WANT  a sure-fire way to feel Christmassy? Then why not pop this date in your diary to come along to the St Bonaventure’s traditional beautiful carol service in St Antony’s Church on Thursday, December 20, at 7pm.

The whole evening will be heartwarming with musical acts including the school choir, Year 7 choir, house band and staff choir.

Soloists will be performing as well as students enacting glad tidings from the nativity.

Tickets are not required as this is a free event.

Complimentary mince pies and mulled wine will be served after the service.

There will be a collection for the Christian Communities in the Holy Land at the end of the evening.

Mr Halliwell added: “This is the event that really kicks Christmas off for me every year.  The church looks beautiful with twinkling candles and the performances are so moving it really does make me feel very proud and sets the scene for the festive season so well.”

Curriculum Leader for Music, Ms Warren, has been busy all term preparing the various choirs and fine tuning their set.

Mr Halliwell wants as many parents and carers to try and make the carol service and find out the true meaning of Christmas by sharing in this wonderful magical musical event.

We are all praying for 6th Form A Level student, Dalton Bally, who is 17, after he was interviewed at Churchill College, Cambridge, last week where he hopes to study medicine next year.

This is fantastic news and a great boost for Dalton.

Dalton  is currently studying  Biology, Chemistry and Maths and you might remember him from the video on YouTube from a few weeks back showing Dalton tutoring keen Year 11 Physics students from St Bon’s in Stratford library one Friday evening captured by Action Jackson.

We are all thinking of him and wish him lots of luck.

Director of 6th Form, Mr Templeman, has promised to keep us posted.

10 Heath’s Shams Ullah was today awarded November’s Jack Petchey Award by Acting Headteacher, Mr Templeman.

14-year-old Shams was nominated by Deputy Headteacher, Mr McCormack, for his outstanding work with  the mental health service Headstart Newham that works closely with schools and the community to transform how young people and their families are supported.

Shams represents St Bonaventure’s really well and is an excellent champion for the service.

He is a mature and likeable student who inspires lots of boys in school to get involved with Headstart to develop and build coping strategies and resilience.

Well done Shams.

Just a reminder that tomorrow, Tuesday November 20, school is open as usual for all staff and students.

The only change is that Reception will close at 4pm and there will be no after school clubs, detentions or sporting activities so staff can leave to attend the planned demonstration outside the Catholic Cathedral in Westminster.

The protest is to secure funding for education and to protest against cuts to school funding.

No student should be in school after 4pm.

A group of our scientists have made it through to the next stage of the RSC Chemistry  Mastermind Competition’s Essex heat.

This is brilliant news especially as it’s the first time the school has taken part.

Kairon Conception from 11 Bell, Shams Ullah from 10 Heath and William Mena and Selorm Amenu from 9 Gregory had to complete a gruelling test that was marked externally.

Mr Adenekan was thrilled when he heard St Bonaventure’s had been placed in the top 7 out of 41 schools that participated,  most of them fee paying and grammar schools  from across Essex.

The lads prepared by having additional booster classes and tests to decide who would go on to represent the school.

Mr Halliwell wishes them all the luck in the world at the semi finals next month.

This lunchtime Cardinal Manning Hall was alive with the sound  of music as our talented performers and musicians put on a concert for staff and students.

Head of Music, Ms Warren  and Mr Reece should feel very proud as it was spectacular and a great way to spend lunchtime.

Here are some of the performers in action.