newsletter

Comenius News

SummerSummerSummerSummer 2005200520052005

A Specialist School for the ArtsA Specialist School for the ArtsA Specialist School for the ArtsA Specialist School for the Arts ST MARY ’S CATHOL IC COLLEGE

♦Pictured above left: A

Year 7 Drama Class

ST MARY’S is bursting at the seams with gifts and talents of every kind. As a Catholic school, we believe that every student has something unique to share and it is the mission of St Mary’s to create an environment where all can flourish. The school has a proven track record in terms of academic performance but the sheer generosity and the ideas which flow out of that giftedness is amazing. This year alone students and staff have raised more than £3,500 for

different projects. As we go to press, a week-long ‘Mile for Moldova’ event is being planned to raise funds for work of the Sacred Heart Fathers.

Within a few days of returning to school after the tsunami dis-aster earlier this year, more than £1,000 was collected and donated to Cafod. This was followed by a ‘Tsunami Concert’ organised entirely by students which raised £700. Another charity concert is now being planned. Since then staff and students have given unstintingly to the Catholic Children’s Society, St John’s Hospice and many other causes.

The new JR 2

G8 protest 3

Cupboard love 4

Sudoku 5

Celebrity watch 10

Cricket twins 11

Before they Before they Before they Before they were were were were

teachers!teachers!teachers!teachers!

DON’T MISS

our Picture Competition

Page

Six

We would like We would like We would like We would like to wish all our readers to wish all our readers to wish all our readers to wish all our readers

a relaxing summer breaka relaxing summer breaka relaxing summer breaka relaxing summer break

Cafod

Inside this issue:

St Mary’s Newsletter Summer 2005 Page 2

Extravaganza of art, music, dance, drama

FFESTIVALESTIVAL OFOF ARTSARTS IT’S a scorching summer of arts projects in St Mary’s! An exciting programme of music, dance, drama and art has been planned across the curriculum both in school and in the local community. Among the events planned are visits by Wirral Youth Theatre, St Alban’s Players and community arts groups.

‘BIG ARTS WEEK’ The programme also includes ‘Big Arts Week’ in St Joseph’s Primary School, Seacombe and a Drama Masterclass Weekend where Year 10 pupils from across Wirral will join staff at St Mary’s for a series of drama workshops. Year 5 pupils from our partner primary schools have been invited to join us for a day-long focus on the arts. ‘Shakespeare Day’ has been planned to give our own Year 9 students the opportunity to celebrate and share work on ‘Macbeth’ and a Community Arts Evening will bring together the talents of community arts groups for all to enjoy.

Above and right: Keyboard skills and dance sessions

♦ Year 7 drama students show how it’s done

Dallas’s new JR DALLAS is soon get a new JR ~ but it isn’t JR Ewing, it’s Year 9’s Jade Rebecca Weir. She’s off to the Texan city with her family to live for the next three years. By August Jade, aged 14, and her brother Steven, 11, will be American high school students. But they intend to keep in touch by email, phone and internet links. Her father, Dave, is a sales and marketing director for an air conditioning company. ♦ Jade (centre) says farewell to her friends

St Mary’s Newsletter Summer 2005 Page 3

The flags of the G8: France, USA, Britain, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada, Russia

Students in protest

St Mary’s students and staff stand up to be counted

STUDENTS and staff from St Mary’s have helped to make world history. They joined 200,000 people to take part in the momentous G8 protest in Edinburgh. The St Mary’s contingent of 20 justice campaigners had woken at the crack of dawn on July 2 to make the five hour journey to the Scottish capital. Once there they waved their banners in the sunshine, blew their whistles and joined a peaceful protest against the debts which are crippling the world’s poorest countries. They were also part of the massive White Band demonstration, the formation of a human chain encircling the city which created a living message to the G8 leaders that more and more people believe in fair trade and the abolition of world poverty. RE teacher Miss Ciara Millar (pictured right with students) who helped to organise the trip, said: ‘It was a wonderful experience, and it was absolutely thrilling to be part of something of such global importance’.

Banishing world poverty G8-style WITH no headquarters, budget or permanent staff, the Group of Eight is an informal but exclusive body whose members set out to tackle global challenges through discussion and action. The G8 comprises seven of the world's leading industrialised nations, and Russia. The leaders of these countries meet face-to-face at an annual summit that has become a focus of media attention and protest action. G8 members can agree on policies and can set objectives, but compliance with these is entirely voluntary. The G8 has clout in other world bodies by virtue of the economic and political muscle of its members.

G8

Below: The world’s most powerful

men? Tony Blair is 2005 Chairman

of the G8 and George Bush leads

the richest country of all, the

United States.

St Mary’s Newsletter Summer 2005 Page 4

YEAR 11 students want to spread the message: Health and Social Care GCSE is brilliant. They have been studying hard all year, and are looking forward to getting some excellent results in August. But along the way they have had fun ~ lots of it! Their course has included placements and visits to nurseries, early years centres, youth clubs and elderly care homes. Mrs Linda Jones, Head of Social Sciences, said: ‘The students have really enjoyed discussing their own personal experiences and ways of dealing with them. The course is so relevant to their own lives that students can’t help being interested.’

Is it cupboard love…?

LOOKING like the Blues Brothers, school care-takers Adrian Rickards and Phil Liston took part in the recent Wirral Walk and raised more than £700 in aid of St John’s Hospice. But just walking the route was not enough of a challenge for our intrepid pair ~ so they took along a ‘friend’, the identity of whom was a mystery in school until saturation sponsorship was reached! The ‘friend’ turned out to be this heavy cupboard (left).

On course for caring careersOn course for caring careers

Adrian, Phil and ‘friend’ raise £700

Some of the Health and Social Care students with Mrs Jones, Mrs Nixon and Mrs Archer

‘This course was enjoyable all the way. ‘This course was enjoyable all the way. ‘This course was enjoyable all the way. ‘This course was enjoyable all the way. Try your best and put in as much ef-Try your best and put in as much ef-Try your best and put in as much ef-Try your best and put in as much ef-fort as you possibly can.’fort as you possibly can.’fort as you possibly can.’fort as you possibly can.’ Zoe EvansZoe EvansZoe EvansZoe Evans

And here’s what some of them have to say for themselves:

‘I really enjoyed this ‘I really enjoyed this ‘I really enjoyed this ‘I really enjoyed this course. The best part course. The best part course. The best part course. The best part is going on placement. is going on placement. is going on placement. is going on placement. You need to get as You need to get as You need to get as You need to get as much information as you much information as you much information as you much information as you can to get a good can to get a good can to get a good can to get a good grade. Do your best.’grade. Do your best.’grade. Do your best.’grade. Do your best.’ Kelly HopkinsKelly HopkinsKelly HopkinsKelly Hopkins

‘I enjoyed the I enjoyed the I enjoyed the I enjoyed the course very much. course very much. course very much. course very much. I mostly enjoyed I mostly enjoyed I mostly enjoyed I mostly enjoyed the case studies the case studies the case studies the case studies section the best section the best section the best section the best because I learned because I learned because I learned because I learned a lot about chil-a lot about chil-a lot about chil-a lot about chil-dren’s needs.’dren’s needs.’dren’s needs.’dren’s needs.’ Jennie Jennie Jennie Jennie StinchcombStinchcombStinchcombStinchcomb

‘I enjoyed the course very much. It’s really worth it, but be willing to put the extra hours in.’ Kelseigh Hardy

Former student is ordained

A former student has been o r d a i n e d a p r i e s t . Fr Jonathan Brandon left St Mary’s in 1987 to study languages at Liverpool University, achieving a 2:1 BA Honours Degree. He trained for the priesthood at Ushaw Seminary, Durham. His ordination Mass was celebrated by the Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Right Rev Brian Noble on June 11 at his home parish of St Agnes, West Kirby, before a congregation of 300 people.

St Mary’s Newsletter Summer 2005 Page 5

What you do is this: Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9 and so must each 3 x 3 box. No need to guess ~ there is only one logical solution for each part of the grid!

6 8 7 5 2

5 6 8 7

2 3

5 9 6

4 3 2 5

8 5 3

5 2

1 7 4 9

4 9 6 7 1

You must be sudoku-ing HERE’S a summer holiday brainteaser for you! It’s a SUDOKU ~ and it’s part of a new worldwide craze. Mr Charles has been introducing sudokus to various students and staff and several are showing signs of serious addiction. Be warned ~ solving the puzzle can be a bit tricky, but that’s all part of the appeal. And there is even evidence that doing puzzles like this ac-tually improves your brain’s performance!

As the name suggests, sudokus are a Japanese import but the origins are thought to be European, based on puzzles designed by an 18th Century Swiss mathematician. St Mary’s Gifted and Talented Group meets for occasional sessions on Tuesday evenings when Mr Charles stretches students’ minds with general knowledge quizzes and many other cerebral distractions!

Japanese import

BALLOONS which soared into the sky above St Mary’s last November fell to rest in 20 places all over France, Switzerland and Northern Italy. The Jeannerod family (left) were among those who returned their tags in our Grand Balloon Race to raise funds for the Moldova Appeal. Prime Minister’s wife Cherie Blair visited to officially open our Arts Building and to signal the release of more than 1,000 balloons The winning balloon was found by Mr Walter Lagasco in La Spezia, northern Italy, who won £50. But all the finders received gifts of St Mary’s T-shirts.

Making an Alpine connection

Pictured are (left to right) Claire, Valentin, Lea and Giovanni, all wearing their St Mary’s T-shirts. The family works on a farm in the Alpine village of L’Abergement Sainte-Marie (arrowed on map, right)

‘A MILE FOR MOLDOVA’

LOOK out this week for all the money-raising events in aid of the Sacred Heart Fathers’ Moldova Appeal. There will be a mile of copper, sponsored miles on the gra’, a mile of welly-throwing and, nothing whatsoever to do with miles but just for fun, ‘Soak The Teacher’!

St Mary’s Newsletter Summer 2005 Page 6

Before they Before they were teachers...were teachers...

Can you spot who these cherubs are?

‘Eagle Eyes’ Competition

WIN £10!

Entry form on page 9

Left: What a performer! This sweet little girl grew up to hold centre stage. Right: Cute, isn’t he? But his adult persona isn’t poles apart from his younger self… Far right: Gorgeous and cuddly, she hasn’t changed much, if you add it all up

Above: Simply red...this little Miss is not so little now, but have faith and you will work out who she is.

(Clues in the captions!)

Above: As a man, this mischievous youngster has reached the heights of his profession Above right: Chic teenager, now married to her job, you might say! Right: Examine this one carefully. Far right: Not quite so blonde now, but still hitting the right note.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

St Mary’s Newsletter Summer 2005 Page 7

ARMY nurse Sgt Jim Ashley holidayed last Christmas on the paradise island of Phuket, sleeping peacefully as the Asian tsunami killed thousands. He woke to a nightmare ~ the bay, normally crystal blue, was brown and littered with cars, furniture, trees and the bodies of people who had drowned in the wave’s first onslaught. As the former St Mary’s student surveyed the destruction, it dawned on him what a lucky escape he had had. ‘If we had not stayed out late Christmas night, I would have been on the beach, caught in the tide, and no doubt not here any more’ he said. But his Army and medical training took over and soon he and his friend, Sgt Dave Tennant, were helping the injured, bandaging wounds with sheets, towels or whatever came to hand. He spent hours looking after a Finnish woman who was in deep shock and bleeding, eventually finding her daughter who was also badly injured. ’The hotel foyer was chaos.’ he said. ’There were about 40 or 50 people lying on the floor, and others were being brought up on baggage trolleys. People died in our hotel, but the wave never hit head-on. We were very lucky’ said Jim. ‘The tide did not settle for a good 24 hours. It would recede at a great speed and fill up the bay at a fast speed, all within minutes.’ Jim has been to Phuket on several occasions and on Christmas Day he called to wish Happy Christmas to Tommy, a Nepalese tailor who worked in a shop along Patong Beach front. The day after the wave hit Jim went to the beach to see the damage and find his friend ~ but there was no shop, and he could find no trace of Tommy. ‘I felt physically sick at the devastation, and the smell was terrible. There were obviously a lot of bodies. There were only foundations to the building left. Cars were in the bedrooms of first floor hotel rooms. Boats were broken in side streets, shops in basements were full to the ceiling with water, their staff probably still in them. McDonald’s looked like a store for concrete blocks, as that was all there was in there.’ Jim and Dave had to leave Phuket the following day, without knowing what had happened to their friend. But the story has a happy ending ~ Jim was delighted to receive an email from Tommy’s boss four weeks later saying that Tommy had survived and returned safely to his family in Nepal.

One of Jim’s own pictures of the wave’s aftermath

St Mary’s ‘old boy’ St Mary’s ‘old boy’ in tsunami rescue in tsunami rescue

WHEN Jim Ashley left St Mary’s in the mid 1980s, he had no idea what amazing opportunities life had in store...and he certainly never imagined he’d end up as an Army nurse in Cyprus. It is far from being a Florence Nightingale-type job ~ Jim (left) trained in combat medicine before qualifying at the Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital, Woolwich. Since then he has been posted to Germany, Bosnia, Macedonia, Croatia, Kosovo, Kenya, Northern Ireland and now Cyprus. He decided to join the Army on his 20th birthday after working as a local authority care assistant and in spite of missing his family and friends, he said: ‘I wouldn’t change a thing if I had my time back. As long as I remember I am doing something worthwhile and for a greater purpose, then the small sacrifices I make are bearable’. Jim, now 36, recalls how he and his friends celebrated leaving school ~ by jumping fully uniformed into the former New Brighton pool: ‘It’s a shame that nobody there now will have the chance to end his or her schooling by an old St Mary’s tradition’ he said.

From Wallasey to Kosovo, Kenya, Cyprus and Phuket

‘Physically sick at the devastation’

St Mary’s Newsletter Summer 2005 Page 8

Bringing best-selling authors to book

STUDENTS learned first hand about the art of story telling when they met top children’s authors. It was at a special event in Pacific Road Arts Centre where Mal Peet and Sherry Ashworth gave presentations then chatted informally and signed copies of their books. Mal Peet, author of ‘Tamar’ and ‘Keeper’ gives a lively account ofhis own childhood and love for books: ‘I was a very hungry little reader, and lived in a crowded house with no telly, so I almost always had my nose in a book. My parents got me a book a month from a mail-order company; my best memories are of new books arriving; unwrapping the parcel, studying the picture on the cover, smelling the book (they all smelled different), putting off starting to read until I couldn't bear it any longer.. I also remember vividly my first visit to the town library, looking round and realising how many books there must be in the world, thinking Blimey, I've got a big job on.’ Manchester’s Sherry Ashworth is the author of, among others, ‘Dream Travellers’ and ‘Paralysed’. Both writers’ most popular books, needless to say, are available in St Mary’s Library!

Mal Peet with Joseph McGee, Callum Rutherford, Claire McIver,

Hannah Aldridge & Amie Jones

SILVER medal hunters took the Duke of Edinburgh’s challenge to spend four days of total self-sufficiency in the Yorkshire Dales. They walked an arduous 48 km over three days, camping out and making all their own meals. The Year 10 students (left) climbed Ingleborough in the Three Peaks area on one of their expeditions. They returned exhausted ~ but also exhilarated!

Hunting for silver silver silver in the Dales

Sherry Ashworth signing books for Heidi Hunstone

and Nikki Johnson

St Mary’s Newsletter Summer 2005 Page 9

WIN £10!

Did you work out who the little cherubs were? Post your entry into the ‘Eagle Eye’ box in the foyer. Prizes will be given on the last day of term to the three students with the most correct answers.

A……………………………………….

B……………………………………….

C……………………………………….

D……………………………………….

E……………………………………….

F……………………………………….

G……………………………………….

H……………………………………….

Name…………………………………….

Form……………………………………..

Celebrity watch WAYNE Sleep has danced with many famous people, but now he can add our Bursar, Mrs Sheila Moyes, to his list! The world class dancer (left) was in Wallasey for the official opening of the Wallasey Ballet School’s new home in Manor Road. Mrs Moyes, who has tap danced for nine years, said: ‘Wayne was lovely. He showed me some new steps’.

TENNIS star Ilie Nastase came face to face with the power of St Mary’s ~ our own PE teacher Mrs Sue Power! Mrs Power (right, with the former Wimbledon ace) accompanied a party of tennis-mad students to the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament to see rising stars of today, Ivan Ljubicic and Jan Michael Gambill, as well as some oldies, like Pat Cash and Henri Leconte.

Friends across Europe

The aim of the Comenius Project is to further the sharing of ideas between different schools and cultures across Europe. It is named after Jan Kominsky (Lat in name Comenius) a 17th Century Czech bishop regarded as the father of modern education.

ST MARY’S has just hosted an international conference of students and teachers from Poland, Spain and Holland. The visit was the latest in a series of exchanges between four schools making up a five-year ‘Comenius’ partnership. Firm friendships have developed between students and staff from Llodio, Spain, Gemert, Holland and Warsaw, Poland, who email each other and share project work. The Comenius Newsletter is published regularly on St Mary’s website. While in Wallasey the group visited Chester city Chester Zoo, saw the sights of Liverpool and even managed to squeeze in a visit to Anfield, Liverpool FC’s world famous ground. Below left: Our visitors sample the culture in Chester Below right: St Mary’s and Comenius partners from Holland visit Warsaw

St Mary’s Newsletter Summer 2005 Page 10

Judo medals

‘Firms’ go bust

YEAR 10 had a taste of real union business with GMB union rep Mr Rob Gregson. As part of an investigation into employment rights, students quizzed Mr Gregson on what they should expect when they start work. For instance, did you know that under 18s are entitled to a minimum of £3.00 an hour, or that under 16s are not allowed to work at all after 7pm? Year 10 Business students now do!

Works of art and design

PRODUCT Design A L e v e l s t u d e n t s Sophie Foulkes and Andrew Green show off their exam work. Soph ie (above) designed and made a beautiful room divider in the art nouveau style while Andrew (left) worked on this magnificent chair inspired by the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

YOUNG entrepreneurs have learned the hard way that even the best business ideas can end up losing money… Two teams who entered this year’s Young Enterprise Competition sadly saw their companies liquidated after what seemed to be a promising start. ‘Teen Spirit’ made more than £150 last December by selling hand made Christmas decorations in school. But soon pressures of business set in. ’Revolution Art’ suffered a similar fate. Their idea of printing photographs onto canvas started well but hit production snags and had to be abandoned after they had fulfilled their initial orders.

Union business

ST MARY’S Judokwai won a clutch of medals at the recent Merseyside Youth Games in St Helens. They brought home five golds, five silver and three bronze. The boys’ team came second in the team tournament. The club meets every Monday after school under the expert guidance of coach Mrs Snelson. If you want to join, see Mrs Snelson for details.

Congratulations to each member of the Year 9 Business Studies Club (pictured above) who started a successful business making friendship keyrings. After conducting some market research, they sold more than 70 keyrings at £1.50 each which provided them with a substantial profit.

St Mary’s Newsletter Summer 2005 Page 11

Cricket’s double innings Identical twins David and John

bowl over their opponents IDENTICAL twins David and John While have the perfect tactic for cricket matches ~ confuse the opposing team! When one loses a wicket and his brother comes out to bat, their opponents inevitably do a double take. The twins are such good cricketers that they have been selected to play for their county team, Cheshire. The boys, who are in Year 10, have been playing cricket since they were 10, and still at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Leasowe. They play regularly for New Brighton Cricket Club. In their latest match for Cheshire against Lancashire, Cheshire scored 246-7, with Lancashire 143 all out. David scored 33 runs with John clocking up 30 not out. David also took five wickets for 22 from seven overs.

Reaching dizzy heights in PE STUDENTS and staff of St Mary’s were literally climbing the walls when they attended a six week course at the Awesome Walls climbing centre in Liverpool as part of their GCSE in Physical Education. They learned rock climbing and abseiling skills with guidance from expert instructors. It was all part of their GCSE studies in PE. Pictured far left: John Drake abseils. Left: Carl Fletcher reaches the heights.

Squash champion Nick’s on the ball

Good sports help out HEALTH and Social Care students (right) had a fantastic time helping special needs children at Elleray Park ‘Sports and Grounds’ Days. They assisted with the games and activities, giving valuable help to staff. Mrs Anne Nixon said: ‘The s t uden ts we re wonderful. It was a joy for all involved.’

SIXTH former Nick Munn is Merseyside Under 17s Squash Champion. Nick, who has been playing squash since he was seven, is studying AS DT Engineering and Psychology. He is also a keen soccer player.

St Mary’s Newsletter Summer 2005 Page 12

After the St Mary’s

5-a-side triumph

earlier this year, our

Year 7s (right) have

again brought home

the silverware…this

is the Wirral Schools

Cup (left) complete

with our school

colours

Special report by team coach

Damian McKeown

IT was the game they had worked all season for, and there was an air of great expectation before the match. There was another final on this day but, for St Mary’s Year 7s, the one at Solar Campus, was the big one ~ the Wirral Schools Cup. The early exchanges on this warm Wednesday evening were evenly matched with both sides enjoying spells of possession without really troubling either keeper. The first excitement for the crowd, who had again turned out in good numbers to support the boys, was an attack down the St Mary’s right wing where Adam McComb forced the Woodchurch defence into conceding a corner. A dangerous ball from the corner presented Sean Breen with a headed chance, which was narrowly wide of the post. This gave the St Mary’s team a boost and they took control with some determined play in the midfield and some strong challenges in defence. With confidence growing the team pushed forward and a smart ball into Ben Cloney on the edge of the box proved crucial. Ben went past his man on the outside and from a narrow angle blasted the ball into the net to put St. Mary’s one up. It was all St Mary’ now, and it seemed a matter of time before the second goal went in. Connor Edwards made a great run down the left wing and fired in a shot that sailed over the keeper’s head only to hit the bar and bounce off the line – oh, for a Russian linesman! More chances came the way of the dark blues and the Woodchurch bar was rattled again when Sean Breen’s long range effort struck it with venom. Woodchurch managed to push forward with about ten minutes to half time and from a throw in the St Mary’s defence were caught napping. The Woodchurch forward took the ball down to the by-line and pulled the cross back for the striker to fire a great shot past Matty Ross in goal, who managed to get a hand onto the ball, but couldn’t keep it out. The goal was against the run of play, but it showed how dangerous the Woodchurch side could be. St Mary’s contin-ued to play some great football and the teamwork was in evidence again. This proved a telling factor when five min-utes before the break a lovely move ended with Sean Breen firing a low shot past the keeper from just inside the box, to put us 2-1 up at half time. The second half began with St Mary’s in control of possession and most of the play in the Woodchurch half. Despite their dominance the blues could not make the breakthrough they needed and Woodchurch were holding strong at the back. It took a full ten minutes of the second half for the important third goal to come and it was the result of some fine teamwork. The ball was worked down the right flank and delivered into the box, where Woodchurch struggled to clear their lines and Joe McGee popped up to stab the ball over the line. The third goal gave St Mary’s the confidence to start playing the best football of the match and before long it was four. Some fine work by Ryan Watson on the left opened up space for himself, and seeing the keeper off his line, he struck a fine lob that had the keeper beaten all the way. Ryan followed this up with a very similar goal five minutes later, just to prove that it wasn’t a fluke the first time. The game was finished off with a late sixth goal and the cup was St Mary’s. After a number of impressive perform-ances along the way, it was good to finish the competition on such a high, and the boys were given a rousing round of applause as Joe McGee accepted the cup on behalf of the team. An excellent season rounded off with a trophy…well done boys!

Champions again!Champions again!

Year 7s triumph on the same night as Liverpool in Istanbul!

‘Fine teamwork’

FINAL RESULT: St Mary’s 6 Woodchurch 1