Dear Parents/Carers, Happy Feast Day! Today we celebrate the feast of Candlemas; this marks the occasion when 40 days after Jesus’ birth he was presented by his parents to God in the Temple of Jerusalem. He was recognised by an elderly couple Simeon and Anna who had spent their lives growing closer to God. Simeon said of Jesus ‘He will be a light to enlighten all people’. As we begin to enjoy a little more light in these dark winter days may we always recognise that Jesus is amongst us and may his light be reflected in us in all that we do.

February 2018 also marks 100 years of women in the UK being allowed to vote. Today in Britain this democratic act feels like a basic human right but it is vital as a community of young women that we acknowledge the hard fought battle that women had to pay for this right and to be aware that it is not enjoyed by women in many parts of the world. Here at Grays Convent, providing opportunities for girls to exercise their democratic rights is something we take seriously. It is one way that we promote British Values in our wider curriculum. Soon we will be embarking on our rigorous selection process for our next Head Girl and Senior Prefect Team. We encourage pupils to get involved…this is democracy in action and promotes young women in leadership.

Finally, excitement is mounting for our school production of Sister Act which takes place next week, beginning with a performance on Tuesday for our Primary friends and colleagues. I urge you to attend, and extend our thanks to all pupils and staff who have worked so hard in rehearsals this week. It’s definitely the hot ticket so please don’t miss out! Have a wonderful weekend with your families. Dawn Collis Deputy Headteacher

Please, follow us on Twitter: @GraysConvent,

and re-tweet all our good news! See our Twitter feed:

http://www.graysconvent.thurrock.sch.uk. If you would like real time up-dates and photos on our sporting fixtures follow @graysconventPE or look for the #GCHSsport tag!

The Prom Committee are pleased to advise that this year’s Prom will go ahead as planned at Orsett Hall on Tuesday 3rd July 2018. We have secured the minimum number of places required to run the event, which will now mean that deposits are non-refundable. So, get out there, try on your dresses and get yourselves all glammed up for your big hoorah! We hope you will appreciate the work that has gone into organising this yearly event, and have a wonderful evening celebrating the end of your senior school life; the beginning of the rest of your lives…!

The Prom Committee

IMPORTANT MESSAGES:

GCHS TWITTER

YEAR 11 PROM

Inspiring Ambition,

Achieving Excellence Week ending Friday 2

nd

February 2018

At Grays Convent our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mrs Collis, and our Safeguarding Officers are Mrs Wells and Mrs Bishop. Students can contact any of our Safeguarding Team during the school day. We would like to draw your attention to the NSPCC website (www.nspcc.org.uk), and in particular the following link:

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/video-chat-sharing-streaming/?_t_id=1B2M2Y8AsgTpgAmY7PhCfg%3d%3d&_t_q=video+chat%2c+sharing+and+streaming+apps&_t_tags=language%3aen%2csiteid%3a7f1b9313-bf5e-4415-abf6-aaf87298c667&_t_ip=10.99.66.5&_t_hit.id=Nspcc_Web_Models_Pages_StandardPage/_205dee51-6f91-4836-996f-a4c072bc9658_en-GB&_t_hit.pos=1

This link will take you to the ‘Video chat, sharing and streaming apps’ advice page and there you will find lots of information that you can discuss with your daughters to help to keep them safe online, particularly when using Apps.

Mrs Collis

SAFEGUARDING OUR CHILDREN AT GRAYS CONVENT

Worried about a child? You can phone or write to The MASH about your concerns. Phone immediately if you believe it is urgent.

Thurrock MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding hub), Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, Essex, RM17 6SL, Tel: 01375 652802.

Emergency Duty Team (for out of hours) 01375 372468.

Police Child Abuse Investigation Team 01277 266822 or call 999 if you are concerned a child needs immediate protection.

Childline 0800 11 11 www.childline.org.uk

NSPCC 0808 800 5000 www.nspcc.org.uk; www.facebook.com/nspcc

Mr Burr

Mrs Hill

The extended History Project on Elizabeth I is due in from all Year 8 pupils by next Thursday.

I look forward to reading them

Mrs M Smith

This week was the third week of Sign Language Club. Miss Couch and Mrs Haxell are running this period 5.1 on a Wednesday in room 3.

So far we have introduced the British Sign Language fingerspelling alphabet and how to greet each other. The girls have been very successful signing their names. We covered the signs for colours and animals this Wednesday and watched some clips to see if we could follow the descriptions of pets.

SAFER INTERNET DAY 2018

COMPETITION FOR YEAR 10 & 11 STUDENTS

ATTENTION YEAR 8

SIGN LANGUAGE CLUB

The Arts Council recently ran a poster competition for this year’s school production of Sister Act. The winner of the competition was Chinemerem Okwuonu in 9E and her design has been used to advertise the production around the school. Chinemerem gains 20 achievement points for her win- well done to her.

The runner up, whose design has been used for the ticket, is unknown as

unfortunately there was no name on the entry!

If you or someone you know designed this image please let a member of the Arts Council or Mrs Burrow know so that the achievement points can be awarded. Thank you for all students who designed entries- they’ll be another chance to show off your artistic skills in poster design next year!

The Arts Council

Immediate start – Grays Convent High School has vacancies for 3 part-time SCHOOL CLEANERS to participate in the provision and maintenance of an effective and efficient cleaning service in specified areas of the School’s premises. Routine duties may vary between term time and School closures and to cover for absent colleagues. Each vacancy is for 10 hours per week, Monday to Friday. The vacancies are as follows:

1 post: 6.15am – 8.15am 2 posts: 3.15pm – 5.15pm

The salary will be £4.406 per annum (inclusive of living wage supplement). All annual leave must be taken during school holidays. Consideration will be given to candidates who wish to apply for a 20 hour post by combining two of the above vacancies. This would be on a split shift basis of Monday to Friday, 615am-8.15am and returning at 3.15pm-5.15pm. Please indicate this on the application form. An application pack is available by emailing: finance@graysconvent.thurrock.sch.uk or on the school website: www.graysconvent.thurrock.sch.uk Please note that all applicants will be required to complete a Catholic Education Service application form and CVs will not be accepted. Interview date: To be confirmed.

Mrs Reynolds

A Development topic revision email will be sent to students before half term. It is important that students revise all of the development sub-topics and engage with the activities as part of their preparation for the upcoming summer GCSE Geography exam. Students should work with a “study buddy” to discuss, challenge each other and share ideas.

Mr Bartlett

ARTS COUNCIL POSTER COMPETITION VACANCIES

ATTENTION YEAR 11 GEOGRAPHY STUDENTS!

World Book Day takes place on Thursday 1st Mach, and we would like to invite you to join us in helping your daughter to make the most of this special occasion.

Nurseries, schools and libraries across the UK celebrate World Book Day with a huge range of events and activities. We will be running events in the lead up to World Book Day with KS3 pupils producing a World Book Day exhibition including research on their favourite authors, Literature from around the world and re-designing a book cover for their favourite books. There will be a special assembly on Friday, teachers’ ‘Favourite Reads’ displayed throughout the school, World Book Day Quiz and ‘Design a

Book Token’’ competition. In the week leading up to World Book Day, there will be events running every day in the library:

Monday: Jack Petchey Speak Out finalists deliver their speeches; Tuesday: Poetry by Heart Competition; Wednesday: Activities and games.

On the day itself, there will be a DEAR event whereby the entire school will Drop Everything And Read for half an hour.

To add to the fun of the day, we invite all pupils and staff to dress up as their favourite character from literature for a donation of £1*….some ideas from last year….!

World Book Day celebrates the joy and value of books and reading, especially for young people. To help them get started on their reading journey, every child receives a £1 World Book Day Token that can either be exchanged for one of TEN special £1 World Book Day books or used to get £1 off any book costing £2.99 or more. You can find out more about the books at www.worldbookday.com/books

You can join us in building your dauther’s enthusiasm for books well beyond World Book Day by joining your local library if you are not yet members and encouraging your daughter to quiz regularly (if she is in KS3) using the Renaissance Learning Accelerated Reading program.

It is never too late to start your journey with books, and the benefits of reading are enormous – so we hope, like us, you will use World Book Day to celebrate with your daughter. *money raised will be split between a donation to Readathon and providing new books for the Library and the English Department.

Mrs Nyland

Team Women Works will now go forward to compete with other secondary schools and colleges for the title of Thurrock’s Next Top Boss. Six Year 9 Teams made their ‘Thurrock’s Next Top Boss’ presentations in the Library on Friday 29th January. Competition was tough! This competition certainly brought out all the girls competitive spirit. It was a tough decision for the panel of three judges from Engie, the construction company. But after much deliberation they made their decision and the winning team is…

Well done to all the teams – you were all winners!!

Miss Chinnon

WORLD BOOK DAY 2018

THURROCK NEXT TOP BOSS

Maham Louise Ugne Zainab Alisha Siddiqui Thomson Malisauskare Mansoor Ahmed

On Wednesday 24th January Year 4 and 5 pupils from St Thomas of Canterbury, Holy Cross, St Marys and St Josephs primary schools joined us for an exciting day taking part in a variety of Technology lessons.

The students got to put their baking skills to the test in Food Technology, making delicious biscuits; unfortunately not all of the student’s parents got to try them as many of the students couldn’t resist them and ate them during lunch time! A Graphics lesson gave the students an opportunity to develop calligraphy skills and pupils produced beautifully decorated name plates. In Resistant Materials pupils worked in teams to see which group could design and produce the most stable and effective bridge structure, they demonstrated how to safely use the glue gun and some examples of their work was used in a Next Top Boss event. The students were all a credit to their schools and worked well throughout the day and while some arrived feeling quite anxious about being at “big school” all left with smiles on their faces and were looking forward to visiting us again.

Thank you to Ms Caruana, Miss Levins and Mr Kocaman for all of your hard work and to the team of Year 7 students who supported the event and were excellent ambassadors for the school.

Mrs Wells

Whilst we will not authorise leave of absence for holidays etc., if your daughter requires any planned time off school for example college interview; appointments at Embassies; etc., you MUST complete and return a Student Leave of Absence form BEFORE the actual event/date of leave.

Student Leave of Absence forms are available from the Finance Office.

Mrs Wood

A number of students have been coming to the Finance Office having forgotten their lunch money or bus fare home. We can only loan money in an absolute emergency.

If we do loan your daughter any money, we will always contact you first for your agreement, and we would appreciate this money being returned to the Finance Office the following day.

Also, if you are sending money into school via your daughters for trips, revision guides etc., can you please ensure that it is placed in a sealed envelope, and that the envelope is:

clearly marked with your daughter’s name

AND

details of exactly what the money is for.

Mrs Wood

PRIMARY TECHNOLOGY TASTER DAY LEAVE OF ABSENCE

A PLEA FROM FINANCE!

BREAD AHEAD IN BOROUGH MARKET

Look how much fun was had yesterday at Bread Ahead, Borough Market in London! And such lovely comments on our Twitter feed too! More details to follow in next week’s Convent Chronicle.

Mrs O’Donoghue

We were delighted to hear that Mary McLoughlin, whose daughters attended this school and who was chair of our PTA, has been accepted to run in the London Marathon in aid of Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society (BCCS). Mary will have to raise £1,600 for this charity, and she will be hosting a couple of events in St Thomas’s Church with great support from Fr Brian.

Mary advises that she has also set up an online fundraising page: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/marymcloughlin1. All donations very welcome! The staff and students of Grays Convent High School wish Mary every success as she takes up this latest challenge!

TICKETS ON SALE FOR SISTER ACT!

The performance dates are next week 7 th & 8 th February

Tickets are £7 per adult and £5 for children and concession

…tickets are selling fast so get your money in quickly!

Reminder: Sister Act Band rehearsal this Saturday 3rd

February 9-3pm. Every

cast member must attend this.

Costume letters have gone out to your daughters today so please ensure money

is returned by the deadline Monday 5th

February to ensure your daughter has a

costume.

Any issues please do not hesitate to call me.

The students have worked so hard this week and the show is coming

together…we just need an audience now so get your tickets fast!

MARY’S RUNNING THE MARATHON FOR BCCS!

Come and support Mary’s first event this Saturday 3rd February…

… a quiz night in St Thomas’s Church at 7:30pm; teams of up to 8 people please. Tickets are: adults £3 and a child £1.50; these can be purchased directly from Mary by contacting her on 07702 753666 or

via email mcplus5@aol.com.

Today is the last feast of Christmas in the Eastern Catholic Church and has been added to our Western Roman Catholic calendar. It is the day we take down the crib (nativity scene) but we remember that Jesus is always with us. Endings of Christmas: Feast of the Epiphany 6th Jan (12th night) when the wise men brought their gifts. We take down all decorations except for the crib. Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on first Sunday after Epiphany. Official end of Christmas in the Roman Catholic Church to signify the start of Jesus’ mission, the purpose of his birth. Feast of the Presentation of the Lord now added to our Roman Catholic calendar, when we take down the crib. God bless you.

Miss Carson

FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD IN THE TEMPLE

School Open Evening Dates

Barking and Dagenham College Rush Green Campus: Saturday 10th March 2018, 10am - 2pm

Technical Skills Academy: 21st February 2018, 4.30 - 7pm

Havering College of Further and Higher Education

Ardleigh Green Campus: 14th March (4-8pm)

Seevic College Benfleet 6th February 2018, 6-8.30pm

Writtle College Saturday 21st April 2018 (10am - 1pm) Wednesday 20th June 2018 (5.30pm - 7.30pm)

Tuesday 6th February School Production for Primaries

Wednesday 7th February School Production 7pm

Thursday 8th February School Production 7pm

Friday 9th February Non-Pupil Day All Years

Monday 12th - Friday 16th February

Half Term Whole School

Wednesday 14th February Ash Wednesday

Monday 19th February Students return for 8:25am All Years Thursday 22nd February Year 8 Careers Session Year 8

Friday 23rd February Lent Fast Day All Years

YEAR 11 INTERVENTION TIMETABLE 2017/18

FURTHER EDUCATION OPEN EVENING DATES

KEY DATES, TRIPS & EVENTS

BRONZE AWARD Date Session Venue Time

February 5th Route cards School 3.10-4.30

February 19th Route cards School 3.10-4.30

February 26th Route cards School 3.10-4.30

March 5th Route cards School 3.10-4.30

March 12th Route cards School 3.10-4.30

March 19th Nutrition and Food School 3.10-4.30

March 24th Training Walk, road crossing, first aid scenarios Thorndon Country Park 9.00-1.00

March 26th Review and route cards School 3.10-4.30

April 16th Bag packing School 3.10-4.30

April 23rd Campcraft and cooking School 3.10-4.30

April 30th Campcraft and cooking School 3.10-4.30

May 14th Kit Check and Route Card Check School 3.10-4.30

May 18th & 19th Practice Expedition School Two Days

May 21st Kit Return and Route Card Check School 3.10-4.30

June 4th Review of Practice Expedition School 3.10-4.30

June 11th Kit check by assessor School 3.10-4.30

June 16th -17th Qualifying Expedition Ballards Gore to Belchamps and return

Belchamps Scout Camp Two days

June 18th Kit Return Outside 3.10-4.00

July 2nd Expedition Exposition Hall 7.00-8.30

SILVER AWARD Date Session Venue Time

February 5th Route Cards for Qualifying Expedition 3.10-4.30

February 19th Route Cards for Qualifying Expedition 3.10-4.30

February 26th Route Cards completed and checked 3.10-4.30

March 5th Recap on tents and trangias 3.30-4.40

March 26th Kit distribution and Kit check 3.10-4.30

Date Year Opposition Venue

Weds 7th February U16 Netball St Marks (Essex Cup) Grays Convent

Wed 21st February 7 Netball Harris Chafford H Grays Convent

Thurs 22nd February 8 Netball Rally Hassenbrook

Tues 27th February 7 Netball Ockendon Ockendon

Thurs 1st March 7 Netball St Cleres Grays Convent

Wed 7th March 7 Netball Harris Riverside Harris Academy

Thurs 8th March 7 & 8 Netball Gable Hall Gable Hall

Thurs 15th March 7 & 8 Netball William Edwards Grays Convent

Mon 19th March 7 Netball Rally Hassenbrook

Thursday 22nd March 8 Netball St Cleres St Cleres

DUKE OF EDINBURGH TRAINING SCHEDULE BRONZE/SILVER 2017-18

PE FIXTURES LIST – WINTER/SPRING TERMS