St James' Catholic High School
March 2024 Newsletter
MESSAGE FROM HEADTEACHER
As the spring term draws to a close our March edition of the newsletter is packed full of many wonderful opportunities afforded to the pupils in our school community. The highlight for many in recent weeks was our wonderful school production, Zest. Thank you to everyone involved in bringing this amazing piece of musical theatre to us, and to all of those who were able to support this event by attending across one of the three nights of the show.
There is so much more to capture your attention, so please take the time to look through our newsletter.
I wish you and your families a happy and holy Easter.
Mr Ellul
UKMATHS Challenge
Congratulations to the Year 10 students who took part in the intermediate UK Maths Trust Challenge.
Special mention to Jason Zhao who was outstanding in winning the Gold certificate.
Well done everyone!
Food Collections
So far this year, our amazing canteen staff have saved and donated over 20kg of food to feed 6 households, as well as avoiding 89kg of CO2 emissions and 305 car miles off the road!
Huge thanks to Olio for enabling these efforts through their local sharing app! Check out below link for more information
PiXL Maths App
Well done to Filip Baka, Jasmine Ricketts and Ryan Shaw who have consistently scored the highest points in the PiXL Maths app. Remember, the league resets every week, so who will win next week? It's not too late to start - there are also prizes to be won!
Year 11 Boys Win Through to Cup Final
Congratulations to our Year 11 Football team for winning the semi- final against Wren academy, well done boys and best of luck for the final!
'Moments Matter - Attendance Counts'
Attendance
There is a strong correlation between good attendance/punctuality and examination success. Nationally, pupils with 96%+ attendance are most likely to achieve grades 5-9 at GCSE. Our school attendance target this academic year is 97%. Pupils must attend school daily unless there is a valid reason not to attend.
Parents are requested not to arrange family holidays, or medical or dental appointments during term time.
If there is a valid reason that pupils cannot attend school, your parents must inform the school by 8:30 am on the first and each subsequent day of absence. Parents must provide evidence of medical or dental appointments and be asked to provide medical evidence for more than 3 days of absence.
Did you know you can check daily attendance and punctuality on the Arbor app?
Punctuality
Punctuality is an important part of self-discipline and is essential for time management. Pupils must be in school by 8:30am. At 8:30am the school gates will be closed and pupils must enter school through reception. They will be marked late and receive a detention for the same day. Parents will be sent a text message informing them that their child has been late to school. Repeated late marks may result in your parents being fined. You and your parents may also need to attend a Punctuality Board meeting.
Celebrating International Women's Day
What Women Inspire You?
International Women's Day is a global event celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women's achievements or rally for women's equality.
Marked annually on March 8th, International Women's Day (IWD) is one of the most important days of the year to:
- celebrate women's achievements
- raise awareness about women's equality
- lobby for accelerated gender parity
- Fundraise for female-focused charities
Below our staff share with us what women inspires them:
International Women's Day Postcards
To celebrate International Women’s Day pupils spent time reflecting on the important women in their lives. They created postcards to give to their inspiring women sharing their gratitude and appreciation.
International Women's Day Sporting Event
Our amazing PE department ran three activities to celebrate International Women's Day. This included Dodgeball, Just Dance and Football to develop confidence, communication and teamwork in sports.
Thanks to all the pupils who got involved and to our PE department for running the activities!
Drama Celebrates International Women's Day
The campaign theme for International Women's Day 2024 is Inspire Inclusion. In Drama, we have been looking at the inspirational work of actor Kathryn Hunter.
Whilst at drama school, Kathryn Hunter had a terrible car accident which left her with a broken back, pelvis and arm, a smashed elbow, a crushed foot and a collapsed lung.
She was told she would never walk again and was left with a crooked back, a bent elbow and a permanent limp. But the horror of the crash became a defining moment. Recovering from such terrible injuries Kathryn Hunter started exploring how she could use her body and voice in different ways. In her stage work, Hunter has been described as a "virtuoso physical performer." She has worked with renowned companies and won several awards around the world. Her most recent work is playing all three witches in the film of Macbeth.
Mr Sellek - Head of Drama
World Book Day
We have been celebrating World Book Day across the school.
Sharing our most recent reads and recommendations, talking about our favourite books and thinking about how we'll spend our £1 book tokens!
International Pi Day
Pi Day is an annual celebration of the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi Day is observed on 14 March (the 3rd month) since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three significant figures of π Pi is an irrational number, which means it is not equal to the ratio of any two whole numbers. It’s digits do not repeat.
To celebrate this the Maths Department organised a Bake-off, where staff and pupils baked pies and were judged by other staff. Pupils also entered a competition of who could remember the most numbers of Pi. Winners are:
1.Kaarunya (128)
2.Hetu (100)
3.Jason (73)
4.Jinho (63)
5.Ann (50)
6.Larry (45)
7.Enoch (42)
8.Jay (30)
A massive well done and thank you to all pupils and staff for participating in the celebration of Pi Day in the maths department.
Sculpture Workshop
To celebrate our upcoming 90th anniversary, we organised a sculpture workshop with external artists. Pupils were specially chosen and spent time creating designs for an upcoming sculpture that will form the centrepiece of anniversary celebrations.
Zest the Musical
The next-generation tasting sensation is coming to Scumton. Everybody loves it. Everybody except our protagonist Nora, who can’t drink it, because she’s diabetic. But wait ... there’s something weird about this Zest drink ...
Message from Headteacher
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Welcome all to what is our third school production and one I know that will have you, the audience, captivated. We move away from the very familiar settings of The Wizard of Oz and The Addams Family, our hugely successful school performances of the last two years, and step into the town of Scumton and the musical comedy that is Zest.
This first-time performance has been exclusively written for St James' and brought to life by our wonderful cast. I thank everyone involved in bringing this to you, and know you will have a most wonderful evening.
Mr Ellul - Headteacher
The Principles
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Nora Zietes - Stephanie Duma-Marghidan
'The part I play is Nora Zietes. What made me decide to be a part of Zest is, honestly... I just love acting and singing because it’s fun and is a way to express myself. I felt very nervous to play this character at first as there is a lot of pressure. This is my first production at school. I am looking forward to being a part of other performances. What I enjoy most about being a part of Zest is seeing myself improve and showing off my talent. You can expect to laugh a lot as it is a comedy show. I want to become an actress when I am older. If you are thinking about it, go for it!'
Jonny Perrone - Joseph Elliot
'In Zest, I play Jonny, a quiet person who does whatever his sister says. This would make the third production that I have been in and I joined Zest to continue the fun of being in productions. If anyone wants to join one, I would advise them to, because you make new friends and you can build your confidence.'
Pete Zietes - Ethan Chalk
'My name is Ethan Chalk and I play Pete Zietes. I decided to become a part of Zest because I like drama and my friends were also taking part. This is my first production at St James’ and I would do another one as I love it. Being in Zest has made me a bit more confident on stage and with performing. I think I will be continuing in theatre. My character is someone who wants to do good but sometimes find it hard to make his own choices. I am a little like my character. I am kind but I wouldn’t be as easily persuaded.'
Maximillian Profit - Jeremiah Amuri-Sossongo
'I play Maximillian Profit the antagonist of Zest. The fact that I can be a part of a school production makes me feel ecstatic as I wasn’t able to participate in The Addams Family. I have played in The Wizard of Oz as Tinman, but playing Max is a huge difference. I think of Max as a prideful, flamboyant charismatic businessman who is excellent at manipulating others. What I have enjoyed most, is being able to command the stage, putting on such a performance and dominating the areas. I see myself in Max in terms of confidence. I loved coming to the rehearsals for the singing, which brightens my day. Without a doubt, I will continue in theatre.'
Miss Allen - Mia Ficetola
'My name is Mia Ficetola and this is my third production at St James’. I decided to be a part of Zest because I love acting and singing. I absolutely adore my character, Miss Allen, because she is the opposite of me. This makes me experience a whole new person. I think everyone should come and watch Zest because it is such a well-written play that has been fun to work in. I would like to thank Mr. Howlett-Reeves for writing the show and putting together the music, my family for being so supportive and a special thanks to my friends from Zest and outside of Zest, for helping me with my lines.'
Fizz - Chloe Snowdon
'Hello, my name is Chloe Snowdon and I play Fizz in the musical Zest. This is my third production. Doing Zest, has been an amazing experience, especially since I have amazing friends in the cast. I would like to thank my mum, who helped me learn my lines. I would also like to thank Mr Howlett- Reeves for giving me this opportunity. I will definitely carry on doing musical theatre in the future.'
Tingle - Tyla Regala
'My name is Tyla Regala and I play Tingle in the show. I decided to be a part of Zest because I enjoy acting and singing. This is my second show at St James’. Last year I was a part of the Chorus in The Addams Family. In Year 6, I was Juliet in my school’s production, Shakespeare Rock but sadly, I got chicken pox so I wasn’t able to perform. Being in Zest has helped me improve my singing and has also allowed me to be confident when performing in front of a large audience. I would like to thank Mr Howlett- Reeves and Miss Williams for putting time and effort into rehearsals. I would also like to thank my family and friends for always supporting me.'
Preservatives - Georgie Hunter
'My name is Georgie Hunter and I play Preservatives. I wanted to be a part of Zest as I wanted to develop my skills in musical theatre. I was a part of the last show, The Addams Family in which I played Gomez. What I enjoyed most about being in the show are the friends I made. I hope one day to be in the West End and continue theatre. People coming to the show can expect a mix of emotions and a thrilling performance. I would like to thank Mr Joe Howlett-Reeves and Gabriel Howlett- Reeves, for helping with the staging of the scenes. I hope you enjoy the show and have a great rest of the year!'
Earl Edward Bird - Andrew Duma-Marghidan
'I am Andrew and I play Earl Edward Bird. I decided to be in Zest because I have a passion for theatre and would like to do Drama in GCSE. This is the first production I have ever taken part in. Earl is a very cringey character, not to mention a teacher’s pet. What I enjoy most about him is that he is so ‘random’ and can cause some laughs. After doing my first show, I will definitely do another. In fact, I absolutely recommend being in a musical. It is so much fun preparing and meeting new friends. Being in Zest has really boosted my confidence and I have become less shy. Obviously, being in a show takes a lot of hard work and you must give 110%.'
Frieda - Immanuela Ekofo
'I enjoyed doing Zest as it allowed me to express my love for acting and singing. From a very young age, I have always been in love with acting and singing and I’m very happy that I am able to make my dream a reality. The character Frieda really is me, but now in a play ... funny, sweet, bubbly and easily making friends.'
Rose - Aliya Clarke
'In Zest, I play Rose, Nora’s ‘bestie for the restie’. I think the reason I wanted to be in Zest was to show everyone how talented I am. I really like my character because she has a similar personality to mine. She is bubbly and kind. I really enjoy being a part of Zest because I have made a lot of friends. People who come will see a fun-packed show. Although I don’t think that I will continue in theatre, I will continue in other musical careers.'
Kelly Perrone - Arianna Mok
'My name is Arianna. I play the part of Kelly, Nora’s bully. The reason I joined Zest is because I wanted to be a part of an original musical with an interesting sci-fi plot and get to embody a character nobody has before. Zest is my second ever production. I was in the Chorus in The Addams Family, and it was truly a step out of my comfort zone. Kelly, compared to me, is vastly different, making it a fun experience for me. I would like to thank both Mr Howlett- Reeves, Ms Williams (Music teacher), Miss Williams (Drama teacher) the tech team, the cast and anyone else who contributed to making this play possible.'
Directors Notes
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It feels like a century ago when, in September, 80 students took part in the auditions process for the show. Fewer than a third of those auditioning students made it through to reach show week, which is hardly a surprise given how gruelling the rehearsal process is. Every week, students have attended two lunchtime and two after-school rehearsals, making for a total of 4 hours of rehearsal a week. More recently, the cast has been in school on Saturdays and even missed lessons to properly prepare. It’s a wonder they’re still standing, let alone singing and dancing.
Zest is the third full-scale musical production ever put on by St. James’ Catholic High School. Last year we presented The Addams Family, with The Wizard of Oz the year before. This year, however, we’ve dared to attempt something completely different, and entirely original; every single word, lyric, song, and moment in Zest has been specifically written for performance by the students at St. James, which means there have been no recordings to refer to, no staging on YouTube to follow, and no expert’s examples to steal from. It has been a pleasure to write material for this talented cast, and their talents have helped shape the music in return.
The cast are the first people to breathe life to the characters in the script, and we hope you’ll see how they’ve done a phenomenal job. They have discovered traits about their characters that we hadn’t even considered were there, and have developed show-stopping performances from scratch. The show’s writers, Mr and Mr Howlett-Reeves, are deeply proud of every member of the cast for what they have achieved, and they hope that you enjoy the show.
A final thank you must be said to every single member of our community who has contributed to the show. From teaching staff, to support staff, to pupils, to parents, to senior leaders, and everybody in between, Zest would not have been possible without your input. Thank you all.
Mr Howlett-Reeves - Music Teacher
Cast and Chorus
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Eilah Jaffar 7A
Nailah Jaffar 7J
Hasali Wijethunga . Pathiranage 7E
Isabella Pugliese 8C
Gabriel Vladutu 11H
Genesis Navanithe 7J
Creative Team
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Mr Howlett-Reeves
Musical Director, Composer Director Assistant Director
Lyricist, Production Manager
Ms Williams
Director
Ms Williams
Assistant Director
Lyricist, Production Manager Production Assistant
Mr O’Brien
Assistant Director
Mrs Graham
Assistant Director
Mr G Howlett-Reeves
Assistant Director
Script-Writer
Student Sound and Tech
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Micah Amoako-Gyampah
Noemi Anibire
Emilia Chmiel
Kiisu Rojugbokan
Karolina Tomaszewska
Aaron Barton-Yankey
Credits
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Musical Director - Mr Howlett-Reeves
Director - Ms Williams
Assistant Director -Ms Williams
Assistant Director - Mrs Graham
Assistant Director - Mr O’Brien
Technical Supervisor - Mr Edmondson
Book - Mr G Howlett-Reeves
Music & Lyrics - Mr Howlett-Reeves
Wardrobe Assistant - Mrs Mohamed
Set Design - Mr Toomey
Art Design - Ms Pearce & Ms Ingram
Programme Design - Mrs McLeod
Amazing performances by our talented pupils who brought Zest Musical to life! The magic of their performance left the audience in awe. Thank you to those who supported us and joined us for the show!
If you missed out or would like to see the performance again, the recorded musical is available to purchase on parent pay for £20.
Touch Rugby Tournament
Well done to our talented pupils who competed in a Touch Rugby Tournament on 12 March. They were unbeaten and only conceded 1 try! A special well done to Seth Taylor and Sean Fogerty who played amazing!
Twickenham Stadium Tour
As a reward for winning the Touch Rugby Tournament, the team visited Twickenham Stadium for a special tour.
Youth Leadership Sporting Activity
Four of our pupils were chosen to attend/represent St James' at an exclusive event at Lee Valley with GB Athlete Mentor Lesley Owusu.
'Les Miserables' Musical
GCSE Music pupils and the cast members of Zest where invited to attend a trip to see the matinee performance of Les Miserables at the Sondheim Theatre on 29 February 2024.
'After 19 years as a prisoner, Jean Valjean is freed by Javert, the officer in charge of the prison workforce. Valjean promptly breaks parole but later uses money from stolen silver to reinvent himself as a mayor and factory owner. Javert vows to bring Valjean back to prison. Eight years later, Valjean becomes the guardian of a child named Cosette after her mother's death, but Javert's relentless pursuit means that peace will be a long time coming.'
It was a valuable, relevant and enjoyable experience for our pupils and helped them contextualise performance in the musical theatre.
Shifters Play
On 6 March, all our Year 10 GCSE drama pupils went to see the production of a new play: Shifters at The Bush Theatre, Shepherd’s Bush.
'Shifters: ‘Dre and Des.Young. Gifted. Black. He stayed. She left. Years later, tragedy brings Des and Dre crashing back into each other’s lives, carrying new secrets and old scars. With the clock counting down until Des has to leave again, memories of their teen years collide with their present and they’re forced to question if destiny has brought them back together for a reason.'
Shifters is a funny, intoxicating and relatable reminder of the enduring power of memory and love. The play by Benedict Lombe was both tender and heartbreaking and our students got to meet with one of the leads. Tosin Cole at the stage door at the end of the play.
Gonville and Caius - Cambridge University
Year 12 pupils had the opportunity to attend a talk at Gonville & Cauis College, Cambridge University. The talk was to support pupils on the application process for Oxbridge. The pupils were really pleased that it provided clear guidance on the expectations and requirements of the application procedure.
They all came back excited about the prospect of applying to Oxbridge. We wish them luck and will support them all the way.
A Time for Religious Celebration: Lent and Ramadan
Spring is a time for great celebration. Ms Graham, our Chaplain, reflects on the similarities and differences between Ramadan and Lent and the Prayer that unites all faith.
This week we enter the fourth week of the Christian season of Lent. A time of fasting, praying and almsgiving. We also enter the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is a period of deep spiritual reflection and fasting that takes place every year, it is dedicated to prayer and reading the Quran. Generosity and giving to worthy causes and neighbours are encouraged.
Ramadan is a period for reflection, self-restraint, and warmth intended to bring Muslims closer to Allah, hence the abstention from earthly distractions and fasting from food and water from sunrise to sunset. Fasting is performed to learn compassion, self-restraint, and generosity.
The celebration marks the ninth month in the Islamic calendar when the Quran is believed to have been revealed to the Prophet Muhammed.
Lent is a time of preparation and penance leading up to Easter, while Ramadan is a time of heightened spirituality and purification. Regardless of these differences, both practices provide an opportunity for individuals to deepen their spiritual connection with God and draw closer to their faith.
As Ramadan and Lent overlap, both Muslims and Christians will be on a journey of fasting, reflection and spiritual growth. At this time, we join with our Muslim brothers and sisters to offer our heartfelt prayers during this spiritual time, for both faiths. Prayer is universal, it has no boundaries. May our prayers reach across all cultures and faiths, as we use this special time to bring faith, hope and charity to all.
Lets Pray:
We pray for Unity, Understanding and Respect, may we learn from one another and build bridges of compassion.
We pray for Peace and Harmony, especially in regions where conflict persists.
We pray for Reconciliation between people of faith.
May we benefit from Spiritual Growth, as we share the hope, that our prayers and acts of kindness help us grow closer to God.
Amen.
Holly Graham - Chaplain
Stations of the Cross
In preparation for Holy Week, students are journeying with Jesus to Calvary by taking part in the Stations of the Cross around the school site. This ancient Lenten practice allows Christians around the world to reflect on Christ’s final journey to the Cross to save us from sin and death.
Art Club
Over the past few weeks the club has been working together to bring Zest to life by helping with props and displays for the School Musical. Thank you to all of you for your fantastic preparation and support.
Gaelic Training
Gaelic training is up and running for the first time this academic year, with all year groups invited.
Sixth Form Enrichment
Sixth Form pupils spent time making paper quill designs. Quilling is an art form that involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to create decorative designs.
Citizen of The World Club
The Citizen of the World club completed an Easter Egg hunt after school today. Ms Silva organised clues around the school for the pupils to find in search for a prize. The last clue led them to a chocolate Easter egg basket.
Great Strand, Colindale NW9 5PE
Phone: 020 8358 2800
Email: admin@st-james.barnet.sch.uk