Approaching Easter

Diocesan report and ethos

You should have received an email with a link to the recent diocesan inspection report. It can also be found via a link on the home page of the school website: http://www.stpetershighschool.org.uk/Welcome/Diocesan-Inspection-Report/

The Catholic life of the school and the teaching of RE were found to be Good and the report contains many positive comments on the school and on the students. We will of course work on the areas identified as targets.

Students in all year groups have attended Lenten reconciliation services led by our chaplain, Miss Baker. We are grateful to the priests from local parishes who have supported these services. As usual the students themselves have been extremely respectful and have participated well.


Ignite evening
Ignite was postponed because of the snow and will now take place on Friday 16^th March. Doors will open at 6:30pm and the evening will start at 7pm. We are delighted that Tom Elliott will be appearing. Tom is an entertainer, comedian and magician. Among plenty of laughs, tricks, silly props and audience participation, he will share a positive and life-affirming message and give testimony to his Christian faith. Tickets are available from reception.


The Brilliant Club – year 10 
A group of 12 high ability year 10 students was selected to take part in the Scholars’ Programme organised by the Brilliant Club. The launch was at Warwick University. It is a unique chance for them to work with a PhD tutor on some university style scientific research. Pupils are exploring the evolution of species with the help of technology to help their PhD tutor answer the question “what would Charles Darwin do with a computer?” Pupils have now almost completed their work which will be graded with university style marks (first class, 2:1, 2:2) prior to attending a graduation event at another university. Thank you to Mrs Barker for her work with the Brilliant Club.

 

The Science department trip to Geneva and CERN

The science department trip to Geneva and CERN went well although the weather conditions were very challenging with daytime temperatures falling as low as -9C. The students conducted themselves excellently throughout. Prior to the visit to CERN, Mr Jones Parry gave a well-received lecture to students on the work at the site and the physics behind the concepts. Staff were pleased by the challenging questions from the students. The visit to CERN was extremely interesting and students from all year groups again asked lots of valid questions. The group passed into France via a CERN coach to visit the cryogenic facility, the AMS experiment and the control centre. This followed a one-hour lecture and film on the history, current work and future plans for the site. Students and staff also visited two permanent exhibitions - Microcosm (about the setting up of the LHC) and the Globe (about the universe). Afterwards the group went into the old town which was followed by a quiz from Mr Parry Jones on CERN, Switzerland as well as on some general knowledge. The trip also included a visit to the botanical gardens which was shorter than previously because of the cold weather and instead more time was spent inside at the science museum. A visit to the Red Cross Museum ended the science trip to Geneva and CERN. Thank you to Dr Taylor, Mr Jones Parry, Miss Holliday and Mr De Young for taking the students on this excellent educational visit.

 

February half term ski trip

48 students accompanied by six staff took part in the annual school ski trip to Austria during the February half term.  After a long (25 hour) journey by coach. The party again went to St Michael im Lungau, stayed again in the delightful family-owned hotel Zum Weissen Stein. Students skied with their instructors according to their ability, and the superb snow conditions meant that most rose to the challenge of making two levels of progress during the week. Several students even enjoyed skiing with their teachers at the end of the day. Evening entertainment involved a trip to the Therme Amade indoor water park but extreme weather conditions meant that the planned bowling trip at Oberlungau had to be abandoned. The best evening was the awards evening when staff and students were joined by the ski instructors who awarded medals and trophies to students who had completed the slalom race earlier that day.  Our students displayed their ROCK values all week, and proof of this came from very favourable comments from the two coach drivers who were delighted with how tidy the coach was after the long journey, and also the ski school head instructor, who said that we were the most polite and respectful school they had worked with all winter! Thanks to Mrs Beamish for organising the trip and to Miss Beachus, Mr Figliola, Mr Potter, Mr Rumsey and Mr Versaci who also went.

 

Will it make the boat go faster?

Next Tuesday 20th March at 18:00 we will be joined by ex-Olympic gold medallist and author Ben Hunt-Davis. Part of the Redgrave, Cracknell and Pincent era, Ben won gold in the men’s eight in Sydney 2000. Team GB had not 'medalled' since 1912 in this event. Ben and his peers broke this 88 year old record when they not only got on the podium, but won gold.

 

Ben has since shared his story in a bestselling book he co-wrote, Will It Make The Boat Go Faster? Among other things, Ben has become a world class business consultant and keynote speaker.

Students and parents are invited to this special evening. Tickets are £5 per head and can be purchased in reception. Thank you to Mr Pinnell for organising this event. Profits will be split between Prostate Cancer and the rugby tour to Canada.


Rome visit at Easter
 
A reminder to parents of students going to Rome at Easter that there is an information evening on March 14th at 6.30pm. Please bring your child’s passport and EHIC card.