Newsletter April 2009
This issue
Welcome to the April 2009 edition of Saint Paul's Academy's newsletter!
In this issue:
- Choir trip to Dublin
- Year 10 play football in Spain
- Booster classes for Year 11
- New buildings on schedule
- Making choice in Year 8
- New vocational courses for Year 9
- Inside Justice - a new pilot project
- Improving the school environment
- Lost property
- The Great Feast of Easter
- Important dates
- Holiday dates
- From our football correspondent
Dear Parents and Guardians
“It is always a relief as we return after the February break to find that the days are lengthening and the mornings are getting lighter. This year, after the snow at the beginning of February and the cold spell which followed, it was particularly good to see the brighter weather. However, I would like to thank all members of the school community, in particular the premises staff, for their support in ensuring that the school ran smoothly over this period. In such an old building, very cold weather causes many problems but I’m confident that the situation will be different in the new building.”
Patrick Winston, Principal
Choir trip to Dublin
Whilst snow fell in South East London, the school choir was
singing in Dublin. This is the first time we have ever undertaken
such a venture and it was a phenomenal success.
Twenty nine students and five staff led by Mrs Presencer, our head of music, sang in many different venues including the Guinness Storehouse and Christ Church Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Ireland. Such diverse venues required a wide repertoire which ranged from Mozart's, 'Ave Verum Corpus' to Stevie Wonder's, 'Signed Sealed, Delivered' and also included classics such as 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' and 'Oh Happy Day'.
This required a huge amount of practise but the results were stunning and on several occasions members of the public thought that our students were either professional or a choir school. Look out for the CD which will be available soon.
Year 10 play football in Spain
While the choir were singing in Ireland the Year 10 boys' football team was in Spain enjoying better weather than we were having here and taking part in an international football tournament.
Under the guidance of Mr Innocent, thirty two talented young men competed with the very best Spain could field. Over the five days, the boys trained most mornings and afternoons in the magnificent facilities at Villarreal CF which are in stark contrast to what our boys are used to at Saint Paul's.
In the evenings, the matches were played against local Spanish Academies and, despite exhaustion, our boys did themselves proud winning one game and being narrowly defeated in the other.
The highlight of the trip was meeting the professional players at Villarreal CF especially former Arsenal player, Robert Pires and Spanish international Marcos Senna. Most importantly, however, the accompanying staff reported that the boys were a pleasure to be with and that they were a credit to their families and their school.
Booster classes for Year 11
You will be aware that staff at Saint Paul's Academy are extremely generous when it comes to giving up their own time and this is particularly obvious as far as trips are concerned and also when it comes to providing academic support for students outside lessons.
Help is at hand
In many schools, if a student is struggling or not achieving their potential, the advice given to parents and carers is to employ a private tutor. That has never been our philosophy at Saint Paul's and so we are providing a range of revision and booster classes for students in Year 11.
Extra classes
Many extra classes have already started and students who will benefit from particular sessions have been identified. These sessions will continue until the public examinations are over and I would urge all parents and carers to ensure that their sons and daughters attend all the classes to which they have been invited. There are several key days in the second week of the Easter holidays and I am sure that attendance will be excellent.
This is a wonderful opportunity which will help our students to gain good examination grades.
New buildings on schedule
Progress on the new building is extremely encouraging and, in spite of the bad weather in February, remains on course. Structurally, the building is basically complete and we are now at the really exciting stage of deciding details such as colour schemes and room arrangements. A range of visitors have been to the site and have been extremely impressed with what they have seen; don’t forget that you can view the progress for yourselves by going to the St. Paul’s Academy website and using the webcam. We were particularly pleased to be able show Bishop Pat Lynch around the site when he visited the school recently; he has a very keen interest in the project and is following its progress carefully.
Making choice in Year 8
This is also a very important time of the year for students in Year 8 who are making their option choices. You will by now be very familiar with the fact that our students make these decisions a year earlier than in most schools and this year for the first time we are offering three different pathways; L, M and N. These pathways all include the core curriculum of Maths, English, Science, RE and PE but they then go on to offer different ranges of vocational, academic and practical subjects; in this way the needs of all students, whatever their ability, are met.
New vocational courses for Year 9
We are also pleased to be able to offer a new range of courses to some students in Year 9 students who are looking for vocational pathways.
These courses, which include Diplomas, BTEC and Young Apprentice Programmes, are being delivered borough wide, are work related and lead to a range of qualifications with some being worth the equivalent of 7 GCSEs A* - C. Courses available cover a huge variety of subjects which include Performing Arts, Vehicle Maintenance, Hair and Beauty and Building Craft and Construction.
Inside Justice - a new pilot project
As you will know, we are always pleased to be involved with initiatives which give our students a better understanding of the world we live in and for which, one day, they will be responsible. We were therefore delighted to be asked to pilot a project called 'Inside Justice' which aims to give 'everyone, including young people, the chance to look behind the scenes of the Criminal Justice Service to see how justice is delivered'. The campaign was organised by Her Majesty's Court Service; the Crown Prosecution Service; Probation; the Prison Service and the Youth Justice Service together with the Magistracy and Victim Support. A major focus of this project is to make it clear to young people that the justice system is there to support them.
So, on Friday, 26th February, a group of Year 8 students went to Bromley Magistrates' Court to take place in a 'mock trial'. Each of the students was allocated a part, ranging from Magistrate to Victim. The scenario was a mugging which took place in Greenwich Park and it was the duty of all parties concerned to establish the guilt or otherwise of the suspect. Our students loved this activity, in fact, two of the Magistrates said it was the best day out they had ever had. Those involved through HMCS were also extremely impressed and, in an email to our police liaison officer, the organiser of the event described our students as fantastic. This was an extremely valuable experience for everyone involved and we will continue to take part as the project progresses.
Improving the school environment
'Drop-In' Health centre update
You will recall from the last newsletter that we are in the process of setting up a School based 'Drop-In' Health Centre. We intend making this service available to students from the beginning of next term and the facility will be staffed by our own school nurse and two of our learning mentors, who will be upstairs in 'The House' after school on Wednesdays. The idea of a 'Drop-in Centre' is that students are able to access a service where they can discuss issues they may not want to raise with their parents or with teachers. Staff will be able to discuss issues and give advice on a variety of situations and there will be workshops arranged on such topics as smoking cessation. Over the next term or so, we will be focussing on various topics such as diet, alcohol, mental health and exercise so that we can support our young people in every way possible.
Smoking cannabis warning
This very much relates to a situation which my senior staff have had to deal with since half term which involves students being in possession of illegal substances and, in particular, cannabis. As you will be aware, cannabis has recently been upgraded from a class 'C' to a class 'B' drug which indicates how it is seen in the eyes of the law. Students who regularly smoke cannabis cannot expect to be able to achieve their full potential as the effects can be long lasting and indeed there is now clear evidence to suggest a link between smoking cannabis and mental illness later in life. Students who are smoking cannabis can also disrupt the learning of others because the teacher is having to deal with the unpredictable and irrational behaviour of a minority.
As always, we have had the full support of the police on this issue and they helped us identify those students who were most likely to be in possession of or using cannabis in school. The police have the right to search young people, without parental consent, if they have any reason to believe that they are in possession of drugs or offensive weapons and we will ask the police to search any student who could be a danger to our community. Sadly, we have also recently found a student who had an offensive weapon in her school bag and the matter is being taken very seriously. The law is very clear in stating that it is our job to provide an environment in which both adults and students feel safe and we can not fulfil this obligation if there are drugs or weapons on the premises.
The importance of up-to-date contact information
In order for us to ensure that your sons and daughters are safe at all times, it is also vitally important that we have up to date contact details for all students. We have recently had situations where it has proved impossible to contact a parent or carer in an emergency and obviously this puts the school in a very difficult position. We fully appreciate that people can not guarantee their whereabouts at all times but it is essential that we have a range of numbers where a parent, carer or their representative can be contacted. Please inform us if you move or if telephone numbers change and please be aware that students don’t always pass on messages; sometimes it is better if an adult contacts the school directly.
Lost property
We are also increasingly bemused by the amount of lost property which accumulates in the Reception Office. This includes blazers, shoes, jumpers and PE kits; none of these items are cheap and it seems bizarre that students either don’t notice they are missing or else fail to look for them in the obvious place. We also have an increasing number of students who are not wearing full school uniform, with trainers for boys and canvas gym shoes for girls being a particular problem.
There is obviously a clear link between the lost property and the lack of school uniform and I would ask all parents and carers to ensure that their sons and daughters return after the Easter break wearing the correct uniform. Full details of the uniform can be found in the planner but if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the school.
The Great Feast of Easter
As this term comes to an end, we approach the most important time in the Church’s year; the great feast of Easter when through Holy Week from death to life and from despair to hope. For Christians, the triumph of Christ over death means that death itself is destroyed; death has no power to hurt and need not be feared. There is a life beyond and, even though there are times when it is easy to forget this, Easter gives us a chance to focus and reflect on this great truth.
Important dates
| Wednesday, 29th April 2009 | Year 7 Consultation Evening |
|---|---|
| Monday, 11th May 2009 | Year 10 to visit the Imperial War Museum |
| Friday, 15th May 2009 | - Year 10 to visit the Imperial War Museum - Year 11 Leavers' Banquet |
| Thursday, 21st May 2009 | Gaelic Football tour to Ireland |
| Thursday, 4th June 2009 | INSET Day |
| Tuesday, 16th June 2009 | Induction Evening for new students |
| Monday, 22nd June 2009 | Science module tests |
| Tuesday, 30th June 2009 | Celebration of the School Feast Day |
Holiday dates
| Easter Holidays | Thursday 9th April 2009 to Friday 24th April 2009 |
|---|---|
| Summer Term | Monday 27th April 2009 to Friday 17th July 2009 |
| May Day Holiday | Monday 4th May 2009 |
| Summer Half term | Monday 25th May 2009 to Friday 29th May 2009 |
| Autumn Term | Tuesday 8th September 2009 (Year 7 only return) Wednesday 9th September 2009 (Year 8 to Year 11 return) to Friday 18th December 2009 |
| Autumn Half Term | Monday 26th October 2009 to Friday 30th October 2009 |
From our football correspondent - third chapter
Football teams throughout the school have taken part in a number of fixtures including the National Cup, the Kent Cup and the District Cup.
The complete set of results to date is:
Year 7
| Opponents | Competition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Trinity | Friendly | Drew 1-1 |
| Harvey GS | Friendly | Lost 0-2 |
| Ravenswood | Friendly | Lost 2-5 |
| Hayesbrook | Friendly | Lost 2-5 |
| Coopers | Friendly | Lost 0-3 |
| City of London 'A' | Friendly | Lost 2-5 |
| City of London 'B' | Friendly | Lost 2-3 |
| Kemnal TC | National Cup | Lost 2-3 |
| Cornwallis | Kent Cup | Won 3-0 AET |
| Saint Columba's | Friendly | Drew 3-3 |
| Aylesford | Kent Cup | Lost 0-3 |
| Bexley GS | Friendly | Won 5-1 |
| Bishop Challoner | Friendly | Won 5-0 |
| Kelsey Park | Friendly | Won 3-1 |
| Ravenswood | District Cup | Drew 2-2 |
| City of London 'A' | Friendly | Drew 2-2 |
| City of London 'B' | Friendly | Lost 0-2 |
| Kemnal TC | District Cup | Lost 2-3 AET |
| Saint Dunstan's College | Friendly | Won 3-0 |
Goalscorers: T. Olagunju 15, J. Williamson 7, R. President 5, R.Bambara 4, C. McMahon 2, E. Nihill 1, H. Verdades 1, M.Gambanga 1, A. Williams 1, H. Cottrell 1, T. Yala-Sabua 1, Own Goal 1.
Year 8
| Opponents | Competition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Trinity | Friendly | Won 5-3 |
| Hurstmere | Friendly | Won 3-1 |
| Harvey GS | Friendly | Won 16-0 |
| Bishop Justus | Friendly | Won 8-2 |
| Kemnal TC | Friendly | Won 7-2 |
| Ravenswood | Friendly | Won 5-0 |
| Hayes | Friendly | Won 4-1 |
| Valley Park | Kent Cup | Won 16-0 |
| Coopers | Friendly | Won 7-1 |
| Rainham Mark | Kent Cup | Won 2-1 |
| Bishop Challoner | Friendly | Won 4-1 |
| Erith | Kent Cup | Won 3-1 AET |
| City of London 'A' | Friendly | Won 6-1 |
| City of London 'B' | Friendly | Won 6-0 |
| Wilmington GS | Kent Cup | Won 5-2 |
| BETHS GS | Kent Cup | Lost 1-4 |
| City of London 'A' | Friendly | Won 6-1 |
| City of London 'B' | Friendly | Lost 4-5 |
| Hayesbrook | Friendly | Won 6-2 |
| Bishop Challoner | Friendly | Won 9-1 |
| Kelsey Park | Friendly | Won 17-0 |
| Bishop Justus | District Cup | Won 14-2 |
| Saint Dunstan's College | Friendly | Won 5-2 |
Goalscorers: T. Adeloye 33, B. Owusu-Ansah 28, W. Orimolusi 27, D. President 12, O. Isichei 11, A. Baptiste 7, C. Walcott-Blunt 7, B. Anidugbe 5, B. Holdsworth 5, C. Baillie 4, T.Pemu 4, T. Esan 4, J. Tshibangu 3, S. Cassells 3, N. Davies 1, H. O’Hara 1, L. Ijeh 1, Own Goals 4.
Year 9
| Opponents | Competition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Trinity | Friendly | Won 3-1 |
| Harvey GS | Friendly | Won 2-0 |
| Langdon Park | National Cup | Lost 1-4 |
| Ravensbourne | Friendly | Won 6-2 |
| Ravenswood | Friendly | Won 5-3 |
| Tunbridge Wells GS | Kent Cup | Won 8-2 |
| Coopers | Friendly | Won 4-1 |
| Ravenswood | Kent Cup | Lost 3-7 |
| City of London 'A' | Friendly | Lost 3-5 |
| City of London 'B' | Friendly | Lost 3-6 |
| Saint Columba's | Friendly | Drew 2-2 |
| City of London 'A' | Friendly | Won 5-2 |
| City of London 'B' | Friendly | Won 3-1 |
| Bishop Challoner | Friendly | Won 3-2 |
| Colfe's 'A' | Friendly | Lost 1-6 |
| Colfe's 'B' | Friendly | Lost 2-3 |
| Kelsey Park | Friendly | Won 7-4 |
| Ravenswood | District Cup | Won 2-0 |
| Saint Dunstan's College | Friendly | Lost 1-2 |
| Colfe's | District Cup | Won 2-1 |
| City of London | District Cup | Won 4-2 |
Goalscorers: N. Eka 21, G. Murphy 12, K. Brown 7, K. Okogwu 6, D. Conteh 4, A. Rufino 4, J. Olufade 4, K. Sharp 2, J. Garrett 1, V. Ejaria 1, H. Hill 1, D. Fernandes1, K. Makinde 1, D. Bailey-Pioli 1, K. Akande 1, Y. Adyemi 1, JC. Hines 1, Own Goal 1.
Year 10
| Opponents | Competition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey GS | Friendly | Won 11-1 |
| Forest Hill | National Cup | Lost 2-8 |
| Ravensbourne | Friendly | Won 2-0 |
| Ravenswood | Friendly | Won 3-2 |
| Hayes | Friendly | Won 5-0 |
| Hurstmere | Kent Cup | Lost 3-5 |
| Saint Columba's | Friendly | Won 6-2 |
| City of London 'A' | Friendly | Drew 2-2 |
| City of London 'B' | Friendly | Won 4-1 |
| Bishop Challoner | Friendly | Won 6-2 |
| City of London 'A' | Friendly | Won 4-2 |
| City of London 'B' | Friendly | Won 6-0 |
| Colfe's 'A' | Friendly | Lost 1-2 |
| Colfe's 'B' | Friendly | Won 7-0 |
| Bishop Challoner | Friendly | Won 10-3 |
| Coopers TC | District Cup | Won 5-1 |
| Saint Dunstan's College | Friendly | Won 3-0 |
Goalscorers: M. Brobbey 15, A. Wright 12, O. Odebunmi 10, L. Shobande 6, A.Marshall-Peacock 5, J. Driscoll 4, L. Akanni 4, R. Minett 4, E. Bakarr 3, C. Grant-Regis 3, L. Obembe 3, K. Simms 3, A. Swain 2, S. Lingwood 2, A. Obilaja 1, N. Nartey 1, N. Eka 1, K. Idedevbo 1.
Year 11
| Opponents | Competition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Holmesdale TC | Kent Cup | Won 4-1 |
| Kemnal TC | Kent Cup | Lost 1-2 |
| Saint Columba's | Friendly | Lost 1-6 |
| City of London | Friendly | 2-4 |
| Darrick Wood | District Cup | Won 5-2 |
Goalscorers: M. Fabiyi 3, J. Baptiste 2, J. McGilly 2, J. Garry-Gillespie 1, O. Odebunmi 1, J. Redfern 1, O. Akande 1, M. Kolawole 1, Own Goal 1.
Tour of Spain
| Opponents | Competition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Almera | (U13) | Won 6-1 |
| Almera | (U15) | Won 3-0 |
| Villarreal FC | (U13) | Lost 0-3 |
| Villarreal FC | (U15) | Lost 0-1 |
Goalscorers: C. Walcott-Blunt 2, T. Adeloye 2, O. Isichei 1, W. Orimolusi 1, G. Inkulu 1, C. Grant-Regis 1, K. Simms 1.
Girls tournaments - Year 7 to 11
| Opponents | Competition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Hayes | Kent Cup (U16) | Lost 1-4 |
| Bexley GS | Kent Cup (U14) | Lost 4-5 |
| Bexleyheath | Kent Cup (U13) | Lost 0-11 |
| Maplesden Noakes | Friendly (U13) | Lost 0-3 |
| The John Roan | Friendly (U15) | Lost 0-5 |
Goalscorers: A. Light 2, H. Goodes 1, L. Smith 1, L. Trieu 1.
Playing record 2008/2009
| P | W | D | L | F | A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | 19 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 40 | 41 |
| Year 8 | 23 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 160 | 33 |
| Year 9 | 21 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 70 | 56 |
| Year 10 | 17 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 80 | 31 |
| Year 11 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 15 |
| Girls | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 28 |
| Tour | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 5 |
| Total | 94 | 58 | 5 | 31 | 377 | 209 |
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