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S A C R E D H E A R T N E W S

Spring Term—Issue 1 Friday 18th January 2019

Dear Parents, Guardians and students

The term is well underway and we are approaching what the media has dubbed “Blue Monday,” supposedly the gloomiest day of the year. The weather is cold and the evenings dark. Christmas festivities are well in the past. Our finances are stretched after the holiday excesses and our New Year’s resolutions are becoming hard to keep.

What can we do to lift us out of the gloom? An article in the New Scientist this month looked at resolutions worth making, ones which scientific research shows can make a positive difference to our lives. Amongst these resolutions was “helping others”. Scientists at Michigan State University had researched the effect of helping others on blood pressure. They found that people who actively volunteered their time to help others in their community were 40% more likely to have low

blood pressure than a control group. Why do they think this is the case? One suggestion made is that helping others “takes your mind off your own troubles”. Another reason is that helping others “trigger the brain’s reward circuitry and the release of …the hormone oxytocin” leading to a reduction in stress. So I think this is a resolution worth making this year. Why don’t you resolve to more helpful around school or in form time? You could help someone with their homework, or get involved in your class’s plans for charity week later this term? Perhaps, inspired by the wonderful video shown in assembly, will you be applying for this year’s mission to Thailand? Let’s make this a year when we give back to others and do ourselves some good along the way. Have a great weekend.

Mrs Hetherington

Assistant Headteacher

SCHOOL INSET Friday 25th January 2019

Staff Training Day Y11 Sixth Form Interviews

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IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE WEEK (Commencing Monday 14th January 2019)

Monday 21st January Y9 Assembly—T Form Y7 Football v Kingsdale (pm) Mr Norena Y12 Employability Trip (6 pupils) Ms Sparkes Y11 Maths Mock (Periods1&2) Church Hall Y12/Y13 Maths Mock (3.15pm) Church Hall Tuesday, 22nd January Y10 Assembly—T Form Y11 English Mock P1&2 Church Hall Wednesday 23rd January Y11 Assembly—T Form

Thursday 24th January Y8 & Y12 Assembly—T Form Business Breakfast—Property (8am) S2—

Mrs Sparkes

Name: Morgan Hassan – 8B Found: A phone

Name: Solomon Areoye – 10M Found: A pair of glasses

Name: Blessing Pembele – 7M Found: A set of keys

Name: Lamar Graham-Rule – 8T Found: A pencil case and set of keys

Name: Sidney Emovon – 7P Found: A key and wallet

Name: Franfivin Yoma – 7C Found: A scarf

Name: Maja Golebiewska – 7T Found: A set of keys

Name: Jonathan Lawson – 10C Found: A set of keys

Name: Trey Skerritt – 8B Found: A set of keys

Name: John Serele – 9B Found: A Construction apron

Name: Chelsey Olushola – 9B Found: An Oyster card

Name: Claude Kimboko – 7C Found: Ear phones

Name: Grace Sanguinetti - 11MFL Found: A set of keys

Name: Augustina Mbah – 9P Found: A set of keys

Name: Monica Guillermo Aranda – 8C Found: A silver USB

Name: Sura Semra – 10P Found: Art folder

Name: Abieyuwa Ekhator – 8B Found: A set of keys

SCHOOL INSET Friday 25th January 2019

Staff Training Day Y11 Sixth Form Interviews

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SIXTH FORM — MEET THE UNDERGRADUATES

On December 18th we were delighted to welcome back 73 former Sacred Heart sixth formers who

were now either at university or in employment.

They represented vast array of universities, degree or career sectors and shared their experiences

with the current Year 12 pupils. Meet the Undergrad has become an annual event at Sacred Heart and

we are delighted that former pupils find time to give back to the school community. Each year the

number of former pupils returning continues to grow and their contribution is very much appreciated

as our Sixth Form continues to expand.

Mme Bonar

Director of Sixth Form

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School Council Leavers’ Jumper

Isabel is currently organising the Year 13

Leavers Jumper. This is a reminder to make

sure you get your details back to her as soon

as possible and ensure you

make payment.

Sacred Heart Sixth Form Leadership Team 2018/19

Autumn Term

Events:

House Event

The Mixer

House Assembly

Year 8 Exam Inter-

vention

Well-being Week

To Leroy (Head

Boy), Isabel (Head

Girl) , Ife (Deputy

Head Boy) and

Sharon (Deputy

Head Girl) for

writing, practicing

and presenting

fantastic speeches

at Year 6 and

Sixth Form Open

Evenings.

To the Sixth Form

Leadership sub-

team that

organised and

supported Madam

Davey with Black

History Month and

the fantastic

showcase.

Ellie and Michaella

who have both

submitted articles

for the schools

weekly newsletter.

The 1st House Event

The House Captains

(Memunat, Deborah, Ruben

and Hillary) put on a ‘Mini

Sports Day’ for the sixth

formers including an egg (or

should we say ping pong ball)

and spoon race, a three leg-

ged race, dodge ball and

more. It took a little while for

the House Captains to get a

team together as the sixth

formers were a little re-

served at first! However,

after a bit of persuasion the

House Captains had their

teams and the event was a

great success with Cabrini

coming in first place. My

thanks to the 4 House Cap-

tains for their involvement in

the House Assemblies in Oc-

tober too.

The Sixth Form Mixer

This years Mixer was a huge

success. Games, music and

tasty food led to a brilliant

atmosphere where all stu-

dents enjoyed getting to

know one another.

This event bridged the gap

between the Year 12 and

13’s and the Sixth Form

Leadership Team were fan-

tastic in preparing all as-

pects of the afternoon.

Thank you to all those who

helped clear up!

Year 8 Exam

Intervention

Anne-Marie (Junior

Head of Year 8) led a

fantastic set of inter-

vention sessions for

Year 8 pupils in the

lead up to their exams.

The sessions included

45 minutes of English

or Maths followed by

45 minutes of group

work where other

students from the

Sixth Form Leadership

Team answered Year 8

pupils questions and

supported them with

their revision and tech-

niques to successfully

prepare for their

examinations. A big

thank you to Sharon,

Edem, Ife, Bisola, Chel-

sea and Pamela. This

really was an excellent

example of supportive

mentoring and I look

forward to helping

Anthonia repeat the

same process for Year

9 prior to their exams

at the end of January.

Timi, Bisola and Bradley successfully elected representatives from each year group to join the student council. The group now meets every fortnight on a Monday at 12:30pm. The schools Senior Leadership Team are looking forward to hearing some of the suggestions during the Easter Term which include: more extra curricular opportunities, a toilet pass, rewards based on pupils progress rather than top of a rank order.

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The Student Leadership Team led sixth form students through the school’s first ever well being week which was a great success. Their enthusiasm to bring something new to the sixth form community was infectious and since the week was so successful they hope to bring some elements of it to the rest of the school—watch this space… The week kick-started with an assembly on mental health and well being and was followed up in form time with activities which included Colouring, Medita-tion and Origami. A few large events were planned by the team which took place during the week and were well received by the Sixth Form.

Well being week Tuesday

Pupils were invited to a free yoga workshop. It was impressive to see how many pupils turned up and were willing to give something many of them have never tried before a very good go! The session ended with a relaxing meditation and a few people fell fast asleep! Which is quite understand- able having contorted them-selves into positions only experienced in a yoga session. A number of pupils have asked if these sessions can become a regular occur-rence which I am hoping to organise for the Easter Term.

Wednesday Professional cruiserweight boxer Richard Riakporhe returned to his former school, and spoke in assem-bly about his own journey into boxing, and how the sport has improved his own physical and mental well-being.

He also spoke of the importance of students ignoring negative influences and seeking to become positive members of society. Richard then led a Boxercise class for the entire 6th form in the PE centre, demon-strating some of the tech-niques that have helped make him one of the coun-tries leading prospects in the 200lbs weight division.

A group of keen boxers from the 6th form then had the opportunity to speak to Richard one-on- one and be put through their paces in a smaller boxing class.

Friday The end of the week welcomed a chance to unwind with a cinema screening and popcorn.

Thursday — Afternoon Tea

The sixth form Leadership

Team learnt the hard lesson

of organising an event on

that scale (for 180 people);

setting up, serving during it

and tidying up after them-

selves. However, they did all

of this with lots of support

for one another and a rather

lovely experience for their

peers.

The team looks forward to

supporting with more whole

school events in the Easter

Term.

Quotes from the week

"It was incredibly reassuring to know that others were experiencing the same levels of stress as me

and that I wasn't alone in my struggle."

My thanks to the whole Sixth Form Leadership Team for a thoroughly productive Autumn Term Madam Roszkowski

One of the most impres-

sive events for the whole

sixth form was an after-

noon tea which The Ritz

would have been proud

of. Tables were decorated,

tea cups and saucers were

laid out and delicious

cakes were served.

Sacred Heart Sixth Form Leadership Team 2018/19

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Debate and Public Speaking Autumn Term 2018 Debate Mate Core Programme

For the forth year running Sacred Heart attended the Debate Mate launch at the Emmanuel Centre,

proving that dedication to the club and recruitment of younger generations continues to grow.

Yet again Sacred Heart pupils couldn’t wait for the floor debate,

where the promise of Nandos vouchers overcomes their fear to talk

in public! Here is Akai in year 9 making a valid point about lowering

the voting age

In October the Debate Mate Accelerate Programme begun, this is for a select few pupils from year 7 & 8, designed to help improve public speaking, confidence and behaviour. The pupils have been very much enjoying the debate sessions and are getting a lot out of it. Most of the pupils who were picked would not have voluntarily attended the core programme, having the session on their timetable allows the pupils to develop in the programme without forcing the discipline and organisation of attending an after school event, where the numbers are larger.

Accelerate Pupil: “I actually like it you know! It’s helping me to learn to argue but with

manners!”

KS4 - Year 11 Debate Rulers!

So far this year some of the year 11 debate team have proven a real hit with Debate Mate. Massive

congratulations to Emmanuel, Holly, Eroms and Kemi for their dedication and talent in debate. On

numerous occasions, Debate Mate have asked for them by name to take part in a number of

prestigious corporate and show debates.

“We are the future” - Kemi

Debate Mate Launch – “This House would lower the voting age to 16”

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After the interview, the year 11 debate team went on to conduct a show debate about the voting age

and politics today. The debate was chaired by Nick Robinson and two Sacred Heart pupils were on

either team. The pupils spoke beautifully in front of an audience of over 300 pupils, showing not only

skill, but superior confidence!

Emmanuel ‘s and Eroms’ s full interview with Nick

Robinson can be found on You Tube by searching

‘Debate Mate interview Nick Robinson’

Eroms and Emmanuel were asked especially

to conduct an interview with Nick Robinson

on behalf of DM. They did Sacred Heart

Proud this term not only with their excellent

debating but interview skills as well.

October—Interview with Nick Robinson, Journalist and Radio 4 Presenter

October—Year 11 Show Debate at Debate Mate launch

Eroms and Kemi

Propose the motion

Emmanuel and Holly Oppose the

motion

Holly and Emmanuel were so good that they were then invited to take part in a breakfast corporate debate at the Mews of Mayfair in central London.

The breakfast took place at 8am our students debated in front of a number of senior

executives working in the tech industry.

October—Breakfast Debate at Mews of Mayfair

Motion – “This house believes educators, rather than tech professionals, should develop educational software”

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Every year Debate Mate run a show debate with ICRS at a prestigious venue with a variety of high

profile clients and executives in the audience. Last year, Grace and Mirana, year 8 students

competed and this year Holly and Emmanuel were invited to take part.

We ended the year with a final corporate debate at Monzo Bank with Holly and Eroms taking part in

the show debate, with various members of the audience asking how long it would be before they

were able to recruit!

“Watching the pupils debate is a real pleasure, not only seeing the confidence and skill that they have, but seeing how quickly they learn and the passion and competitive drive that they have to improve and win is truly inspiring”

– Ms Cawley

November—Corporate Debate at Conway House with ICRS

November—Corporate Debate at MONZO

In October this year, Sacred Heart signed up for Debate Mate Plus, this is a new programme that has

been designed especially for the pupils in the upper school. The 6th formers have embraced the club

with alacrity and we are really pleased to report that the launch was a

massive success and the pupils have been attending the club in high

numbers since it started in November.

Key Stage 5—Debate Mate Plus Launch

Motion – “This House Has Had Enough of Experts”

Motion – “This House Believes the High Street Bank is Broken”

Holly (proposition) and Eroms (opposition) make

some convincing cases about what modern

banking means to them and the upcoming

generations!

Year 12 students were invited to watch a show debate hosted at the new

and trendy MONZO bank

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Simply Business were generous enough to host the first round of the Debate Mate Plus programme,

giving the pupils two rounds of debate followed by a networking session with some of their

employees as well as Ex Debate Mate Mentors and students. A Q&A session followed about their

currents careers and what has helped in

their success.

The evening started with a tour around the Foreign and

Commonwealth office, followed by a Q&A with some of the

staff.

After the tour, there were some professional debates where

Sacred Heart teams both lost and won a debate, in both

instances though they were well organised and showed a

fighting and competitive

spirit!

Debate Mate Plus League 1 Round 1 December—Simply Business and the Foreign and

Commonwealth Office

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Motion – ‘THB that the media should not report on the private lives of politicians’

Motion: ‘THW make people have to take a politics test before they were eligible to vote’

Ahmed, Ekekiel, Sultan and Maame in Year

12 prep for their first

competitive debate.

Redempta, Sultan , Ezekiel and Ahmed

getting a close up view of No 10!

Current DebateMate Plus top six schools out

of twelve:

1st - The Sydney Russell School

2nd - Sydenham School

3rd - Brampton Manor Academy

4th = Sacred Heart Catholic Secondary

School 4th = St Angela’s Ursuline School

“Doing four years of debating has helped

me become more confident and speak more

eloquently, I now feel prepared for the

outside world. Being part of the Debate-

Mate Plus programme has offered me loads

of opportunities that I am really glad to

have been part of” Adama 12BD

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Imperial College Outreach Program

Imperial College Visits Sacred Heart

Before Christmas, two students from Imperial College visited the school to inspire pupils to

take on Science in the future

INSPIRE

INSPIRE is a teacher training program run by the Outreach team at Imperial

College and Canterbury Christ Church University. This aims to encourage pupils to take their

science education to the next level by giving them the chance to:

Experience university level research activities.

Participate in workshops.

See cutting edge STEM in action.

Solving the Murder!

A murder was committed using the clues and we had to work out who had committed the crime. We had to do several tests to work out who committed it. First of all, the murderer left behind a note; we did a paper chromatography and matched the pen used to a suspect. The suspect also left behind a powdered substance and if we put the substance in a flame it turns purple. We found a similar substance on the same suspect. Finally, we did a fingerprint match to confirm that the suspect was in fact the murderer.

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Imperial College Outreach Program

Flame Tests

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Imperial College Outreach Program

The Odour Family

We were asked to talk about how different smells remind us of past events and were given words related to certain smells. We were given strong, fruity, sweet, citrusy and bitter smells.

Different Scents

We were also shown 5 different plants and seeds and were asked to guess what substances they were by smelling them. We were given seeds for plants like frankincense and peppermint.

Advert

We were then given some essential oils and were given instructions to make a product. We mixed and blended them into things like lotions, shampoos or shower gels with our preferred essential oil. We learnt how certain products have different types of scents and we then had to create an advert on selling this product and performed it in front of the class.

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Imperial College Outreach Program

Thank you to Imperial College, the INSPIRE Program and the Science

Department at Sacred Heart for giving us this opportunity... We hope to do

this again soon!

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Chess Tournament - 12th

December 2018 6

th Form vs Key Stage 3 & 4 pupils

On the 12th December 2018, we hosted Sacred Heart School’s first chess tournament of 6th form against key stage 3 & key stage 4 students. It was the school’s biggest tournament to date with 40 students competing. Students worked hard on their chess strategies on how to defeat our reigning champion, Solomon Areoye, 10M. They practised in the mornings, during lunchtimes, after school and attending the school’s chess club which is run by Mr Amin every Thursday and Friday after school. We held the first and second rounds of the tournament on Wednesday 12th December and the quar-

ter and semi-finals taking place on the Thursday.

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Chess Tournament - 12th December 2018 6

th Form vs Key Stage 3 & Key Stage 4 pupils

We are all immensely proud of all of our chess players who have improved so

much over the last couple of years and of course our two finalists Luel and

Solomon. Solomon is now our Chess Champion for the 3rd consecutive year.

Well done to everyone who took part in the tournament and thank you to

Mr Amin who has taken on and coached our chess club since September

2018.

Mme Laffan — Librarian

The big event, the Final took place in our newly extended library on Friday 14th December. All participants and lots of other students from Sacred Heart came to offer their support to our two finalists Luel 12FC and Solomon 10M (of course). It was the event of the term. Luel played some fantastic rounds of chess and proved himself to be a worthy opponent to play our school champion. After an intense few days of chess, and some outstand-ing chess played, Solomon became our champion for the 2nd year running.

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Raising Aspirations Lectures and Business Breakfasts – Key Dates

Please take the time to consider attending the events below for KS4 and KS5 pupils; in each case the

speaker has volunteered to offer valuable career advice in their fields as well as answer

questions and explain their own journey in their career. This is a valuable experience, worthy of

distinguishing you in college and university interviews as well as guiding your own career and

enlightening you about jobs that you may not have previously considered. You must register with

Mrs Sparkes

Southwark Construction Skills Centre 12 October 2018 Engineering - 2 November 2018 Laing O’Rourke – 9 November 2018 Amazon Audible - 30 November 2018 We Make Associates – 7 December 2018 AI Consultant – 14 December 2018 Mckinsey Management Consultancy –

11 January 2019

Amazon Audible – 7 December 2018 NHS Student Doctors – 18 December 2018 Medical Negligence Barrister – 14 December 2018 Laing O’Rourke - 18 January 2019 Allsop - 24 January 2019 NHS Surgeon—1 February 2019 Credit Suisse – 1 March 2019

Raising Aspirations 3pm-4pm Key Stages 4 and 5

Business Breakfast 8am-8.45am (Preference to Key Stage 5)

Sixth Form Common Room

RAISING ASPIRATIONS INFORMATION

KEY STAGE 4 INFORMATION

All Year 10 pupils must organise their work experience for 8—12th July, completing all Health and Safety Forms by

Friday 15th February submitted to Mr Norena and Ms Mensah

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DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP INFORMATION

This is the UK’s first degree-level apprenticeship in economics – creating new routes to careers in the Civil Service for young people who would prefer to study for a degree whilst working at the heart of government. It will offer students a starting salary of about £22k in London and in excess of £20k nationally. The programme will be delivered in partnership with the University of Kent

The Government Economic Service Degree Apprenticeship is now open for applications

Eligibility

Open to candidates with GCSE Maths at grade B (6) or above and 96 UCAS points

– equivalent to CCC at A-level

Why do it?

Joint head of the Government Economics Service and Chief Economic Adviser at HM Treasury, Clare Lombardelli said: “We are delighted to launch this new programme, which we hope will create new opportunities for talented young people from all parts of the communities we serve to consider economist careers in

Government.”

Sam Beckett, joint head of the GES and Director General in BEIS said:

“This is an exciting new initiative for the economics profession. I am looking forward to working

with the new apprentices who will join us next year - and hope to see other employers launching

similar programmes in the months to come.”

Applications Open There will be 75 apprentices to join the programme in autumn 2019. Formal recruitment opens 5th December 2018. Follow our website and social media feeds for details of the selection process in the weeks to come.

Twitter: @GES_UK

Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-servicegovernment-economicservice

Email: gesrecruitment.grs@cabi netoffice.gov.uk

Apply: https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi?jco de=1612169

DEADLINE: 20TH JANUARY 2019

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KEY STAGE 3 OPTIONS This is a weekly section on where the subjects that you are studying could take you. This

week we are focusing on DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

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COUNTDOWN TO EXAMS

For the dates of all forthcoming exams, please go to the Sacred Heart website –

www.sacredheart.southwark.sch.uk. Click on ‘Parents’, then on ‘Forthcoming

exams’. This page of the website is updated throughout the year as exam

timetables and dates are finalised, so please check it on a regular basis.

Parents are reminded that students should not be taken out of school for any reason during exam periods. Medical or dental appointments must not be made during this time, as exams cannot be rescheduled or taken at another time to suit the student. A student who misses an exam (for whatever reason) will score zero marks, exactly

as they would for a public exam such as a GCSE or an A level. In such a circumstance, subject teachers will base their assessment on classwork and homework and write

reports accordingly.

How many school weeks away ?

Year Group Exams

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Year 9 Year 9 Mid-Year exams will take place next week beginning 28th January 2019

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Year 11 Year 11 Parents’ Evening (dealing with GCSE exam entries) on Thursday 31st January

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Year 12 Mock AS exams (or mid-year exams for subjects not sitting AS) take place in the week beginning 11/02/19

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Year 13 Mock A level exams take place in the week beginning 25-02-19

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Year 7 ‘End-of-year’ exams for Year 7 take place in the week beginning 7th May 2019

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Years 10-13 PUBLIC EXAMS BEGIN (GCSE & GCE) ON 13TH MAY 2019

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Please make sure that your son/daughter is properly equipped for the

forthcoming exams

As a minimum, they should have several black pens,

pencils, a set of colouring pencils, a rubber, ruler and

pencil-sharpener, mathematical equipment (protractor,

set-square, compasses and a working calculator). All

students MUST also have a large TRANSPARENT

PENCIL-CASE.

REMINDER FOR YEAR 11 PARENTS

EXAM ENTRY DEPOSIT REQUIRED FOR GCSE EXAMINATIONS

To confirm your son/daughter’s entry for GCSE exams, the school requires you to pay an exam entry deposit of £50. This payment will be returnable to you, once your son/daughter has satisfactorily completed all of their coursework and exams and returned all school textbooks at the end of Year 11. The deadline for paying the deposit to school (via ParentPay) is Wednesday 6th February. The payment can be made at any time from now until 6th February.

THE SCHOOL WILL NOT MAKE EXAM ENTRIES FOR YOUR SON/DAUGHTER UNLESS THE DEPOSIT HAS BEEN RECEIVED.

Please note that £50 is a small fraction of what the school has to pay to the exam board(s) –

entry for a typical GCSE qualification costs around £30 to £40, so a pupil taking 10 GCSEs will

cost the school around £300 to £400 in entry fees.