St. Cuthbert’s RC Business and Enterprise College

An image of the completed project at St Cuthbert’s

We are preparing for Mission Week in school on 21-25 October when we will be celebrating our faith in a variety of ways and are challenged to respond to Jesus’ question to St Peter, “Who do you say I am?” During the week, pupils will have the opportunity to meet and talk to representatives from The Columban Missionaries, CAFOD, Springhill Hospice and Rochdale Food Bank about their vital work.

On Monday, everyone is invited to take part in a Shared Harvest soup meal lunch when we donate what we would normally spend on lunch to CAFOD and have a bowl of soup and bread roll instead. In lessons, each department will be focusing on how their particular subject brings our faith alive.

Pupils will also have the opportunity to be involved in a faith graffiti art project and work with Square One dance crew. Our pupil media team will be filming all the activities and interviewing pupils and staff. On Friday each year group will meet for prayers and celebration, prepared by our pupil liturgy team.

On Friday, the Creators Group launched this year’s Operation Christmas Child shoebox appeal in Year 7 assembly. They showed a short film and gave a presentation about how receiving a shoe box of Christmas gifts brings joy to the lives of many suffering children and young people in the world. On Tuesday our Chaplaincy Team, including members of the Creators Group, met to discuss plans for Mission Week, our advent appeals and the way forward for Pupil Chaplaincy.

Mass is celebrated weekly in the chapel on Wednesday lunchtime by Fr. Martin Collins. This week the readings and prayers were led by 10.6.

As you may be aware, Rochdale Council last year withdrew the full discretionary bus travel subsidy bringing to an end free bus passes for pupils who live three miles of more from school. The school is pleased to announce that the Governors of St Cuthbert’s have secured funding to fund a full restoration of this subsidy. Headteacher Dr Meehan said “This is excellent news and will support St. Cuthbert’s in continuing to deliver Catholic education to the community of Rochdale”. Further details will be provided once the policy and logistics have been fully completed.

The latest edition of St. Cuthbert’s News is now available to read online at www.scrchs.com/about-us/. If you would like a paper copy then please contact the school. The newsletter contains lots of articles about the wide variety of activities the pupils at St. Cuthbert’s experience during their time at school.

Pupils this week applied to become members of Debate Mate, a national debating competition. Pupils had to answer two questions on why they wanted to join and what skills they could offer. A decision on who made the team will be made next week.
The school production of Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat finally arrived. The shows took place this week on Thursday, Friday and tonight. It was a fantastic production and credit must go to all the talented young people who made the show what it was. A big thank you to all the staff who gave up countless hours in preparation. A special mention to the Year 5 pupils from the partner primaries who watched the dress rehearsal on Tuesday. We hope you enjoyed it. A detailed review will be published in the Christmas edition of St. Cuthbert’s News.

A reminder that the deadline for applications to start at St. Cuthbert’s next academic year is 31 October 2013. Applications can be made online at http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/schools_and_children/school_admissions.aspx

Attendance Challenge

Miss Walker and form 7.5 - Weekly attendance 98.6%
Mrs Machen and form 8.1 - Weekly attendance 99.2%
Mrs Allen and form 9.2 - Weekly Attendance 100%

The form with the best attendance at the end of the term will celebrate with breakfast together.

100% Attendance draw – You have to be in it to win it! Well done to the following pupils whose vivo accounts have been credited:

Year 7 Emily Binns form 7.2
Year 8 Jakub Tracz form 8.7
Year 9 Hannah Sutherland form 9.5

Year 7 Pastoral parents evening is on Thursday 7 November 4pm – 7pm, please remind your child to make an appointment with their form tutor.

Our theme for this half term is welcome and new beginnings. This week’s enterprise word was decision making.

Our Saint of the week was Saint Luke. Saint Luke is one of the Four Evangelists and the writer of one of the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles. It contains stories of 6 miracles and 18 parables which are not found in the other Gospels. Forgiveness and God’s mercy towards sinners are important in Luke’s Gospel, as is Jesus’ love of the poor. He also tells us of events in Mary’s life that are not found elsewhere. He is the patron of doctors, surgeons and painters.