Summer 2006

Summer 2006

S TRICTLY dancing for joy were these St Mary’s students

who have been filmed by the BBC as part of a national dance project. They performed two pieces for the day’s filming by the River Mersey in Liverpool ~ their own ‘Tribal Dance’ and ‘Together’ which was choreographed in school by the Leeds-based RJC Dance Company. The BBC

‘‘‘‘ B l a s t ’ B l a s t ’ B l a s t ’ B l a s t ’

series of programmes will be screened later this year. Also taking part in the two day ‘Blast’ was Liverpool poet and playwright Levi Tafari (left) who took part in a workshop with St Mary’s drama students. These are just two of the many Arts events and project which have transformed St Mary’s since we became a specialist school for the Arts. See inside for more...

Having Having a Blast!a Blast!

newsletter A Specialist College for the ArtsA Specialist College for the ArtsA Specialist College for the ArtsA Specialist College for the Arts

ST MARY ’S CATHOL IC COLLEGE

Who’s this?

Find out inside! We’d like to wish all our readers a great summer!

OUR own very talented gymnast OUR own very talented gymnast OUR own very talented gymnast OUR own very talented gymnast Hanna Moses won no fewer Hanna Moses won no fewer Hanna Moses won no fewer Hanna Moses won no fewer

than than than than TWOTWOTWOTWO silver medals silver medals silver medals silver medals at the recent European at the recent European at the recent European at the recent European

Championships in Metz, France Championships in Metz, France Championships in Metz, France Championships in Metz, France ~ one in the Under 18s team ~ one in the Under 18s team ~ one in the Under 18s team ~ one in the Under 18s team

event and one individual medal event and one individual medal event and one individual medal event and one individual medal in the Double Mini Trampoline! in the Double Mini Trampoline! in the Double Mini Trampoline! in the Double Mini Trampoline!

Hanna is in Year 9Hanna is in Year 9Hanna is in Year 9Hanna is in Year 9....

Stars In Stars In

Their EyesTheir Eyes Picture Grace Callaghan

(Courtesy of the )

St Mary’s Newsletter Summer 2006 Page 2

H EAD of RE Mr Webster has found out at first hand what life is like in an

African school. He travelled to the village of Chito in Nigeria to meet the students and teachers of Maryland School as part of a project to ‘twin’ with St Mary’s College. ’I was given the most wonderful welcome, and was even made an honorary chief of the Tiv tribe’ said Mr Webster. ‘The people of Chito are very poor, and just live off the land. They have no income and are only ever a drought away from disaster. ‘Yet they are very happy and joyful people, and education is very important to them’ he added. The Maryland students can write and speak very good English in spite of having few books and no computers. They are taught from a blackboard in bare breezeblock huts with no pictures on the wall. ‘It would be a great thing if we could help to provide the school with learning resources. They are in great need, too, of further classrooms’ said Mr Webster. St Mary’s is currently applying for official funding for the project under the British Council schools twinning scheme.

Left: Mr Webster with Chito priests Fr Emanuel (left ) and Fr Moses. Mr Webster is wearing some of the honorary robes he was presented with at a special ceremony in the village.

Many of the senior students have to walk up to eight miles each day just to learn. One of Chito’s youngest pupils.

Above: Making friends with some of the primary school children in the shade of a mango tree. Below: One of the three classrooms at Maryland School where 450 students do their lessons. In spite of the heat, they wear their smart uniforms which have to be washed in the river.

Maryland School plays host to Mr Webster

African welcome


Above and right:Above and right:Above and right:Above and right: Joe White, of Year 13 Joe White, of Year 13 Joe White, of Year 13 Joe White, of Year 13 and Michael Dunn, and Michael Dunn, and Michael Dunn, and Michael Dunn, Year 11, who are Year 11, who are Year 11, who are Year 11, who are the award’s first the award’s first the award’s first the award’s first recipientsrecipientsrecipientsrecipients

I T WAS with great sadness that we learned also of the loss of former Head of Home Economics Mrs Judith Owens. Judith (pictured) taught at St Mary’s for 17 years, from its opening in 1972 to her retirement in 1989. She died in March after a long illness. Judith began her teaching career at St Hilda’s Secondary School, Wallasey, and moved to St Mary’s w h e n l o c a l s c h o o l s w e r e reorganised. Mrs Anne Nixon, who was a personal friend as well as a colleague, remembers: ’Judith was a kind, caring, enthusiastic and dedicated person with a wonderful

sense of humour ~ she could always tell an amusing tale. She exacted a high standard from her pupils, who always left the room munching the delicious products of her lessons’. Judith worked tirelessly in her later years, raising money for St John’s Hospice, Wirral, making items for sale and organising fundraising events.

Straight to the point

A SPECIAL ‘Award for Endeavour’ has been named in memory of Design technician Mr John Hardman who died earlier this year. John was a much-loved and respected member of St Mary’s DT department before his death after a short illness. He is

very much missed by staff and students alike. John - as he was known to all - was always willing to help and support everyone in the school, and his skill and expertise meant he could turn his hands to almost anything. Everyone who had the privilege of working alongside John will have a special memory of him. Miss Vanessa Morris, DT teacher and assistant head of Year 8 said: ‘John’s sense of humour was warm and dry and it would keep us going through the good and the bad. We did at times think of John as a father figure because of his experience and wisdom. He often made sense of situations and is greatly missed by all in Design Technology.’ John, 64, and a former DT teacher, had been due to retire in September after being at St Mary’s for nine years. He leaves a widow, Elaine, children and grandchildren.

John’s award for John’s award for

‘endeavour’‘endeavour’

Memories of Mrs Owens

YEAR 9 students had to keep their teacher YEAR 9 students had to keep their teacher YEAR 9 students had to keep their teacher YEAR 9 students had to keep their teacher on the straight and narrow...but it was on the straight and narrow...but it was on the straight and narrow...but it was on the straight and narrow...but it was all to raise money for a good cause! all to raise money for a good cause! all to raise money for a good cause! all to raise money for a good cause! Miss Holden’s trademark preMiss Holden’s trademark preMiss Holden’s trademark preMiss Holden’s trademark pre----Renaissance Renaissance Renaissance Renaissance tresses (natural, long, curly hair in other tresses (natural, long, curly hair in other tresses (natural, long, curly hair in other tresses (natural, long, curly hair in other words!) were subjected to a ‘sponsored words!) were subjected to a ‘sponsored words!) were subjected to a ‘sponsored words!) were subjected to a ‘sponsored straightening’ in aid of our Nigeria fund. straightening’ in aid of our Nigeria fund. straightening’ in aid of our Nigeria fund. straightening’ in aid of our Nigeria fund. However, a day later it was back to curlyHowever, a day later it was back to curlyHowever, a day later it was back to curlyHowever, a day later it was back to curly

normal!normal!normal!normal!


Slim chance!Slim chance!

‘Going,

going,

gone! ’

as staff

start

losing

pounds

for

charity

Mayor’s ‘last day’ visitMayor’s ‘last day’ visit

W IRRAL Mayor Chris Meade made a special visit to St Mary’s on her very

last day in office. She particularly wanted to say an official farewell to the members of ‘Kre8’ who came runners up in the Merseyside Young Enterprise Competition with their business project marketing DVD Postcards of Liverpool. ‘Councillor Meade was so impressed with the product she suggested that a similar one of Wirral would be a logical next step’ said Head of Business Studies Mr Mike Chew. ‘So we have already completed the filming and the new DVD is currently in production.’

P ULLING their weight to raise money for charity are some ‘cuddly’ members of staff who have organised their own

sponsored slim. With a joint starting weight of 746 kilos (that’s nearly three quarters of a ton!) they plan to be mere shadows of themselves before the end of term. And as they lose the pounds, they will be adding pounds to our Nigeria fund. Leading slimmer Mrs Paula Gouldson, who galvanised the others to start ‘thinking thin’ said: ‘It started with just a couple of us and the idea just snowballed. We were all support assistants until Mr McCarthy bravely volunteered!’ The slimmers are having weekly weigh-ins with Nurse Mrs Jane Campbell and are watching the pounds melt away over a strict eight-week programme. They are being sponsored over their joint weight loss, to save individual blushes. Pictured are: Mr Dave McCarthy, Mrs Wendy Williams, Mrs Jackie Pictured are: Mr Dave McCarthy, Mrs Wendy Williams, Mrs Jackie Pictured are: Mr Dave McCarthy, Mrs Wendy Williams, Mrs Jackie Pictured are: Mr Dave McCarthy, Mrs Wendy Williams, Mrs Jackie Hutchinson, Mrs Julie O’Donovan, Mrs Paula Gouldson, Mrs Barbara Priest Hutchinson, Mrs Julie O’Donovan, Mrs Paula Gouldson, Mrs Barbara Priest Hutchinson, Mrs Julie O’Donovan, Mrs Paula Gouldson, Mrs Barbara Priest Hutchinson, Mrs Julie O’Donovan, Mrs Paula Gouldson, Mrs Barbara Priest and Miss Alison Smith.and Miss Alison Smith.and Miss Alison Smith.and Miss Alison Smith.

Feeling sheepish down on the farmFeeling sheepish down on the farm

C HILDCARE students were invited to a Liverpool school’s Environment Day, and really got down to

work on the farm...and yes, Miss Cross (left) is holding a real sheep! East Prescot Road Nursery School holds the event every year and our students took sole charge of all the art and craft activities for the day. Some of them even had a go on the maypole! They made such an impression they have been invited back next year.

♦ Year 12 Childcare students raised £40 for Claire House Hospice, Wirral, through a cake sale and Year 10 students raised £71 for the Dalit community in India. They held two cake sales, a name the dog competition and an Easter egg raffle.

Left: Wirral’s former Mayor Councillor Chris Meade with Mr Chew, Left: Wirral’s former Mayor Councillor Chris Meade with Mr Chew, Left: Wirral’s former Mayor Councillor Chris Meade with Mr Chew, Left: Wirral’s former Mayor Councillor Chris Meade with Mr Chew, and ‘Kre8’ sixth formers Max Polmear, Alan Jones, Hayley and ‘Kre8’ sixth formers Max Polmear, Alan Jones, Hayley and ‘Kre8’ sixth formers Max Polmear, Alan Jones, Hayley and ‘Kre8’ sixth formers Max Polmear, Alan Jones, Hayley McNicholas and Rob BryanMcNicholas and Rob BryanMcNicholas and Rob BryanMcNicholas and Rob Bryan


I T WAS the pinnacle of achievement! Mr Chew and Mr Jordan climbed the three peaks of Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis in quick succession...all to raise

£1,000 for our Nigeria fund. They took the photos above to prove it, and although the weather for all three peaks was cloudy, rainy and they were robbed of the views, they returned to school triumphant. Both teachers are experienced climbers, and Mr Jordan, who has been walking and climbing for as long as he can remember, is also a licensed radio ham. He makes transmissions ~ sometimes in Morse Code ~ by amateur radio from every peak he reaches, using his unique call sign G0PZO (Golf-Zero-Papa-Zulu-Oscar). He said: ‘When we got to the top of Ben Nevis it was windy, pouring with rain and there was snow. But in spite of all that there was a beautiful black and white bird singing.’ The ascent took three hours 45 minutes. Scafell Pike, the highest peak in England, took two and a quarter hours, while Snowdon, the highest in Wales, took two and a half hours.

Left: Tired but Left: Tired but Left: Tired but Left: Tired but happy at the happy at the happy at the happy at the summit of Scafell summit of Scafell summit of Scafell summit of Scafell Pike in the Lake Pike in the Lake Pike in the Lake Pike in the Lake DistrictDistrictDistrictDistrict Right: Reaching Right: Reaching Right: Reaching Right: Reaching the heights of the heights of the heights of the heights of SnowdonSnowdonSnowdonSnowdon

Peak PracticePeak Practice

Left: Ben Nevis Left: Ben Nevis Left: Ben Nevis Left: Ben Nevis was the crowning was the crowning was the crowning was the crowning glory of the three glory of the three glory of the three glory of the three peaks peaks peaks peaks

Mr Lally. . .and the orphans of Moldova

T HESE delightful children were giving the thumbs up to ’young’ Mr Lally on his recent visit to

Moldova. Their smiles belie the sad circumstances of their lives...they live in an orphanage where there are 300 other children and very few staff to look after them. They are either orphaned or abandoned. Mr Lally went with two representatives of the Sacred Heart Fathers whose mission in the Transdniester region brings help and hope to families torn apart by civil war and poverty. He toured health centres, schools and homes on a special ‘fact finding’ tour to find out how best the money we raise in school can be spent. Watch out for a special report in the next Newsletter.


Making a drama out of crisis

D RAMA students from St Mary’s helped to launch a Merseyside Police campaign against domestic violence. They joined Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe on board the Walk the Plank theatre ship in Canning Dock, Liverpool, for a special workshop which was later shown at a Press conference and on regional TV news programmes. Dubbed ‘Operation Goodwill’, it was specifically aimed at preventing violence in the home over Christmas, but more generally to raise awareness of the need to involve police in violent incidents. Year 6 children in primary schools are being targeted as part of their Personal, Social and Health

Education. The campaign slogan: ‘Don’t Live in Hell—Tell’ together with art work and drama presentations were developed in workshops involving young people from across Merseyside, some of whom have first hand experience of domestic violence.

of Performing and Visual Arts in St Mary’s

‘‘DDOON’N’TT

LLIIVVE E IINN

HHEELLLL~ ~

TTELELLL’’

Left: Students who took part in a special drama ‘Steven’s Story’.

Below: Year 13 students in a drama workshop focusing on domestic violence

SSSS PEED DATING PEED DATING PEED DATING PEED DATING was the subject of another performance with original writ ing and

characterisation by St Mary’s students. The project, with its message of hope, looked at the deeper aspects of life. Students researched and rehearsed the entire play after school with community arts worker Mr Tim Feak.


THE ART OF THE ART OF

A RT students have been putting their sporting heroes in the frame...all part of a project between the Sports Department and the Art Department. Winning pictures by Year 9’s James Blackmore and Jennifer Byrne of Year 7 are to be shown as part of a special exhibition in the Williamson Art Gallery. Other pictures are soon to adorn

Left: Jennifer Byrne with her picture of Bruce Lee

Above: James Blackmore’s picture of the England rugby team

Right: Emily Hubber’s David Beckham

Above: Charlotte Roberts with her picture of Kelly Holmes and the Fun Day canvas

the walls of our own sports hall. Miss Stacey Sumner and Mrs Lisa Snelson worked with the students at lunchtime and after school to produce the canvases. A large canvas depicting different sporting disciplines was used to raise money on our recent Sports Fun Day ~ so many other hands have added to the finished article!


Tonight, Mr Lee, we’re going to be Madonna, Dolly, Gwen, the Nolans, you name it, we’ve got...

Our smash hit show raised £350 for Nigeria fund!

Left: Holly Thompson as Dolly Parton Below: Spot the Nolans!

Compere Mr Dave Lee

Helen Webster as Gwen Stefani supported by Tania King and Amy Woods

Mrs Paula Gouldson and Mrs Barbara Priest as Barbara Dickson and

Elaine Paige

Ms Madeley as Madonna, with support from Joe Bishop and Andrew

Buckley

Miss Kaye Mrs Rhodes Miss George Mrs Moore Mrs Cogley

Mrs Hopwood as Corinne Bailey Rae

Stars in Stars in

our our

eyes!eyes!


From ‘Crazy Chick’ to

Pete & Katie

Year 10’s Nirvana and

Mr & Mrs Jordan as

Cher & Ozzie!

And the winners were...And the winners were...

Eagles Eyes note: ‘Elton John’ and ‘Shirley Bassey’ shared a feather boa!

Miss Heraghty and Mr Feak!

Hannah Thompson as Charlotte Church

Mrs Sheila Moyes sings Evita

‘Big Spender’ Mrs Gill Perry

Kyle Carter-Pritchard as Elton

Jonathan McManus as Justin Timberlake

Sian Foulds and Sam Alpin

REAL DEAD

RINGERS FOR LOVE!


Prague and new art of learning Prague and new art of learning

S IXTH FORM students discovered Prague’s unique contribution to Art

Nouveau as part of their A Level studies. And as they visited the art galleries and museums they soaked up the atmosphere of one of Europe’s grandest and most beautiful cities. They looked particularly at the work of Czech artist Alphonse Mucha, whose lithograph ‘Dancel’ is pictured right. The Mucha museum is world famous. Five students made the trip: Philip Donaghue, Cath McGee, Danielle Howard and, pictured, Rachel Murphy and Sarah Pope.

Dance ‘Grand tour’ Dance ‘Grand tour’ D ANCING their way

through Italy in April were 32 of our GCSE and A Level students. They worked with West End choreographer Neil Johnston to produce a final performance in a real Italian amphitheatre. And in between all the intensive dance sessions, they managed to squeeze in trips to Venice and Verona, the ‘home’ of ‘Romeo and Juliet’...to mention nothing of a beach toga party in Bardolino. All that dancing meant no one felt guilty about the pizzas and ice cream!

St Mary’s has a strong male dance company, and all our events and dance opportunities include both boys and girls. Two St Mary’s has a strong male dance company, and all our events and dance opportunities include both boys and girls. Two St Mary’s has a strong male dance company, and all our events and dance opportunities include both boys and girls. Two St Mary’s has a strong male dance company, and all our events and dance opportunities include both boys and girls. Two recent events have included a two day course with Leedsrecent events have included a two day course with Leedsrecent events have included a two day course with Leedsrecent events have included a two day course with Leeds----based RJC dance company which led to a performance at the Chester based RJC dance company which led to a performance at the Chester based RJC dance company which led to a performance at the Chester based RJC dance company which led to a performance at the Chester Gateway Theatre and a performance at the Royal Court, Liverpool as part of the LEAP Dance Festival in partnership with the Gateway Theatre and a performance at the Royal Court, Liverpool as part of the LEAP Dance Festival in partnership with the Gateway Theatre and a performance at the Royal Court, Liverpool as part of the LEAP Dance Festival in partnership with the Gateway Theatre and a performance at the Royal Court, Liverpool as part of the LEAP Dance Festival in partnership with the

Merseyside Dance Initiative.Merseyside Dance Initiative.Merseyside Dance Initiative.Merseyside Dance Initiative.


D RAMA students swapped their own clothes for First World War uniforms when they performed their adaptations of the hit musical show ’Oh! What a Lovely War’ for their Drama Studies A level exam. The Year 13 students (left) gave three different interpretations of the satirical play by Joan Littlewood in performances for staff, parents and an external examiner. The students studied, researched and performed their examination pieces after many months of preparation, working in groups to explore different themes and approaches. The final performance included additional material written and produced by the students themselves.

Nardeen Nemat, Stuart Gratton, Stephen Baron, Andrew Nolan, Jenny Nardeen Nemat, Stuart Gratton, Stephen Baron, Andrew Nolan, Jenny Nardeen Nemat, Stuart Gratton, Stephen Baron, Andrew Nolan, Jenny Nardeen Nemat, Stuart Gratton, Stephen Baron, Andrew Nolan, Jenny Nicholas, Paul Saunders, Melissa O’Connor and Helen WebsterNicholas, Paul Saunders, Melissa O’Connor and Helen WebsterNicholas, Paul Saunders, Melissa O’Connor and Helen WebsterNicholas, Paul Saunders, Melissa O’Connor and Helen Webster

Oh! What a lovely war dramaOh! What a lovely war drama

Getting the Getting the

movie bugmovie bug

W A L L A S E Y p l a y w r i g h t

Marc Gee worked with Year 11 Drama students in two film making projects at Wirral’s Learning Lighthouse. Marc, pictured left, gave professional advice on scriptwriting, storyboarding and working with a film crew. ‘Missing’ (above right) was a horror project involving five schools, while ‘Balsamic Theory’, starring Year 11’s Hannah Thompson (above) was a sci-fi film about computer viruses.

MRS HOPWOOD and MRS MCWATT’s own artwork is MRS HOPWOOD and MRS MCWATT’s own artwork is MRS HOPWOOD and MRS MCWATT’s own artwork is MRS HOPWOOD and MRS MCWATT’s own artwork is being shown in an exhibition in a Liverpool gallery until being shown in an exhibition in a Liverpool gallery until being shown in an exhibition in a Liverpool gallery until being shown in an exhibition in a Liverpool gallery until July 30. You can see for yourself at the Almiro Gallery July 30. You can see for yourself at the Almiro Gallery July 30. You can see for yourself at the Almiro Gallery July 30. You can see for yourself at the Almiro Gallery

in Mersey View, Waterloo.in Mersey View, Waterloo.in Mersey View, Waterloo.in Mersey View, Waterloo.


The new Our Lady banner hangs in the theatre

Oh my wordOh my word A

LL in all, they were much more than just bricks in the wall. The wall of words gracing our school corridors this term has impressed all with the

standard of *verbiage and *eloquence at St Mary’s! More than £80 was raised for the Good Shepherd Fund by selling ‘bricks’ at 10p each. Then we let our imaginations run riot as part of ’Make Chatter Matter Week’. thinking of all the weird, wonderful and *articulatearticulatearticulatearticulate words we loved the most. Firm favourites were the *onomatopoeiconomatopoeiconomatopoeiconomatopoeic words like bubble bubble bubble bubble and giggle giggle giggle giggle followed closely by the evocative *huggermugger. huggermugger. huggermugger. huggermugger. Then there were the likes of *agog agog agog agog and *akimbo akimbo akimbo akimbo which certainly might describe the attitude of visitors to the school, along with *flabbergasted flabbergasted flabbergasted flabbergasted and *staggered. staggered. staggered. staggered. *Lackadaisical, Lackadaisical, Lackadaisical, Lackadaisical, though, we certainly were not, if all the carefully designed bricks are anything to go by. *Tenacious Tenacious Tenacious Tenacious sounds more like it!

* * * * Look up the meaning of these words ~ they’re all excessively Look up the meaning of these words ~ they’re all excessively Look up the meaning of these words ~ they’re all excessively Look up the meaning of these words ~ they’re all excessively intriguing and scintillating!intriguing and scintillating!intriguing and scintillating!intriguing and scintillating!

(and his word, and her word)

Right: Right: Right: Right: Year 8 Year 8 Year 8 Year 8

students find students find students find students find words words words words for itfor itfor itfor it

Sew wonderful!Sew wonderful! St Mary’s material gain

Y ou must have seen them. They’re pretty impressive and they hang around the school looking magnificent . . . no, we’re not talking

about our sixth form students! We mean the beautiful wall hangings which are all the work of one member of staff ~ Mrs Christine Mossman. Mrs Mossman (right) has spent countless hours stitching the collages together and the results of her expert needlework make a lasting impression on new parents and visitors to the school. Her first ‘Our Lady’ which was completed in 2000 and now hangs in the foyer, is the basis of the watermark on all school stationery. Last year Mrs Mossman, who is a learning mentor and school counsellor in the Bosco Centre, produced a replica for the Drama Theatre...and it took her at least 100 hours over four weeks of the summer holiday. First the face and hands were painted by Head of Art Ms McWatt before the pieces of material were sewn together. Matching all the silks and satins meant many trips to a well known haberdashery in Tranmere for Mrs Mossman. ‘I really enjoyed making the last one, but I felt like I needed replacement knees by the time it was finished!’ she said. ‘And the whole thing just covered my living room floor for weeks’. Mrs Mossman, who has also sewn elaborate wedding dresses for London’s most exclusive store, Harrods, also made the Resurrection and Pentecost collages which hang on either side of Our Lady in the theatre. As a member of English Martyrs Catholic Church she has also worked with other parishioners on banners with Christmas and Millennium themes.


The logical way The logical way

to enjoy Maths!to enjoy Maths! T UESDAY morning, returning to school after a May Bank Holiday, would be a groan for most ~ but not for the faithful Set 1 Maths group of Year 8! Miss Morgan, Mr Mortimer, Miss Phillips and Miss Piercy gathered for the chatty, enthusiastic Maths group and headed off to Newiquest, North Wales, to explore the laws of Maths and Science. Friendly staff led us to a myriad mind games and boggling puzzles; some of them seemed impossible. For example, opening a treasure chest with a key. An easy task, you might think. Oh no! It took a while and some fantastical propositions from several of us, but only Callum Rutherford ~ a mighty mathematician ~ solved the problem. There was a small block of wood with a code on it that had the answer to opening the treasure chest, but it turned out the block of wood was...oops, better not give the game away! Suffice to say it was a ‘complex repelling magnetic system’ which helped to open the chest. We then had a presentation called ‘Mathemagic’. It was hosted by an unforgettable member of staff (think hair), who led us through the mysteries of percentages and probability, as well as getting Christina Rushworth and Sarah Galloway into a bit of a tangle. As we moved on to the next two exhibitions, more creazy theories and fun facts were revealed. It made us realise how

much we use Maths and Science in our world in everyday life. Sam Astill, Year 8888

Making no bones about it at Newiquest...with the sum of all the parts!

(and a French one, and a German, Polish, Tamil...)

P OINTS make prizes! And the more healthy the choices you make in the canteen, the more points you gain. And with all the new, nutritious dishes on offer, it isn’t hard. Sodexho have introduced regular no-chip days and, it’s true to say, no

-one really misses them! Pasta has taken over as the most popular lunchtime food, and burger sales have plummeted as pupils try wraps, pitta bread and hoagies. New cake recipes are used with less fat and less sugar, and two new vending machines provide fruit, milk and water so unhealthy snacks can be a thing of the past! A mountain bike, an Ipod and a smoothie maker are all up for grabs. In fact, there are more than £400 £400 £400 £400 worth of prizes donated by Sodexho and Mersey Vend. Every time you choose a healthy food, your swipe card is automatically awarded points. Just to test out the system, we found out who the healthiest eaters were without trying...and they were awarded certificates. Top with 2,230 points was Rebecca KellyRebecca KellyRebecca KellyRebecca Kelly, 9AK, followed by Joanne HightonJoanne HightonJoanne HightonJoanne Highton, 10DM with 2,020 points. Then there was Matthew KeoghMatthew KeoghMatthew KeoghMatthew Keogh, 10JLW with 1,740 points and Leon SearchLeon SearchLeon SearchLeon Search----KearneyKearneyKearneyKearney, 8RC with 1,715 points. Well done all of you!Well done all of you!Well done all of you!Well done all of you!

Win a bike or an Ipod...just for being healthy

S T MARY’S English Department hosted a special evening called ‘In Their Own Words’ when more than 100 students from every year group performed their own creative work. Twenty students had spent a day with Liverpool Everyman’s scriptwriter Tony Green and they performed their original play for a specially invited audience in the drama studio. There were also poetry, monologues, short stories and song lyrics in what was a very entertaining night for all (pictured right).

A ROSE by any other name would smell as sweet...Shakespeare’s Juliet was right! And we proved it on our very first Modern Languages Evening when we shared prose and poetry performances in French, German, Spanish, Polish and Tamil! Deputy Headteacher Mr Polahowski, Year 7’s Camila Falencka and school cleaner Devaseelan Manoharan, who came to us from Bangalore, all read poetry in their ‘other’ languages, Polish and Hindi. Then there were French songs from Year 13 and Year 7 students, and French and German versions of ’Romeo & Juliet’.

In their own words, In their own words, an English successan English success


A C

(Clues in the (Clues in the (Clues in the (Clues in the captions!)captions!)captions!)captions!)

A: Think figures. Think in a calculated

fashion. Who could

she be? Year 8 ought to know!

B: You’ll never guess who this angel is, not in a million years! Not without this hefty clue: Rhymes with scruffy, (which he isn’t!)

C: ‘Allo, ‘allo, oo iz thees? Une petite fille sur un âne, peut-ětre? Guess this and you could be onto Un winner!

B

D E

F

D: Webmasters were a thing

of the future when this was taken. But he was about to be one, in a way. Have faith and you’ll work it out.

E: This young lady had

designs on a career in teaching, and her resistant materials didn’t let her down.

F: Things took a dramatic

turn when this particular young man arrived in Wallasey. He hasn’t changed much, has he?

WIN £10!

Did you work out who they were? Post your entry into the ‘Eagle Eye’ box in the foyer. Prizes will be given on the last day of term to the three students with the most correct answers.

A……………………………………….

B……………………………………….

C……………………………………….

D……………………………………….

E……………………………………….

F……………………………………….

Name….…………………….................

Form...................................................

Before they Before they were teachers were teachers


C HAMPIONS Jennifer and Nick Munn have

had their day in a Liverpool court . . . a squash court, of course!

The sister and brother were both asked to play in demo matches as part of the North West Squash Festival.

They joined some of the world’s top names in squash to play in a special glass court in St George’s Hall, Liverpool.

The two-day festival and its $77,000 prize fund attracted top seed David Palmer of Australia and former world number one Thierry Lincou of France, among many others. Lincou took home the trophy after a thrilling final.

Nick and Jennifer, who are in Year 13 and Year 8, are current Merseyside Champions.

They are both members of New Brighton Squash Club and play several times each week.

Holly’s tennis heroHolly’s tennis hero H OLLY Thompson played host to Paralympic tennis hero Mark Eccleston ~ and even challenged him to a game in St Mary’s gym! The Year 8 student, who has a bone disorder, found she has lots in common with world-famous Mark...neither of them has ever let their disability hold them back. Mark, who lives in Southport, has captained Great Britain and won a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympics (pictured below). At the

age of 16 he severed his spinal cord in an accident and was left paralysed from the chest down. He is a regular at Wirral Tenn is Cen t re , Bidston, which is the best indoor tennis f a c i l i t y i n Merseyside. He paid St Mary’s a special visit just to see Holly.

Nick and Jen’s day in courtNick and Jen’s day in court


T HREE St Mary’s students helped Wirral Hawks take home the trophies in Wallasey’s Under 14s Junior Football League. They are Lauren Edwards, Charlotte Locke and Georgia Turner (all on the bottom row).

Wirral Hawks’ Wirral Hawks’ silver ladies silver ladies win the leaguewin the league

‘Travel Plan’ aims to make school journeys safer

C YCLING to school is quick, ‘green’ and cool ~ that’s the

message being given to students and staff. Funding for brand new ‘cycle supersheds’ with CCTV security is in the pipeline to make it easier to bring and store bikes at school and it’s hoped that more students will choose the ‘healthier option’ of pedal power. Our own school travel survey reveals that at present, one third of St Mary’s students live within 2km of the school, so they’ve no excuse for not walking or cycling to school! Mr Darren Houghton, School Travel Plan Co-ordinator, said: ‘We’re hoping to seriously reduce the very bad congestion outside the school gates where parents drop off their children. That’s why plans are being discussed with Merseyrail for the possible use of Grove Road Station car park where students could be dropped off for the short walk to school. Regular exercise makes us all fitter, and this would mean that many more children will be walking at least half a mile a day.’ Other ways of making home-school travel safer include asking parents not to park, however briefly, on the zigzag lines outside school and not to enter the car park just to drop off their children. A separate pedestrian entrance and a puffin crossing over the main Wallasey Village road is also under consideration, as well as interactive road signs warning drivers to slow down.

Members of staff who already ‘get on their bikes’ include Mr Archer, Mr Auton and Mr Charles!Members of staff who already ‘get on their bikes’ include Mr Archer, Mr Auton and Mr Charles!Members of staff who already ‘get on their bikes’ include Mr Archer, Mr Auton and Mr Charles!Members of staff who already ‘get on their bikes’ include Mr Archer, Mr Auton and Mr Charles!

Pedal power is cool: Some of our regular school cyclists

Documents

Summer 2006