Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy (Part of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust)

Edition Number: 228

Friday 8 June 2018

Twitter/website www.st-johnhoughton.derbyshire.sch.uk/Twitter@SJHCVA]

'Inspiring ambition and excellence, guided by Christ'

‘O most holy heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, Good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you. Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Amen.’ Dates for your Diary

Year 11 exams Well done to our Year 11 students working so hard during their GCSE exams. We are very proud of them.

It has been a busy Academic year and we are busy planning for the next one. As you know we have introduced many new initiatives and we are looking at some more. I would welcome the opportunity to

discuss the progress we have been making in addressing the issues raised in our Ofsted inspection.

There will be a Parents information evening on Monday July 2 at 7pm in school. I will be sending a letter out next week and I do hope you will consider attending.

Academic Year 2017– 2018

Monday 18 June Year 9 Reports to Parents

Monday – Friday 18 – 22 June Year 10 Exams

Monday 25 June Inset Day

Tuesday – Friday 26-29 June Year 10 Exams

Monday 2 July Parents Information Evening 7pm

Tuesday 10 July Sports Day

THE FRIDAY LETTER

A new Tutor system

On Tuesday I announced to the students in Years7, 8 and 9 that we will be introducing the Vertical Tutor system in September. Many secondary schools have created smaller tutor groups populated by pupils of all ages, rather than by groups of the same age. We feel the time is right to introduce the system in our school as it offers students many opportunities to learn about being with other year groups, mentoring younger students and create a natural sense of community.

Students will be placed into Houses; each House will be composed of eight tutor groups and will be led by a House Leader. In each tutor group there will be a certain number from each year group, for example five from year 7, five from Year 8, five from year 9 and five from Year 10.

I must stress that students will be taught in their normal teaching year groups. This is only for form time. Siblings will be placed in the same House but not in the same tutor group. This will ensure that you as parents will have only to contact one House Leader when dealing with concerns or issues regarding your child.

I will update you with more information in forthcoming Friday letters but would encourage you to come to the Parents Information Evening.

It may be helpful, especially at this time of year, when parents may be making more requests for holidays during term-time to remind oneself what the current DfE advice to schools says on the matter.

Although non-statutory, this document includes guidance on pupil registers and attendance codes and summarises the legal powers and duties that govern school attendance.

The document sets out circumstances where schools should authorise pupil absence: illness, medical appointments, religious observance, study leave for year 11, certain specific situations for traveller families and leave of absence or holiday authorised by the school. The guidance states:

Leave of absence authorised by the school (code C): Only exceptional circumstances warrant an authorised leave of absence. Schools should consider each application individually taking into account the specific facts and circumstances and relevant background context behind the request. Holiday authorised by the school (code H): Head teachers should not grant leave of absence unless there are exceptional circumstances. The application must be made in advance and the head teacher must be satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances based on the individual facts and circumstances of the case which warrant the leave. Where a leave of absence is granted, the head teacher will determine the number of days a pupil can be away from school. A leave of absence is granted entirely at the head teacher’s discretion.

‘Exceptional circumstances’ are not defined in the guidance document and it is therefore up to each Headteacher to decide what they consider to be exceptional.

Year 8 Activity Week

Year 8 students were in Glaramara this week for Activity Week. A detailed report will appear in next week’s letter.

Well done to Cole Arnold who was selected for the Midland Conference Team U15s, the team won the tournament and are now EIHA U15s conference champions!

The Emmaus Walk

A big group of staff have decided to set out on a challenge, we aim to complete The Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge. The Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge is a 39.2km circular walk starting in Horton-In-Ribblesdale.

The challenge consists of climbing the summits of Pen-Y-Ghent (694m), Whernside (736m) and Ingleborough (723m) in less than 12 hours. We aim to complete this challenge on Saturday 7 July.

We are going to title this walk ‘The Emmaus Walk’ and our aim is to raise money for the new kitchen we would like to install in our Emmaus Support Centre.

The Emmaus Support Centre in school has been opened for just over a year now. It aims to support the students in school who are facing barriers in making progress in school. By assisting these students and enabling them to overcome whatever barriers there are to making progress, the Emmaus Support Centre is helping all students in school, because these are the students who can disrupt learning and teaching in the classroom.

The preparation of food and drink is a key part of the Emmaus Centre and clearly it is vital that any preparation of food must be done in a hygienic environment and thus the need for a kitchen in our support centre. This requires money and this then has led this group of staff to accept this challenge and set out to conquer these 3 peaks and to raise some vital money for our school.

To sponsor the ‘Emmaus Walk Team’ you can donate online:

a) If you are already a user of the SchoolComms system you can donate online through the usual payment methods.

This is available to parents/guardians and to all staff – simply select Payments then look for Emmaus Ctr – Yorkshire Three Peaks.

We also ask that you consider declaring your donation for GiftAid which will increase your donation by 25p in every £1 – this is available if you are a UK tax payer, simply comment with “Yes” in the box beneath your payment.

b) Online Bank Transfer, please pay your donation to the following account: Bank Name: Lloyds bank plc

Account Name: St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust Online Account Account No: 54226768 Sort Code: 30-96-18 To make your bank transfer gift aid eligible, please forward a declaration form to school.

Well done the following students who made the top ten in their attitude to learning.

This week's Times Tables Rockstars Champions are...

Well done to you all! 5 positive points added! Keep going everyone to try and get yourself in the top 3

next week. Scores will be checked next Monday! Good luck!

Some of our students in Year 9 will be chatting online with medical researchers during their lessons on the ‘I'm a Scientist!’ website. We are encouraging students to show their parents and carers the site and introduce them to these scientists in the evening live chats, from 7-8pm on Wednesday 13, 20 and 27 June. Parents/Guardians can meet the scientists online and ask them about what it's like working in medical research. If your child is taking part they will have been given a log in link to access the site. You are more than welcome to log in with your child from 7pm and click the CHAT button. Year 9 students who are taking part, you can log in using the website given to you via showmyhomework. Here you can leave questions to be answered or take part in the chat during the evenings. There is a prize each week for a student who is the most engaged (and St John Houghton so far has a very good record with these!).

1st place - Emily Jones

with 1090 points

2nd place - Taylor

Henshaw with 952

Points

3rd place - Shannon Baldwin with 648 points

Science Club!

Science Club was started on Monday lunchtimes last half term for year 7 and 8s! We have lots of fun, trying out practical activities we are unable to do in normal lessons and understanding the science behind it all. So far this term our year 7 and 8s have tried their hand at: making lava lamps, elephant's toothpaste, making non-Newtonian liquid and underwater volcanoes. There were some brilliant volcanoes where all the year 8 pupils were able to explain how it worked using convection

currents. Thank you to all the pupils who have been involved so far: Eja Coe, Elizabeth Collings, Arianna Congiu, Paige Hall, Ethan Higgins, Zoe Hobby, Alexandra Jackson, Szymon Kopycinski, Freya Lakin, Faith Littlewood, Callum Moir, Dylan Nzira, Maya Ogbonnia, Madeline Perrin, Alex Popek, Steve Prabucki, Alfie Richardson, Lucy Smith, Joel Thorpe, Charlotte Wright, Olivia Curzon-Manners, Seweryn Donchor, Olivia Drummond, Kathryn Dudley, Lucy Fitzpatrick, Caitlin Hawley, Ellie-Grace Johnson, Millie Moggeridge, Katie Nemeth, Joanna Prawosudowicz and Erin Tomlinson. If you want to join in the fun come along on a Monday lunchtime to room 18 or come and see Miss Turgoose and Mr Johanson!

Miss Bailey would like to congratulate the following students for their achievements in their recent Year 10 assessment: Jack Stadler - for correctly using the term 'hypostatic union.' Sophie Smith - for confidently and correctly using the terms 'Christology from above' and 'Christology from below'. Eoin Gilbert - for the best answer to a five-mark question in his group. Louisa Hobby and Holly Aizlewood - for exceeding their MEGs having joined us part way through the course. For excellent progress in the Catholic Christianity unit: From 10Y2 - Neobe Buttigieg, Ella Callaghan, Eoin Gilbert, Jamie Hall, Jacob Holt, Danielle Horsley, Shannon Lambert, Poppy Leask, Kenneth Lee, Makysmilian Liszka, Katy Salt, Theodore Shelton, Sophie Smith, Lillian Snell and Jack Stadler. From 10X1 - Nicholas Bradley, Ella Brown, Georgie Coulman, Lilia Edge, Paige Fretwell-Crabtree, Eleanor Fisher, Luke Gibbons, Sascha Halford and Jessica Poxon.

Mr Long congratulates the following Year 10 Stars of the Week: For achievement in assessment: Ryan Fee, Angelica Ngan, Eloise-Marie Bamford, Maisie Beardsley, Jess Doran, Alex Keogh, Alex Leatherland and Anica Taylor. For great progress since the last Catholic Christianity assessment: Elise Hayes, Angelica Ngan, Louisa Staley, Lydia Stephenson, Amy Wren, Anica Taylor, Alex Leatherland, Oliver Jasper, Olivia Henry, Mert Han Harry, Jess Doran, Eloise Bamford and Maisie Beardsley.

Mrs Dakin would like to congratulate the following: Year 10 students on working hard to improve grades: Alex Cummings, Lewis Hallam and Ethan Chambers. Year 9 students for continued hard work and effort in class: Megan Harper and Demi Leek.

Derbyshire Schools Athletics Championships

On Saturday 9 June we will have a number of students who have been selected to represent Erewash in the Derbyshire Schools

Athletics Championships at Moorways Stadium, Derby.

Good luck to the following students:

Maisie Beardsley – Long jump

Sophia Murphy – Discus

Nathan Hunt – 100m

Jacob Duda – 200m

Daniel Collings – 300m

Harry Joslin – Hurdles

Finn Elliott-Hufton – High jump

James Daly – Discus

William Holt – Javelin

Lucy Fitzpatrick – 100m

Sienna Grant – 200m

Lily-May Ward – 200m

Fern Hunter- Discus

Millie Lambert- Javelin

Marie Kryzbelle Estanda – Javelin

Martyna Popek – 300m

Taya Joslin – 800m

Nicole Choker – 1500m

Mae Leek – Hurdles

Erewash District Year 9 and Year 10 Trackmeet

On Tuesday a number of students competed in the local athletics competition at Rutland Sports Park. There were some great performances, the results were as follows:

Year 9 = 2nd place Year 10 = 3rd place

following Year 9:

Well done to the Sienna Grant, Marie Kryzbelle Estanda, Olivia Regula, Demi Leek, Kate Roach

Joshua Watson, Nathan Hunt, Caolan Dobney, Jacob Duda and Tom Franklin

Thankyou to Josh Watson and Kate Roach who stepped in at the very last minute

Year 10

Well done everyone that took part

Mrs Joslin & Mr Ritchie

Freya Lyons, Louisa Staley, Ella

Callaghan, Maisie Beardsley and

Shannon Lambert

Nicholas Bradley, Theodore Shelton,

Rhys Windridge, Alfie Manders, Oliver

Wheeldon

We have been introducing healthy eating to

Year 7. Our new group 7X1 have made a pasta salad and as you can see by the

pictures they were amazing, they used the eat well guide to help them create a healthy

balanced meal.

We were really impressed by the way they worked and the end products were some of

the best we've seen all yea, well done.

Miss Bywater and Mrs Radford-Zaman.

Year 11 Leaver's Mass 2018 On Friday 25 May 2018 the SJH community gathered for the Year 11 leavers Mass. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Father Joe Wheat for celebrating this beautiful Mass. Our gathering began with Mrs McCarthy and Mrs Smith speaking to the pupils, thanking them for their contribution over the last five years, wishing them well in their future and a trip down memory lane from past trips to the Briars, Year 8 Activity week, charity work, Tutor Acts of Worship. The pupils had prepared speeches for their Tutors and gifts were exchanged.

It was wonderful to see so many parents and family support our Year 11 Mass! 11LMC welcomed Fr Joe, parents and staff to their Mass with beautiful reflections they had written themselves, remembering pupils and staff who had left during their time in SJH. GCSE Music supported this Mass encouraged by Mr Quenby. 11RP Brought up the offertory gifts and extra

items they had selected which showed their sacrifice and value of their time in SJH. 11LMC Wrote and prayed our Bidding Prayers. 11ST Set and prepared the space for the Mass. Mrs McCarthy prayed for Year 11 and wrote a personal Communion Reflection and gave each pupil a prayer card written especially for the day. Fr Joe asked our pupils to remember the important things in life - to take our SJH values into the word. Thank you to Mrs Sarno for taking photographs.

To have been together in the same light

has been good.

To have been glad together has been good.

To have rejoiced together has been

good,

but when we part from one another,

Let us not part from God.

A big well done to Caitlin Hawley, Claudia Tadrus, Erin Lees, Owen Wilcox, Dylan White, Lewis Bilby, Finn Elliott-Hufton and Aidan Macphearson for coming to Run Club this week. All ran really well, and thank you to Rachel, Mr Swindell and Mr McNally who ran this week. Especially thanks to two new members of staff who ran with the students, Mrs Sarno and Miss Garten, see you all next week. #RunClubIsForEveryone.

School Lottery update

Many thanks to everyone who has signed up for the school lottery so far. It only costs £1 per week and the more people that are signed up, the greater the weekly prize money.

There are currently 88 people signed up which means every week someone from our school community wins at least £34.40. Everyone

entered is also in with the chance of winning a weekly £25k jackpot.

At the moment the lottery is generating £50 a week towards PTA funds which is great. Please spread the word.

https://www.yourschoollottery.co.uk/lottery/school/saint-john-houghton-academy

Last week’s winner was Peter Nemeth: Winning £33.60. Well done

Thank you for taking the time to read the Friday Letter this week.

Have a lovely weekend.

Best wishes Mrs McCarthy

Best wishes

Mrs McCarthy Headteacher

'Inspiring ambition and excellence, guided by Christ’