Spring Term  Issue 3 
22nd January 2016
St Benedict’s Catholic College
Dear students, parents and friends
As an avid cricket fan, my cricket app tells me that today marks the
anniversary of Brian Lara’s first class cricket debut. Brian was brought
up in a Catholic family in Trinidad. He was an all-round sportsman,
who ultimately chose cricket because of his wish to emulate his many
heroes, such as Gordon Greenidge and Viv Richards. With his
crouched stance and crazily high backlift, Lara struck hundred after
hundred, even scoring the record of 501 runs in a first-class game. It
wasn’t just his technique and natural flair that defined Lara. It was the
attitude and beliefs instilled in him that made him who he was, that
supported and allowed him to flourish. He saw many West Indian
players fall by the wayside because they succumbed to distractions.
At his conferment as Doctor of Laws at, St Augustine University, we
see him echoing the Gospel values: "We come from different
backgrounds but what unites us is our common drive to make a
positive contribution to the world… set high hopes for yourself and so
do not underestimate your capabilities. Be disciplined and work hard.
Have confidence. Be competitive but never compromise your morals.
Maintain a positive attitude. And always remain humble — don't let
success change you.” A hero of mine for many reasons. Let us give
thanks for all those who model Christ’s ministry in their daily lives.
Mr M Baker - Vice Principal
TRIPS AND VISITS
Tuesday 2nd February 2016
History revision trip GCSE year 11.
COLCHESTER INSTITUTE FASHION ROAD
SHOW COMES TO ST BENEDICT’S
Mrs Stapley writes: On Monday 18th January 2016
Sarah Jayne Smith, a fashion tutor from Colchester
Institute, and ex-St Benedict's student Courtney
Reid, who is studying on the diploma in fashion and
textiles course, brought The Fashion Roadshow to
the school. The workshop was attended by a
talented group of year 9 textile students.
Sarah gave a short presentation about The Fashion
Hub at Braintree Campus, the different aspects and
facilities at the college and the many career paths
open to students studying fashion.
Sarah and Courtney then demonstrated how to
make mini – origami dresses and students created
three different versions which they stuck on to a
model template.
After a short demonstration students then worked in
groups of three to develop life-size experimental
paper dresses using 3D paper construction
techniques on the colleges mannequins. The
amazing sculptural dresses were then exhibited and
photographed. As you can see below the designs
were highly imaginative and creative.
The students certainly enjoyed the workshop and
Sarah and Courtney were very helpful, encouraging
Thursday 11 February 2016
students to extend and develop their skills further.
GCSE business trip – details have been sent to year 11 students studying
th
GCSE business this week – polite reminder to parent/carers - replies and
Sarah emailed me later to say she had had a great
payments must be made by 1st February 2016.
time with the students, who were really delightful to
Wednesday 24th to Friday 26th February 2016
teach, and how impressed she was with the work
Battlefields trip, history – year 9 – polite reminder to parent/carers - please they
produced.
ensure that all payments are up-to-date before 5th February 2016. Itinerary
for the trip will be sent out next week.
Tuesday 1st to Wednesday 2nd March 2016
GCSE drama/music trip for year 10/11 – theatre trip, London – polite reminder
to parent/carers – please ensure that payments are paid in full for this trip –
deadline for final instalment was 11th January 2016. Any student still unsure
about their attendance on this trip must speak with Miss Wenn this week.
Tuesday 15th March 2016
Castle Hedingham Medieval Day, history trip for year 7.
Thursday 21st April 2016
Geography mapskills trip to Thorrington for year 7.
Wednesday 11th May to Friday 13th May 2016
Mersea Camp trip for year 7 – please respond to confirm your child’s place as
soon as possible.
Wednesday 15th June and Wednesday 22nd June 2016
Year 8 geography trip to Walton-on-Naze – details to follow next week.
DO YOU KNOW A MARKETING EXPERT?
Wednesday 6th July to Friday 8th July 2016
Geography trip to Dorking – GCSE year 10 students – polite reminder to
Together with St Benedict’s Foundation we need
parent/carers – please ensure payments are up-to-date as still a few
help to launch a short-term project, which we hope to
outstanding payments of the next instalment.
Monday 11th July to Friday 15th July 2016
Moselle Valley Germany trip for year 8
complete by August 2016. Please contact Chris
Brown, business manager at the college, if you can
help.
YEAR 7 SCIENCE - HUMAN REPRODUCTION TOPIC
Mr Davis writes: Parents of year 7 students may like to be aware that the students will shortly be starting the human
reproduction section of the human body unit. The topic will cover puberty, male and female reproductive systems and
conception, in line with the National Curriculum. If parents would like any further details, please call me on 01206 549222.
FIXTURES
TEAMS
DATE
Year 10 girls’
basketball
Year 10 boys’
basketball
Monday 25th
January 2016
Tuesday 26th
January 2016
GCSE practice
Wednesday 27th
January 2016
VENUE AND
OPPOSITION
Home v Stanway
School
Home v Thomas
Lord Audley
School
RESULTS
If you are interested in registering for the Female Football
College Programme please see a member of the PE staff for
more information and a copy of the registration form.
TEAM
RESULT
Year 11 boys’
basketball v Thomas
Lord Audley
Year 8 girls’ basketball
v Thurstable School
Lost 45 - 51
MOST
VALUABLE
PLAYER
Haydn Ince
Won 16 - 12
Esme Bishop
Year 10 girls’ basketball
v Thurstable School
Won 38 - 12
Leia Rudge
Year 11 girls’ basketball
v Stanway School
Won 28 - 24
Katie Rowe
USEFUL WEBSITES
SOCIAL MEDIA
Did you know that some of our departments have
social media sites? Simply click on the hyperlinks
below to follow them on Twitter, like them on
Facebook, or subscribe to their YouTube site to keep
Visit our college website for duplicate copies of letters, electronic
up-to-date with the latest news, helpful top tips and
copies of our parents’ handbook, options’ booklet and useful links to
advice for exam revision, student achievements and
websites for student revision.
much more!
PARENTPAY
www.parentpay.com
COLLEGE SITE
Twitter:
St.Benedict’s
(@St_Benedict’s)
ParentPay is the college’s online payment system. We ask parents to
use ParentPay to pay for everything from cashless catering, revision
CHAPLAINCY
guides, locker rental, school trips and much more. If you need any
Twitter:
Chaplain
(@Chaplaincy_StB)
assistance with using ParentPay please contact Mrs Chappell in the
Facebook:
Chaplaincy
St
Benedict’s Colchester
college office.
THE COLLEGE WEBSITE
www.stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk
Please note the minimum supported browser versions for ParentPay
are:
•
Chrome 35 or higher
•
Firefox 30 or higher
•
Internet Explorer 9 or higher
•
Safari 6 or higher
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
Facebook: St. Benedict's English Department
YouTube: St. Benedict's English Department
MATHS DEPARTMENT
Facebook: St Benedict’s Maths Department
HISTORY DEPARTMENT
Twitter: History (@history_stbens)
SPORTSWEAR INTERNATIONAL
www.swischoolwear.co.uk
Sportswear International is our school uniform supplier. The ‘Direct to
Parent’ supply solution will provide you with the ability to order
uniform and PE kit 24 hours a day. Orders can be placed either
online, by phone or post. Deliveries can be made to home or college.
MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Facebook: St Benedict's Music Department
PE DEPARTMENT
Twitter: St Benedict’s PE (@pe_stbens)
Facebook: St Benedict’s PE Department
HAIR STYLES
Please may we remind all students, parents and carers of our
‘Dressing for Excellence’ hair style code:

hair should be presentable and of business-like appearance

hair should be neatly styled but neither hair nor eyebrows
should be cut or shaved into tramlines or patterns

REPORTING STUDENT ABSENCE
A polite reminder that If your child is absent from
school you should inform the college on each day of
no extreme hair styles or colours are permitted (this includes
their absence, either by telephoning the absence line,
two-toned hair and dip-dyed hair; if it is not a natural colour
or texting the attendance office. These numbers are
then it is not acceptable
available to call/text 24 hours a day.
Please click here to download a copy of the ‘Dressing for Excellence’
leaflet.
LOST PROPERTY
ABSENCE LINE: 01206 516817
TEXT NUMBER: 0762 4817 147
JEWELLERY IN PE LESSONS
Mr Clegg writes: The policy of the PE department
is that all jewellery is removed for PE lessons to
prevent injury to the person and others. Over the
years we have allowed newly-pierced ears to be
taped over. Essex County Council has now directed
schools that all earrings must be removed and NOT
taped up. As stated in the college uniform policy,
students can only wear a small earring in the lower
ear and we would encourage parents to show the
students how to remove the earrings so they can do
this before lessons and, if they wish, put them in the
valuables box. Students having newly-pierced ears is
not an acceptable reason to be excused from PE
In order for us to ensure we can return lost property as quickly as lessons. Students should be aware that their PE
possible, please can you ensure that ALL items of uniform, including teacher will be expecting them to remove all earrings.
coats, are clearly named so that they can be returned to their owners.
CHAPLAINCY NEWS
Dear students, parents and friends,
Prayer for Peace
Many of us will have been amazed by the pictures of Major Tim Peake taking the first spacewalk by a British citizen. During
the spacewalk there were fleeting glimpses of the world. We could see the continents and seas, the mountain ranges and
some of the larger rivers. What we couldn’t see were the borders that divide the continents into nations. Mercifully most of
the world’s nations are at peace but there are far too many countries where there is warfare and conflict either with
neighbouring countries or internal civil war.
In the chapel this week we have had the opportunity to think about the countries where there is conflict and to pray for peace.
We took a map and located those countries that we knew were places of conflict and placed a candle on the map, We
prayed for people caught up in war and for those all who are working for peace.
God of justice, bless those who work for peace through justice. Strengthen their resolve in the face of seemingly
endless violence. Guide the leaders of the people of the Middle East and all places of violence and conflict to know
your will and to support a just peace for all of your children. Amen.
St Benedict. Pray for us.
Deacon Richard
HELP FOR MIGRANTS
NEXT WEEK’S CHAPLAINCY ACTIVITIES
Churches across Colchester are looking for donations DAY
of clothing, sleeping bags and toiletries to assist with
th
migrants in need in northern France. Please send Monday 25 January 2016
The Conversion of St Paul
donations into school where arrangements can be
made for them to be distributed. Thank you.
th
BCYS YOUTH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
The BCYS youth pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place
on Saturday 13th – Saturday 20th August 2016.
Applications are now open to all year 10 and 11
students. This is a very oversubscribed event but I feel
confident that St Benedict’s students will have a good
opportunity to go. Please see me for more information
and forms.
ASH WEDNESDAY - 10TH FEBRUARY 2016
TIME
8.30 am - 8.40 am Morning prayer
11.10 am Chaplaincy reps
11.30 am 10RYA Class Mass
Tuesday 26 January 2016
Saints Timothy and Titus
8.15 am College Mass.
2.00 pm Oremus: Giving thanks for
our education, our school and our
teachers.
Wednesday 27th January 2016
Wednesday in the 3rd week of
Ordinary Time
8.30 am - 8.40 am Morning prayer
1.30 am - 2.20 pm Quiet prayer:
light a candle for a loved one
Thursday 28th January 2016
St Thomas Aquinas
8.30 am - 8.40 am Morning prayer
2.00 pm Justice and Peace Group
meeting
Friday 29th January 2016
8.30 am - 8.40 am Morning prayer
2.00 pm The Word’s Alive! –
Looking at Sunday’s Gospel reading
(Luke 4:21-30)
We will be holding a whole college service of the word Friday in the 3rd week of Ordinary
with distribution of ashes on Wednesday 10th Time
February at 10:10 am in the sports hall.
BUS TRAVEL
Is your child’s bus travel too expensive?
Do you want to do something about it?
At some local Catholic schools, groups of parents have got together to organise their
own transport, sometimes saving significant sums of money.
This is an opportunity led for parents, by parents.
St Benedict’s is happy to facilitate some initial meetings and offer support to groups of
parents who wish to explore this. We will hold three meetings to explore the options and
look forward to welcoming you to discuss these options; all meetings start at 6.30 pm.
Wednesday 3rd February 2016
Kelvedon, Tiptree and surrounding area
Mary’s Immaculate Church, Church Street, Kelvedon
Tuesday 9th February 2016
Harwich and surrounding areas
St Joseph’s Primary School, The Drive, Dovercourt
Tuesday 23rd February 2016
Frinton / Clacton and surrounding area
St Clare’s Primary School, Cloes Lane, Clacton
JOB ADVERTISEMENTS
Exam Invigilators
Casual
We are looking to appoint casual exam invigilators to join our team of staff that are committed to supporting our examination
processes. We are looking for individuals who:





are available to work in May and June on an ad-hoc basis around exams
are able to work individually and as part of a team
have good interpersonal skills
able to follow all instructions including those set by the exam boards
the reader/scribe role requires a good level of literacy skills and legible handwriting
The hours of work will be casual, Monday to Friday, and this will be required term time.
The pay band for the role is band 3 (scp 17), which is £9.00 per hour.
The governing body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all young people and expects all staff to
share that commitment. The successful applicant will be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service
check.
Applications will only be accepted on the college application form. We do not accept CVs.
For further details about the college please go to our website www.stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk. For an application pack,
please either contact Mrs Angela Jones HR Administrator: e-mail [email protected]; telephone 01206
549222, or down load the application form from our website, that can then be completed and emailed, or printed and
completed by hand.
The closing date for applications is 1st February 2016 (midday)
Interviews will be held week commencing 1st February 2016