The Chronicle

Our Stars of the Week this week are:

Current students Andrea, Thomas, Isabella and Andrew were joined by former students Erica and Ethan for enrolment into the prestigious Guild of St. Stephen at St. Francis Church, Kenilworth, on the 26 December. The Guild of St. Stephen requires that trained altar servers meet their exceptional standards, assist Mass on a regular basis and that they display their St. Stephen's medal of office.

We at the Chronicle are delighted to report this fantastic news and offer our congratulations to pupils, their families, Mrs. Simmons (Chaplaincy Assistant) and her team. 

This year in the lead up to Advent, J2 decided to have a different type of Advent calendar in their classrooms. Usually the class would have a traditional calendar – perhaps even with a chocolate behind each door. However this year, they thought about the autumn term virtues, ‘Faith-filled and Hopeful’, and wanted to help families less fortunate than themselves.  They realised that many families would be full of faith and hopeful that God would provide them with food for Christmas and decided that instead of having a traditional Advent calendar, they would have a ‘Reverse Advent Calendar’. Instead of receiving a chocolate from the Advent calendar each day, the children would give something to help others.

So each day a different child brought in a non-perishable food item, such as a jar of coffee, or a packet of biscuits, or a toiletry item such as some shower gel, and put it in the hamper. By the end of term both classes had hampers which were over-flowing with lots of delicious food as well as plenty of toiletries. Mrs Simmonds took the hampers to two families who are supported by St Francis church in Kenilworth. The families, who between them have three children, were so surprised and grateful to receive the hampers!   

All roads led to the Cambridge Theatre, London last Wednesday as Mrs. Olden's amassed ranks of lucky J5 and J6 students took their seats to enjoy a fabulous afternoon of musical theatre. We can report that writer Dennis Kelly and composer and lyricist Tim Minchin should go to the top of the class with their anarchically joyous, gleefully nasty and ingenious musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda. 

Inspired by the beloved book of the same name by the author Roald Dahl, this multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company won the hearts and aspirations of our students. To be this close to Miss Trunchbull, Matilda Wormwood and Miss Honey (amongst others), for inspirational renditions of many a well known ditty, including Naughty, When I Grow Up and Quiet was a well earned treat and no-doubt will inform our own pupils in their own musical theatre grade exams and school end of year show. 

We are very grateful that our Parish Priest Father Kevin is able to visit our school and lead the religious instruction of our pupils.

For this reason, Tuesday's whole school Collective Worship on Epiphany revealed and showed itself in the true meaning of the feast. His careful and considered instruction led our pupils through the features and events of advent, including our preparation for and differing dates for the celebration of Christmas across different denominations across the world. Ever inventive in his instruction, Father Kevin brought the meaning of the calendar to life through the skilful use of Three Kings, in the guise of Jasper (J4W), Connor (J5K) and Isabella (J6V).