Parents are reminded that students will finish at 12.25pm this Thursday, January 25, so staff can prepare for the 6th Form Open Evening that’s scheduled for that night.

The following morning, Friday, January 26, students will start an hour later than usual too – at 9.45am.

The Open Evening is an opportunity for Year 11 students to chat to teachers and current Year 12 and 13 students and ask questions about A Level and BTEC courses on offer.

It’s a very informal evening with lots of useful advice on offer.

Come along from 6pm to see how St Bon’s can help.

Two of our 6th Form Sports Science students, Laja Ogidan and Matilda Asiamah met the South African netball team at the Copperbox ahead of their game this Saturday.

A student from 8 Colman was today presented with the first Jack Petchey award of 2018 for the caring, helpful way he helps out a student with special needs.

Romeo Pjetri who is 12 and went to St Helen’s Primary School was nominated by Director of Inclusion, Mr Jobbins, for supporting a classmate and helping him with his work.

Mr Jobbins was touched by the way Romeo encouraged the boy to put his hand up in lessons and to participate which really helps him to feel included and helps boost his confidence.

Mr Jobbins was impressed by Romeo’s caring nature and felt it deserved to be recognised so this morning Headteacher, Mr Halliwell, called Romeo in to his office and presented him with a certificate from the Jack Petchey Foundation and added: “What a fantastic young man Romeo is to show love for a fellow student the way he does.”

Romeo is deciding what to do with the prize money he will receive.

At our end of year assembly on December 19, we presented three cheques totalling almost £10,000 to three worthwhile charities.

Margaret and Barry Mizen who are the parents of murdered teenager Jimmy Mizen attended the Christmas liturgy and collected a cheque for £1,826.57 for their ‘For Jimmy’ charity. The money was collected from our Christmas Jumper mufti day on December 14. They were overwhelmed by the generosity of staff and students and said the money would really help with Jimmy’s legacy of spreading the message of forgiveness, peace and hope across the country.

Bernadette Fisher from Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society (BCCS) that provides counselling for local children came to collect a cheque for £8,000 and Ms Hillan accepted a cheque for £131 on behalf of ‘Contact the Elderly.’

Mr Halliwell added: ” I am so proud of the amount raised this term. A phenomenal amount in just 12 weeks. To be able to present that massive amount in cheques to three worthwhile charities was a wonderful start to the Christmas holidays.”

Have yourselves a merry little Christmas and don’t forget students finish at 12.30pm today after the final assembly.

Stay say over the holiday and we’ll see all students back in school on January 3.

Important dates are published on the back of the school magazine and your son will be bringing one home with him today so please ask for it.

Merry Christmas everyone.

There’s still time to support  Richard House Hospice and buy a Christmas Star tree decoration to remember someone special this Christmas.

The stars hang on the St Bonaventure’s tree in Reception and are a lovely way to think of someone close to your heart.

They are available now from Reception for a donation of any amount.

Call in to personalise your star and after Christmas the money will be forwarded to the children’s hospice.

Ten more jars of own home grown Bon’s Bees Honey will be on sale today, December 15, after the first batch sold out in days.

Call in to Reception to pick one up.

These larger jars containing 3.5 oz cost slightly more at £3.50 . The honey is raw and unfiltered and 100% natural.

An overflow hive will be purchased with the profits as the colony is doing really well and expanding. Next year we hope to get a group of students involved the beekeeping process as they learn about them more.

Yesterday’s Christmas Jumper Day, December 14, was a massive success and we raised an amazing £1826.52 in donations.

Mr Halliwell commented: “I am blown away by the generosity of staff and students and their families. I know Margaret and Barry Mizen – Jimmy’s parents – will be thrilled and really grateful for the  amount raised. They have worked tirelessly these past 10 years to build a lasting legacy for their son Jimmy. Everyone at St Bon’s spent time yesterday thinking of Jimmy and did their bit to help which I think is really wonderful.”

Everyone at St Bon’s got into the festive spirit today and wore bright, colourful jumpers for the Jimmy Mizen charity, ‘For Jimmy.’

Jimmy died in an unprovoked attack in a bakery shop in Lee Green, South London, close to his home, the day after his 16th birthday teen years ago next year.

Jimmy’s parents, Barry and Margaret, asked us to help them out with this special Jumpers For Jimmy Day to support their charity and we were happy to help.

The money donated is still being collected and we will have a total amount raised soon.

Here are some photos of Mr Robinson’s Year 7 students and staff wearing their super sweaters.