Firstly, I hope that you and your families are safe and well. We know that many of our parents and carers are key workers and we thank all of you for all you are doing during this time.
A big thank you also to all the members of school staff, including administration staff, cleaning staff, IT support staff, site staff, teaching assistants and teaching staff who are at school to teach and care for the children of key workers and other children who need to be here. Staff at school and at home are working hard to set work, respond to queries, give some feedback on tasks and, of course, to keep in touch with students and families.
As you know, so many special events have been cancelled including trips, concerts, parents’ evenings and leaving events. We hope that at some point in the future we will be able to say a proper farewell to year 11 and year 13 students whose time with us ended so abruptly and who will not have the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do in the external exams.
Badgers and Hedgehogs
Twenty of our Year 7 students had been preparing to perform in our Choral Society concert. The music department managed to get 8 pupils to send videos and 2 to send audio tracks from their homes. I’m sure you will agree that the result is delightful:
Year 7Choir: Badgers and Hedgehogs, Andrew Carter
The composer, Andrew Carter, was delighted to give his permission for this recording, sent a lovely video message to the students and, after hearing the recording, emailed to say the following:
Twenty of our Year 7 students had been preparing to perform in our Choral Society concert. The music department managed to get 8 pupils to send videos and 2 to send audio tracks from their homes. I’m sure you will agree that the result is delightful:
Year 7Choir: Badgers and Hedgehogs, Andrew Carter
The composer, Andrew Carter, was delighted to give his permission for this recording, sent a lovely video message to the students and, after hearing the recording, emailed to say the following:
Brilliant! My
family and I have very much enjoyed your Badgers and Hedgehogs video, with the
visible eight and the invisible two. A
really cracking performance, which is no surprise at all, super diction,
beautifully in tune, just the right mood and fantastically together, which is a miracle of modern hi-tech, but also a mark of your team determination.
Very well done, each and every one of you young singers
and terrific thanks to Mrs. Perfect for getting it and you together in these
strange times.
Now you've had some practice, you might persuade Mrs P to
tackle something else. Great fun! Thank you!
I’m sure you’ll appreciate how tricky it is to come up with a successful video recording done in this way so thank you to the music department, in particular Mrs Perfect and Mr Figliola, and the students involved.
A Song for Frontline Workers
Ben O'Sullivan from The Music Works (who composes and directs the amazing closing song at the annual Celebration of Success at Gloucester Cathedral when students from all the Gloucester Schools come together in song) is looking for young people and their families to contribute to a song for front-line workers which will also raise money for Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals’ Charity. The details can be found here: https://musicinisolation.wordpress.com/a-song-for-frontline-workers/ The deadline for submissions is 11th May with release at the end of May.
It would be lovely for lots of our young people to take part. You/ they can also send in a video. You will need to complete a form giving permission if you wish to send in a video and those who are under 18 will need to get their form signed by an adult.
A Song for Frontline Workers
Ben O'Sullivan from The Music Works (who composes and directs the amazing closing song at the annual Celebration of Success at Gloucester Cathedral when students from all the Gloucester Schools come together in song) is looking for young people and their families to contribute to a song for front-line workers which will also raise money for Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals’ Charity. The details can be found here: https://musicinisolation.wordpress.com/a-song-for-frontline-workers/ The deadline for submissions is 11th May with release at the end of May.
It would be lovely for lots of our young people to take part. You/ they can also send in a video. You will need to complete a form giving permission if you wish to send in a video and those who are under 18 will need to get their form signed by an adult.
Students at school are working on tasks set by their teachers on Show my Homework but are also doing some other enriching activities.
Earlier in the lockdown period, The Business & Economics department, with help from Drama and the Library, put together an enterprise activity called School of Rock. The idea of the day was to create a business plan for a music festival and the students had a number of tasks to complete throughout the day, including:
·
- Creating aPop Star using dressing up clothes (donated by Mr Versaci’s festival veteran daughter)
·
- Designing a map of the festival, including all the stages, food, camping areas and entertainment
- A financial plan, including profit forecasts·
- A marketing plan, including role plays, writing jingles and compiling a social media plan
The images show the students’ pop star creations: Papa Fly, SkyStar, Zoeilla, Travma
Thank you to Mr Versaci, Mrs Farrelly and Mrs Taylor from the Business/Economics department; Mrs Skyrme from Drama and Mrs Knapton, one of our librarians
Bring Me Sunshine
On another day in school, the Music, Art & RE departments planned a session entitled Bring Me Sunshine to spread a little happiness. Students took part in a range of activities:
On another day in school, the Music, Art & RE departments planned a session entitled Bring Me Sunshine to spread a little happiness. Students took part in a range of activities:
· They were introduced to the song, learnt to sing it and added a variety of percussion rhythms using cajons, drums, maracas and tambourines.
They chose an uplifting quotation from the Bible to inspire a piece of artwork.
They chose an uplifting quotation from the Bible to inspire a piece of artwork.
· They used acrylic paint to produce huge banners to be shown in our next Mass in the school barn, always an amazing occasion.
All the students really entered into the spirit of the day and produced some excellent results. Thank you to Mrs Perfect, Mrs Smith, Mrs Parsons, Mrs Turner, Mrs Schofield and Mr Rumsey.
Clifton Diocese competitions
Clifton Diocese are running regular school competitions for pupils of all ages during this period of lockdown. Details can be found here: https://schools.cliftondiocese.com/competition-time The current competition is a creative writing one on the theme of New Life with a deadline of 15th May. The word limit is 750 words and entrants should give their name and age. Send any submissions to competition@cliftondiocese.com
Clifton Diocese are running regular school competitions for pupils of all ages during this period of lockdown. Details can be found here: https://schools.cliftondiocese.com/competition-time The current competition is a creative writing one on the theme of New Life with a deadline of 15th May. The word limit is 750 words and entrants should give their name and age. Send any submissions to competition@cliftondiocese.com
We are delighted that one of our year 8 students. Esther, won the first creative writing competition for her age group with her piece on Hope. She won a £20 Amazon voucher which she has already spent on books! Well done Esther. You can read her work here:
Congratulations also to year 7 pupil Lawrie who illustrated the work of his younger siblings, all of whom received a special mention in the first competition.
Biology essay
Congratulations also to year 13 student, Maddie Park, who submitted an excellent, well researched and informative essay on the Coronavirus virus to Mr Taylor, her year 13 biology teacher. Her essay can be read here: https://www.stpetershighschool.org.uk/COVID-19-Information/
Congratulations also to year 13 student, Maddie Park, who submitted an excellent, well researched and informative essay on the Coronavirus virus to Mr Taylor, her year 13 biology teacher. Her essay can be read here: https://www.stpetershighschool.org.uk/COVID-19-Information/
History Department Easter Egg Challenge
Congratulations to all the students who participated in the Russell Tarr History Toolkit Easter Egg Challenge. The results are entertaining, creative and show great historical understanding. You can see the students’ creations here: https://youtu.be/u-BDRYQZMVY See if you can work out the historical figures being depicted in these eggscellent ways (blame Mr Slaughter for the pun!)
Congratulations to all the students who participated in the Russell Tarr History Toolkit Easter Egg Challenge. The results are entertaining, creative and show great historical understanding. You can see the students’ creations here: https://youtu.be/u-BDRYQZMVY See if you can work out the historical figures being depicted in these eggscellent ways (blame Mr Slaughter for the pun!)
Congratulations to the winners who in reverse order are
3rd Place: Ellie Derbyshire
2nd Place: Sofia Hensley
1st Place: Esther Rumsey
Thank you to all who contributed, very well done to the winners, and thanks to Mr Slaughter for compiling the entries and providing some commentary.
