Priory School

Easter Newsletter 2018

Holy Week 2018

Alleluia. Risen is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep

and who deigned to die for His flock, Alleluia. Praise from the Birmingham Diocese On Wednesday 21st March 2018, Daniel Vince, schools advisor for the Birmingham Diocese visited Priory School. He met with the Head’s Catholic Life Consultation Group, praised our Sixth Form Charity Team who raised over £720 for CAFOD and also met with Jacinta who won the Cardinal Hume award for her services to the poor. Mr Vince was full of praise for our wonderful pupils:

It is clear to see that all children enjoy school.

Children clearly appreciate the Catholic ethos and the community aspect of the school.

Pupils appreciate features such as the Prayer Tree in Our Lady’s Hall.

The RE curriculum is valuable to pupils. Mr Vince has also given us some amazing ideas as to how we can further enhance our provision at school and one example is through the Priory School Pupil Profile.

Priory School Pupil Profile

Priory Pupils are growing to be… Priory School helps pupils to grow… Grateful for their own gifts, for the gift of other people, and for the blessings of each day; and generous with their gifts, becoming men and women for others.

Attentive to their experience and to their vocation; and discerning about the choices they make and the effects of those choices.

Compassionate towards others, near and far, especially the less fortunate; and loving by their just actions and forgiving words.

Faith-filled in their beliefs and hopeful for the future.

Eloquent and truthful in what they say of themselves, the relations between people, and the world.

Learned, finding God in all things; and wise in the ways they use their learning for the common good.

Curious about everything; and active in their engagement with the world, changing what they can for the better.

Intentional in the way they live and use the resources of the earth, guided by conscience; and prophetic in the example they set to others.

By encouraging them to know and be grateful for all their gifts, developing them to the full so that they can be generous in the service of others.

By promoting the practice of attentive reflection and discerning decision making: in teaching, in the examen, prayer and retreats; and through the practice and example of school leaders and staff.

By being compassionate and loving in the way pupils are treated, especially when a pupil is in trouble; and by opening pupils’ eyes to those who suffer poverty, injustice or violence.

By passing on the living and faith-filled tradition of Jesus

Christ; by having persevering faith in the pupils, and by

encouraging them, in turn, to have faith and hope in

others.

By developing an eloquent language which pupils can use to understand and articulate their emotions, beliefs, and questions, encouraged by the example of their teachers to be truthful in the way they represent themselves and speak about the world.

By the breadth and depth of the curriculum; by excellence of teaching, and the creation of opportunities to become more learned and wise.

By leading pupils to be curious about the universe and all

human activity, and to take increasing responsibility for their own learning, and by providing opportunities for them to be active in the life of the school, the Church, and the wider community. By being a school community which is intentional in its way of proceeding to build-up quality of life; and which is prophetic in the way it offers an alternative vision of education and the human person rooted in the gospel.

International Women’s Day 2018

Our pupil leadership team delivered an engaging assembly in celebration of International Women’s Day this half term.

Guest speaker Jessica Robinson delivered an inspiring and motivational presentation to KS4 and KS5 pupils this half term as part of our PSHEE and Careers programme. As part of International Women’s Day, Jessica celebrated her success as a female leader.

Science and Engineering Week 2018

I.S.F.A. U16 SHIELD FINAL

Priory School V. Chigwell School At St. George’s Park

Newborough Road, Needwood, Burton-on-Trent, DE13 9PD

Thursday 26th April 2018, kick-off 6.00 p.m.

To celebrate the achievement of the Year 10 & 11 football team reaching the Independent Schools Football Association (ISFA) Small Schools National Cup Final, the school is putting on a free coach to the final. The coach will leave school at 3.50pm and return to school for 8.30pm. Pupils will need a packed tea or a small amount of money for a McDonald’s stop before the game. It would be great to have as many fans at the ground as possible and promote some school spirit. If you would like your son / daughter to attend, then please email Mr Spencer: a.spencer@prioryschool.net.

Year 12 Volunteering Work at Birmingham Women’s Hospital

Year 12 are had a fantastic time volunteering at the Birmingham Women’s Hospital where they have been supporting the team in a variety of volunteering activities including charity fundraising. Students also visited wards and clinics to support the staff in their duties.

Wonderful World Book Day 2018

Priory enjoyed a fantastic day of activities during World Book Day. Pupils came to school in full fancy dress or accessorised their home clothes with a literary theme. With prizes awarded for the best fancy dress, we were delighted that many pupils and staff participated. The money raised is being donated to the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus in order to purchase books for our sister school in the Dominican Republic where students come from poor and impoverished backgrounds.

A Crime in the Cornelia Connelly library! There has been a terrible crime committed in the library! Throughout March, senior detectives were invited to come to library to test their literary knowledge and solve the heinous crime!

Rest in Peace Stephen Hawking

Year 7 said prayers for Stephen Hawking in the Sister Monica Prayer Garden. As part of science and engineering week, pupils have been reflecting on the wonderful contributions Professor Hawking has made to the world of science. May his soul Rest in Peace.

Charity Fundraising for CAFOD

Priory pupils have been fundraising for CAFOD by giving up their daily treats and donating the money that would have been spent to this worthy charity. There have been a range of fundraising events taking place at school and over £720 has been raised!

Priory School Careers Convention 2018

Careers Focus 2018

"Since we cannot know what knowledge will be most needed in the future, it is senseless to try to teach it in advance. Instead, we should try to turn out

people who love learning so much and learn so well that they will be able to learn whatever needs to be learned." - John Holt

Priory school is committed to promoting high quality careers education, information, advice and guidance as an integral part of your child's education. We aim to provide a programme which is appropriate to the age, ability and

educational needs of each individual and is underpinned by equality of opportunity. Throughout Key Stage Three, our careers education programme is designed to allow pupils to develop self-awareness as they begin to explore the world of work. Through our PSHEE curriculum, pupils develop skills that will prepare them for the rest of their academic and working life such as: effective self-management skills, team work skills, reflective learning, research skills and multiple intelligences. In Year 9, our careers education programme is designed to provide pupils with the skills they need to enable them to explore future courses and career options. This year, your child has engaged in a series of work related activities and individual careers action planning and research. Pupils in Year 10 spent a week on a work experience placement in a career setting of their choice. In recent PSHEE lessons, your child has been developing career awareness, enabling them to take control of their personal career development and think about the skills they need to develop as they prepare for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life. In Year 11 and in the Sixth Form, pupils have the opportunity to attend a range of vocational talks on different occupations and routes into these areas. Workshops have also been delivered through PSHEE in areas such as further education options, making applications, writing a CV and a personal statement. Your child has been set an Easter Holiday homework project. Pupils have been asked to log into an educational programme which will help them to start thinking about possible future careers. Parents are encouraged to share in this learning experience with their children!

Wishing Priory pupils, their families and friends a safe and happy Easter break. We look forward to welcoming you back to school on 24th April

2018.

Jonathan Cramb Sarah Mullin Headmaster Assistant Headteacher