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.

Tomorrow, Wednesday November 30, has been declared a non-uniform or mufti day  for the whole school, that’s Years 7 to 13 and for all staff too.

The reason for the casual attire is to raise money for CAFOD and “to help a child get better this Christmas.”

We are a cash-free school, so parents are being asked to make a minimum of £1.00 donation via ParentPay for this worthwhile charity.

Parents and carers will be sent another text today to remind them to leave the uniforms at home just for tomorrow.

Let’s all support this worthy cause.

Twelve-year-old Zain Qureshi from 8 Heath was today given the November Jack Petchey Award.

Zain impressed his History and Geography teacher, Mr Bynoth, as he is particularly caring and helpful to other students in his class and helps with one student in particular who is visually impaired. Mr Bynoth had noticed Zain explaining concepts to his class-mate who uses an iPad and sometimes needs a little extra help and said he was touched by his kindness .

Mr Halliwell commented: “Zain is proving to be an excellent young man who is always willing to help and offer his support when needed. This award validates his excellent start to Year 8 at St Bon’s.”

Zain’s award money is to be spent in the Humanities Department.

Our year 13 summer leavers are reminded to call in to school to collect their A Level certificates.

They have until Friday, December 9, to pop in. After that date the certificates will be posted to the address held on our system.

It was a double celebration for one St Bonaventure’s student, 16 year old Abdullah Bhaijee who won a silver medal for Wrestling at the 2016 British Championships in Bolton last weekend and yesterday, November 20,  won Gold  at the  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Junior European Championships in Wolverhampton.

He brought his medal in to school today and was very pleased with his achievement.

Abdullah added: “It felt brilliant to receive Gold but I won’t be taking part in any more competitions in the near future as I now need to concentrate on my A Level studies as I want to reach my dream of going to university and becoming a Psychiatrist.”

Abdullah joined St Bonaventure’s 6th Form  in September from Rokeby School.

St Bonaventure’s 6th Form student Abdullah Bhaijee came into school smiling with a silver medal today that he had won at the 2016 British Championships in Bolton at the weekend.

The sixteen-year-old Olympic Freestyle Wrestler from Forest Gate is currently studying for four A Levels, Biology, Chemistry, Pyschology and Geography but it was his strength and determination on the mat  that enabled him to win silver in the 67 kilos category.

Freestyle Wrestling has been an Olympic Sport since 1904.

Abdullah, who is in Year 12,  trains at Legion Wrestling in Leyton where he is also accomplished  in Brazillian Ju Jitsu. He went on to explain: “ It have been wrestling since I was 8 years old and I  fell in love with the sport. My coach is fantastic and has always encouraged me to do my best. I have a passion for the sport and now coach youngsters aged 4 – 16 which I’m really enjoying. Winning silver at the weekend has really encouraged me to keep going.”

Joining our 6th Form from Rokeby School, Abdullah wants to study Medicine at University and take up a career in Psychiatry  and with determination like his,  we don’t doubt he will do exactly that.