STAC Newsletter Summer Term, Issue 5

ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE NEWS

Summer Term, Issue 5

Dear Parents/Guardians,

30 June 2023

The final half term is always exciting as there is a flurry of activity and this half term has not been any different. It was fantastic to see so many students enjoying their rewards trips and reaping the benefits of a year of hard work and excellent effort. It was wonderful to see Year 11 celebrate at their respective event.

Our Year 10s, 11s and 13s continue to impress us by their approach to their public examinations. It is clear that every student has worked incredibly hard and it has been pleasing to see them seeking help and maximising the support of their teachers. Year 10 have thrown themselves into their final rank exams and Year 12 into their crucial UCAS exams. As a school, we pray for exam success for all these pupils.

In addition, Year 10 and Year 12 have their careers and work experience week on the horizon, commencing the week of 10th July. Every student has met with a trained careers advisor and will either be on a work experience placement or undertake a series of activities organised by the school, including workplace and university visits. The week will culminate in Aspirations Evening, an event where Year 12s will network with a series of careers professionals.

Year 11 had their taster days for Sixth Form where students had the chance to ‘try’ before they commit to their final A-Level and BTEC choices on results day in August.

All in all, it continues to be an exciting jam-packed half term and I look forward to the upcoming events.

Thank you as always for your unwavering support and commitment to your child’s education.

YEAR 7 & 8 JUNIOR NBA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS!

(see article on page 11)

New Library

Works have begun for our new Library - Coming September 2023!

Feast Day of St Thomas the Apostle

On

Dear St. Thomas,

You were known as the doubter, but through your faith and belief in the Lord, you became one of the greatest apostles. Teach us to have the courage and determination to always question and seek truth, and to never lose faith in the love of our Lord.

We ask for your intercession and guidance as we strive to live our lives in the example of Jesus. Help us to be strong in our beliefs, to never waiver in the face of adversity, and to always stand up for what is right and just.

We pray for the grace and strength to follow in your footsteps, to be steadfast in our faith, and to always be witnesses to the love of our Lord.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Aspirations Evening

Aspirations Evening is taking place on Thursday 13th July. Feel free to share with any of your contacts, all industries are welcome! Please contact Miss Begum (s.begum1@stac.southwark.sch.uk) to confirm.

SSLP Woodlands Farm Trust Trip

On 27th June, a small group of students were selected to go on a trip to Woodlands Farm for a day focused on sustainability and orienteering. The students had a great day enjoying the great outdoors! Although only in Shooters Hill, the boys said that they felt like they were in the middle of nowhere and one even said that he “enjoyed it more than playing Fifa!”

Year 11 Prom

The day will be a memory lived with us Year 11s for the rest of our lives. An amazing, fun, exasperating experience which was a great way to enjoy ourselves at the end of a stressful GCSE period. We arrived at school by 8:15am and we went on the coach taking us to Orpington delta force paintball arena, everyone was enthusiastic to be able shoot each other and also the teachers. Upon arrival we wore our gear, and the rest was left on the battlefield, everyone shooting each other with no remorse but it was a very hot day, so energy ran out quickly. We were organised into different teams, and we partook in different games such as capture the flag and team deathmatch and I speak for everyone when I say it was a great experience. After we were taken back to school by coach where we were able to enjoy our final moments together as a year group through playing football in the pitch and basketball on the courts outside, but also relaxing before we were able to end such a wonderful day under the sun eating a delicious meal of chinese.

Duke of Edinburgh Gold Expedition

From the 15th to the 18th July two teams of six Year 12 students participated in the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Expedition. They camped out for three nights and walked through gruelling heat along overgrown paths in the back woods of Surrey. For what may have been the first time, the students had to fend for themselves, cooking hot meals, map reading around the beautiful countryside, managing the stresses and strains of walking with a heavy pack. Through these shared adversities the teams forged a tighter bond with each other, grew their comfort zones, and gained independence.

In the words of one of the participants:

"The DofE Expedition was an inspiring experience. Reading and understanding maps,the walking, the camp time. It let us step out of our comfort zone and try something utterly new. There were times where we would get lost but work it out together as a team and times when we all needed motivation to keep going. I think my group played a big part in keeping our motivation throughout the four days. We found ways to entertain ourselves on the walk and power through it such as the game wavelength. Also, the views were absolutely stunning, you'd have to see it for yourself. Overall, it was amazing and most definitely worth it”.

National Theatre Connections Festival 2023

For the last couple of months, since close to the beginning of the academic year a combination of Year 10 and 12 students have been working towards an incredible opportunity. The National Theatre Connections Festival 2023, whereby everyone who applies is given a play to do, from some well-known and upcoming playwrights. You may know that a famous play that comes from this festival is ‘DNA’, which the actress Claire Foy acted in the original production of a group that won as a character named Jan. So how superb is it that our school took part in such a monumental festival. Our school and other companies got the play ‘Model Behaviour’, by Jon Brittain, our school did a performance to some students, parents and teachers in our school. Later on, to go to a theatre and perform for some judges. Fortunately, we later found out that our school won and would perform this play at the National Theatre, alongside other schools and companies, performing other plays.

On Friday 23rd June 2023 at 7:00pm, at the Dorfman Theatre at the National Theatre, some of our schools students from Year 10 & 12 performed. In attendance, were many students from the school as well as teachers, from different subjects for support and encouragement as well as our Headteacher, Mr Connolly and some other members of SLT.

The cast: Kaisen Anderson, Eryn Atror, Temi Fagbaye, Milo Gray, Nabila Karim, Ruby Nganga, Osas Obasuyi-Enehikhare, Joshua Ogundeyin and Ericka Ramos.

Alongside: Miss. Biggs (Director), Mr. Anderson (Assistant Director), Josh-Moses Amasse (Lighting), Aaron Bony (Sound).

This group of students and teachers have worked exceptionally well, they had a standing ovation from a packed audience, many of the audience members congratulating them for committing countless hours to this project, whilst juggling their exams effectively. Every single student went onto the stage and gave it their absolute best and truly more. Our drama teachers did a fantastic job and they truly deserve the greatest amount of our appreciation. I am so proud to be an expressive arts prefect, and be surrounded by the most talented, hard-working students and teachers. This was an incredible achievement that all involved will never forget. In addition, one which I will never forget, as I saw the passion and friendships which grew from such an incredible experience that so little people only get once. I truly look forward to the future expressive arts opportunities which are yet to come. I also hope to see more of these exceptional actresses and actors and I can imagine many of you are also!

Do be sure, we will let you know about any future opportunities and our students work. We encourage more students to involve themselves within all expressive arts opportunities. Once again thank you for all the support given, Miss. Biggs and Mr. Anderson, the crew Josh and Aaron. Most of all also the incredible and phenomenal cast who have poured countless hours, rehearsals, learning and co-operating with each other to produce a successful result. Lastly, we thank the National Theatre for allowing our school to be apart of such an incredible experience.

Teachers Triumph over Students in Netball Showdown

The highly anticipated netball match between the teachers and the students took place on Wednesday 21st June. The sports hall was filled with excitement and anticipation as both teams were determined to showcase their skills on the court and claim victory.

The game commenced with an impressive display of enthusiasm and energy from both sides. The teachers, composed of the school's dedicated educators, demonstrated their wealth of experience and expertise in the sport. They swiftly established control over the game, exhibiting excellent passing and seamless teamwork. The students, however, showcased their youthful agility and unwavering determination. Their speed and quick reflexes enabled them to put up a fierce fight against their mentors. The match became intense, with both teams scoring goals in rapid succession.

As the game entered its final minutes, the teachers held onto a narrow lead, while the students relentlessly pursued victory. The atmosphere was electric as both teams pushed their limits, displaying an unwavering determination to secure a win.

In the end, the match concluded with the teachers emerging as the victorious team. Their wealth of experience, strategic gameplay, and exceptional teamwork proved to be the decisive factors. Nonetheless, the students deserved commendation for their spirited performance, challenging their mentors throughout the game.

SIXTH FORM NEWS

The

Crucible at the Gielgud Theatre

On Monday 12th June, Year 12 English Literature students went to see The Crucible at the Gielgud Theatre.

Set in the rigid confines of Salem, Massachusetts, during the infamous witch trials of the late 17th century, The Crucible explores the destructive power of hysteria, fear, and manipulation.

The cast was excellent breathing life into the multifaceted characters that populate Salem. The women accused of witchcraft, portrayed with haunting conviction, evoke both sympathy and fear as they face an unjust and merciless society. The young girls, central to the events that unfold, exhibit a chilling mix of innocence and malice, expertly conveying the destructive consequences of manipulation and collective hysteria.

The Crucible at the Gielgud Theatre is an enthralling theatrical experience that challenges and provokes its audience. By exploring themes of mass hysteria, individual integrity, and the dangers of unchecked authority, this production’ s ending was especially chilling. With its stellar performances, captivating staging, and powerful storytelling, The Crucible is a must-see for both theatre enthusiasts and those seeking a gripping exploration of the human condition.

Impacting our Community

Ruben David Buendia in Year 13 is taking his future into his own hands and standing as a candidate for the Green Party in a forthcoming by-election.

Please use the link below to access the newspaper article.

https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/teenage-green-party-candidate-plansfight-against-tragic-effects-of-regeneration/

Good luck from all at STAC!

Homework Update

We are proud to celebrate the outstanding commitment to homework that so many of our students exemplify. The names of students who have received achievement points for excellent homework are listed below, well done to all of you!

Year 7: Year 8: Year 9: Year 10:

Year 8 Table Tennis

Year 8 had their table tennis house event on the 14th June and with 25 students in attendance it was a tough competition and the battle to make it to the semi final proved challenging. The students were perfectly behaved throughout and worked hard to support their peers when Gonzalo, Aaron, Alfie and Princeike made it through to the semi-final. The final game between Prinkeike and Robert was extremely tense, but it was Princeike (Griffith) that won the competition, beating Robert 11-8.

Year 12 Badminton

Year 12 had their badminton house event on the 23rd of June and playing a ‘King/Queen of the Court’ style game provided a competitive and tense game. The students were perfectly behaved throughout and worked hard beat their peers off the top court, with Ben Mehmet making his way up from the very bottom to the top in the tense final. It was a close match between Ben, Chris and Mariam for the top spot, but it was Mariam who stole the show and won the final game, earning 400 points for Gunstone.

The House Team

Sociology Book Club

In Sociology book club we have been reading Cows, Pigs, War and Witches: The Riddles of Culture by Marvin Harris for the last few months, and it has been a wonderfully immersive activity whereby students who study Sociology have had the opportunity to dive into context relevant to their subject. It has been a delightfully entertaining experience through and through as we have had many open discussions on the book, linking it to our previous knowledge of the subjects as well as learning a vast range of new topics and ideas that lead into our next academic year. Through this opportunity, we have been able to learn how to elaborate our ideas as well as link them together serving as a useful tool for not only our studies but discussion and debates.

Attending the Sociology book club helped solidify my knowledge of what was being taught to me in class. It has been very enjoyable since I was surrounded by peers who also had a keen interest in Sociology and the book we were reading. Seeing how I could link ideas in the book to content being learnt in the present really helped boost my confidence for exams as it relates well to a technique used for evaluation in 30 markers called analysing significance. By being given an opportunity to delve into a super curricular, I was able to solidify the idea that I would love to continue learning about Sociology in higher education.

Back to Back Champions

Year 7 & 8 Junior NBA Basketball Winners!

Back to back Champions!

Well done to both Year 7 and Year 8 basketball team securing the gold by winning the Jr NBA tournament last week.

The Year 7s proved dominant over the course of the whole day, defeating The Norwood School 31-7 in the Conference Finals and defeating perennial winners Christ School from Richmond 40-25 in the Jr NBA Finals.

For the Year 8s, there was more pressure to bring home the gold, due to their agonising loss last year to Ark Globe by 1 point but were now expected to win it all having knocked them out in the earlier rounds. However, the group showed why they are one of the best teams in London defeating South London rivals Harris Crystal Palace 25-22 and finally dominating the Jr NBA finals with a 40-19 victory against Lampton School.

Well done to all the players who continued to show up for early morning practices and execute everything that was taught!

Check out their Championship rings!

St Thomas the Apostle College

Extra-Curricular Timetable 2022-23

St Thomas the Apostle College

Extra-Curricular Timetable 2022-23

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

AFTER SCHOOL

Whole school musical theatre show rehearsals

15:15 – 16:15

Drama Studio

KS3 Geography Club

15:00-15:50

G26

KS4 DT Intervention Club

15:00-15:50 G81

Art KS4 coursework refinement & examination skills

15:00-15:50

G76

Girls Choir

3:30-4:15 G63

Whole school musical theatre show rehearsals

15:15 – 16:15

Drama Studio

KS3 Art Club

15:00-15:50

G81

KS3 Fourth Plinth Art Competition

15:00-15:50

G80

Y7 & 8 Design Club

15:00-15:50 G76

STEM Science Club

15:00-16:00pm G11

Electronic engineering

All years

Yr 7 & Yr 8

Programming in Python

G61

Yr 7 & Yr 8

Programming in Python G61

Tennis Club

15:30-16:30

Butterfly Tennis Club

Roll of Honour

YEAR 7

Chidubem Chima, Akinsola Akinremi, Jayden Barker, Prince-Mikhael Dombo, David Okebu, Qoyhum Onafowokan, Sidney Peacock, Ibrahim Bah, Mark Moigura, Olaoluwa Olapido & Serhii Mykhailevych: For excellent effort in French.

YEAR 8

John-Paul Hughes, Joshua Etemewei, Bossenu Bonga, Odianose Alenkhe, Jordan Benjamin, Judah David-Olaleye, Myley Larbi, Joshua Layzell & Yohannes Odero: For excellent effort in French.

Olorunsogo Balogun, Daniel Bediako, Muhammad Kolawole, Mosolade Owoeye & Ola Shekioni: For outstanding effort in RE.

YEAR 9

Ebubechukwu Unegbu, Curtis Kehiakehi Junior, Elliot Davis, Shadrack Ertl & Ezra Thompson: For excellent effort in French.

Oliver De Sousa, Ainsley Guure, Jacob Martin, Ola Oriekun, Kofi Tanoh, Ayibaemi Igali, Joel Amaechi & Samuel Akinyemi: For outstanding effort in RE.

YEAR 10

Jayden Adjei, Samuel Agunbiade, Thieri Dom-Wilkinson, Joshua Porter, Jonathan Obeng & Daniel Manu-Nations: For excellent effort in French.

YEAR 12

Mariam Oderinde, Jeremiah Fayeye, Afolabi Akinsanya, Elizabeth Adekoya, Princess Mansaray, Tego Porcu, Angel Otobo & Shanei Pringle: For achieving an A* in recent Psychology assessment.

Best Attendance—Tutor Groups

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in our school is the responsibility of the whole school community. All adults working in this School (including visiting staff, volunteers and students on placement) are required to report instances of actual or suspected child abuse or neglect to the Designated Safeguarding Lead who is a member of the school’s leadership team.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is: Mr C. Smart, Deputy Headteacher

c.smart@stac.southwark.sch.uk tel: 0207 639 0106 ext 2149

The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are: Miss C. Rodin, Assistant Headteacher

c.rodin@stac.southwark.sch.uk tel: 0207 639 0106 ext 2143

Miss C. Crompton, Head of Inclusion/SENCO

c.crompton@stac.southwark.sch.uk tel: 0207 639 0106 ext 2139