Mr Halliwell  gathered the carol singers together this afternoon, December 12, to present them with commendations for singing for the pensioners at East ham Care Centre.

Mr Onireti held a buzzer challenge in the library this lunchtime, December 12, when his Year 7 maths club boys had to answer 15 questions in a final test of their knowledge.

It was the culmination of the busy term’s work and prizes were given out to the 3 students with the most points. All students got sweets and has lots of fun and it was a great way to finish the year.

Here are some photos.

Miss Salau took her choir for an afternoon of  carol singing to entertain dementia, rehabilitation and palliative patients at East Ham Care Centre in Shrewsbury Road.

We have been doing this for the last ten years and this year instead of taking 6th Form singers, Miss Salau decided to take her younger students who were all really keen to go and sing for the residents.

The students visited two wards and sang for the patients in the lounge. It was heartwarming to see the pensioners joining in with the carols and they were really happy to see our boys.

Mr Halliwell drove the minibus and added: “Our students sang their hearts out for the patients and they were really excited to go along and help spread a little Christmas cheer.”

Member of Parliament for West Ham, Lyn Brown, came into school today, Friday December 8, to speak to our 6th Form Government and Politics A Level students about her career and was happy to answer questions.

She spoke openly to the group in our library and spent time with the students.

Mrs Rahman organised the visit and added: “I really appreciate her taking the time to come in and speak with our 6th Formers. They all said afterwards it was really useful and gave them an insight into the world of politics in their local area.”

We are holding a mufti day next Thursday, December 14, when staff and students are encouraged to come into school wearing a Christmas jumper or their own clothes in aid of the  ‘For Jimmy’ charity in memory of teenager Jimmy Mizen who died in an unprovoked attack the day after his 16th birthday in 2008.

Festive jumper-wearers are asked to pay £1 and non jumper-wearers who decide to wear their own clothes instead should contribute £2 for this worthy cause.

Students can be imaginative and add a bit of tinsel or baubles to an existing jumper to bling it up for the day and get in the Christmas spirit.

Barry and Margaret Mizen  – Jimmy’s parents – have asked us and other supportive schools in London to help their charity this Christmas, Margaret commented: “We have achieved so much but there is still so much more to do. ‘For Jimmy’ works to build the types of communities we all want to live in and to do this we need to raise vital funds to continue our work to ensure Jimmy’s legacy of forgiveness, peace and hope is realised and that all young people can grow up feeling safe.”

There can be no better message this Christmas, surely.

We hope all staff and students get behind us and fully support Jumpers For Jimmy on December 14…it promises to be a colourful, sparkly, fun day.

After a very productive first year, our St Bonaventure’s honey bees have produced an impressive crop of honey that is now ready for students, staff and parents to buy.

The small jars cost £2 each with proceeds going to buy an overflow hive for the spring.

The locally produced honey is 100% natural with our bees foraging on nectar from West Ham Park and surrounding gardens. It has many health benefits and fantastic that they have produced such a good yield in such a short time.

They jars would make an ideal stocking filler this Christmas and can be purchased from Mrs Halliwell in Reception.

The November Jack Petchey award was given out this week to a Year 10 student who has turned over a new leaf and made real progress in school.

14 year old Daniel Barimah who is in 10 Wall was nominated by Mr McCormack as he had noticed how he had matured recently and had a real epiphany when it came to his studies.

Mr McCormack went on to explain: ” He now has 100% attendance and is getting brilliant reports from his teachers.  His confidence has grown and he is happier and proving to be an excellent student and role model now.  I am so happy to see this change in attitude and I always knew he had it in him. I hope this award gives him the boost he needs to continue on this path.”

Daniel will now decide how to spend his £250  prize money.

We are proud to announce that Year 9 student, Ethan Suppaya, was announced as the winner of the St Jospephine Bakhita Award at the Celebrating Young People Awards in Leicester Square, London, last night, November 23.

The awards are an opportunity for the Catholic community to celebrate the enthusiasm, commitment and incredible difference young people like Ethan make to the lives of countless people inspired by Catholic social teaching.

Ethan was shortlisted along with a group of students from St Gregory the Great School in Oxford along with students from Bellrive Catholic College in Liverpool, Bishop  Milner in Dudley, Ursuline High School in Wimbledon and Loreto Grammar School in Altrincham.

The competition was tough as all the students were nominated for doing outstanding work in their school communities and when Ethan was announced there was an audible gasp from his delighted family who were in the audience along with Mr Lewis and Mr and Mrs Halliwell.

Ethan went on stage to collect his crystal award and pose for photographs and everyone agreed the award was well deserved for his work in school helping to promote and protect the dignity of refugees and migrants families.

Mr Halliwell was there to see Ethan pick up his award and added: “Pope Francis has stated that every human being is lovingly and beautifully made in God’s image and likeness and that he other principles flow from this. Ethan is the epitome of kindness and always shows love for his fellow man. What a beautiful quality to possess.”

Archbishop Malcolm McMahon was there to congratulate the winners.

The awards are sponsored by Million Minutes.

Congratulations Ethan!