The first term of the year is drawing to a close and so much has been achieved by staff and students. Our students have been very busy, sitting their AP1 exams, masterclasses and revision sessions with great focus and a calm approach. They have attended various workshops provided by external providers on Poetry, English Literature/Language, Road Safety as well as numerous careers and apprenticeship workshops from Arsenal FC, Allen & Overy, the NHS and HB Reavis.
With Advent in full swing, Catholic Life retreats for the Sixth Form have taken place, Remembrance Day celebrations, Carol singing at Tesco and numerous fundraising events for our Advent charities including the Catholic Children’s Society, Hackney Food Bank, St Vincent Charity shop, The Passage and CAFOD.
You will be aware that our own Ms John won the Future Ed Award for Mentor of the Year which is a tremendous and long overdue recognition of over two decades of service to our young people here at Cardinal Pole Catholic School. A truly deserved accolade!
Students are now reaping the benefits of all their hard work over the past few weeks with reward trips and treats taking place this week for all year groups including bowling, the cinema, a Christmas market trip to Lille, a Carol Service, Christmas Jumper Day and a fully funded Christmas lunch. These experiences and events are not possible without the support and enthusiasm of our staff and I am sure you will join me in thanking them. I also wish to thank you for all the support you have provided us this term. Our community is truly a joint partnership between home and school. I wish you, your family and all who are dear to you a most blessed and Holy Christmas.
Yours in service,
ADAM HALL
HEADTEACHER
Ms John was nominated for the Mentor of the Year Award at the prestigious Future ED Awards. It is with great pleasure and enormous pride that I share with you the news that she won! This is a tremendous recognition of over two decades of incredible service to the young people of Cardinal Pole Catholic School.
Ms John joined the school in the year 2000. During her time here, she has mentored a vast number of students across all year groups. Ms John is a member of our in-house Wellbeing and Mental Health Team, and works tirelessly to help and support our students to thrive and SOAR; a wonderful and truly deserved accolade.
Author Visit - Laura Dockrill
Our Year 8 and 9 students enjoyed fantastic workshops with top Young Adult Author and Memoirist, Laura Dockrill, who encouraged us to think about the stories that we have within us and taking care of our mental health.
Year 12 Volunteering - Chats Lunch Club
At the beginning of November, our Year 12 students attended the Chats Lunch Club to serve lunch to members of the local community.
Cardinal Pole Poetry Anthology
We launched our "Cardinal Pole x First Story Anthology", which features work written by our gifted students in Years 8-11.
A big thanks to Mr Gee who held writing workshops after school for several months last year. Copies are available in our Library.
Rewards Trip
All year groups were rewarded this term with the chance to go bowling or to the cinema! Students and staff had a great time celebrating the successes of the term.
Charity Giving
Year 7s were very generous with their donations to the Catholic Children’s Society (CCS) toiletries drive and brought in over 80 items. A group of students also helped to load up our donations in the pickup car and greeted our CCS outreach volunteer.
Liturgies
To finish our school term with worship on the last day all year groups celebrated with a liturgy. Students from the drama club performed a Spoken Word of the nativity story and a group of students sang ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’. We reflected on the greatest gift God has for us this Christmas season, which is to simply spend time with Him above all else.
Carol Singing
To fundraise for their year group Charity, Years 7 and 8 fundraised at Tesco singing Carols for the local community!
Year 7 Carol Service
The Year 7 sang beautifully during the annual Year 7 Christmas Carol Service, it was a highlight of the Advent season it was wonderful to hear the 200 voices of staff, students and parents praising the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Lord thank you for our first school term,
for all the experiences and joys.
During our Christmas break,
help us to simplify our activities,
so we can rest well and focus on our celebration of Your son’s birth.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
What a great term! Many ways that we as a school community served each other and grew closer to the Lord. As we dive into the Christmas break let us remember God showed us this love to us by sending His only Son into the world. I will be praying for the school community this Christmas season. May you have a joy-filled break and may the good Lord bless you all.
Kimberley Fernandes (School Chaplain)
Contact US
Website: https://www.cardinalpole.co.uk/
Location: 205 Morning Ln, London E9 6LG, UK
Phone: 020 8985 5150