Spring Term 2023

I am so proud of our incredible students and the contents of this newsletter are just a flavour of some of the things they are involved in and just what great ambassadors they are for our school.

Alongside all of this enrichment and extra-curricular activity, there has also been significant work taking place in the classroom. Y11 are in the final stages of their preparations for their GCSEs and we are doing all we can to support them with this.  Please do encourage your child if in Y11 to attend our after-school revision offered across all subjects, we even run a minibus into town at 5pm on week nights if transport is an issue.

I can confirm that the 26^th May will be the final day for our current Y11 and there will be the usual festivities and a Leavers’ Mass on this day.  Beyond this and after half-term, Y11s will only come into school on days when they have GCSE exams.  Should you have any queries relating to Y11, please contact Head of Year 11 Mr Coyne on dcoyne@st-maryshigh.hereford.sch.uk or sturley@st-maryshigh.hereford.sch.uk who will assist you.

My senior colleagues and I have been monitoring the quality of Teaching and Learning at St Mary’s and so for this academic year we have conducted week long reviews in Computer Science, Maths, RE, PE, Business Studies and English.  There are many strengths and aspects of good practice but equally we are constantly looking at ways in which we can improve our provision for the students.  One of the most productive aspects of the review process is seeking their views and opinions about their learning.

We have recently received the outcome of this year’s admissions process and I am pleased to report that we are very much full again for September with an extensive waiting list, further highlighting the popularity of our school in the local community.  We look forward to welcoming our new cohort and to their transition events next term.

Finally, may I thank you for your ongoing support and wish you a happy and blessed Easter.  I look forward to working with you and your children in the summer term.

Stuart Wetson
Headteacher

The cast worked extremely hard to learn their lines, direction and choreography and played their roles superbly. All students gave every performance their all and looked like they were having a brilliant time on the stage, acting and singing with enthusiasm. Behind the scenes, the tech and backstage crews worked tirelessly to create a seamless production. And of course, no production of School of Rock would be complete without the band. Our student musicians (including 2 ex-students) played every note of the rock music with precision and passion, and their energy was a driving force behind the success of the show with many comments on how professional they sounded.

The success of this production was a testament to the power of the arts. It brought together students from across different year groups and interests and gave them a chance to collaborate and create something truly special. As a school, we are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in this production of School of Rock. It was a highlight of the year, and we can't wait to see what our students will do next!

In January, the school choir performed at Young Voices in Birmingham for the first time. 45 students took part in the day filled with excitement, energy, and an overwhelming sense of community as the choir performed alongside 6,000 school children from around the country. The event also featured fantastic performances from beatboxers, street dancers and an amazing electric violinist. One of the highlights was also singing with Heather Small, of M People. We recorded a version of her song, Proud, which was combined with all other Young Voices concerts this year to produce a charity single, which you can stream on Spotify. We all had a fantastic day, and hope to go again next year!

At the end of term many of our students took part in the annual Herefordshire Performing Arts Festival which gives anyone the chance to perform in a range of competitive and non-competitive classes across the arts. Our students rose to the challenge and demonstrated their exceptional skills in each of these areas, impressing judges and audiences alike. Our students demonstrated a high level of skill and hard work in drama, dance, woodwind, brass, strings, piano and vocal classes across a variety of genres. The feedback received by judges across the week was fantastic, whilst also giving them valuable advice on how to progress further. 

Well done to everyone involved, such an amazing achievement

Awarded 14 Gold, 5 Silver and 4 Bronze

During the spring term students in year 7 have been working on a singing project in collaboration with Encore Music Service, feeder primary schools and their singing well-being leader Jo Lowry. In lessons, they practised an arrangement of 3 songs every week. After a brilliant workshop with Jo in the last week of term, the whole year group took part in their final performance in the school hall along with year 6 children from St Francis Xavier and Our Lady's Primary Schools. The aim of the project is to aid transition to secondary school for year 6 pupils as well as boost mental health and well-being for all students. The songs were chosen carefully to promote this, with the song for which the project was named, Rise Up, showing that we can rise up in the face of any obstacles to achieve our goals. Our students certainly gave the project their all, and we all had a fantastic time singing together.

Congratulations to all involved in the District Cross Country, excellent performance from all students with a special mention to Ben finishing 3rd in the Intermediate Boys race and Tom, who finished 4th in the Junior Boys race, both of whom qualified for the National Cross Country Championships at Wollaton Park in Nottingham.

This year sees the first Herefordshire Football League for girls and we are so proud of what they have achieved, their determination and their attitude towards the sport.

As a school we have entered 2 teams in the League, 6 teams Year 7 and 8 combined, 5 teams Year 9 and 10 combined with over 30 girls involved, which is so promising and very exciting.

Y9/10 Combined won 4 out of their 5 fixtures with the girls showing such dedication, teamwork and resilience. 

Y7/8 Combined weren’t as fortunate with their wins, but they pulled together and made an excellent comeback winning 2 games against The Hereford Academy and Whitecross.

The Year 9 tournament was unfortunately cancelled due to waterlogged pitches, but 3 out of our other 4 age groups were able to experience this shorter, high octane version of the game.

U13s Tournament, with only 3 schools entered, it was agreed we'd play 12-a-side rather than 7-a-side, and we unfortunately lost both our games to Bishops and Hereford Cathedral School.

At the U16 tournament the Year 11 Boys’ rugby team, captained by Tom, put in a great performance to sign off in what is their final game of rugby for St Mary’s.  The boys won 2 out of their 3 matches, losing to Bishops and beating Kingstone HS (with tries from:  Oscar & Tom) and Whitecross HS (with tries from: Oscar & Tom). 

At the U15 tournament the Year 10 Boys’ rugby team put in a good effort, despite recording just the one win from their 4 games.  We lost to Hereford Cathedral School 24-5 (try from: Edward) and lost 22- 5 to Weobley (try from: Jonah), but the boys beat The Hereford Academy 20-0 (tries from: Dan, Jet, Ben & Charlie), and lost narrowly to Bishops 26 – 24 (tries from: Charlie), Jet & Jonan).

At the U12 tournament the Year 7 Boys’ rugby team improved game by game as the tournament progressed.  After defeats to Bishops and Hereford Cathedral School in their opening two games, the boys recorded two draws and a win respectively against Kingstone (tries from: Will, James & Isiah); Whitecross (Will, Laurie & Tim); and Academy (Tim, Rohan & James). 

Inter House Games day kicked off our House competition of 2023 with the 5 houses competing against each other in a range of different sports.  A winter sports day created after former PE teacher Bob Wilcox retired, for his dedication and commitment to St Mary's.  He would have been so proud for the effort, enthusiasm and commitment shown by all, as despite weather conditions students participated in Rugby, Football, Basketball, Netball, Uni Hoc and Newcome.

The whole day was played with great spirit with some fantastic team performances! 

Congratulations to 'team St Mary's' who made an outstanding contribution to the School Games Values Festival at Hereford Leisure Centre, in spite of the torrential rain.

Some of those who have contributed are Hereford College of Art, Hereford Sixth Form College, Flakt Group, Balfour Beatty and many more. We will continue to run these events next term with visits planned to employers, colleges & universities, more in house careers activities and guest speakers.

Y11 have been busy applying for their next steps after St Mary’s with interviews for all those applying to Hereford Sixth Form College completed and other college interviews continuing throughout next term. Apprenticeship vacancies & applications are now in full swing too. Please see the school website Careers section for up-to-date vacancies and where to register to get vacancies direct to you. You’ll also find contact details for the Careers Department on the website, so please get in touch if you need to.

A big thank you to the PTFA for funding four Bernina sewing machines to the Textiles department. These will be invaluable for our GCSE groups, which are growing year on year!

Looking after our staff is important to us as well, a few treats ahead of the Easter break.

Following the re-launch of the school canteen the students are able to enjoy a varied delicious hot and cold menu.

Please join us in an Easter Prayer

Good and gracious God,
Our most glorious Creator,
As we greet the signs in nature around us:
Of Spring once again regaling us in bloom,
In the songs of returning birds and fields soon to be planted,
We give you thanks for an even greater sign of new life: the resurrection of your Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ, that we especially celebrate at this time.
The sadness and despair of his death has given way to the bright promise of eternal life.
For the Resurrection is our guarantee that justice will triumph over evil, Light will overcome darkness, and love will conquer death.
As we celebrate, we also dare to ask for your grace that we may live the promise given to us,
By imitating the life of Jesus in reaching out to the poor, the marginalised, the least among us,
As we strive to meet all those we meet as our neighbours,
We praise you in this Easter season. Change our lives, change our hearts to be messengers of Easter joy and hope.
We make our prayer through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever.

Amen

We would like to also share this message from Bishop Stock

Easter message