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Quality & Excellence

NICHOLAS BREAKSPEARCATHOLIC SCHOOLSpring Newsletter 2017

As we reflect on this term, it is pleasing to see how our school continues to grow and strengthen, providing our students with many opportunities and experiences to develop their confidence and resilience. This newsletter illustrates the progress that the school is making. We are a school that truly believes in our mission -

“to nurture and encourage every child’s talents and gifts to their full potential”Extract from Mission Statement

We are proud of how the school has grown and we look forward to welcom-ing our new families in September, who will become the largest year group in recent history. I am sure that they will strengthen and enhance our community. Our transition programme has already begun and it was inspiring to witness the energy, excitement and enthusiasm of our new students and their families when we met at our Welcome Evening earlier this month.

There has been a huge amount of public-ity regarding cuts to educational budgets which will naturally have an impact on all schools, including ours. At Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School we encourage our students to live ‘In Thy Ways’, using our Gospel values. I now invite our par-ents to support these beliefs as we face challenging times ahead. I believe that these cuts are an injustice to the educa-tion of our students. Whilst we have a

clear plan to manage these financial pres-sures, I would ask parents to take every opportunity available to lobby local MP’s against these cuts.

This Easter we have established a relation-ship with HCPT - a charity which offers life changing pilgrimages to Lourdes for both children and adults. I am proud that twenty of our current sixth formers and past students will be helping HCPT this Easter. This inaugural group, recog-nised by their group number ‘763’, will be making a difference to the lives of others whilst in Lourdes this Easter.

In this ‘Year of Growth’, our Student Leadership Team have felt empowered fol-lowing their visit to Uganda. They organ-ised and hosted the ‘NBS Irish Night’ in aid of the school’s chosen charity KiSS. This event attracted over 250 guests to cel-ebrate a strong Irish culture which con-tributes so much to the NBS community. The evening included performances by Rince Mor Dance Academy, The Fahey Brothers and popular Irish folk band, Missing the Ferry, made up of past students. Profits from the evening are vital in aiding KiSS to support vulnerable children in Uganda access education and healthcare. This fundraiser will contribute to the overall target of £10,000.It has been a varied, positive and reward-ing term at Nicholas Breakspear Catholic

School. As Headteacher, I witness amaz-ing contributions to our ethos from stu-dents, staff and parents on a daily basis. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together - a school that makes an impact on the lives of so many people.The Easter period is always a special time for us as we have the opportunity to reflect on our relationship with God and the contribution each of us makes in our society, as well as spending time with our friends and family. It is clear for all to see that we are a com-munity with Gospel values at our core. It is these core values that makes Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School a distinctive, supportive and nurturing school which strives to make a difference to the fami-lies whom we serve. I would like to thank our students, staff and parents for their continued support of the ethos and mission of the school. I hope you all have a happy, holy and peaceful Easter.

God Bless Declan Linnane - Headteacher

•NIC

HOLAS BREAKSPEAR•

763

NBS & HCPT Logo - Group 763

NBS Year 10 student fulfilling his potential

Irish Night 2017 - Missing the Ferry

A Year of Growth

Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School - Spring Newsletter 20172


Well done to the Year 7-10 students who secured awards in the Spring Term Celebrating Success Assemblies.

The termly Celebrating Success Assemblies took place in the period March 20th – March 24th 2017. It was yet again really wonder-ful to see so many students get certificates and lapel badges for their hard work and dedication so far this term.

A record number of certificates and lapel badges were awarded based on the following:

Positive attitude to learning in classwork and homeworkStudents were awarded if they had an average of 1.6 or lower in the recent attitude to learning scores for classwork and homework in the spring term report. Please note:1 = OUTSTANDING 2 = GOOD 3 = REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT 4 = UNSATISFACTORY

100% Attendance to date Awarded if students attended school every day from September to February half term. Certificates were also issued to those who had secured 100% attendance in the first half of the spring term.

Record number of achievement points Certificates were issued to those students with a record number of positive achievement points.

Lapel badges issued represents the following:

Orange lapel badge for a very positive attitude to learning in classwork and homework in all subjectsYellow lapel badge for 100% attendance since September 2016White lapel badge for 100 + achievement points

We would like to congratulate all the students who received a certificate and badge in the recent assembly. Our students continue to aim high and continue to be aspirational in all they do.

Spring Term Subject Awards

Lapel badges and certificates for a POSITIVE ATTITUDE TO LEARNING were issued to the following students

Year 7 Year 8

Madelyn Smith Monica Brown Laura Villalba Useche Keira Seaman

Lanyes Mazon Daniel Eke Weronika Stelmaszuk Ciara Riddell

Macey Breaks Lumba Mfula Daniella Ee Emily Power

Evelyn Cody Olivier Zieba Grace Webster Melanie Sims

Imogen Kingston Aaron Robbins Kutlwano Leoto Jessica Swaryczewska

Harrison Law Alfred Muriell Awit Katie Dale Marcus Benjamin

Bisola Matanmi Tilly Golding Megan Honney Nicholas Vellacott

Ruby Taylor Kamran Walters Natasha Reeve Elizabeth Mezzetti

Samuel Endersby Christiana Aryee Chloe Peek Rodrick Mwesiga

Blessing Sichali Thabita Abu Daniele Capri Amy Luther

Emily Adamczewska Larisa Rug Gabriel Marmolejo-Wall Callum Clarke

Nikita Brown Amber Kane Jeimi Mazon Andrew Mfula

Szymon Truszkowski Sophie Sullivan-Smith James Feltham Natalia Praska

Ainara Darwin Gallego Jason Anokwa Shaman Rato Sabina Siekierka

Muchayeva Madzimure Milly Crisp Deborah Ewuosho William Crane

Courtney Stanley Jamal Nyamangunda Portia Nyamekeh Conor Day

Malachi Roberts Vanessa Osayande Timothy Constable Samuel Simpson Flowerday

Lucy Thrussell

Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School - Spring Newsletter 2017 3


Lapel badges and certificates for a POSITIVE ATTITUDE TO LEARNING were issued to the following students

Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12

Phinehas Benjamin Fahmida Chowdhury Callum Britton Ryan Kelly

Katie Worrell Rebecca West Kumayl Gangji Ogechi Ekwebelem

Hasnat Chowdhury Sean Wilkes Tomasz Sadek Hannah Cosgrave

Abhishek Kumar Olivia Mathew Robyn Alfano Nicole Gardner

Akua Wiafe-Annor Orlaith Duffy Aimee Tassel-Beswick Hannah Dibden

Francesca Saranillo Andrew Laing George Lopez Davina Ferrara

Moyosoluwa Akinseye Rosie Day Rifat Chowdhury Delron Rato

Noemie Bisala John Doneo Charles Tansey Ewan Wilson

Kasey Coyne Aimee Midgley Kuba Jarosz Ben Gosling

Liam Wilkes Kieran Spelman Rosie Bloomfield Jide Kawandami

Mali Birk Liam Calvey Faith Jobe Jay Lintern

Eliot Miller Gustas Guobys Joanna Gajjar Andrew Midgley

Victor Ewuosho Asher Pasha Elizabeth Power Brandon Carty

Raheem Ahmed Emmanuel Lukose George Beach Emily Crummey

Skeet Malaiba James Hood Matthew Veerasamy Will Dickinson

Amelia Luck Kofi Wiafe-Annor Shane O'Shea Ogechi Eni

Anisha Motin

Monette Hilario

Joseph O'Donnell

Lilian Sztankov

Gabriela Casale

Nissi Wiredu

Reece Hopkins

Josie Parker

Maddy Toomey

Hermione Parker

House PointsDon

BoscoMaximillian Kolbe

Therese of Lisieux

Bernadette Soubirous

18,915 19,176 19,030 n/aYear 7’s Points

5044 5554 6188 5243



This term the Year 8 students have been in the process of selecting the subjects that they want to study in Year 9 when they start their GCSEs.

On Thursday 9th February Year 8 students attended their GCSE options evening. The evening gave the students the opportunity to find out more information about the subjects they can study at GCSE and how the GCSE process worked. The evening was very well attended and it was good to see that the Year 8 students had come prepared with well thought out questions for the different teachers representing subjects students could study. There was a presentation in the hall in which two Year 9 students, Hasnat Choudhury and Francesca Saranillo, spoke maturely about how they chose their options and the different factors to take into account.This was followed by Year 8 Parents Evening on Thursday 2nd March in which

students could find out more about their strengths and what subjects they might be most suited to in Year 9. Following these two events, on Friday 3rd March the students had a careers presentation from our Youth Connexions advisor, Mrs Byrne. Students were encouraged to think about how their GCSE choices might affect their future education and career options.

The deadline for handing in their preference forms was Wednesday 8th March, and based on student preferences option blocks will be created. After the Easter holidays all Year 8 students will have an interview in which their option subjects are confirmed.

If any Year 8 parents have any further q ue st ion s ab out how t he GCSE option process works please contact Mr Carrasco-Morley on:

[email protected]

“Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them”.

Year 8 Options ProcessMr Carrasco-Morley explains the GCSE options process for Year 8

Mrs Brunt was a parent and also a classroom assistant. Many parents who are former students may have been in class with Mrs Brunt’s children, Jenny, Sarah, Helen and Phillip, and will know her socially through this link. Her daughter Jenny Edwards, was a PE teacher here for some years. As a teaching assistant, Mrs Brunt was wonderful, very active and willing to take part in any practi-cal lesson. She helped students with garden work, livestock lessons and pH tests. Mrs Brunt had become a grandmother with which she was thrilled, and on her last evening of life she had spent time with her newest grandchild.

Mrs Patricia Jenkins came to NBS during the 1970s as a science teacher and Head of Year. She was a loyal and supportive colleague and real live wire at school events. Mrs Jenkins spent some of her early life in Iran, where her father was in the oil industry, and she attended a convent school. The family were from Wales and later moved back there. Mrs Jenkins loved international travel, her favourite place was Hong Kong where she had many friends. It was sad to see her laid low by a long illness. I am sure everyone who had contact with Mrs Jenkins will have fond memories of her and be grate-ful for her contribution to their lives.

Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School - Sixth Form Information 1Quality & ExcellenceNicholas Breakspear Catholic School - GCSE Options Information 1

Year 8 into 9GCSE Options Booklet

2017

NICHOLAS BREAKSPEARCATHOLIC SCHOOL

We continue to keep Mrs Edwards in our prayers after her recent and sudden passing. Mrs Edwards was kind and firm, her students mourn the loss of a teacher who was always there for them. She was always calm with students and staff taking any difficulties that came her way very philosoph-ically. Her fervent Christian faith was always her guide. She often sang hymns as she was tidying her classroom demonstrating a clear voice at perfect pitch. Mrs Edwards was a quiet and sincere presence in all our lives for the years she served this school.

N B S Remembers



The school community marked the start of Lent with two school masses, during which we were encouraged to put into action the words of St Paul and be ‘ambas-sadors for Christ.’ Lent gives us that opportunity by focus-ing on the Lenten themes of prayer, almsgiving and fasting. As a Catholic Community we share these opportu-nities and encourage each other as we approach Easter.

PrayerThere have been numerous opportu-nities to develop a deeper prayer life during this Lent. For each day of Lent a prayer sheet has been produced for each tutor group, which included an extract from the scripture readings for the day and a reflection to help gain a deep understanding of God’s word. A group has been meeting each Friday to use the Lectio Divina method to pray the Sunday readings.

AlmsgivingEach form has been set the 100 item challenge for the almsgiving element of the Lent challenge. The 100 items will then be donated to the Borehamwood foodbank. Opened in April 2013, last year the foodbank fed 2,336 people. It is open twice a week, and they are work-ing hard to provide emergency food for those in need. Additionally, they also host Family lunch events where fami-lies can enjoy a healthy meal with the opportunity to learn new recipes and even help cook their own lunch!Supporting the Borehamwood food-bank is a practical opportunity to make a real impact to those in need during Lent. Items that students are encour-aged to bring in include: Tinned meat, Tinned fish, Tinned vegetables, UHT milk (1 litre), Tinned fruit, Cooking sauces, Coffee, Jam, Instant mashed potato, Tinned pudding, and cereals.

Stations of the CrossThis devotion has been long encour-aged by the church, and is especially useful during Lent as we prepare our-selves to remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross on Good Friday.

During tutor time each Year 7 and Year 8 form has spent time in the Oratory with Mr. O’Sullivan looking at two separate Stations.

During the season of Lent, Year 7 were given the opportu-nity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This sacrament prepares our hearts for the joy of Easter and reminds us that because of God’s great love for us, He sent His son Jesus to die for our sins. Mr O’Sullivan and Miss Westbury planned the service with the help of Father TJ and it was designed to allow pupils to focus on the mercy and love of God.

During the service, pupils heard of Zacchaeus’ example of repentance and reconciliation. They then had time, where Mr O’Sullivan and Miss Westbury lead the group in an exam-ination of conscience. Through the examination of conscience pupils were able to reflect on one area of their life where they would like to receive God’s forgiveness. Pupils were then invited to write this on a piece of sugar paper. Individual pupils went up to Father TJ placed their paper in a bowl of water. Once placed in the water the writing disappeared and this symbolised how during the Sacrament of Reconciliation God washes away our sin. Father TJ then gave each pupil abso-lution. This service was a very powerful and moving experi-ence and below are some of our pupil’s reflections.

“I felt a weight had been lifted of my shoulders”

“I felt really safe and that I had started a clean slate”

“I was reminded that God is always with us”

“I felt God’s peace when I wrote my sin down, it was as if a weight had been lifted”

Lent at Nicholas Breakspear NBS Chaplain , Mr O’Sullivan, writes

Year 7 Reconciliation Services



Spelling Bee World Book Day

Students from Years 7-10 were tested from a list of the 50 most commonly misspelled words. The top three from each form were entered into the next round. They were given a list containing 200 complex spellings to be learnt over two weeks. Thirty words were chosen at random and students were tested to their literal limit. These house champions were given a list of

five hundred of the hardest spellings from the dictionary to learn over a three week period. Some of the words are listed below

Unambitious, Unaccustomed, Tyrannosaur, Triskaidekaphobia, Viscoelasticity, Vinaigrette, Verisimilitude, Vernacular.

The final took place over three rounds where the champions were asked to spell in front of a hall of highly impressed fellow students. All champions did tremendously well, however, with 100% in the final and without spelling a word wrong in any of the rounds, Lanyes Mazon from Year 7 was crowned the Nicholas Breakspear School Spelling Bee Champion.

Brian Okai (Bosco) was second and Daniel Eke (Soubirous) came third. Lanyes Mazon is proof that you can learn anything if you have a growth mind-set and work hard enough.

The next Spelling Bee will take place in the summer term, so get practising!

As students arrived at school, they were a little bemused at being met with the sight of Mr Newbery on the front steps, sitting in his favourite antique Victorian leather desk chair. He was reading Ed Caesar’s `Two Hours’ – The quest to run the impossible marathon, (of course what else would a PE teacher be reading!)

“What you doing Sir” one student cries.“ Daah! What do you think it looks like” replies another. Mr Newbery doesn’t say a word, or even look up.

Students made their way to their forms where they were greeted by their tutors who were holding their favourite book in hand. “Today is World Book Day, I’m going to read an extract from my favourite book” the teacher announced to the class.

The day progressed with various activities and reading zones for students and staff to meet up and read a passage from their favourite book.

Awards were handed out throughout the day for talking about their books, reading in the reading zones or submitting book reviews. The reviews are being displayed around the school.

Mr. Newbery would like to thank everyone for their support in taking part and making the day a great success as well as promoting a love of reading.

Mr Newbery reviews the NBS inaugural Spelling Bee Final

NBS Teachers get their heads in a book

House Champions Mr Newbery, Director

Final Round Mrs Atkinson, Head Of English



We arrived in Berlin in the early evening greeted by mild weather. We spent our first night at our hostel in the centre of Berlin to familiarise ourselves with our surround-ings. After an early start the following morning we made our way by coach to the North of Berlin where we visited the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. It is a vast, open space, cold and uninviting. As we made our way round using audio-guides, the snow began to fall which added to the bleakness. We learnt about the brutality the camp’s inmates were subjected to, as well as the terrible, primitive condi-tions they had to live in.In the afternoon we made our way to the Wanssee Conference

Memorial House on the edge of Berlin; this is the place where it is said that the Nazis agreed the Final Solution – the exter-mination of Europe’s Jewish population. Our guide told us that many myths had grown about this building and that the decision to carry out the holocaust was made elsewhere. The museum provided us with a wealth of informa-tion about this dark period in Europe’s history.

After a sombre af ternoon we all needed cheering up. That evening we went bowl-ing at Alexanderplatz where Mr Dilks got the highest score!The following morning the snow was heavy but it did not stop us from going on the Berlin Wall walking tour. We received a detailed account of the reasons for the building of the wall by the East German government in 1961 as well as how people from East Berlin

faced the dangers to cross over to the West, and back again. We also learnt about the consider-able difference between life in the socialist East and the capi-talist West.Our evening was spent in the TV tower, once Europe’s tallest building, where we were able to experience stunning pano-ramic views of the city.Our final day was equally busy. In the morning we visited a nuclear bunker in the centre of Berlin which brought home how terrible life underground would have been for the survi-vors of a nuclear war. We then had a busy afternoon, trav-ell ing on the city’s metro system to Potsdamer Platz, the Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial.

Berlin VisitMr Dilks tell us about the History trip to Berlin

Edward and Emily Crummey’s trip started in the Polish town of Oświęcim more commonly known as Auschwitz. We were given a brief history of the town, and also attended a seminar given by Rudi Oppelheimer in England as we

prepared to visit Auschwitz. We found out that the Jewish population went from 7,200 citizens to zero. After our brief visit to the town we made our way to Auschwitz 1 which gave us an insight into what life was like. We were shown the many rooms full of belongings. The room of 80,000 shoes and 2 tons of hair

had to be the most difficult experience for us. The tour consisted of the execu-tion wall, and the rest of Auschwitz 1. We were then taken to Auschwitz Berkenau. The sheer enormity of it took us back. We couldn’t see the end of the camp stand-ing at one side, and perhaps the most harrowing experience was being there at night.When we got over the size we were over-whelmed by the sound of an older Jewish group singing in their native language. We were shown the gas chambers, the memorial and then had one of the most powerful services I have ever taken part in. It was given by Rabbi Shaw, a man whose family were victims of the Holocaust, the personal connection made it so moving. We left Luton at 5am and got back at 10pm which are the same hours the vic-tims in Auschwitz had to work. We were tired, I can only imagine what it would

have been like for the people being held in Auschwitz. Visiting Auschwitz was life changing. What is sometimes forgotten is that each victim was an individual, with hopes, dreams and fears.

The trip made us realise how lucky we are to live the life we do and reflecting on our four school values of peace, jus-tice, truth and love, and the absence of it in Auschwitz. These trips are so important because we are the last generation who can hear the testimonies of survivors.

Our Trip to AuschwitzEdward Bailey recounts his trip to the Nazi concentration camps

Auschwitz’s Gates Laying flowers for the victims



This year’s school production was even bigger and better than ever. Involving over 100 students in six performances, performing to our local primary schools, parents, students and the local community.

Students from Years 7 to Year 13 took part in roles, ranging from cast and band members, to set painters and technical support. Students also worked in various leadership roles to encourage the development of transferable skills within Expressive Arts and Design Technology.

Little Shop of Horrors is a horror, and comedy rock musical about a hapless florist who grows a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. Based on a low budget 1960 cult film, the musical composed by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman is enhanced with the style of early 1960’s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown. It includes well known tunes such as’ Somewhere That’s Green’ and ‘Suddenly Seymour’.The show was a huge success and highlighted the talents of our committed and dedicated students. Watch this space for news on our upcoming events.

SCHOOL PRODUCTION BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER!

Little Shop of Horror moves into the school hall and impress the huge audiences


Book & lyrics by HOWARD ASHMAN, Music by ALAN MENKEN. Based on the fi lm by Roger Corman Screenplay by Charles Griffi th. Originally produced by the WPA Theatre (Kyle Renick, Producing Director) Originally produced at the Orpheum Theatre, New York City, by the WPA Theatre,

David Geffen, Cameron Mackintosh and the Shubert Organisation. This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe). All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI Europe. www.mtishows.co.uk

NICHOLAS BREAKSPEARCATHOLIC SCHOOL

Gavin Masangcay & Rodrick Mwesiga

Ciara Riddell Dario Campanella



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The N BS S c ie nc e We ek s aw s t u d e n t s e x p o s e d t o s o m e fantastic lunchtime clubs, where t h e y w e r e a b l e t o c o n d u c t f u n e x p e r i m e n t s a l l o w i n g them to explore the subject on a different level.

Monday saw exploding lunch bags, using the reaction between vinegar and bicarbonate of soda to create enough carbon dioxide gas to blow open each bag. Tuesday allowed students to create salt lava lamps, with some stunning effects created. On Wednesday t he hoop gl ider compet it ion began with some excellent and effective designs produced. By Thu r s day we wer e c r eat i ng balloon rockets. The designs show the difference with some moving

a short distance and others much further. Friday lunchtime saw the use of electrostatics making dancing ghosts.

During this week we also had the Year 8 and Year 9 science c l a s s e s c omp e t i ng t h r oug h the creation of an NBS Science Newspaper. The judges were Mrs Atkinson and Mr Newbury. Year 7 had a range of challenges, including an investigation into the Stroop Effect.

I n a d d i t i o n , w e h a d t h e ‘Who am I ?’ competition where six teachers became a famous

‘s c ie nt i s t ’ for t he we ek a nd students needed to ask questions t o f i n d o u t w h i c h f a m o u s scientists they were.

Head of Science, Mrs Seymour, tells us all about the events of Science WeekScience Week



At the start of the academic year, nine Year 12 students joined the Dragon’s Apprentice Challenge; a community initiative providing schools with a platform to work with local businesses and charities from Hertfordshire. The challenge matches schools with a business mentor (their

dragon) and a local charity. The aim is to generate £100 to £1000 or more for their designated charity.Team Revolution hosted a number of events such as a Krispy Krème sale, Year 7 Disco and a Pizza Sale. In addition to this, they made links with St Philip Howard Catholic School in order to raise

awareness and interest in the forthcoming Junior Dragon’s Apprentice challenge. They had the opportunity of talking to an audience of school council representatives and budding young entrepreneurs about their experience of running a small, not for profit business and offer advice on how to work as part of a team.Throughout the challenge, the team have been supported by their Dragon, Little HR Company’s Kelly Price, who met with them regularly to offer advice and ideas on strategies for raising money for their charity, OneSight.A ‘One Sight, One Vision’ day was the team’s finale on 9th February 2017. The aim of the event was to raise awareness of the local charity as well as raise further funds, which would contribute towards building an eye clinic in Gambia. Students were able to take part in a blind obstacle course and watch the Head of Sixth Form being gunged. The team attempted to break a world record by putting as many pairs of glasses as possible on Mr Linnane’s head.

By the end of the challenge Team Revolution had raised £1979.95 and have now submitted their final report highlighting the events they held. Victoria Mellon of OneSight said: “It is going to make such a difference to the people in Gambia.”

We are now waiting to hear if Team Revolution will proceed to the next stage of the challenge. Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School would like to thank Kelly Price and Victoria Mellon for all the hard work and support they provided the students with during the duration of the challenge.

Team Revolution Charity Fundrasing EffortsTeam Revolution raise £1979.35 as part of the Dragon’s Apprentice Challenge

Architecture student Alex Kolar returned to Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School to share his experience with pupils hoping to head in to the same field. Alex, who gained ‘A’ grades in Art and Maths, is in his third year of a six-year architecture course at Nottingham University. He showed the aspiring architects his electronic portfolio and eloquently traced his journey at university by showing examples of his work from diverse projects including extensive model making, planning, developing design briefs, group work and comput-er-aided designs, which looked exactly like real buildings.

His visit had a big impact on our students. Monica Hilario wants to be an architect and design sustainable buildings for the natural environment and urban landscape. She felt that Alex gave her a real insight into what a course in architec-ture would be like including the expectations, the various design projects, the lectures and even what it is like working in an open plan studio. Luke Day’s aim as a future architect is to create sustainable designs which help grow communi-ties. Talking to Alex gave him much more of an understand-ing of how an architecture course is structured along with a number of useful tips from Alex regarding his future work.

Building On SuccessFormer student returns to school to share his experience of University



The first ever NBS Irish Night was a night to remember, with over 250 people attending to celebrate the strong Irish culture within our school. The night came with a range of exceptional performances from Irish dancing by Rince Mor Academy and live Irish folk music played by Missing the Ferry and The Fahey’s Brothers. Over 300 delicious Steak and Guinness pies were cooked for a hungry audience. Our very own NBS bars, The Auld Shillelagh and The Claddagh Ring supplied end-less Guinness and Magners Cider to keep everyone danc-ing through the night. Our Irish Tuck Shop proved to be extremely popular with plenty of red lemonade flowing and a huge range of Irish snacks for kids of all ages! Overall the whole night turned out to be a huge success with over £1500 having been raised for our designated charities.


zzz

Saturday 1 July 2017

NICHOLAS BREAKSPEAR CATHOLIC SCHOOL Presents

All day festival with Firework Finale! at 10pm

UPCOMING KEY DATESWednesday 19th April Term begins

Monday 1st May Bank Holiday

Tuesday 2nd May GCSE Drama Exam

Wednesday 3rd May GCSE Art Exam

Thursday 4th May GCSE Art Exam

Wednesday 10th May - Friday 12th May AS & A2 Art Exams

Monday 15th May Public Exams start

Monday 29th May - Friday 2nd June Summer Half Term Break

Wednesday 7th June - Thursday 8th June Year 9 Retreat

Friday 16th June Year 11 Leavers Mass

Wednesday 21th June Year 8 Retreat

Friday 30th June Community Mass

Saturday 1st July NBSfest

Monday 17th July - Wednesday 19th July Year 7 & Year 8 Kingswoods Trip

Tuesday 18th July - Wednesday 19th July Enrichment Days

Thursday 20th July Sports Day

Friday 21st July Term Ends 12.25pm

NBS Irish Night



NBS Sporting ReviewThis term has seen NBS teams compete in a variety of sports from football and basketball to netball and sports hall athletics. Our teams have been competitive, shown grit and determination in all the matches that they participated in and have achieved some levels of success in the tournaments and competitions they were involved in. The PE Department now look forward to the summer term where there is a full fixture list in athletics, tennis, rounders and cricket. Mr Tominey, Head of PE

RugbyThis March, a team of 6th formers and Year 11’s ventured over to St Albans Boys School for the Hertfordshire County Rugby 7’s com-petition. For all the boys involved, it was their first taste of 7’s rugby.

Teams from Hertfordshire were placed in groups. Our first game was a baptism of fire as we played against the defending champions Owens. We found out that 7’s is all about set plays and electric pace. We showed great skill but we couldn’t avoid defeat. The second game was against Hockerill. There was a huge improvement in perfor-mance from all boys and I proudly watched on as they played some fantastic rugby. Antonio Guidi proved that there is no-one quicker in the county as he raced away for an individual effort. Martin Sex-ton played with a real maturity and was calm under pressure. Yann secured multiple turn-overs with determination and Dominic Praski lifted an 18 stone Hokerill defender off the floor with one hand! We lost this game but had really improved in both tactical and technical appreciation.

Our third game was against Kings Langley. We started impres-sively with some excellent passing from Ryan Kelly and produced a great team try finished by Ciaran Hennessy. The NBS side raised their intensity with Robert Jurzenko dominating the breakdown and Tatenda Fernando demonstrated his immense power to score. Guidi powered away to score our third try. Some excellent play from Kings Langley saw them win with a last score. This left us in 4th place in our group but we advanced to the Plate Competition.Drawn against Ashlyns from Berkhampstead, Kyle Hoey added some much needed energy and chased every kick off forcing mul-tiple turn-overs. Ben Gosling’s acceleration was too much for the Ashlyns defence flying away for one of his three tries. Miles Dumba used his step to great effect ‘breaking ankles’ with every run. Ryan

‘Usain’ Kelly left the defence for dead with a clever move down the blind side. Jide’s power was unleashed and he stormed away to score a great solo try. An excellent all-round team performance ended a 50-5 victory for NBS. We had made it through to the Plate Final.

Bodies aching with fatigued muscles the team made their way out onto the pitch. Our opponents were Kings Langley. In an epic battle containing tries from Antonio, Tatenda and Ben, we were once again shaded by Kings Langley. The final was won by 2 points. We had lost but we had gained so much over the day. Twelve novices arrived that day, a team came together, great rugby was played and an excellent team spirit was developed. A thoroughly enjoyable day.Mr Newbery

Netball The girls netball teams have had a strong term with plenty of fixtures and performances. The games have become closer as the girls across the year groups have progressed and improved throughout the year. We have closely fought games from the Year 7’s against Townsend and St George’s narrowly missing out on a win. The Year 9’s narrowly lost out to St George’s by 2 goals.

Years 7, 8 and 9 netball teams have represented the school at the district netball tournaments and have done themselves and the school proud. They have been able to finish higher in the district leagues than previous years. We will continue to build on this success next year with the aim to improve yet again. Ms Johnson

Year 7 Sports Hall AthleticsYear 7 experienced their first secondary school athletics meeting this term when attending the annual Sports Hall Athletics Competition held at Hertfordshire University.

Team NBS competed in different track and field disciplines in an indoor setting, consisting of relay races, indoor shot, speed bounce and indoor javelin. A very enjoyable first experience for the Year 7 team. Mr Tominey

Year 7 Netball Team

Year 7 Atheltic’s Team

NBS Rugby 7’s Team

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