Newsletter February 2020

#AnimalRescueCraftGuild Students have been working hard, sewing away to make joey pouches, wildlife nests and cosy beds to help the animals who have sadly lost their homes and may have been injured from the bushfires in Australia. #AnimalRescueCraftGuild. A big thank you to everyone who very kindly donated the materials we needed!

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Newsletter

Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College

February 2020

Dear parents and friends of our college, thank you for taking the time to read our college newsletter. We are at the midway point of another academic year and it is an opportune moment to reflect on what has been happening recently in the college.

The Arts have a very special place here at Blessed Edward’s and by the time you read this we will have just concluded our annual drama production. This year it is My Fair Lady and the students and staff involved have been working extremely hard to put on yet another show of high quality and originality. We are extremely fortunate that Mrs Duncan has agreed to come back after her retirement to direct the production. The college also introduced a new Performing Arts course in September and our first cohort of Year 10 students laid on a wonderful programme of dance, drama and song to a packed audience. The students did all the preparation, from agreeing a price for the hire of the Studio to laying on the refreshments. It was a polished and professional evening ably supported by their teacher Mrs Thomas.

Can I remind parents and visitors to continue to be mindful of local residents when picking up or dropping off students. Please park and drive with due care and attention. If you are waiting for your child please switch off your engine to reduce emissions. Thank you as always for your co-operation in ensuring Timberdine Avenue is a safe environment for our students at all times.

Over the coming weeks we have students leaving on trips to Barbados, Barcelona and our annual pilgrimage to Lourdes. We are also very excited about our expedition to Tanzania in Summer 2021. All of these events are evidence of a supportive, faith filled community coming together to do something good.

In September 2019 we also launched our new college virtues and have been using these to exemplify to our students how to be a person of good character. As people of good character we can all play our part in marking the world a better place. I can’t think of a better aim for a school than that. Thank you as always for your ongoing support and please remember that my door is always open if you have any query about any aspect of your child’s education.

Greg McClarey - Headteacher Safeguarding Children's mental health awareness week took place 3rd -9th February, the students received awareness assemblies and strategies to help support positive mental health and Wellbeing.

On Thursday 6th February all students took part in the Time to Talk day, students had to talk about a time in their life they showed bravery and how they felt before and after the event. We also held a wellbeing walk for both staff and students so they could build positive relationships, open up and talk to one another. Staff were also invited to mindfulness sessions on this day to help regulate emotions and thoughts.

PCSO Horton has been delivering Internet Safety and Sexting talks to KS3 over the term to raise awareness of the dangers. Please ensure as a parent you are screening your child's phone to keep them safe on the internet.

Every Wednesday we send key information regarding apps and the internet via our school app, Facebook and Twitter. If you would like further information please do not hesitate to contact one of our safeguarding teams.

Key links Safeguarding Worcestershire - https:// www.safeguardingworcestershire.org.uk/aboutus/ Our Early Help Offer - https:// www.blessededward.co.uk/site/index.php/about -us-2/documents-4/early-help This full safeguarding team can be found here.

Miss Mason - Designated Safeguard Lead & LAC Lead Mr McClarey - Deputy Safeguard Lead Mrs Thomas - Deputy Safeguard Lead Mrs Ennis - Deputy Safeguard Lead Mr McClarey and Miss Mason - Prevent Single Point of Contact.

Miss Mason - DSL and LAC Lead

The new decade 2020 has started, and Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College has finished its first half term in it. The activities that make this school a special place are in full swing. We can look forward to the Performing Arts Evening on the 1st and 2nd April, the College Production of “My Fair Lady” in February and the celebration events. These are just a few things that make this college what it is, and your support is very much appreciated.

The development and constant updating of our Twitter page and our Facebook page is a great way of seeing what is happening at the college and the photos on the page help you see the enjoyment everybody is having!

Parents’ Evening in a number of Year groups and other preparation meetings will take place in this half term. These are such an important way to discuss your child’s progress and achievements I hope everybody can make them.

I know I repeat this on every newsletter but it is so important to say, on behalf of the Governing body, I thank all the parents and guardians of the college students for their support in the many activities and events, and generally helping all our students achieve their potential.

Philip Carney - Chair of Governors Key Dates 24th February - Students Return 24th February - Year 11 2nd Core Mocks Begins 26th February - Ash Wednesday Services 29th February - Worcester Sixth Form Open Event 10am - 1pm 1st March - First Sunday in Lent 2nd March - Year 11 2nd Non-Core Mocks Begins 3rd March - Year 10 Parents Evening 5th March - World Book Day 11th March - Year 8 Parents’ Evening 12th March - Year 7 Pastoral Development Day 13th March - College Vocations Day of Prayer & Adoration 16th March Year 8 Boys and Girls HPV Vaccinations 21st March - Heart of Worcester College Open Event 11am - 2pm 23rd March - Curriculum Planning Afternoon - Students finish at 1:35pm 25th March - Year 11 Exam Preparation Evening 27th March - Lenten Reconciliation Services 1st & 2nd April - Performing Arts Evenings 3rd April - Easter Services 3rd April - Students finish for Easter at 12:30

Stars in Our Schools UNISON recognised School support staff across the region on 29th November 2019, as part of a UK-wide celebration of the invaluable contribution they make to the education of students. School support staff are so often the unsung heroes in our schools and play an integral part of the education of young people. Their roles are incredibly diverse, from cooks, cleaners and caretakers to family support advisers, examinations staff and school business managers. They play a vital role in every aspect of school life and without them schools could not run. We had the largest volume of nominations that we have ever received for this competition and deciding on the winners was a difficult task. From all the nominations we selected five winners who all showed commitment to their roles, exceptional personalities and supportive to the students and colleagues they work with. All of the winners are a credit to the schools they work in, which were; Christopher Whitehead Language College- Worcester, Fort Royal Community Primary School- Worcester, Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College- Worcester, St Mary’s CE Primary School- Kidderminster, Woodrush High School Birmingham.

Year 8 gathered in cinematic style to watch 'Holes' in the Drama studio, which accompanied the study of the novel throughout term 1.

Mrs Jhall—Head of English

Exam Invigilator - VACANCIES! Examination Invigilators (Readers/Scribes) are required to join our current team for the Summer 2020 exam series onwards. Duties include supervising and supporting students during exams; assisting the Exam Officer with ensuring the smooth running of internal and external examinations. Experience is not essential as training will be provided. Variable hours of work during examination periods throughout the year. For more information, please contact Mrs Emma Duell, Examination Officer Tel: 01905 361 869; Email: eduell@blessededward.co.uk

As part of our on-going careers provision students have been given access to the careers platform start.

This platform provides comprehensive and impartial careers information for students from Years 7 to 13 and includes tools such as job suitability and profiling. It contains up to date information about future study and career options. Students can follow the activities on start to help them make informed choices about their future. The start programme is currently being used within school but can also be accessed independently by students from home. Parents and carers are also able to use start and access the same information in order to support children with their choices. More information can be found online at startprofile.com Mrs Holland - Careers and Aspirations Coordinator The Year 10 Performing Arts group put together their own Performing Arts Evening for an audience of over 50 people. They organised the whole event including the posters, tickets, programme, rehearsals, refreshments, lighting, backdrops etc. This was their first attempt at understanding what goes on 'behind the scenes' when putting on a show. The evening was a real success!!

Mrs Thomas - Head of Performing Arts

Language Workshop Year 9 students attended some inspiring language workshops from a wide variety of guest speakers, for example an engineer, a translator, flying commentator, sporting coaches, former students and sixth formers. Our visitors talked about how languages had opened doors for them enabling a number of interesting and life changing opportunities, for work and travel. We hope they may inspire future generations of language learners.

Mrs Parker - Head of MFL

23 students and teachers from the Tianjin No.102 High School, in China visited Blessed Edward Oldcorne last month. Students from Years 7 to 11 were college mentors for the visitors and enjoyed making new friends. The students loved their time with their English partners and we all enjoyed sharing stories of our different cultures. We look forward to our next student visit in the summer. See Mrs Parker if you are interested in having a partner.

Mrs Parker—Head of MFL

Holocaust Memorial Day - 27th January This year is the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp near Krakow in Poland. As part of our commemoration of this important event in our history, Mrs Thomas has been leading this weeks assemblies on this and has been highlighting the unimaginable horrors that were perpetrated against the Jews and other minority groups by the Nazi Regime between 1933 and 1945. The culmination of which was the murder of over 6 million Jews across Europe in camps such as Auschwitz-Birkenau. The theme of this year is '#Stand Together' and highlights the fact that each of those 6 million people were individuals who need to be remembered.

In their assembly students were given pieces of paper with names and details of what happened to individuals who died in the Holocaust. Students were asked to hold that individual in their prayers.

In addition a group of Year 10 History students accompanied Mr Jessop to the Guildhall to take part in a Civic ceremony of remembrance. This was attended by students from schools around Worcester as well as faith leaders and councillors. They heard the testimony of Mindu Hornick MBE, a Holocaust survivor who has spent the last 20 years educating people of the dangers of intolerance and growing levels of Islamaphobia and Anti-Semitism. As a young girl Mindu, who was born in Czechoslovakia, miraculously survived both Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp and a forced labour camp before being liberated by the British. Her moving testimony was a privilege to experience and will stay in the memory of those who were there for a long time.

Phoebe, in class 10 Line, represented Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College by reading the following statement of commitment, "We believe the Holocaust must have a permanent place in our nation’s and community’s collective memory. We honour the survivors still with us, and reaffirm our shared goals of mutual understanding and justice."

Mr Jessop - Head of Humanities

Blessed Edward’s Mock General Election On 12th December students at Blessed Edward’s voted for the party of their choice in our very own mock election. During assemblies in the run up to this day, students from all year groups representing four different parties delivered manifesto speeches and presentations to their year groups so that they could make informed choices on voting day.

One of the classrooms was turned into a polling station with voting booths and official notices about the process of voting. We had student polling officers and counting teams ready and prepared to support the process.

On election day, all students at Blessed Edwards were called to vote class by class. It was a truly authentic experience of what it is like to take part in this important democratic process and an opportunity to prepare and encourage our students to be actively engaged in decisions that shape our country.

The results of the college election were most interesting!

The Labour Party – 282 votes The Conservative Party – 246 votes The Liberal Democrats – 246 votes The Green Party – 156 votes Spoiled ballot papers – 23 First Past the Post: THE LABOUR PARTY Mrs Thomas - Deputy Headteacher

Library News At the beginning of the school year we proudly announced that several Worcestershire Schools worked together to create a book to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Michael Rosen's "We're going on a Bear Hunt" We called our version "We're Going on a Book Hunt" The full version is now available and can be viewed on the WCBG blog https://wcbgblog.wordpress.com/ The photos viewed here show a snapshot of our contribution.

It was fun creating it with the students, and working with other Worcestershire Schools.

ICT Fayre The ICT department held its fifth annual fayre aimed at promoting pathways for students post-16, with a range of educational establishments and organisations attending. A record number of organisations attended this year, 18!!! Students engaged in a range of activities, including cyber security, the use of aviation simulations, coding and other challenges. Students really enjoyed the activities with Emmy in Year 10 saying “It was inspiring to see female computer scientists and the pathways available”.

A special thank you to all the exhibitors and staff that helped with the organisation of the event, ‘til next year!

Mr Nicholls - Head of ICT

STEM Club On Monday 20th January the dedicated members of STEM club presented their designs for a piece of ‘wearable tech’ that solves a real life problem to a panel of judges. The four teams gave fantastic presentations, confidently explaining their designs for a self-heating coat, a cot death prevention baby grow, a pair of glasses that could provide solutions to eye problems and a cyclist’s jacket with built in indicators, lights and emergency call out system. The judges, head of science Mrs Lynn and head of DT Mr Hewitt, were incredibly impressed with the four teams detailed presentations and the effort that had gone into researching the topics. All four ideas held real merit and had clearly been well thought through. The judges then faced the mammoth task of choosing a winner and in the end decided that this was impossible! Awarding first place to the designs for the baby grow, designed and submitted by Phoebe and Hannah both in Year 7; the self-heating coat, designed and submitted by Lily, Daniel, Daniel, Lachlan and Brandon all in Year 8; and the cyclists jacket, designed and submitted by Adam, Rhys and Barbara also all in Year 8. Congratulations to all members of the STEM club and we look forward to starting a new project with you.

STEM Club runs on a Monday lunch time in room 31 and is keen to welcome new members.

Miss Bone and Mr Bradburn—Science Teachers

It All Adds Up for Year 11 Mathematicians!

In January, twelve of the best mathematicians in Year 11 visited the Mathematical Institute at Oxford University, for an event designed to encourage more girls to study Maths and related subjects at A Level and beyond.

The amazing mathematics we were introduced to included how the properties of everyday shapes can change if they are drawn on different surfaces – did you know that a triangle can have three right angles??

Our girls engaged brilliantly with a break-out session on solving problems, led by a current 2nd year Oxford undergraduate.

We also learned much more about their future options for A Level study and extended opportunities involving further maths study, plus we had an insight into the multiple careers that involve or require mathematical qualifications or study.

A brilliant and inspiring day.

Mr Ellis - Maths Teacher

On Monday 13th January, the Year 8/9 basketball team played in the Worcester School's Basketball Tournament held in our sports hall.

We comfortably beat Bishop Perowne then despite missing a few players due to absence, we managed to edge out Christopher Whitehead in a very close, tense decider. The team will now go to Bromsgrove School on 30th January to compete in the School Games County finals. Well done to all the lads.

Mr Coward - Head of PE On Thursday 30th January, the Year 9 basketball team went to Bromsgrove School to take part in the Worcestershire County Finals.

In the first pool game they lost to a strong and very tall Bromsgrove School team but managed to beat St. Augustine's 14-10 in a close encounter in their second game.

This put our team in the semi-finals where we comfortably beat Woodrush.

This pitted us against Bromsgrove School again in the final and although the game was very close until the last 5 minutes, Bromsgrove pulled out to a 10 point lead and held on to win.

Our boys played extremely well and were only beaten by a very good, well-drilled Bromsgrove team and it is an impressive achievement to be the second best team in Worcestershire.

Patrick was our Most Valuable Player, well done to him and all of the boys that took part; Guy, Toby, Doug, Leon, Jamal, Hayden, Patrick, Sav, Archie and Santino.

Mr Coward - Head of PE

Year 7A netball team played brilliantly in their Year 7 District Tournament, despite the torrential rain. They finished in 3rd place, as the top performing state school.

Well done to Rosie in Year 11 who has just been selected for the U17 Wasps Netball squad.

The U12 B Netball team came 3rd this month in their District Tournament. They won against CWLC, lost against Kings and RGS. They played with resilience and determination on a very cold evening.

Good team spirit girls, well done!

The 15 and Under swimming relay teams started 2020 with some great performances in the Invitational Relay Gala at Perdiswell on Friday 24th January, all qualifying for finals!

Girls A team: 2nd medley, 4th freestyle. B team 14th medley, 15th freestyle. Boys A team: 5th medley, 6th freestyle. B team 16th medley, 15th freestyle. Well done to the teams!

Miss Ingram - PE Teacher