Week 6 - 1st March 2013 - Sacred Heart Catholic School

SACRED HEART
C A T H O L I C S C H O O L
Spring Term—Issue 6 Friday 1st March 2013
SACRED HEART SPONSORED BRIDGE WALK
(Maximum number of Bridges to be walked is 8)
on
Sunday 17 th March 2013
All Proceeds are in aid of
The Pattaya Orphanage, Street Children’s Centre,
School for Blind and Disabled Children in Thailand
We at the Sacred Heart School are organising a fifth trip in October 2013. We plan to
take at least 20 pupils to Pattaya, to help in the orphanage and hope to purchase other
essentials for this centre with the money.
All money raised will be spent trying to make this worthwhile cause a reality.
All money will be taken to Thailand and every penny accounted for.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE WEEK (Commencing Monday 4th March 2013)
Assemblies:
Monday 4th March: Year 11
Tuesday 5th March: Year 7
Wednesday 6th March: 10
Thursday 7th March: Year 8
Friday 8th March: Year 9
Events:
Year 12/13 Assessment Week
Monday 4th March: AS History out
Tuesday 5th March: Science Museum in school
with Year 7
Year 8 Photography Trip (P2 - 4)
Wednesday 6th March: Mass Year 8
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Dear Parents,
We welcomed back over half term our staff and pupils who had a wonderful trip to Seville, Spain. Ms Burrell, who
led the trip, was absolutely delighted with the way in which our pupils conducted themselves while abroad, and
reports that there is now a growing trend amongst year ten for flamenco!!
Year eight has just completed their mid-year exams, and with their teachers busy marking papers, the early indications
would suggest that they are on track for some very good results which bodes well for their end of year exams
and progress through the national curriculum levels.
You will see in the newsletter this week reports from the chaplaincy team about some of the volunteer work our
pupils are involved in. They are a great example to the rest of the school, and indeed to all of us.
The rich and varied educational experience of Sacred Heart School has continued this week with various trips to
lectures, conferences, museums, and galleries. We are very fortunate to live in one of the major cities of the world
which affords us many opportunities not available to pupils in other parts of the country.
Over the last few weeks, some pupils have taken advantage of the extremely cold weather to wear hats, scarves,
and coats to school which are not part of our school uniform. Please rectify this situation over the weekend as
items worn to school which are not school uniform will be confiscated.
With so much media attention focussed on the Vatican at this time, we cannot but fail to remember in our prayers
the leadership of our Church, as we await the announcement of who our new Pope will be.
Lord, source of eternal life and truth; give to Your shepherd, the Pope, a spirit of courage and right judgment, a
spirit of knowledge and love.
By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care may he, as successor to the apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ,
build Your church into a sacrament of unity, love, and peace for all the world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,
forever and ever. Amen
-Ms B Boyle, Deputy Headteacher
COUNTDOWN TO EXAMS
As soon as they are finalised, all exam timetables are posted on the
school website – www.sacredheart.southwark.sch.uk Click on ‘News
& dates’, then ‘Forthcoming exams’
How many
school weeks
away ?
DATE
YEAR
GROUP
0 4 th March YEAR 11
0
4
5 th & 7 th March
(see website for
full details)
Week beginning
15 th April
YEARS
10 & 11
YEAR 10
EXAM
GCSE MATHS EXAM
(Foundation tier only)
GCSE SCIENCE EXAMS (CHEMISTRY/PHYSICS)
‘MOCK’ GCSE EXAMS IN ALL SUBJECTS
HONESTY AWARDS: Naomi Ojo-Abioye (7M) found a USB.
Rebecca Fiveash (9C) has raised another £6.63 by collecting found coins!
2

Year 12 OPPORTUNITIES
It is pleasing to see so many Year 12 pupils now attending
lectures or courses after school and at weekends at
venues across London. Pupils are also doing a range of
Community service activities which include working in
charity shops at the weekend, Saturdays in a soup
kitchen or mentoring younger pupils. One sixth former
is a fencing coach and several are members of the Police
cadets. Five pupils have now received Summer
school places at a variety of universities and many have
applied for the Sutton Trust Summer School. All of
these activities will help to make Personal statements
more interesting and appealing to universities. The
highly subscribed courses look for more than A level
grades when awarding places.
All pupils should have received an email about a range
of Banking workshops and programmes. They will be
oversubscribed, as they are with excellent firms, so
need to be applied for as soon as possible.
I have also details of work experience placements in
Chemistry, Engineering, and Medical related careers.
If any Year 12 pupil is not receiving emails please see
me.
The deadline for Sutton Trust Summer schools is on
March 20 th . Please complete any forms earlier than
this as references have to be completed.
- Ms Bonar
MOTHERS DAY BOUQUET RAFFLE
From Monday 4th March Ms. Barton/
Reception will be selling raffle tickets
to win a fantastic bouquet of flowers
to surprise your mother with on
Mothering Sunday. All proceeds
go towards The Pattaya
Orphanage.
HOUSE NEWS
Year 9 Table tennis
Once again the table tennis
competition has been postponed
due to bad conditions.
The table tennis will
resume in the summer
term. Thank you to all the
Year 9 players who have
showed up to represent
their houses.
Charity Week House style!!!
Charity week is getting closer and closer and that
means even more fun in the House competition. The
house leaders have many fun events up their sleeves,
such as Mr Cefai’s annual mini olympics, dodgeball and
some excitement to be had in some house assemblies.
Mini olympics and Dodgeball
Your house leaders need you to represent your house
and take home the charity week Gold! Are you a pro
at running, throwing or jumping? If yes, then this is
the house competition for you! Each house requires 5
boys and 5 girls to represent them, for each year group
(Year 7 and Year 8) at this year’s mini olympics.
The ever popular dodgeball house competition returns
and this time it’s serious! The teams for each house
will be made up of a mixture of boys and girls from
both Year 7 and Year 8, totalling 10 players for each
house.
If you are interested in
participating and representing
your house during
charity week, please
see your house leaders
before everyone else
gets to them first!
Will Magdalene stay at the top? Are Becket in it to win
it? Will Cabrini get back in the top 2? Are Bosco going
to be bottom forever?
Come back next week for more news of the mindblowing
house events taking place during Charity
Week 2013.
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CHAPLAINCY NEWS
During the season of Lent Sacred Heart has been involved in a program set up by the Chaplaincy team
called ‘Time: Just Give It’. Some year 11s and 12s have been giving up their Saturday mornings to
volunteer in a soup kitchen in Elephant and Castle serving hot food and drink to the homeless.
Temisanren in year 12 writes about his experience:
“I attended the soup kitchen over the half-term and it was a truly
humbling experience. I did something which I had never done before
which was to help out the less fortunate and it felt nice to help people
that really needed help. It made me think about things in my life that I
take for granted like shelter, food, drink and warmth. I would recommend
everyone to go, even if it is only once.”
The students have really grabbed the opportunity to help others during this season of Lent and are a
real credit to their age-group and the school.
The groups of students attending are:
Saturday 16 th and 23 rd Feb
Derrick Igbokwe
Joseph Awonusi
Richard Adussah
Mary Udebhulu
Maria Akinremi
Justin Chabala
Temisanren Uwawah
Soton Manuel
Jenifer Ansuh
Saturday 2 nd and 9 th March
Rebecca Prowse
Shantelle Fernandes
Oddy Gnakale
Jacqueline Gomes Neves
Junior Evbota
Michael Udebhulu
Cheriesse Bema-Kwakye
Tobi Oludipe
Saturday 16 th and 23 rd March
Yasmine Wyke
Damilola Adeyanju
Precious Adeyemi
Sharon Guobadia Itaifo
Jennifer Okolo
Bunmi Jenfa
Kadie Jabbie
Joan Ezukwo
12AS
12AS
12MN
12DO
12DO
12DO
12DO
11P1
11P1
11P1
11P1
12DO
12MN
12MN
12AS
11M
11M
12DO
12DO
12MN
12MN
12MNI
12MNI
12MN
112AS
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R.E NEWS
Calling year 7, 8 and 9s who would like to give up their time over lent. We need
some keen ‘green fingers’ who would like to help an elderly lady in our local
community with her gardening. If you are interested in volunteering please see
Mr. White or Mr. Price by Friday next week (8 th March).
During the last week of last half term, year 8 students designed, planned and celebrated their own
themed mass including – all the readings and prayers. The themes of the mass ranged from love to
stewardship and the students did a really good job in finding reading that tied into the theme.
Kayode in 8M writes about his experience of his classes mass:
“My personal experience of 8M’s mass was calm and reflective. We
started off with a prayer, reflecting on our day so far and what lay
ahead of us; this really started off the mass in a calm manner. Fr Kevin
then welcomed us all and then, after saying sorry for all the bad things
we did in the week, we had the readings from some of our class
members. Fr. Kevin told us how these pieces of scripture have an effect
on our lives, this is called the Homily and unlike most, this was not
boring! I believe the mass went smoothly and we all participated with
respect. It gave us the opportunity to receive the Holy Communion and
time to take a break from the world around us and not focus on what is
unimportant, God!”
The feedback from Father Kevin was extremely positive and the RE teachers were delighted with the
maturity of the students in how they prepared and how they conducted themselves during the masses.
The year 8s would like to thank Father Kevin for giving up his time to teach them about the importance
of mass and for celebrating with them.
It is an announcement that has sent shock waves through the Church. The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI is
unprecedented in the past 600 years. The announcement of the Pope’s departure has left many people asking,
“Can a pope resign?” and “What comes next?”
Although a pope ordinarily serves until his death, he may, as in the case of Pope Benedict, step aside if his health
is an obstacle to fulfilling his mission. The Church’s rules – called Canon Law - provides for the resignation of a
pope, as long as it is made freely and communicated properly. This is why Pope Benedict said in his
announcement, “with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome.”
The last pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII in 1415. He resigned for the good of the church during a time when
there was conflict about who was the validly elected pope.
Just as in the case of a pope’s death, a meeting or conclave of cardinals will be called,
and a new pope will be elected. For all of us, this is a time when we should pray for
the cardinals as they elect the new pope. We should ask that the Holy Spirit will
guide them as they choose a strong and faithful leader for the Church.
It’s a confusing, but exciting time in the Church. We are grateful for the great service
of Pope Benedict XVI, and look forward to greeting our new leader on that day when
the conclave elects a new pontiff and we hear those joyful words, “We have a pope!”
-Mr Thompson
5

Today, the 1 st March, roughly 10,000 people in New
Zealand, 16,000 in Scotland, 50,000 in Argentina,
85,000 in Australia, 440,000 in Canada, 600,000 in
England (including Mr. White and Madam Umbleja),
nearly 2 million in USA and 3 million people in Wales
are celebrating St. David’s Day.
St. David or Dewi Sant was born in around 500AD and
lived a reverse fairytale going from riches to rags. His
father was called Sandde, Prince of Powys and his
mother was called Non, the daughter of a chief
tribesman.
A MOMENT OF REFLECTION
with the Saxons, to wear leeks in their caps to
distinguish friend from the enemy. The wearing of the
emblem seemed to have stuck from there on.
Shakespeare mentions in Henry V, that the Welsh
archers wore leeks when they went to battle.
David was educated by Paulinus, a blind monk and
legend has it that David cured Paulinus of his blindness
by making the sign of the cross with his finger in front
of his face. Realising that David was a special and holy
person, Paulinus sent him out as a missionary to
convert the pagan people of Wales.
David became a monk, abbot and then a bishop while
spreading the word of Jesus throughout Wales.
The most famous story about Saint David tells how he
was preaching to a huge crowd when the ground is said
to have risen up, so that he was standing on a hill and
everyone had a better chance of hearing him.
Scholars believe that this story symbolically shows how
good David was at public speaking.
David believed that monks should live simply, and he
prescribed a harsh life for his followers. As well as
praying and celebrating mass, the brothers had to work
hard. They rose at dawn for prayer, and then worked in
the monastery and the fields around it. David would
not allow them to make animals work for them, but
made them pull the plough themselves, saying, "every
man is his own ox." And while they worked, they
continued to pray. They had a simple diet, too, eating
only vegetables and bread, and having only milk and
water to drink. St David himself drank only water, and is
sometimes known as David the water drinker. St
David's monks were expected to remain silent, except
for prayer or in an emergency. But though it was a hard
life, David's holiness and personal charisma were
enough to hold the community together in the service
of God.
St. David isn’t just a man of the past to Welsh people.
He is a figure with contemporary appeal. David is
famously known for saying that we should concentrate
on "doing the little things in God's presence with
conscientiousness and devotion".
St. David’s day is celebrated on the 1st March because
it was believed that it was the day of his death. It is said
that David died in peace at the old age of around 100,
in a place now named St. David’s in West Wales. His
shine became a great place of pilgrimage and four visits
to the shrine is considered the equivalent of two to
Rome or one to Jerusalem, showing the importance and
holiness of David.
This saying and the lifestyle he promoted, very much
links in with this special season of lent… a time of
reflection, sacrifice and self-denial.
Let’s just reflect for a moment about the little things we
can do to transform our home-life, our school-life, our
local communities, the lives of the orphan children in
Thailand and even perhaps the world.
Tomorrow, Welsh people wearing daffodils or leeks.
There are many explanations of how the leek came to
be adopted as the national emblem of Wales. One is
that St. David advised the Welsh, on the eve of battle
St. David….pray for us!
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus… I place my trust in thee!
6

CHARITY WEEK: 11th—15th MARCH
“Have a Sacred Heart Week” is almost upon us! For all of us it is an excellent opportunity
for us to be outward thinking and raise money for our less fortunate brothers and sisters in
this country and from the other side of the world - and having fun at the same time!
The Heart Theme
As mentioned in assemblies this week there are some changes to charity week this year.
The most notable change is that there will be a “Heart” theme running through the week.
Firstly Charity Week has a new name “Have a Sacred Heart Week”. There’ll be a daily
newsletter called “Heartbeat” informing you of all the events happening on that day and
also letting you know of the successes and events of the previous day. Heartbeat will also
give you food for thought and information on the charity focus of the day. In addition, star
charity workers who are recommended to their heads of year for doing outstanding acts of
charity will make it on to the “Heart Chart” and will be awarded with a “Heart badge”! So
make sure you have a Sacred Heart and get involved!!!
The Daily Focuses
The daily focuses for Charity week are based on “The Parable of
the Sheep and the Goats” (Matthew 25: 31-46) and are often
called “The works of Mercy” that Jesus himself encourages us to
do.
The focus for each day is as follows:
Monday: Clothe the naked – please bring in any unwanted/unneeded clothes to help us
raise money for a special needs school.
Tuesday: Feed the hungry – pupils will be attending a ‘soup kitchen’ to help distribute
food to the homeless.
Wednesday: – Water to the thirsty – we will gain a better appreciation of how lucky we
are to have the access to water we have.
Thursday: Visit the sick
Friday: Welcome the stranger – our thoughts and prayers will be focused on those
people in the world who are forced to flee their lands and seek refuge in foreign
countries.
Get your Heart Started!
Let’s make “Have a Sacred Heart Week” a great success! Will you
have a Sacred Heart and get involved!?
Starts on Monday 11 th - bring in those clothes!!!!!
- The Chaplaincy Team
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Trafalgar Street - London SE17 2TP - Telephone 020 7708 6500 - Fax 02077371713
Email office@sacredheart.southwark.sch.uk 8 - www.sacredheart.southwark.sch.uk