Cardinal Newman Catholic School

I would like to wish all our students and their families, as well as the staff and friends of Cardinal Newman Catholic School a happy and a holy Easter.

Term will end on Friday 4th April at 3pm. The Summer term will begin for students and staff at 8.40am on Tuesday April 22nd.

This week we were saddened to hear of the passing of Mrs Maureen Clingan who many former students and past and present staff will lovingly remember as not only an excellent classroom teacher but an outstanding pastoral and spiritual leader. In her two decades of service Maureen personified the 'Christian, Caritas' ethos of the school in every respect. Maureen taught a number of subjects across the school including English and History at Key Stages 3 and 4 and Psychology and Politics A Level at Key Stage 5, having a huge impact on many lives. Many students will also remember her for her exceptional qualities as a Pastoral Leader in Lower School and Head of Sixth Form, as well as being the Lay Chaplain. Maureen was a champion and advocate of the school as well as being a mother of five children who were also students at Cardinal Newman. She will be sadly missed.

 

The funeral service will take place at The Sacred Heart Church, Norton Road, Hove on Thursday, 10th April at 12.00.

As always Lent at Cardinal Newman Catholic School has been a really busy and joyful time; sponsored football matches and walks, Bingo, male teachers having their legs shaved (ouch!) for charity, collecting buckets galore, students walking up to 6 miles into school etc. As a result of these activities we have raised substantial funds for our Lenten charities.

 

Last week hundreds of our students participated in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Many thanks to our Priests in the Deanery for enabling this.

 

On Friday, March 28th we had a CAFOD Fast Day lunch in the Dining Room when our students and staff were invited to share in a simple meal of solidarity.

 

On the last day of term, Friday, April 4th, we will be having a non-uniform day. Students and staff who wish to participate should donate a minimum of £1 towards our Lenten charities. Please be as generous as possible.

We are pleased to confirm that the cost of the t-shirt will reduce from Monday, 31st March to £8.50. This is as a result of changes to the printing of our logo etc. on the t-shirt. The quality of the t-shirt will remain an excellent finished product.

 

To welcome the new Year 7 students to the school, Trutex is offering a special introductory offer. Parents/carers purchasing a tennis shirt, jumper and t-shirt in the Year 7 colour, will benefit from a free additional t-shirt (one blue and one yellow).

 

Please visit the uniform provider at your earliest convenience to ensure that your order/purchase is made in good time for the start of the academic year. Trutex offers a personal, professional and bespoke service to the school and takes every effort to ensure students/parents can obtain the correct size, colour etc. prior to the term beginning.

Last October Bishop Kieran celebrated the Induction Liturgy to mark my appointment as the fifth Headteacher of Cardinal Newman Catholic School. Speaking to students, in particular, he urged them to ‘be the best they can be’. This year we have tried to do this in lots of areas. Oliver, The Spring Concert, the recent confirmation that we were among the top 100 schools in England in terms of the improvement of our GCSE results in the last three years are just some of the more recent highlights.

 

But in sport too we have excelled. Of course as the saying goes, ‘you never win anything in January’. But the hard work that has gone on throughout the season is now beginning to bear fruit. This week all of our Rugby teams were in the District finals and the Year 7, 9 and 10 teams were confirmed as Champions with hard won victories. Meanwhile the Year 8 and Year 10 boys football teams won their semi finals to gain a place in the Sussex Cup finals which will take place after Easter. Our Year 8 girls football team also won their semi final and will meet St Wilfrids in the final.

 

Apart from cups we also compete in numerous league competitions. The Year 7 girls football team have only been defeated once in their area league and we are hopeful they will win it. The same applies to the Under 14 girls football team. They show huge promise. In netball our Year 11 team are currently undefeated with just two games to go.

 

None of this has happened by accident. Week in and week out Mr Grant and his exceptional team of P.E. teachers work to support our students – often well beyond the school day – to achieve and in doing so to fulfil the final paragraph of our Mission Statement which states that ‘we strive for the highest quality of learning and teaching that inspires us all to discover and develop our God-given gifts and talents, to excel in the present and aim high for the future’. Many thanks to them but also, of course, to the students, their parents and carers, for allowing us to respond to Bishop Kieran’s challenge to ‘be the best we can’.