So much to celebrate - Bishop Thomas Grant School
So much to celebrate - Bishop Thomas Grant School
So much to celebrate - Bishop Thomas Grant School
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Volume 7 Issue 1 December 2009<br />
ISSN 1742-2740<br />
News Magazine of <strong>Bishop</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Grant</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
<strong>So</strong> <strong>much</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>celebrate</strong><br />
Continued on page 2<br />
Mr Parchot writes:<br />
On Friday 2 Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 2009 a special<br />
Mass was held <strong>to</strong> <strong>celebrate</strong> the Fiftieth<br />
Anniversary of <strong>Bishop</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Grant</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong>. The event was attended by<br />
members of the Governing Body<br />
including the Chair of Governors Kathy<br />
Robinson, and the homily was delivered<br />
by The Right Reverend <strong>Bishop</strong> Lynch ss.cc.<br />
This was indeed a very special occasion<br />
and entailed immense organisation on<br />
the part of the committee formed for the<br />
Fiftieth Anniversary.<br />
I am sure that prior <strong>to</strong> the Mass all<br />
members of this committee were praying<br />
for clement weather conditions as this<br />
Mass was planned <strong>to</strong> be outdoors in<br />
order that the entire school community -<br />
students, teachers, administration staff,<br />
caterers, cleaners and premises staff<br />
could all join <strong>to</strong>gether in worship at this<br />
auspicious event.<br />
Their prayers were answered! The sun<br />
threw its beams of warm light across<br />
the assembled throng and the sea<br />
of uniformed students in green was<br />
parted by the <strong>Bishop</strong> and his celebrants,<br />
Reminiscing Selling Singing Scrutinising
Continued from the front page<br />
resplendent in scarlet cloth embroidered<br />
with gold.<br />
As they processed <strong>to</strong>wards the altar the<br />
cross carried high gleamed in the glorious<br />
afternoon sun. This visual spectacle was<br />
enormously enhanced by the angelic<br />
voices of the school choir, which alone<br />
broke the golden silence of a beautiful and<br />
memorable autumn afternoon.<br />
Our new school flag, created by our own<br />
Art Department, <strong>Bishop</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Grant</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong> Coat of Arms emblazoned against a<br />
white background, had every reason <strong>to</strong> fly<br />
proud and high:<br />
“Instaurare Omnia in Chris<strong>to</strong>” – United<br />
<strong>to</strong>gether in Christ<br />
Following the Mass the Chair of Governors<br />
presented a long awaited award <strong>to</strong> Ms<br />
Murray and Mr O’Brien, both of whom<br />
have served <strong>Bishop</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Grant</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
for thirty years. The tumultuous applause<br />
from the congregation showed how <strong>much</strong><br />
they are loved and appreciated.<br />
<strong>So</strong> <strong>much</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>celebrate</strong>, so <strong>much</strong> achieved<br />
over the fifty year-old journey of our<br />
school. Generations have come and gone<br />
and the faces change over the rolling years,<br />
but <strong>Bishop</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Grant</strong> <strong>School</strong> is a true<br />
family community with deep roots and<br />
traditions and its ethos and values as the<br />
Head said “remain strong and steadfast<br />
in the hearts of pupils, past and present<br />
alike”.<br />
Image collecting<br />
Oliver Perales and Ewan Leatham<br />
are taking pho<strong>to</strong>graphs of just about<br />
everything in sight around the school,<br />
so that they can choose the best ones<br />
for a presentation.<br />
“We are are collecting images of the<br />
people and the buildings for our IT<br />
lesson,” Oliver <strong>to</strong>ld Nuntius.<br />
“We have already started <strong>to</strong> make a<br />
Power Point slide show, and we are<br />
going <strong>to</strong> add our pho<strong>to</strong>s <strong>to</strong> ones taken<br />
by other members of the group.”<br />
Ewan explained: “It’s all for Year 6<br />
pupils in primary schools who want <strong>to</strong><br />
come here. We are making a kind of<br />
<strong>to</strong>ur for them.<br />
I enjoy using cameras and microphones.<br />
Thanks <strong>to</strong> Mr Ghumra for helping us so<br />
<strong>much</strong>.”<br />
Where are they now?<br />
The 1950s were a kind of golden age<br />
for school uniforms: hats were more<br />
common, and most boys’ knees were<br />
uncovered until the age of twelve or<br />
thirteen.<br />
Apart from that, there has not been an<br />
enormous change, with neat ties and<br />
blazers still representing traditional<br />
values.<br />
This pho<strong>to</strong>graph was taken in<br />
September, 1959, the very first term of<br />
<strong>Bishop</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Grant</strong> <strong>School</strong>. How many<br />
faces can you put names <strong>to</strong>?<br />
Ms Murray recognises her sister Julia,<br />
who is standing at the end of the third<br />
row up, wearing a hat. She would love <strong>to</strong><br />
hear from anybody who knows more.<br />
The BTG Fiftieth Anniversary<br />
Committee is hoping <strong>to</strong> produce a<br />
souvenir anthology of pho<strong>to</strong>graphs,<br />
reminiscences and anecdotes relating <strong>to</strong><br />
the his<strong>to</strong>ry of the school. Please contact<br />
Ms Murray if you have anything <strong>to</strong><br />
contribute.<br />
Two Open Days are planned: on<br />
Saturday, 20 March, 2010, for those who<br />
joined the school between September<br />
1959 and July 1975, and on Saturday,<br />
26 June for those who joined between<br />
September 1975 and July 2009.<br />
To apply for tickets for these events,<br />
please go <strong>to</strong> the school website at<br />
www.btg.ac and download an<br />
application form.<br />
—2—
Dear Parents, Staff and Students<br />
This term has been particularly pleasing. I<br />
am very happy <strong>to</strong> inform you that the first<br />
intake of Year 12 students, in our newly<br />
established Sixth Form, have settled in<br />
extremely well, and are now enthusiastically<br />
engaged with an exciting new range of<br />
subjects and enrichment courses.<br />
<strong>So</strong>me of these students speak about the<br />
experiences of their first term on the<br />
centre pages, and it is obvious <strong>to</strong> me that<br />
they have a strong sense of commitment<br />
which can only lead <strong>to</strong> success, and they<br />
are typical.<br />
We had yet another highly successful year<br />
at GCSE level: the percentage of students<br />
achieving 5 or more GCSEs A* <strong>to</strong> C at<br />
<strong>Bishop</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Grant</strong> is 87% compared<br />
with a national average of 64% (2008 Nat).<br />
The percentage of students achieving 5<br />
or more GCSEs A* <strong>to</strong> C at <strong>Bishop</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong><br />
<strong>Grant</strong> including English and Maths is 60%<br />
compared with a national average of 48%<br />
(2008 Nat). This statistic is particularly<br />
impressive considering that over 50% of<br />
our student population in Year 11 last year<br />
had English as their second language.<br />
I would like <strong>to</strong> thank the whole school<br />
community for their hard work in helping<br />
our results <strong>to</strong> increase for the eighth<br />
consecutive year. We expect this trend<br />
<strong>to</strong> continue.<br />
My thanks must also go <strong>to</strong> the Fiftieth<br />
Anniversary Committee which has<br />
been working extremely hard <strong>to</strong> raise<br />
consciousness of our proud his<strong>to</strong>ry as a<br />
Catholic school, and I am looking forward<br />
<strong>to</strong> meeting staff, parents and students<br />
from the past and the present on our two<br />
special Open Days this academic year.<br />
Our popularity in the local area continues<br />
<strong>to</strong> grow immensely. We now have<br />
more girls than boys in Year 7, which is<br />
particularly pleasing when you consider<br />
that we are surrounded by so many<br />
outstanding girls’ Catholic schools.<br />
At present, we have nearly 1000<br />
applications for the 180 places available<br />
for September 2010.<br />
I am pleased <strong>to</strong> inform you that during<br />
the summer holidays there were a number<br />
of improvements made <strong>to</strong> the school<br />
premises: two new student canteens<br />
and a Sixth Form common room and<br />
study area are now in place, and the<br />
school library has been redesigned and<br />
refurbished as part of an ongoing plan.<br />
Further improvements <strong>to</strong> the library are<br />
scheduled <strong>to</strong> take place soon. It should<br />
contain 12,000 new books and a range of<br />
extra resources by Easter. The library is<br />
open from 9.00am <strong>to</strong> 5.00pm every day.<br />
Our new fire alarm and security system is<br />
now operational.<br />
We are moving <strong>to</strong>wards a situation where<br />
all students will have their own lap<strong>to</strong>ps<br />
by 2013. The process has already begun<br />
for members of Year 12. The school is now<br />
fully wirelessed.<br />
I hope you had a happy Christmas and I<br />
wish you every success for 2010<br />
Yours sincerely<br />
Louis Desa<br />
Creative entrepreneurs<br />
‘Creative Kidz’ is the name of the Year<br />
7 team which <strong>to</strong>ok part in the Young<br />
Entrepreneurs Market, which was part<br />
of Lambeth’s Global Entrepreneurship<br />
Week in November.<br />
Team members were Aleksandra<br />
Kondracka, Ewa Kunysz, Natasha<br />
Mahatantila, Joanna Predota, Alexandra<br />
Sanyaolu and Lucy Sturmer, who are<br />
pictured.<br />
They received an award for the ‘best<br />
cus<strong>to</strong>mer service’ and second place in the<br />
‘most profitable’ category.<br />
Market stalls were set up under the<br />
London Eye and outside The National<br />
Theatre after students were challenged<br />
<strong>to</strong> start up a business with a grant of<br />
twenty-five pounds.<br />
Students were selling alongside<br />
emerging and established entrepreneurs<br />
including the past winners of the Make<br />
Your Mark on the Markets campaign and<br />
female entrepreneurs who participated<br />
in Lambeth’s Brand Piano Project.<br />
Stalls included German sweets and<br />
sausages, hand-made gifts from the<br />
Amazon rainforest, Chinese tea, delights<br />
from Dubai, designer handbags and<br />
<strong>much</strong> more.<br />
“Having never done anything like this<br />
before, it was very scary. We didn’t know<br />
if anyone would be interested in buying<br />
things from us or whether the things we<br />
had made were any good,” said Ewa.<br />
“At the beginning of the competition we<br />
did not get any cus<strong>to</strong>mers, so Ola and<br />
Joanna began dancing <strong>to</strong> try and attract<br />
attention. The rest of us laughed because<br />
we thought it would scare cus<strong>to</strong>mers away.<br />
I think the reason we were so successful<br />
was because we had such a wide range of<br />
s<strong>to</strong>ck. We had handmade scarves, cards,<br />
carrot cake and handmade Christmas<br />
decorations.<br />
This experience was great! We learnt lots<br />
of things about running a business and<br />
this could help us in the future.”<br />
Creative Kidz<br />
—3—
<strong>So</strong>mething for all tastes<br />
One of the students commended by Mr<br />
Watkins at the St Cecilia’s celebration was<br />
Denise Acosta Rodriguez. She spoke <strong>to</strong><br />
our reporter:<br />
“It was an excellent evening of music.<br />
There were a few soloists, Junior Choir<br />
and Chapel Choir, Barbershop Girls and<br />
Boys and African drumming – something<br />
for all tastes.<br />
The singing was in a variety of languages,<br />
but I sang only in English: it was A Foggy<br />
Day in London Town, and it was suggested<br />
by my singing teacher Ms Cyers<br />
I love ballads, and my favourite ones are<br />
Unbreak My Heart by Tony Brax<strong>to</strong>n and I<br />
Have Nothing by Whitney Hous<strong>to</strong>n.<br />
I have been singing since I was four years<br />
old and I want <strong>to</strong> study Music at GCSE,<br />
then take it further.<br />
I am sure that all the parents really<br />
enjoyed St Cecilia’s Day. I know my<br />
own mother did, because she <strong>to</strong>ld<br />
me so. She especially liked the<br />
African drumming.<br />
Blessings from Sri Lanka<br />
Ms Macadam writes:<br />
Whilst on holiday in Sri Lanka, I called in<br />
<strong>to</strong> have lunch with Reverend Mother and<br />
Sister Laurenta at the Holy Angels <strong>School</strong><br />
of Payagola.<br />
I was delighted <strong>to</strong> take with me the<br />
cheque for five hundred and eight<br />
pounds which Matthew House raised for<br />
the school and the orphanage.<br />
Reverend Mother was so grateful, and<br />
very moved that our students had given<br />
their time and energy <strong>to</strong> raise such a large<br />
amount.<br />
She sends her blessings and thanks <strong>to</strong> us<br />
all, and promises that the money will be<br />
put <strong>to</strong> good use.<br />
Since I last visited the school, the new<br />
classroom, <strong>to</strong> be used as a Science<br />
labora<strong>to</strong>ry, has nearly been built.<br />
The school is hoping <strong>to</strong> add another<br />
floor, eventually, because it is better <strong>to</strong><br />
go upward than use up more land. There<br />
is also a plan <strong>to</strong> buy more books for their<br />
new library shelves.<br />
A group of our Year 7 students are writing<br />
<strong>to</strong> their counterparts in Sri Lanka in a<br />
scheme which will strengthen our links<br />
and make it possible <strong>to</strong> learn a little more<br />
about each other’s lives.<br />
Look out for the Christmas Raffle <strong>to</strong> raise<br />
more funds.<br />
Mer<strong>to</strong>n Pisces<br />
Champion<br />
Ms Prime writes:<br />
Congratulations <strong>to</strong> Ewa Kunysz 7MP on<br />
her success in the recent Swimming Club<br />
Gala at Morden Baths on two Fridays -<br />
20 and 27 November.<br />
She competed against other swimmers<br />
aged 11-14 and came first in all of her<br />
five events: 50m front crawl, backstroke,<br />
butterfly, breaststroke and the medley.<br />
Ewa was awarded a medal for each win<br />
and an overall Champions Shield by her<br />
club, Mer<strong>to</strong>n Pisces Swimming Club with<br />
whom she has trained for the last four<br />
years.<br />
Ewa’s favourite discipline is backstroke<br />
but her personal best of 1:19 seconds for<br />
100m is in the front crawl.<br />
We wish her all the best for her upcoming<br />
competition in the Open Championship<br />
Swimming Gala on 6 December.<br />
—4—
Tribute <strong>to</strong> the Fallen<br />
Mr Parchot writes:<br />
“They shall not grow old as we that are<br />
left grow old”<br />
Students from Year 10 presented a<br />
moving tribute <strong>to</strong> ‘the fallen’ of all wars<br />
through poetry readings, dramatic<br />
sketches and choreography.<br />
Whilst Armistice Day, the eleventh hour<br />
of the eleventh day of the eleventh<br />
month marks specifically the end of the<br />
First World War 1914-1918, the main<br />
focus of the assembly was directed<br />
<strong>to</strong>wards current and ongoing conflicts<br />
such as Afghanistan, where many of our<br />
own young men and women are facing<br />
grave danger on a daily basis and even<br />
laying down their lives in the service of<br />
our country.<br />
I was aware of people in the assembly,<br />
staff and pupils alike, who have<br />
loved ones caught up in that conflict,<br />
adding a special poignancy <strong>to</strong> our<br />
commemorations.<br />
A number of the performances during<br />
the assembly used the poetry of Wilfred<br />
Owen as their stimulus. His experience of<br />
Joshua Medine, Sam Woodman and Paul Brown enact the<br />
Wilfred Owen poem Dulce et Decorum Est, which formed<br />
part of an assembly on the horrors of war.<br />
War and close observations of its horrific<br />
impact on the lives of combatants is<br />
graphically depicted in Dulce Et Decorum<br />
Est Pro Patria Mori (It is sweet and fitting<br />
<strong>to</strong> die for one’s country). Young men<br />
‘Bent double…coughing like hags…all<br />
lame…all blind’ is anything but a sweet<br />
picture of war. War has destroyed their<br />
health and vitality for life and aged them<br />
prematurely.<br />
Similarly, in the poem Disabled we are<br />
presented with a young man who ‘gave<br />
his lie’ signing up for the First World War<br />
saying he was nineteen years old. In the<br />
poem we see him returned home, his legs<br />
blown off, not greeted as a hero, but a<br />
figure of pathos. He can no longer play<br />
football, the game he loved, and girls<br />
do not look at him anymore. Such tragic<br />
images are as true of war <strong>to</strong>day as they<br />
were in 1914.<br />
The commemorative assembly also drew<br />
attention <strong>to</strong> the impact of war on loved<br />
ones left at home, shown in a dramatised<br />
extract from The Accring<strong>to</strong>n Pals, a play<br />
by Peter Whelan. In the extract the<br />
women folk of Accring<strong>to</strong>n, a <strong>to</strong>wn near<br />
Manchester, hear rumours that, of seven<br />
hundred of their men who marched off <strong>to</strong><br />
fight in the First World War, only seven<br />
have returned alive.<br />
The extract was powerfully and movingly<br />
enacted by students from 10X1,<br />
depicting the women of Accring<strong>to</strong>n<br />
clinging <strong>to</strong> each other, barely able <strong>to</strong><br />
contain their grief at their terrible loss.<br />
The famous lines of Laurence Binyon’s<br />
poem For the Fallen were read, followed<br />
by ‘The Last Post’ and a minute’s silence.<br />
They shall not grow old as we that are<br />
left grow old;<br />
Age shall not weary them nor the years<br />
condemn.<br />
At the going down of the sun and in the<br />
morning<br />
We will remember them.<br />
—5—
Looking forwa<br />
Daniela Vizuete and Richard Ranghel are<br />
taking Accounting and Business Studies<br />
A Levels.<br />
DANIELA: In Accounting recently we<br />
have been concentrating on control<br />
accounts, subsidiary books and day<br />
books. A control account is a summary<br />
account in the general ledger.<br />
You have <strong>to</strong> make sure everything is in<br />
order by learning the headings and the<br />
control process.<br />
We are learning the structure of each<br />
kind of account – they vary a lot –<br />
and the difference between assets,<br />
expenses, liabilities and capital.<br />
I want accountancy <strong>to</strong> be my career: the<br />
subject goes well with my other A Levels<br />
– Mathematics and RE. I enjoy sixth<br />
form life because everything is more<br />
related <strong>to</strong> the real grown-up world than<br />
previously in school.<br />
RICHARD: In Business Studies right<br />
now we are looking at cash flow<br />
forecasts and ways of paying bills. Most<br />
companies ask for payment within thirty<br />
days, but it could be three months.<br />
We are also studying entrepreneurs,<br />
how they start up their new businesses,<br />
how they follow through on an idea and<br />
put it in<strong>to</strong> practice.<br />
There are many approaches, and I have<br />
been given ideas on how <strong>to</strong> go in<strong>to</strong><br />
business myself.<br />
Mr Stapelberg is our teacher and<br />
he makes sure we have a clear<br />
understanding of a <strong>to</strong>pic before we<br />
move on.<br />
Craig Poku is studying A Level<br />
Chemistry, along with Biology,<br />
Mathematics and Physics.<br />
“I did well at GCSE level, with six A<br />
stars, six As and a B. My favourite<br />
subject last year was Maths, so it was<br />
logical that I chose it this year because I<br />
still enjoy problem solving!<br />
Maths goes well with the Sciences of<br />
course. At the moment in Chemistry<br />
we are learn about enthalpy, which<br />
is a thermodynamic property of a<br />
thermodynamic system, and the use of<br />
mass spectrometry.<br />
I like Chemistry in particular because<br />
it is a science which is really applicable<br />
<strong>to</strong> real-life situations, for example,<br />
when we ask ourselves about the use of<br />
catalytic converters on cars.<br />
It is also useful for understanding<br />
aspects of Biology, for example when<br />
we look at how bonding happens in<br />
glucose molecules.<br />
This year, we are bridging the gap<br />
between being <strong>to</strong>ld what <strong>to</strong> do and<br />
choosing everything for ourselves. I<br />
don’t like spoon feeding.”<br />
Taro Isidore and Malgorzata Mucha are<br />
studying Psychology as one of their A Levels.<br />
TARO: Psychology stands out from<br />
the rest of my subjects, which are<br />
Biology, PE and Physics. I have become<br />
particularly interested in the <strong>to</strong>pic of<br />
Attachment.<br />
When we studied babies attaching<br />
<strong>to</strong> parents it raised many questions<br />
for me. I didn’t realise that emotional<br />
deprivation could have so many<br />
detrimental effects – and the older the<br />
children become, the worse it gets.<br />
It was so engrossing! I would like <strong>to</strong><br />
study Psychology at university, and then<br />
perhaps move on <strong>to</strong> a career in therapy.<br />
MALGORZATA: I was surprised when<br />
I started on the Psychology course at<br />
how <strong>much</strong> Science there is in it. We have<br />
<strong>to</strong> learn about a lot of different research<br />
methods.<br />
It’s an enjoyable subject even though<br />
it’s hard.<br />
We have just been studying the module<br />
Memory and Attachment. I find the<br />
memory side easier, I think.<br />
My other A Levels are Accounting,<br />
Art, Economics and Polish - which I will<br />
complete in a year. I would like <strong>to</strong> use<br />
Psychology when I leave school.<br />
Mr McDonald is fun! He makes the<br />
lessons enjoyable.<br />
—6—
d <strong>to</strong> success<br />
Emmanuel Locord and Stefan<br />
Worbur<strong>to</strong>n talked about what they are<br />
doing in the Enrichment Programme<br />
which leads <strong>to</strong> the AQA Baccalaureate,<br />
a two-year course which was launched<br />
last April.<br />
Emmanuel is taking A Levels in Biology,<br />
Chemistry, English Literature and<br />
Physics, and Stefan is taking A Levels<br />
in Art and Design, English Literature,<br />
French and Mathematics.<br />
EMMANUEL: Year 12 is what I expected<br />
– a good working environment.<br />
I have now finised the introduction <strong>to</strong><br />
my written report which is entitled The<br />
Psychological, Emotional and Cognitive<br />
Effects of Alcohol on the Consumer.<br />
My background research involved<br />
looking at the definitions. I studied<br />
some statistics on the effects of<br />
drinking alcohol <strong>to</strong> success, and I found<br />
out about the attitudes of people and<br />
religions which do not accept alcohol.<br />
I have plans for a questionnaire for<br />
adults, so that I can collect my own<br />
statistics.<br />
STEFAN: I am engaged on an Art project<br />
in which I am looking at definitions of<br />
modern art, concentrating on the period<br />
after World War Two.<br />
I enjoyed the variety of exhibits recently<br />
when I visited the Saatchi Gallery.<br />
I find that abstract art helps <strong>to</strong> express<br />
human emotions more than other<br />
forms. I like the art of Kandinsky, who<br />
expressed his love of music through his<br />
paintings.<br />
My final plan is <strong>to</strong> add five pieces of<br />
abstract art created by myself <strong>to</strong> my<br />
written report. I am starting work on<br />
them now.<br />
Jonathan Higuita, Javier Espinosa,<br />
Kathryn Texeira and Michele Spinola are<br />
all studying A Level Economics.<br />
JONATHAN: I chose this subject<br />
because I want <strong>to</strong> know about what is<br />
happening in the modern economy,<br />
with all its problems with banks and<br />
the credit crunch. It goes well with<br />
Accounting, which I am also studying at<br />
A Level.<br />
JAVIER: There are so many theories, and<br />
I want <strong>to</strong> interpret them, for example<br />
the one proposed by John Maynard<br />
Keynes, which is becoming popular<br />
again after being neglected. I am going<br />
<strong>to</strong> be an accountant when I leave school.<br />
KATHRYN: I have always been<br />
interested in this sunject, so of course<br />
I chose it. It is interesting <strong>to</strong> match the<br />
theories with what happens in real life.<br />
MICHELE: I have plans <strong>to</strong> work in Travel<br />
and Tourism, so Economics will be useful<br />
when the costs and finances are worked<br />
out. Knowledge of the subject will be a<br />
good background.<br />
Alex Cunha and Anne-Marie Tarbie are<br />
taking A Level Computing.<br />
ALEX: This is a step up for people who<br />
liked ICT at GCSE level, because it is<br />
more complex.<br />
We have spent <strong>much</strong> of this first term<br />
learning programming, in PYTHON 2<br />
and in MSWLogo – which is an advanced<br />
multimedia Windows version of<br />
UCBLogo.<br />
We are currently writing our own<br />
programme for an examination, and<br />
learning how <strong>to</strong> debug – in other words<br />
how <strong>to</strong> fix problems.<br />
We are also learning about new<br />
hardware and software, making<br />
presentations <strong>to</strong> the class in groups<br />
and using new commands <strong>to</strong> make it<br />
generally easier <strong>to</strong> use a computer.<br />
My other A Levels are Accounting and<br />
Psychology.<br />
ANNE-MARIE: This is <strong>to</strong>tally different<br />
<strong>to</strong> what I did for GCSE. We started<br />
the year doing basic tasks and making<br />
shapes in MSWLogo, using code<br />
and creating commands in order <strong>to</strong><br />
communicate with other people.<br />
One of the most interesting units<br />
was one on the his<strong>to</strong>ry of computer<br />
technology, on the first use of<br />
binary and dinary numbers and the<br />
development of machine code.<br />
My other A Levels are English<br />
Literature and Psychology.<br />
Mr Clare has been really supportive<br />
since we began.<br />
—7—
The atmosphere was amazing<br />
Mr Lindsay-Noble writes:<br />
European Day of Languages was<br />
<strong>celebrate</strong>d with <strong>much</strong> enthusiasm in<br />
September.<br />
As well as a number of different Europebased<br />
activities that replaced normal<br />
lessons for the day in the Modern Foreign<br />
Languages department, there was a very<br />
well attended lunchtime session in the<br />
Main Hall.<br />
Here, students from all age groups were<br />
treated <strong>to</strong> a number of delicious dishes<br />
from around Europe. They then <strong>to</strong>ok part<br />
in two Europe-based quizzes as well as<br />
two foreign language songs - Schnappi<br />
from Germany and Dragostea din tei from<br />
Romania.<br />
In the canteen, Mark and his team had<br />
prepared a wonderful array of dishes<br />
from around Europe and the pupils<br />
enjoyed these surrounded by dozens<br />
of European flags, having had <strong>to</strong> order<br />
first from menus in French, German and<br />
Spanish.<br />
Special thanks go <strong>to</strong> our new French<br />
Foreign Language Assistant, Mrs Josiane<br />
Chowdhry and <strong>to</strong> the canteen staff, for<br />
preparing such a wonderful spread for the<br />
students.<br />
Three of those students, Paulina Kudla<br />
and Anthony Menezes from Year 8, and<br />
Daniel Cecile from Year 9 (pictured) -<br />
spoke <strong>to</strong> Nuntius:<br />
PAULINA: It was great fun. We had food<br />
from all around the world. We also <strong>to</strong>ok<br />
part in quizzes with sweets as prizes,<br />
and sang songs, like Schnappi, das<br />
kleine Krokodil, which was my favourite.<br />
I particularly liked the Italian food,<br />
especially the pizza.<br />
DANIEL: What a way <strong>to</strong> spend your Friday<br />
lunchtime! The best part for me was the<br />
food, and I liked the prizes which were<br />
given out <strong>to</strong>o.<br />
The atmosphere was amazing and by<br />
looking at everyone, they were stunned.<br />
ANTHONY: It was so <strong>much</strong> fun! I<br />
particularly like the quizzes and the<br />
competitions. My favourite was a singing<br />
contest in which the prize went <strong>to</strong> the<br />
person who could sing the loudest.<br />
A pleasure <strong>to</strong> teach<br />
Tabea Rath and Alicia Ojeda area two of the new assistants in the<br />
Modern Foreign Languages department. They both spoke <strong>to</strong> Nuntius:<br />
TABEA: I went <strong>to</strong> school in Wilmersdorf, part of Berlin, and the last<br />
time I was in London was on a school trip from there. I love the city and<br />
also the Lake District, which I visited in the spring.<br />
I work here and at Lambeth Academy near Clapham Common.<br />
The Year 7 and 8 students at BTG are so enthusiastic, and a<br />
pleasure <strong>to</strong> teach.<br />
I will probably teach when I get back <strong>to</strong> Germany, but I am also<br />
interested in working for a publisher of educational textbooks.<br />
This school is <strong>much</strong> better equipped with computers than<br />
schools in Germany, and it is so beautifully situated on the <strong>to</strong>p<br />
of a hill with a view.<br />
ALICIA: My home <strong>to</strong>wn is near Seville in Spain, and I came <strong>to</strong><br />
London on a scholarship. Before London, I was in Liverpool.<br />
I really like the atmosphere in this school because it is so different<br />
<strong>to</strong> what I know in Spanish schools.<br />
It also compares very well with other London schools I have<br />
encountered. The students are all willing <strong>to</strong> learn all the time.<br />
There is a football connection with language learning here, so I can tell<br />
you that my favourite team is Seville.<br />
Which word<br />
or phrase is<br />
this?<br />
M ckey<br />
M nn e<br />
M ghty<br />
—8—<br />
Say what you see.<br />
Write down your solution and put it in<br />
a sealed envelope with your name and<br />
form on it. Write NUNTIUS PUZZLE on it<br />
as well.<br />
Take this <strong>to</strong> Mr Cuddy, who will give<br />
a prize for the first correct solution<br />
received.
Chatroom<br />
Rehearsals have begun for Chatroom, by<br />
Irish playwright Enda Walsh, a powerful<br />
short play about young people which<br />
is full of <strong>to</strong>pical references, for example<br />
cyberbullying and the effects of the<br />
Internet.<br />
Six teenagers are brought <strong>to</strong>gether in<br />
Internet chat rooms. The central character<br />
is a boy called Jim who contemplates<br />
ending his life because of the manipulative<br />
and self-centred characters he meets.<br />
It will be performed next term by the<br />
Gifted and Talented National Theatre<br />
Group, who will be directing it themselves.<br />
Chatroom cast Paul Brown, Lydia Greentree,<br />
Joshua Madine, Aoife Mulcahy, Rohan Nedd and<br />
Ella Ochugbalu.<br />
Star gazers<br />
Year 9 GCSE Astronomy students Shauna<br />
Corrigan and Felipe Marques Jesus are<br />
holding a model of the solar system<br />
made by new BTG student Courtney<br />
Joseph.<br />
“They are on a one-year accelerated<br />
GCSE course,” said Science teacher<br />
Ms King.<br />
“They go <strong>to</strong> the Royal Observa<strong>to</strong>ry at<br />
Greenwich for thirty Saturdays. Four<br />
boys and four girls from this school are<br />
representing Lambeth.<br />
Other students representing <strong>So</strong>uthwark<br />
and Wandsworth join them each week in<br />
the Planetarium there.<br />
It’s very good for them <strong>to</strong> have the use of<br />
such facilities <strong>to</strong> learn about the sky<br />
at night.<br />
I am taking the examination as well!”<br />
“I have learned a lot about Mars in<br />
particular,” said Shauna. “It’s red<br />
because of all the oxides of iron<br />
in the Martian soil.<br />
On our trip around the<br />
Observa<strong>to</strong>ry I noticed<br />
that it is covered with<br />
the names of famous<br />
astronomers like<br />
Galileo Galilei and<br />
Tycho Brahe.<br />
It’s really great<br />
going with Ms King<br />
– we’re competing<br />
against her for<br />
the GCSE and she<br />
doesn’t mind.”<br />
Felipe added, ”I didn’t realise that the<br />
Greenwich Mean Time line actually<br />
runs through the Observa<strong>to</strong>ry. It was<br />
impressive <strong>to</strong> look at.<br />
I was also very interested in another<br />
exhibit, John Harrison’s chronometer,<br />
which was used <strong>to</strong> calculate longitude on<br />
board ships.<br />
We get on well with the students from<br />
other schools.<br />
I would like <strong>to</strong> study astronomy at<br />
university.”<br />
Other members of the class are Glenn<br />
Hutchinson, Izabella Johnson, Hayden<br />
Kidd, Adyan Mehasi, Sebastian Paz Mesa<br />
and Fidelia Prosper.<br />
Time <strong>to</strong> head home<br />
Ms Prime writes:<br />
Where did the time go? I started<br />
teaching PE at <strong>Bishop</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Grant</strong> six<br />
years ago fresh from New Zealand.<br />
During my time here I have been a Tu<strong>to</strong>r<br />
Teacher, Head of Department and<br />
Healthy <strong>School</strong> Co-ordina<strong>to</strong>r and seen<br />
thousands of young men and women<br />
pass through the department, some of<br />
whom have gone on <strong>to</strong> greatness.<br />
BTG is one of the loveliest places <strong>to</strong> work<br />
as a teacher in London, the main reason<br />
being the fabulous students. You all<br />
have so <strong>much</strong> <strong>to</strong> offer. Please believe in<br />
yourselves and listen <strong>to</strong> your conscience<br />
– it will keep you on track if you allow<br />
it. Be brave, challenge yourselves and<br />
remember, it is a big old world out there.<br />
Open your eyes, travel beyond London and<br />
maybe come <strong>to</strong> New Zealand some day!<br />
I would like <strong>to</strong> make special mention of<br />
a few people who have impacted my<br />
time at BTG. Big thankyous must go <strong>to</strong><br />
Ms Murray for her ongoing support and<br />
advice as my line manager both as Head<br />
of Department and Healthy <strong>School</strong><br />
Co-ordina<strong>to</strong>r, <strong>to</strong> Mr Desa and all the<br />
Senior Management Team for their<br />
words of wisdom and of course the<br />
Physical Education Team.<br />
I know the department will continue<br />
<strong>to</strong> flourish in the capable hands of Mr<br />
My<strong>to</strong>n and Mr Haywood. I wish Miss<br />
Allen and my replacement all the best in<br />
promoting excellence in girls’ sport and<br />
health.<br />
I have made so many friends on staff<br />
and would like <strong>to</strong> thank them for all<br />
the good times both during lunchtime<br />
conversations and social events. I will<br />
miss you all. I will particularly miss my<br />
current Tu<strong>to</strong>r group - 8JF.<br />
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at<br />
BTG, but now feel it is time <strong>to</strong> return<br />
home <strong>to</strong> my family in New Zealand. Come<br />
February, I will be taking on the role of<br />
Head of Physical Education and Health at<br />
Te Kauwhata College, near Hamil<strong>to</strong>n in<br />
the North Island.<br />
I look forward <strong>to</strong> the new challenges that<br />
lie ahead and intend <strong>to</strong> apply all that I<br />
have learnt during my time at BTG. I wish<br />
the school community every success for<br />
the future.<br />
Ka kite ano (Until I see you again)<br />
—9—
In memory of Emma<br />
At the end of last term, a football contest<br />
was held at the school in memory of<br />
a teacher who died in 2007 in a tragic<br />
accident. Six <strong>So</strong>uth London primary<br />
schools <strong>to</strong>ok part.<br />
Emma Wallace-O’Flaherty, an ex-student<br />
of <strong>Bishop</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Grant</strong> <strong>School</strong>, was a<br />
PE specialist who taught at St Andrew’s<br />
<strong>School</strong> in Polworth Road, Streatham<br />
Common.<br />
Her friend Mr Grehan said: “It was<br />
brilliant, a really good afternoon.<br />
It epi<strong>to</strong>mised Emma.<br />
She would have loved it. It was a<br />
high standard of sport with a warm<br />
atmosphere.”<br />
Emma’s father paid tribute <strong>to</strong> his<br />
daughter at the event.<br />
The <strong>to</strong>urnament was played by girls’ and<br />
boys’ teams from each school, and their<br />
points were added up at the end. It was<br />
won by St Mary’s school in Westgate<br />
Road, Beckenham.<br />
St James The Great school in Windsor<br />
Road, Thorn<strong>to</strong>n Heath, were runners-up.<br />
Other competing schools were<br />
St Andrews, Corpus Christi, St Cyprian’s<br />
and St Mary’s in Crescent Lane, Clapham.<br />
Mr My<strong>to</strong>n was the main organiser of<br />
the <strong>to</strong>urnament, which will now take<br />
place annually.<br />
Winners St Mary’s<br />
Primary <strong>School</strong>s<br />
This term saw <strong>Bishop</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Grant</strong> host<br />
the Primary <strong>School</strong>s Multi-Skills event as<br />
part of the Lambeth SSCO program. The<br />
event was excellently organised by our<br />
SSCO Mr Cox, with four primary schools<br />
bringing over a hundred pupils <strong>to</strong> take<br />
part in the day.<br />
The atmosphere was excellent. We are<br />
looking forward <strong>to</strong> hosting another event<br />
like this in the near future.<br />
We will continue <strong>to</strong> make sure that all<br />
students have the chance <strong>to</strong> experience<br />
sporting activities outside the<br />
curriculum. We would like <strong>to</strong> thank those<br />
students who attend extra curricular<br />
clubs and represent our teams and also<br />
the teaching and non-teaching staff who<br />
help and support us <strong>to</strong> ensure we can<br />
attend our fixtures.<br />
—10—
SPORTS REPORT<br />
Mr My<strong>to</strong>n writes:<br />
Football<br />
We have already played fourteen games<br />
across all year groups, with mixed results.<br />
All years remain in the <strong>So</strong>uth London Cup.<br />
A special mention must go <strong>to</strong> the Year<br />
9 team who have s<strong>to</strong>od out as the most<br />
impressive team so far this year, with<br />
excellent performances from Viv <strong>So</strong>loman,<br />
Andreas Gergiou and Joseph Haddad.<br />
Rugby<br />
Rugby is back at <strong>Bishop</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Grant</strong> after<br />
an absence of nearly twenty-five years.<br />
Since the turn of the year I have been<br />
working with a small group of students <strong>to</strong><br />
develop rugby within the school.<br />
Cross Country<br />
Our fantastic performances continued<br />
in this event when Mr Haywood <strong>to</strong>ok<br />
the BTG Athletics Team <strong>to</strong> the Lambeth<br />
Cross Country Championship at Brockwell<br />
Park. We again <strong>to</strong>ok home the majority<br />
of medals available, just like last year,<br />
with excellent performances from twice<br />
nominated Sports Valedic<strong>to</strong>rian Maria<br />
Kavanagh and Year 9’s Viv <strong>So</strong>loman, both<br />
winning their overall competitions.<br />
The winning boys’ team: John-Paul Ennis, Abel Tekle,<br />
<strong>Thomas</strong> Hamer<strong>to</strong>n and Ashley Sullivan at the back,<br />
Chris<strong>to</strong>u Ellis, Andrew Glazebrook, Viv <strong>So</strong>loman-<br />
Otabor, Andre Bingham and Arun Butler-Kowlessar at<br />
the front.<br />
Numbers have slowly risen, with great<br />
assistance from new Geography teacher<br />
Mr Melson and teaching assistant<br />
Mr Egelnick we have reached a point<br />
where we are able <strong>to</strong> compete.<br />
We played our first game this term against<br />
Dunraven at London S<strong>to</strong>rms ground in<br />
Croydon and although we suffered a<br />
22-0 defeat the boys learnt a lot from<br />
the experience and are already looking<br />
forward <strong>to</strong> the next match.<br />
We still need more players: interested<br />
students should come <strong>to</strong> training every<br />
Wednesday after school.<br />
Netball<br />
This year has seen an increase in netball<br />
matches, thanks <strong>to</strong> the hard work of<br />
Miss Allen. The Year 10 and 11 team beat<br />
Dunraven 7–1 and just lost a close-fought<br />
match against St Martins 2–1. A special<br />
mention must go <strong>to</strong> Deborah Ibi<strong>to</strong>ye, Ama<br />
Dickson and Kathleen Lissenburg, whose<br />
dedication and strong skills have been a<br />
highlight of our season so far.<br />
The Year 7 team have been impressive,<br />
losing narrowly <strong>to</strong> St Martin’s Year 9<br />
team and comprehensively beating local<br />
rivals Dunraven 9-1 and 16-1. Well done<br />
<strong>to</strong> all the Year 7 girls especially our Goal<br />
Attack Ewa Kunitz and our Centre<br />
Ola Kondracka.<br />
Badmin<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Congratulations <strong>to</strong> Badmin<strong>to</strong>n team who<br />
comprehensively beat Lambeth Academy<br />
at a <strong>to</strong>urnament organised by Miss Prime<br />
and hosted by <strong>Bishop</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Grant</strong>.<br />
Viv <strong>So</strong>lomon and Maria<br />
Kavanagh were overall<br />
cross country winners.<br />
Maria <strong>to</strong>ld Nuntius:<br />
“I knew I had it in me,<br />
so when I came first I<br />
was over the moon.”<br />
Goodbye<br />
Miss Prime<br />
The PE department would like <strong>to</strong> say<br />
goodbye <strong>to</strong> Miss Prime who will be<br />
leaving us at Christmas <strong>to</strong> return home<br />
<strong>to</strong> New Zealand.<br />
For over six years, Miss Prime has<br />
worked hard <strong>to</strong> help raise the profile of<br />
PE and Health within our school. She<br />
will be sorely missed.<br />
Good luck and stay in <strong>to</strong>uch!<br />
—11—
Elephants stick <strong>to</strong>gether<br />
In November, Peer men<strong>to</strong>rs Amy Dutch<br />
and Isabella Perales were part of a<br />
team which interviewed MP Angela<br />
Smith, who is Minister of State for the<br />
Third Sec<strong>to</strong>r. She was asked about her<br />
own experiences of men<strong>to</strong>ring and<br />
befriending.<br />
Her response was: “I have seen the<br />
difference men<strong>to</strong>rs and befrienders<br />
make within communities.<br />
It helps people in so many different ways<br />
– most importantly by giving people<br />
new confidence and new strength. With<br />
men<strong>to</strong>ring and befriending you can<br />
really turn lives around and make a huge<br />
difference.”<br />
“She was more nervous than we were,”<br />
Amy <strong>to</strong>ld Nuntius. “At one stage in<br />
the interview, which was done<br />
along with two peer men<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
from another school, we<br />
asked her how she would<br />
sum up the point of<br />
men<strong>to</strong>ring in just<br />
two words.<br />
She chose the two words ‘empathy’ and<br />
‘understanding’, and these were stuck on<br />
<strong>to</strong> the elephant.<br />
Everyone then stuck on their chosen<br />
words, which included ‘motivating’ and<br />
‘life line’.”<br />
Isobella added, “We were pho<strong>to</strong>graphed<br />
with an elephant, which was part of a<br />
kind of herd of sculptures.<br />
There were fifteen of them, with names<br />
like Rainbow, Billy and S<strong>to</strong>mp.<br />
They were created in schools across<br />
England and helped <strong>to</strong> launch Anti-<br />
Bullying Week. We were at the<br />
National Conference of the Men<strong>to</strong>ring<br />
and Befriending Foundation.<br />
Elephants were used because they stick<br />
<strong>to</strong>gether when threatened.”<br />
More than two hundred and fifty<br />
men<strong>to</strong>ring and befriending policy<br />
makers, funders, practitioners,<br />
commissioners and leaders attended the<br />
conference.<br />
The national art exhibition ‘An Elephant<br />
in the Room’ was at the London Zoo<br />
throughout Anti-Bullying Week.<br />
Prepare for News Day<br />
BBC News <strong>School</strong> Report is a project<br />
which helps teenagers across the UK<br />
<strong>to</strong> make and broadcast news. Students<br />
get the opportunity <strong>to</strong> develop their<br />
journalistic skills using resources which<br />
are available on the <strong>School</strong> Report<br />
website at<br />
www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport<br />
In March each year, the BBC runs a<br />
UK-wide News Day when all student<br />
reports will be published on websites and<br />
simultaneously linked <strong>to</strong> the BBC.<br />
Headteacher: Mr L Desa BSc<br />
<strong>Bishop</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Grant</strong> <strong>School</strong>,<br />
Belltrees Grove, London, SW16 2HY<br />
The project will help those taking part<br />
with the knowledge and skills they need<br />
in many subjects including Citizenship,<br />
Drama, English and Geography.<br />
The main aim, of course, is <strong>to</strong> interest<br />
young people in news of all sorts. It is also<br />
an opportunity for students <strong>to</strong> inform a<br />
real audience, via BBC programmes and<br />
web pages, about the s<strong>to</strong>ries which are<br />
important <strong>to</strong> them.<br />
For further information, see Ms Turvey.<br />
Telephone 020 8769 3294 Fax 020 8769 4917<br />
website: www.btg-secondary.lambeth.sch.uk<br />
Email: headteacher@btg-secondary.lambeth.sch.uk<br />
Edited and produced by Richard Wilcocks. Enquiries <strong>to</strong> Meerkat Publications and Design 07940 476455<br />
—12—