Summer 2009 by St. Mary's Catholic College

S T M A RY ’ S CAT H O L I C C O L L E G E A Specialist College for the Arts & Applied Learning

newsletter Summer 2009

British Academy Awards for TWO ex-students

All in the game T

WO former St Mary’s students have won British Academy awards for their blockbuster computer games.

Ivan Davies and Leo Cubbin (pictured right with Headteacher Mr Paul Heitzman) received their prestigious awards for the Sony Playstation games Buzz Junior Jungle Party and LittleBIGPlanet. Amazingly, the talented duo had never even met until four years ago!

Full story: See page 3.

PICTURE SPECIAL!

WHO’s the mystery lady in the white bonnet? And what has she to do with a pair of Scouse star-cross’d lovers? Find out on in our Performing Arts Picture Special on pages 12 to 15.

And in the beautiful game, we’re Wirral Champions again! O UR Sixth Form soccer squad brought home the silverware from Prenton Park, beating Birkenhead Sixth Form College by four goals to three in the Wirral Schools Under-19s Masters Cup! Full story: See back page.

Good luck, Mr Heitzman! W

E can hardly believe it, but yes, it’s true. Mr Heitzman is leaving us this term to take over the leadership of three schools, no less, in Bradford! Mr Heitzman has been Headteacher of St Mary’s for 10 years and has seen our school go from strength to strength. In May 2007, Ofsted inspectors said St Mary’s was ‘outstanding’ in every respect, and we were identified earlier this year as one of the largest Catholic secondary schools in the country. Mr Heitzman (pictured right) will be Executive Headteacher of the new Bradford Catholic Federation starting in September. Meanwhile, Ms McDonough will be our Acting Headteacher.

Our brand new website is now live and kicking!

Below: a taster of what you’ll see.

ROM study and exam information to pictures of our past school productions and job vacancies...you’ll find them all on our new website. If you haven’t already had the pleasure, log on soon and navigate through the many portals, including our virtual learning platform. We guarantee you’ll find something fascinating! The new website has been overseen by Mr John Hanson, ICT Across the Curriculum Co-ordinator, and contributions have been made by every department in the school. And don’t forget to have a look at the Newsletter Archive! You’ll find virtual copies of St Mary’s Newsletter to ‘flick’ through, going back to 2004! www.stmaryscollege.wirral.sch.uk

Car booty

St Mary’s parent power W T HERE is absolutely no need to join our Home School Association. All St Mary’s parents are already members! We meet regularly once a month, and would love to hear your views, so why not come along to the first meeting of the new academic year at 7pm on September 7? And you could be a winner with our 100 Club. It costs £10 a year, and cash prizes are awarded each month. The 100 Club will restart in early September. Thank you to everyone who took part in our recent Parent Survey. It was a great success, and has given us lots to work on. You’ll find more detailed information in Ms McDonough’s end of term letter to all parents.

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E’ll have plenty of time over the summer to clear out all our junk. Put a date in your diary for our next Car Boot Sale on September 19. We hope for better weather than we had at our last sale in June!

Culture club

ONGRATULATIONS to Niall O’Donnell of Year 10 who won £20 in our Culture Vultures Competition. Sophie Ingram and Katie Brunt, both in Year 9, won £10 each.

Game on!

As Ivan and Leo’s former teacher, Assistant Head Mr John Lally (centre) feels the weight of responsibility (and the considerable weight of the Bafta statuettes!)

HO could have imagined it? Not one, but TWO former St Mary’s students winning Baftas!

Ivan Davies and Leo Cubbin, who both live in Wallasey, won the prestigious awards for their work on the world famous Playstation games LittleBIGPlanet and Buzz Junior Jungle Party (pictured above right). Their creative genius as video games producers was channelled for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, based in Wavertree, Liverpool. Ivan, aged 40, (pictured above left) collected his Bafta in 2007 for Buzz, while Leo, 47, received his in May for LittleBIGPlanet. They both travelled to this year’s glittering British Academy presentation, held in London’s Hilton Hotel, to walk the red carpet and sip champagne alongside the glamorous stars of stage ‘We’d never and screen, including Blond Bond Daniel Craig...practically a neighbour, coming as he does from Hoylake! met before Leo and Ivan, both now married with two children, followed circuitous employment routes after leaving St we started Mary’s. Leo worked on sound systems for Radio City for 10 years before going to Sony. Ivan was already there after working as a graphic designer and as a video game artist before completing an MA in Digital Games at working Liverpool University. ‘Ivan actually interviewed me for the job!’ he said. ‘We could hardly believe that we went to the for Sony’ same school and even lived near each other, but hadn’t known each other before that!’ Ivan, who left Sony last year to set up his own video games business, Catalyst Outsourcing,, hadn’t set foot in St Mary’s since he left in 1986, so a tour of the school brought back many memories, particularly in the gym, the sports hall (set out for exams!) and a classroom above the library. ‘Honestly, I was more nervous coming back here than I was going to the Baftas!’ he said.

Above: Sitting at a particular desk in Social Sciences 2 brought back a vivid memory for Ivan. He had to do a detention in the room when he was in Year 9. ‘I was caught smoking, I am ashamed to say’ said non-smoker Ivan. ‘My mum still doesn’t know!” Left: In the gym with Mrs Snelson’s PE students Page 3

Melting moments

ERE’S a reminder of just how cool some school trips can be…! These Year 10 students had a chilly break in the depths of rural Cheshire earlier this year. They were on the annual retreat to Savio House, Bollington, which is run by the Salesian Youth Ministry of Don Bosco.

Making history N

O, don’t worry, we haven’t adopted Draconian measures to keep our Year 7s in line! Our students (left) were enjoying the many interesting First World War exhibits at the Eden Camp, near York. They also visited York Dungeon (above) where they sampled the delights of a medieval ASBO (or pillory, as it was previously known!) They sojourned in York Minster, the Jorvik Museum and the city’s many attractions...including a Ghost Walk through the medieval cobbled streets.

PEEP Helping Uganda power

IFTS from St Mary’s students have reached a medical centre in Uganda thanks to the Wirral-based Just Care charity project. A consignment of toiletries left school last term after an appeal by PE teacher Mrs Lisa Snelson. They are now directly benefiting orphaned children at the Wellspring Children’s Medical Centre in the village of Kamutuuza in rural Uganda. Find out more by visiting the Just Care website:

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IVE Year 9 students were awarded certificates for their success in a six-week Personal Emotional Empowerment P r o g r a m m e (nicknamed the PEEP Award) as part of Wirral’s Excellence in Cities initiative. Right: with Bosco Centre staff Mrs Priest and Mrs Brennan.

2.4 mile swim 112 mile cycle 26.2 mile run (All in one day!)

in Austrian ‘killer’ challenge

Former St Mary’s student Miss Walton gets a patriotic send off from students with the Union Jack and the Austrian flag

UR very own Iron Lady has taken on the world’s best at the feared ‘Iron Man’ Triathlon in the Austrian Alps. Teaching Assistant and former St Mary’s student Miss Claire Walton pushed herself to the limits to complete the gruelling event in an impressive 12 hours 28 minutes, coming 25th in her age category. She swam in the icy waters of an Alpine lake, cycled the mountain roads and even ran a marathon through the valleys. And she did it to raise money for our partner school, Maryland School, in Nigeria. Double graduate Claire, aged 25, trains regularly with her dad, Dave, who also did the ‘Iron Man’ ~ in 11 hours 27 minutes at the age of 55! The pair think nothing of cycling to North Wales and similar distances to run long distance races. Said Claire, who hopes to gain a teaching qualification next year: ‘I’d always wanted to do this challenge, even though the name doesn’t include women! Everyone who completes it is meant to get an ‘M’ tattoo, but I’m not too sure about that, yet!’

Mrs McWatt and Ms Morris with their medals

Nigeria’s flag with the Maryland School badge. See Sixth Form Victory: Page 23

WO St Mary’s teachers have shown steely determination and absolute fitness by completing the first ever Liverpool Triathlon on the banks of the River Mersey! Mrs Ali McWatt and Ms Vanessa Morris swam in the dock, cycled and ran...all to raise £500 for Asylum Link Merseyside, part of a national organisation dedicated to assisting asylum seekers and refugees from countries where they face persecution, prison and worse. The triathlon events all took place near the iconic skyline of the Albert Dock and the Three Graces—the Liver Building, Cunard Building and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Building. Check out the Asylum Link website: info@asylumlink.org.uk Page 5

Met Obama? Yes, we did! A group of our A Level English Language students brushed up on their ‘Power of Oratory’ studies and met the man famous for his enthralling speeches and the ‘Yes We Can’ catchphrase. Oh, all right then, ‘the President’ was just a cardboard cut-out, but we all St Mary’s Newsletter Summer 2007 have our dreams, don’t we…? Here, budding orator Jack Murray is inspired to wax lyrical in the style of Barack Obama.

‘T

O those who said that the art of oratory was crumbling; to those who thought teachers and pupils could not learn hand in hand in the harmony of wisdom; and to the cynics who claimed that we could no longer delight in the pleasures of our language...THIS is your answer. It is an answer that begins in humble classrooms, an answer taught by wise scholars, an answer cemented by youthful belief and a willingness to be taught. Not quite seven years ago we embarked upon a journey. A journey of discovery to rid us of our apathy, to put ideas in our hearts, ideas in our minds and words on the tips of our tongues. We became enchanted by the power of the political speech. We learned about secrets and success. We learned about prophets and priests. We learned of the past and we looked to the future. And have we taken the learning of our forefathers and applied it to our studies? Yes, We Have. And would we take the opportunity Jack Murray to do it again? Yes, We Would!’

Our Dales diary Enjoying a briefly dry moment at Grassington

IARY entry Day 1: Wet. Day 2: Even wetter. Day 3: Positively dripping! The pioneer spirits of St Mary’s, however, were not dampened and continued to be bright and breezy!

More than 30 Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver Award hopefuls donned cagoules and trekked through a very moist Yorkshire Dales, walking 10-12 miles a day on two three-day expeditions. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme is organised in St Mary’s by Mr Colin Archer who said: ‘The students carried all their own equipment and camped up to 15 miles away from the staff, so it was a real test of character and endurance. We all had a great time, though!’. Currently there are 60 students attempting the Bronze Award, 32 on Silver and 81 going for Gold.

Wet and tired, but what a sense of achievement

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Students and one of the leaders, Mr Laurence Tottle, enjoy a (briefly dry) moment in Grassing ton

Beat of success

T MARY’S band The Shabangs won through to the regional live final of a national competition.

The Shabangs in concert

They battled their way through rounds of auditions for Live and Unsigned, the UK’s prestigious national music competition to appear in the Manchester heat. The five-strong band, who have played and gigged together for a year, have established a strong local fan base. They describe their style as ‘indie rock ‘n’ roll’. According to lead singer Jimmy Murray, their unusual name comes from band member Jay Warren’s grandmother! ‘One of the things she always says is the whole shebang so we adopted the name and changed the spelling.’ Other members include guitarists Luke Bennett, Chris Naughalty and Chris Skeggs on drums. They have recorded a nine-track CD album and you can listen to the lads in performance by logging on to: www.myspace.com/theshabangs.uk

Winning the battle of the bands... S

TUDENT band Hodgson and the Plant rocked the audience at Wirral’s Battle of the Bands and helped to raise more than £300 for local blind and partially sighted people. The talented youngsters, three of whom are St Mary’s students, (pictured right) won the coveted trophy at the contest in Ridgeway High School, Noctorum. A fourth member, Alex Randalls, is a student at Liverpool Community College. Their music, which they say is ‘pop funk with a hint of Ska obviously impressed the judges, who included Ian Cowell, guitarist with top local band Insanity Beach. Now Year 12’s Karl Plant (front), Conor McKenna and Connor Hodgson, both in Year 11, will support Insanity Beach in a special concert for Wirral Society for the Blind and Partially Sighted. They will also record tracks on an album being released to boost funds for the charity. Spokesman Lynne Sedgwick said: ’It just shows you the talent which young people have. I take my hat off to them. I think it’s brilliant that youngsters are getting involved to support a local charity.’ Hodgson and the Plant will appear with Insanity Beach on Saturday July 18 at the concert, Rocking for Ashville, in the car park of The Clipper in Prenton Road West, Prenton, from midday to 7pm. Page 7

The right kind of effort

The boys arrive in Chester

EEN bikers David Nagle and Tom French have raised more than £400 for charity by trekking the cycle paths all the way from West Kirby to Chester. The Year 7 students managed their epic feat in five hours and all the money went to the Liverpool charity KIND (Kids in Need and Distress). The boys were supervised on the 26 mile journey by David’s dad, Steve Nagle. He said: ‘They were very determined. They properly prepared their new bikes, putting slime in their tyres so they wouldn’t get punctures, and bought speedometers to keep tabs on their journey. They were tired at first, but got there after lots of stops, but that didn’t stop them burning energy up doing tricks on their bikes and running round while we were meant to be resting! We’re very proud of them’. The next day, David phoned Radio Merseyside and got a mention on the Maureen Walsh Show. It was their second effort for KIND ~ last year they raised £60. And next year they plan to extend their plans to Snowdonia. KIND, a registered charity, was formed in Liverpool in 1975 and runs projects for disadvantaged youngsters throughout Merseyside. Visit their website at www.kind.org

In memory of Ron

TUDENTS and staff are mourning the death of Mr Ron Roberts, well known to us all through his work as a technician in St Mary's ICT Department. Ron, aged, 58, died suddenly in hospital after an illness. He leaves a wife, Brenda, and a daughter, Dawn. During his very full life, Ron was a keen and accomplished guitarist, playing for many years with the rock band French Lessons. He first performed at student gigs while studying for a degree in Modern Foreign Languages at Keele University. He was also a lifelong Tranmere Rovers fan, travelling faithfully to both home and away games. St Mary's staff and members of Ron's family gathered in school for a special Mass in his memory. He will be greatly missed by our community, but especially in the ICT Department where colleagues regarded him with the highest respect and affection.

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David and Tom take a break on the Wirral Way

Good luck, Miss! O

UR School Chaplain, Miss Ann Brereton, is retiring after 20 years’ service to the spiritual life of the school, 13 of them as a teacher of Religious Education. We wish her a very happy retirement!

St Joseph’s Primary School, Upton

Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Leasowe

Holy Cross Primary School, Birkenhead, were superheroes

… y l t c i r t S y t i n u m Com e c n a D St Joseph’s Primary School, Wallasey

Miss Yates thanks all who were involved in our Community Arts Celebration

St Alban’s Primary School, Liscard

OMMUNITY Arts have blossomed in St Mary’s! And all thanks to co-ordinator Miss Laura Yates who has had our partner primaries and our ladies’ dance troupe Strictly Dance dancing to her tunes! Sadly, double graduate Miss Yates is leaving us this term to complete a PGCE teaching qualification at Hope University, Liverpool. Page 9

TV stars for a day!

UR students ‘starred’ in BBC 1’s Green and Pleasant Land, a regional programme focusing on Alton Castle, Staffordshire, and its work as a Catholic youth retreat centre.

Alton’s other Towers

Where there’s lots more fun!

HEME park it isn’t. But the ‘other’ Alton attraction is just as much fun! A group of St Mary’s students joined our annual Year 7 Retreat to Alton Castle, just up the road from the world famous Alton Towers Resort. And as you can see from the pictures here, they had a wonderful time. Above left: Filming in the mud Left: Bivouacking in the grounds of Alton Castle.

Right: Dinner time in the baronial hall Page 10

Mud, mud, glorious mud, happy homecomings, and campfires

Now you can see the video!

OU can watch a unique excerpt from the BBC 1 programme by visiting St Mary’s brand new school website. Go to: www.stmaryscollege.wirral.sch.uk

Above: Learning the skill of rock climbing at Alton Castle’s own ‘rock face’. Right: Taking a break under a real rock face.

DID YOU KNOW? Alton Castle is built in the ruins of a 12th Century medieval castle! Page 11

Year 12’s Rachel Webster, Lucy Griffiths and Chloe Keenan

Year 11’s Jamie Toner accompanies ICT teacher Miss Katie Lane and her sister Amanda in a rendition of 42nd Street

Masking their feelings: St Mary’s Key Stage 3 Drama Group

‘T

was another starry night for St Mary’s!

Our Performing Arts Showcase played to a packed audience and rapturous applause in our school theatre, featuring star performances from starcross’d lovers to stars of tap, jazz and break dance, from brass band to swing band and rock band, plus much, much more...

St Mary’s Bre

All That Jazz… the ladies of Strictly Dance performed the number from

Chicago

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St Mary’s Key Stage 3 Drama Group

Year 13 musicians rocked the audience with ‘The Final Countdown’

Getting in the swing with St Mary’s Swing Band

Above right and here: St Alban’s Primary School dancers in the mood for dancing to the Beach Boys

eak Dancers

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St Mary’s Vocal Group

St Alban’s Primary School dancers

Did you gues s the mystery lady was our own DT teacher, M ? Yes, it rR here in differ ent role, who ob Corrigan, co-wrote the masterpiece with teaching assistant Mrs Julia Hel sby

‘Wherefore art thou, Romes?’ STAR CROSS’D LOVERS don’t only live in Shakespeare’s Verona! St Mary’s staged their own Scouse version of the Bard’s Romeo & Juliet , respectfully entitled Romes & Jules . It was the tale of rival families supporting Liverpool and Everton

by Aaron mes was played cial Care Chavtastic! Ro So & th al les by He Faulkner and Ju on ils W nice teacher Miss Ja

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Farewell to Mr T

The Performing Arts Showcase was the brainchild and great opus of our very own Mr T! Sadly Mr Richard Thomas will be leaving the A-Team at St Mary’s this term to make sweet music in another school. Left: Sixth Form Arts students pay tribute.

Make ’em laugh! T’S a funny old world. And the great sense of humour we’ve always had at St Mary’s is helping two young comedians stand out from the rest. Year 10’s Joe McDowell and Ryan Stuart were chosen to take part in The Comedy Trust’s Stand Out Young Comedian of the Year competition, sponsored by the Liverpool Echo and O2. Both 15, they were among 200 students from across Merseyside who attended a special six-week course to help them hone their skills, and together they joked their way to the semi finals. Joe, right, was then selected to tread the boards at the final in St George’s Hall with 22 other young hopefuls. LISTEN TO THE BOYS’ PODCAST now on St Mary’s website! Click on Multimedia then Podcasts. Laughter is the best tonic: Joe McDowell (right) and Ryan Stuart (left) who had the Showcase audience rolling in the aisles.

Seven years of cheers & tears From the break, Earlston and finally Central Park, we’ve walked down every street together and made it through the dark A smile from Mr Webster sends us on our way; His energy and motivation got us through each day Mr M, Mrs Woolley and Mrs Jones, the captains of our team Helping us work very hard to one day reach our dreams St Mary’s is a special place, a home for me and you Now Mrs Porter's name, the worst of all as it simply doesn’t rhyme It’s seen us through our teenage years and helped as we grew Her organisation and her focus has kept us all on time. Year 7 seems like yesterday, how tiny we all were We’re sitting here, the class of 2009, known for being funny, clever and loud Running, laughing, giggling, shouting. Exams? We didn’t care Bunking classes, making mates, knowing one day we must part Being part of this group, this family, Each moment is a precious one, I keep them close at heart this school has made me very proud Thinking seven years have come and gone brings a tear to my eye The memories made are pure and true; I hold them very dear To separate and part from you, it makes me want to cry Our Sixth Form is a special group, our friendship is so clear We leave St Mary’s adults now, much bigger and so tall No one can forget D of E; the snow, the wind, the rain Together as one we all pulled through and pushed right past the pain Remember those four special words, ‘Christ Within Us All’.

GOOD luck to all our leavers! Here, Year 13’s James Murray pays tribute to his time in St Mary’s as he and his friends leave to go their separate ways...

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Sandwich courses

EAR 8 students (pictured left) have been working towards their Bronze ASDAN awards by learning what should go into a healthy sandwich—and what shouldn’t! The ASDAN courses (it stands for Award Scheme and Accreditation Network) are being offered in St Mary’s Bosco Centre. For more information, visit www.asdan.org.uk

Take care choosing a career

EAR 10 Health & Social Care students (right) learned all about caring for patients with mental health disabilities from former student Darius Moonan. Darius, now 19, left St Mary’s three years ago and works at Hoylake Cottage Hospital. He is soon to begin a three-year degree course in Nursing for Learning Disabilities and Mental Health at the University of Northumbria.

Watch the birdies!

EAR 8 geographers have been learning things parrot fashion...all about the extinction threat to the hyacinth macaw! As part of a study into the destruction of the rainforests, they produced projects, posters and poems all about the beautiful birds which are in great demand as pets. And our budding investigators have also been spotlighting Wallasey Village to study land use and identify what businesses the area might profit from. Year 10 geographers boarded the Mersey Ferry and collected data at the Albert Dock, now a world famous visitor attraction.

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As part of the project, students made models of other animals under threat of extinction

Sand as far as the eye could see...Carl at the start of his desert marathon. The race terrain was also mountainous in parts

The sand man

Carl rests under a shady palm… but this one’s in St Mary’s foyer!

FORMER St Mary’s student has passed one of the world’s toughest endurance tests...the notorious Marathon des Sables.

Carl Joyce completed the gruelling 125 mile event which takes place annually over five days in the southern Sahara Desert. He has now joined the ranks of super-fit athletes who hold the coveted medal (pictured above right). He had to live on freeze -dried food and nine litres of water a day in scorching temperatures, sleeping under canvas among the scorpions and sand snakes. But his greatest fear was getting lost ~ which he did, one night! ‘To be honest, I felt too ill at that point to do anything but pitch my tent and sleep! That’s when I suppose I hit what people call the wall. It goes dark there at about 7pm, and much of the race is run in the dark, but I had to just rest and get my strength back’ he said. Carl, 43, left St Mary’s in 1981 and joined the Royal Navy when he was 18. He trained as a weapons engineer on board HMS Phoebe and travelled the world for seven years before coming ashore. He now works as an IT contractor and, in his spare time, regularly pounds the roads of Wirral to stay on top of his form. He is no stranger to endurance tests, having become a regular at events like the Cornwall Coastal Quarter Ultra Marathon (45 miles in 12 hours) and the London Triathlon, in which he is competing for the fourth time next month. Carl, who is married and lives in Moreton, regularly raises money from his efforts for Leukaemia Research and Claire House Children’s Hospice.

Danielle goes in style... O

UR first Hair and Beauty Academy ‘graduate’ is now working for a top national chain of salons. Sixth Former Danielle Kavanagh was on work placement with HCUK, Birkenhead, while completing her City & Guilds NVQ Level 2 . HCUK were so impressed with her skills they snapped her up by offering her a full time position early this term. Danielle is pictured left with Wirral’s former Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor Adrian and Mrs Chris Jones at the March opening of our brand new academy in Wallasey Village. Many other Wirral salons are now offering work placements for our Year 11 students.

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Capital time

IXTH Form Dance students made some very good moves and travelled to London’s Olympia for the fourth annual MOVE IT Dance Exhibition. They were among the 19,000 visitors who boogied, body-popped and break danced their way from exhibit to exhibit, sampling the choreography and learning new techniques. During the two-day visit to the capital, organised by Miss Leah Edwards, they also enjoyed the West End production of Hairspray starring Michael Ball.

Jack’s ‘outstanding’

ACK Candeland has been judged ‘Outstanding Student of the Year’ in the Under 16s category by Wirral Metropolitan College. Our Year 10 student is studying there part time for his Level 1 Certificate in Motor Vehicle Studies. Jack, 15, hopes to further his studies and become an engineer in the Armed Services.

Going Deutsch Up, up and away… in the chairlift at Boppard to enjoy the view (left)

T was a sunshine trip to northern Germany for Year 8 - more Shineland than Rhineland! They enjoyed a mountain top view at Boppard, took a cruise up the Rhine to the pretty towns of Konigswinter and Linz, went bowling in Koblenz and even managed a day out at Phantasialand theme park. The trip was organised by Miss Saskia Spreeman who said: ‘It was a truly special experience for everyone.’ The Rhineland trip is offered annually to our Year 8 German students. Page 18

Mrs Nixon’s son to represent Great Britain Below: Luke with the medals he won at the Deaflympics trials and (right) swimming in competition. Mrs Nixon is pictured below right

Master stroke L

UKE Nixon is no ordinary athlete. The medal-winning swimmer, whose mum is our very own Mrs Ann Nixon, is profoundly deaf. And because of his great skill in the water he has been chosen to represent his country at the Deaf Olympics this September. Luke, aged 14, who lives with his family in Wrexham, is the youngest of only eight deaf athletes selected to travel to the Far East in September to the Taiwanese capital of Taipei. A member of Wrexham Swimming Club, his long-term ambition has been to represent the deaf community and swim for Great Britain in the Olympics. Mrs Nixon, who teaches Health and Social Care, said: ‘We’re delighted. It’s beyond our wildest dreams for him to be selected. He has always wanted to represent deaf people from a very young age. He has battled ear infections and a knee injury in the runup to the selection, but his focus and determination has brought him through. However, the trip is costing £3,000 and there is no official sponsorship, so we have been busy raising money in various ways. People have been very kind and extremely generous , so I would like to thank everyone who has helped us.’ The Deaflympic Games, like the Olympic Games, the Paralympics and the Special Olympics,

are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee.

Mr Pol’s bird’s eye view of Wallasey K

NOWING how much Mr Polachowski loves making puns, he might have said it was the high point of his career, or that he was definitely going up in the world. Well, he certainly reached the upper echelons of St Mary’s when he took this picture (left) from a ‘cherry picker’ crane while helping architects complete a roof survey. Afterwards he must have felt really down! Sadly for us, Deputy Head Mr Pol is retiring this term after 37 years’ service. He joined St Mary’s in 1972 and has overseen many changes, including the most recent £12.5 million building project which has provided us with brand new classrooms and first rate facilities. He has truly been schoolmaster of all he surveyed! We wish him a very happy retirement. Page 19

Stash your cash in a flash!

Money makes the world go around… Below: St Mary’s Bank ‘staff’ sign up their first ‘customers’ watched by Mr Phil Wilkinson, Deputy Manager of Natwest Bank, Ms Juliet Hardy Wilson, regional coach for Natwest Moneysense and St Mary’s Business teacher Miss Shabreen Qasam

Saving private amounts of money

EEN savers in St Mary’s will soon be cashing in on a great new banking system . . . created and run by students for students.

The first ‘customers’ have already signed up for their special accounts in St Mary’s Bank which officially goes into business at the start of next term. Keen young ‘staff’ have been recruited for the roles of cashiers, customer service managers and marketing executives who have undergone special training provided by professionals from the NatWest Bank. They will be responsible for processing the accounts and issuing savers with chip-and-pin cards which can be used at most cash machines. Business teacher Miss Shabreen Qasam said: ‘The importance of financial capability for young people cannot be overestimated. It’s essential they are equipped with the skills and confidence to make decisions in adult life. Once young people go out into the world of work and start earning money, it is important they know the best ways to use it.’  If you want to open an account, please see Miss Qasam for a parental consent letter and application form. Page 20

Do you dig this?

VERYTHING in St Mary’s gardens is (nearly) lovely. But what we need to make them even lovelier are more garden tools! Mrs Timmins’ Gardening Club meets at lunchtimes to tidy up our little courtyards and her keen young gardeners will make very good use of any spare spades, trowels, buckets that any of our readers could spare. Anything welcome. Please bring to the School Office!

Fantasy football… but real trophies! Fantasy League trophy winners Mr Paul Fitzgerald and Matthew Ingle

HEY truly are in a League of their own. And although it may be just in the realms of fantasy, at least our latest winners have real trophies to display proudly at home! This year’s champion managers of St Mary’s Fantasy Football League are teaching assistant Mr Paul Fitzgerald and Year 7’s Matthew Ingle. Both are Liverpool FC supporters but they weren’t at all biased in choosing players from many different clubs to create their own winning teams. Mr Fitzgerald stormed to the top of the League as overall winner with Fitzy’s Flyers and Matthew was FA Cup winner with Matty Ingle FC. Overall second in the competition, just one point behind, was the joint Sixth Form management team of Matty Brown and Karl Billington. In third place was teaching assistant Mr Steve Cotgrave. The Schools’ Fantasy League is a recognised educational resource and is now widely used in various parts of the curriculum. There is great skill involved in ‘managing’ a £70m budget, selecting players, looking out for injuries, dropping those underperforming and making the right transfers. During the 2008-9 season more than 80 ‘teams’ were entered into St Mary’s League, mainly by students and staff. It’s organised in school by Fantasy League Chairman Mr John Hanson, our ICT Across the Curriculum Co-ordinator.  Watch this space ~ and check our brand new website ~ for details of how parents and other family members can take part. Check the full list of winners at:

www.stmaryscollege.wirral.sch.uk and click on Curriculum. Find out more about the Schools Fantasy League at:

www.schoolsfl.com

Team spirit wins through S

CIENTISTS from Year 10 represented St Mary’s at the final of the Aimhigher Science Olympics held in Liverpool University. They were (below, left to right) TomGibbins, Tom Carew, Matthew Jones and Kerry Davis. They had to bring all their problem-solving skills to the competition’s challenging tasks.

HREE St Mary’s students showed impressive team spirit in the 2009 Visually Impaired Football League Tournament. Top goal scorer Connor Warwick netted four goals to put their team, AC Wirral, into the semi-final. Sadly they were beaten 1-0 by All Stars. The League is organised through British Blind Sport. Pictured above are Year 8’s Connor Warwick, Elin Goddard of Year 11 and Jack Jones, also in Year 8.

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Sports leaders Netball O

UR Year 10 Sports Leaders regularly work with pupils at our partner primary schools, showing how commitment, organisation and communication skills really make a difference to confidence building and all aspects of school life. Here they helped run Sports Day at SS Peter & Paul’s, New Brighton. The students have achieved Level 1 in Sports Leadership which is awarded by the British Sports Trust.

success

T MARY’S netballers faced tough opposition at a special tournament in Prestatyn. A squad of 18 girls took on teams from specialist netball clubs all over the region and, according to Head of PE Miss Lam, they did marvellously. ’The standard of netball has improved massively at St Mary’s’ she said. Special thanks are due to coaches Miss Wozniak and Miss Murphy.  We want to add a third team to the Birkenhead Women’s Netball League, so if you are over 16, and love netball, please see Miss Lam. All welcome!

Bounce-a-thon MORE than 300 trampolinists raised more than £500 for sports equipment in St Mary’s cross-Merseyside Bouncea-thon. Of course, all the bouncing was in our gym, but the idea was to bounce enough times to travel the county. Special thanks to Mr Pol, Miss Qasam, Miss Reynolds, Miss Skinner and Miss Doyle for bouncing too.

Jonny’s gift from Ipswich

Professional footballer and former student Jonathan Walters came to visit our PE Department with a special gift from his club, Ipswich Town FC...a consignment of soccer balls! Jonny is pictured centre back with Mr Peter Jones and Mr Geraint Jones, who used to teach him. The Ipswich striker, now aged 25, left St Mary’s in 2002.

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The junior girls’ team on a recent visit to Anfield, beneath the famous statue of Bill Shankly

WO St Mary’s students are seasoned soccer stars for Wirral Wanderers’ Junior Girls’ Football Club Megan Hoey (pictured above front row, far right) and Emily Walsh (front row, second from left) are both in Year 9. The girls’ team has had an impressive season, carrying off both the cup and the League titles, as well as winning tournaments in Manchester and Shipley.

Sixth Form victory

Match organisers Ian Reay and Daniel Connolly with Fr Moses

T was a very close-run thing, but Sixth Formers narrowly scraped to victory over Staff in a ‘friendly’ game that was taken very seriously indeed on the pitch! The younger team snatched the 4-3 result in extra time on a windy Friday afternoon at Links View. Staff aches and pains were still being experienced the following Monday. The event was held to raise money for Maryland School, our partner school in Nigeria. And by happy coincidence, Maryland’s representative, Fr Moses, was visiting Shrewsbury Diocese and joined the crowd of enthusiastic spectators. Our pictures give just a flavour of the exciting action...

Mr Gough fights for possession with Sixth Former Chris Thompson

Mr McGlown in action against Stephen Kelly Mr Stumpf didn’t let an earlier injury stop him from playing, here challenged by Chad Haeney

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Our Wirral cup glory

Wirral Masters’ Cup, resplendent with St Mary’s ribbons

Report: Lewis McDonald E did it! We snatched the Wirral Masters’ Cup from long-term holders Birkenhead Sixth Form College in a glorious final at Prenton Park.

Our ‘soon-to-be-knighted’ coach, Mr Geraint ‘Taffy’ Jones took on the seemingly impossible task, in his last year at St Mary’s, of leading 14 Sixth Form students to victory in the Under-19s League. We cruised to a 4-3 victory on an afternoon when prayers were answered and our fans, as ever, were loud, proud and buoyant ~ the perfect 12th man! It was a hard-fought first half that saw St Mary’s come under constant pressure and they made little of few chances. The Birkenhead pressure eventually told after a clean strike from the edge of the area, late on in the half. An ‘For the inspired team talk from Coach Jones ~ ‘Just WIN lads’ ~ saw people an optimistic St Mary’s in the second half. Lewis Tolond and an aggressive Mike Saunders used pace of Joe Boden to create opportunities. The St Mary’s defence remained solid with a who never the superb performance from Karl Whyte at centre half. Then Mr Jones made two brave, inspired tactical changes: Sean Woods took up the role of left mid-field and Lewis McDonald was stopped hoisted up-front. With four minutes remaining a persistent Sean crossed low from the left, the believing’ ball crept across the box and was met with a timed run by Lewis to slot home from close range. Unbelievable drama: better late than never. Then into extra time and the dreaded lottery to decide the 2009 champions. Sean Barry struck first for St Mary’s to level at 1-1. A Birkenhead miss was followed by a tidy spot kick from Matthew Hollis, advantage St Mary’s. Birkenhead then levelled at 2-2 before Lewis Tolond stepped up for St Mary’s and passed the keeper a very early Christmas present, 2-3. Lewis McDonald then levelled at 3-3 with a softlyplaced penalty before a Birkenhead slip-up as Lloyd Smith made a great save. So it was down to Ian Nicholls to win the cup for St Coach and PE teacher Mr Mary’s, stroking home calmly from 12 yards, much to the Jones with team delight of spectators. The silverware was lifted and brought captain Sean Woods and vice- home to St Mary’s College, where it belongs. A big thank you, on captain Lewis behalf of all the team, to the teachers who made us believe, McDonald. Mr Jones leaves and to the fans who never stopped believing! St Mary’s this term after 34 years. We will miss him!

Birkenhead Sixth Form College (with a much higher sixth form population!) has won the annual Under-19s Wirral Masters’ Cup five times out of the last seven years.

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St Mary’s Newsletter is published by St Mary’s Catholic College, Wallasey Village, Wallasey CH45 3LN. Tel: 0151 639 7531 email: schooloffice@stmaryscollege.wirral.sch.uk

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