We usually pride ourselves here in St Bonaventure’s on our students being very quiet in their lessons but not so today, April 19, when a drumming workshop was scheduled for a music lesson with a difference.

The musicians were treated to a very special lesson by Liz Walters, an experienced and professional Japanese Taiko teacher and got involved in the fun, noisy sessions.

The students learned about Japan and its culture.  Taiko is an ancient art that has a mythical origin in Japanese folklore. Archaeological evidence shows Taiko drums were in use as early as the 6th Century AD. The function has varied through history ranging from communication, military action, theatrical accompaniment and religious ceremony.

Music teacher, John Thompson, added: “The workshop had a very positive impact on the boys. They loved learning new skills and hearing all about the importance Taiko drums have in Japanese culture. It was a very rewarding experience and took to it very well. I was really impressed.”

Our Year 10 basketballers played Lampton School in Hounslow last week in an exhilarating quarter final match that resulted in an 87 to 52 win to us.

It proved to be an exciting and action-packed game with Head Coach, Mr Onireti, saying: ” It was a great game that was a fantastic, beneficial experience for the team that will prepare them for tougher and more skilled teams in the future.”

The team is now busy preparing for the semifinal against Liverpool’s Blue Coat School in the coming weeks.

Well done and good luck.

One of our Year 13 students, Antony Ajay Amalor, has been successful in getting a paid internship with the Royal Bank of Canada this summer which will include a £2000 per year bursary for the three years he’s at university as well as periods of paid work experience.

Ajay will gain invaluable experience as well as getting an insight into the working life of a first year analyst. He will meet and work with RBC professionals and clients too.

18 year-old Ajay is currently studying for his A Levels in Biology, Physics and Maths.

This is fantastic news and a real achievement for Ajay.

This week’s School Jewels have been announced.

Phatho Ningiza  from 9 Wall was nominated by Head of Art, Miss Gilroy, for the massive improvement he has shown in Art since September and the excellent work he has been producing in her class.

Darren Achampong from 11 Heath was nominated for his commitment and dedication to creativity in Art. Miss Gilroy added that Darren has been working tirelessly on his Art examination paper and she is very impressed with him.

Once again we have had attendance figures that are way above average not only for a Secondary school but even better than most Primary schools.

From January 2016 to our break up for Easter we achieved 97.1% attendance.

The national average for all schools is 95.5% and for Secondary schools, is 94.8%.

Well done to all our students.

You will not be successful if you can not make it into school on a regular basis.

The actual figures are shown below:

Franklin Agu who’s 13 and in 9 Forest has won the March Jack Petchey award in school.

Franklin has been a consistent and hard working member of the basketball team since he joined the school from St Winefride’s Primary in Manor Park two years ago.

He has demonstrated great leadership qualities throughout this year guiding his Year 9 team to the coveted London title recently.  The national title is in the team’s sights too and with Franklin’s help that dream seems a real possibility.

Under Franklin’s counsel, the players were always at practice on time and ensured they had a positive and energetic frame of mind which ultimately led them to a fast start and eventual win.

He  is  very determined and hardworking. His persistence is a critical feature of the team’s success. He is also captain of the local Youngbloods Basketball club who have achieved phenomenal success of late.

Mr Senior at the school added: “Franklin’s attention to detail and his always wanting to get the best out of himself and the team is a great sign for any basketball player. To be able to lead a successful team at such a young age is a great quality to have.”

A set of basketball shooting shirts will be purchased by the PE Department with Franklin’s £250 award money.

Thirty Year 8 boys visited the London Transport Museum’s Depot at Acton for a Transport For London (TFL) Inspire Engineering day recently

The aim of the day was to increase the awareness and understanding of engineering as a career as well as motivating the students to study the STEM subjects, Science Technology Art and Maths.

Our students built their own train track as part of a problem solving and team building exercise and made full use of the machinery at the museum.

The boys got the chance to interview project and civil engineers about their jobs and completed a project and will receive STEM CREST Discovery awards and certificates.

Chris Jarvis, our Careers Advisor, and Miss Larkin went with the students and said that the day was a great success. The feedback was excellent with one student commenting: “Even a few engineers can make a difference to millions of people’s lives.” Another said: “I enjoyed learning how engineers make London a better place and that it’s the engineers’s ideas that keeps London moving. They are real problem solvers.”

Our boys impressed bosses at TFL also who reckoned our Year 8s were a credit to the school adding: “One of our engineers couldn’t believe they were so young and said he thought that their questions were of a level you’d expect from much older final year GCSE students.”

St Bonaventure’s in Forest Gate has been nationally recognised for its exceptional 2015 performance by the Schools, Students and Teachers Network (SSAT).

Educational outcomes data analysis from SSAT has shown that the school is in the top 20% of schools nationally for high average grades achieved by students.

The school’s SSAT Educational Outcomes award will be presented at a regional celebration event held to draw attention to the work of high-achieving, improving and innovating schools and teachers.

Sue Williamson, Chief Executive of SSAT said: “It’s my great pleasure to commend St Bonaventure’s on their excellent 2015 performance and to have the opportunity to highlight and share their great work at the SSAT Educational Outcomes celebration evening. I have the privilege of visiting a lot of schools and I am always impressed by the creativity of teachers in engaging and inspiring their students. I hope that SSAT’s Educational Outcomes award will highlight the professionalism, commitment and hard work of the Leaders, Teachers and Students at St Bonaventure’s. Recognising and sharing successes like this is at the heart of SSAT’s mission. So I am delighted to congratulate St Bonaventure’s on their achievement.”

Paul Halliwell, Headteacher of St Bonaventure’s said: “Once again I feel very proud of all that we do at this great school and to be recognised by the SSAT is a great honour. The staff in St Bonaventure’s work hard for the students and they take their mission seriously. We love our young people and we will do anything possible to give them the best opportunities and best future life choices. Our students respond by always doing the very best that they can. Words can not describe how thankful we are with the support that parents give us. This award is for everyone in the community of St Bonaventure’s”.

Additional Information

SSAT, the Schools, Students and Teachers Network is the name of the company founded from the former Specialist Schools and Academies Trust in May 2012.

 SSAT is the hub of the largest and longest-standing network of School Leaders and forward-looking teachers in the country, The SSAT network helps Teachers and Leaders to collaborate meaningfully with other schools – learning from peers, benchmarking improvement and celebrating each other’s achievements.

St Bonaventure’s Year 7 Basketball team have rounded off an amazing season by becoming Basketball Champions of London.

The NBA (National Basketball Association) and England Basketball organised the tournament  in which 113 schools from all over the Capital participated eager to be crowned winners.

The St Bon’s team won their final match yesterday with a magnificent  35-10 win over Harris Academy in South Norwood.  12 year-old Megane Stanley was voted Most Valuable Player of the tournament.  

PE Teacher Paolo  Ancora said: “The team really deserved the win  based on all their hard work over the past seven months, especially their commitment coming in early in the mornings.” He added: “The Year 7 team are currently still unbeaten in all competitions, amassing an impressive 34 wins with no losses since September. To say I am proud is an understatement.”

The final was held yesterday, March 22, at Evelyn Grace Academy in Brixton and was attended by the eight finalist schools. Current WNBA player Allison Feaster was there to impart her wisdom and coach the youngsters throughout the day. A shooting contest and a NBA Clinic also took place and all the students thoroughly enjoyed their festival of basketball.

In the final itself,  the sports-hall was packed with spectators, dignitaries and pupils  and the atmosphere was amazing. After their NBA style call out where each player was introduced to the crowd, the St Bon’s team performed their team chant, and the game was on. The team sprinted out to an 8 point lead with baskets from Nikodem Dziubaltowski and Demi Dada. Harris Academy were stunned and tried to rally back, but Samzel Quaye, Ronin Botor and Jahni Weddeburn had them locked up with their tireless defence. The game was becoming stretched nearing half-time, both teams were tiring. St Bon’s inaccuracy was giving their opposition possession and hope, but aggressive defence combined with great rebounding, especially by Sujan Surendran kept St Bon’s ticking over. In the third quarter St Bon’s re-focused their efforts, which was epitomised by a spectacular block by Gabriel Omoregie.

The Year 7 team then scored several key baskets and Marc Mendoza along with Alfie Grech took control of the game By the time the final buzzer sounded, the crowd were jubilant and the St Bon’s team ecstatic.

Mr Ancora and Mr Onireti are bursting with pride and Mr Ancora added: “They are an exceptional group of young men and are dedicated, hard-working and full of  team spirit.”