ONE!The news magazine of english marTyrs’ CaTholiC sChool

issue 11 spring 2014

Bake off

Students

serve up

a treat for

charity

THE English Martyrs’ Hospitality Team had another busy term in the run-up to Advent and Christmas. The team, which is made up of Years 9, 10 and 11, provided support at the Carol Services, the Christmas Market and many other in-school events, as well as attending a day at the Grand Hotel on Granby Street where they undertook Core Hospitality Training.

Mrs Conaghan

There is an old saying that “great teachers are born, not made”. it is certainly true that mrs Peutrill was one of those born to teach.

as a Catholic educator, and especially as a head of year, she had a strong sense of vocation. mrs Peutrill worked extremely hard on behalf of her students. after her passing, our year 11 students described mrs Peutrill as “a brilliant, hardworking, wonderful, inspirational teacher; a person who gave good advice; a teacher loved by all”.

mrs Peutrill’s funeral was held on friday 6 December at st mary’s, south wigston and was attended by many students.

By the quality of her care, of her real love for them, mrs Peutrill reflected god’s love to all her students. we pray the commitment shown by mrs Peutrill will live on in her students and embolden them as they journey into adulthood. may she rest in peace.

Mr Carney, Principal

ON 17th September 2013, the school commemorated the blessing of the Foundation and Dedication to the English Martyrs’ site, which took place on 17th September 1963.

The Lord Mayor, Councillor Dempster, together with the architect and representatives from Millers Construction, as well as civic and church dignitaries, joined us to commemorate this special event. Mass was concelebrated by Fathers Martin Hardy, John Joe Maloney, Simon Robson OP, Keith Tomlinson, John Lally and Father Fabian Radcliffe OP.

A wide range of celebrations are planned this academic year to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the school.

Mr Carney

Rededication marks 50th anniversary

Warm reception

A brilliant and inspirational teacher

THE school student body at English

Martyrs’ is well represented by the Senior

Student Leadership Team. The team is

made up of students who have applied

and been interviewed for the positions of

Head Boy and Head Girl, Deputy Head

Boy and Girl and Officers in the areas of

Spiritual Life, The Arts, Enrichment and

Fundraising. All students are eligible to

apply for these posts.

As well as being able to take on

leadership opportunities in the school, it is

also an excellent way of giving something

back to the school.Mrs Conaghan

Senior students take the lead

ms Turner, science teacher at english martyrs’, was delighted to receive a Teaching award by Project enThUse.

Congratulations also to the following members of staff who were awarded qualifications last term:l ms a griffin and mr a straiton

achieved their mlDP (middle leader Development Programme)

l mrs T Jones achieved an aCe Diploma in Professional studies in education (autism in education)

l mr J white achieved his medl mr w Carter achieved his

Professional Diploma in Conducting from the london College of music (lCm)

Mr Carney

REPRESENTATIVES of the School Council met with myself and Mr Hunka to discuss Pope Francis’ International Survey of Catholic Life.

The discussion ranged from what it means to grow up as a Catholic today to issues of marriage and sexuality. Students said they felt privileged

to have attended a Catholic school and feel supported in their faith development by their parents. Students were also very pleased that the Pope is engaging so openly in hearing their views. We were all surprised and delighted that the Pope himself dropped in to join the debate!

Mr Carney

Papal debate

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AROUND 60 students attend the highly successful Morning Study Group each

week during registration to improve their literacy skills.

The impressive improvements in literacy made by the students each year would not be

possible without our team of committed Sixth Formers who voluntarily give up their time to help

a younger student. Sixth Formers comment that they enjoy building

relationships with the younger students in the school, and gain a real sense of satisfaction from helping others to

succeed. Meanwhile, our younger students gain in confidence, as they feel valued by the older members of the school community.

Mrs Jones

Literacy levels on the rise

Marion Peutrill RIP

Teacher nominated for award

THE Fundraising Officers were hard at work during the Autumn Term collecting toiletries for the Red Cross and helping to organise and run the Christmas market.

Year 13 students Michelle D’Souza and Kieran Jennings co-ordinated the Red Cross collection, and we managed to fill 20 large boxes for their Winter

Appeal. Many thanks to all the staff involved, particularly Miss Spink, Mrs Marsh and Mr Wilby for their contribution of cakes, Christmas products, handmade chocolates, rings, tree and hair decorations! Altogether, the market made over £600! All the money raised during advent will go to Let The Children Live.

Mrs Conaghan

FASHION Club students worked tirelessly throughout December making a wide range of exciting Christmas products for our Christmas market. Handcrafted decorations, gift tags and stocking fillers were produced in their dozens, with the aim of raising as much money as possible for Let The Children Live.

Miss Spink

Christmas cheer

Students fashion festive gifts

Faith, hope – and charity

in the run-up to Christmas, Catering students produced a superb selection of iced, fruit and sponge cakes.

all displayed a high degree of skill in modelling the decorations and creating smooth, professional finishes to create a mouth-watering selection of quality products.

Mrs Marsh

When it comes to donating their time and money to charity, our students, staff, parents

and members of the wider community have a reputation for giving generously

sTUDenTs in year 11 organised and led a non-uniform day in aid of our school’s 50th anniversary charity, let The Children live. and, in order to highlight our link to this Colombian charity, students were encouraged to wear the colours of the Colombian flag, which are red, yellow and blue.

as always, english martyrs’ students engaged in the day with enthusiasm, and the school was bathed in a blaze of colour. more importantly, we raised £859 for a very worthy cause. This brings the current total raised for let The Children live to £5,760.

Mr Wilson

Fundraisers fly the flag

THE Music Society took part in a variety of activities last Autumn, beginning with the Year 7 International Concert in October.

In November, Schola Cantorum visited Selwyn College, Cambridge, where they had the opportunity to explore the city, learn more about university life and perform with the College Choir.

This was followed by an A Level recital evening and the St Cecilia Concert featuring musicians from Years 9 and 10.

Advent began with the Menphys Concert at the De Montfort Hall, while a small group went carolling in Leicester City for Let The Children Live prior to the School Christmas Carol Service.

Last, but not least, thank you to the Steel Pans and Jazz Band who entertained the congregation at the Christmas market.

Mr Carter

MORE than 100 students from eight city schools re-enacted robbery trials in front of real judges, during a law-themed competition at Leicester Crown Court. The Schools’ Court Competition gave students the chance to act out the roles of barristers, clerks, juniors, ushers and witnesses – or to sit in the dock as the accused. The competition bronze award was awarded to English Martyrs’, while the Leicester Mercury cup for best court report went to Henry Bee, 9More.

Ms Fones

Judge and jury

TWENTY students from Years 11 to 13 took part in the national Senior Mathematics Challenge in November, organised by the UK Mathematics Trust. As a result, we were awarded one Gold, four Silver and six Bronze awards. The Year 9 Intermediate Challenge will be held in February and the Year 7 Junior Challenge in April. There is also a whole-day Regional team challenge in March for students from Years 8 and 9.

Mr Wilkinson

LAST term, the Mathematics department decided to celebrate students’ ‘Excellent Effort in Mathematics’ by giving one student from every Maths class in Years 7 to 11 a £10 Highcross gift card. The criteria for selection included: Exceptional Effort and Classwork, Outstanding Homework, Making a Positive Contribution, and Making Significant Progress in Mathematics.

Mr Islania

Achievements add up

OUR A Level Music teacher, Mr Simeone, launched his latest book at the Library of Congress, Washington DC, in October.

The Leonard Bernstein Letters is the culmination of seven years’ work and presents the life of the famous American composer and conductor through his own letters.

Mr Simeone had previously written a book about Bernstein’s most famous musical, West Side Story.

The book has received great acclaim, with one critic writing: “The Leonard Bernstein Letters contains so much that is startling and unknown that all past books, including his own, become instantly inadequate.”

Mr Carney

Award for excellenceTHE Geography department at English Martyrs’ School has been recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Geographical Association. The award is in recognition of the amazing work produced by our students, which clearly shows how Geography can help us to make sense of our rapidly changing world and our responsibilities as ‘geographers of the future’. It also recognises the commitment and contribution of Mr Manger, Ms Seal and myself in providing opportunities for students to explore, understand and succeed in Geography.

We are one of only 36 schools nationally – the second in the East Midlands and the first for Leicester and Leicestershire – to have received this prestigious award. Mr Wall

Medleyof music

A ‘startling’ compositionFOR the first time, we were invited

to perform two productions in the

Shakespeare Schools Festival

last November.

Consequently, 35 students from Years

9 to 13 delivered highly commendable

performances of A Midsummer Night’s

Dream and Romeo and Juliet in front of

an appreciative audience.

Repeat performances of both plays

were given in school on 12th February.

Mr Prescott

Shakespearean feast

THE Library held a reading competition to encourage students to read a book during the Christmas holidays. Afterwards, they were invited to write a review, with the best entries winning a prize.Year 8 student librarians were given the task of wrapping a wide range of fiction books and placing them under the Christmas tree in the Library. The books were coded so that students could make a choice that was suitable for them, without knowing the title of the book. Additionally, the competition gave students the opportunity to read a book they would not normally choose, and to introduce them to a new author.

Mrs Gamble

A precious gift

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English Martyrs’ Catholic SchoolAnstey Lane, Leicester LE4 0FJ

Tel: 0116 242 8880Fax: 0116 242 8881

Email: office@englishmartyrs.org Website: www.englishmartyrs.org

in september, a group of year 8 students spent a week at the retreat centre in Buckfast abbey, a Benedictine monastery in Devon.

During their stay, they learned about everything from beekeeping and stained glass to clay sculpture and world poverty. in addition, they prepared and sang at mass, prayed at Compline with the monks and were guided by father Chris Delaney who was Chaplain when mr wilby was a student at school.

Ms Griffin

Abbey retreat

Snapshot of the world of sport

THE Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Wall

Street, Federal Hall, Rockefeller Center,

Empire State Building, 9/11 Memorial,

Chinatown, Little Italy, Grand Central

Station, St. Paul’s Chapel and Central

Park were just some of the places we

visited in New York during two recent

Sixth Form trips.

A busy day on Fifth Avenue was

also followed by Mass at St. Patrick’s

Cathedral, while the Broadway shows

Matilda and Once preceded a meal at

the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square.

Ms Griffin

Appleof our

eye

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STUDENTS at English Martyrs’ can take pride in the wide range of sporting opportunities and success this year. This has been a fantastic term for sporting achievement. Particular congratulations go to the Year 8 basketball team for being awarded Leicestershire and Rutland ‘School Games Champions 2013’.

The netball teams have been extremely successful in the recent School Games City Tournament. Teams were entered from Years 7, 8 and 9. Year 7 were unbeatable and won in style against Crown Hills, Samworth Academy, Hamilton and Soar Valley. The girls put up an excellent battle against rivals Leicester High and came away with an outstanding performance, winning 4-3.