Christmas Newsletter 2010

newsletter

A Specialist College for the Arts & Applied Learning

Christmas 2010

S T M A R Y ’ S C AT H O L I C C O L L E G E

Photo courtesy of Matthew Davies, Year 10

RR EHEARSALS are now well underway for our EHEARSALS are now well underway for our major Arts production of 2011…major Arts production of 2011…

the footthe foot--tapping hit musical tapping hit musical Back to the 80sBack to the 80s. . Be sure to book your seat for the fourBe sure to book your seat for the four--night run night run in February. Tickets go on sale early next term!in February. Tickets go on sale early next term!

Coming soon to a Coming soon to a theatre near you!theatre near you!

N O gifts could be more wanted or needed than those in the carefully wrapped shoeboxes which left St

Mary’s in this special season of goodwill. Hundreds of shoeboxes filled with toys, trinkets and sweets are now on their way to children across the world as part of the annual Operation Christmas Child Appeal. Students in St Mary’s and our partner primary schools have again made a magnificent effort to send a little Christmas spirit to some of those who need it most. And our annual hamper appeal to help members of our local community has also been a great success.

Thank you to all

who donated, and a happy,

holy Christmas to all!

THEY CAME , THEY SAW, THEY SANG LIVE!!! See Page 5

Year 7 students with some of this year’s shoeboxes

SS EE inside for EE inside for Mamma Mamma Mia!Mia! and and Fairytale Fairytale

FrenzyFrenzy picture specials. picture specials. Plus much, much more..!Plus much, much more..!

It’s farewell to Canon, It’s farewell to Canon, and welcome to our and welcome to our new Chair of Governorsnew Chair of Governors S T MARY’S bids a sad farewell to Canon Brendan Hoban, who has been our

Chair of Governors for 19 years. He is retiring and will take a well-earned rest, while our new Chair, Mr Tony Mossman, takes over the demanding role of chairing the many Governors’ meetings and overseeing the running of the college. Headteacher Mr Tony Boyle said: ‘Canon Hoban has done an amazing job, and I would like to express my deep gratitude. The role of Chair of Governors can be extremely challenging at times but Canon has always provided a safe, guiding hand. St Mary’s has benefited from his great wisdom. We are very sorry to lose him, but wish him well in his retirement.’ Canon Hoban also retired from his job as parish priest of Sacred Heart Church, Moreton, earlier this year. Mr Mossman has been a Foundation Governor for 10 years and has been a va lued member of numerous committees. He retired in 2006 after 43 years in central and local government ~ including 27 years working for Merseyside Police. Mr Mossman, a parishioner of English Martyrs’ Church in Wallasey Village, said: ’I am delighted to take up this appointment and to be working with Mr Boyle and everyone at St Mary’s.’ He is married to Mrs Christine Mossman, who is a learning mentor in our Bosco Centre. If you have any concerns you wish to bring up with Mr Mossman, please email: [email protected] or ring the Clerk to the Governors, Mrs Jenny Gallagher, on 0151 639 7531.

T HREE St Mary’s students became stars themselves when they hosted the Wirral Star

Employer Awards ceremony at New Brighton Floral Pavilion. The annual event pays tribute to companies who have helped young people across the borough prepare for the world of work. Bromborough-based training company Life Choice, Atlas Fire and Security of Wallasey, West Kirby Library and Wallasey-based fashion designers Repooc Couture were all voted Star winners by Wirral teenagers. Guest speaker Mark Nuttall of Unilever, whose company employs 80 apprentices, said: ‘Creating work positions for young people can mean so much. It really does change people’s lives.’ The evening was organised by Wirral’s 14-19 Partnership Team.

Star hosts of Star hosts of Wirral’s Wirral’s Employer AwardsEmployer Awards

Pictured at the Wirral Employer Awards 2010: Sixth Formers Leon Search-Kearney, Jamie Toner and Joe Callaghan

Headteacher Mr Tony Boyle welcomes Mr Tony Mossman, our new Chair of Governors

Canon Hoban

A mother’s prideA mother’s pride

Gee Walker’s words of inspiration to St Mary’sGee Walker’s words of inspiration to St Mary’s

A MOTHER who publicly forgave her son’s killers told hundreds of St Mary’s students: ‘Always strive to be the best you can be.’

Gee Walker, mother of murdered student Anthony Walker, addressed a hushed sports hall as Guest of Honour at our annual Presentation Evening. She told an audience of 1700 students, parents and staff that her son was ‘living proof’ that one person can change society. She said: ‘One person can affect a family. A family can affect a community. And a community can affect a nation. My son is living proof. He had the makings of a great man.’ Turning to the students she said: ‘To all you achievers, I want to say I am proud of you as a mother. Always strive to be the best you can be.’ Mrs Walker made national headlines when she refused to hate or condemn the two youths responsible for the death of her son at a Huyton bus stop in 2005. Before presenting prizes and certificates she spoke of Anthony’s legacy, the Anthony Walker Foundation, the Liverpool charity set up in his memory. Mrs

Walker said her son had been an ordinary boy, raised by ‘Godly principles’ who worked hard at his studies and had a part time job at McDonald’s. He cared greatly for his family, especially his sisters, and once gave his earnings to help her buy a better car. At the time of Anthony’s death, Mrs Walker made a much-publicised statement of forgiveness. She said: ‘My son died as a consequence of hate. This is why I cannot hate ~ if I hate, then I am a victim also. I believe that where there is life there is hope. We must never give up trying to make the world a better place. Love, compassion and forgiveness can overcome so much. I know this is hard, but it is what I believe’. Headteacher Mr Tony Boyle said: ‘It was a great honour and privilege to welcome Gee Walker to our Presentation Evening. Her amazing spirit and compassion is an inspiration to all the students and staff of St Mary’s.’

SEE PAGES 20~24 FOR FULL PRIZEWINNERS

S INCE Anthony’s death at the age of 18, the Walker family

has worked to create in his memory a legacy of peace and reconciliation. Gee and her daughter Dominique have travelled widely to spread their message of racial harmony, and the organisation they founded in Liverpool now works with young people through sport, music, and education. The International Slavery Museum, Liverpool, also houses The Anthony Walker Education Centre.

An ordinary Liverpool family had a dream.

The Anthony Walker Foundation was born.

As a token of thanks Mrs Walker was presented with a mosaic of the famous school portrait of Anthony

Mrs Walker with some of the prizewinners

M ILO McAleny tells a good tale...but that’s by no means the end of the story! Her entry for the

World Book Day 2011 Short Story Competition, At School, was judged to be the best in St Mary’s and will be entered into the national competition along with stories by fellow Year 8 students Nathan Corrigan, Shimal Némat and Katharine Quinn. Above: Milo is congratulated by English teacher Miss Girven.

‘M AGIC’ weather on the Wirral Way again made the day a pleasure for our Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award hopefuls. For 19 years running, the November walk has been graced with good weather, some sunshine and no showers! The Year 9

group, pictured above, walked the 13 miles from West Kirby to Hooton as a taster for future tougher trials!

A T last, an easy way to pay for students’

lunches, trips and performance tickets! Parents can now log on to St Mary’s website, follow the easy instructions and pay directly, without the need to hunt for change and the worry of sending large amounts of cash into college. ParentPay is a safe and secure web payment service that accepts credit and debit card payments, or cash payments at any PayPoint

in local retailers or the Post Office. Parents with computer access can even check that their child is making healthy choices for lunch! Log-in details were sent out by letter earlier this term, but you can get a reminder by emailing Bursar Mrs Sheila Moyes: [email protected]

Alternatively, please ring her on 0151 201 4502 (direct line). For more details go to:

www.stmaryscollege.wirral.sch.ukwww.stmaryscollege.wirral.sch.uk

Success Success story for Milostory for Milo

‘Magic’ weather on the Wirral Way‘Magic’ weather on the Wirral Way

On the button!On the button!

T HEY wanted. They wished. And they got! It was the day Christmas came early for hundreds of St Mary’s students.

Top boy band The Wanted arrived in our college theatre to deafening screams….and delighted us with an impromptu performance of their hits with the help of Sixth Formers Rachel Wickham-Jones and Alice Budworth. The visit was part of the band’s Live and Lost with BlackBerry tour for Channel 4 in which they had to make their own way from Dover to Leeds with only their BlackBerries and their fans to help them. When Rachel contacted the band on Facebook, they took up her offer of calling at St Mary’s to help raise money for our sister school in Nigeria. She said: ‘It’s just been incredible. I can hardly describe it. The boys are amazing. We love them so much!’ Irish band member Siva Kaneswaran said how beautifully the girls sang during a quick rehearsal of their hits ‘All Time Low’ and ‘Heart Vacancy’. He added: ‘It reminded me of how we were when we started out. It’s really nice to help them raise the money for their sister school’. The girls plan to raffle signed items and photographs to support Maryland School, Chito, Benue State, Nigeria, where 450 students are taught in overcrowded conditions with few or no educational materials.

Left: A special moment for Hollie Brook and band member Max George

Filming with Jennifer Skeggs, Rebecca McGarry, Rachel Wickham-Jones and Alice Budworth

First St Nary’s Theatre, then the following week, The X Factor studio!

Autographed: a St Mary’s prospectus to raise funds for charity

Y EAR 8 students have used their skill and judgement to make a ‘snap’ decision to help our partner school in Nigeria. With

Liverpool University student Maria Johnson they created four unique matching pair games which will aid learning at Maryland Secondary School, Chito, Benue State. The ’Snap’ games are themed for flags of World Cup teams, Marvel Comics superheroes, Sponge Bob characters and Premiership team badges. Maria, who left St Mary’s Sixth Form two years ago, is studying for a degree in Sociology and has been working with our Bosco Centre as part of her qualification.

ALL IN THE GAME TO HELP OUR PARTNER SCHOOL IN NIGERIA: Maria and the Year 8 students.

WE CAN FIX IT! St Mary’s students at Wirral Met College, Twelve Quays campus. The course offers a BTEC qualification in Motor Vehicle Studies

Game of snap for AfricaGame of snap for Africa E LYSE Bennett’s grandfather Peter has made a special

gift to St Mary’s English Department...the entire DVD collection of Shakespeare’s plays, as screened by the BBC. Mr Bennett, a retired Vauxhall worker, would like as many students as possible to benefit from the valuable discs. Elyse’s English teacher Mrs Angela Braid said: ‘We are delighted to receive such a wonderful gift, and I can promise we will make very good use of them’.

Year 10’s Elyse Bennett and (inset)grandfather Peter

The play’s the thingThe play’s the thing

We saw We saw the the Pope!Pope!

Welcome to our new ChaplainWelcome to our new Chaplain A VERY warm welcome to our new Chaplain, Mr Lenny McEvoy, who has joined

St Mary’s staff. Lenny ~ as he prefers to be known ~ is now a central part of the spiritual life of the college, organising the prayer programme for student and staff assemblies and running the many retreat days for Years 7 to 13. Lenny brings a wealth of experience to the job. He worked for Merseyside Police before becoming a lawyer, specialising in commercial property law. He then trained and worked as a teacher of RE and Politics before joining the Youth Ministry of the Holy Ghost Fathers in Salford. Lenny, who is married to Kerry, has two children, Louis aged 14 and Ava, 10, and lives in Cheshire. He said: ‘I am very much enjoying being able to get to know everyone at St Mary’s, and I hope people know that my door is always open. I think my job is about supporting both students and teaching staff and providing one more pair of sympathetic ears.’

P OPE Benedict is really cool ~ that’s the official verdict of St

Mary’s students who travelled to see him at a special rally in Twickenham. Ten students and our College Chaplain, Mr Lenny McEvoy, gave up a night’s sleep to arrive early at St Mary’s University College where they witnessed first hand the pontiff’s address to the young people of Britain. The sun shone on the 3,500-

s t r o n g c r o w d and the e v e n t was crowned by music, song and the Pope’s words to the young. He invited them to become ‘saints of the 21st Century’. He said: ‘When I invite you to become saints, I am asking you not to be content with second best.’ The Pope also paid tribute to the ‘outstanding contribution’ made by those who devoted their lives to teaching and education. Mr McEvoy said: ‘It was a truly inspirational occasion, a very special day for us all.’

‘I invite ‘I invite you to you to become become saints’saints’

Pope Benedict greets the crowds

COOL POPE: Emma Moran and Shay Collins at the rally

College Chaplain Mr Lenny McEvoy and St Mary’s students who travelled to Twickenham

Chaplain Mr Lenny McEvoy

S T MARY’S caretaker Dave Grimes swapped his usual duties around our college for a long and

winding road in the hot and dusty mountains of Spain...all to raise money for Claire House Children’s Hospice. As one of the oldest competitors in the Al Andalus Trail, he proved how tough he is by completing the famous event over five gruelling days, and also helped to raise £700 with friend and co-trekker Carl Joyce. Sixty-year-old Dave said: ‘The camaraderie on the trail was amazing. We had a really good laugh every night. It was very tough going, but the days were more about mental strength than physical strength.’ Dave has kept himself at the peak of fitness by regular cycling and running, and is no stranger to physical challenges. As a young man, he was a regular soldier with the 3rd Royal Green Jackets for 10 years, and saw active service in Northern Ireland several times.

Mr Archer raises £1,800 for Mr Archer raises £1,800 for charity in epic cycle ridecharity in epic cycle ride

Journey’s endJourney’s end

s ADDLE sore but triumphant, Mr Colin Archer parked his trusty bike at John O’Groats after cycling the full length of Britain to

raise money for one of his favourite charities. It was an epic achievement for the ICT teacher who runs St Mary’s Youth Club and organises our Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. He pedalled a thousand miles from Land’s End in Cornwall, taking 17 days to complete the famous journey and raise £1,800 for Hope and Homes for Children which finds families for orphans in Africa and Eastern Europe. Mr Archer has written a highly entertaining blog about his experiences en route, which chronicles many interesting encounters. In his first entry Mr Archer,

well known on D of E expeditions for his careful preparation, writes: ‘At Land’s End I felt like Stevie G waiting in the tunnel, anxious to get on with the game. After the compulsory photos, and fuelled by a full pirate’s breakfast at Penzance, I set off. I’d done all the preparation, everything was in order, except I’d forgotten my cycling gloves!’ Since the gloves are essential equipment for long distance cyclists, he had to stop to buy some. Along the way he pitched his tent at campsites, wherever available, and also stayed at the odd B&B. He took refreshments at many roadside truck stops and cafes, meeting a variety of characters, and also the many other people doing the Land’s End~John O’Groats journey either the same way or vice versa. His last entry reads: ‘The Glorious Twelfth yesterday – traditionally when the Scottish grouse hunting season starts. I’m wearing all my bright clothes, and trying to look as ungrouselike as I can. Thank you all for your support and for your pledges for Hope and Homes for Children, which is a very worthwhile charity. I cycled along from Wick along the A99, around Sinclair Bay with its sandy beach, past Freswich and rolled into John O’Groats at about 1.30pm. End of the line. Boom! Boom! Job done. Can’t wait to get home.’ Read the rest of Mr Archer’s blog at: www.colarcher.wordpress.com

He did it! Mr Archer at the famous fingerpost which shows the shortest distance of 874 miles to Land’s End

About a third of the way...on the Severn Bridge near Bristol

Taking care in AndaluciaTaking care in Andalucia Mountain top challenge for Dave in Andalucia, Spain

Above and right: Excellent dance and drama was also provided by students from Sacred Heart School, Moreton, and SS Peter & Paul’s, New Brighton

F AIRYTALE Frenzy was the name of our Key Stage 3 pantomime

complete with all the heroes and villains we all know and love...it was an evening of marvellous fun and entertainment…oh yes, it was!

Pointing in One Direction? Maybe some of these Year 7 students will rival The X Factor boy band in a few years’ time...

I T was the day we proved that we’re not averse to making time

for a rhyme, or giving rein to the poetry in our souls (or in books or on the internet!) On National Poetry Day, Betjeman rubbed shoulders with Willy Russell, Shakespeare with D H Lawrence...and many students and staff read out their own original compositions. It was fanciful, it was friendly, it was FUN!

Waxing Waxing lyrical lyrical (again!) for (again!) for Poetry DayPoetry Day

Poets’ Poets’ Corner Corner Picture Picture SpecialSpecial

Page xx

S TUDENT power will change St Mary’s ~

and that’s a promise! Welcome to this year’s newly-elected members of our College Council, who meet regularly to represent the student voice within St Mary’s. The Council was appointed after a week-long election campaign in which every student had the chance to vote. Each year group, from 7~13, has two representatives.

Keeping our own Keeping our own council!council!

‘Spanish ‘Spanish and slush’and slush’

‘I have loads of new ideas.

‘I would love to find a teacher for those who want to learn Spanish. I would also like to get more flavours of slushes, such as cherry bubble gum and Vimto. I am always willing to improve our school!’ Gemma Williams Year 7

‘B EING a Year Rep is about

finding our voice. And believe me, this can be quite a daunting task when you’re new and sitting in a room full of Sixth Formers and Year 10s, but I did this because it matters that we have our say.’ Harry Woltman Year 8

‘I would like to take a major

part in the College Council. I will listen to all your ideas and try my hardest to make sure your requests are put into place. ‘One idea I have is to try to get us more dinner time activities for bad weather.’ Corey Shakeshaft Year 9

‘I can promise you that I will

listen to you and try my best to get your points over to teachers and work together to resolve any issues. ‘I am a very approachable person and I think I can make a change and help you out.’ Elyse Bennett Year 10

‘I will listen to Year 11. You

can rely on me for fresh ideas and dedication, to support and care and represent your views. No one will ever have the passion, aspiration and determination to change our school like I do.’ Shimal Némat Year 11

‘I T’S about honest

leadership. I’ll tell the college council what you want me to tell them and I’ll make sure your concerns are heard. We should be able to look back in July and see the achievements we’ve made together.’ James Ali, Year 12

‘Try my ‘Try my hardest’hardest’

‘Fresh ‘Fresh ideas’ideas’

‘Make a ‘Make a change’change’

Student power: Members of St Mary’s newly-elected College Council

What they said to the electorateWhat they said to the electorate

‘Our voice ‘Our voice matters’matters’

‘Honest ‘Honest leadershipleadership’’

Full List of College Council MembersFull List of College Council Members

YEAR 7: Cameron Nicol, Gemma Williams YEAR 8: Harry Woltman, Anna Hughes YEAR 9: Coery Shakeshaft, Lauryn Dudley YEAR 10: Patrick McDowell, Elyse Bennett YEAR 11: Matthew Hanlon, Shimal Némat YEAR 12: James Ali, Shay Collins YEAR 13: Daniel Platt, Róisín Fattorini

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ALSO STEPPING OUT at our Dance Festival were Alison Clayton

School of Dance, Wallasey School of

Ballet, St Mary’s Strictly Dance and

Move It community dance groups and

Weatherhead School.

Above: Jack’s style wooed the Esquire judges, who included Harrods head of menswear Jason Broderick, international designer Roland Mouret and T4 presenter Jameela Jamil

The style that Jack The style that Jack builtbuilt

F IRST prize should, of course, have gone to Jack, but the actual

winner, who carried off £35,000 worth of prizes in the Harrrods-sponsored competition, was Ross Hancock, right, a 34-year-old head tailor from East London.

S TYLISH Sixth Former Jack Murray has made his mark on the fashion world

within weeks of leaving St Mary’s. The 18-year-old student from Wallasey is one of the three Best Dressed Real Men in Britain 2010, according to Esquire magazine. Jack, who was always noted by teachers and classmates for his unique dress sense, was in Liverpool city centre when he was

stopped and photographed by the Esquire style scouts. He easily made it into the last 12 of the competition before judges voted him third behind a fashion PR guru and a head tailor, both from London...odds heavily loaded against him, in our opinion! Jack, who is currently studying English at Edinburgh University, says his sartorial inspiration is drawn from both ends of the spectrum. ‘On one end there’s the mad professor kind of look, and on the other

a certain Gothicism’ he said. He is a full-blooded advocate of charity shop chic, garnering most of his wardrobe from the bargain rails, and the rest he ‘steals from elderly relations’. Jack will be very much missed for his regular contributions not only to St Mary’s

Newsletter but for his hilarious and memorable performances in every major school production of the last six years, in p a r t i c u l a r D r a c u l a Spectacula, Bugsy Malone, High School Musical and earlier this year, The Wiz.

‘Charity ‘Charity shop shop chic’chic’

Top magazine accolade Top magazine accolade for former studentfor former student

And the winner wasAnd the winner was

New New fashion fashion sense for sense for Sixth FormSixth Form

S T MARY’S Sixth Formers have developed new fashion sense

this term with the introduction of smart office wear as their official dress code. The corridors of St Mary’s have been filled with student s in Years 12 and 13 who are now discovering a world without denim and trainers! It is lovely to see them so well-dressed and ready for study, and it is ideal preparation for their future careers.

Jack as Ryan in last year’s production of High School Musical

Pink Pink jinksjinks

T HE whole of St Mary’s turned bright pink with pride as students and staff raised a

mighty £1,072 for breast cancer charities! First there was a week-long sale of pink items at Science teacher Mrs Sandra Nettleton’s stall on the M1, with everything on offer from pink pens to fuschia feather boas and cerise sweeties. Then, for the princely sum of 50p, every student was given the pink privilege of wearing something to celebrate National Wear It Pink Day. And our PE Department invited staff to take part in a sponsored lunchtime netball match. (The ladies won 9-0!) The money raised will be split between Breast Cancer Care and Clatterbridge Hospital Research Trust.

The goal is beating cancerThe goal is beating cancer

Colourful characters who decided to Wear It Pink for the day

Volunteers and customers at Mrs Nettleton’s Pink stall

Team spirit with a goal in mind...pink power against cancer!

Lessons Lessons of historyof history

Auschwitz was the largest of the Nazi death camps. The cynical slogan ‘Arbeit Macht

Frei’ (pictured top of page) greeted all who passed through the gates.

It means: ‘Work Makes You Free’. Others who died in the camp

included Polish and Soviet political prisoners, Gypsies, homosexuals and people with disabilities.

More people died in Auschwitz than the British and American war losses combined.

A Star of David was placed above the entrance to the gas chamber and a sign painted which said in Hebrew: ‘This is the Gateway to God. Righteous men will pass through’.

About 60 million Reichsmarks (about £125 million today) was generated by slave labour in Auschwitz.

L ESSONS learned in Auschwitz should change the world, say students who have walked in the footsteps of millions murdered by

the Nazis. St Mary’s Sixth Formers joined a group of 200 North West students on a pilgrimage to the former concentration camp in Poland which is still, for many people, the ultimate place of horror. They flew from Manchester to the place where at least a million Jews were gassed and starved during World War II. It is now preserved as a memorial to the dead and a reminder to the living of the evils of ethnic hatred. History students Joe McDowell, Charlotte Nugent and Jessica Eastwood have now shared their impressions of the day-long visit and feature in a video made by Wirral Globe journalists Stephanie Cureton and Dave Gennard. Joe, 17, said: ‘It‘s as if everything was frozen and stopped when the Nazis left. There are no animals, no birds, everything is still. It’s all on such a human scale, the barracks, the buildings, and it makes you realise how easily it could happen again if we forget the past.’ He added: ‘The question of 'why' was important to me. It is incomprehensible. I'm still trying to understand it.’ Charlotte said: ‘Auschwitz was shocking. It makes you realise that it’s not just a number, it actually happened. People should be able to see it for themselves so it doesn’t happen again.’ Jessica added: ’It was completely different to everything I had in my head. It was surreal, bizarre. Auschwitz is a little town with stone buildings and huge houses with grass in front of them. The worst bit was standing in Gas Chamber II. It was a very emotional place. You could almost hear what happened there. It was really horrible.’ The students walked through the huts, crematoria and rooms containing possessions left by the prisoners ~ thousands of pairs of shoes, suitcases and other

items. You can hear their impressions by visiting the Wirral Globe website at www.wirralglobe.co.uk

Did you know?Did you know?

Concentration Concentration camp horror camp horror ‘should never ‘should never happen again’happen again’

Charlotte Nugent, Joe McDowell and Jessica Eastwood are interviewed by Stephanie Cureton and filmed by Dave Gennard of The Wirral Globe

The infamous gates of Auschwitz death camp. Arbeit Mach Frei means Work Makes You Free

These evocative pictures were taken in Auschwitz by Sixth Former Joe McDowell. Top: Prisoners’ official ID photos. Above: A menacing boundary sign. Left: Thousands of shoes are a chilling reminder of the horror

Prize Winners 2010Prize Winners 2010

John Hardman Memorial AwardJohn Hardman Memorial Award

Tom Carew

Ron Roberts Memorial AwardRon Roberts Memorial Award

Connor Hodgson

Bosco AwardBosco Award

Joel Maddocks, Ashleigh Cotton

Governors’ AwardGovernors’ Award

Milo McAleny, Ross Mather, Tabitha Tinkler-Ferguson, Ashley Britton

Headteacher’s Award Headteacher’s Award

Joseph McDowell, Lucy O’Hare

Jane Hurst Memorial AwardJane Hurst Memorial Award

Joshua Dickin-Navein

Olive Jordan Memorial AwardOlive Jordan Memorial Award

Michael Fisher

Helen Roth Memorial AwardHelen Roth Memorial Award

Lewis Lynch

Richard O’Neill Memorial AwardRichard O’Neill Memorial Award

Stephen Pollard, Daniel Bruce

Sean McKeon Memorial AwardSean McKeon Memorial Award

Charlotte Kinnear

ARTS COLLEGE AWARDSARTS COLLEGE AWARDS

CHOREOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Matthew Peters

COMPOSER OF THE YEAR Peter Edwards

DRAMATIST OF THE YEAR Luke Bennett

ARTIST OF THE YEAR Rachel Webster

TEXTILE DESIGNER OF THE YEAR Patrick McDowell

Unilever Award for Outstanding Unilever Award for Outstanding Academic AchievemenAcademic Achievementt

Matthew Quinn, Chantelle Wilson

Unilever Award for Outstanding Unilever Award for Outstanding Academic AchievemenAcademic Achievementt

Philip Makinson, Charlotte Roberts

Guest of Honour Mrs Gee Walker with Sixth Form

prizewinners

S.M.A.R.T.sS.M.A.R.T.s YEAR 10: Asha Wade, Daniel Massey, Richard D’Arcy

H C A AWARDSH C A AWARDS

YEAR 7: Alex Stormont, Josephine Ruiz YEAR 8: Kieran Williams, Katie-Jane Perry

YEAR 7: Aaron Keating, Stephanie Johns YEAR 8: John Perry, Leah Carruthers YEAR 9: Matthew James, Megan McAllister YEAR 10: Jasmine Owen, Joshua Robinson

YEAR 7: Daniel Walsh, Lily Burke YEAR 8: Kieran Hamm, Lauryn Dudley YEAR 9: Erin Marsh, Liam Garnett YEAR 10: Katie Brunt, Sean Noonan

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY SERVICE SERVICE AWARDSAWARDS

APPLIED LEARNING AWARDSAPPLIED LEARNING AWARDS

HAIRDRESSING Amy Brunt, Kiya Ormond BEAUTY Natasha Harland, Veronica Nerantzoulis

MOTOR VEHICLE Shaun Walsh CONSTRUCTION Colton Wilson

YOUTH YOUTH LEADERSHIPLEADERSHIPAWARDSAWARDS

50 HOURS: Adam Krimou, Aimie Whiteley, Anthony Greenwood, Charlotte Kinnear, Daniel Platt, Grace Argyle, Katy Stanley, Kelly Adkins, Philip Taylor 100 HOURS: Emily Smith, Jessica Herndlhofer, Anthony Peters, Callum Rutherford, Daniel Howe 150 HOURS: Alan Williams, Grace Merrall, Lauren Wylde, Rebecca Reed, Róisín Fattorini 200 HOURS: Daniel Bruce, Ella Hornby, Lauren Sanderson, Natasha Heaney, Stephen Pollard, Vikki Rainford 250 HOURS: Kate Burnett

Community Service Awards and Awards

for Youth Leadership sponsored by Lions

International

CREATIVE CREATIVE ARTS ARTS

AWARDSAWARDS

BRONZE: Finley Morris, Francesca Long, Gabriella Jones, Lily Burke, Morgan Edmonds, Samantha Davies, Christopher Kalogritsas, David Nagle, Jake Gargan, Kayle-Anne Sands, Lewis Kenwright, Sophie Saunders, Adam Woolsey, Courtney Saville, Noe Bersier, Tara O’Brien, Alix Quinn, Charlotte Allen, Charlotte-Anne Fildes, Daniel Shankland, Erin Nuttall, Eve Eaton, Georgia Penny, Hannah Roscoe, Holly Rooney, India Kirkham, Jessica Foulkes, Joanna Robinson, Laura Hoey, Lauren Walker, Lily Dootson, Matthew Davies, Matthew Hanlon, Megan Bowly, Melissa Chapple, Molly Gartland, Molly Mason, Rebecca Farrelly, Shimal Némat, Vanessa Nokes, Jason Hill, Joshua Nolan, Siw Cattle, Alan Williams, Rachel Lavery, Sean Holsgrove SILVER: Liam Garnett, Shaun Fletcher GOLD: Connor McKenna, Daniel Bruce, Elisha Carter, James Toner, Stephen Pollard PLATINUM: Lucy Griffiths

HEALTHY HEALTHY EATINGEATING

HCA Awards sponsored by

St Mary’s Home College Association


Peter presents prizes to two of our younger

students

ATTENDANCE AWARDSATTENDANCE AWARDS 20092009--1010

DUKE OF DUKE OF EDINBURGH’EDINBURGH’S S

AWARDSAWARDS

Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Awards are

presented nationally

BRONZEBRONZE

SILVERSILVER


ENGLISH YEAR 7: Finley Morris, Milo McAleny YEAR 8: Kayle-Anne Sands, Sean Clarke YEAR 9: Jack Jones, Millie Locke YEAR 10: Holly Rooney, Stuart Dunlop MATHS YEAR 7: Abigail Bruce, Joseph Clarke YEAR 8: Hannah Ridge, Ross Mather YEAR 9: Rachel Robertson, William Harding YEAR 10: Ciaran Gregory, Vanessa Nokes RE YEAR 7: Connor Woodhouse, Eleanor Regan YEAR 8: Joshua Stride, Rachael Kinnear YEAR 9: Craig O’Neill, Eleanor Herndlhofer YEAR 10: Ruth Parry, Thomas Best ICT YEAR 7: Dominik Bruzda, Samantha Davies YEAR 8: Marnie Melia, Ryan Brocklebank YEAR 9: Liam Garnett, Tara-Leigh Duncan YEAR 10: Mark Hughes, Tara Smith

PHYSICS YEAR 7: Jake Waters, Rebecca Openshaw YEAR 8: Kirby Conway, Thomas McDermott YEAR 9: Patrick McDowell, Tabitha Tinkler-Ferguson YEAR 10: Daniel Massey, Shimal Némat CHEMISTRY YEAR 7: Callum Bradford, Katharine Quinn YEAR 8: Alastair Nokes, Melissa White YEAR 9: Alexander Meyer, Hannah Brown YEAR 10: Megan Bowly, Richard D’Arcy BIOLOGY YEAR 7: Aaron Gibson, Bethan Blanchfield YEAR 8: Ellise Taylor, Reece Howard YEAR 9: Amy Robinson, Paul Campbell YEAR 10: Dylan Brannagan, Jasmine Owen ART YEAR 7: Abigail Bruce, Lemuel Dalis YEAR 8: Megan Smith, Stephen Pickles YEAR 9: Anna Marsh, Steven Cassidy YEAR 10: Laura Hoey, Matthew Hanlon

BUSINESS STUDIES Elliot Saunders, Robyn Ashton CHILDCARE Asha Wade, Kelsey Kwok HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE Elisha Collins, Melissa Jones

Subject Prizes are sponsored by St Mary’s Home College Association

MUSIC YEAR 7: Annie Wood, James Tomassoni YEAR 8: Hannah O’Connell, Jack Wood YEAR 9: Bethan Simpson, Lewis Murphy YEAR 10: Michael Nolan, Molly Mason DANCE YEAR 7: Ewan Maidment, Lily Burke YEAR 8: Christopher Kalogritsas, Sophie Saunders YEAR 9: Adam Woolsey, Amy Merritt YEAR 10: Joanna Robinson, Matthew Davies DRAMA YEAR 7: Lewis Daniels, Molly Horton YEAR 8: Jennifer Briggs, Max Menear YEAR 9: Elyse Bennett, Niall Crilly YEAR 10: Hannah Ashwell, Nicholas Madden DESIGN TECHNOLOGY YEAR 7: Lily-Mai Caldicott, Matthew Mulholland YEAR 8: Kieran Tarpey, Zoe Riley YEAR 9: Matthew Carney, Nicola Taylor RESISTANT MATERIALS Year 10: Daniel Laing, Emily Walsh GRAPHICS Year 10: Bernadette Greenwood, Connor Sait FOOD Year 10: Sean Noonan, Sophie Clark MEDIA GCSE Hannah Brown, Paul Campbell, Anna Marsh, Bethan Simpson, Tabitha Tinkler-Ferguson, Harry Walton, Eleanor Harrison

GEOGRAPHY YEAR 7: Katie Clarke, Warren Atkins YEAR 8: Liam Nugent-Murray, Melissa Kazara YEAR 9: Miranda McCabe, Ryan Greenwood YEAR 10: Charlotte Sale, Jack Trafford HISTORY YEAR 7: Carl Whittam, Nicole Stasik YEAR 8: Danielle Burns, David Power YEAR 9: Ben Scotland, Jessica Garvey YEAR 10: Kate Croft, Patrick McLeod FRENCH YEAR 7: Alexandra Smith, Jack Dunne YEAR 8: Catherine Breen, Stuart Rutherford YEAR 9: Jessica Chard, Matthew Gibbins YEAR 10: John Bargh, Megan Wilson-Edwards GERMAN YEAR 7: Luke Wellens, Lydia Clayton YEAR 8: Alex Mather, Erin Kelly YEAR 9: Shannon Howard, David Conlan YEAR 10: Charlotte Ann Fildes, Matthew Gillespie


Our Presentation

BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR YEAR 9: Abe Dobson YEAR 10: Joshua Kavanagh NETBALL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR YEAR 7: Katie Clarke YEAR 8: Shannon Forsyth YEAR 9: Eleanor Herndlhofer ROUNDERS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: YEAR 7: Amber Walsh YEAR 8: Francesca Warren YEAR 9: Chelsea Crook

CRICKETERS OF THE YEAR YEAR 7: Dylan Van Geffen YEAR 8: Alastair Nokes YEAR 9: Jamie Cumming YEAR 10: Luke McMillan FOOTBALLERS OF THE YEAR YEAR 7: Leah McNay, Matthew Best YEAR 8: Beth Hawitt, Kieran Hamm YEAR 9: Kendell Carey, Kyle Scarisbrick YEAR 10: Daniel Lewis

Sports Leader Awards Sports Leader Awards

Football AssociationFootball Association Junior Football Organiser Awards Junior Football Organiser Awards

RUGBY PLAYERS OF THE YEAR YEAR 7: Jacob Shardey YEAR 8: David Power YEAR 9: Michael Fisher

St Mary’s Swing Band provided

some of the entertainment

Sixth Formers Sixth Formers lead peaceful lead peaceful fees protestfees protest

O UR own poets laureate have been chosen in celebration of National Poetry Day 2010. And you can read their imaginative verses in full on St Mary’s website.

Key Stage 3 winner is Katharine Quinn for A Room of Wildest Dreams. Milo McAleny is Runner Up for In My Home and Connor Carr is Highly Commended forHomeless. Key Stage 4 winner is Kate Croft for It Might Have Been Romantic If I Hadn’t Died That Day with Runners Up Megan Hoey for I’ll Run and Lampros Kalogritsas for A Woman. Kieran Sands is Highly Commended with Heartburn. Sixth Form winner was Declan Wharton for Playtime Is Over and Runner Up is James Ali for The Con-Dem’d Nation. Highly Commended are Shay Collins for Matty Quinn and Matthew Quinn for Puppy.

Go to www.stmaryscollege.wirral.sch.uk and click on the link.

S T MARY’S Sixth Formers were at the vanguard of a peaceful protest against the raising of university tuition fees.

They were among 400 students from local schools who marched through Liscard and staged an energetic and impassioned demonstration against current Government policy. They assembled at the Conservative Party offices in Seaview Road before moving on to Wallasey Town Hall. Their actions were in stark contrast to last month’s violent scenes in London, which have been widely condemned by student leaders and politicians. The Wallasey demonstration prompted a member of the public to ring St Mary’s to congratulate the college on the excellent behaviour of our students, and said they were ‘ambassadors for democracy.’ Three Year 13 students Sarah Smith, Jamie Toner and Adam Durney were all interviewed on local radio stations and gave their views eloquently.

Sarah, who was one of the main organisers of the march, said: ‘Many of us could not afford to travel down to London, so we decided to do something at home. I am against the Government’s plan to increase tuition fees. A typical student could rack up a debt of tens of thousands of pounds by the time they graduate, without any guarantee of a job.’ Like most of our current Year 13, Sarah, Jamie and Adam will not be directly affected by the rise in fees, which come into force in 2012, but are protesting as a point of principle. A further group of St Mary’s Sixth Formers travelled to the capital and joined the 50,000-strong demonstration. They were among the first 500 students to lead the peaceful protest march through Westminster. The following day, Sarah and fellow student Matthew Peters lobbied Wallasey Labour MP Angela Eagle about the fees issue and presented a petition of nearly 600 signatures.

‘Ambassadors ‘Ambassadors for democracy’for democracy’

Outside Wallasey Town Hall Picture courtesy of The Liverpool Daily Post

Current St Mary’s Sixth Formers met up with former St Mary’s student Kieran Fattorini (right) who is studying Ancient History at Birmingham Universtiy

Poetry in their souls and on our website!Poetry in their souls and on our website!

W HAT will they be when they leave? A myriad careers

were being considered by hundreds of St Mary’s students at our latest Careers Fair in the College Sports Hall. Advisors were on hand from the NHS, the Armed Services, the Maritime and Engineering College North West, universities, colleges and the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). The Careers Fair is an integral part of our Year 11 Options procedure.

What’s all this here, then? Year 11 students try out the Merseyside Police uniform with PCSTOs Shaun Gilligan and Andy Edwards

Here and left: Finding out about careers in the Army and the RAF

Showing their mettle for possible careers in maritime engineering...

Perhaps it’s the NHS for these Year 11s, here and right

Maybe a career in the hair and beauty industry?

‘Pete The ‘Pete The Feet’ in Feet’ in Olympic biOlympic bidd A FORMER St Mary’s student who suffered horrific injuries in the Afghan conflict has been

asked to serve his country once again. But this time Lance Corporal Peter Dunning has been selected to join the Great Britain Disabled Ski Team. The 25-year-old former Royal Marine ~ now dubbed ‘Pete the Feet’ by his fellow team members ~ lost both his legs two years ago in a land explosion in Helmand Province. But he has never let the injuries break his spirit, first learning to walk again on artificial limbs, then training intensively to keep up his fitness levels. It was in recognition of his courage and determination that he was invited to attend this year’s Paralympics in Vancouver and won the honour of carrying the Paralympic Flame on its way to the opening

ceremony. During his time there he improved his new skiing skills, and now he has his sights set on the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia. Peter, who joined the Marines in 2006 a couple of years after leaving St Mary’s, said: ‘When I first learned to ski it was really hard, as with anything new, but once I was independent I found it more and more enjoyable and I knew I wanted to take it further.’ He added: ‘It was one of the Combined Services Disabled Ski Team who first gave me the nickname of Pete The Feet, and it has just stuck with me now. Everyone in the team has their own name ~ some are more pleasant than others, as I’m sure you can understand, being in the military, and having such a black sense of humour!’ Peter has also found a new kind of team spirit away from the ski slopes...with

his Wallasey-born fiancée Laura Burton. The couple were teenage sweethearts who went their separate ways, only to find each other again during Peter’s long recuperation. Peter actually proposed to Laura during the trip to Vancouver, and they are now planning their future together. Peter has become a TV personality in his own right, since the explosion in which he lost a comrade and a second sustained serious burns. His rescue by air ambulance from the battlefield and subsequent surgery was filmed as part of an ITV1 documentary. Images of Peter are currently being used to promote Royal British Legion Appeals and earlier this year he appeared with

Laura on an edition of ITV’s The Michael Ball Show.

Peter Peter proposed proposed to fiancéeto fiancée Laura in Laura in VancouverVancouver

Right: Peter in 2006 when he was awarded the famous Royal

Marines Green Beret

Peter carries the Paralympic flame through the streets of Vancouver

Peter and his fiancée Laura at the Vancouver Paralympics where he popped the question

Snow Speed Ace: Peter finds his ski feet on the Vancouver slopes, with the aid of specially adapted ski boots

How we can support Peter’s How we can support Peter’s bid to fly the flag for GBbid to fly the flag for GB

S T MARY’s PE Department is planning a series of sponsored events to support

Peter’s plans to compete in the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia, starting with a sponsored trampoline bounce. Parents and others can show their support by donating via the Just Giving website at

www.justgiving.com/Peter-Dunning And if you would like to discuss it with Peter or Laura, email them at

[email protected]

Images of Peter are currently being used in Royal British Legion appeals

CHECK OUT OUR FLICK-THROUGH NEWSLETTER ARCHIVENEWSLETTER ARCHIVE GOING BACK TO 2004! Visit St Mary’s website: www.stmaryscollege.wirral.sch.uk

Remember, this copy of Newsletter is not just for you, it’s for your friends and family too!

St Mary’s Newsletter is published by St Mary’s Catholic College, Wallasey Village, Wallasey CH45 3LN. Tel: 0151 639 7531 Fax: 0151 201 4514 Email: [email protected]

F ORMER St Mary’s student Jonathan Walters scored a blinder when he transferred to Stoke City FC for £2.75 million. Striker

and former captain of Ipswich Town, Jonny is proving to be a great asset to the Premiership team. In his first few games for Stoke, he has already become a regular scorer on BBC 1’s Match of the Day, displaying the skills he first used on St Mary’s junior and senior soccer teams! Jonny, aged 27, is married with two daughters and lives on the Wirral. His brothers Aidan and James and sister Samantha all came to St Mary’s. Plans are now in the pipeline for Jonny to run a special soccer sessions at St Mary’s...so look out for details!

Jonny celebrates after scoring his first goal for Stoke City Picture courtesy of The Daily Mail

Follow ourFollow our leaders!leaders! S PORTS Leaders at St Mary’s are ahead of the field, and

in a league of their own! To prove it, they have been invited to help run an event in February for a national

golf organisation. They impressed scouts from UK charity The Golf Foundation with their leadership qualities at a recent Playground to Podium Identification Day when they worked productively with more than 100 youngsters with varying disabilities. The event (pictured) was specifically aimed at spotting future Paralympians, while giving our PE students the chance to employ their sporting and life skills. One of the

organisers, St Mary’s PE teacher Mrs Lisa Snelson, said: ‘It was hugely enjoyable. We are very proud of our excellent Sports Leaders who met the challenges of the day with great enthusiasm.’ Sports Leaders UK is a national award scheme for young people. A major component of the award focuses on commitment and voluntary work in the community. The Golf Foundation is a national charity dedicated to the sporting and social development of young people through golf.

Jonny scores with Stoke Jonny scores with Stoke and ‘Match of the Day’and ‘Match of the Day’

Plans forPlans for ‘soccer ‘soccer school’school’

Christmas Newsletter 2010

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Transcript of Christmas Newsletter 2010