Easter 2011 by St. Mary's Catholic College

ST MA RY ’ S CAT H O L I C C O L L E G E A Specialist College for the Arts & Applied Learning

newsletter Easter 2011

College records broken!

Best ever Maths GCSE results

ARLY GCSE results have confirmed our confident expectations. St Mary’s is delighted to report the highest pass rate in Mathematics the college has ever had. And the indications are that even this will be surpassed in the summer examinations! Fifty three per cent of our current Year 11 students already have a Grade C or above in Maths, which is 9% more than in August last year. It is now expected that the 2011 final results will top the 60% mark. Headteacher Mr Tony Boyle said: ‘Congratulations to all the students in Year 11 who have reaped the rewards of their efforts. And great credit and thanks is due to our Maths teachers who have gone that extra mile, both in lesson time and in the extra sessions delivered after college.’ Linking the Maths results with St Mary’s excellent early entry results in English (59% with A*-C), Mr Boyle added: ‘We now know that this summer we will smash the college record for the percentage of students achieving five A*-C including English and Maths. The only question is...how high will the new college records be?’

ASTER is a new beginning for us all. And with better weather and bluer skies ahead (with any luck!) we would like to wish all our readers a happy, holy, restful Easter holiday.

T WAS incredibly, totally awesome! St Mary’s sell-out production of Back to the 80s was a riproaring time capsule of fun, big hair, leg warmers, and unforgettable dance music. Audiences were thrilled over four nights and transported back in time to a world before CDs, before mobile phones and PCs, when Michael Jackson and Rick Astley were the Kings of Pop. Don’t miss our Picture Special on pages 13 to 18! Photo courtesy of Matthew Davies, Year 10

Holly lands place at top fashion college

Holly Clare

OLLY Clare has beaten thousands of other applicants to land a place at the prestigious London College of Fashion. Talented textiles and fashion designer Holly, aged 19, left St Mary’s last year and is currently studying for a Foundation Diploma in Art at Wirral Met College. Places on the degree course, run by the University of Arts London are highly prized, but Holly’s former Art teacher Miss Ali McWatt is not at all surprised at her success. She said: ‘Holly has done amazingly well to be accepted, but then she is a very exceptional student. The costumes and designs she produced for A Level were simply stunning.’ London College of Fashion alumni include Jarvis Cocker, Anthony Gormley, Stella McCartney and shoe designer Professor Jimmy Choo, OBE.

Left: One of Holly’s designs which featured in last year’s St Mary’s Arts Show.

T was a great move for these Dance students (right) when they visited London for the Move It Dance Festival at Olympia, an annual event which attracts more than 20,000 visitors. And during their time off in the capital, they also managed to take in Billy Elliot, the hit West End stage show.

James wins funding for knife crime project

James receives a cheque from Lion Daphne Trivett and Lion Cath Dowden of West Kirby Lions Club watched by Deputy Head of Sixth Form Mr Dave McCarthy

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IXTH former James Malpeli has won recognition in a North West competition for his work against knife crime. The 17-year-old from Moreton has been involved for more than a year with other Wirral teenagers in a Government-funded project, RE:ACT, taking workshops to schools and designing billboard posters to deliver the dangers of carrying knives. As a result he has received the Lions International Young Ambassador’s Award for 700 hours’ of community work, and has secured further valuable funding for the project. James, who plans to study for a degree in Youth and Community Work later this year, said: ‘I first volunteered for the project in September 2009, and as a team we received £5,000 to help raise awareness in schools about the increase in knife crime. We were very successful and soon I was being contacted by newspapers and radio stations. Unfortunately the funding ran out, but through the Lions award, the project can now continue’. He added: ‘I really enjoy youth work, and I hope to have a career in that direction.’ Where community safety is concerned, James will be following in his elder brother’s footsteps! PC Andy Edwards is a regular friendly face in St Mary’s and other schools carrying out his duties as a community police officer. See Crash team on Page 5.

Lunch of the Irish

T was shamrocks all the way in our college canteen to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. And to give an extra special Irish flavour to lunchtime, students and staff could choose from a Gaelic menu that included Irish Stew, Guinness and Steak Pie, Colcannon and Irish buns. Irish breakfasts (complete with white pudding) were served at morning break! Pictured right: Catering staff get into the mood with Drama teacher Miss Ciara McCallion, who comes from the City of Derry in Northern Ireland.

Food fast and good! W

HO’D have thought making your own healthy pizzas was so easy? But that’s what these Year 8 students found when they attended the Junk Food Roadshow as part of their DT Food classes. Healthy food expert Samantha Jones (pictured far left) also demonstrated how to make delicious smoothies and pasta dishes.

Many members of our college community have given up some favourite things for the six weeks of Lent...nearly there, now! Easter eggs in sight!

And food for thought

E marked the season of Lent in St Mary’s College Chapel with special weekly Masses as well as services for students and staff offering the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Pictured here is Fr Philip Moor of The Holy Apostles’ and Martyrs’ Parish, Wallasey Village, and students from Year 7 with some of the Lenten symbols. Page 3

Connor’s solution

Right: Connor receives his award from Local Solutions Chairman Peter Owen watched by playscheme manager Jean Graham

HOOSING a career can be difficult...but Connor Hitchmough seems to have found his own solution to that particular problem! The Year 11 St Mary’s student is planning to work in special needs sports education as a result of his voluntary work for a Liverpool social work organisation. His efforts over the last two years at a playscheme for children of Liverpool University staff and students have been recognised with a special award, presented to him by Local Solutions Chairman Robert Owen. Connor received the David Shone Memorial Award at the organisation’s annual presentation day. He was praised by playscheme manager Jean Graham (pictured) for his skill in relating to the youngsters, some of whom have behavioural difficulties. Connor’s own involvement with the city centre playscheme began when he started to attend during school holidays as the son of university staff member Mrs Claire Hitchmough. As well as working on the scheme, he is also currently enrolled on a special skills coaching course through a Wirral council-run youth initiative. Last term, he chose to do his Year 11 work experience at Gilbrook Special School, Birkenhead, a school for children with emotional and behavioural problems and he has also recently completed a Level One qualification in Boccia coaching. The game, similar to bowls, is particularly aimed at improving the sports and confidence skills of disadvantaged youngsters. Sixteen-year-old Connor, who will take his GCSEs this summer, is hoping to take PE, Biology, Leisure Studies and History at A Level.  Local Solutions is a leading social enterprise across the North West of England, established in 1974. It has a proven track record of

improving the quality of life of vulnerable and excluded people through a variety of projects including anti-bullying support, carers’ and early years’ support and programmes to help young homeless people. Learn more at www.localsolutions.org.uk

A well-earned rest for Mr M

Special people needed C

HARLOTTE Nolan loves her job working with some very special Wirral students. And, like Connor (above), her choice of career has been an altogether very easy one to make...

ANY thanks are due to retiring St Mary’s Governor Mr Peter Milligan. For the last 20 years Mr Milligan (pictured) has served unstintingly on many different committees of the governing body. He is finally taking a well-earned rest and is now looking forward to spending a lot more time with his five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Mr Milligan, a retired print works manager who lives in Moreton, said: ‘It has been a great privilege to serve the great community of St Mary’s, and I wish my colleagues well in all their future endeavours.’

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The former St Mary’s Sixth Former (pictured right) is now a learning support assistant at Foxfield Special School, Moreton. Charlotte, aged 19, gained her Level 3 Diploma in Child Care Education last year and first went to the school on work experience while still in Sixth Form. She said: ‘I think I have the best job in the world. I am so happy to be working with such amazing pupils and staff. The children in my class are the most wonderful people you will ever meet. They are all in wheelchairs and some have serious conditions like cerebral palsy. It’s very hard work but when they do something simple that they’ve never done before, maybe like pressing a switch or something to say hello, you get such a happy feeling inside.’ She added: ‘Our biggest achievement this year was to get one of the pupils to sit unsupported on a stool. It took us six months, and when he finally managed to do it there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. ‘I’ve also worked with Down's Syndrome students, taking them out shopping, and in a class of severely autistic students. We did a lot of art and sensory activities, which is right up my street. We covered the floor with binbags and squirted cans of shaving foam all over the floor. I don’t know who liked it more, the students or the staff!’

St Mary’s film makers win road safety competition

Crash team I

This is a scene from the

T was a lot harder than crossing the road! film and, but sadly for When St Mary’s students acted on their many teenagers, road accidents become real instincts and made a video about road tragedies safety, they scored a dramatic victory in a Wirral-wide competition. A team of Year 11 Drama students wrote, directed and starred in their own short film for the competition which was sponsored by Merseyside Police and Wirral Council. Students from Wirral secondary schools were asked to raise awareness of road safety in an initiative aimed at saving young lives. Police Superintendent Mike Cloherty, who helped judge the competition, said: ‘The standard of entries was extremely high, and it was very impressive to see the quality of ID YOU KNOW…..? the films. Statistics show that young people between 12 and 16 are more likely to be Young people injured or killed in a road traffic collision than in any other accident. These films carry a between the ages of 12 vital message, written for young people, by young people.’ and 16 are more likely St Mary’s winning film tells the story of a teenage boy who is late meeting his friends. When he is distracted by his mobile phone while crossing to be killed or injured the road, he is struck by a car. Nick Madden, who took the while crossing the road main role, said: ‘We really enjoyed the whole experience, than in any other kind from coming up with the ideas to filming and creating the of accident! final product.’ He added: ‘Our film shows how easily people can get distracted with iPods and mobile phones, so it is even more important that we remember the basics when crossing the road. We are all really proud.’ And Drama teacher Miss Ciara McCallion, who oversaw the project, was delighted with their success. She said: They worked really hard, and I’m really proud of their achievement. They are all buzzing with the success and I think Nick Madden, Miss it will stand them in good stead for McCallion and PC Andy the future, as well as potentially Edwards with Kate Croft Ciaran Gregory, Rebecca helping to save lives on the roads by Peters, Mark Griffiths and raising awareness. As teenagers, they Luke McMillan all said that people stop reminding them about road safety, so they are all very pleased to be delivering such an important message, which has been well received by all the other students’. St Mary’s was awarded a £500 first prize, which will be used for further Drama projects. Runners up were Upton Hall School and Rock Ferry High School.

‘People stop reminding teenagers about road safety’

The winning video can be seen on YouTube, PC Lamb Banana’s web page on Facebook or by following the link on St Mary’s website: www.stmaryscollege.wirral.sch.uk

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Winner Nathan Young with his Great Wall of China model, Daisy McAleny with her Giant Redwood and Ella Bartlett with her Rainforest model

Year 7 Supermodellers received award certificates and were congratulated on their hard work by Ms MacKay, Head of Geography, Mr Davies and Mr Biggins

UPERMODELS have come to St Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s! They are the work and brainchildren of Year 7 Geographers who have worked for many hours making the most amazingly detailed models of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest mountains, longest rivers, biggest bridges, greatest waterfalls...the superlatives of the Geography world. Superlative model-maker Nathan Young won the annual competition with his brown sugar-lump depiction of The Great Wall of China. Runners up were Daisy McAleny for her Giant Redwood Totem and Ella Bartlett for her model of a Rainforest. Other models included The Pyramids, The Statue of Liberty, the Petronas Towers, the Sahara Desert and Mount Everest. The impressive display has been on view in the Geography Department this term.

All aboard for the Duck Tour

AKING a splash in the Liverpool docks were these Year 9 Geographers who enjoyed some field work on the redevelopment of the city, taking a closer look at the Liverpool One shopping centre and also land use on the banks of the Mersey. They rounded off their day with a ride on the Liverpool Duck Marine, an amphibious World War II vehicle which tours the streets of the city before splashing into the water near the Albert Dock.

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Kenya changed everything for me, says Jade Left and anti clockwise: Jade Carter and snapshots of her African experiences

INE weeks in Africa have changed Jade Carter’s life. The former St Mary’s Sixth Form student who once wanted to be a product designer now wants to make a different kind of career for herself...in international development.

Dig this: Jade helped to plant trees which prevent soil erosion

Jade, aged 20, left St Mary’s to study Product Design at John Moores University, but after being accepted on a charity project in Kenya last year with student organisation Platform 2, her world is literally transformed. ‘It was just amazing to be there’ she said. ‘Kenyan people welcome you with so much love. They have nothing in material terms, but they have so much hope’ she said. During her time in the village of Nderu, about 45 minutes away from the capital Nairobi, she and a team of 15 student volunteers worked in a primary school, making teaching aids, improving facilities and opening a library. They even learned to communicate in the local language, Swahili. Jade, from Liscard, said: ‘Living conditions in the village were quite basic, and we showered under a bucket of cold water, just like the local people. But I really want to go back. It was a fantastic experience and I made some really good friends.’ Sadly Jade’s time in Kenya had to be curtailed by one week because she cut her foot while going barefoot on some rocks near the spectacular KENYA Fourteen Falls on the Athi river, a local beauty spot. But five stitches and a sore foot certainly didn’t spoil the experience...except for shortening it! Jade is currently applying through UCAS to study for a degree in International Development. She hopes eventually to work for charities like Christian Aid or Cafod. ‘I want to help make people more aware of the issue of poverty in the world’ she said.

‘The people have so much hope’

The rooftops of Kibera Slum, the third largest slum in the world. The little girl pictured with Jade (left) lives here.

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A little bite of a Big Apple ...or how our A Level History and Politics students made the most of researching their subject

HE pursuit of happiness is one of the key proclamations of the American Constitution...and that is precisely what we experienced during our tours of New York and Washington. Soon after leaving JFK Airport, we got a real sense of the city...skyscraper after skyscraper, Starbucks after Starbucks, the scale of it all is just awe-inspiring. We visited the UN Building, got a bird’s eye view from the Rockefeller Centre, and learned the stories of the countless immigrants on Ellis Island – passing the Statue of Liberty on the way. (I took the picture you see here.) Then we strolled in Central Park and Strawberry Fields to see John Lennon’s memorial. (Imagine that!). Six hours and five states later, (and some much-needed sleep) we arrived in the nation’s capital. It’s obvious from the first that this is a showcase of the best the US can offer. We marvelled at the Smithsonian Institute, the Capitol and the Air and Space Museum. Like George Washington himself, I could not tell a lie: one of the real city highlights was a visit to Mr Smith’s Diner for the great food (and massive portions!) but also a great way to finish our time together on our last night. Thank you to everyone on the trip for making it so enjoyable, but a very special thank you to Mr Bird, for all his Joe McDowell, Year 13 hard work in organising it.

Cop that! A friendly security officer makes time for a photo on the roof of the Rockefeller building

At the John Lennon memorial in Central Park, New York BELOW LEFT: Feeling the power of the Presidential podium in the Smithsonian Institution (not the real thing, obviously!) And, below centre, on the White House lawn (well nearly).

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Blue skies at the Capitol, Washington, DC

‘Times Square at night was awesome’ Times Square, New York

‘I found it amazing. Times Square and Georgetown are places I definitely want to go back to.’ Carmen Billington

Stephen Pollard

‘An amazing eye-opener to the history of America…’ Danny Platt

Stretch limo to stretch the imagination!

At the feet of Abraham Lincoln’s statue in Washington

‘The most educational and exciting week of my life. In one word, though, phenomenal!’ Ashleigh Cotton

‘Such a busy, memorable week! So educational in a way that you cannot learn in the classroom, and with the best people. Will remember it forever, and tell my grandchildren.’ Siw Cattle

‘Legendary trip, legendary week!’ It’s inside the real United Nations Building, but it’s not the real Secretary-General Ban Ki –moon, of course!

James Ali

Here and inset : meeting some native New Yorkers

Another breathtaking view of The Big Apple

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Christmas seems so long ago, now the daffodils are blooming, and our annual Senior Citizens’ Party is always too late to make it into the December Newsletter. However, as you can see, a fun time was had by all!

AMPERED beyond belief! This was the scene (right) in St Mary’s Chapel just before last Christmas when members of our Youth SVP had finished decorating scores of hampers ready to be distributed among local senior citizens. The boxes were crammed full of yummy Christmas treats, all donated by St Mary’s students and staff. Handmade cards, designed and produced by the students themselves, completed the gifts. Page 10

Guiding hands

ISS Catriona Skinner definitely has a lot on her hands these days! Not only is she a full time RE Miss Skinner as we teacher and a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award youth are not accustomed to seeing her...in leader...but she is also one of the youngest Girlguiding Guide uniform commissioners in the country. The 31-year-old was recently installed as County Commissioner for Cheshire Forest, which caters for 6,000 Girl Guide members in the greater Chester ...that the Scout Movement, which gave rise to today’s area. It is a high honour in Guiding circuits, and recognises Miss Scouts and Guides, first began in Birkenhead? Lord Skinner’s obvious abilities of leadership and determination. She Baden-Powell launched the first two troops in 1908 at now has the responsibility for the next the town’s YMCA, now the site of Primark in Grange five years of running and overseeing all Road. And the movement’s Coming of Age Jamboree the Guiding activities in and around in 1929 was held on the site of Arrowe Park Hospital, Chester, Warrington, Halton, and attracting 50,000 Scouts from all over the world. Middlewich. It is a role she has moved into quite easily. For instance, last year, Miss Skinner was Lead Volunteer in The Great Getaway Gig, a Glastonburystyle live music event for 1,000 Guides at Tabley, Cheshire, starring headline band Twenty Twenty. Meanwhile, when she is not Guiding, Miss Skinner is busy leading and supporting Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award activities and expeditions. All this is a far cry from a time in her life when she was confined to her home for a year, due to a serious illness. At the age of 17, when she had just completed her Year 12 studies, Miss Skinner contracted the ME virus and her life came to a virtual standstill. She was simply unable to take part in the outdoor activities she loves. She said: ‘I had just returned from a three-week Guide event in the Czech Republic, and was buzzing with all the things I wanted to do. Then suddenly my muscles were aching and I was too tired to even get out of bed. I suffered memory loss and there was nothing I could do to stop it. It was very frightening, and the symptoms lasted a whole Carry on Camping… year.’ However, in characteristic form, Miss Skinner battled back to health, and Miss Skinner at last has not let the experience hold her back. She added: ‘I have loved the Guide summer’s Guide movement since I was first a Brownie at the age of seven. It’s a completely Centenary event in the different kind of education, focusing on lifeskills, offering our members a girl-only grounds of Harewood space in which they can grow and develop friendships, making their voice heard. House, Leeds It’s about sharing ideas, learning new skills and having fun!’

Did you know…?

‘High honour’

From summer Guide camp to the heights of Kilimanjaro

F Miss Skinner plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro this summer

ROM the dizzy heights of Girlguiding to the dizzy heights of an African mountain...Miss Skinner is obviously at the peak of her powers! She plans to climb the Tanzanian summit this summer - ‘just because I’ve always wanted to’ - and also to raise money for our sister school in Nigeria, Maryland School. Miss Skinner (inset) spent a month in nearby Kenya as part of her degree course at Chester University and developed a love for the continent. Now she wants to make Kilimanjaro her first conquest of the world famous Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each on the seven continents. Page 11

St Mary’s Swing Band’s Funky Lunch Concert in aid of Vanessa Nokes’ charity project. Band leader is Mr Daniel Elson, here playing trombone

Bold, brass move to help Vanessa

T MARY’S Swing Band came up with a bold idea...all to help band member Vanessa Nokes in a summer charity project. The musicians, whose repertoire of foot-tapping numbers seems to be ever-increasing, staged a lunchtime Funky Lunch concert to raise money for the Year 11’s three-week working holiday in Morocco. Girl Guide Vanessa will be representing North West Guiding on the community action trip organised in conjunction with the Discover Charity Project Group. Said Vanessa: ‘We will have the opportunity to teach young girls and women new skills so that they can become confident, independent and able to make money for their communities. We could end up building walls or roads, collecting the harvests, painting schools, planting trees or teaching skills such as baking and crafts.’ The trip costs £1,200, most of which Vanessa is required to raise herself through fundraising.

Vanessa (above and second from right, below) plays clarinet with St Mary’s Swing Band

And swinging into action for Peter

Right: Peter became a Marine in 2006 at the age of 22

WING Band members also swung into action in aid of Peter Dunning, the 26-year-old former Marine from Wallasey who lost his legs in a landmine explosion in Afghanistan. The band played a selection of their repertoire at a concert in St Hilary’s Church also featuring The Wallasey Choir, and raised funds for Peter and the national Help For Heroes charity. Peter, a former student of St Mary’s, has been selected to join the Great Britain Disabled Ski Team and hopes to represent his country at the 2014 Sochi Paralympics in Russia. The brave athlete, pictured left in training, has returned to the peak of fitness through sheer determination and courage. You can donate too at www.justgiving.com/Peter-Dunning

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UR seventh major production as a Specialist Arts College… and they just keep getting bigger and better! Back to the 80’s featured the largest ever cast in a St Mary’s College production...170 students acted, sang and danced showing off their range of stunning talents. Packed audiences over four nights loved it. Everyone, cast and production team included, had a blast...

HE totally awesome production of Back to the 80’s by St Mary’s Theatre Company took audiences by storm in sell-out performances over four nights! It was our most ambitious project so far, involving 170 cast members and around 100 other students and staff in backstage and front of house roles. The hit Broadway musical tells the story of a class of students of William Ocean High School, who graduated in the 1980s, when big hair was cool and Rubik’s cubes and The Ghostbusters were all the rage. State-of-theart computer games like Pac-Man were played on Atari systems, Michael Jackson was the King of Pop and music came to us via funny little plastic reels with brown tape, called cassettes. CDs had just been invented. But they were never going to catch on, were they…?

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The vintage music came courtesy of St Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Back to the 80s Band

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Viva España! E

NJOYING the Spanish Spring sunshine was this group of Sixth Form Leisure and Tourism students who extended their fieldwork research a little further than usual...to the beautiful city of Barcelona. They made the most of their fourday stay in the region of Catalonia, taking in all the major tourist attractions, including Antonio Gaudi’s famous La Sagrada Familia church and the wavy ‘Quarry’ building, La Pedrera (below).

Barcelona!

At the field of dreams

In the footsteps of the famous

T really was the stuff of dreams...walking in the footsteps of legendary European soccer stars through the famous FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou Stadium (left and above). Page 19

Wear the uniform, feel the part! Year 11 students at Merseyside Fire Service Training Academy in Croxteth, Liverpool

All fired up! YEAR HEAD FIGHTS FIRE! Year 11’s Head of Year Mr Paul McColgan just couldn’t resist having a go, too…!

Hot stuff...how to extinguish flames safely

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EAR 11 students burned with enthusiasm to complete their coursework for the Level 2 Certificate for Entry to the Uniformed Services especially since it involved learning fire fighting techniques at first hand from the experts. Twelve students donned heavy protective gear and were soon using high pressure fire hoses, extinguishing controlled blazes and possibly best of all, sitting in the fire engine cabs! They visited Birkenhead Fire Station and Merseyside Fire Service Training Academy in Croxteth, Liverpool. Later in their course they visited Forest Camp, Delamere, Cheshire (see opposite page).

Having a blast at Croxteth Fire Academy...but mind where the water goes!

Archery practice helps to focus the mind...and the bullseye

Targeting careers

UTWARD bound, and bang on target...these St Mary’s students are all hoping to make their dream of a career in uniform a reality. They are working towards their Level 2 Certificate for Entry to the Uniformed Services, an applied learning course delivered by Shaftesbury Youth Academy in Birkenhead. As part of their studies, they are expected to meet the physical challenges of living outdoors, working as a team to solve problems and even following uniformed service routine, which includes drill practice! They completed their Adventurous Outdoor Activities coursework unit at the Scouts’ Forest Camp, Delamere, Cheshire.

Building a raft...then (below right) hoping it floats!

Intent on a career in uniform

Eating al fresco… and boy does it taste good when you’ve met the challenges of the day

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EAR 7 students traded fair and square in St Mary’s Sports Hall...and sold a variety of their own sourced products to visiting parents and fellow students. It’s all part of their Enterprise education. Each group was given a start-up allowance and any profit was duly pocketed!

Lauren’s job success

airdressing student Lauren Muir so impressed her work experience employers that they offered her a job! Lauren, 17, is currently completing her NVQ Level 2 qualification at St Mary’s Hair and Beauty Academy. She will take up an apprenticeship at Setz Hair Salon, Wallasey Village, at the end of next term.

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Jimmy wins the Cambridge student vote

Jimmy Murray, now Chair of the Cambridge University Students’ Union

IMMY Murray is a remarkable young man by any standards. During his time at St Mary’s, he always impressed his teachers with his energy, enthusiasm and dedication. But now the 19-year-old Jimmy on the Geography student has won the campaign trail votes and confidence of his fellow undergraduates at Cambridge University. Jimmy, who is in his second year at Trinity Hall, stood in the recent elections as an independent candidate and is now delighted to find himself voted in as Chair of the CUSU (Cambridge University Students’ Union) as well as a delegate to the National Union of Students 2011 Conference due to be held in Newcastle this month. Wallasey-born Jimmy is now committed to speaking out publicly on education cuts, supporting anti-racist, anti-fascism and welfare programmes, and challenging the Government to protect social mobility policies in higher education. He said: ‘It has been a crazy term for elections. I’ve loved it. It was fantastic being elected as Chair of CUSU, and having the opportunity to speak on behalf of 20,000 Cambridge students in Newcastle is unbelievable. I’m excited to attend the National Union of Students’ Union to vote on policies which affect more than seven million students nationally. Hopefully we can get the NUS to take a tougher stand against the Coalition’s savage cuts to education.’ Jimmy, always well known in St Mary’s College productions, as well as his election to Wirral Youth Parliament, has thrown himself fully into the student life in Cambridge, even taking a lead role in a stage version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest last year. He was elected as Trinity Hall’s Junior Common Room (JCR) First Year Rep during his first term at the ancient college, and has been voted in as the JCR Access Officer for this year. He campaigns under the student election banner: HONEST, COMMITTED, RELIABLE! Jimmy at Trinity Hall, Cambridge

Top science award for Matthew

ALENTED student Matthew Quinn will be working alongside some of the country’s best scientific minds when he joins one of the Nuffield Foundation’s summer projects at Liverpool University. Places on the scheme are highly prized and 17-year-old Matthew (pictured right), will receive an £80 a week bursary as well as the honour of working on the prestigious scheme. He is currently taking A Levels in Biology, Physics and Chemistry and hopes to study medicine next year.

ID YOU KNOW? Lord Nuffield, whose educational foundation sponsors many Nuffield bursaries and scholarships, started his career mending bikes at the age of 14! Born William Morris in 1877, the eldest of seven children, he was to design and build the first Morris Oxford car in 1913 at his Cowley factory, Oxford, becoming known as the English Henry Ford. He made millions from the car industry, and gave most of it to found medical and educational institutions, including St Peter’s and Nuffield Colleges, Oxford. Advances in modern anaesthesia owe him a great debt, since he financed much early research after his own bad experience of appendicitis surgery in 1937. Page 23

UN, games and learning were at the centre of a wide range of special classes in St Mary’s Catholic College. Young scientists, artists, musicians and writers converged during the Spring Term for a four-week after-school programme specially tailored for Gifted and Talented students from our partner primary schools.

Music, art, science, English ...and even trampolining!

‘Broon’ brains win our Quiz Night N

Quizmaster Mr Malcolm Charles (behind) with the brainy Brown family...Joanna, Carole, Ian, Chris and Doreen.

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O question about it...brains obviously run in the Brown family! St Mary’s Science technician Ian Brown and his cerebral relatives proved their general knowledge supremacy at the Home School Association Quiz Night held at the Grosvenor Ballroom, Liscard. Under team name ‘The Broons’, they worked their way successfully through the devilish questions devised by our regular Questionmaster, Mr Malcolm Charles, who retired last year from his post as Head of Chemistry. Entertainment was provided by St Mary’s Swing Band and, since it was the night before St Patrick’s Day, Irish Stew was served to aid the general brain power in the room! Funds raised will be used for school projects.

HERE’S gold in them thar hills! But like all gold diggers, these Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award hopefuls will have to put a lot of hard work, mental agility and determination into achieving their aim. The Year 13 students pictured here on their expedition through Snowdonia, are now approaching the end of the demanding programme. If successful they will receive their awards from a senior member of the Royal Family at a special ceremony usually held in Buckingham Palace. Award hopefuls are: Alex Howard, Anthony Peters, Chloe Witchell-Chibber, Lauren Sanderson, Matthew Morgan, Vikki Rainford, Anna NielsenScott, Rebecca Reed, Ella Hornby, Grace Merrall, Lucy Archer, Natasha Heaney, Andrew Morris, Lee Lavery, Mitzi Clarke, Rachel Lavery, Ashleigh Cotton, Hollie Brook, Jessica Herndlhofer, Kate Burnett, Lucie Maddocks, David Morgan, Harry Murphy, Kyle Smith, Lee Charlton, Thomas Jones, Kieran Comer, Anthony Darcy, Callum Rutherford, Daniel Hutton, Daniel Bruce, Harry Johnson, Stephen Pollard, Anthony Brear.

Join the party at St Mary’s! G And finding their way to a Bronze Award

OLVING the mysteries of orienteering were these Year 8 Duke of Edinburgh’s Award hopefuls (above) who had to use Ordnance Survey maps to find their way along the highways and byways of Wirral. They were aided (only when necessary!) by Mr Andrew Biggins (pictured), Miss Katie Lane and Miss Debbie Murphy. The exercise is an important part of their Bronze Award programme, which includes a major expedition and community service projects.

ET fit for Summer! But get ready to ditch the workout and join a brand new Zumba Fitness dance class at St Mary’s. It will be like going to a party! The Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance craze is sweeping the world...and has now arrived in Wallasey Village, thanks to former student Danielle Moore. University students Danielle and Hayley Stewart, also a former St Mary’s student, have been running Strictly Dance, our community adult jazz dance group for the last year, which meets regularly on Tuesday evenings at 7pm. The Zumba will be an additional class starting at 6pm from May 3. You can join either class or both! The classes cost just £3 each. So don’t delay, ring Danielle today on 07801271979 or leave a message with St Mary’s school office on 0151 639 7531. Numbers are limited!

Starts Tuesday 3 May 6–6.45pm Page 25

Former student Danny joins top comedy tour W

HAT has a Dance undergraduate from New Brighton and a top comedian got in common…? Not much, you might think. But former St Mary’s student Danny Bradford (pictured left) and John Bishop have been appearing on the same bill during the top comedian’s UK Sunshine Tour. Danny, aged 21, is a third year student at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. He has already spent two weeks touring the country and will spend another four weeks in June, ending in a three-night special on home ground at the Liverpool Echo Arena. Danny, whose dream of being a professional dancer is already coming true, also starred in many St Mary’s productions, most notably our special adaptation of The Nutcracker ballet in 2006. Incidentally, Danny’s mum is our very own teaching assistant Mrs Mary Bradford, and younger brother Callum is in Year 7!

Slice of the fruit action H

EALTHY eating happens all the time in St Mary’s! But this term’s Healthy Eating Week reminded us of the benefits of enjoying a good diet. Many cross-curricular activities were planned for all year groups including, in Geography, a taster session in exotic fruits from around the world. Pictured right: Year 11 students with bananas from the Carribbean, dragon fruit from Vietnam and watermelon and honeydew melon from Spain.

Underground movement G

OING underground to improve their learning skills was this group of Gifted and Talented students from St Mary’s. They spent a weekend in North Wales at the Kingswood Activity Centre, Colomendy, enjoying a diverse programme which included caving, Maths revision, time on the 3G swing (very exhilarating!), more Maths revision, team building, a disco dancing with Italian exchange students and a mini Olympics. Oh yes, and more Maths revision! The weekend was designed to give top achievers in Year 10 the chance to do some extra study and to face some unusual physical challenges. Page 26

Exploring the manmade caves at Colomendy, North Wales

Mud larks!

N deepest Staffordshire you will find, near to the famous Alton Towers theme park, a real Gothic pile called Alton Castle...and lots and lots of mud! Sixty Year 7 St Mary’s Religious Education students joined our Spring Term annual visit to the Catholic Retreat Centre run by the Diocese of Birmingham (inset). And among all the other fun things they enjoyed were archery, cycling, climbing and walking. And, of course, quiet times for thought and reflection.

VERYONE in St Mary’s saw red for a day this term, but it was all in a very good cause. We supported Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day by donating £1 for the privilege of wearing something red. Choices of red attire varied from ties to hats, sunglasses, shoes and ribbons. It gave us all a funny feeling! Well done to everyone!  Year 7 students took part in a skipping challenge and raised £100 for the British Heart Foundation.

Girl power on the soccer pitch

UST like Keira Knightley in Bend It Like Beckham, St Mary’s soccer girls have

success as their goal! They have pitched enthusiastically into the male-dominated sport and achieved a clutch of successes in recent Wirral Schools’ League competitions. The St Mary’s Under 13s blue team (pictured left in their new team strip) came first in the Wirral Girls’ Indoor League and the Under 13s yellow team came first. Well done also to Year 10 girls who came first in the Under-15s league. Top goal scorers in the three teams were Leah McNay, Gemma Cunningham and Rachel Davison. Page 27

Year 7 swimmer is British champion

Matthew makes waves

Right: Matthew Harding swam his way to five individual gold medals and a bronze relay medal at the national disability swimming championships

RITISH champion swimmer Matthew Harding won no fewer than five medals at a recent national championships, beating bigger and older competitors to the podium. The Year 7 student, who is only 12 in July, carried off five individual 11~ 16 gold medals and a bronze relay medal in the Disability Sports Championships held in Sheffield. Matthew has achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder, which means his limbs are shorter than average. But that counts for nothing when he hits the water. Matthew’s favourite stroke is butterfly, requiring great upper body strength and technique, but he is equally good at front crawl and breaststroke, in which events he won the 50m gold medals, as well as the 100m front crawl and 100m individual medley. Matthew, who lives in New Brighton, trains at Europa Pools Birkenhead five times a week with Wirral Metro Swimming Club. And if his current success is anything to go by, he will definitely be a realistic hope for the British team at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. He is training as part of the English Federation of Disability Sport’s Playground to Podium programme.

Magnificent flying, Amy! W

Amy with one of her many trophies

HEN tiny Amy Catherall takes to the trampoline she transforms into a magnificent flying machine...and all at the age of 11. To prove how good she is, the Year 7 student has recently come eighth in the final of the UK Schools Trampolining Championship Under 13 Elite Competition. Super fit Amy is a regular medalwinner in local and regional competitions and trains six days a week at Birkenhead Trampolining Club. Amy’s PE teacher Mrs Lisa Snelson said: ‘Amy is amazingly talented, and we are very proud at St Mary’s of her achievements. She puts a great deal of hard work into her trampolining, but she just makes it look so easy.’

RELIVE THE MEMORIES IN OUR FLICK-THROUGH Visit St Mary’s website: www.stmaryscollege.wirral.sch.uk 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: schooloffice@stmaryscollege.wirral.sch.uk

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