides tangible recognition of what young people can achieve through sustained commitment and personal qualities.’ The Award scheme is organised and co-ordinated in St Mary’s by Mr Colin Archer, who also runs our College Youth Club.

59 59 awards: awards: a recorda record

Testing times and fun times on the way to Silver

S T MARY’S struck gold at the Palace of St James in London

when successful former students received their Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Awards from the Duke in person. One of them was Anthony Peters whose mother Joanne achieved her own Gold Award some 22 years ago. And who guided her through her award? Our very own Mr Archer, whose experience as a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award leader is legendary in St Mary’s. Mr Archer said: ‘I’m very proud of all our successful candidates. They thoroughly deserve their day at the Palace. It has been a special pleasure to take both Joanne and Anthony through their Golds, but I think I can safely say I will be retired before any future Peters generations start Bronze!’ Both of Anthony’s parents work at St Mary’s College, Mrs Peters as Attendance Officer and Mr Peters as Assistant Head and Head of Maths. Anthony is currently studying Policing at the University of Cumbria.

Gold generations: Mrs Joanne Peters and son Anthony with Mr Colin Archer who took them both through their Gold Awards

On guard at St James’s Palace: Gold Award winners, left to right, Anthony Peters, Jack Harrison, Amy Platt, Sarah Lynch, Sarah Breen, Faye Stewart, Anna Neilson-Scott and Lucy Archer

Page 3

I T was strictly the dance appointment of a lifetime! St Mary’s Dance students were sworn to secrecy

when they were asked to enter a very special date in their diaries many weeks ago. They were chosen to dance at the official opening of New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion theatre for none other than Her Majesty the Queen who was accompanied by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.

At The FloralAt The FloralAt The Floral

A day for all to remember. Below: The Queen and the Duke watch the performance specially choreographed for the occasion by St Mary’s Dance teachers Mrs Caroline Foster and Miss Leah Edwards. The Royal visitors were welcomed by Headteacher Mr Tony Boyle.

Hundreds of onlookers

crowded outside the

Floral.

Taking their final bow

By appointment to Her Majesty: St Mary’s dancers

Page 4

How Year 8 boys came How Year 8 boys came to the to the rescuerescue

We joined the world’s biggest coffee morning!We joined the world’s biggest coffee morning! S TUDENTS and staff in our Bosco

Centre created a stir earlier this term when they threw open their doors as part of The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, in support of the Macmillan Cancer Appeal. There was coffee, of course, but best of all there was cake...and lots of it! Pictured left are Mrs Cath Brennan, Harry Foley, Georgia McGough and Mrs Barbara Priest with just a small sample of the delicious spread. They raised nearly £200.

F OUR St Mary’s boys rushed to the rescue when they saw an innocent

dog walker being mugged by a hooded man. The woman was walking her pet in New Brighton when the man approached from behind, pushed her to the floor, snatched her handbag and ran off leaving her shaken and distressed. But thanks to the prompt actions of the boys in phoning 999 and giving an accurate description to the police, the attacker was in custody shortly afterwards. The boys also comforted the victim and stayed with her till police officers arrived. Now their brave actions have been honoured by Merseyside Police Crime Prevention Officers and members of the North Wirral Crime Prevention panel. The boys, Connor Peckham-Morris, Quintin Doyle, Tierney Witty and Kieran Carter, received gift tokens and Good Citizenship certificates from Police Sergeant Andy Bragg, Police Constable Keith Winstanley and Chair of the North Wirral Crime Prevention Panel, Miss Rusty Keane. PC Winstanley said: ‘What the boys did showed excellent community spirit, and they are a credit to their families, school and the whole community. Happily the man in question was arrested and prevented from targeting other ladies in the area.’ Miss Keane said: ‘It gives me the greatest pleasure to thank these boys. I am very proud and pleased to be able to recognise their bravery and kindness. The victim, who wants to remain nameless, has told me that their actions have really helped her come to terms with what happened. The irony was that her handbag contained nothing of value, just a roll of plastic bags.’

Year 8 students Tierney Witty, Quintin Doyle, Connor Peckham-Morris and Kieran Carter with Merseyside Police Sgt Andy Bragg, Miss Rusty Keane Chair of the North Wirral Crime

Prevention Panel) and PC Keith Winstanley. (Back ) Head of Year 8 Mr John Heffernan

Page 5

A HERO’S welcome awaited Afghan war hero Peter Dunning when he arrived in St Mary’s as Guest of

Honour on Presentation Evening. The applause was tumultuous as former student Peter returned to the familiar surroundings of the Sports Hall where, as a teenager, he took part in PE lessons. Peter, now 26, lost both legs in a landmine explosion three years ago while on active service with the Royal Marines in Helmand Province. He nearly died in the incident, which left a fellow Marine dead and another with severe burns. Peter, showing true heroism and sheer determination, has not only recovered from his terrible injuries to walk again on prosthetic limbs, but is now one of the world’s leading disabled skiers with an impressive medal cache from international competitions. Known to his mates as Pete The Feet, he is a member of the Great Britain Disabled Ski Team, now bidding to represent his country at the 2014 Sochi Paralympics in Russia. He also won the honour of carrying the Paralympic flame through the streets of Vancouver, Canada, at last year’s Games. Making light of his injuries and the ordeals he has faced, he stood before the capacity audience of more than 1200 students, parents and staff and said: ‘When they asked me to join the Great Britain team, I thought what, me? I’m just a little Scouser!’ However, he admitted that in the dark days following his battlefield surgery, he had thought his life was over. ‘I could not have been more wrong’ he said. ‘In many ways it was a beginning. And like all the students here tonight who have won these awards through their hard work and determination, it was through hard work and determination that I am where I am today.’ St Mary’s headteacher Mr Tony Boyle said: ‘We are very proud to count Peter among our former students. He is truly inspirational and a wonderful role model. We wish him every success and look forward to seeing him compete at the Paralympics’. Peter was presented with a cheque for £2,000, raised from our Grand Balloon Race in June, held in support of his Paralympic

bid. Peter performed the countdown on the Gra’, when 1,600 balloons were released in a blaze of colour. More than 60 were returned from points north of Wallasey, the three winners landing in Aberdeen and Newcastle. (Prospective Olympic and Paralympic athletes do not receive official funding, and have to finance their own training.)

Paralympian ‘Pete The Feet’ returns to home groundParalympian ‘Pete The Feet’ returns to home ground

Former Royal Marine Peter Dunning was Guest of Honour at Presentation Evening.

Peter with some of our major prize winners

Peter in 2008

A hero’s A hero’s welcomewelcome

Page 6

Special Special meaning of meaning of Josh’s awardJosh’s award Prize given in memory of former Prize given in memory of former student who cared for retired sailorsstudent who cared for retired sailors

W HEN Josh Harwood’s parents saw in St Mary’s Presentation Evening programme that their son had won the Helen Roth Memorial Award, it really rang a bell. A ship’s bell, in fact.

Josh’s dad, a Merchant Navy Captain who spends long periods at sea, happened to be on leave and had been able, for the very first time, to attend a college event. And coming from a long line of merchant seamen ~

going back to Victorian times ~ he was amazed to read about the woman in whose memory the award was made. Mrs Helen Roth had been a student of St Mary’s in the 1980s. She had achieved great things as a mum and in her work as a carer before her life was cut tragically short last year. She was posthumously awarded one of the UK maritime sector’s highest accolades, the Seafarers’ Welfare Award, after 16 years service at the Nautilus Mariners’ Park Care Home in New Brighton. She was known to all as a dedicated person who worked selflessly for others. Her children,

Anna, Ursula and Richard, are all former students of St Mary’s. Guest of Honour Peter Dunning presented Josh with The Helen Roth Award in recognition of his whole hearted contribution to the life of St Mary’s. Josh’s dad Graham said: ‘It is really quite a coincidence that the award is in memory of someone with maritime connections. It was really great to see him actually receive the award.’ Helen’s husband Mr Rodney Roth, who also came to Presentation Evening, said: ‘I am delighted Josh has received the award. It’s very touching to think that Helen is being remembered in this way.’ The Harwood family can trace their maritime history to 1875 when Josh’s great great grandfather, Captain Charles Harwood, was in command of a rigged vessel called the Angerona which sailed from Liverpool. The ship arrived in Sydney on 23rd May 1875, after more

than three months at sea, and the crew list for the passage shows that the Victorian captain sailed with his wife and child. His great grandson, the modern day Captain Harwood, followed in the family tradition and first went to sea in 1982, aged 16. His current vessel, MV Toisa Serenade, is a platform supply ship carrying supplies for the oil and gas industry off the coast of Singapore. He is due to rejoin it before Christmas. The Helen Roth Memorial Award is awarded annually at St Mary’s Presentation Evening, and was given last year for the first time to Lewis Lynch,

then in Year 12. It recognises the efforts of students who show special qualities of dedication and care.

And this is And this is what other what other memorial memorial awards on awards on PresentatioPresentation n Evening Evening are for...are for...

Josh and his dad, Captain Graham Harwood

MV Toisa Serenade, currently near Singapore

Josh receives his prize from Guest of Honour Peter Dunning

Below: Former St Mary’s student the late Mrs Helen Roth

E IGHT memorial awards are given on Presentation Evening including The Helen Roth Award. The Richard O’Neill Award is in memory of a former student who had just started his university education in Newcastle

when he was tragically killed in a traffic incident two years ago. Joseph McDowell received it for his contribution to college life. The John Hardman Award went to Daniel Mellon for excellence in DT. Mr Hardman was a much-loved and respected member of the Design Technology Department until his death in 2006. The Sean McKeon Award went to Rachael Kinnear. Mr McKeon was a teacher and a student at St Mary’s. Sadly he was diagnosed at the age of 14 with Hodgkin’s Disease and died at the age of 30. His award recognises the spirit of students who have fought adversity with courage. The Ron Roberts Award went to Keith Bond for his dedication and love of music. Mr Roberts was a popular member of staff who was also a very talented musician. Jane Hurst was a support assistant at St Mary’s who, until her long illness and death in 2009, worked tirelessly to help challenged students with their literacy skills. She saw it as a vocation rather than a job, and her memorial award recognises the impressive progress made by students at Key Stage 3. This year it went to Mary Cullen. The Sean Devereux Award is in memory of a Salesian missionary and Catholic aid worker who was murdered in Somalia in 1993 while working for UNICEF. It went to Lucy Williams for her exceptional personal qualities. St John Bosco was an Italian priest who founded the Salesian Society of missionaries. The Don Bosco Award this year went to James Williams and India Kirkham for their impressive achievements while facing exceptional challenges.

Page 7

Sean Devereux AwardSean Devereux Award

Lucy Williams

Arts College AwardsArts College Awards

Headteacher’s AwardHeadteacher’s Award

Ciaran Gregory, Vanessa Nokes

Governors’ Award Governors’ Award

Callum Bradford, Helena Mulhern, Matthew Best, Katharine Quinn, Andrew Mather, Jennifer Briggs, Patrick McDowell, Miranda McCabe, Matthew Quinn, Jessica Eastwood

Jane Hurst Memorial AwardJane Hurst Memorial Award

Mary Cullen

John Hardman Memorial AwardJohn Hardman Memorial Award

Daniel Mellon

Ron Roberts Memorial AwardRon Roberts Memorial Award

Keith Bond

Helen Roth Memorial AwardHelen Roth Memorial Award

Joshua Harwood

Richard O’Neill Memorial AwardRichard O’Neill Memorial Award

Joseph McDowell

Sean McKeon Memorial AwardSean McKeon Memorial Award

Rachael Kinnear

CHOREOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Elisha Carter

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR Matthew Jones

DRAMATIST OF THE YEAR Jamie Toner

ARTIST OF THE YEAR Rebecca Reed

TEXTILE DESIGNER OF THE YEAR Jessica Herndlhofer

Unilever Award for Outstanding Unilever Award for Outstanding Academic AchievemenAcademic Achievementt

Stuart Dunlop, Vanessa Nokes

Guest of Honour Peter Dunning with Headteacher’s Award winners Ciaran Gregory and Vanessa Nokes

Don Bosco AwardDon Bosco Award

James Williams, India Kirkham

Daniel Massey, Eve Eaton

Unilever Award for Outstanding Unilever Award for Outstanding AchievemenAchievementt

Award Winners 2011Award Winners 2011

S.M.A.R.T.SS.M.A.R.T.S AwardsAwards

HSA AWARDSHSA AWARDS

James Gallery, Alicia Foley, Jason Osborne, Holly Dawson, Shaun Hirst, Megan Reay, Louis Donnison, Tara Duncan

Contribution to Contribution to the Life of the the Life of the College AwardsCollege Awards

APPLIED LEARNING APPLIED LEARNING HAIRDRESSING Lois Nagle, Kiya Ormond BEAUTY Jessica Fletcher-Hill, Leah Neeson

MOTOR VEHICLE Thomas Riddiough, Amy Bennett CONSTRUCTION Sean Anson, Matthew Travis

CREATIVE CREATIVE ARTS ARTS

AWARDSAWARDS

BRONZE: Chloe Brooke, Cody Burns, Emma Campbell, Morgan Duggan, Paige Clarke, Chelsea Herbert, Emma Hughes, Laura Hurst, Jasmine Jamieson, Eleanor Jolly, Lauren Kay, Méaghan McCallion, Helena Mulhern, Hannah Price, Meryn Riley, Alexandra Schorah, Mara Van Geffen, Connor Peckham-Morris, Connor Marsh, Thomas Taylor, Leon Atherton, Scott Kelly, Hayden Wilson, Matthew Harding, Michael Watson, Jack Galloway, Connor Dawson, Connor McIntyre, Joanne Penketh, Laura Griffiths, Sophie Rowbottom, Michelle Edwards-Sutton, Ryan Woolsey, William Ellis, Annie Corke, Harry Woltman, Callum Bradford, Eleanor Regan, Alex Reddington, Molly Houghton, Megan Yarlett, Lydia Reynolds, Lucy Yeates, Andrew Mather, Alex Mather, Ashleigh Wakefield, Michael Camara, Jack Wood, Georgina Haines, John Andrew, Hannah Sale, Melissa White, Kayle-Anne Sands, Ellise Taylor, Ciaran Burke, Amy Robinson, Megan Wilson-Edwards, Sean Delaney SILVER: Amy Simpson, Russell Nokes, Katharine Quinn, Milo McAleny, Stephanie Jones, Annie Wood, Natasha Wright, Josh Stride, Stuart Rutherford, Josh Harwood, Sean Murray, Rachael Kinnear, Alanis Duncan, Erin Parkinson, Ross Mather, David Power, Noe Bersier, Michael Nolan, Anna Marsh, Erin Marsh, Eleanor Herndlhofer, Chris Marriott, Molly Mason, Kate Croft, Ciaran Gregory, Nicholas Madden, Luke McMillan, Jessica Foulkes, Rebecca Farrelly, Erin Nuttall, Holly Rooney, Shannon Traynor, Matthew Hanlon, Callum Hibbard, Rachel Wickham-Jones, Bethany Cummings, Amy Ralph, Philip Taylor GOLD: Samantha Davies, Liam Garnett, Patrick McDowell, Tara O’Brien, Matthew Davies, Ian Astill, Laura Hoey, Melissa Chapple, Shimal Némat, Alix Quinn, Vanessa Nokes, Charlotte Fildes, Megan Bowly, Eve Eaton, Matthew Jones, Joseph McDowell, Keith Bond, Maria Noone, Nichola Squires

HEALTHY HEALTHY EATING EATING AwardsAwards

HSA Awards are sponsored by

St Mary’s Home School Association

Tierney Witty, Emma Hughes, Daniel Walsh, Abigail Bruce, Nathan Hallett, Ashleigh Wakefield, Liam Garnett, Elizabeth Connolly, Keith Bond, Shay Collins

Jordan Crane, Matthew Gillespie, Lucy Williams

Nathan Harrison, Anna McGinn, Kieran Fletcher, Courtney Doughty, Kane Stapleton, Abbie Platt, Noe Bersier, Lauren D’Annunzio

CONSTRUCTION Progress Awards Thomas Smyth, Jack Keevey, Michael Blair, Sean Anson, Matthew Travis MOTOR VEHICLE Progress Awards Amy Bennett, Jordan Lawrence, Peter Griffiths, Lewis Clarke, Shaun Tierney, Lee Wellens, Alzar Brepotra, Thomas Riddiough, Scott Wylde, Paul Benson

Peter with Headteacher Mr Tony Boyle and Chair of Governors Mr Tony Mossman

Page 8

FULL ATTENDANCE FULL ATTENDANCE

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Awards are presented nationally

BRONZE: Georgia Smithwick, Dru Howell, Frances Turtle, Bethan Simpson, Jack Menear, Florence Kane, Eleanor Herndlhofer, Eleanor Harrison, Craig Davies, Josh Anderson, Patrick Brophy, Olivia McGlynn, Erin Marsh, Andrew Donnelly, Ben Ayers, Tabitha Tinkler-Ferguson, Alexandra Saunders, Anna Marsh, Liam Howe, Benjamin Graham, Steven Cassidy, Sean Anson, Beth Hoolahan, Tara O’Brien, Alexander Meyer, Nathan Buxton, Elizabeth Connolly, Niall Crilly, Adam Woolsey, Jack Lawson, Rory Woods, James Peters, Connor O’Donnell, Connor Atherton, Caitlin Crampton, Nicola Taylor, Rachel Robertson, Jessica Howell, Rebecca Farrell, Cherelle Griffiths, Millie Locke, David King, Kayleigh Jamieson, Max Cowie, Daniel Conlan, Rebecca Lavery, Jacob Marl, Stephanie Daly, Harry Walton, Emily Simpson, Megan Rhoden, Noe Bersier, Paul Campbell, Matthew Gibbins, Louis Dudley, Peter Donnelly, Darragh Doyle, Benedict Quinn, Daniel Shields, Joseph McBride, James Cleary, Luke Pollard, Olivia Slevin-Smith, Aimee Thomas, Rebecca Howard, Paige Wing, Hannah Yeates, Connor Stanley, Thomas Riddiough, Olivia Howell

SILVER: Thomas Daniels, Megan Bowly, Vanessa Nokes, Stuart Dunlop, George Roberts, Richard D’Arcy, Kieran Sands, Deane Kelly, Jessica Foulkes, Rosie Flanagan, Daniel Lewis, Robyn Ashton, Ciaran Gregory, Ryan Andrews, Sophie Clarke, Chloe Hibbard, Lily Johnson, Caitlin Birch, Bernadette Greenwood, Amy Parrington, Georgia Penny, Michael Nolan, Dominic Heaney, Thomas Makin, Sebastian Bowe, Matthew Davies, Kieran Humphreys, Luke McMillan, Lucy Moses

YEAR 7 James Corbett, William Cotgrave, Michelle Edwards-Sutton, Eleanor Jolly, Méaghan McCallion, Javier McSorley, Shanice Murphy, Nathan Sandalls, Alexandra Schorah, Jennifer Skelton, Joseph Smith, Aidan Turley, Carla Whelan, Callum Bradford, Frances Murray, Sean Pritchard, Hayden Wilson, Natalie Heald

YEAR 8 Jack Allerston, Rachel Barnes, Matthew Best, Callum Bradford, Jack Dunne, Hassan Haadi, Jennifer Hanley, Gemma Kelly, Bethany Manley, Charlotte Murrell, Francesca Parkhill, Matthew Turnbull, Kiran Wallace, Alexander Ward, Rebecca White, Molly Dunne, Kieran Fletcher

YEAR 9 Jason Crowden, Mary–Ann Grist, Christopher Kalogritsas, Melissa Kazara, Andrew Mather, Ross Mather, Alastair Nokes, Stephanie Ratcliffe, MeganSmith, Cavan O’Brien, Joseph Swann, Jacob Melia, Hannah Sale, David Adamson, Joshua Stride, Jodie Hughes

YEAR 10 Steven Cassidy, Niall Crilly, Craig Davies, Andrew Donnelly, Conor Dowler, Jamie Evans, Rebecca Farrell, James Gallagher, Matthew Gibbins, Eleanor Herndlhofer, Natalie Leslie, Joseph McBride, Patrick McDowell, James Peters, Olivia Slevin-Smith, Edward Williams, Adam Woolsey, Joshua Anderson, Noe Bersier, Peter Donnelly, Benjamin Graham, Ryan Greenwood, Beth Hoolahan, Natasha Kelly, Alexander Meyer, Erin Powell-Williams, Alexandra Saunders, Bethan Ward, Adam Williams, David King-Hogan

Award Winners 2011Award Winners 2011

THE DUKE OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’EDINBURGH’S S AWARDSAWARDS

Page 9

ENGLISH YEAR 7: Jack Taylor, Ellie White YEAR 8: Jack Dunne, Anna Hughes YEAR 9: Conor Rogan, Melissa Galloway YEAR 10: Edward Williams, Anna Marsh

MATHS YEAR 7: Greg Clayton, Lauren Stevenson YEAR 8: Matthew Holmes-Ievers, Katie Clarke YEAR 9: Adam Noonan, Madeline Hummerston YEAR 10: Alexander Meyer, Tara O’Brien

RE YEAR 7: Jason White, Emily Harrington YEAR 8: Callum Bradford, Nicole Stasik YEAR 9: Ryan Brocklebank, Kyra Griffiths YEAR 10: Joseph McBride, Bethan Simpson

ICT YEAR 7: Thomas Stewart-Laing, Eleanor English YEAR 8: Joseph Bowly, Rebecca White YEAR 9: Jack Daltrey, Melissa White YEAR 10: Sean Bellis, Shannon Wylde

PHYSICS YEAR 7: Ben Ross, Meryn Riley YEAR 8: Jacob Shardey, Bethan Blanchfield YEAR 9: Alex Mather, Molly Johns YEAR 10: William Harding, Hannah Brown

CHEMISTRY YEAR 7: Jack Shillinglaw, Emma Campbell YEAR 8: Jacob Shardey, Bethan Blanchfield YEAR 9: Jack Wood, Madeline Hummerston YEAR 10: Paul Campbell, Miranda McCabe

BIOLOGY YEAR 7: Russell Nokes, Laura Hurst YEAR 8: Adam Foulkes, Milo McAleny YEAR 9: Alastair Nokes, Danielle Burns YEAR 10: Benedict Quinn, Cody Clement

ART YEAR 7: Tierney Witty, Betty Greenwood YEAR 8: Kyle Doyle, Delenn Etches YEAR 9: Ryan Irving, Ellise Taylor YEAR 10: Craig Davies, Sonya Taylor

GEOGRAPHY YEAR 7: Oliver Prowse, Elizabeth Agnew YEAR 8: Lemuel Dalis, Annie Wood YEAR 9: Stuart Rutherford, Molly Johns YEAR 10: Thomas Hogan, Alexandra Saunders

HISTORY YEAR 7: Francis Murray, Chloe Byrne YEAR 8: Alex Reddington, Francesca Parkhill YEAR 9: Andrew Mather, Francesca Warren, YEAR 10: Ryan King, Rachel Robertson

FRENCH YEAR 7: Nathan Sandalls, Alexandra Schorah YEAR 8: David Ashwell, Katharine Quinn YEAR 9: Ross Mather, Rachael Kinnear YEAR 10: Adam Woolsey, Jessica Chard

GERMAN YEAR 7: Jak Jones, Ella Bartlett YEAR 8: Joseph Clarke, Stephanie Johns YEAR 9: Thomas McDermott, Melissa Kazara YEAR 10: Jamie Evans, Eleanor Herndlhofer

MUSIC YEAR 7: Che Wilson, Amy Simpson YEAR 8: Harry Davies, Samantha Davies YEAR 9: Joshua Harwood, Ashleigh Wakefield YEAR 10: Ciaran Burke, Amy Merritt

DANCE YEAR 7: Connor Peckham-Morris, Chelsea Herbert YEAR 8: Alexander Davison, D’Anta Price YEAR 9: Michael Hughes, Kaisha McLoughlin YEAR 10: Noe Bersier, Kelly Manley

DRAMA YEAR 7: Hayden Wilson, Ella Grimes YEAR 8: Jospeh Gilmore, Megan Yarlett YEAR 9: Jason Crowden, Kayle-Anne Sands YEAR 10: Patrick McDowell, Nicole Smith

DT YEAR 7: Daniel Tarpey, Laura Griffiths YEAR 8: James Tomassoni, Molly Horton YEAR 9: Kane Stapleton, Kimberley Rogerson YEAR 10: Daniel Miller, Kayleigh Jamieson, Liam Howe, Hannah Yeates, Connor Warwick, Stephanie Carrington BUSINESS Thomas McAllister, Kirsty Worrall HEALTH/SOCIAL CARE Naomi Webster, Sasha Jones

Subject Prizes are sponsored by St Mary’s Home School Association

Award Winners 2011Award Winners 2011 SUBJECT AWARDSSUBJECT AWARDS

Page 10

Our Presentation Evening audience

was swinging to the rousing sound of

Sports Leader Awards Sports Leader Awards St Mary’s Swing Band provided

some of the entertainment

Sports Awards 2011Sports Awards 2011

CRICKETERS OF THE YEAR: YEAR 7: Nico McSorley YEAR 8: Dylan Van Geffen

FOOTBALLERS OF THE YEAR: YEAR 7: Jackson McKeever, Betty Greenwood YEAR 8: James Ellina-Jefferies, Amber Walsh YEAR 9: Kieran Hamm, Beth Hawitt YEAR 10: Kyle Scarisbrick, Rachel Davison

RUGBY PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: YEAR 7: Jamie Southall YEAR 8: Matthew Holmes-Ievers YEAR 10: Michael Fisher

BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: YEAR 8: Nathan Morton YEAR 9: Christopher Kalogritsas YEAR 10: Abe Dobson

NETBALL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: YEAR 7: Neryn Riley YEAR 8: Ana McSorley YEAR 9: Abbie Sanford YEAR 10: Beth Hoolahan

ROUNDERS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: YEAR 7: Chloe Keogh YEAR 8: Gemma Cunningham YEAR 9: Elisha Price YEAR 10: Holly Classon

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR: YEAR 7: Russell Nokes, Lauryn Madden YEAR 8: Jacob Shardey, Lydia Reynolds

TRAMPOLINISTS OF THE YEAR: YEAR 7: Katie Cousins YEAR 8: Georgia White, Alex Davison YEAR 9: Hannah Sale

YEAR 10: Florence Kane, Beth Hoolahan, Daniel Davies, James Adamson, Chelsea Crook-Eckersall, Patrick McDowell, Paige Wing, Hannah Yeates, Daniel Conlon, Rachael Woltman, Steffan Perry, Megan McAllister, Erin Gallwey, Natasha Kearney, Elyse Bennett, Paul Campbell, Harry Walton, Annielee Kelly, Laura Markey, Amy Robinson, Alicia Thomas, Megan Rhoden, Jake Marl, Emily Simpson, Louis Dudley, Rose Kealey, Jessica Chard, Stephanie Daly, Rebecca Lavery YEAR 11: Ryan Andrew, Karis Ashman, Robyn Ashton, Matthew Davies, Kelly Descombes, Stuart Dunlop, Sebastian Bowe, Eve Eaton, Rosie Flanagan, Craig Hughes, Matthew Gillespie, Samantha Jones, Misha Jones, Vanessa Nokes, Sean Noonan, Gemma McAllister, Ruth Parry, Rebecca Peters, Holly Rooney, Emily Walsh, Hannah Ashwell, Jessica Foulkes, Megan Hoey, Hannah Naughalty, Shimal Némat, Charlotte Sale, Hannah Weir, Robyn Moore

Some of the entertainment was provided courtesy of St Mary’s Key Stage 3 Singers

Page 11

T ASTE THE WORLD! A group of Year 10 DT Food students have launched a Multicultural Recipe Book with the

support of St Mary’s kitchen staff. Chef Mr John Medway and kitchen assistant Mrs Sue Aspey ran a special cookery

workshop to develop a unique and delicious set of budget recipes which our One World Celebration audience sampled after the performance in St Mary’s Theatre. The book (pictured right) was sold to raise funds for our partner, Maryland School in Nigeria. You can now log on to St Mary’s website www.stmaryscollege.wirral.sch.uk and download the recipes for free!

Recipes that don’tRecipes that don’t cost the earthcost the earth

A guest appearance from Sacred Heart pupil Caroline Doherty who ‘starred’ as Mars the Red Planet

Below: St Mary’s Chef Mr John Medway and assistant Mrs Sue Aspey with Year 10 students

Gift Aid for our partner schoolGift Aid for our partner school T HIS Christmas, (or even next Easter) please consider donating some educational items

to a student of Maryland School, our partner school in Nigeria. For the sum of £5 or £10 you could make a big difference to the life of a child who will use the pens, pencils and other stationery that you personally provide. The price includes the airfreight costs to

the town of Chito which is 200 miles away from the nearest airport in Abuja. Maryland’s 450 students attend lessons in hot, overcrowded classrooms with bare breezeblock walls and few or no educational materials. St Mary’s has supported the curriculum and building projects at the school for the last five years. To find out how to donate, please check our website at www.stmaryscollege.wirral.sch.uk

The Literacy Pack: sent for a £10 donation

Page 12

* Also see article on Page 17

T HE world came to St Mary’s in a

special evening celebration for One World Week. It was a night of great contrasts, from the excitement of African drumming and the beauty of Indian dancing to more frightening aspects of war and hard hitting drama spotlighting racial oppression and the struggle of the world’s poor.

Left: Feel the beat Professional African drums courtesy of the Gafro Drum Workshop

‘Ghost Dancers’ of Chile tell the story of The Disappeared, young men and women killed by General Pinochet’s oppressive regime

In need of the right medicine and some TLC… a medical check for Planet Earth

Above: Year 10’s Miranda McCabe gave a stunning performance of classical Indian dance

Left: Hard hitting drama focusing on racial discrimination in 60s America

Beat that! St Mary’s students learned the exciting rhythms of African music

Page 13

Page 14

St Mary’s Chaos Street D

St Mary’s singers share The Rhythm of Life

Anamal Dancers’ Burlesque production

Here and below: Save The Last Dance

Year 8 Breakdancers

BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT: An excerpt from St Mary’s Dance Festival was specially performed for Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh when they attended the official opening of the Floral Pavilion.

Page 15

W E saved all the dances for St Mary’s Dance Festival at the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton! The stunning one-night

show included a special production of the hit stage show Save The Last Dance. And also filling the stage at the Floral were many other exciting dances and contributions from our community partners, Wallasey School of Ballet, Anamal dance group of Hoylake and St Mary’s community dance group Strictly Dance. It was our first ever production in a professional theatre and it went down a storm with the capacity audience.

Dancers demonstrate some unique moves

s

Strictly Dance, strictly great!

Leaping for joy on the stage of the Floral Pavilion

St Mary’s Dance Company saved all the best dances for their stunning production

Perfect poise

Page 16

Politics for Politics for the youngthe young A LL too often it’s said that young people just don’t care

about politics. However, if you’d attended the Sixth Wirral Youth Parliament you’d have to disagree. I was immensely proud to be one of four students representing St Mary’s at Wallasey Town Hall earlier this term. Together with the rest of the Parliament, we had the chance to answer the critics who often scapegoat young people for the problems of society. We sat side by side with councillors, the Mayor, party group leaders, the Chief Executive of Wirral Borough Council and the Area Commander of Wirral’s police force. But our age did not hold us back, and we grilled them extensively on council cutbacks, university tuition fees and the views of young people generally. We debated the policy direction for the application of funding put forward by the UK Grant Panel members for young people in each of the four Wirral constituencies, arguing the case for social improvement programmes. We earned the respect of those present, and the ‘impressive quality and quantity of our contribution to the debate’ won particular praise. The Youth Parliament project shows the best of Wirral’s

young people, and long may it be maintained!

Look who’s got college knowledgeLook who’s got college knowledge T HEY have acquired

the status...and now they have the mandate to act on behalf of all St Mary’s students. Pictured left are the newly elected members of the College Council. Two representatives have been elected from each year group and they have already begun to represent their electors’ views and concerns at regular council meetings.

A Level Government and Politics students capitalised

on a great opportunity to take a party of their own to the House of Commons! They joined Mark Tami, Labour MP for Alyn and Deeside, in the famous Lobby and enjoyed a personal tour of the Mother of Parliaments (inset, right) on the same day media tycoon Rupert Murdoch was interviewed by Select Committee on standards in the Press.

Members of Wirral Youth Parliament: Patrick McDowell, Elyse Bennett, Kerrie Whiteside and Joe McDowell (front). Inset: Wallasey Town Hall Above left: Wirral’s crest and motto: By Faith and Foresight

‘House’ party‘House’ party

A personal view by Joe McDowell, Year 13

Page 17

S TUDENTS of Maryland School, Chito, Nigeria, sit in crowded classrooms built

of bare breezeblock with few books or any of the equipment that we take for granted. For the past four years, St Mary’s has been raising money through all kinds of sponsored events, the latest being Miss Skinner’s magnificent effort. Funds are now available to start building the next, much-needed classroom in order to help reduce overcrowding.

Right: Students outside Maryland School with Fr Immanuel Kor and Principal Ajiiji Simon

K ILIMANJARO is the world’s highest free-standing mountain...and climbing

it was a peak achievement for St Mary’s teacher Miss Catriona Skinner! Most people, perhaps, wanted to chill out on a beach last summer...but not this intrepid member of St Mary’s Religious Education Department. She joined a party of climbers set on conquering the Uhuru Peak of the Tanzanian mountain. They had to walk and climb for seven days before being able to gaze on the incredible panorama from the top, the highest point in Africa. Miss Skinner, an experienced youth leader who also helps run St Mary’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, said: ‘I was awestruck by the views. We’d had hardly any sleep, and walked for a total of 14 hours that day, but it was worth every step’. She added: ‘There were times when I could only walk for a number of paces before having to stop and rest, with the high altitude and extreme cold. I had eight layers on my top half and three layers of trousers on. We had set off in the dark with just head torches to guide the way, and the sun started to rise part way up. It was only then we realised what we had been walking up! It was fantastic, really amazing!’ Miss Skinner’s busy life also includes being Girl Guide County Commissioner for the area of Cheshire Forest ~ at 32 she is one of the youngest Guide Commissioners in the country. She has long nursed an ambition to conquer Kilimanjaro, but she doesn’t intend to stop there. She plans over the next few years to make assaults on all of the world’s Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. On her way to achieving that, she will be practising on a

selection of lower peaks. First in Miss Skinner’s sights for next year is Mount Toubkal in Morocco (4,167m) followed in 2013 by the Lord Baden-Powell Peak in Nepal (5,718m). H e r s p o n s o r e d ascent of Kilimanjaro has so far raised £600 in support of our partner school, Maryland School, in Chito, Nigeria. (See below).

Conquering KilimanjaroConquering Kilimanjaro

And all to help a Nigerian school

Miss Skinnner Miss Skinnner comes out of Africa…comes out of Africa… after standing on after standing on top of the continenttop of the continent

Taking a rest at one of the base camps, and still enjoying the warmth of the Tanzanian sun

What a feeling! At the top...5,895 dizzying metres above sea level and just a little chilly

Miss Skinner sets off for her epic trek, and it’s still T-shirt weather...

Page 18

C HOICES, choices! Perhaps a career in the Health Service, maritime engineering...or town planning? Maybe the Police,

or the other uniform services? Then there’s hairdressing, the sports industry or the performing arts! All the information and advice our students could need was on offer at St Mary’s Careers Fair held this term in our Sports Hall. The annual event is an integral part of our Year 11 Options programme.

Staying on...advice from Head of St Mary’s Sixth Form Mrs Linda Jones

So just what goes into planning a town, then?

A career in maritime engineering, perhaps?

Considering courses at the University of Chester

You could always get your teeth into a career in the NHS!

You could spread your wings in the RAF

Trying on police uniform for size

Perhaps something different...the varied courses on offer at Reaseheath College, Cheshire

Page 19

‘Y OU may think that Shakespeare is just full of thou and thee, but you couldn’t be

more wrong. Performing in the Shakespeare Schools Festival at New Brighton Floral Pavilion was amazing. It opened our eyes to the world of the Bard and the hidden meanings in his words. ‘When we first started rehearsing The Comedy of Errors we spent many hours trying to get our heads around the confusing language. With the help of members of the National Youth Theatre we took care to create a performance that the audience could understand and relate to. ‘However a show like this couldn’t be put on overnight. It took countless school rehearsals and many weekends learning lines. We learned many new skills like how to project our voices and all about spatial awareness. On the night it was incredible. After rehearsing throughout the day and watching the excellent performances from other schools it was finally our turn on stage (ooooh!). Then in the end we gave the audience no option but to give us a standing ovation! ‘On behalf of the whole cast we would like to thank Miss Haycock and Miss Doherty for doing a wonderful job, taking on the responsibility of a drama production that Shakespeare himself would have been proud of!’

T HE rules on claiming Free School Meals have changed. Please check to see if you qualify. If you are eligible, it is your

entitlement, and applying could save you £378 per year. Registering is really quick and easy. You can download a form from the Wirral Council website www.wirral.gov.uk or pick one up at any One Stop Shop. You will qualify if you get any of these benefits:

Income Support Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit Child Tax Credit, provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit

and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190

Working Tax Credit run-on ~ the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit.

Did you know that registering for Free School Meals also benefits your child’s education? St Mary’s receives a Pupil Premium of £488 for every child who qualifies, whether or not the meals are taken. Registration is confidential and will not affect other benefits.

Forsooth! The Bard is brilliant

Find out more from www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk

‘The audience had no option ‘The audience had no option but to give us a but to give us a standing ovation!standing ovation!

Rehearsing for The Comedy of Errors which was performed at the Shakespeare Schools Festival in the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Below: St Mary’s Shakespeare Company with joint directors Miss Doherty and Miss Haycock

Free School Meals: Free School Meals: Don’t miss outDon’t miss out Special Report by Josh Harwood & Ross Mather

Page 20

T HERE was rhyme, and there was a reason! It was National Poetry Day and St Mary’s poets celebrated in grand style.

The theme this year was ‘Games’ which inspired many original poems on the subject. In fact, no fewer than 76 original verses were read out by our budding bards. Staff joined in too, and contributed to five and a half hours of continuous poetry. Some poems were famous, some were funny, but one thing’s for sure: they were all fantastic!

English teacher Mrs Kate Rhodes makes her poetic contribution

Music teacher Mr Dan Elson finds some poetic rhythm

St MMrsorig

Page 21

Headteacher Mr Tony Boyle shares his musical rendition of an original football anthem

Teaching Assistant Mrs Wendy Williams with time for a rhyme

Nurse Nicola O’Brien in poetic mood...

The Poetry Factor...English teacher Miss Nicole Jones sings her contribution

Teaching Assistant Mrs Barbara Priest

Teaching Assistant Mr Will Doherty shares a verse or two Mary’s School Office Manager

s Ronnie Marsden recites an ginal composition

Page 22

T HERE was a rosy glow again in the corridors and classrooms of St Mary’s this term when

hundreds of staff and students wore pink and purple to raise money for breast cancer charities. Science teacher Mrs Sandra Nettleton (pictured above with Year 8 helpers) ran her annual Pink Stall all week, selling anything and everything pink, and together we raised a magnificent total of £1,000, making £5,000 since the appeal began. Thank you to all who supported the appeal!

Hair today: Marc Terry, Mr Elson, Matty Jones and Chris O’Connor

Also taking Also taking care of their care of their facial hair...facial hair...

S T MARY’S caretakers have had extra

responsibilities this month...cultivating their own moustaches! Bewhiskered Adrian, Phil and Tom (pictured above) have been grooming their facial hair to raise funds for the Movember Appeal.

And And the the icing on icing on the cake...the cake...

D ANIELLE Usher provided the icing on the cake in Pink Week. Well,

actually, it was on hundreds of cakes. The Year 10 student (pictured with Mrs Nettleton) made and iced more than 200 delicious cup cakes which sold like...hot cakes! She repeated her achievement later in the term in support of Alder Hey Hospital.

I T’S true to say there has been a sprouting of talent in St

Mary’s Music Department ~ moustache-growing talent! And the month of November has obviously been a time of personal growth for Music teacher Mr Dan Elson and his Sixth Form students. They joined the growing Movember movement (known as the Mo Bros) and acquired their moustaches (right) from a clean shaven start on November 1. It was all to raise money for testicular and prostate cancer research.

A month of A month of personal personal growth growth for for The The Mo Bros!Mo Bros!

Page 23

Below: Students at the Jaguar Land Rover plant in Halewood, near Liverpool

Learning is our Learning is our businessbusiness

S IXTH Form Business students steered

their A2 course to the Jaguar Land Rover plant in Halewood. They had a full tour of the world famous factory which produces Jaguar cars as well as the highly successful Range Rover Evoque and Freelander.

As a major regional employer, it fits the bill perfectly as an organisation for in-depth study. The group learned the meaning of the Just In Time system (three hours at this plant) where stock is ordered and received within minimum timescales. They were also fascinated by the synchronicity and the state-of-the-

art robotics system.

L AYING down the law on both sides of the Mersey were these BTEC Business students (left) who sat in

on a murder trial and other court cases. They went to the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts in Liverpool to see the accused murderer in the dock of the Crown Court. At Birkenhead Magistrates’ Court they saw another accused man sent down for a lesser offence. The visit is all part of their second year studies and is aimed at understanding the different roles played by judges, solicitors, barristers and juries.

Students who had Students who had their day in courttheir day in court

Y EAR 13 Business students had a great big ‘well done’ from their

teachers earlier this term...they were treated to a day out at Alton Towers to congratulate them on their excellent AS examination results last summer. Members of the Business Department wonder if there is a connection between the trip and the high attendance at Wednesday’s extra-curricular revision sessions!

Fun rewards for Fun rewards for great resultsgreat results

The ups and downs of the business world, but right on track for success! A2 Business students at Alton Towers

Below: Legal eagles… Business students at the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts, Liverpool

SteeringSteering a course to a course to the Jaguar the Jaguar plantplant

Page 24

S T Mary’s Home School Association has come up with lots of fundraising

ideas...and we would love to hear yours! But first, here are some dates for your diary...

Help us to help youHelp us to help you

(And have some fun into the bargain)(And have some fun into the bargain)

During December and January,

please bring in any old MOBILE PHONES into St Mary’s and post them into the

Snowman in the foyer. More funds for the HSA!

JANUARY 27th 2012 at OLDERSHAW RUGBY CLUB

ODDS are you will have a really fun night helping us to help our

Sixth Formers fund a trip to Tanzania with

educational charity

Camps International.

Our CLOTHES APPEAL has been a great success, and piles of unwanted garments have arrived in

St Mary’s so that the HSA will benefit from recycling them. Thank you to all who have donated!

NIGHTNIGHT

We would very much appreciate donations of CHOCOLATES, WINES & SPIRITS to give as

prizes at college events. Please hand them into St Mary’s Office, clearly labelled HSA.

Thank you so much!

OUR NEXT HSA MEETING IS ON

JANUARY 16 2012. COME AND JOIN US

FIRST 100 CLUB WINNERS

ANNOUNCED! £50 Mr S Henshaw £10 Ms M Bell £10 Mr P Jones

Right:: The HSA

Snowman will be in St Mary’s

foyer until the end of

January.

RING US ON RING US ON 639 7531 FOR 639 7531 FOR MORE DETAILSMORE DETAILS

FEBRUARY 24th 2012 at OLDERSHAW RUGBY CLUB

(With our regular Quizmaster Mr Malcolm Charles).

Bring along a team or just come along and join in.

You don’t have to be brainy or good at Trivial Pursuits!

We are raising funds so that our Sixth Formers can make

university visits.

Page 25

From meeting Macca to From meeting Macca to dancing in Viennadancing in Vienna

It’s the Blues brothers (and sisters!)

W HEN the cold winds stop blowing, we can all look forward to a dazzling display of daffodils in the Spring.

More than a thousand bulbs have been planted to create St Mary’s Field of Sunshine in the college grounds at the corner of Wallasey Village and Sandy Lane. As part of our preparations for November Remembrance, all students and staff have been invited to name a friend or family member they have lost. More than a thousand names are now recorded in a special Book of Remembrance in our College Chapel. The host of daffodils, at least one for every name, will ensure that the memory of our loved ones lives on with each new flowering. Special thanks are due to Mrs Sheila Crockford whose idea it was, and St Mary’s caretaker Phil who worked hard to complete the planting on schedule. During November each year, we hold special Remembrance

Assemblies for students and a Service of Remembrance for staff in our College Chapel.

Year 10 students help with the planting

I T ‘S not every day you meet a former Beatle. But then, it helps if you’re graduating from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, founded by Sir Paul McCartney. Danny

Bradford met Sir Paul at the ceremony earlier this year in Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall. The former St Mary’s student received his first class honours degree in Dance. And now his career in the performing arts has made a leap forward since he won a place on the John Bishop Sunshine Tour. He is shortly to open in a star-studded Vienna production called Musical Rocks. The show is set to tour Germany for three months starting in March. Among Danny’s other engagements have been promotional work for the cosmetics firm Givenchy and an appearance in BBC 1’s Young Dracula series.

Former St Mary’s student Danny Bradford with Sir Paul McCartney

T HEY never felt more like singin’ the blues… and the heartfelt music they produced filled

our Drama Studio! Our Sixth Form musicians (left) performed a medley of well-known numbers in a special Blues Night performance for this term’s Music Festival.

Gifted & Talented students from our partner primary schools took part in our special programme of activities.

Left: Fun with Mathematics

Right: Trampolining in St Mary’s gym

Below left: Millinery is an art in its own right

Left: Turned out nice again! Learning the ukulele in Music Below: I’m sticking with you! More hats in Art

Busy beesBusy bees

Page 26

Gifted & Talented students from our partner primary schools took part in our special programme of activities.

Left: Fun with Mathematics

Right: Trampolining in St Mary’s gym

Below left: Millinery is an art in its own right

Left: Turned out nice again! Learning the ukulele in Music Below: I’m sticking with you! More hats in Art

Busy beesBusy bees

Page 27

Capital Capital times in the times in the London art London art worldworld

J AKE Bell has made a lasting impression on the international art world with one of his A Level Art projects.

Sixth Form leaver Jake produced the thought-provoking photo montage (left) earlier this year and it is currently being exhibited in the Saatchi Gallery, London, as part of a worldwide competition for schools. It is one of only six exhibits in the gallery’s Education Room, and the only one not from a private school! His piece, entitled Forgotten Memories, uses images of himself and his father to explore the experience of memory. Do we really remember things as they were, or as we see them in photographs? Jake, aged 18, is currently studying for a degree in Multimedia and Graphics at Leeds Metropolitan University. The competition, now in its second year, is sponsored by Deutsche Bank and run in conjunction with The Sunday Telegraph. The winners will be announced in January. We are rooting for Jake!

Jake shortlisted for Jake shortlisted for Saatchi schools prizeSaatchi schools prize

An art installation in the New German exhibition currently showing in the Saatchi Gallery

Jake’s iconic work was also used on posters for our Arts Festival at Pacific Road Theatre earlier this year

S T Mary’s Art students viewed the city of London both

aesthetically and critically when they visited major national galleries on an annual Sixth Form trip. They took in the Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Britain and the Saatchi Gallery (pausing to admire Jake Bell’s work ~ see above). Fortunately there was time left to peruse the creative works of some of the classic brand names like Dior, Jimmy Choo and Harrods (an activity otherwise known as window shopping!).

Mud pack: Our Year 7 rugby team were one

try short

in the Merseyside competition

SPORTSROUNDUP

STOPPRESS

THEIR goal was to win, and that’s exactlywhat they did! St Mary’s Year 9 boysbrought home an impressive trophy fromthis term’s Merseyside Police Five A SideFootball Tournament.

And in an impressive series of focused performances, they went through the entiretournament with just one defeat.

After emerging triumphant from the earlierrounds, they produced a resounding 2-1 winagainst Pensby Boys’ School in the final. Thesemi, against Oldershaw School, went topenalties after a 1-1 draw.

Meanwhile, our Year 9 girl footballers were no slouches either!They secured third place in their tournament, losing just threegames, but making it to the semi-final.

PE teacher and boys’ team coach Mr Adam Ritchie said: ‘Boththe boys and the girls did amazingly well, and I am very proudof them. Their commitment and determination has certainlyreaped rewards.’

Muddy, but unbowed

We are the champions!

Barcodeshortcut toSt Mary'swebsite

Check out our flick-through Newsletter Archive going back to 2004!Visit St Mary’s website: www.stmaryscollege.wirral.sch.uk

St Mary’s Newsletter is published by St Mary’s Catholic College, Wallasey Village, Wallasey CH45 3LN.Tel: 0151 639 7531 Fax: 0151 201 4514 Email: schooloffice@stmaryscollege.wirral.sch.uk

Remember - this copy of St Mary’s Newsletter is not just for you, it’s for your friends and family too!

Christ within us all

Champion footballers: Year 9 boys with their trophy

Well done Year 9 girls: They came third in their tournament

JUST one try came between St Mary’s and a chance toplay in a major regional rugby tournament!Our Year 7 rugby team made it into the final of the Merseyside Year 7Emerging Schools Rugby Competition held at the Liverpool St HelensRUFC ground. On their way to the last match they scored impressivewins against Childwall Sports College, Deyes High School, Maghull, andWest Derby School.

But they narrowly missed their chance against Birkdale School’s tough challengers in a nail-biting finish to the competition. Sadly they will notgo on to the North West finals. Coach Mr Adam Ritchie said: ‘This was a great display from a side who have only just recently started playing competitive matches. The future is very promising.’

We are delighted to announce our success in the National Schools' Trampoline Competition. Abbie Sanford and Amy Catherall won trophies at the highly competitive event. Both were the youngest in their groups. Full results in next issue...

newsletter2_Layout 1 05/12/2011 13:55 Page 2