Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy part of Saint Robert Lawrence Catholic Academy Trust

The Friday Letter Edition No 165

Friday 4 November 2016

[Follow us on www.st-johnhoughton.derbyshire.sch.uk and on Twitter@SJHCVA] Comfort me with Your love O God Comfort me with Your love O God Wrap me up in Your strong embrace Shelter me from the storm O Lord Envelop me in Your tender care By day I pour out my heartbreak to You By night I give you my racing thoughts In You I take refuge In You I will not be afraid For you hold me strong, You hold me safe Calm my fearful heart O God Still my anxious mind O Lord For all my life is found in You All my being is given to You All my hope begins in You Welcome St Joseph’s Catholic Academy

On Tuesday 1 November we officially welcomed Saint Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, in Matlock, into the St Robert Lawrence Catholic Academy Trust. My thanks to Nicholas Bradley, Chyna Webster, Mia Williams-Greatorex and Adam Morley for accompanying me to Matlock for the celebration of Mass at Saint Joseph’s. Thank you to Rachel, Mrs Emery and Mrs Waby for joining us on this special day. As a trust we look to strengthen our work with Mr Scully the Headteacher at Saint Joseph’s;

along with their Governing Body, who have been looking to join a successful Academy Trust as their school does not have a local cluster of Catholic schools as we do. The Saint Robert Lawrence Catholic Academy Trust now comprises: English Martyrs’ in Long Eaton; Saint Joseph’s, Matlock; Saint John Houghton, Ilkeston; and the Priory Academy.

Thank you to all those who have written in and made comments about the proposed Sixth Form application. We have been overwhelmed by your support and are very grateful. Our consultation period is now over and we are now in the process of finalising our application for the Regional Schools Commissioner. Please keep us in your prayers.

Congratulations to Freya and Taya The Erewash Borough Sports Council Awards were held this week. Congratulations to Taya Joslin who won young sportswomen of the year and Freya Barry who was runner up for Disability performer of the year. Congratulations Matt and Emma You may have read in the local press the story of Matt Bettinson and Emma McCormack former students of Saint John Houghton who got engaged here in school recently. We wish them every happiness for their future.

For more details check out the story on Ilkeston Life: http://ilkestonlife.com/2016/11/02/wedding-proposal-in-sjh-classroom/

Triple Science Year 11 Due to malfunction on the calendar there was confusion for Year 11 students regarding their Triple Science lesson this week. We apologise for any confusion caused. Chaplaincy News

Rachel would like to thank Grace Nash and Anya Smith for their support with Acts of Worship.

Rachel would like to thank Mrs McCarthy for inviting her to Mass in St Joseph's Primary School this week. It was a beautiful Mass and an opportunity to meet their Chaplaincy Team, School Council and Father Robbie Callaghan. The pupils at Saint Joseph's told Rachel, 'We may never know all the good that a simple smile can do.' (Mother Teresa)

Sharewear News The Sharewear Team would like to thank you for all the donated clothes. During half term Rachel was able to take many bags to the Sharewear Centre and they were distributed to local people. More thanks to Stapleford Parish for their donations. This week we have handed out 9 Sharewear bags. Thank you for your support. On Thursday 17 November 2016 at 7.00pm the Sharewear Board will meet and you are invited to join the AGM at 7.45pm which will be followed by a short get together over cheese and wine for the volunteers to spend time together. Sharewear funds will not be used for this event. It is to thank you for all your hard work and donations. It is at the Parish Centre, Our lady's Church, Brooklyn Road, Bulwell. Please will you let Rachel know if you are coming to the party, for catering purposes. It was lovely to meet the pupils at St Joseph's, Market Harborough who have donated items for Sharewear and received the prayers for SJH Team Chaplaincy. It is

great to have Chaplain's working together in our Diocese. Briars Year 7 Rachel would like to thank The Briars Team, Saint John Houghton Staff and the parents for supporting the Year 7 Briars Retreat. It was a privilege to support the young people and make new friends. More thanks to Mrs McCarthy and Mrs Doczyminska for joining us during the week for Mass.

Cannons 2016 Rachel would like to thank Father David and the past and present Briar's Teams for preparing and delivering a wonderful Cannons Event in Derby recently. Watch out for more information on Christmas Cannons in next week’s Friday Letter. Special thanks to Joe Cox, Joe Boyle, Charlie, Tom, Sophie Morley, Reagan Lane and Olivia Bainbridge for their support.

J&P Day in Leicester Rachel would like to thank Mrs Taylor, Heidi Taylor, Tamsin Evans, Elena Taylor, Katie Tolan, Libby McKentie and Olivia Curzon-Manners for joining her at the Diocesan J&P Day in Leicester recently. We heard Mr John Battle speak about compassion in today's world and he entertained us with stories which made us laugh and cry. He was an excellent speaker and left us with many challenges to bring to our school J&P Group. Bishop Patrick celebrated Mass and all our students were involved in the beautiful liturgy. After a shared lunch we joined workshops which focused on the works of mercy. This was a long day for our students who were so well behaved and a credit to their school and parents but it was a very worthwhile day and

we look forward to sharing the news in Acts of Worships in the future. Our students gave Bishop Patrick a card and small gift. Bishop Patrick writes: Dear Rachel, thank you for the card and gift. Thank you also for bringing some of the young people with you to the Justice and Peace meeting. It was good to see them there, and I hope they got something out of the occasion. I was delighted to become an honorary member of St John Houghton Academy - please thank Heidi, Tamsin, Elena, Katie, Libby and Olivia, Rachel's Angels 2016-17. With good wishes, Bishop Patrick McKinney.

November During the month of November, we remember and pray for our dead. The Feast of All Saints' is a Holy Day of Obligation and Rachel prepared an Act of Worship for the whole Academy. We reflected on Saint John Houghton, Saint Bernadette and we were invited to discover a Saint who has inspired us and given us strength and we remembered the challenge from Pope Benedict to 'become Saints and not be content with second best'. Mrs McCarthy led the Act of Worship for All Souls. It was lovely to see staff and pupils in Stapleford 7.30pm Mass. Rachel would like to thank our school Bereavement Team who have spent time preparing the Upper Room and focus points throughout the school for the month of November. Rachel will be leading a Retreat in school on Wednesday 23 November 2016 9.00am - 1.15pm for all the pupils who have lost a parent through death, a separate letter will follow and we shall have a Bereavement Service in our Upper Room on Tuesday 22 November 2016 at 12.30 - 1.00pm. Team Chaplaincy and The Bereavement Team will be working together to collect the names of our loved ones who have died from our school community and during the service on the Tuesday 22 November 2016, we shall read out their name and light a candle in their memory, we shall have refreshments afterwards. Please do make Rachel aware by letter, phone call or email of any names you would like adding to our Book of Remembrance and it will be an honour and privilege to include them in our service. Oasis Team The Oasis Team Girls 2016-17 have been invited to 'Be the best you can Be' sessions on Tuesday evenings 3.15 - 4.15pm. Letters have been emailed out and hard copies have been in registers but we have only received one reply! Please return your reply slips to the school office. I don't want to give too much away and spoil the surprise but this will be a fantastic opportunity to grow in self-confidence, make some new friends, have fun, to be spoilt and to feel special so do come along to this new initiative and I promise you will not regret it. Oasis Team star of the week: Ellie Chadburn-Tennyson. Rachel's Hero of the week: Harry Joslin.

Stapleford Parish J&P Coffee Morning Saturday 5 November 2016 10.00am - 12.00pm. Please come along and support us and buy a cake in the church hall, raffle donations welcome. Congratulations Congratulation to the following students on their tremendous hard work and positive attitude to learning.

Mrs McDermott would like to say a massive well done to Niamh McElwee who, this week, became the first student to achieve a black belt status in Numeracy Ninjas. Let's see how many more of you can join her next week.

The forgotten War has been fought over sea, By men and women like you and me, After day they fight by night, While we are ready to say good night, They don’t take breaks, they have to be tough, But we take breaks cause we’re feeling ‘rough’,

When they go to work they may die, Without getting to say good bye. War has been fought over sea, By men and women like you and me, Old men wage war, young men fight it, Do they get involved? No, not one bit, But why do they get all the praise, The soldiers won’t even get a raise, The old men will sit at home, in clothes made of cotton, But the men on the front, are the forgotten. Written by David Dunbavand 8BP

The following students have been recognised in MFL this week for their excellent attitude to learning and achievement in either French or Spanish: Abby Hudson, Lawri Patrick, Deborah Banks, Harry Helliwell, Elizabeth Ward, Amy Cullingworth, Nicola Lewis and Joseph Haley.

GCSE PE Making models of the knee joint and using jelly babies to show planes and axis of movement.

This week the run club ran efforts around Kirk Hallam Lake, good to see some new faces. Well done to; Matthew Mendonca, Harry Joslin, Oliver Hodson, Joseph Treece, Taya Joslin, Sienna Grant, Simon Goodwin, Finn Elliott-Hufton, Mana Jones and Eleanor Moore. Thank you also to Mrs Joslin, Miss Pearce, Mrs Taddeo, Mrs Davies and Mr Ritchie for assisting with run club this week. As it gets colder and darker remember to wrap up and to wear as many bright colours as you can. Run club is open to everyone regardless of ability, please encourage your child to come along and give it a go, you never know they may like it.

EREWASH BOROUGH COUNCIL SPORTS AWARDS Congratulations to Taya Joslin 10RL who won young sportswomen of the year and Freya Barry who was runner up for Disability performer of the year. CROSS COUNTRY

For the first few weeks this ½ term all students in Years 7, 8 and 9 will be taking part in cross country. The course is around 1.2m. This is a chance for the students to learn how to pace themselves and challenge themselves over a set distance. This week we have seen some amazing performances by a lot of students. Year 7 TOP RUNNERS Girls Boys Keira Banks Harry Joslin Lily-May Ward Bradley Mee Lucy Andrews & Millie Lambert Louis Goddard Megan Hinton James Stephenson Fern Hunter Noah Winfield Cecilia Butterfield Connor Power Heidi Taylor Owen Holt

Harrison Priestley Also a big well done to Faith Wood, Joanna Prawosudowicz, Nathan Lacey, Luke Haywood and Callum Richardson for great running.

Year 8 TOP RUNNERS Girls Boys Shannon Parkin Caolan Dobney Sienna Grant Will Wallbank Kate Roach Barney Fisher Marie Estanda Cianan O’Kane Freya Barry Archie Richardson Year 9 TOP RUNNERS Girls Boys Ellie Neads Oliver Jasper Olivia Shaw Jack Stadler Ella Callaghan Ethan Rigby Leah Smedley Oliver Wheeldon Great running from Cole Arnold and Daisy Lee. Well done everyone – keep up the good work and don’t forget: - RUNNING CLUB TUEDSAY 3.15-4.15 EVERYONE WELCOME The great British Bake off @ Saint John Houghton The great British Bake off @ Saint John Houghton is back for it's annual competition. The date is Monday 28 November 2016. All entries to come to the food room before school starts with your entry form. Entry forms will be in registers after half term or you can collect one from Mr Price or Miss Bywater. We are raising money this year for the Trek to Nepal to help underprivileged villages. This trek is in association with worldchallenge.co.uk and a number of our students are taking part in the expedition. You go as big or small as you want with your cakes. The cakes will be judged on taste, appearance, texture and Inspiration. The cakes will then be sold at break and lunchtime to raise money for Nepal. Thanks for your support. Mr Price.

Well done to the following students who gained an excellent result in their first history exam of their GCSE course in year 10. They were; Ben Langfield, Deborah Banks, Ellie Chadburn-Tennyson and Rebecca Laurenti Well done to the following Year 9 Geography students on their recent Weather and Climate assessment; Neobe Buttigieg, Ella

Callaghan, Jessica Doran, Paige Crabtree-Crabtree, Oliver Hatton, Mark Kells, Max Wildbore and Rhys Windridge.

Mili Cunningham charity hair donation On Saturday 22 October, I donated 10 inches of my hair to the Little Princess Trust who make real hair wigs for little girls and boys suffering with cancer. There was a group of 15 of us who cut 7-15 inches of our hair. Also, all together we have raised over £5000 for the charity Breast Cancer Now.

PTA news Now that the Year 7 students have settled well into school the PTA would like to invite all Year 7 students to bring their family into school to show them around on Tuesday 15 November 15.30 till 18.30pm. It will be a great opportunity for you to see the classrooms that your children study in and see the places around the school that they are talking to you about. The PTA will be there to provide refreshments and also run a 50:50 raffle. The raffle is £1 per ticket and at the end of the evening a ticket is drawn and the money is split equally between the ticket holder and PTA funds. Remember you have to be in it to win it so don't forget you £1 coins. At 18.30pm on the same evening there is the next

PTA meeting and we would love it if you came along to see what we are all about. We will be in the LRC which hopefully your children will be showing you on your tour. The next Krispy Kreme doughnut day is approaching fast. It will be on Thursday 10 November. The doughnuts will be £1 and sold in the hall at break time. Please ensure that students bring in cash as we are unable to use the cashless system. We would hate for anyone to be disappointed.

Please don't forget about our Christmas puddings and Sticky Toffee Puddings that are available to purchase from the PTA. These are absolutely delicious and make a perfect Christmas dessert. Puddings cost £6 each. Please send orders and money to Abi Brear in the office. We only have a limited supply so please make sure you get your order in soon. We would hate for you to miss out and be disappointed. There are only 51 days until Christmas! Finally, the PTA would love to see more parent members. We are a very friendly bunch who are all keen to raise funds to enhance our children's education. Our next meeting is on Tuesday 15 November at 18.30 at school. Please come along to find out more. Twitter: PTA St John Houghton: PTA@st-johnhoughton.derbyshire.sch.uk

Thank you for taking the time to read the Friday Letter this week. It has been a busy first week with our attention focused on All Saints and All Souls Day. The news of the engagement of our former students Matt Bettinson and Emma McCormack made the headlines in the press this week. It is wonderful to see so many names in this week’s Friday letter and I wish to congratulate the children on their excellent start to this busy term. Mrs Joan McCarthy Headteacher

Parent’s Information Evening Monday 28 November at 7pm

We are holding a parent’s information evening looking at the changes in relation to Progress and attainment. It starts at 7pm all welcome.

There will be a presentation on New GCSE grading.

Progress and Attainment 8 measures

Data snapshots and how to understand them.

Questions and answers.