World Book Day at Saint Benedict began with our traditional quiz, which this year was based on the popular TV show, Richard Osman’s House of Games. Form tutors and students had their competitive heads on, with a winning form from each year group receiving a prize.
And the winners were….
Year 7 – 7T Mrs Wallace
Year 8 – 8S – Mrs Bateman
Year 9 – 9C – Mrs Wilson
Year 10 – 10S – Mrs Bell
Year 11 – 110 – Mr Atkinson
Sixth Form – SF.AS Miss Slater
At breaks we ran a 50 pence book sale, giving students the opportunity to purchase books of interest or swap one of their own if they preferred. At the same time students had the opportunity to see their English teacher dressed as a well-known literary character – can you guess who?
The ‘We Are Writers’ 2023 book was launched on World Book Day, with a competition to design the cover open to all students. This opportunity was offered to students in their Art lessons and the winning entry will have their design featured on the cover and receive a complimentary copy. The standard of previous competition winners has been amazing, with one design chosen to advertise the ‘We Are Writers’ project nationally, so no pressure Mrs Snow and Mrs Wilson!
Students also had the opportunity to produce a piece of creative writing based on our mission statement, ‘Be who God meant you to be and you will set the word on fire,’ and entries will contribute to the book. In their English lessons, KS3 students focused on celebrating their identity, and KS4 students shared their dreams for the future. Later in the year, there will be an opportunity to purchase the book, which is filled with these stories, poetry and other interesting insights into the life and mind of a teenager. It is a valuable keepsake, allowing students to look back and reflect upon their writing in years to come. All students who submit a piece of writing will have their work published!
Dr T Burrell Mr K Greig
Librarian Head of KS 3 English
Saint Benedict is set to be either rebuilt or substantially refurbished as part of the Government’s School Rebuilding programme.
The school is on the list of 239 schools that will benefit, the Government has announced today (16.12.22).
The Government has said that it will address blocks in need of replacement or major refurbishment, which will be determined during a feasibility stage.
The new projects build on the 161 that have previously been announced, with construction works now nearing completion on the most advanced sites. It means in total, 400 out of 500 schools and sixth forms have now been selected for rebuilds through the 10-year School Rebuilding Programme.
Mrs Boyce said the news was a great boost for the school community.
She said: “We are delighted for everyone connected with the school after many years of campaigning and we are particularly pleased for our pupils, who deserve surroundings that match the excellent education and pastoral care that they receive at Saint Benedict.”
Saint John Houghton, in Ilkeston, and St Philip Howard, in Glossop, both part of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, have also been selected.
Kevin Gritton, Trust Chief Executive, said this was fantastic news for all three schools.
He said: “This really is amazing news, even more so as only 239 schools have been announced nationally for the project. This will be a massive boost for all three schools that have been selected and for their communities. We are delighted for them.”
A Sixth Form student at Saint Benedict has won one of the top prizes in a national essay writing competition.
Kinga Mierzejewska, in Year 13, entered the National College of Humanities essay writing competition and came third out of 500 entries. She won £250 and was offered the opportunity to visit the college in London.
The Sixth Form student decided to enter the competition after hearing about it through school.
She said: “There were eight essay titles to choose from and I chose the History one which was ‘How does humanity adapt to climate change?’. I thought I could link it to other subjects and research the different themes throughout history.
“When I entered the competition I didn’t expect to hear anything back, I just thought I would try it out. Then the college rang me and told me I’d come third and that they would like to meet me so I went to London. I was shocked but quite happy.
“I am not 100 per cent sure what I want to do next yet but I think I would like to go to university and study languages.”
Mrs Boyce congratulated Kinga on her achievement.
She said: “Kinga’s award is magnificent and a real reflection of her hard work and dedication. We are incredibly proud to have Kinga in our Sixth Form and know this is just the very beginning of her experiencing success – there is more to come for Kinga!”
A Saint Benedict student who was once told he would never walk or talk is celebrating after winning an award.
Noah Gash scooped the Inspirational Young Person Award at the Derby Youth Awards run by Derby City Council.
The award recognises a young person who has overcome a great barrier, or has shown great courage, becoming an inspirational role model to other young people within their community, or the city.
Noah was seriously ill from birth and spent a significant amount of time in hospital, where he was told he wouldn’t be able to walk or talk.
Now he attends mainstream school at Saint Benedict, is a sports leader and has completed his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award. He also volunteers on local litter picks due to his passion for the environment.
The 15-year-old said he was thrilled to win the award which was presented to him at a ceremony at Rolls-Royce Pavilion in Derby.
He said: “I found out I’d been nominated when my mum called me into the kitchen. I actually thought I was going to get into trouble but she told me I’d been nominated by school for an award. I felt so proud when I won, it was amazing. My mum and dad were really proud of me. I was really, really proud of myself.”
Noah’s mum Jo said he thoroughly deserved the award after everything he’d been through.
She said: “When Noah was born he had to be resuscitated and although we took him home, two weeks later he was diagnosed with suspected meningitis and was in hospital again. We came home after that and then he started vomiting and losing weight, this continued for a couple of months. He ended up spending four months in hospital because he was failing to thrive but they couldn’t find out what was wrong no matter what tests they did.
“One consultant told us he would never walk or talk and he was also diagnosed with dyspraxia. He saw a geneticist at Nottingham City Hospital and we found out that he had two chromosomal abnormalities.
“He would stop breathing in the night every so often and he needed specialist food and medication. He had physiotherapy and occupational therapy, he had splints and would fall over all of the time but we decided we would treat Noah just like our other children. He couldn’t talk for a long time and we used to sign with him. He went to a mainstream primary school and he has a real ‘can do’ attitude and wants the same things as everyone else does for their future.
“When it came to secondary school we looked at special schools but he did much better than expected in his SATs at primary school so came to Saint Benedict. He always takes part in the 1,200 metres at sports day and never loses. Noah’s sister Molly says that he is her hero.
“He was really excited when he won the award; he was just so happy and he was the most grateful recipient.”
Noah has a passion for the environment which comes from dad, Mark, who is an ecologist, and wants to inspire children across Saint Benedict.
The teenager, who is studying for his GCSEs, said: “I do assemblies and litter picks. We made bird feeders from plastic bottles and we have planted trees. I would like two students in each form to be able to plant a tree on school grounds, all the way from Year 7 to Year 13.”
Mrs Boyce said: “We are so proud of Noah for receiving this award. He is an inspirational pupil and contributes daily to the life of Saint Benedict Academy in all he does. I am confident Noah will go on to receive more awards and recognition for the work he does at other points in his education and life.”
Our Sixth Form Open Evening will take place on October 20 between 5-8pm.
We are holding tours for Year 6 parents and carers on Tuesday 11 October and Wednesday 19 October from 9.15 to 10am. Please click on the link to book https://bit.ly/3ymRK4e
Well done to the cast of our school show, Hairspray, who sang at the Commonwealth baton relay at Moorways Sports Village in Derby! The relay began in October 2021 and is on a route to visit all 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth.
Our Open Evening will take place on September 29th 2022 from 5 to 8pm. Our new Headteacher, Mrs Boyce, will give her address at 6pm and 7pm. We would love to see you there if your child is in Year 5 or Year 6 in September. Click on the image below to expand.
Congratulations to Ysabella in Year 8 who won Derby Schools Public Speaking Competition on Friday. Six of our students were also finalists in the city-wide competition.
Students worked with the Lost Boys Theatre Company and participated in a series of workshops before the competition. They then delivered their own speech and the winner, Ysabella, picked up a trophy in recognition of her efforts. Well done to everyone involved!
Year 8 students have been visiting their former primary schools in the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust to support Year 6 pupils with the transition process. Year 8 students were asked to write letters stating why they should be chosen to visit their old school and those selected have visited St Joseph’s, St George’s, St Alban’s, St Mary’s, St John Fisher and St Elizabeth’s. Mr Thornhill, Head of Year 8, said he was extremely proud of Year 8. Well done to everyone involved!
