St Benedict’s Newsletter MACMILLAN CAKE SALE Students (and parents) baked, created and decorated batches of tasty goodies to sell at our MacMillan Cake Sale last Friday. A week earlier than the rest of the country, a group of Year 13 students sold cakes to students and staff at break and lunchme; they raised an amazing £180 for the charity. Our students organised the sale as part of the CAS element of their IB Diploma. Thank you to everyone for your support. CONGRATULATIONS to Year 7 students Alex Fryer, Antoniea Barone, Dan Kilburn and Rian Gisbourne, who on 18 September, received the Sacrament of Confirmaon. The Mass was led by the Very Reverend Bishop Byrne at St Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Bidford. Pictured right, our students with the Bishop and former student, Ella Ciotkowski who also received the Sacrament. ELEVATE To support transion into Key Stage 4, Year 10 aended a workshop called ‘Study Sense’, delivered by Elevate on Monday 19 September. This ‘high impact’ and engaging session addressed studying and the knowledge and skills students need for GCSEs to become successful and independent learners. The workshop was found to be most useful by all students and staff present. The session will be consolidated by future work in form me. Overall it was a fantasc start to Year 10’s journey. THE RSC are holding their annual Fun Palace this Sunday, from 11am to 4pm at The Other Place in Straord. The event is free to aend and is a naonwide celebraon of the arts and culture. There will be the opportunity to take part in workshops, demonstraons and tours - ckets are available on the day. For details and mes of acvies please see hps://www.rsc.org.uk YEAR 8 STUDENT Thomas Cosgriff aended The Guild of St Stephen's Naonal Mass for Altar Servers at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 17 September to represent Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Redditch. The Mass was led by Cardinal Vincent Nicholls. Thomas was lucky enough to have a front row seat, as from nearly 1000 altar servers he was invited to read one of the bidding prayers! JOIN IN WITH THE BIG KNIT! Innocent Smoothies are running a campaign this winter to raise money for AGE UK to help keep older people warm and well. For every ‘lile smoothie bole hat’ that is donated, Innocent will donate 25p to the charity. There will be a ‘kning club’ in Room 7 on Wednesdays to get everyone started and don’t worry if you can’t knit as crocheng is absolutely fine. Paerns can be found at hp://www.thebigknit.co.uk/ PASTORAL MATTERS The Pastoral Team welcomed Mrs Joanne Tarver as St Benedict’s Pastoral Support Manager at the start of this term. Mrs Tarver has worked for the past year in the PE Department and brings considerable experience to the role, having previously worked in many schools including several years as a teacher and pastoral support in New Zealand. Working alongside Mrs Boote Powell, Deacon Steve, Naomi and the Inclusion Team, Mrs Tarver will be based in the Pastoral Office in School. Pictured leſt Mrs Tarver with Deacon Steve. HARVEST MASS Our annual Family Mass for Harvest takes place on Tuesday 4 October at 5pm. You are most warmly invited to aend and we especially look forward to welcoming our Year 7 families. We are encouraging students to bring nned and packaged food into school for their form’s Harvest Hamper which will then be used to help local people in need. We thank you for your support in advance. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Mon 3 October Year 8 and 9 Parents’ meeng about new grading systems 6:00 – 6:30pm Tues 4 October Year 9 vaccinaons Harvest Mass 5pm Wed 12 October Year 11 Parents’ Evening to include informaon on new grading system 4.15-7.15pm Issue No 2 Date Friday 30 September 2016