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ST JAMES’ CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER 2023
MESSAGE FROM THE HEADTEACHER
As I write my welcome to our February newsletter, we have started our Lenten journey as a community. This is a very different season to that of Advent and one that gives us all an opportunity to refresh and strengthen our faith through prayer, sacrifice and acts of kindness. Those of us that were able to attend mass on the Sunday before Lent will have heard the pastoral letter issued by Cardinal Nichols being read out. In this letter, we were presented with three ways to support our journey through Lent and towards Easter. These were:
To make time for reflection and prayer
To bear witness to our faith
To build community
I acknowledge that as a diverse community, this will look different for each of us, but my challenge to you all is to consider how you can incorporate these things into your daily routine.
I hope you find the reading of our newsletter insightful.
God bless you all.
Anthony Ellul
Headteacher
MESSAGE FROM OUR HEAD STUDENT
It is hard to believe that it's already spring and the third month of this year. A couple of weeks ago were the Ash Wednesday services, reminding us of the importance of Lent in the run-up to Easter.
That same week was our own clothes day to raise money for the Turkey & Syria Earthquake appeal, where everyone wore red, green, black, and white - which correspond to the flags of the two countries. In February there were many events, including the Year 9 Brilliant Club graduation, a trip to the London Symphony Orchestra, and an inclusive sports leadership event.
Additionally, the Year 9 and 10 House Representatives attended a workshop by the company Tender, which focuses on tackling different forms of abuse within relationships. March is going to be a very exciting month, with many more opportunities in the lead-up to the Easter holidays, including The Addams Family musical!
Aoife Oliver
Head Student
'I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL' JOHN 10:10
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'I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL' JOHN 10:10
UPCOMING EVENTS
Addams Family Musical
Anticipation is building ahead of the grand opening of our production of The Addams Family at the end of March.
Rehearsals have been going really well with our amazing cast who can't wait to share their talents for all to see.
Ticket details are now on parent pay!
'I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL' JOHN 10:10
Ash Wednesday Services on the 22nd February took place in St James’ Hall. All pupils from all Year Groups and Staff gathered together to mark the beginning of Lent by receiving the Ashes. A huge thank you to the Eucharistic Ministers who kindly helped with the distribution of the Ashes all morning. Lord Jesus, as Lent begins we ask for the power of your Spirit so that we may become more thoughtful towards each other, more honest with ourselves, and more faithful to you. Help us to walk in your presence and grow as the people you want us to be, Amen
Lent Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ.You know what it is like to be tempted
for you were tempted in the wilderness;
you know how easy it is to do wrong things
and much harder to do the right way;
you know, too, what it is to be disappointed,
to be misunderstood,
to be let down by friends,
to be cruelly treated and put to death,
yet able to forgive those who wronged you.
Please help us not to give in when we are tempted,
not to be hurt by what others do.
Forgive us if in any way we have wronged you;
help us to forgive those who wrong us;
and help us to follow your example,
Amen
'I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL' JOHN 10:10
In order to raise funds for the Turkey & Syria Earthquake Appeal, pupils and staff were asked to wear red, black, green and/or white for a non-uniform day on Friday 24 February. Thank you to all of our school community who came together to donate. We raised £1,649 to help those families and communities rebuild their lives.
God of mercy,
We pray for the people of Turkey and Syria
following the recent earthquakes.
We mourn the death and destruction.
and pray for those who have died and those who grieve.
Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.
We hold in our hearts those who are injured,
and those who have lost loved ones, livelihoods, and homes.
Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.
Sustain and guide all responding to this disaster.
Grant those affected courage and resilience,
as they rebuild their lives and communities.
Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.
Inspire us to unite in solidarity,
acting swiftly and generously,
so that help may reach all who need it.
Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.
Amen.
'I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL' JOHN 10:10
Year 7 Retreat
Year 7 had a fantastic day on their retreat led by RISE Theatre. A day of friendship, theatre and workshops, all exploring the theme of happiness linked to the Parable of Mustard Seed.
The retreat day incorporated a rich variety of thought-provoking drama, fun interactive sessions and a chance for students to reflect and take some time to pause in the day.
Retreat days include the following elements:
- Creative Presentations
- Classroom Activities & Discussion
- Drama Workshops
- Drama Sketches
- Liturgy & Prayer
'I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL' JOHN 10:10
Stand up!
In February, Mo and Dov from Stand Up came to deliver workshops for Year 9. Stand Up! is an anti-discrimination interfaith project which brings Muslim and Jewish educators into the classroom to facilitate informal conversations with young people.
Stand Up! is an anti-discrimination interfaith project which brings educators into the classroom to facilitate informal conversations with young people. By creating a safe space and through interactive workshops, students are empowered to learn about and act against racism and discrimination with a specific focus on antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate.
Young people are provided with the tools on how to report hate crimes, whilst developing their sense of social responsibility to their local communities and British society as a whole.
Here are some comments from our Year 9 students:
"Our session with Stand Up! helped with our work on PSHCE."
"It was great to share our ideas and discuss antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate."
"We looked at a really good video which made it clear how easy it can be to stereotype people based on race and religion."
Tender
Our Year 9 & 10 House Representatives attended a workshop in school provided by Tender This was a workshop focusing on tackling abuse in all its forms. Our students responded in such an articulate and insightful way. They not only gained knowledge and insight but will also be able to pass on positive messages, advice and guidance.
Tender works with secondary schools delivering a range of short– and long-term workshops and programmes. Their workshops are engaging, drama-based sessions that empower students with the skills and confidence to build positive, respectful relationships with others, and to consider their attitudes and behaviour in a safe, age-appropriate way.
Year 12 Art
Our Year 12 A-Level Art class thoroughly enjoyed their workshop where they were tasked with using polystyrene sheets to create prints.
Transferring their design onto the thin sheets proved a delicate procedure but once the paint was applied and then pressed onto the paper, the result was spectacular.
'I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL' JOHN 10:10
YST Leadership Event
Four of our Year 8 students had the opportunity to attend an Inclusive Leadership event. They attended talks by former UK champion boxer Hannah Beharry and two Youth Role models. Along with workshops and creating their own activities and ideas on how to promote sports in St James for all.
Brilliant Club Graduation
Members of the Year 8 Brilliant Club who submitted their final 1,500-word assignment attended their graduation event at Jesus College, Oxford.
During the event, they were taken on a tour of the historic campus by current Jesus College students who also held a tremendously informative Q&A session.
The event finished with a formal graduation celebrating the hard work the students have put in over the 4 months leading to this point. It was a fantastic conclusion to a challenging yet rewarding experience for all involved.
Congratulations to all the Year 8 students who participated in the Brilliant club this year!
London Symphony Orchestra
We invited our pupil musicians to attend a trip to see the London Symphony Orchestra performance of Film Music at the Barbican Hall. This was a valuable experience for our pupils which will help them contextualise the Film Music genre, as a part of their KS3 and KS4 curriculum.
'I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL' JOHN 10:10'
Drama
These are images of some of our Year 11 GCSE Drama students, captured during their monologue examination.
The standard of their performances was exceptional, excellent work Year 11!
Maths
Well done to Matthew, Daniel & Alan in Year 7 for presenting the results of their investigation on the sum of interior angles in a polygon.
It was very well explained & they were awarded well-deserved Leadership Merits!
Psychology
'I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL' JOHN 10:10
Citizens Of The World Club
Year 12 Enrichment
Reciprocal Reading Club
'I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL' JOHN 10:10
Mrs Harmer Published Book
At St James’ we are readers and writers. We are very proud of Ms J Harmer, her book ‘How Far We've Come’ will be published by Simon & Schuster Children's UK on 25 May 2023. Mrs Harmer is currently a member of our St James' English Department. Joyce Efia Harmer was born in London. She has a BA in English Language and Literature from King's College, London and went on to teach English. In 2016, Joyce was selected as one of six writers to take part in the Megaphone writers scheme to support diverse voices in Children’s Literature. In 2017, she was selected as a finalist in the Penguins WriteNow scheme.
How Far We've Come is her debut novel.
“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.”
― Toni Morrison
Here is an interview with Mrs Harmer
1) One line to describe yourself to your readers:
I'm a big dreamer who likes to bring my dreams to life with words!
2) When did you realise that you wanted to write?
I think I must have been born with a pen in my hand! It was the only thing (other than reading) that I could do for hours and hours as a child. I loved the places my imagination would take me to much more than the humdrum of ordinary life.
3) I have worked with you for a while now and I didn’t realise that you will be publishing a book, how do you maintain such composure?
Ha, ha - that's very kind of you - I certainly don't feel very composed! Teaching is a hectic job, but when I'm writing, I get to press my reset button and enjoy that focus and outer body calm that it brings - I guess it's because I'm lucky enough to have that balance that I look "composed".
4) What is your writing process like? And any advice for aspiring writers?
Good question. I think if you're serious about writing you need to devote time to developing your craft. I write every day. When I'm in the deep process of writing a novel, I set myself a targets to write at least 2000 words a day. I use white noise to help me concentrate and I set timers to make sure I stop and have regular breaks. I don't read over what I've written until the next day otherwise I'd spend all day editing. You need to treat it seriously and if you do that, like with any other craft, you'll get better and better.
5) What is your favourite childhood book?
Ah! Such a difficult one to answer. Obviously, I adored Roald Dahl, C.S Lewis, Catherine Storr and Judy Blume. But my absolute favourites to escape to were the fantasy collections put together by Ruth Manning-Sanders - full of stories about ghosts, goblins, dragons, witches and wizards which totally blew my mind! Unfortunately, I think they're out of print.
6) What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
One of my best friends is the phenomenal writer Danielle Jawando who wrote ‘And The Stars Were Burning Brightly’ and ‘When Our Worlds Collided’ - both really important books exploring teenage issues and set in modern Manchester. It's great having friends who are full of positivity and support and who understand the writing process.
7) If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Don't wait! Don't listen to the voice telling you that you can't, you absolutely can!
8) What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
Wow! Another great question. And there are so many wondrous moments when words made a difference, but for me, it would be when I first heard the I Have a Dream speech by Dr Martin Luther King Jr. which he delivered on August 28 1963 in Washington DC to help propel the civil rights movement. Here he was using his poetry for political justice. It still sends shivers down my spine whenever I hear it.
9) Tell us more about your book ‘How far we’ve come’.
My novel is about a teenage slave girl called Obah who lives on a plantation in Barbados in the 1800s. She meets a mysterious boy from our present-day who has time travelled to where she is and he is so horrified by her situation that he convinces her to come with him to our present-day England! Obah is amazed by what she finds when she gets here but she can't stop thinking about those she left behind, the ones still suffering. The novel examines whether you can ever truly be happy when you know that suffering and injustice continue to exist. It's available to pre-order now from Amazon, Waterstones and all good bookshops!!
10) Where did you get your inspiration for this book from?
Another great question. I truly believe that the character of Obah came to me and asked to be written! Sometimes when I was writing, it felt as though I was just channelling her thoughts! Even the way she speaks is in her original tongue. But I have always been fascinated with the idea of time travel and I have always been horrified by slavery and wondered how it must have felt to be alive at that time. I managed to combine both of these ideas to explore really urgent themes about identity and belonging.
Written by Mrs Noor Mohammed
St James Library Events
At St James’ we will have a week of 'World Book Day' activities from 6th March. We have a treat for our pupils, each lesson will start with a brief reading from an array of books, and we will be enjoying ‘Literacy across the Curriculum’.
From the 6th of March at Break and Lunch times in the LRC we will have
Blackout Poetry art sessions
Design a Bookmark
Screenings of Storyline Online
There are so many amazing books in our School LRC and we want to give our pupils opportunities to read as much as they can.
We have a calendar of days to celebrate books, authors and International Days.
We kick off March with National Careers Week, in the LRC there is a collection of books to support pupils with the big questions on, what subjects to choose, Career Paths and University Prospectuses.
For International Women’s Day, we will have a display of resilient women authors and their works.
British Science Week will see us celebrate the birthday of Douglas Adam and his ‘Hitchhiker’s guide to the Galaxy which is described as 'a trilogy in five parts'.
Adam’s ideas were futuristic, like the idea of being able to instantly translate between any language, a function provided by the Babel Fish in the books, which has since become possible with several software products like Google translate. In the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Adams also mentions computers being controlled by voice, touch and gesture, which is a reality for us today.
Another giant in Science fiction is Jules Verne, who died on 24 March 1905. Jules Verne has been the second most-translated author in the world since 1979, ranking between Agatha Christie and William Shakespeare. He has been referred to as the father of science fiction & quotes alongside H. G. Wells.
World Poetry Day coincides with International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, what better than combining the 2 and having a Poetry Slam?
Later in March, we have ‘Hunt for your Easter Reading Books’ which will see us picking the books that we will want to read over the Easter Holidays.
Please keep a look out for poster advertising Events in the LRC!
'I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL' JOHN 10:10
'I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL' JOHN 10:10
House Points
'I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL' JOHN 10:10
Contact Us
Email: admin@st-james.barnet.sch.uk
Website: www.st-james.barnet.sch.uk
Location: Great Strand, Colindale NW9 5PE
Phone: 020 8358 2800