It's been a short but busy term and there is much to report.
Chaplaincy news
FLAME Delegate
We are delighted that Paul, one of Year 13 head students, will
represent Clifton Diocese at Flame, the largest gathering of Catholic Youth
in the country, at Wembley Arena in March. This is a great honour for our school. Fifty people from St Peter's High School will travel to the event
on Saturday 2nd March.
Help Madina Charity
The
Year 11 charity group raised funds for the Help Madina Charity in Sierra Leone.
They presented Dr Veronica, the founder of the charity, with a cheque for £300. Dr
Veronica said, ‘The wonderful young students at St. Peter's school in Gloucester
raised an amazing donation for Help Madina which I received today. Your
kindness is overwhelming. On behalf of the communities we serve in Sierra Leone, thank you so much. I hope
the exams go really well for you all.’
IGNITE
You are invited to come to IGNITE from 6.30 - 8.30 in the main hall on
Friday 8th March featuring the amazing Mike Pilavachi. Mike is co-founder of Soul Survivor and travels
globally, spreading the Gospel message especially for youth. Entry is by ticket costing only 50p
(no admission on the door). Tickets are available from our Chaplain, Ms Baker, on mbaker@sphs.uk.com or via school on 01452 520594 or on twitter
@ChaplainStPetes More details are available via www. ignitegloucester.com Buy your tickets as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss out on this special evening with an internationally acclaimed guest.
Engineering Education
Scheme
Six of our students
have been taking part in the Engineering Education Scheme (EES) run by the
Engineering Development Trust. The aim of the EES is to give students a chance
to have first-hand experience in an engineering project. Engineers and students
meet once a week during term time. This year the students have been partnered
with L3TRL Technology based in Tewksbury. The students involved are Josie Poole-Jones,
Dominic Thomas, David Charzewski, Paul Kodenkandekath, Joshua Hensley and Kamil
Krzyszkowski.
The project brief
from L3TRL was to build a device that could count people entering
and exiting a doorway and possibly identify individuals. The students spent the
Autumn term designing and planning the project. They then presented their work
in progress to management at L3TRL at Tewksbury in January.
They had a great day and the engineers were impressed. We also had a chance to find out more about the work of L2TRL.
The students also attended a two day workshop at Bath University in January when they built their device and tested it. The two days went
very well as the students productively in a team to build their device. They
tested various functions using a model door with some successful and some
unsuccessful signals. They are now in the middle of writing up the project report to hand in for the competition aspect of the EES with an awards day to
be confirmed near the end of the year. Thank you to Mr Jones-Parry for working
with the students on this scheme.
Extended Project Qualification
Congratulations to the eleven Year 13 students who completed
their Extended Project Qualification this term. The qualification is highly regarded by universities and is worth half an A-level. The students worked
exceptionally hard researching a topic of their choice at university level of challenge. We
had an afternoon of presentations where the students each delivered an
inspiring presentation to a group of staff and students explaining their
research process and their research findings. Topics chosen included using
placebos in healthcare, the Partition of India, whether animals have personhood
and whether a student could successfully forge a specific painting to name just
a few (the forgery - not the original - can be seen below). Students spent over 90 hours conducting their research and have all
achieved a great deal throughout their projects. Thanks to Mrs Frampton for her work with these students.
Music department news
A Level Music student, Harry Matthews has been selected for Gloucestershire Youth Jazz Orchestra, the most advanced youth jazz group in the county.
A Level Music student, Harry Matthews has been selected for Gloucestershire Youth Jazz Orchestra, the most advanced youth jazz group in the county.
Another Year 12
Music A-level student, Avygayle Smith, represented St Peter’s at the Gloucester
Area Morgan Car Owners’ Annual Dinner at Stonehouse Court Hotel. We received the following lovely feedback after the event: “Once again I have to say that a
student from St Peter’s has done the school proud. Not only is she a
great singer, but she is also a lovely person who thinks about other people and
got as much pleasure from seeing the guests enjoying her music as she got from
singing.”
Our first Senior Concert took place on Wednesday 13th February. Students from Years 10 to 13 (alongside two of
our elite pathway musicians in Years 8 & 9) took to the stage to perform a
range of excellent solos and ensembles.
ASE Conference Birmingham
Spicing Up Science Even More enticed
members of the science department to Britain’s second city for a major conference. Mrs McNeill, Miss
Holliday, Miss Owen and Dr Taylor travelled to Birmingham for the Association
of Science Education (ASE) annual conference on a Saturday morning in January. They found out about the
latest technology and gadgets that could help students develop a deeper
understanding of biology, chemistry and physics.
From trying
virtual reality headsets that allowed the exploration of the stars from a
different perspective to investigating the latest circuit components from
Japan for the electricity topic in physics, they collected a wealth of ideas
to bring back to St Peter’s. Mrs McNeill said:
“It was very hands on and keeping up to date with the latest developments for
practicals can only improve our approach to teaching science in St Peter’s.”
Miss Holliday particularly enjoyed gaining
ideas for Ecoclub, which is a science club that she runs every Tuesday for
students. Recent topics have included plastics in oceans and planting trees. “Finding out about
how the range of Molymods has been extended has provided some great ideas for
our A-level chemistry lessons,” added Miss Owen. Dr Taylor collected some useful
information that could be used to support sixth form students considering
applying for medicine.
CyberFirst competition
Thirty of our Year 8 girls recently took part in the CyberFirst competition run by the National Cyber Security Centre, a division of GCHQ. 3,389 teams from across the country were competing for a top 10 place in the final. We didn’t make it to the top 10 (this time around) but our girls put in an excellent challenge. The level of enthusiasm and commitment was fantastic, and the department has discovered some serious computer science talent for the future. Well done girls. Watch this space for news of a forthcoming St Peter’s Cyber-club. Thanks to Mr Drumm for his work with the students.
Thirty of our Year 8 girls recently took part in the CyberFirst competition run by the National Cyber Security Centre, a division of GCHQ. 3,389 teams from across the country were competing for a top 10 place in the final. We didn’t make it to the top 10 (this time around) but our girls put in an excellent challenge. The level of enthusiasm and commitment was fantastic, and the department has discovered some serious computer science talent for the future. Well done girls. Watch this space for news of a forthcoming St Peter’s Cyber-club. Thanks to Mr Drumm for his work with the students.
Art department news
Two year 12 art students have been volunteering at Art Shape each week as part of the sixth form enrichment programme. Art Shape are a charity that ‘help all people to engage with the arts as equals’ and they recently held a four week exhibition of painting, mixed media, sound works and installations created by artists at the Art Bridge Evolve programme and Art Shape associates. Our year 12 students, Abi and Hannah Baldwin, submitted two pieces of work and were both successful in having their pieces chosen for the exhibition ‘Odyssey’ which ran until the 12th February at Gloucester Cathedral. We are really proud of their achievements.
Two year 12 art students have been volunteering at Art Shape each week as part of the sixth form enrichment programme. Art Shape are a charity that ‘help all people to engage with the arts as equals’ and they recently held a four week exhibition of painting, mixed media, sound works and installations created by artists at the Art Bridge Evolve programme and Art Shape associates. Our year 12 students, Abi and Hannah Baldwin, submitted two pieces of work and were both successful in having their pieces chosen for the exhibition ‘Odyssey’ which ran until the 12th February at Gloucester Cathedral. We are really proud of their achievements.
Sporting news
Football
Huge congratulations to the year 7 boys, year 7/8 girls and year 8 boys who have made it to the last 8 of the England Schools Football Cup! It is an amazing achievement to have three teams in the last 8 and we wish them all the best for their next matches which take place in the week or two after half term when the year 7 boys are at home to Queen's College, Watford; the year 7/8 girls are at home to Chesham Grammar School; and the year 8 boys are away to Wright Robinson College. Thank you to the PE staff who have coached them and good luck in your next matches!
Huge congratulations to the year 7 boys, year 7/8 girls and year 8 boys who have made it to the last 8 of the England Schools Football Cup! It is an amazing achievement to have three teams in the last 8 and we wish them all the best for their next matches which take place in the week or two after half term when the year 7 boys are at home to Queen's College, Watford; the year 7/8 girls are at home to Chesham Grammar School; and the year 8 boys are away to Wright Robinson College. Thank you to the PE staff who have coached them and good luck in your next matches!
International sport
Congratulations to Mary McAteer who represented England U15s in football for a full 90 minutes playing centre midfield against Switzerland at the Park Schaffhausen on Wednesday 13th February. Mary can also sometimes be seen in a red shirt playing for Wales as she recently did when she took over the captain's armband for a match between South Wales and Reading.
Congratulations to Mary McAteer who represented England U15s in football for a full 90 minutes playing centre midfield against Switzerland at the Park Schaffhausen on Wednesday 13th February. Mary can also sometimes be seen in a red shirt playing for Wales as she recently did when she took over the captain's armband for a match between South Wales and Reading.
Gymnastics
Congratulations to the Under 13 gymnasts who came second in the South West BSGA gymnastics competition in Devon. They now go on to compete in the national finals in March. Well done in particular to Erin Goldie who was placed third overall.
Congratulations to the Under 13 gymnasts who came second in the South West BSGA gymnastics competition in Devon. They now go on to compete in the national finals in March. Well done in particular to Erin Goldie who was placed third overall.
Cross-Country
Success
Congratulations to Esther Rumsey (Year 7), Alex Knight (Year 7) and Fin Hawkins (Year 10). All three students competed at the County Cross-Country Championships on Sunday January 20th. Having all been placed in the top 15, they qualify for the South West Championships and to compete at the National English Schools Championships in Loughborough on Saturday March 23rd. We wish them every success.
Congratulations to Esther Rumsey (Year 7), Alex Knight (Year 7) and Fin Hawkins (Year 10). All three students competed at the County Cross-Country Championships on Sunday January 20th. Having all been placed in the top 15, they qualify for the South West Championships and to compete at the National English Schools Championships in Loughborough on Saturday March 23rd. We wish them every success.
School ski trip
Over sixty students from year 7 right through to year 13 are taking part in the annual school ski trip to Austria in February half term. Students are of varying abilities, and are hoping either to learn, improve or perfect their skills. The ski trip is a great way to get to know people in other year groups, as well as an opportunity to challenge yourself and to keep active during half term. This is a popular trip and 40 students have already signed up to go in February 2020 so if your son/daughter would like to take part, please contact Mrs Beamish for information.
Over sixty students from year 7 right through to year 13 are taking part in the annual school ski trip to Austria in February half term. Students are of varying abilities, and are hoping either to learn, improve or perfect their skills. The ski trip is a great way to get to know people in other year groups, as well as an opportunity to challenge yourself and to keep active during half term. This is a popular trip and 40 students have already signed up to go in February 2020 so if your son/daughter would like to take part, please contact Mrs Beamish for information.
Whiteout by Gabriel Dylan
On a slightly related note, congratulations to Media and English teacher and assistant head of sixth form Mr Carl Jones whose first book Whiteout has been published to great success under his nom de plume Gabriel Dylan. It is a young adult horror novel suitable for students aged 12 and above and was partly inspired by Mr Jones’s participation in a St Peter's High School ski trip to Austria several years ago. Thankfully, there were no casualties in reality! It is not my usual cup of tea but I read it in one day and thoroughly enjoyed it. The book can be purchased at all good bookshops or online retailers and the school library currently has copies of the book at the reduced price of £5.60. We look forward to the next instalment!
On a slightly related note, congratulations to Media and English teacher and assistant head of sixth form Mr Carl Jones whose first book Whiteout has been published to great success under his nom de plume Gabriel Dylan. It is a young adult horror novel suitable for students aged 12 and above and was partly inspired by Mr Jones’s participation in a St Peter's High School ski trip to Austria several years ago. Thankfully, there were no casualties in reality! It is not my usual cup of tea but I read it in one day and thoroughly enjoyed it. The book can be purchased at all good bookshops or online retailers and the school library currently has copies of the book at the reduced price of £5.60. We look forward to the next instalment!
