Local Newham based charity, Community Links, which runs a wide range of community projects supporting children, young people, adults and families was presented with a cheque for £300 just before Christmas from school.

The generous donation came about as once again this year staff decided that instead of spending money sending cards to each other they would make a donation to the East London charity.

For the last four years CAFOD has benefited but it was decided as we were helping Community Links with their Toy Appeal  this year we would also support them with the Cash Instead of Cards initiative.

Deputy Headteacher, Vivienne Qurrey, went on to say: “This proved a popular way for staff to help our local community during the festive period and I’d like to thank everyone who contributed.”

This festive period whilst we are all busy unwrapping presents and eating merrily, don’t forget to make a note of our 6th Form Open Evening in our brand new purpose-built building on Lancaster Road, Forest Gate.

We know how important the next step is in your son or daughter’s education and the mock exams that students have just taken will have given them plenty of food for thought and a flavour of what’s to come in the summer.

Concentrating on exams is vital but planning the next stage is just as important. Both parents and students want a 6th Form where students feel valued, safe, with access to the best tutors and enrichment opportunities: a 6th Form that will help them get to where they want to be. St Bonaventure’s 6th Form is their gateway to university and success.

Appointment slots are not needed for our Open Evening on February 2, 2017, just come along to see what courses are on offer, chat to teachers and other students and see how we can help.

Merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing you and helping you make the right choice in the new year.

As always, we finished our term in St Antony’s Church as a full school community. We celebrated Advent and the achievements of the school and the students.

On Tuesday 20 December 2016 we were joined by CAFOD and Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society, who came to collect our charity donations.

Mr Chris Driscoll of CAFOD collected a cheque for £6,000 from Head Boy Jamie

Mr Steven Webb of BCCS collects £5,200 from Deputy Head Boy Kharma

We also distributed £210 to Community Links and over £400 to Shelter

All parents, friends, staff and students are invited along to our beautiful Christmas Carol Service tomorrow evening, Thursday, December 15,  at 7pm in St Antony’s Church adjacent to the school.

For weeks now students have been busy rehearsing and we want as many staff and parents to come along and watch them perform a variety of musical pieces, carols and festive songs to warm the cockles of your heart. Your support is really appreciated.

It’s free for everyone and mulled wine and mince pies will be served afterwards.

This is one of the highlights of our school year so please come along and support this magical event.

This Thursday, December 15, the students will be having their Christmas Dinner in school which sounds delicious and very traditional and is a great way to celebrate the season with all their friends.

Our cook, Jane, wants to wish all our students a very Merry Christmas and says she is looking forward to the special meal.

This was certainly true for our 6th Form Gospel Choir  who were invited along to East ham Care Centre to sing for the elderly patients on the dementia and rehabilitation wards last week.

This festive act of goodwill is a now a tradition at St Bonaventure’s and has been happening for several years so it was fantastic to take along a fresh group of students to help cheer up the residents.

The Gospel Choir was led by Ms Brockett and Ms Salau and Mr Murray drove the group of 6th Formers in the school minibus and joined in with a selection of well-known Christmas carols.

It was truly magical and it was lovely to see the patients and staff joining in  and it is indeed “beginning to look a lot like Christmas.”

The 6th Form Senior Student Leadership Team is hosting a magnificent display of talent from all Year Groups tomorrow evening, Thursday 8 December, in St Francis’ Hall to raise funds for CAFOD.

Deputy Headboy, Trey Kyeremeh, went on to explain: “It will be a fantastic way to kick off the festive period and we have 8 acts that include a dance group, band, singer and gospel choir to entertain the audience. Tickets are just £1 for students and their siblings and £2 for parents and adults and we’d love it if as many people as possible could come along to support us.”

This is the first time our SSLT has organised anything like this and they will be calling in to classrooms to sell tickets tomorrow.

Juice and cupcakes will be on sale also.

What better way to celebrate this special time of year with talent, tinsel and teenagers!

Team GB  Taekwondo medalist Lutalo Muhammad popped in to school yesterday, December 1,  to deliver a very special class to Year 7 boys.

Lutalo, who is 25, won a bronze medal for Team GB in the 2012 London Olympics which was fantastic seeing as how he was born and raised in Stratford. He also won a silver medal in this summer’s Rio Olympics.

His special lesson for our boys was a huge hit yesterday and they were excited to pose with the athlete and his medals.

Last Friday’s Sponsored Walk around West Ham Park has managed to raise a staggering £2,565 so far for Bentwood Catholic Children’s Society.

The atmosphere was brilliant this year and the boys were in great spirits.

Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society is a fantastic organisation and they make a big difference to Children’s lives whether they are Catholic and not. The Charity is not just for Catholic Children and lots of youngsters across East London and Essex benefit benefit from them.

Thank you so much to all parents, carers and friends who supported this worthwhile traditional event.

God Bless you all.