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Having only just returned from the half-term break, I am amazed at all that has taken place in the weeks on either side of this well-deserved break for both pupils and staff alike. The ensuing pages give a wonderful overview of some of what has happened, and therefore, I encourage you to take some time to explore all that has been going on.

Can I also draw your attention to our forthcoming school production, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ that takes place towards the end of March? Those of you that have attended our school production before, will know what a treat you have in store. Those that have not, can I urge you to attend, you really will be bowled over by the quality of this event.

God bless you all.

Mr Ellul - Headteacher

Welcome back! I hope you all had a restful half-term. As we return, we enter a crucial period—academically and spiritually. Year 11 and Year 13 students have received their mock results, a key step in preparation for final exams. Whether pleased or disappointed, now is the time to reflect, seek support, and stay focused. As Philippians 4:13 reminds us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” As we journey through lent, let us take this time to reflect on our faith and actions. The Lenten season calls us to prayer, renewal, and kindness. Let’s support one another, embracing faith, perseverance and gratitude in the weeks ahead.

Wishing you all a blessed and productive half-term ahead.

Peter Bwala - Head Boy

The highly anticipated Little Shop of Horrors school musical is just around the corner!

Don’t miss out on this thrilling and hilarious production filled with unforgettable songs, incredible performances, and, of course, a mysterious man-eating plant!

📅 Dates: Tuesday 25 , Wednesday 26 & Thursday 27 March 2025

🕐Time: 6:00pm to 9:00pm

🎟 Tickets: £8 - Available on Parent Pay

Come along and support our amazing cast and crew – it’s a show you won’t want to miss! Grab your tickets today!

Fr. Carlo joined us in the Chapel at lunchtime to celebrate our monthly First Friday Mass.

First Friday Mass is an important Catholic tradition, it is a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The practice is based on private revelations to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century, where Jesus promised special graces to those who receive Holy Communion on the first Friday of nine consecutive months.

First Friday Mass is a way to renew commitment to God, grow in holiness, and trust in His divine mercy.

Do you participate in this devotion?

Well done to Davina Adjei Annor in Year 9 who won a Jack Petchey Award for January. The Jack Petchey Foundation was set up by Sir Jack Petchey to inspire and motivate young people across London and Essex to do their best and reach their full potential.

'Davina is exceptionally hard working in every lesson and consistently produces top-quality work. She actively engages in all classroom activities, displaying a strong sense of enthusiasm and commitment to her learning. Her readiness to participate is evident as she consistently contributes insightful and well-thought-out ideas, enriching discussions and inspiring others around her. Her ability to think critically enhances the overall learning environment for everyone involved. She is a valuable asset to the classroom, always striving for excellence and pushing herself. - Pupils in her year group have described her as confident, selfless and considerate.'

Well done to Jefferey Yeboah in Year 8 who won a Jack Petchey Award for February. The Jack Petchey Foundation was set up by Sir Jack Petchey to inspire and motivate young people across London and Essex to do their best and reach their full potential.

'Jefferey peers frequently express that he is one of the nicest and most approachable individuals in his year group, always making an effort to be kind and inclusive to everyone he meets. In addition to his inspiring nature, he is always ready and willing to offer help whenever it is needed. He consistently demonstrates a high level of enthusiasm and engagement in class, always eager to participate and contribute to the lesson. His energy and positive attitude, often inspires his peers to become more involved and motivated.'

Well done to pupils across years 7-13 on receiving a pastoral award for this term. They had been nominated by there Head of Year for demonstrating commitment to our VERITAS values and for always being ready. respectful and safe. Keep up the good work!

Congratulations to our Sparx winners for this half-term! Each week, the top-ranking pupils on the leaderboard earn a free item from the canteen. This term, Jakub, Kaarunya, and Aman have demonstrated outstanding resilience, one of our core Veritas values, by maintaining their top positions throughout the entire Autumn term. As a reward for their dedication, they each received an Amazon voucher. Well done!

The Year 9 pupils recently took part in the UKMT Challenge, showcasing their problem-solving skills and mathematical abilities. After putting in great effort, they received their well-earned certificates celebrating their achievements in this competition!

Congratulations to the Year 8 students who participated in The Brilliant Club and celebrated their graduation at The Courtauld Institute of Art. It was a fantastic day, featuring a university tour, university-style teaching, and well-deserved recognition for their dedication and hard work in completing the program.

St James' was delighted to welcome a team of Lionsgate employees to our school to speak to students from across all year groups. Lionsgate is a global entertainment company renowned for producing acclaimed films and television shows such as The Hunger Games, John Wick, and La La Land.

With operations spanning film production, television programming, and digital media, Lionsgate plays a significant role in shaping the entertainment landscape. Their expertise covers a wide range of creative and technical fields, from storytelling and film direction to special effects, marketing, and distribution. This makes them one of the most influential players in the global entertainment industry.

Students were shown the life cycle of a film and how films are distributed. Students participated in a Q&A with all the colleagues who visited us to understand how they can access a career in the creative industries and the wide range of options open to them.

"You shall love your neighbour as yourself"

(Matthew 22:39)

Pilgrims of Hope: Our journey Together Towards Racial Justice

At St James’ Catholic High School, we recently celebrated Racial Justice Sunday, a day dedicated to reflecting on the importance of equality and inclusion within our community. This significant event was an opportunity for our students to engage in meaningful discussions about racial justice and to commit to fostering an inclusive environment for all.

The day began with a Celebration of the Word assembly, where students came together to explore the themes of justice, compassion, and respect for one another. A highlight of the assembly was a video created by our Year 7 students, showcasing their thoughts on why racial justice is essential. Their insights and creativity served as an inspiring reminder of the importance of treating everyone with dignity, regardless of their race or background.

During form time, students took part in a meaningful activity where they wrote personal pledges to promote racial justice within our school. Pledges included heartfelt commitments such as: "I pledge to treat everyone with kindness and respect, regardless of their race or background. Together, we will promote inclusivity to make our school a welcoming place for all. These affirmations reflect the values we hold dear at St James.

To symbolise their commitment, students created a “Circle of Hands” display, where they wrote their pledges and joined their hands together, representing unity and solidarity in our mission for inclusivity. This visual reminder serves as a powerful testament to our collective mission to support one another in creating a compassionate community.

At St. James’, we are firmly committed to helping each other and ensuring that our school remains a welcoming space for all. Together, we can foster understanding, respect, and kindness, making our school a place where everyone feels valued and accepted.

Ms Alleyne

RJED Ambassador

This year's Valentine’s Day Bake Sale was an exciting event where the school’s Houses competed to see who could raise the most money for charity. Pupils generously donated a variety of delicious baked goods, in hopes of being crowned the best baker. The task of judging was undertaken by Mr. Ellul, who carefully selected the winning baker Larramel Gonito.

The event was organised by our dedicated School Council, who showcased enthusiasm and hard work setting up for the bake sale. The Total amount raised is £398.16, a huge congratulations to House Excellence for raising the highest amount—an impressive £94.65! The funds collected from this event will be divided among our House Charities.

Excellence: £94.65🥇

Trust: £81.60🥈

Service: £78.04🥉

Aspiration: £66.05

Integrity: £47.24

Resilience: £30.58

Well done to everyone who participated, donated, and contributed to this year's Competition!

As part of our commitment to enriching the school experience for our pupils and encouraging them to explore the wide range of opportunities available to them beyond their education, we had the opportunity to take students to a visit to The Formula 1 Exhibition.

The F1 Exhibition is an immersive experience is set across six purpose-built rooms, the exhibition has been meticulously designed in collaboration with award-winning artists, filmmakers, and master craftsmen to bring the world of Formula 1 to life in an unprecedented way.

Students had the opportunity to explore the evolution of Formula 1. Through interactive displays, rare and historic artifacts, and behind-the-scenes insights, they gained a deeper understanding of the engineering, teamwork, and dedication required to succeed in motorsport.

The trip gave students a chance to engage with the world of motorsport but also inspired them to think about the many career pathways and industries connected to this global phenomenon.

Congratulations to the Year 8 boys' football team for their thrilling victory over JCoSS in the Barnet Cup! After a hard-fought match, the game was decided by a tense penalty shootout to secure their progression to the next round. Well done, team!

'The Theatre and Prop Design teams have been working hard, creating and painting a variety of leaves in preparation for our upcoming musical production, Little Shop of Horrors. The team are dedicated and these designed props are just one example of the incredible effort put into our upcoming musical. Please stay tuned for more updates!'

Miss Ingram

'During their enrichment session, the Year 12 students eagerly worked on their clay designs, shaping and molding their creations. St James' offers a range to Enrichment sessions for our Sixth Form students, its a great way of helping students develop new skills and interests'

Ms Pearce

'The KS3 Basketball Club runs every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday every morning, offering a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their skills, stay active, and enjoy friendly competition with their peers. Whether you're an experienced player or just starting out, everyone is welcome to join in! If you’re interested in participating, please come and speak to the PE deparment.'

Ms Munnelly

'In Friday’s Art Club, the students continued exploring animal theme, delving into a new creative technique. This week, they focused on creating vibrant and imaginative animal collage artwork. With a variety of colorful paper and textured materials.'

Ms Ingram

'Pupils in the geography club have been playing Geo-pardy, an exciting geography-themed version of Jeopardy. The game challenges their knowledge of world capitals, landmarks, physical geography and cultural geography through a series of trivia questions'

Ms Matthews

'The KS3 Girls Trampolining Club had a fantastic time improving their skills and building confidence during their practice session. The students showcased great enthusiasm as they worked on perfecting their techniques, improving their balance, and mastering new moves.'

Mrs Appiah

The purpose of the extra-curricular provision at St James' is to provide pupils with a broad range of extra-curricular activities both inside and outside of school. Develop their holistic development providing opportunities for all pupils to explore their talents and reach their potential. To develop their soft skills to apply in their future aspirations. To enhance their personal development and finally for enjoyment away from school work.

There are four different categories of clubs: Sport, Creative, Academic and Service. This term there are 25 clubs on offer to key stage 3 pupils, 32 clubs on offer for key stage 4 pupils and 25 clubs on offer to key stage 5 pupils. There are clubs available before school, during lunch and after school. The timings before school are 7.30-8.10am, lunchtime clubs are 1.25-2.05pm and after school clubs are 3.15-4.15pm.

If you would like your child to participate in our extracurricular activities, please review the timetable below for available options:

This Month's Book Recommendations

Liam O'Connor should have died at sea in 1912. Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010. Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2029. Yet moments before death, someone mysteriously appeared and said, 'Take my hand . . .' But Liam, Maddy and Sal aren't rescued. They are recruited by an agency that no one knows exists, with only one purpose - to fix broken history. Because time travel is here, and there are those who would go back in time and change the past. That's why the Time Riders exist: to protect us. To stop time travel from destroying the world.

Dear reader, There is nothing to be found in Lemony Snicket’s ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ but misery and despair. You still have time to choose another international best-selling series to read. But if you insist on discovering the unpleasant adventures of the Baudelaire orphans, then proceed with caution… Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent children. They are charming, and resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky… You have been warned!

Nat is a 12-year-old boy born into slavery on a Jamaican sugar cane plantation owned by the brutal English family, the Barratts. His mum and baby are taken away to work on another plantation, leaving him to face his hardships alone. But when Nat is sent to England to look after some exotic pineapple plants, he starts to dream of freedom. When he gets there he discovers it’s not true there is no slavery in England, but in the hustle and bustle of crazy London, life is a bit freer. When Nat meets the amazing Shadrack Furman, his life is changed forever. But then he remembers what his mother told him: once a slave sets foot on English soil, they’re free. Perhaps he can earn his fortune and buy his family’s freedom, too...

Twelve-year-old Mira comes from a chaotic, artistic and outspoken family where it’s not always easy to be heard. As her beloved Nana Josie's health declines, Mira begins to discover the secrets of those around her, and also starts to keep some of her own. She is drawn to mysterious Jide, a boy who is clearly hiding a troubled past and has grown hardened layers – like those of an artichoke – around his heart. As Mira is experiencing grief for the first time, she is also discovering the wondrous and often mystical world around her.

The history of St. James’ is multilayered. A history that has to be told in the context of

place, time and location.

From 1934 to 1997 St. James’ occupied the site of Orange Hill House at the top of Orange Hill Road(on the left-hand side) just before the roundabout at the junction with Deansbrook Road . This was the original and main site of St. James’ for sixty- three years. The School and the Covent occupied part, but only part, of the extensive grounds of Orange Hill House. The House was originally purchased by the LCC(London County Council), as I understand , to be used as offices presumably to administer the new Watling Estate. The LCC , in the eventuality, did not need Orange Hill House and it was sold to the Dominican Sisters who needed a place for them to dwell. The cost of the House and grounds was five thousand pounds for which the Sisters took out a bank loan. Orange Hill House was renamed St. Rose’s Convent after St. Rose of Lima , Peru, a Dominican saint(1586-1617). Initially, as well as housing the Sisters, the Convent also accommodated a small private school known as St. Rose’s which afforded the Sisters an income until the Annunciation School was opened. The school later, post 1934, merged with St. James’. St. James’ was built in the grounds of Orange Hill House where the orchard and green houses were sited. One of the pupils, a Miss Halfpenny, of St. Rose’s school who joined St. James, later became a teacher at St James’.

Orange Hill House was built in 1881 by a William Ruddock(a merchant from Ludlow, Shropshire) for William and his family. This house was not the first to occupy the site. Today the house has been converted into luxury flats and where St. James’ was is now housing. The family occupied the house for about thirty years. The Ruddock family then rented the house . Serendipitously. St.James’ Burnt Oak and St. James’ Colindale are linked in the person one of its tenants, namely Claude Grahame-White, a world-famous pioneer aviator(now sadly forgotten, lost to memory) who built the Hendon Aerodrome . Grahame-White occupied the house for three years . The house was conveniently located for him to commute to the Hendon Aerodrome which he founded and from which the first airmail and passenger flights flew. Grahame- White was a well-known society figure of his day and many a celebrity was entertained and stayed at the house e.g. Enrico Caruso and Dame Nelly Melba among others, one of the attractions being a spin in the new mode of transport, an aircraft. St. James’ Colindale occupies sixteen and a half acres of what was once Grahame-White’s Aerodrome, later RAF Hendon. Grahame Park is named, in way of tribute, after Claude . Thus, St. James’ has been located , to serve, two new housing developments , firstly the Watling Estate and latterly Grahame Park now absorbed into greater Colindale.

To be continued….

Kevin McSharry

Headteacher Emeritus of St James

Lower ground room of Orange Hill House facing the terrace and garden. Circa 1926. Taken from Sales Brochure

St. Rose’s Convent: the side of the house facing the garden. Notice there is no terrace which had been demolished at an earlier date. The staircase on the right of the print leads to a door known as “St. James’ door” which was used by the Sisters and students. There is also a stone plaque recording the date of the building of the house and its builder WR, William Ruddock. Print taken from an original painting by John Livingstone,1996.

The Lodge entrance which housed classrooms and the base for the Site Manager. The Lodge won an architectural award when first built. Print taken from an original painting by John Livingstone,1996.

St. Rose’s Convent : the side of the house facing the garden . The extension( later demolished when the Sisters departed the Convent) is on the left of the print. Print taken from an original painting by John Livingstone,1996.