Our Examinations Officer, Mrs Ashton, has announced that  A Level and GCSE certificates from June 2019 are now ready to collect from school up until the end of December 2019.

All those uncollected will be posted home to the addresses we hold on file.

It’s that time of year again, something that has taken place for decades at St Bonaventure’s and is as well remembered and loved by all, yes,  it’s the Annual Sponsored Walk around the  beautiful Victorian  – and right on our doorstep  – West Ham Park.

This takes place this Friday, November 8, and Mr McCormack hopes to raise as much as the school did last year when over £7,300 was collected for various charities.

This year, in light of recent events, it has been decided that the first £500 raised will be put towards a fitting memorial at St Bonaventure’s for Baptista so his memory will live on.

With this in mind, Mr McCormack is going to ask that students wear a football shirt of their choosing over their school uniforms for the walk around the park this year as Baptista loved his football so much. Students should bring the footie shirts in with them and change in to them just before the Sponsored Walk starts.

The charity ’For Jimmy’  will receive some of the money collected this year. This charity was set up by Margaret and Barry Mizen after the loss of their son Jimmy to an act of violence in South London when he was 16 and the charity works closely with schools up and down the UK to spread forgiveness and hope to youngsters.

The Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society who have supported us with our loss as a community will also benefit this year. They will continue to support our students and staff as we move forward in hope and faith.

Every student has received a sponsor form to collect sponsors from family and friends and Mr McCormack hopes families will support this year’s Sponsored Walk again.

Students are reminded not to knock on strangers’ doors to collect sponsors or bother members of the public however.    

ParentPay can be used to pay in any sponsor money collected and  to stop students carrying cash into school as this is safer all round.

It is forecasted be cold and crisp. Ideal walking weather. 

Introducing…the newly elected members of this academic year’s School Council.

Please congratulate them if you see them around school and raise any issues you want discussing at the next meeting.

Well done gents!

Headteacher, Mr McCormack, wants to remind parents and carers that they have until close of school tomorrow, the 31st, to submit applications for the new Year 7 September 2020 intake.

Lots of applications have already come in which is fantastic.

School is usually closed for the half term holiday during this time but this year the holiday was slightly earlier which means school is open to receive applications if parents want to come in and hand them in the Reception personally.

There is still time.

We look forward to receiving them.

God bless.

Staff from St Antony’s Primary School joined our staff and Mr McCormack at the end of the school day today at a special mass for Baptista that was held in St Francis’ Hall in school.

Father Bob and Father James concelebrated the emotional mass and prayed for Baptista and his distraught family.

The whole community is grieving but the mass was a fitting way to remember such a loved student whose life touched so many.

Eternal rest grant onto him Oh Lord.

This lunchtime, Wednesday, October 16,  Miss Warren’s talented musicians put on an autumn showcase of performances involving a range of pupils including the newly formed string group, talented Year 12s and Denis the virtuoso Year 7 Pianist.

The students have been practising for weeks to put this together and it was beautiful and very moving.

Staff and students went along to watch in Cardinal Manning Hall where a photo of Baptista and remembrance book is located.

Throughout the event they kept Baptista in their thoughts as everyone in school struggles to try and come to terms with his senseless death.

St Bonaventure pray for him and his family always.

Year 11 History students visited The Science Museum in Kensington yesterday, October 9 to attend an exhibition called ‘Top Secret: From Ciphers to Cyber Security.’

The exhibition provided an insight into security techniques used in the Cold War.

The exhibition coincides with the 100th anniversary of GCHQ, the UK’s Intelligence, Security and Cyber agency.

They got to explore the story of Alan Turing and the team of Bletchley Park codebreakers who broke the Enigma code in 1941. There was a chance to uncover spy-craft from 1960’s Cold War espionage and challenge their friends by becoming  codebreakers in an interactive puzzle zone.

Students really enjoyed this trip and the range of artefacts, exhibits and interactive activities and one student, Leonardo Martin, added: “This trip really benefited my studies as I was able to see how espionage developed during the Cold War”.  

Another pupil, Brogan Cordice, commented: “Cracking the code was a challenge but lots of fun; it makes you realise why security is so important”.  

It sounds like they had a fantastic insight into the world of spies, secrets, espionage and intrigue and not a sign of 007 or Moneypenny anywhere.

Headteacher, Mr McCormack, invites all Year 6 boys and their parents or carers to come along and take a closer look at our vibrant school, meet enthusiastic staff and students and experience what has made St Bonaventure’s amongst the top performing schools in East London for more than 140 years.

Join us on Thursday 10th October 2019 – 6pm prompt start

Finishes at 8pm

Flyer below

Open Evening October 2019 St Bonaventure’s Advert v1

Philip Clarke from the Gideons organisation came in to hand out the pocket-sized new testaments to `Year 7 boys at assembly today, September 19.

This happens each year at St Bonaventure’s and the students treasure their red Gideons and carry them in their blazer top pockets throughout their schooldays.

Thank you Philip for coming in today.