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St Bonaventure's

May Newsletter

StBonaventure's May Newsletter

HEADTEACHER MESSAGE HEADTEACHER MESSAGE

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Dear Parents and Carers,


As we reach half term, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support and partnership with our school community. This term has brought with it a renewed sense of purpose and energy, and I remain incredibly proud of our students and staff for their commitment, resilience, and hard work.


As we look ahead to the final half term, we enter a vital period, particularly for our Year 11 and Year 13 students who are taking their public examinations. These final weeks will be crucial, and we are committed to doing all we can to ensure every student feels supported academically, emotionally, and spiritually. Please keep these students in your prayers.


As always, our school continues to strive not only for academic excellence but for the formation of young people grounded in faith, integrity, and service. Let us continue to keep one another in prayer as we enter this final half term with hope and determination.


We are joyful at the news of the election of Pope Leo XIV as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. As a Catholic school community, the guidance and witness of the Holy Father hold deep significance for our shared mission of faith, education, and service.


Pope Leo XIV steps into this sacred role at a time of both challenge and opportunity for the global Church. His early messages reflect a strong commitment to Catholic Social Teaching, particularly the dignity of the human person, the call to community, and a renewed focus on care for the most vulnerable. These values resonate deeply with our school’s ethos and educational vision.


As we begin this new chapter under Pope Leo XIV’s leadership, we hope his words and actions will inspire and guide us, staff and students alike, to live out our faith more fully and courageously, rooted in compassion, justice, and hope.


Let us hold him in prayer as he begins his papal ministry, and may his example strengthen our shared journey in Catholic education.


Wishing you and your families a joyful and restful half-term break.


With every blessing,


Mr McCormack,

Headteacher

Student Messages to Pope LEO XIV Student Messages to Pope LEO XIV

Our students shared some heartfelt messages for the new Pope. We look forward to seeing how Pope Leo XIV will guide the Church with wisdom, compassion, and faith. Our prayers are with him as he begins this important journey.


“I pray Pope Leo XIV will lead with love and compassion, and continue the legacy of Leo XIII, promoting equality, peace and justice” ~ Kieran Year 12


“I wish Pope Leo luck, and pray he guides us in the right direction, to strengthen our faith” ~ Jonas Year 11


“We pray for the new Pope, may he lead with wisdom, compassion, and a heart rooted in justice and charity” ~ Eric Year 9


“I pray the Holy Spirit guides the Pope in his new role, and gives him all the gifts he needs” ~ Charbel Year 8


We pray the new Pope walks a good path, guided by the Holy Spirit, leading the Catholic Church with wisdom and mercy”. ~ Alex Year 7

Act of Kindness Act of Kindness

Year 11 student to Design & Technology teacher Mr Odle

Thank you sincerely for everything you have taught me. Your passion and attention to detail have truly inspired me. You've not only helped me grow by encouraging me to think more creatively and confidently express my ideas. Your guidance, patience, and encouragement have made a lasting impact and I feel incredibly lucky to have learned from you. Thank you for pushing me to do my best and for sharing your knowledge with such enthusiasm. You have made a real difference in my journey as a designer.



Year 13 student to Mr Rumsby, teacher of Business Studies

Thank you for going out of your way for us when we have questions and for always going the extra mile to ensure we reach our full potential. We love that you teach us with such a care in lessons and help put everything into perspective (along with a little humour). Thank you for everything that you do for all of us - we really do appreciate how hard you work. We extend our greatest thanks to you and we hope to be a testament to your excellent teaching.

NEWS AND EVENTS NEWS AND EVENTS

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Our Year 11 Reach U16 Cup Final

We couldn’t be prouder of our Year 11 team for their incredible journey in the U16 Arnold Clarke Elite Schools Cup. Although the final ended in a 3-1 loss, the tournament has been nothing short of unforgettable, marked by passion, teamwork, and unwavering determination.


A huge thank you to all the players and coaching staff for their outstanding efforts throughout the competition. Congratulations to Thomas Telford School on their well-earned victory.

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Crowning of Our Lady Ceremony

On 6th May, St Bonaventure’s held the beautiful Crowning of Our Lady on the Friary Lawn. The statue was adorned with a coronet of white and cream flowers as students prayed the rosary and sang hymns.


Special thanks to Year 8’s Stanley for reading the Bidding Prayers and sharing his heartfelt reflection: “I was proud to take part in this traditional and wonderful event. The atmosphere was reverent and moving.”

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Future First Alumni Day

Our students enjoyed an inspiring day connecting with former Bon’s boys and our female alum at a special alumni event.


Guests from careers in fashion, law, education, DJing, and more shared stories, advice, and memories. “It reminded me how special this school is. No matter how far we go, we carry Bon’s with us.” – Tim Campbell

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Headteacher Award Winners

Huge congratulations to Jason, Viraj, and Ethan for receiving the prestigious Headteacher Award!


Each of these outstanding students has achieved an incredible 2,500 merits since September, a remarkable milestone that reflects their consistent effort, positive attitude, and commitment to excellence both in and out of the classroom.

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Newham Family Hub Workshop

On 25th April, we proudly hosted a Newham Family Hub Workshop as part of the borough’s roadshow!


Parents and careers explored support available from parenting programmes to housing and employment advice. One presenter said, “Parents found the courses helpful; some want a refresher, and others signed up to connect with family navigators.”

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Decade’s Day Celebration

Our students had an incredible time celebrating Decade’s Day, embracing styles from across the decades!


From funky ’80s fashion and neon accessories to the iconic looks of the 2000s, the school was transformed into a vibrant time capsule. Students really got into the spirit, showcasing creativity and enthusiasm with their outfits.

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Congratulations to our Deputy Headteacher

A huge congratulations to our Deputy Headteacher, Mr Lewis, who completed the London Marathon in an impressive 4 hours 46 minutes on a warm day. He raised over £8,000 (including Gift Aid) for CAFOD, supporting communities around the world.

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Gold Award for School Mental Health

We are proud to announce that our school has earned the Gold Level School Mental Health Award from the Carnegie Centre of Excellence. This recognises our commitment to leadership, culture, and strong partnerships supporting mental health.

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Celebrating Language and Culture

Our fantastic MFL team is inspiring young linguists to embrace their passions and cultures. Year 7 native speaker Hubert has taken the lead, creating lessons and teaching us common greetings and the alphabet.

Catholic Life Catholic Life

At the heart of our Catholic school is a deep commitment to living out the Gospel through prayer, community, and action. This term, our students and staff have taken part in a series of significant spiritual and justice-focused events that have strengthened our identity and reminded us of our shared values.


During this term’s Full Council meeting, our Sixth Form students led a powerful and reverent commemoration for Pope Francis. The gathering was an opportunity to reflect on the Pope’s mission of peace, care for creation, and solidarity with the poor and marginalised. Students offered prayers, scripture readings, and personal reflections, showing their deep appreciation for his spiritual leadership and moral guidance. Their thoughtful contributions highlighted the impact of the Pope’s message in their own lives, particularly his encouragement to young people to be courageous in hope and to build a more just and compassionate world.



As a visible and prayerful expression of our faith, students and staff gathered on the school lawn to pray a decade of the Rosary for the Pope and the global Church. This peaceful moment of collective prayer brought the school community together in unity and reflection. Each Hail Mary was a reminder of the power of quiet faith and the strength found in spiritual solidarity.


May is a month traditionally dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God, and in keeping with long-standing Catholic tradition, our school honoured her with a beautiful Crowning of Mary ceremony.


This annual event is one of the most cherished in our school calendar. With reverence and joy, students placed a floral crown upon the statue of Our Lady, symbolising her queenship and her special place in our lives as a model of humility, faith, and devotion. The ceremony included hymns, scripture, and reflections on Mary’s “yes” to God — a choice that changed the world.


We were blessed to have Fr Bruno Marie lead the service and offer a reflection on Mary's faith and courage. His presence and words helped us enter more deeply into the meaning of the celebration, reminding us that devotion to Mary leads us always to Christ.


The Crowning of Mary is not simply a tradition but a living expression of our love and gratitude for the one who, through her quiet strength and deep trust in God, continues to inspire us today.


In April, our school community marked Stephen Lawrence Day, a national day of reflection and action that honours the life of Stephen Lawrence and encourages ongoing commitment to racial equality and social justice.


To mark the occasion, a group of students recorded and delivered a powerful video presentation, which was shared in assembly across year groups. Their reflections highlighted Stephen’s legacy, the injustice he suffered, and the importance of standing up against all forms of discrimination. The video included thoughtful messages, real-life examples, and a call to live out our values of equality, courage, and dignity for all.


This was not a one-off event; our students will continue to engage in further activities throughout the term, including discussion sessions, tutor-time reflections, and creative projects that promote inclusivity and challenge injustice. Inspired by Stephen’s legacy and our Catholic commitment to the dignity of every human person, we aim to continue building a school culture where every voice is heard and every person is valued.

Parents Voice Parents Voice

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Important Reminders Important Reminders

June:

  • 10th - Merit's trip to Thorpe Park
  • 12th - Year 10 parents evening
  • 14th - Water Sports adventure trip
  • 27th - KS3 Drop down day


July:

  • 2nd - GCSE & A Level Summer Show
  • 3rd - Year 6 transition day
  • 4th - Sports Day
  • 10th - Leavers on the Lawn
  • 18th - End of term liturgy and awards
View Our School Calendar

PRAYER PRAYER

The Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven,

may the faith you have given us

in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,

and the flame of charity enkindled

in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,

reawaken in us the blessed hope

for the coming of your Kingdom.


May your grace transform us

into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.

May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos

in the sure expectation

of a new heaven and a new earth,

when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,

your glory will shine eternally.


May the grace of the Jubilee

reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,

a yearning for the treasures of heaven.

May that same grace spread

the joy and peace of our Redeemer

throughout the earth.

To you our God, eternally blessed,

be glory and praise forever.

Amen

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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Contact Us

Email: info@stbons.org
Website: https://www.stbons.org/
Location: Boleyn Rd, London E7 9QD, UK
Phone: 020 8472 3844

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