Dear Parents and carers,
As we approach the Easter holidays, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the season of Lent and the journey of growth, reflection, and renewal that we have all experienced together. This time of year offers us an opportunity to renew our faith, walk with Jesus in His passion, and anticipate the joy of His resurrection. It is a season that encourages hope and reminds us of the importance of community, love, and service.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for your continued support of our school and for the wonderful ways you have contributed to our school community throughout this term. Your partnership in nurturing the spiritual, academic, and personal growth of our students is truly appreciated.
As we break for the Easter holidays, I pray that you and your families are blessed with peace, joy, and rest. May this time bring you closer together as a family and provide opportunities for prayer, reflection, and relaxation.
We look forward to welcoming the children back after the break, refreshed and ready for the summer term. This summer term is an extremely important term for those pupils in Years 11 and 13 who undertake their GCSE and A Level examinations. Please keep these students in your prayers.
Please note that school will close for the Easter holidays on Friday 4th April and will return on Tuesday 22nd April 2025.
Wishing you all a blessed Easter season, filled with the love and grace of Our Lord.
Mr McCormack,
Headteacher
Family Fast Day with CAFOD
We had our bi-annual Family Fast Day Soup lunch, in support of CAFOD. This was a beautiful reminder of fasting and almsgiving, two focuses during the season of Lent. We thank Oliver Dinning for their donation of a variety of delicious soups, and all those who participated.
6th Form Applications
Applications for our 6th Form for September 2025 are now closed. If you have any questions or are interested in applying for September 2026, please contact us at info@stbons.org
Newham School Council Network Conference
Our School Councillors had the thrilling opportunity to join other secondary schools from across the Borough towards the end of March at the Newham School Council Network Annual Conference held at Plashet School. They took part in an exciting array of activities, including honing in on the requisite top qualities to be effective school councillors.
School Mental Health Award - Gold Level
We are proud to announce that we have achieved the Gold Level of the School Mental Health Award. This prestigious recognition from the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools highlights our commitment to excellence in all eight competencies of the School Mental Health Award framework.
Jesuit Hakimani Centre Talk
Brian Nyerere Maeba from CAFOD partner Jesuit Hakimani Centre in Nairobi visited us to share his story of life in Kenya. The Centre works tirelessly for social transformation in Eastern Africa. Brian, personally applying his financial and accountancy education and skills, works with a rural youth project to instil strong financial literacy and accounting methods.
Gabriel in Cambridge
We are thrilled to share that Gabriel has received an offer to study Human, Social, and Political Sciences at Selwyn College, Cambridge. His dedication and commitment to academic excellence have been truly outstanding, and we could not be more proud of this well-deserved achievement.
Collaboration with UCL
Our Year 7, 8, and 9 students had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with UCL’s Clinical, Educational, and Health Psychology Department on a study focused on adolescent mental health. This important research aims to deepen our understanding of mental health in young people and develop better interventions for those at risk.
National Elite Final
Our Year 11 football team have made it to the National Elite Final for the first time in the school's history, The boys defeated Eggbuckland Community College from Plymouth 3-0. They will play the final in May at Stoke City Stadium.
Year of the Jubilee
At the beginning of the term the school launched the year of the Jubilee, with an informative assembly, which gave students an insight into the history of the Jubilee, and how we can all be Pilgrims of Hope.
Ash Wednesday
On Ash Wednesday, we had the privilege of having Monsignor John Armitage distribute ashes. We were particularly impressed with the number of 6th-form students who gave up their lunch break to receive ashes. Ash Wednesday and Lent were introduced by the schools Chaplaincy team via our Act of Collective Worship. They presented a beautiful assembly detailing the importance of this season.
Lent activities
The CAFOD Young Leaders, not only supported CAFOD at the Flame Congress but also organised a Lent fundraiser - a non-uniform day with activities throughout lunch and break. They also supported the Chaplaincy team with our bi-annual CAFOD Family Fast Day. Both fundraisers were a huge success. Due to our relationship and work with CAFOD, we were able to host Brian, a CAFOD ambassador from Kenya. He visited the school to meet CAFOD leaders and the school council, to share his story and the impact the support from CAFOD has had on his life.
The 6th Form TELCO Team in conjunction with year 7 students are currently working on a production and fundraiser for The Stephen Lawrence Memorial Foundation. It is a project they are very passionate about.
Lent has been an occasion for spiritual growth and renewal, with vast opportunities for prayer and reflection. These include stopping lessons at 12 to pray the Angelus, being able to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Lent, and taking every class from 7-10 to our local parish St Antony’s to engage with the devotion of the Stations of the Cross.
Other events
We have been very busy producing student led video presentations that delve into and explain Holy Week. These will be available to watch via our Youtube and Instagram channels, we hope you enjoy them.
The Drama club, and different school choirs have been practising for our end of term Lent Liturgy and Passion play - these encapsulate and remind us of the foundations of our Catholic/Christian faith.
We had a special visit from Steve Howey, who has been volunteering at Richard - London first Children’s hospice - house for over 20 years. He spoke to the 6th formers about the importance of his work, and the positive impact volunteering has, not only for the organisation, but the the families, and volunteers alike. We can say with confidence, that the students were moved and inspired.
Please keep in your prayers all the students preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. They are currently attending preparation classes and will receive the Sacrament shortly after we return from the Easter holidays.
What inspired you to become a teacher?
As a Tamil, education plays a very important role in our culture. We have a saying that "knowledge opens doors" and Thiruvalluvar wrote that the only indestructible wealth is education (Kural - 400 - Thirukkural). Education is a massive driver of social mobility. Providing students and their families the opportunity to improve the quality of their lives, achieve upward mobility, and overcome disadvantages that they may have inherited.
I hope that I can provide students with the keys to "open doors" by becoming lifelong learners, making informed decisions inside and outside the classroom, and encouraging students to take advantage of all the opportunities and resources available to them
What’s your all-time favourite book?
I wouldn't be able to choose one book! I find that they every book I've read has helped me one way or another on this journey that we call life. I am currently reading "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall" by Anne Fadiman. I plan to read "I of the Vortex: From Neurons to Self" by Rodolfo Llinás during the summer holidays.
If you could visit any country in the world, where would you go and why?
I tend to use my travels as a chance to disconnect from day-to-day life and as time for introspection and exploration. Getting the chance to spend a month in Nepal would be amazing, but unfortunately, the summer holidays coincide with the country's monsoon season!
One piece of advice to the parents of your students
The unconditional love that you have for your child is so special. The Sun reminds me of what unconditional love and acceptance are - pure light, warm and beautiful. Yes, it might be a cloudy day, with the buildings in the way; but all it takes is one ray of light to hit your child's face and all their fears and worries dissipate.
Contact Us
Email: info@stbons.org
Website: https://www.stbons.org/
Location: Boleyn Rd, London E7 9QD, UK
Phone: 020 8472 3844