On Friday 1st December 2023 the Year 12 Finance and Year 13 Business students visited the Bank of England.

The trip allowed them to gain a greater understanding of the role of the Bank of England and what they do to help support and manage the UK economy.

They had a talk which outlined the history of the Bank of England, followed by a tour around the Bank of England Museum. The students were astonished how money and banking had changed over time and enjoyed being able to take their learning from the classroom into the real world.

Students showed great enthusiasm asking some insightful questions, showcasing their knowledge and understanding of what we are currently studying. The students also engaged in a range of activities, including trying to manage the rate of inflation for the UK economy and competing to pick up a real gold bar weighing 13kg.

The students took particular interest in the ‘Slavery and the Bank’ exhibition, where they were able to look into the role the bank had in the slave trade. They were touched to see the names of the slaves taken displayed and honoured as well writing their own touching messages to contribute to the cause. The students had a wonderful day being in the city and bringing their learning to life.

The maths team have launched a half termly celebration of our maths students, to honour their hard work and dedication over the course of the year.

We are happy to announce this half-term’s nominations for “Mathematician of the moment”.

Every student has a chance to be nominated by their teachers. The teacher’s will be looking for acts of high effort, progress and going the extra mile in and out of the maths classroom.

Congratulations to this half terms students:

Jay, Caitlin, Themoulla, Holly, Jahwe, Chanita, Jerusha, Cailey, Luis, Steph, Ruby, Andrew, Anton, Jaelyn, Clara, James, Blaise, Tawananyasha, Nimah, Nojus, Nabilah, Anshika, Demi, Jecholia

Below are some of the quotes for this half terms winners:

“Significantly improved attitude to learning and commitment in maths lessons – very impressive.”

“Persisting through challenging problems and are willing to put in the time and effort needed to be successful.”

“He quietly and efficiently gets through the work. He enjoys his work and is making good progress.”

During the final week of the Autumn term, Mr Price and Mr Lakole participated in a charity badminton match.

The stakes were high with the victor crowned “best staff badminton player 2023/2024”. The event took place over two lunchtimes with the year 7s, 9s, and 11 able to watch the first match on Monday, and the 8s, 10s, and sixth form able to watch the second.

It was a shaky start for Mr Price, losing to Mr Lakole in 9 minutes with a score line of 21-9. Not content with such a score, Mr Price rallied back on day 2. In a surprising turnaround, Mr Price secured the second match with a very comfortable 21-6 and taking the title by score difference.

The event raised £93.50, and was combined with the total raised for “Christmas jumper day”.

On Monday 27th November the Year 12 Business Students had a magical time at the Warner Bros Studios: The Making of Harry Potter. This trip allowed them to put some of their classroom theory into context, with one of the world’s biggest studios, and film franchises.

The students took part in a workshop where they were able to learn about the success and profitability of the franchise, how social media was used in their marketing campaign and the importance of adapting to their target audience. They even got to write and present their own storyline ideas and how they would optimise the use social media to promote their ideas. There were some interesting and unique ideas from our students, so we may have some future movie producers here at St Mary’s!

After the workshop, we took a tour of the studios where we were all so impressed with the secrets behind the movie; from the Gryffindor common room, to Dumbledore’s enchanting office and flying cars!

This was a great way for our students to see how their studies can link to their future chosen careers.

As exam preparation season begins for our year 11 and 13 artists, I wanted to turn the attention to the wonderful art work that is being created by our year 10 artists.

Here is Milena Pisha’s interpretation of ‘The World Around Us’, focussing on perspective and painting.

We are thrilled to share an exciting and enriching experience that our Year 12 and Year 13 Media Studies students recently had the privilege to be a part of—an exclusive online panel discussion for the highly anticipated film, Wonka, directed by the talented Paul King.

The students were granted a unique opportunity to dive into the intricacies of filmmaking, exploring the enchanting world of Wonka and gaining valuable insights into the magic that happens behind the screen. The panel discussion covered various aspects of the filmmaking process, shedding light on the roles of key individuals responsible for bringing the magic to life.

Director Paul King, known for his exceptional work on Paddington, shared his vision for Wonka and discussed the creative decisions that go into shaping a film. Students were able to gain valuable perspectives on storytelling, character development, and the challenges of adapting beloved stories for the big screen.

The panel also featured producers – David Heyman and Alexandra Derbyshire – who provided a behind-the-scenes look at the logistical aspects of filmmaking. From securing funding to managing the production timeline, our students gained a comprehensive understanding of the crucial role producers play in bringing a cinematic masterpiece to life.

Costume design is a crucial element in creating a visually stunning film, and the students had the privilege of hearing from the costume designer for Wonka: Lindy Hemming. They learned about the creative process involved in designing costumes that not only reflect the characters but also contribute to the overall aesthetic of the film.

Lastly, in addition to exploring the film itself, the panel discussion extended to valuable career advice for aspiring filmmakers. The panellists shared their personal journeys into the media industry, offering guidance on educational paths, internships, and building a network within the industry.

As we continue to foster a dynamic learning environment at St. Mary’s, experiences like these serve as a testament to our commitment to providing our students with real-world insights and opportunities that extend beyond the classroom.

Sincerely,

Ms. Theofanous (Head of Media Studies)

In STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths club) we ended the term doing activities that had a Christmas theme.

We produced what we call our Chemistree and students had great fun making it – it is currently on display in one of our science labs. In the previous week, our STEM ambassadors engaged in programming using ‘microbits’ (mini electrical engineering sets) and they are all looking forward to January for more exciting STEM activities.

Community hampers for elderly residents identified by the Church. Being given out tomorrow.

Our year 8 girls played their first netball match on Tuesday 13th against Chauncy School.

Understandably, the girls were very nervous to begin with and conceded 4 goals in the first quarter. However, after a quick pep talk and some movement around the court they found their rhythm. With some excellent shots from Shumaila and Sofia, the girls fought their way back to a narrow loss of 6-4 – only conceding 2 goals after the first quarter. Elisse, Isabella and Myleene were fantastic in defence and made it very hard for the Chauncy attack to get anything past them. Isabella was deservedly named player of the match, but all of the girls who took part deserve a big well done. Their next game is in February so watch this space!

On Wednesday 13th December the ‘Phoenix Singers’ performed at the annual “Festival of Carols” in Hoddesdon.

We performed all the traditional carols as well as ‘Carol of the Bells’ to the Wednesday market traders and shoppers. We are always delighted to perform out and about in our lovely local community. Thank you to all the parents, nans and grandads and others who came to see us.