Our Annual MAD event (Music Art and Drama) takes place next Tuesday, July 12 from 4.30pm until 7.30pm on the Friary Lawn.

If it’s anything like last year’s event it will be fantastic with musical performances, drama performance and art auction taking place.

Of course, there will be plenty to eat and drink with a barbecue, nibbles and refreshments on offer. Tickets cost £5 for adults and £2 for students and children  Under 5’s are free with all proceeds going to support Medicins Sans Frontieres.

With building work going on at school, visitors are  asked to use the playground gate entrance on St Antony’s Road.

All’s we need now is for the sun to shine for a positively perfect afternoon.

School Librarian Ms Masset spent many hours over many months designing and painting a huge Scrabble board for students to enjoy at lunchtimes and break-times in the library to increase their word power and literacy.

Our students love Scrabble and will really benefit from it

 Lasian Tracey-Masset aged 8 from St Edwards Primary school thinks it’s a great idea too.

Despite the wind and rain, the weather couldn’t dampen spirits at Sport’s Day this year as another successful display of sporting talent was on display at Newham Leisure Centre for all to witness.

The students performed well in their chosen races and events and the overall winner was declared as Kolbe using an overall average score.

Kolbe House Captain Hadrian is seen here with the winning trophy.

Here are some photos capturing the day.

Newsreader, journalist, broadcaster and writer, Nicholas Owen, was one of the special guests at The Arch Hotel yesterday, June 28, for the launch of ‘Book of Decamot’.

Nicholas now works for the BBC  presenting on the BBC News channel and BBC One but yesterday he was happy to pose with Year 10’s Rodolfo Adebajos III and chat about Rodolfo’s experience of the Decamot process in St Bonaventure’s.

Rodolfo’s script called ‘Rodriges’ Legacy’ impressed Decamot authors Stanley and Gavin Jackson and so Mr Halliwell and Rodolfo were invited to the press launch of the book with writers and comedians Dominic Holland and Miles Jupp and impressionist Rory Bremner  in attendance.

Only two other schools were invited, a Northampton School and a school from Kendal in Cumbria with their teachers with Rodolfo representing London and the South.

A buffet lunch was provided after a Question and Answer session hosted by Nicholas Owen whereby Rodolfo had to explain what he thought of Decamot.

The comedians joined in with them creating their own Decamot stories using ten given words and  true to their witty form their stories were topical, controversial and very funny.

Rodolfo said after the event: “It was very interesting to hear how everyone came up with their very different short scripts and I think Decamot is a unique and fun way to encourage creativity in people. I really enjoyed the process.”

The June Jack Petchey Award winner has been named today as Year 9’s Gabriel Brunette Peters.

14 year old Gabriel is proving to be a natural leader. Every Wednesday, Gabriel takes the driving seat at the lunchtime Anime Club and each week selects a different Japanese cartoon for his peers to study. The club is very popular and is growing week by week.

Gabriel is always the first through the door and has it all organised by the time the teacher arrives to supervise. He is a pleasant and good natured student who has excellent manners and is a very positive role model for younger students.

Gabriel from 9 Gregory wants to take his fellow Anime Club colleagues to ‘Harry Potter World’ with  his £250 award money as they are all fans of the teen wizard.

On June 6, demolition work began on the storage building opposite St Francis’ Hall.

Fences have been erected and perimeter walls temporarily removed in readiness for the building work on our long-awaited fantastic 6th Form block to begin.

We plan to keep you updated on the progress of the building works over the coming weeks and months as the construction takes shape.

Twenty six students from Years 7 – 10 took part in a workshop this week so they could deliver assemblies to their Year groups that will enable everyone to vote in a mock EU referendum in school on Thursday, June 23. 

Ms Rahman who teaches History and Politics organised for a University of Central London student, Akif, to come in to deliver training and help them to become political campaigners. He explained the arguments for and against remaining in Europe and then each campaigner was assigned as a Leave or Remain candidate and told to go out and canvass.

On Thursday students will then cast their vote into ballot boxes in St Francis’ Hall and Ms Rahman and her team will count the votes. She went on to explain: “This is teaching the boys fundamental British Values and shows democracy in action. Although it is done in a fun way, it carries a very important message and engages them in politics at an early age. They see their parents voting and can feel involved too.”

Since January a group of our boys from Years 7 to 10  were involved in the Commonwealth Children’s Choir with students from several primary schools across Newham.

Ms Brockett and Jess accompanied the boys to many appointments and many rehearsals to perfect their performances at unsociable hours to events at RAF Northolt, Horseguards Parade, The Household Guard and Beating the Retreat.

They recorded a song entitled ‘A Worldwide Family – A Song For The Commonwealth’ at Northolt to commemorate Her Majesty’s 90th birthday.

The boys really enjoyed the experience with all its pomp and ceremony with the Beating of the Retreat  and its fantastic firework display at the conclusion a favourite and memorable night for all those who went.

Everyone involved said their involvement is something they will remember all their lives and they felt privileged to have taken part.

Mr Thompson from our Music Department is holding a ‘Battle of the Bands’ challenge at the end of the month for our talented musicians to take part in.

Auditions are being held on June 27 but interested students need to go and see Mr Thompson to get a time-slot.

The requirements ask for a minimum of two band members with one song of your choice plus one song from any of the bands performing at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, on any of the stages.

Mr Thompson has a list of those bands performing displayed in the Music Department to inspire you.

So if you fancy getting involved and covering a song by Billy Bragg, The Bootleg Beatles, New Order, The 1975, Adele, Coldplay, Madness or maybe even ZZ Top, get rehearsing and go and see Mr Thompson….groovy baby!