Christmas 2005

newsletter

Comenius News

Christmas Christmas Christmas Christmas 2005200520052005

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

CHRISTMAS has been gift boxed at St Mary’s! Again, hundreds of shoe-boxes have left us to help make the season a bit jollier for needy children all over the world. But we couldn’t have done it with-out the support of our partner primary schools who give so generously every year. It is all part of the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal, a worldwide charity which spreads Christmas cheer to over seven million children in 90 countries. The shoeboxes are filled with small toys and treats and are then despatched to distribution centres on the first leg of their journey. The boxes were donated by students at St Mary’s, St Joseph’s, Seacombe, St Peter and Paul’s, New Brighton, (pictured above), St Alban’s, Liscard,

Our Lady of Pity, Greasby, Our Lady of Lourdes, Leasowe, Holy Cross, Birkenhead, St Paul’s, Beechwood. They may be the only gifts that some children will receive this Christmas.

New chapter 2

Out of Africa 3

Little Apple 5

Live Poets 6

Goldie can-do 8

Sheilas’ wheels 9

We wish you a very We wish you a very We wish you a very We wish you a very We wish you a very We wish you a very We wish you a very We wish you a very We wish you a very We wish you a very We wish you a very We wish you a very merry Christmas and a merry Christmas and a merry Christmas and a merry Christmas and a merry Christmas and a merry Christmas and a merry Christmas and a merry Christmas and a merry Christmas and a merry Christmas and a merry Christmas and a merry Christmas and a happy, holy New Year!happy, holy New Year!happy, holy New Year!happy, holy New Year!happy, holy New Year!happy, holy New Year!happy, holy New Year!happy, holy New Year!happy, holy New Year!happy, holy New Year!happy, holy New Year!happy, holy New Year!

Inside this issue:

Before Before Before Before they they they they were were were were

teachers!teachers!teachers!teachers!

(2)(2)(2)(2)

More

cherubs

see Page

Four

www.stmaryswallasey.net

St Mary’s Newsletter Christmas 2005 Page 2

St Mary’s to become ‘Model School’

A new chapterA new chapter YOUNG bookworms at St Mary’s are at the forefront of a reading revolution. Our school has been chosen from thousands as the model for a national pilot exercise in literacy. And the outcome should see students’ reading skills soar as they learn that reading is not a chore ~ it’s fun! The Accelerated Reader scheme has been achieving impressive results here for the last five years, and now the scheme’s founder, US giant Renaissance Learning, wants St Mary’s to show other schools how it’s done.

As part of the pilot, our library will benefit from thousands of pounds’ worth of library resources and professional development. Library Head Mrs Lin Dixon said: ‘In my 30 years of teaching I have never had such a reaction from children. I’ve been stopped by pupils at the school gates showing me their test results and their next book. ‘Pupils are opening a door onto a world of independ-ent reading that represents enrichment and freedom. ‘We couldn’t have a better response from children even if someone like Jamie Oliver were involved.’

opensopens

‘Opening a door onto enrichment and freedom’

It’s an open and shut case . . . books are brilliant

Novel way to make reading cool READING is cool with Accelerated Reader. The tailor-made software taps right into children’s love of computers and their competitive instincts. After reading a book suitable for their ability, each student logs on to take a short computer quiz. Student and teacher then get an instant printout showing how well they understand what they have read. When they are ready, they move on to the next Book Level, colour-coded to make selection easier.

But most of all, they learn to like books!

Don’t just see the film ~ read the book!

ST MARY’S will become a ‘Model Renaissance School’ after hitting tough targets next year. Mr James Bell, who is heading the UK pilot, said St Mary’s was c h o s e n f o r t h e ‘passionate, zealous approach of its teachers and librarians’ in turning reluctant readers into b o o k b o r r o w e r s . Renaissance Learning is a US-based global organisation with reading schemes running in 40 different countries. It is used in more than 66,000 American schools, with impressive results in literacy skills, and it is hoped that UK schools will follow where St Mary’s leads. Four primary schools, all in the London area, are also piloting the scheme.

Above|:

Mrs Lin Dixon with

Renaissance’s

James Bell (UK)

and Ann Slayton of

Florida, USA.


OUT OF AFRICAOUT OF AFRICA ...comes a very special

project. And Father Moses leads the way!

OUR school has embarked on a very special twinning project ~ with another college in Africa dedicated to St Mary. Maryland College in the parish of St Mary’s, Benue State, Nigeria, is now an official partner of St Mary’s, Wallasey. Parish priest Fr Igba Moses came to Wallasey to view Catholic education English-style and to share ideas with members of our Religious Education Department.

It is hoped that links will grow between the two schools and students and staff will take part in exchange visits. Fr Moses, who is also Rector of St Charles Lwanga’s Preparatory Seminary in Makurdi, said: ’It is a wonderful thing for all the staff and students. We will be able to share so much in terms of cultural exchanges.’ Head of RE Mr Stan Webster added: ’We have wanted to forge links with a community in Africa for a long time and Fr Moses is a truly inspirational man. This is a fantastic opportunity for St Mary’s.’ Maryland College is a mixed school with around 400 students and 15 teaching staff. They desperately need to raise funds for a library and a computer room. Surplus computers from St Mary’s are now on their way to Nigeria. A consignment of three PCs and a printer have been packed into boxes and will soon be available for the seminarians’ use.

NIGERIA

‘‘Convey our Convey our

greetings and greetings and

appreciation to the appreciation to the

staff and students staff and students

of your noble of your noble

college.’college.’

Fr Moses with members of our RE Department,

Miss Millar and Mr Webster

Above: Students work in the fields

Left: Students of Maryland College in

the parish of St Mary’s, Benue State

‘We will be able to share so much’


Before they Before they

were teachers were teachers

A: This little girl had social aspirations ~ and achieved them!

B: Overlook the fashion faux-pas and check out the moves on this little sweetie.

C: Let’s get physical about this one. She’s got a few more teeth now.

(Clues in the captions!)

D: Golden brown hair, and eyes of blue. He’s just a little cutie, but can you guess who?

E: Still blond and bonny, he hasn’t changed much, but he’s perhaps a little more businesslike now.

A B C

2

WIN £10!

Entry form on page 9

‘Eagle Eyes’ Competition D E

F: This little cherub always had acting in her head.

G: Adorable? Moi? Exactement!

H: OK. OK. OK, who’s this special little mister?

I: What makes a little figure into a big figure?

F G

I

H


Historians take a bite of the Little Apple OLD York, old York, what a wonderful town! That’s what St Mary’s young historians found when they explored the many attractions of the ancient cathedral city. They went to York Minster, the Jorvik Viking Centre and explored the medieval streets and delights of Clifford’s Tower and the York Dungeon. And they showed great bravery in staying at the York Racecourse Centre which is within a few hundred yards of the site where Dick Turpin ‘twitched his last’ on the gallows, an area reputed to be haunted! On their four day trip they also managed to take in the Edencamp World War II museum and Leeds Armouries in a packed itinerary led by Head of History Mr Bird. There will be another chance later this year for more history students to enjoy the Little Apple, so look out for details. Left: By the statue of the Roman Emperor Constantine

the Great outside York Minster

Nardeen’s success storyNardeen’s success story SIXTH Former Nardeen Nemat’s writing skills have won her recognition from a historic and exclusive club. She is one of only six finalists in the Liverpool Athenaeum’s young writers’ competition. Her story, ‘Emily and Pressure’ was written as part of her English A level coursework. She was invited to attend a special reception at the club where the six students, aged 16 to 19, were asked to submit a further work on the theme of what life will be like in 50 years’ time. The eventual winner will receive a cash prize of £1,000. This is the fourth annual Writer-in-Residence competition and is supported by Liverpool City Council, the Daily Post and Radio Merseyside. Nardeen, who is hoping to study for a law degree when she leaves St Mary’s, said: ‘It was an amazing place, and I had a great time. I’m looking forward to writing about the future. It will be a challenge.’ The Athenaeum Club is a unique place of learning, established in 1797 by Liverpool businessmen and academics.

Students bottle up their fears CHILDCARE students learned how breast milk saves lives ~ and what a positive experience breastfeeding can be for both babies and mums. They visited the premature baby unit at Clatterbridge Hospital and saw how donated milk is pasteurised, bottled and stored before being given to sick and premature babies who really need the perfect nutrition and antibodies it contains. They met one mum who had donated 10 litres of milk and was still feeding her own nine month old baby. Most of the students changed their views on breastfeeding as a result of the visit.


WHO would guess that such poetic hearts beat within the walls of St Mary’s! More than 700 students and around 100 staff took part in our celebration of National Poetry Day by joining a continuous poetry reading Together they created our own Poets’ Corner in the Library, with offerings from students, teachers, caretakers, support assistants, office staff and a dinner lady! We listened in raptures to Mr Stumpf’s reading of Rudyard Kipling’s ‘If’, Support Assistant David Pearson’s ‘She Walks In Beauty’ (Byron), and Mr Lee’s ‘I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General’ by W S Gilbert. Caretakers Phil Liston and Adrian Rickards wowed us with their unique rendition of poetic pop lyrics while our very own dinner lady, Mrs Elaine Griffiths, read ‘The Dinner Lady’ by J Yelmonds. Year 12’s Maria Commander read ‘Dulce Et Decorum Est ’, the First World War poem written by Birkenhead soldier poet Wilfred Owen. Assistant Headteacher Mr Peters found time for a rhyme, sharing Spike Milligan’s ‘On The Ning Nang Nong’ while Year 9’s Chris Jackson gave us ‘Ants’ by Ed Blair. Mr Duffy was an inspiration with the lyrics of ‘I Don’t Want To Grow Up’ by The Ramones. And if all of that was not enough to celebrate the richness of poetry in our lives, a special poetry competition has uncovered the hidden talents of St Mary’s own bards ~ see page opposite.

Below: Poetry in motion ~ the scene in the Library as some of the hundreds of students listened in relay.

Right: Dinner lady Mrs Elaine

Griffiths shares ‘The Dinner Lady’

by J. Yelmonds with other poetry

lovers, including caretaker Phil

Liston and learning support

assistant Dave Pearson.

Live Poets’ Live Poets’ SocietySociety

Six hours of non stop rhyme time!


YOUNG bards at St Mary’s celebrated National Poetry Day with our annual Poetry Competition. The theme this year was ‘Future’, but entries were

welcomed on any subject. The winner for Key Stage 4 was Kieran Fattorini (see left) and for Key Stage 3, Natasha Heaney (below) who both received £20. Runners up were Reece Parrington and Anthony D’Arcy. Com-mendations went to Nathan Furnell, Year 7 and Phillip Taylor, Year 8. They all received £10. The winning ~ and only staff entry (shame on the rest of you) ~ was from sup-port assistant Tina Sant for ‘NVQ Blues’.

The Future Key Stage 4 Winner The Future is a funny thing, Its path is set in stone Perhaps there will be aliens, Perhaps we stand alone. Our society is failing, Our culture all but dead, We rid the world of poverty, But to destruction we are led. Our future lives grow shorter, Than those who’ve gone before, Our world is slowly tainted, By our culture’s rancid core, We burn the bones of ancients, The lizard-kings of old, To fuel our means of transport, By the gallon, death is sold. Perhaps it will be perfect, Perhaps we’ll see it through. But our history has shown us, We humans seldom do. We rule this sphere as giants, The Lords of all Earth’s land, But our time is slowly ticking, Destruction wrought by our own hand... Kieran Fattorini Year 11

Budding Budding bards’ bards’

winning winning

lineslines

The Future Key Stage 3 Winner The planet drowned with artificial light, The sun blocked out by a large satellite, Electronic pavements get you around, While chip and pin numbers replaced the pound. Animals are made of steel and iron, Robot authorities take care of crime, The weather controlled by a computer, This is the more convenient future. The future is changing – we don’t know how. The future is here, the future is now. Natasha Heaney Year 8

Daydreams Commended

Mrs Braid thinks I’m listening but I’m lost in the land of computer games or Wrestling ‘Jaws’, the great white shark. Mrs Braid thinks I’m reading but I’m driving down Mount Everest in a Formula One Racer or Dreaming of the world’s biggest chocolate bar Mrs Braid thinks I’m writing but I’m fighting the Orchs in ‘Lord of the Rings’ or Deciding what I want for Christmas. Mrs Braid asks me a question. So out of the window I go!

Phillip Taylor Year 8


IT WAS hardly the juiciest of jobs…but it was soon all in the can for Juice FM presenter Goldie! The intrepid stuntman, famed on Merseyside for his willingness to accept any challenge, however daft or dangerous, stepped fearlessly through the doors of St Mary’s to face a couple of weeks’ worth of lunch waste. The test, issued by year 10 student and regular listener Alice Prowse, was to sort several disgusting, smelly bags into real rubbish and recyclable aluminium drinks cans. Goldie, real name Dave Roberts, thought at first it couldn’t possibly be as bad as cleaning school toilets, which he has done previously all in the name of fun for Louis Hurst’s Breakfast Portion show. But a few minutes’ delving into the horrible mess of fermenting cola, mouldy sandwiches and rotting apple cores soon changed his mind: ‘Ugh. This is truly horrible’ he said, shielding his face from a rising swarm of little black fruit flies. The can recycling is a valuable job normally done by student volunteers under the direction of Assistant Headteacher Mr Brown. Goldie managed it all alone, however, under the scrutiny of five Year 10 girls. During the session, they all took part in a radio broadcast via Goldie’s mobile phone, sang a snatch of their favourite hit song ‘Don’t Cha’ by Pussycat Dolls and said hi to their mums and all the friends they could remember.

G o l d i e ’ s p r e v i o u s c h a l l e n g e s have included jumping over water butts in a shopping trolley (he nearly lost the top of a finger) and a downhill slalom in Everton Vale, again involving a shopping trolley. The New Zealand born presenter has acquired a considerable following since leaving Radio City with Louis Hurst to join Juice FM. His nickname is a throwback to his Buckinghamshire school days when he was known as ‘Golden Boy’ on the soccer pitch. The 27-year-old spent four years in the Army as a Royal Greenjacket, serving in Northern Ireland and Bosnia, before going on to read Media Studies at Southampton University then joining local radio. ‘I’ve been all over the world but I love it here’ he said. ‘Merseyside is a really great place to be.’

Fizzy drinkers please note: the bins in school are meant to be for cans and plastic bottles only, not the remains of sandwiches, pizzas and chips!

Not such a Not such a

juicy job juicy job for Goldie!for Goldie!

Right: ‘Goldie’

shows his

can-do

approach

to the job

End of the late, late show CAREER-MINDED students at St Mary’s have been learning what’s expected of them if they want to be a success in the world of work. They have signed up to the Wirral Compact, a scheme which encourages punctuality and attendance in

schools and can tell future employers at a glance who are the most committed job applicants. Eight local employers, ranging from Tesco and the Army to a football academy came into school to explain the concept to our current Year 10. The scheme is organised through local employers in partnership with the education organisations and schools. Its aims are to improve opportunities and maximise the potential of young people from the age of 14. The students will become Compact Graduates if, after two years, they have achieved the Compact goals of:

• At least 90 % attendance

• At least 90 % punctuality

• Completing a week’s work experience

• Completing a recognised programme of study which includes personal and social education, careers education and guidance

• Meeting all exam and coursework deadlines.

Year 10 students sign up to the Compact


Sporting Sporting ..as Sheilas’ wheels are set in motion!

A VERY special double act is set to transform sport at St Mary’s. The Two Sheilas ~ Bursar Sheila Moyes and Examinations Secretary Sheila Crockford, (pictured) who are really on the ball when it comes to fundraising. Together they have planned a series of fundraising events to raise more than £60,000 for new netball and tennis courts. They have written hundreds of letters to local businesses and sports organisations ~ including the whole of the Football League!

And while some organisations have made donations of cash, swelling the coffers to £4,000, others have sent tickets for top-class events, signed books and photos ~ all of which will be auctioned at a special event on February 4 2006. Sure to be in great demand are a pair of boots signed by Newcastle FC’s Michael Owen, a VIP tour of Anfield and champagne hospitality tickets for the Manchester United v. Middlesborough match at Old Trafford in April. Look out too for a signed pennant from FC Barcelona and a signed England rugby shirt, among many other desirable items. Other planned events include a SuperSchools Sports Day on February 2, planned with the support of the Fyffes group and Warburton’s bakeries. We will be hosting a fun day with our partner primary schools and there will be a mystery sports celebrity to help with the fundraising. Watch out for more details!

Our own Great North RunnerOur own Great North Runner

Up for auction . . . boots signed by Michael Owen

MARATHON mum Joanne Peters helped to get the sports appeal off to a sprinting start when she completed the Great North Run. She raised more than £500 by joining the famous Newcastle event. The 20 km half-marathon attracted more than 48,000 runners and Joanne finished in the first 12,000 with a highly respectable time of 2 hours, five minutes one second. The winner was Zersenay Tadesse, the Eritrean Red Sea runner who ran an unofficial world record of 59 minutes five seconds. Joanne, an admin assistant at St Mary’s is also a former student of the college.

She was a member of the school netball team and always enjoyed her sports lessons. She runs regularly, doing three ‘short’ runs of three to five miles a week, and one of 12 miles at weekends ~ usually a l o n g N e w B r i g h t o n promenade! Son Anthony is currently in Year 8. Proud Joanne shows off her medal

CAN YOU HELP THE SPORTS APPEAL? DO

YOU HAVE ANY BRILLIANT IDEAS YOU

CAN SHARE? PLEASE RING SHEILA

OR SHEILA ON 639 7531

Putting the boots in ~ courtesy of Michael Owen


Dancing for joyDancing for joy MORE than 500 students helped to make St Mary’s Dance Festival a huge success. They gave five outstanding performances in the week-long celebration of all the skill and talent we have in our school. It was a great opportunity to show off all the dance styles and choreographies that students have been working on for months, including ballet, jazz, street, contemporary, break dance and musical theatre. They played to full houses every night. Special mention must go to the A Level dance group (pictured right) who, as well as performing numbers from ‘Chicago’,

gave support to fellow students. Also taking part in the festival were Hylton Bromeley, Wallasey and Alison Clayton Schools of Dance, as well as Plessington High School and Upton Hall School. Left: This saxophone, costing nearly £300, was provided by funds raised in recent music events and with the help of the Home School Association. We hope to buy more instruments soon to establish a woodwind group.

Santa’s little helpersSanta’s little helpers

EVERY year students give up their lunchtimes to knit warm blankets for children in war-torn countries. It is all part of an initiative by Lions International to send help directly where it is needed. Their blankets are sent with others knitted by parishioners of English Martyrs and Our Lady of Lourdes.

WHAT these dashing Santa’s helpers lacked in girth they made up for in enthusiasm ~ and they even managed an attempt on a world record! School office ladies Helen Heath, Joanne Peters and DT teacher Vanessa Morris all took part in the Liverpool Santa Dash to raise money for the Marina Dalglish breast cancer charity. They ran five kilometres through Liverpool city centre with four and half thousand other Santas. They will find out in a few weeks’ time whether or not their attempt at the record was successful and whether or not they will enter the Guinness Book of Records.


CREATIVE marketing by Year 12 students has led to the launch of a new product which looks sure to be a hit with consumers. The DVD Postcard (pictured right) is the brainchild of Kre8, a group of Business Studies students who have identified Liverpool’s 2008 Capital of Culture status as a major business opportunity. The five-minute DVD presentation was filmed in a day and edited by the students at Wallasey’s

Learning Lighthouse. The soundtrack was composed by sixth former Jonathan Box and Head of Music Mr Richard Thomas.

IDEAL CHRISTMAS GIFT!!!

The DVD Postcard costs just £3.99 and is an ideal Christmas gift for friends or family, especially those far away. Orders can be placed through the school office or from the ‘company’ website on www.kre8uk.com

G & T seek their fortune ‘HOW to make a fortune’, ‘How to write a song’, ‘Rocks, Fossils and Dinosaurs’ and a talk on Owls are just some of the topics discussed at the weekly Gifted and Talented meetings. The annual Year 8 residential visit to Howell’s School, Denbigh, was very popular and successful, with the mud-ridden quad bikes the highlight.

WIN £10!

Did you work out who the little cherubs 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……………………………………….

G……………………………………….

H……………………………………….

I........................................................

Name….…………………….................

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

Healthy canteen culture A PLAQUE has been awarded by the Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Chris Meaden, in recognition of St Mary’s efforts to be a healthier eating school. In addition to all the healthy options on the lunch menu, we now have two vending machines supplying less sugary drinks and fruit, and we are gearing up for another ‘Health Focus’ week in January.

Science ‘Olympics’ YEAR 10 students built a tower out of spaghetti and jelly babies in Liverpool University’s Science Olympics ~ and won through to the regional finals! They will take on further challenges in the New Year in search of Science ‘Olympic gold’. SIXTH form students toured Aintree Hospital discovering how important science is to medicine. For instance, they discovered that there are 75 different science-related jobs in the NHS. AINSDALE and Birkdale sand dunes were of great interest to Year 13 students who went to investigate sand dune succession (we sug-gest you Google that one!)

LOOK OUT FOR DETAILS OF OUR ‘CASHLESS’ CANTEEN SYSTEM IN THE NEW YEAR!

Please check Free School Meal eligibility on: 0151 666 4325 (direct line)

Postcards have the edgePostcards have the edge


THE perfect poise of St Mary’s gymnasts has boosted our sports charity bank balance. Students from Years 7 to 11 took part in our first ever Gym Jamboree ~ and it was a great success, raising much-needed funds and also bring performing arts into the PE curriculum. The young gymnasts had practised for weeks to perfect their routines ~ which included complex balancing routines and a special ‘Hot Stuff’ performance by a group of Year 8 boys. It was the first of a series of events planned as part of the school’s Sport Art project. The Gym Jamboree was a sell-out and raised nearly £300 for the Two Sheilas’ Sports Appeal to provide new netball and tennis courts (see Page 9). Students are also taking part in twice weekly ses-sions to paint large canvases of sports personalities to hang in the sports hall.

♦ A big thank you to all who sent in Tesco for Sport vouchers. We received the grand total of 6,825!

Balancing actBalancing act

Paddling their own canoesPaddling their own canoes Hold it right there...Year 9 show how it’s done.

YEAR 7 students have been putting their oar in ~ to great effect! They paddled their own canoes and had a splashing time as part of a project run by the Wirral schools sport co-ordination programme. The short course, at the Marine Lake, New Brighton, included canoe-handling, capsizing, rafting and managing to thoroughly drench PE teacher Mrs Snelson. One of the rookie canoeists, Lucy Keating, said: ‘It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. ‘We learned team work and had fun at the same time. I also made lots of new friends.’ They all achieved the British Canoe Union’s one-star award.

Walking the St Mary’s way!Walking the St Mary’s way!

STILL SMILING ~ some of the 60 Bronze Duke of Edinburgh students (left) who completed the Wirral Way walk. They managed the 13 miles from West Kirby to Hooton with hardly a blister, and are now gearing up for the hardships of a longer walk. The Bronze D of E group has done the Wirral Way each November for the last 15 years ~ and never had bad weather. Not bad going!

Christmas 2005

Documents

merry christmas

holy new year

christmas cheer

st marys newsletter

new brighton

holy cross

st pauls

st peter