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St Bonaventure's

December Newsletter

St Bonaventure's December Newsletter

HEADTEACHER MESSAGE

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Dear Parents / Carers.


As we reach the close of another action-packed term at St Bonaventure’s it is a pleasure to reflect on all of the achievements of the boys and girls. We are blessed to work alongside such hard-working, aspirational and creative pupils. I am always amazed at the level of talent among our student and staff body and the great things they achieve working in unison.


This Advent we have been reflecting as a community on the Christmas virtues of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love as we prepare for the great feast of Christmas. Thank you for all the support you have given us with our Advent charity fundraising. I know that many families are finding the current economic climate very challenging and your contributions will make a real difference to their lives this Christmas.


We wish you a happy and holy Christmas and blessings for the New Year. Thank you for all the support you continue to provide and the kind words and prayers that have been sent to me.


God Bless

Chris McCormack.


CHRISTMAS AT ST BON'S

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Non Uniform Day for Advent Charities

Huge shoutout to all our students, staff and teachers who made our Non Uniform Day a success by raising funds for Advent Charities! Your generosity is making a real difference during this season of giving. The chosen charities will be over the moon with what we're sending their way!

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Christmas Lunch

Students, staff, and teachers gathered for a heart-warming Christmas lunch in the canteen, savouring delicious bites and sharing festive joy together.

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Foodbank Donations

Two large boxes and 47 carrier bags filled to the brim with all manner of essential items and goodies donated by generous kind-hearted pupils, parents and staff were delivered to St Margaret’s Food Bank in Canning Town ready to be distributed in time for Christmas!

Our own Santa and his trusty helpers were happy to share in the task, safe in the knowledge that they would have helped make Christmas a little brighter for local families.

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St Bon's Choir

It has indeed been an action-packed term for St Bons Choir; they sang at two different locations in the East Ham Care Centre.


"Dear St Bon’s, thank you for visiting East Ham Care Centre with your students and providing heartwarming Christmas carols! It was a great delight for all the patients and staff! " - Happy Khatun (Occupational Therapist and Activities Manager)

CHAPLAINCY - ADVENT

Advent is a part of the Church's liturgical year and commences on the last Sunday of November. Advent means 'to come', and Advent is the season when Christians prepare for the coming of Jesus as they prepare for Christmas There are many ways to prepare for Christmas during the Advent season, practical ways as well as spiritually.


At St Bonaventure’s we understand the importance of educating all our students on the significance of this time of year. This is to give them a deeper understanding, not only of the religion but to bring the school community together. During Advent, we are encouraged to develop our spiritual life and spend more time in prayer and reflection, in Scripture, and in the sacramental life of the Church, all to prepare for Christmas.


The school gives students, staff and parents ample opportunity for this through various events - one being our monthly Home/ School/ Parish Mass. This allowed us to celebrate Mass and receive the Eucharist together - which is the “Source and Summit” of Catholic Life. With the focus on the importance of praying at this time, we give the whole school an opportunity to do this on a daily basis, with our devotion to Mary through The Angelus. We pause at 12 pm and take a few moments out of our busy day to pray and reflect. The students in particular really enjoy this, as it gives them time to focus and reflect on the narrative of Christmas.


Another way in which we provide an opportunity for religious growth during this time is through organising the Sacrament of Reconciliation in school, for both staff and students. This allows for a transformation of hearts and minds, in preparation for the Christmas season. Again students particularly enjoy this as it lifts them spiritually. We also continue to offer the opportunity for students to attend the Friday Rosary and weekly Praise and Worship sessions. We find that during this time students are particularly eager to attend these events, as they focus on their spiritual development during this time.


The final event that focuses on prayer and reflection, and brings our school community together is the end-of-year Liturgy. This takes place in our local parish, St Antony’s, and connects the school community in such a beautiful way. It is the final time that we come together to read scripture, pray and sing Christmas hymns. It is a wonderful way to end the term and start the Christmas break.


The heart of the school is charity and servitude and Advent is a great time to put these virtues into action. This year, through a variety of initiatives including our annual sponsored walk, the charities we are supporting include the CAFOD Israeli-Palestinian Crisis Appeal and the Mizen Foundation by supporting their ‘Jumpers for Jimmy Day’ campaign with a Non-Uniform Christmas Jumper Day and the BCCS, with whom we work with very closely. We are also supporting our local community by organising a collection for the Canning Town Food Bank, with generous donations flooding in from staff, students and parents/carers.


Additionally, we are asking staff not to exchange Christmas cards and instead to donate the money they would have spent to CAFOD so that items can be purchased to help a family have a better life. We aim to buy 5 goats which can provide each family with up to 12 pints of milk a week to either drink or sell and to produce free fertiliser to help them grow crops.


Even our staff Secret Santa provides an opportunity to assist the charities listed here with a £2 donation to enter. All these events epitomise our Virtues and Catholic Social Teachings, which lie at the heart of the school. Advent is a time of spiritual renewal and selfless giving and as a school community, we reflect and practice both even more so during this time.

NEWS AND EVENTS

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Bobby Seagull Visit

It is always amazing to have our alumni come and visit to inspire our students; Bobby Seagull is such a great ambassador of our school. We look forward to having you back again soon!

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Visit to the Gurdwara

"Throughout the visit, the boys displayed the school virtue of respect for others, listened attentively, and asked some brilliant questions. They left with new insights into the local Sikh community and made the school proud. Well done boys." - Mr Saxby

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Being the Change Leadership Conference

Our Year 13 Head Boy and Year 11 Student Leadership Team attended the ‘Being the Change Leadership Conference’.

This was a great opportunity to work with other schools on living out Catholic Social Teachings and making changes in our school and beyond.

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Sixth Form Talent Show

Huge shoutout to all our talented students who showcased their phenomenal skills at our Sixth Form Talent Show and Cultural Day.


Thank you to all our amazing staff who helped to put on such an incredible evening and helped to raise some money to support our charities.

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CAFOD Advent and Lent Promotion Recording

We were delighted to be approached by CAFOD's Communications Team to record voiceovers for their 2024 Lent Appeal, including The Walking Challenge.

We were also asked to feature in their innovative digital Advent calendar promotion.

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Bletchley Park Trip

A cohort of our talented Maths students had the opportunity to visit the renowned Bletchley Park to gain an insight into the astonishing work of the World War Two Codebreakers.

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

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Headteacher Awards

Two of our Year 8 Boys received Headteacher Certificates for being excellent ambassadors for the school and escorting visitors from reception to the Library for the Catholic Leaders Course.

Our visitors were very impressed and many a compliment were made.

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U16 Volleyball Win

Our U16 Volleyball team went to Forest Gate Community School with two teams to compete in the Newham Volleyball Cup. We had one team finishing 3rd and another that ran out overall winners.

Congrats to Mr Oliviero and his boys for bringing the trophy home.

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Top of the league

With no more games scheduled until 2024, we are guaranteed to be top of the league over the holidays after a fantastic 2-1 away win over Palmer's USP. Lots of Year 12s made debut in that game, which bodes well for 2024.

BIG WINS

It’s been a busy start to the school year in the P.E. department. Both football and basketball seasons are well under way and indoor athletics and volleyball has also picked up speed. The sixth form football team has been in exceptionally fine form, registering a perfect 7 and 0 record in the league and sitting top of the table heading into the Christmas break. The team is masterfully coached by Mr Bastion and Mr Templeman and has enjoyed statement wins against South Essex College (5-1) and Palmer’s USP (2-1), with numerous Year 12 making debuts recently. With a nice blend of experience and energy, we have high hopes for the boys in 2024.


The basketball teams have had a characteristically strong start to the Dynamic National Schools Competition. The Year 11 team were imperious against Riverside Academy and rivals Barking Abbey a few weeks ago in a sports hall packed with partisan spectators. The team didn’t disappoint; the flair and energy St Bons brought to the game dismantled Barking’s defences, much to the crowd's delight. The Year 9 team has also had a perfect start to the season, beating Oaks Park Year 10’s, as well as Turing House School (78-56) and arch-rivals Christ’s School (70-67). The latter game only swung into St Bon's favour late in the fourth quarter, after being down 15 points at one stage. Neilas and Elyon led from the front to put the team in pole position for the playoffs.

Volleyball has always been enjoyed by the students, but recently it has had a surge in popularity over the last few years at St Bonaventure’s, with numerous students participating in school and at outside clubs. This year we have looked at different ways of supporting our boys' participation in a more structured format. Our Year 11’s have recently entered into the Volleyball England Junior Competitions and played in their first tournament last week. Mr Oliviero, a keen volleyball player himself, has been coaching the team since September with great effect, developing the students' skills and gameplay.

EXAM TIPS

As exams approach, our students prepare for a critical phase in their academic journey. Equipping them with effective study strategies becomes paramount. Here are key tips to support them during this crucial revision period:


Encourage Active Learning: Engage students actively with the material through self-quizzing, creating flashcards, completing practice questions, and teaching concepts to peers or family. Our website hosts several helpful videos demonstrating effective study habits.


Establish a Schedule: Aid in creating a revision timetable allocating time for each subject. Breaking revision into manageable chunks prevents overwhelm and promotes steady progress. You can find an editable timetable on the school’s website.


Prioritise Well-being: Stress can hinder effective revision. Encourage breaks, physical activity, and sufficient sleep. A healthy lifestyle supports cognitive function and retention abilities.


Offer Support and Encouragement: Be a source of encouragement, celebrating small victories and offering support during challenging times. A positive environment enhances motivation and confidence.


By implementing these strategies, we empower students to approach revision with confidence and effectiveness.


Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas break!


Ms W Salau

PARENTAL TIPS

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Our alumni Russell Mitchell shared with us two photos of the school football team on 5th of April 1965 winning the Lipton trophy. Russell was part of our team on that day.


The Lipton trophy was the London Schools Football Association Championship. We played the final at the old Spotted Dog ground against Borough Beaufoys School which we won 7-0. In the semi-final, we played Cheshunt and won 4-2.



We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Russell for sharing this remarkable memory. We invite our fellow alumni to contribute by sharing any photos from their time at the school, and we will ensure their memories are celebrated across our social media platforms. You can email your stories to alumni@stbons.org.

JOB VACANCY

We are Hiring a Music and Media Technician with an immediate Start!


Are you passionate about music and media and looking for a new exciting job? Our school is looking for a skilled Music and Media Technician to join our vibrant team. Full Time or Part Time may be available to the right candidate.


How to Apply:

If you are interested, please send your CV and cover letter to j.ashton@stbons.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • 8th January - 8:35 am Return to school on 8th for all students
  • 8th to 12th January - Year 11 PPE exams
  • 25th January - 6th Form Open Evening
  • 23rd January - Parents Drop-in
  • 2nd February - Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge
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Contact Us

Email: info@stbons.org
Website: https://www.stbons.org/
Location: Boleyn Rd, London E7 9QD, UK
Phone: 020 8472 3844

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