Final Newsletter Oct 2020

October 2020

The Heart of It

A Letter from Ms Qurrey

Dear Parents, school are warm, vibrant,
articulate, funny and caring.
Ms V. Qurrey, Headteacher Every day, they show their faith
of Sacred Heart of Mary and their care for others; they
Girls’ School really epitomise the prayer of St
Teresa of Avila being Christ’s Body
As this half term draws to a close, I on earth today.
wanted to share with you some
reflections on my first half term as Although the half-term has been a
Headteacher of Sacred Heart of Mary quieter one, the girls still have
Girls’ School. shown that they are following the
School Mission Statement and are
It has been an interesting half-term, ensuring that others “may have
with school being very different to what life”. Two of these girls are the first
staff and pupils have been used to – but two recipients of the ‘Headteacher
now feeling incredibly ‘normal’! Award’: Apolline Hastings, of Year
11, for receiving her award for
I have been overwhelmed with the love, coming second in the Havering
warmth and kindness that I have been ‘Speak Out Challenge’ for her
greeted with from pupils, parents, staff eloquent and heartfelt speech on
and Governors alike. The girls of this period poverty.

Secondly, Isabel Hegarty, of Year 8, was The staff have been incredible this
presented with the Headteacher’s half-term: they have welcomed me
Award for her fundraising in with open arms and have helped
lockdown, raising £400 for the local me to try to “learn the ropes”; they
food bank. She is such an example have continued to support your
of ensuring that others “may have children and show them care, love,
life’’ compassion and rigour. I cannot
thank each and every one of them
During this half-term, I have met all enough for their warmth and
of Year 11 to talk to them about the kindness to me.
school, what they like (the roast
dinners!) and if we could do anything One of our community, Mrs Dunne,
differently. They have articulated is leaving this half-term after eight
clearly, in those conversations, how years as part of the Sacred Heart
much they value the staff here and family. I want to thank her for all
how well they feel cared for and well that she has done for the pupils
taught by them. during her time here. We wish her
every blessing in her new role.

We have had to learn to do things As we come to half-term, I ask you
differently this term through for your prayers for our community,
expanding our use of Google that we all remain safe and are able
Classroom, online virtual assemblies, to come back together fully as a
online parent sessions and an online whole school community again
prospectus. If you have not already soon.
seen the latter, please watch the
Year 7 main school prospectus - the God Bless
girls, as ever, shine:
Ms V Qurrey
Year7_full_film.mp4
Headteacher

Year 7

Settling in to School

Year 7 have made an excellent start to their time at Sacred Heart of Mary Girls’ School: they
have had the opportunity to participate in a rich and broad curriculum, including lessons
such as Food and Nutrition and Design and Technology, and they have also been getting
used to different teachers. Moreover, the girls have been making new friends and have
enjoyed socialising with people from other primary schools at break and lunch time.

A Word from Mrs
Presland

Head of Year 7

I asked Year 7 what they have
particularly enjoyed so far and they
mentioned:

★ new lessons, including DT, Art, PE,

Music and Computing (to name a
few);

★ making new friendships and

improving on previous ones;

★ getting to know the teachers and

staff, who have helped them settle
in;

★ gaining independence.

School Council
Representatives

A huge congratulations to the School Council candidates who stood for
election this academic year. In some year groups, the results were tied
and, therefore, two representatives have been elected. The elected pupils,
who are our new School Council Representatives for 2019-2020, are:

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9

Lauren Felton-Marsden (7R) Amelie Downey (8R) Emily Lowrie (9L)
and Amy Wallace (7W)
Year 10 Year 11
Year 10

Amelia Harvey (10T) Molly Canty (10R) Isabella Licenziato (11T)

Intermediate Biology Olympiad

The Intermediate Biology Olympiad is a competition that is open to
students around the world. It tests students’ biology knowledge and
encourages them to continue studying the biosciences beyond school.

The 2020 competition took place between the 2nd-9th June, 2020, and,
this year, over 8500 students worldwide participated in the event. This
year, despite completing the timed, online examination at home during
the challenge of lockdown, the Biology teachers were able to supervise
the thirty-six students remotely - with some outstanding results. Very well
done, girls. We are very proud of your motivation to strive to achieve
your best - despite the situation in which we found ourselves.

Gold Award Silver Award Bronze Award Bronze Award

Hannah Chesher Aimee Usher Olivia Cottenham Victoria Jinadu

Bronze Award Bronze Award Bronze Award Bronze Award

Lauren Moore Molly Choukah Leah Mortimer Alannah Stewart

Highly Commended Commended

Damini Jha Junayna Ahmed
Stella Olubode Ada Okuguni
Alex Dare Lucy Copping
Roisin James Harriet Manger
Megan Williams

The Jack Petchey

Achievement Awards

Jan-June 2020

As a school, we are lucky enough to receive nine Jack Petchey awards a year. The
nominations are usually from students and staff and, if we receive more than one
nomination per month, we then let the School Council decide who is the most worthy
award winner.

Each award recipient receives a certificate, a pin badge and a £250 grant to spend within
the school. Under normal circumstances, the pupil would receive their award during a
full school assembly so that the whole school community can celebrate such a wonderful
achievement. The winner is then invited to an annual Awards’ Evening at The Queen’s
Theatre so that they can celebrate with their families and gain further recognition within
the borough for their achievements. The winners this year are...

Eliora Igori Isabella Uddin Emily Schrier

“Eliora is one of the most selfless “Isabella has displayed “Emily is one of the most
people you will ever meet; she is perseverance and diligence in conscientious, polite and giving
kind, helpful and a pleasure to working towards her D of E pupils I have ever taught.”
be around.” award…”
Tia Solay
Daniela Almeida Hazel Pontin

“Daniella has shown that she has “Hazel always looks on the bright “We would like to nominate Tia for
been able to successfully juggle side of life; she has bundles of her excellent entrepreneurship
the demands of her school work energy and always makes people and cake decorating skills.”
with her passion for cooking.” feel happy.”

We also receive one leadership award each year which is nominated by the students. We are
currently waiting to hear if our leader nomination has been successful.

Scholarships Awarded Introducing the
new Head Girl
Congratulations to five Financial Studies
students who were awarded £500 each Team

Many congratulations to our new
Head Girl, Hannah Chesher, plus
her three deputies - Grace Baker,
Alex Ukah and Emmie Peterson -
on their appointment.

On Thursday 15th October, Freddie McCann -
from the London Institute of Banking and
Finance - presented scholarships to five of
our students to support further study in the
subject. Pictured with Freddie (from right to
left) are: Charlotte Bradley (Grade A*); Hannah
Beesley (Grade A); Olivia Kelly (Grade A); Abbie
Stokes (Grade A); Tia Wilson-Coles (Grade A -
absent).

(From left to right: Grace Baker; Alex Ukah;
Hannah Chesher; Emmie Peterson)

We would like to take this
opportunity to say a heartfelt
‘thank you’ to the outgoing Head
Girl Team of Victoria Aliu plus her
two deputies, Naga Egharevba
and Sadie French, who have
represented the school
magnificently during the past year.

Freddie McCann also spoke to the Year 13
girls about the possibilities of pursuing a
degree and/or career in banking with an
informative and engaging presentation.

Speak Out Challenge Gardening Club

Last year’s Gardening Club are
pleased to announce the arrival of
their final crop of 2020 - a small,
but perfectly formed, pumpkin -
outside ‘D’ block.

Apolline Hastings (11R) competed in the Fingers crossed that we’ll be able
Havering and Essex Final of the ‘Speak to get back to gardening soon!
Out’ challenge this term and came
second overall - winning a trophy, World Mental
certificate and £50 gift voucher. Her Health Day
speech was entitled “The Consequences
of Period Poverty” and she spoke of her ‘World Mental Health Day’ was
incredibility that, in 2020, girls and young celebrated on Saturday, 10th
women are still missing out on education October and all staff attended a
and opportunities because of their training session about mental
periods and not being able to afford health in young people on
sanitary products. Her speech was very Friday, 9th October. If you are
powerful and the judges were impressed concerned about how everyday
with how articulate and passionate she issues, such as exam stress, may
was. A very big well done and be affecting your child, visit
congratulations. https://charliewaller.org/resourc
es.
Miss Joyce

Duke of Edinburgh

DoE Silver Expedition DoE Bronze First Aid
Success Training

The final silver group successfully On the 9th October, the first group of
completed their silver expedition, bronze Duke of Edinburgh participants
over the weekend of 17th October, in attended a one day Emergency First Aid
Danbury and the surrounding area. at Work course with a qualified first aid
instructor. First aid training is part of
Well done, girls! Keeping the mask their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh
on was tough going when walking for expedition training and, at SHOM, we
seven hours! give the participants the opportunity to
achieve an accredited level 3 award
(EFAW). This qualification lasts for three
years.

We have purchased new manikins to
enable 1:1 student to manikin ratio for
CPR practice and provided a pack of
resources for each individual student for
relevant practical sessions and a
training manual.

The participants completed a practical
and written exam at the end of the day.

Music Department Announcement

I am delighted to inform you
that we are able to offer
instrumental music lessons
for your daughter on site from
2nd November 2020. We have
taken extra measures to
ensure social distancing in
music practice rooms in order
to safely accommodate
lessons.

Why should my daughter

learn to play an instrument?

There are huge benefits to

learning a musical instrument.

It is well documented that

pupils who learn musical

instruments thrive

academically. Participation in

music broadens students’

range of desirable For instrumental tuition packages with
click here.
transferable skills in the
For singing tuition packages with Rachele Russell,
workplace, and music plays a click here.

critical role in maintaining

good mental health.

November: The Month of the Holy Souls

Unfortunately, we cannot hold our annual Mass of
Remembrance for deceased relatives and friends this
year. Instead, we will be having a virtual whole school
Liturgy to pray for the dead.

If you wish us to pray for a recently deceased friend or
member of your family, please email their full name to
Mrs Higgins – [email protected]. They will
be prayed for in this liturgy.

Face Shields made for New School
Frontline Staff Office Unveiled

The Design & Technology Department has
produced a fantastic 2500 face shields - made
since the start of lockdown.

During lockdown, the Design & Technology team The entrance to the school
used the time to make a gift of face shields for has been transformed due to
front line staff across the community. A wide range the addition of a new school
of people were helped, including school staff, office.
hospital staff (such as doctors and nurses), GPs
and receptionists, funeral directors, pharmacists, The building works were able
hospice staff, paramedics, dialysis patients, to take place as a result of
community nurses, cancer carers, nursing home securing CIF (Condition
staff, foodbank volunteers, underground staff, bank Improvement Funding) from
staff and community groups. the government and, although
construction was delayed due
The Design & Technology staff would like to thank to lockdown, the office was
everyone in the school community who donated completed in time for the girls’
money to cover the cost of the materials. We return to school in September.
couldn't have helped as many people without your
kindness; you really have made a difference.

Sports News

Interhouse

Pupils are currently taking part in an interhouse relay during their PE
lessons.

The current results are:

1st place Year 7 Year 8
2nd place Thanet Lindisfarne
3rd place Lindisfarne Rievaulx
4th place Whitby Thanet
Rievaulx Whitby

Present standings are: Lindisfarne
Thanet
1st place Rievaulx
2nd place Whitby
3rd place
4th place

Good luck to Years 9-10 in their relay races. Results will be added up and
announced in the next newsletter.

Careers Corner

Our Employment Group - which is designed for Year 13 pupils who are looking to go
straight into either the working world, apprenticeships or combined degree
apprenticeships - has had a busy start. We rely on our SHOM Community of past
pupils to return back to deliver a session on their life and own experience in the
working world. The schedule for this term is listed below.

September October November December

Session 1 What is an Guest Speaker Guest Speaker Guest Speaker
Apprenticeship?
via Zoom via Zoom

Sophie Rand David Megan Anna
Baumslag/ Amy Fleary

Fryer

TfL Bank of Solutions
Apprenticeship England Consultant
Apprenticeship Sales Force
opportunites opportunities

Session 2 Training schemes Guest Speaker Guest Speaker Workshop
available to school Molly Curling Microsoft
Freddie
leavers McCann Teams

London BP Energy
Institute of
Banking and

Finance

Session 3 CV Workshop Guest Speaker Guest Speaker Managing
Tara Martin Olivia George Apprenticeship

applications

Sky Lloyds Bank
Apprenticeship
opportunities

We would be very pleased to hear from any parents who work in Human Resources or
Media, Marketing, Advertising or any other creative industry, and who would be

prepared to come in and speak to the girls about their role and/or industry. Please
contact [email protected].

PTFA

You could be the next winner! Unfortunately, due to lockdown, the
Spring Fayre had to be cancelled.
Pay £10 per month to enter the monthly draw However, the PTFA are hoping to
The winner takes 25% of the total membership fee taken that month host another event - a quiz night -
at the beginning of December.
The remaining 75% goes to the school
If all 500 memberships were taken, the winning ticket would Friday, 4th December

Win up to £1250 each month Virtual Quiz Night

March 2020 Recent Winning Numbers £473.75 Coming Soon
April 2020 Winning Number 121 £442.50 £5 per family
May 2020 Winning Number 43 £440
June 2020 Winning Number 250 £435 (Payment soon to be available on
July 2020 Winning Number 84 £425 www.scopay.com)
August 2020 Winning Number 178 £422.50
Winning Number 228

Cost free ways to support the Can you help?
PTFA Fundraising efforts

The PTFA officers held a virtual

You could raise meeting last week, where they met

free donations Many companies offer with Ms Qurrey, to brainstorm
employees the chance to
whenever you boost their fundraising much-needed fundraising
efforts by 'matching' the
shop online: all money they raise. It really is ideas/activities. If anyone has any
money for nothing, and we
you need to do could double the amount of suggestions for fundraising events
cash we raise with very little
is register at effort. If your company offers that could be held during the
this scheme, would you
https://www.easy please contact the PTFA current climate, please email
Chairperson, Kerry Jones, at
fundraising.org. [email protected] [email protected].

uk/invite/XCV46;

the shop then

turns a If you are able to help, a £5
donation to the PTFA is available
percentage of
on Scopay.
what you spend

into a donation

for the PTFA.

Google Classroom The School Fund
Thank you...

...to all families who have either
already paid this year’s School Fund
contribution in full or who have
started making regular instalments
via ScoPay. Your prompt payment
really does make a difference.

Do you want to support your daughter As you are aware, school finances are
with Google Classroom but don’t know
in crisis and we, like other schools,
where to start?
rely on our School Fund, other
Click here to access the parent help
booklet that will help you navigate your fundraising and personal

way around Google. contributions to survive.

Is your daughter struggling to upload School Fund is £100 per family per
work or not sure how to use the Google year and is available to pay on
Scopay as either a one-off payment
Suite? or in instalments to suit your
personal circumstances.
Click here to find the students’ guide to
Google Classroom.

Scopay Schoolcomms

The Cashless Payment System The School-Home
Communication System
which provides a faster, more efficient and
convenient way to pay for school meals, which provides a faster, more efficient and
school trips etc. convenient way to receive messages from

Please ensure that you regularly update the school.
your child’s account
If you would like to receive messages
so there is sufficient money available to pay electronically, and are not yet doing so,
for school meals and other payments.
please contact Mrs Lefevre:
Any queries, please phone Mrs Jones or Mrs
[email protected]
Kearney in the Finance Office on 01708

222660. https://www.scopay.com

Key Dates for Next Half Term

Some events may be subject to change, so please continue to check the online school
calendar.

Monday - 26th October Half Term
Friday 30th October
Year 7 and Year 12 Parents’ Transition
Monday - 2nd November Discussions with HOY and Form Tutors
Friday 6th November
Deadline for payment of School Fund
Friday 6th November
7L Retreat with Walsingham House Team
Monday 9th November
7R Retreat with Walsingham House Team
Tuesday 10th November
7T Retreat with Walsingham House Team
Wednesday 11th November
7W Retreat with Walsingham House Team
Thursday 12th November
Year 13 Virtual Careers Information
Monday 16th November Evening for Parents (access the
presentation online)
Thursday 19th November
Virtual launch of application process for
Monday From 23rd Year 11 Students and Parents re: Sixth
November Form Courses

Monday 23rd November Year 11 Mock GCSE Examinations

Wednesday 25th November Year 13 Parents’ Evening TBC

Wednesday 16th December Virtual Support Session for Year 10
Parents re: Mental Health & Wellbeing in
Friday 18th December Young People / Coping with GCSEs

7:00-8:00pm Carol Service at St Joseph’s
Parish Church TBC

End of term - 12:45pm dismissal