Week ending Friday 21st April 2017
Inspiring Ambition,
Achieving Excellence
Dear Parent/Carer
Welcome back to the summer term and I hope you had a restful and enjoyable
Easter break.
I wanted to say thank you to all of the Year 11's and staff who attended the
Easter school, 91% attendance is pretty good in a holiday. There was a real
sense of purpose; it is always enjoyable to teach outside of the usual scenario.
With 4 weeks to go before the actual GCSEs begin (saying that Drama was this
week and Art and Photography is next week) it was lovely to have our annual
school photograph with Year 11; our first picture with striped shirts and the end
of the beginning for our amazing girls. The hairspray and eyebrows made it an
interesting event! The revision programme during exams has gone out this
week.
At the other end of the school it was lovely to see so many of you at the Year 7
parents evening; with many happy faces it was quite a celebratory event, and
good to see so many girls who have settled in as Convent girls now. The result of
the parent survey is below. Et deinceps sursum! (Onward and Upward!) This is
especially relevant to Year 8 who begin their summer exams this week.
IMPORTANT MESSAGES:
GCHS TWITTER
Please, follow us on Twitter:
@GraysConvent, and retweet all our good news!
See
our
Twitter
feed
http://www.graysconvent.thurrock.sch.
uk.
YEAR 7
DRAMA/SPANISH
A reminder to all Year 7 parents/carers,
can you please return your daughter’s
Drama/Spanish Option form by Tuesday
25th April at the latest. Thank you to all
parents who have already done so.
Mr Williams
YEAR 8 & 9
VACCINATIONS
Although the weather is less than tropical, girls are meant to wear short white
ankle socks in the summer term please. Please ensure that your daughter has
water with her too as the weather warms up; we do have water fountains, so an
empty bottle is a must please. PE takes place outside, and as we are in Athletics
season, it is important that you protect your daughter's skin with some sun
protection please.
We were inspired today by our visitor Shefaly Yogendra who came to talk to the
girls at assembly about what girls can do to win! Shelfaly Yogendra specialises in
decision-making. Combining her extensive commercial experience with stores
from having lived and worked on 3 continents, she really engaged her audience,
and left them thinking about their future as well as entertained.
We look forward to an exciting term.
Penny Johnson
Headteacher
A reminder to all Year 8 and 9
parents/carers that HPV vaccinations
will take place on Friday 28th April.
Mrs Kane
SAFEGUARDING OUR CHILDREN
At Grays Convent our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs
Collis, and our Safeguarding Officers are Mrs Wells and Mrs
Bishop. Students can contact any of our Safeguarding Team
during the school day.
Worried about a child?
You can phone or write to The MASH about your
concerns. Phone immediately if you believe it is
urgent.
 Thurrock MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding hub),
Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, Essex, RM17 6SL,
Tel: 01375 652802.
 Emergency Duty Team (for out of hours) 01375
372468.
 Police Child Abuse Investigation Team 01277
266822 or call 999 if you are concerned a child
needs immediate protection.
 Childline 0800 11 11 www.childline.org.uk
 NSPCC 0808 800 5000 www.nspcc.org.uk;
www.facebook.com/nspcc
INTERNET SAFETY TIP:
UK SAFER INTERNET CENTRE
Resources for Parents and carers
Tips, advice, guides and resources to help keep your child
safe online
https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/parentsand-carers
Mr Burr
SOCIAL MEDIA - STRANGER DANGER
Important information for parents to keep
updated on social media Apps and sites:
www.thinkuknow.co.uk
Like us on Facebook at:
‘EST E Safety Training’
Mrs Collis
KATHERINE TREKS WITH THE SCOUTS ALONG ‘THE NORTH DOWNS WAY’!
We were incredibly proud to hear that one of our Year 9
students, Katherine Franklin attended the Scout Easter
expedition over the fortnight of the Easter holiday.
Katherine, together with 26 pupils from schools across
Thurrock, walked the entire 125 miles of the long distance
footpath known as ‘The North Downs Way’, which runs from
Farnham in Surrey to Dover in Kent!
Scout Leader ‘Tug’ aka David Wilson said:
“We stayed at a lodge at Downe in Kent and the young people
were bussed out each morning to their starting point. They
then walked about 12 miles each day before being picked up
again at the end, having carried their daily supplies of food and drink with them. The distance was covered in just 11 days of
walking, leaving 2 days in the middle to take as rest days. This is a most incredible achievement for all of the young people
and makes a pleasant change to get them active in the great outdoors and away from their electronic devices and phones, all
of which were banned for the fortnight….in summary, 27 young people, 125 miles on fott, Farnham to Dover in just 11 days!”
When interviewed for this piece, Katherine was very modest about her achievement, saying simply “it was good!” Well, we
say “well done Katherine!”
Mrs Albrow
GOLD AT NATIONAL JU JITSU CHAMPIONSHIPS!
We were extremely proud to hear that during the Easter holidays one of our
Year 7 students, Kira Arrow, not only took part in the National Ju Jitsu
Championships in the Midlands, but managed to win a GOLD medal in the
discipline of Long Stance Kata! Kira has been a keen martial artist since the age
of 5 and is progressing in the sport incredibly well. Her gold medal success adds
to her Silver Medal win from last year.
FOSTERING IN
THURROCK
Thurrock Fostering desperately need
more people to consider becoming
foster carers.
If you have a spare bedroom and time to
care for a child in need they would love
to hear from you.
Information Evening: Tuesday 16/5/17,
Park Inn Hotel, North Stifford, RM15
5UE, 6.00pm-8.00pm.
Contact:
01375 652624
[email protected]
www.thurrock.gov.uk/fostering
Kira is due to compete in the International competition in Southend next month,
and we wish her every success. We are told that Kira’s sister Jasmine, who is
joining Grays Convent in September, also competes at Ju Jitsu – we look forward
to continued success from the girls in this discipline!
ENGLAND KARATE CALL UP FOR KYLIE!
Congratulations to Kylie Mandy in Year 7!
Kylie has been selected to represent England in the
Seitou Ryu International Championships in Italy in May.
This is a big step for Kylie and will be an amazing
experience and Grays Convent would like to wish her
every success in the Championships.
Kylie has already had a successful year and has an evergrowing medal collection, winning bronze in the Kata
and silvers in the individual and team Kumites and we have no doubt that the
collection will continue to grow throughout the remainder of the year.
Mrs Wells
PARISH NEWS
14th May at 12.00
in the Parish Hall
The Bazaar Group invite you to a sale of
goods to raise money for the Church
Restoration Fund. Items for sale include
books, toys, clothes, bags, jewellery,
toiletries, house hold goods and bric-abrac. Refreshments available.
If anyone would like to help on the day
please contact the Church Office. Thank
you for your support.
BCCS – CHARITY SPRING CONCERT AT INGATESTONE HALL
The Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society is hosting an evening of classical
music in the beautiful surroundings of Ingatestone Hall on Saturday 6th
May at 7.30pm. Come and enjoy an exciting and varied programme
with three professional musicians singing duets from some of the best
known operas. Tickets are £25 and include prosecco and nibbles. For
tickets or further information, please call Libby Phillips on 01268 784544
or email [email protected].
HAS YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION CHANGED…?
Did you know … just registering your child for Free School Meals means that the school gets
extra money?
Register now to make sure we don’t miss out.
The Government is giving money to schools to help children from lower income families do their very best. This funding is
called a ‘Pupil Premium’.
For every child registered Grays Convent gets £935 this year.
With this money we could arrange, amongst other things, additional support & intervention for students in the school
including Saturday School, Easter Revision & homework club. If you are registered for Free School Meals you may also
receive other benefits including support with costs of school trips & other resources.
How does it work?
Applications can be made online by visiting:
https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/school-meals/free-school-meals. Simply login to My Account services, select ‘Education and
childcare’, ‘Free school meals’ and then ‘Apply online’. Families can create an account if you don’t already have one. All you
need is a valid personal email address. If you don’t have access to the internet at home you can either visit your local library
or Thurrock Council area offices.
Is your child eligible for ‘free school meals’? Check on our website, follow the link:
http://www.graysconvent.thurrock.sch.uk/School-Catering
Mrs Burrow
KEY DATES, TRIPS & EVENTS
Monday 24th April 2017
Thursday 27th April 2017
Friday 28th April 2017
Year 8 Exams
Year 9 Walsingham House Retreat
Year 10 Walsingham House Retreat
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Monday 1st May 2017
Bank Holiday Monday –
School Closed
All Years
Friday 5th May 2017
Monday 15th May 2017
th
Thorpe Park Trip
Year 7 Exams
Year 11
Year 7
Monday 15 May –
Tuesday 20th June
Year 11 GCSE Exams
Year 11
Friday 26th May 2017
th
School finishes at 3:10pm for Half Term
All Years
Monday 29 May –
Friday 2nd June
Half Term – School Closed
All Years
Monday 5th June 2017
Students in school for 8:25am
All Years
COMPETITION CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF BRENTWOOD DIOCESE
Mr O’Hanlon
GRAYS CONVENT GIRLS AT BRENTWOOD CATHEDRAL FOR THE MASS OF CHRISM
During the Easter holidays, six of our Year 11 Girls: Gabriella Cantwell, Jenna Fullerton, Bianca Garcia,
Niamh Copley, Lashana Augustin-Brown and Sophie Robson represented our school at the Mass of
Chrism. It is a wonderful Mass in which all the holy oils are consecrated to be used in parishes
throughout the year for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Anointing of the Sick.
Gabriella Cantwell and Lashana Augustin-Brown had the privilege of taking up the gifts of bread and
wine in the Offertory
Procession and did it
with great dignity and
reverence.
We
received compliments
from many people on our lovely, smart girls
and their beautiful school uniform!
Fr Brian arriving with priests from all over
the diocese for the Mass of Chrism.
Coach loads of people arrive very early each year
to get a seat and all the priests gather from all
over the diocese. It is particularly moving to
hear the priests renew their vows to God and to
see them all praying the prayer of consecration
over the bread and wine together.
Bishop Alan reminded us of the importance of our witness to
the risen Lord in our lives and that it must not be just words
but by works of service and love. He encouraged us to
follow the example of Saint John the Baptist who said that I
must decrease, so that Christ can increase in me.
We are most grateful
to the girls and to
their parents for
giving up their time in
the holidays to travel
to Brentwood to
represent our school.
Wishing you all the blessings of our risen Lord Jesus.
Miss Carson