The
St John Fisher Catholic High School Oxford Road Dewsbury West Yorkshire WF13 4LL
e: [email protected] t: 01924 527000 f: 01924 527004 w: www.stjohnfisher.org.uk
e: [email protected] t: 01924 527000 f: 01924 527004 w: www.stjohnfisher.org.uk
St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy Oxford Road Dewsbury WF13 4LL
Dear Parents and Friends, As we move into the last few days of term, I wish to take the
opportunity of wishing you all a happy Christmas. I hope the holiday is a good one for you and your families.
Ben Restall R.I.P Please pray for the repose of the soul of Ben Restall (Year 12)
and that his family may be comforted. Ben died on 9th December following a relatively short ill-
ness. His bravery was an example to us all. Even whilst ill,
he achieved much in his GCSE examinations in the summer. He was a keen sportsman and sports fan. Hugely
popular, our community is a poorer place without his physical presence amongst us. He will always be with us. We trust
that he will now rest in peace with the Lord.
Charitable Action and Advent Services
All of our young people are taking part in Advent services and a number of other liturgies. On the morning of the last
day of term, Friday 18th December, there will be special reli-gious services for each year group in the school.
A non-uniform day was held on 4th December to boost funds for our partner school in Ghana. Our students have recently provided shoe boxes filled with gifts so that those less fortunate than us may know that there are people who care about them as children of God. Up to Christmas we are now collecting tins and packets of food and small toiletries and gifts to support the work of the SVP and Catholic Care in providing for those in our area who have very little in the festive period. Carol Service Our Carol Service this year will take place on Tuesday 15th December. The venue is St Aiden’s Church in Mirfield and the evening will commence at 7.30pm. Please come along.
Live Crib On the morning of Wednesday 16th December, our Sixth Formers will once again perform the “live crib” for the people of Dewsbury. This traditional event will begin at approximately 11.00 am outside the United Reform Church.
Changes to the Normal School Day On Friday 18th, lunch will begin early. This will be from 12.10pm. On Friday 18th December school will finish at 12.45 pm. The buses will come early but if your child needs to have other travel arrangements, please arrange these. School Reopening School will reopen at 8.50 a.m. on Tuesday, 5th January. A copy of the finalised term dates for Year 15-16 and 16-17 were circulated previously and can be found on the school website. School Attendance May I thank parents for their support with this and in particular for your help in reducing the number of term time holidays taken. Please remember, it is the school’s policy not to authorise absence for family holidays and it maybe that fixed penalty notices will be issued. Uniform/School Dress My thanks to parents for the efforts made to ensure the young people are smartly dressed. Generally, uniform has been excellent. May I remind parents that girls are permitted only to wear one pair of studs in their ear lobes and other jewellery, piercings and make up are not allowed. Hair styles must be appropriate for school and this will be judged by staff as noted in the prospectus. Can I remind you that girls are not permitted to wear short skirt, skinny trousers or leggings to school. School skirts should be no shorter than 5cm about the knee. Additionally, canvas pumps are also forbidden other than for PE. All students should be in plain, flat, black shoes. It is vital that all students have a sturdy bag to protect books and equipment. Yours sincerely
Kevin Higgins
December 2015
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CHRISTMAS EDITION
St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy
Term Dates - Academic Year 2015-16
PUPILS
Autumn Term 2015
Spring Term 2016
Summer Term 2016
FIRST DAY
HALF
TERM
LAST DAY
FIRST
DAY
HALF TERM
LAST DAY
FIRST
DAY
HALF TERM
LAST DAY
Wednesday 2nd
September
Monday 26th
October to
Monday 2nd
November
Friday 18th
December
Tuesday 5th
January
Monday 15th
February to
Monday 22nd
February
Thursday 24th
March
Monday 11th April
Monday
30th May to
Friday 3rd June
Tuesday 19th July
Attendance points:
House Shield total so far:
Key Dates up to February Half Term
Becket Campion Clitherow More
62 59.5 66.5 69
Becket Campion Clitherow More
93.8 93.6 94.1 95.7
14th January 2016 27th January 2016 5
th February 2016
6th February 2016
8th February 2016
11th February 2016
Yr. 9 Preference Evening 6th Form Parents’ Evening Non-uniform Day for School Charities VIth Form Advice/Interview Day Yr. 11 Reports issued Yr11 Parents’ Evening
Lourdes 2015
On July 2nd, we were at the closing stages of preparation for our trip to Lourdes. At 5:30pm a very late coach
arrived and we were off: a long twenty-four hour haul journey. There were just the eight of us with Miss Bolland and
Father Hall on a coach, along with another school consisting of over 30 girls.
We arrived in Lourdes at about 6:00 o'clock the next day . We stepped off our air conditioned bus to a lovely
heat, then stepped into our even more lovely hotel. Miss Bolland, who had been there seven times already, gave us
a guided tour: to be quite honest words cannot describe the view that we had there in the middle of the Pyrénées, a
wonderful clear blue river running through it and of course the domain the basilica
towered over. The domain and the basilica looked even better during the sunset,
as the sky turned a whole range of different colours. At the end of that night, there
was a bed waiting for all of us and we were all grateful for a good night’s sleep.
Every day of the trip had its highlights. However, the first and second day were
probably the days that stood out for me. On the Saturday afternoon, we had the
high stations of the cross, which were just amazing. Despite many complaining
about the hill we walked upon, there was so much to take in with the sheer size of the stations, especially when
Jesus is on the cross and you see just how big it really was. In the evening we had the first of the two torchlight
processions in which we paraded: I was holding our school cross, therefore I was
lucky enough to go up the steps of the basilica and witness the thousands of
candles parading around the domain.
On the second day we had the garden party; all the schools and pilgrims
attended. This was probably the highlight of the trip for me: it was just time for all of
us to get to know each other. There were so many brilliant people there and we all
made new friends, many of whom we still keep in touch with. The rest of the week
consisted of more exploration into the history of Lourdes, different kinds of masses, going to and getting in the baths
and lots of free social time.
If you ask any one of us who went on the trip, we will all say that it was a fantastic experience. In my opinion, it
was the complete opposite of what I expected: we made so many friends, our pilgrims which we looked after were
lovely, we actually had loads of free time to do whatever we wanted and we all had a brilliant time. If you get the
chance to go, whether you are in Sixth Form or Year 10, go on the Lourdes pilgrimage and ensure you take up the
fantastic opportunity!
- James Sweeney
My St. John Fisher Experience
On my first day at St. John Fishers, the only feelings bricked up inside me were anxiety and curiosity. To be honest, it was a bit strange as my last position was Year 6, also known as the eldest and the ‘bosses’ of the school.
However, now it’s all gone downhill and I’m the youngest in the school again.
Before I even started high school, I was constantly (but pointlessly) concerned about minor problems: if I couldn’t catch up and cope with my homework or if I got lost and muddled up with my classes. Within a week or two, I felt
settled in just like primary school. Quickly, I noticed that I wasn’t the only person in Year 7 who felt nervous. I sometimes thought I’d be the only one
struggling at St. John Fisher’s. Now, I feel confident with the school and I really hope everyone else in Year 7 does too.
- Alina Abbas 7I
Young Chef Rotary Competition
On Thursday, 12th November eight students competed in the Mini-heats for the Young Chef Rotary Competition. They had two hours to prepare and make a healthy, three course meal.
Students worked hard against the time to plate up some stunning final meals.
The 'judges' thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were seen rolling down corridors afterwards.
"It's like being at pizza express!" -Mrs Walker’s reaction after trying Molly Hawkins's garlic butter dough balls.
"Phenomenal chicken salad..."
-Mrs Gavaghan loved Kayden Ramsden's starter.
"I don't like salmon... but those fishcakes...WOW." -Miss South.
Every student had a dish to be proud of and it was so difficult choosing a winner. It was lovely to see the students so
keen and enjoying the experience. I hope to have the same enthusiasm for entries next year!
KS3 winner: Sam McCabe 7I Overall winner: Polly Flatley 10R
Battlefields Trip 2015
Lucie Gillet: French assistant
My name is Lucie Gillet, I'm the French language assistant. I am 23 and I come from Malestroit
in Brittany. I did a Master degree in Cinema in Rennes University and I specialised in American Gangster films. I love to read books, watch movies and travel around the world with
my friends. I came in England to improve my English and to see how you live.
I don't know yet what I want to do as a job: I'd love to be a movie director or a producer or a cinematographer (the person who does the lightning of a film): too many choices! Anyway I am
glad to work in your school and if you want to talk with me about France or anything else, I'd be happy to do so!
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
At 11pm on a cold Thursday night just before half term several Year 10 students gathered on the school drive to become another St John Fisher Pals’ Battalion. Waved off by their parents on a promise of an unforgettable life changing experience they embarked on a
journey that will stay with them forever.
Whilst on the visit the students learnt first-hand about the futility of war and walked the same
fields that the soldiers had done 100 years before them. All students agreed that the visit
was invaluable and really brought history to life.
‘Powerful, amazing
and irreplaceable. All
young men and
women need to see
and go to these places;
not just reading
account form text-
books. I am now
grateful in many more
and different ways.’
‘An experience I shall
never forget. So glad I
shared it with the
people I did. In a way it
has changed me and
the way I see things.
I am so thankful for
everything and
everyone that I have by
my side.’
‘Overall I don’t know how to describe this trip
other than life changing. I will never forget this.
It will live with me forever.’
Science Competition…
‘Chemistry in Everything’ Interview with Mrs. Walker
What is your job?
I am a science teacher.
If you could go back to any year of your life, which would it be and why?
I would go back to the years I had my beautiful children: 1999 and 2002.
What is your favourite film?
I have two favourite films: A Night to Remember and Deep Impact.
Which four people, dead or alive, would you invite to a dinner party?
Jonas Salk, he invented the polio vaccine and released it free to the world. Jodie Picoult, my
favourite author and I’ve met her four times (not that I’m a stalker). Peter Kay, funny guy (I get
most of my jokes from him), and Victoria Wood, great comedian and down to earth person.
If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
Buy more musical instruments!
- Mrs. S. Walker, Science
Ideas to get you thinking…
Fireworks: the colours in fireworks are caused by metal salts
Coca cola (fizzing): carbon dioxide gas causing bubbles Plant: photosynthesis reaction equation - carbon dioxide
+ water à oxygen + glucose
You can also speak to any science teacher or look on the internet (www.compoundchem.com) for some more
ideas. How to enter…
Competition open to all staff and students.
On the back of your entry, please write your full name and form.
Please either give entries to Miss Dhorajiwala (in M8) or email to [email protected] by Friday
5th
February 2016.
Prizes…
House points for entering Special goodies for entering
Prizes for winners from each Yea Group Photos used for ‘Chemistry in Everything’ display Top 5 photos sent to Royal Society of Chemistry
The wood in the bonfire is burning and this is a
process of combustion. Oxygen is required for
this and the products of this reaction are carbon
dioxide and water.
Explain the Chemistry in the photo
Take a photo of something that shows Chemistry
This year our school made up 110 shoeboxes; all filled with toys, toiletries, stationery and sweets to be sent
to children less fortunate than ourselves. Activities of a Bake Sale, Sweet Tombola and donations enabled
us to present a cheque for £450.50 which will cover postage charges for all of our boxes plus more.
Operation Christmas Child sends boxes to children in 100 countries all over the world. This year 100,000
boxes from the UK will be given to Syrian refugee children. Planning suggests that the boxes collected from
West Yorkshire will go to Liberia and Romania.
Thank you to everyone who helped by bringing in things to bring joy into children’s lives.
Operation Christmas Child 2015
Spen Valley Cup Football Update
The school teams have made a promising start to the year. We are still in the Spen Valley Cup in years 7 to 11 at the quarter final stage. Years 7 and 8 will play Thornhill, years 9 and 10 are scheduled to play Manor Croft, and Year 11 will play Whitcliffe. The under 13 and under 16 girls’ competitions begin in the
new year. We have also been playing in the annual Spen Valley seven-a-side Flood-lit Soccer Tournaments every
Wednesday night. To date, we have come second in years 10 and 11, with the year 7 and 8 tournaments to be played before we break up.
Our young leaders attached to teams are Zach Thompson and Jordan Graves. They have shown
fantastic
leadership working with the year 7 football and rugby teams.
Girls Swimming: North East England number one
Congratulations to the junior girls swimming team of Laura Bowler, Avril Bowler, Megan Bellhouse Smith
and Amy Wood, who competed in the English Schools Swimming Association (ESSA) team relay event
for the North East region. They were Intermediate Girls Medley Relay winners and Intermediate Girls
Freestyle Relay winners. They competed with fourteen other schools from the north-east of England and
were accompanied by Miss Warr. Well done!
Rugby
In Rugby, years 7, 9 and 10 have qualified for the Yorkshire Schools Cup following qualification in the
more competitive Kirklees Schools Rugby Leagues. We need to reach the semi-final stage of the
Yorkshire Cup to progress to the National Schools competition. The year 7 team won the North Kirklees
Champion Schools Qualification tournament and are currently at the second round stage of the
Yorkshire Cup. Years 9 and 10 are also awaiting their second round fixtures after beating Meadowhead
school and Cathedral Academy.
Netball Along with football and rugby, netball practice has also been well attended since September. Practice is
every Thursday, and a number of games are scheduled to be played. The Year 7 team are currently unbeaten after three games. The Year 8 team have lost one and won the
rest of their games. The Year 10s have also lost one game and won two. We are all looking forward to
the tournaments in the upcoming months where we hope to continue with our winning streak!
Athletics
Congratulations to Callum Orange in Year 10 who is now the Under 15 England Athletics Triple Jump Champion and Gold Medallist. A fantastic achievement, well done!
School Sports Partnership
St John Fisher’s has played host to some major Primary School Games pathway events this term. The area’s Cross Country qualifier, comprising of six races (Year 4 Boys, Year 4 Girls, Year 5 Boys, Year 5 Girls, Year 6 Boys and Year 6 Girls), took place on October 7th, with all five of our feeder schools well
represented. On offer for the successful schools were places at the Kirklees Finals, which were to follow on October 16th.
We have also hosted a Year 3 and 4 six aside tournament for our feeder schools. A huge thank you needs to go to a number of our Year 11 and 6
th form students for their leadership in these events. Our
pupils continue to impress in the guidance, maturity and enjoyment they offer to pupils attending these events.
We have also held a Year 5 and 6 Sports Hall Athletics Competition in November. This was a fantastic
and competitive evening. Combining the girls’ and boys’ results, St Patrick’s were the overall winners
and progress to the Kirklees competition. A big thank you to our leaders who made the night possible:
Joe Booth, Jack Mitchell, Jay Scriven, Harry Copley, Josh Beevers, Caitlin Beevers, Codie Slack, Isobel
Bibby, James Sweeney, Beth Vickers, Hassan Sajjad, Hessan Qayyum and Sean Smith.
Girls Rugby
Girls Rugby training is increasing in popularity after the success of last year: we were Kirklees Champions in all year groups and went on to reach the semi-finals of the Yorkshire competition with our Year 10s and won the Year 8 competition. The girls’ competition continues to grow in size and stature,
and qualifiers for the Yorkshire Cup will begin after Christmas. We have been delighted with the attendance to both football and rugby practice this year. We regularly
see 40 to 50 pupils staying behind on a Wednesday and Thursday night for extra practice. This is only
going to see our teams improving further. Well done and Keep it up!
Year of Mercy
Pope Francis has announced that this Liturgical Year will be the Year of Mercy. It will begin 8th December on the day
of Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and end 20th November 2016 on the Solemnity of Christ the King. It is an
extra-ordinary occasion because it is unexpected. Pope Francis only announced that it was going to take place last year. (Jubilees normally take place every 25 - silver jubilee - and 50 -golden jubilee - years).
A jubilee is an event that originates within early Judaism. Every 50 years, Jews had a Holy Year of Jubilee which began on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) through which land that was owned by a family 50 years previously was given back to that family – a redistribution of wealth so that the gap between the poor and the rich did not get
too wide. Also the debts of the poor were ‘written off’ so that people could start afresh. Think here of the older translation of the Lord’s Prayer: ‘forgive our debts as we forgive those indebted to us’. Debts and the need to be rid of debt to live freely and sin and the need to be forgiven to live freely have an intimate connection. The date of the
beginning of the Year of Mercy is significant for two reasons : firstly, 8th December - Immaculate Conception of Mary
– the forgiving Father saves Mary from sin at her conception, which means Mary was conceived immune from original sin (unlike the rest of us) choosing her to be the Mother of man’s saviour: Christ Jesus. Secondly, the Year of Mercy is a Jubilee year because 50 years ago today marks the closing of the Second Vatican Council through which
‘the Church sensed a responsibility to be a living sign of the Father’s love in the world (Pope Francis).’
In the three parables of mercy Luke 15:1-32, the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the forgiving father we find the core of the Gospel, because mercy is presented as a force that overcomes everything, filling the heart with love and
bringing joy and consolation through pardon. The parable teaches us – as does the petition about “trespasses” in the Lord’s Prayer – that we are called to show mercy because mercy has first being shown to us.
A key idea of the Year of Mercy is Pilgrimage. The school or college could become a ‘journey in faith’ which explores
the ‘way of mercy’ in a concrete way by using the building and environment to plot a ‘way of mercy’ or a deliberate focus on the ways of being merciful using the teaching of Jesus through the Parable of the Final Judgement (Sheep and Goats) Matthew 25:31-46. From this come the “corporeal works of mercy” ‘To feed the hungry, give drink to the
thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and the imprisoned, and bury the dead.’ The shared eye [in the logo below] is an attempt to express something about the Incarnation. Expressed here is
humility, empathy and solidarity with humanity and also that in sharing our condition Christ invites us to share his as
Son of the Father so that we can all be called sons and daughters of God and know God as our loving Father.
Pope Francis will open the Holy Door at St. Peter’s in Rome on 8th December. On the Third Sunday of Advent a Holy
Door will be opened by Bishop Marcus in St. Anne’s Cathedral in Leeds
- S. Wilkinson, Deputy Head
ST. JOHN FISHER CATHOLIC VOLUNTARY ACADEMY: AVAILABLE COURSES
AS/A-Levels Art & Design BTEC Sport Biology
Business Studies (Applied) Chemistry English Language English Literature
Financial Studies French General Studies
Geography
Health & Social Care (Applied)
History
ICT
Law Mathematics Further Mathematics Media Studies
Music Physical Education Psychology Physics
Product Design
Religious Studies
Science (Applied) Spanish Textiles
Travel & Tourism (Applied)
Level 2 Business Health & Social Care Financial Studies Photography English and Maths Product Design
99% PASS RATE AT A-LEVEL
34% A/B GRADES
87% OF STUDENTS
ACHIEVED / EXCEEDED VALUE ADDED TARGETS DERIVED FROM
PREVIOUS GCSE PERFORMANCE
WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU
ST. JOHN FISHER CATHOLIC
VOLUNTARY ACADEMY
Imagine your future!
ST JOHN FISHER CATHOLIC VOLUNTARY ACADEMY - SIXTH FORM
Applications are welcomed from students who wish to study in an environment based on Christian principles. Please telephone 01924 527000 for a prospectus/invitation to the Open Evening
Enquiries to Mrs S. Wilkinson or e-mail [email protected].
OFSTED 2012 “The Sixth Form is good. As a result of good teaching and a broad set of subjects they can study, students have positive attitudes and achieve well”
- A-level exam results in top 25% of schools/colleges in August 2013
- 99% pass rate
Wide range of AS/A-Levels and Level 2 courses
“First class results”
“High standards of teaching” “The course is stimulating and enjoyable”
Applications for Sixth Form - 15th January 2016
Guidance Sessions/interviews for Sixth Form 6th February 2016