Meanwhile, there is a European Languages

Competition to enter. The task is to name as many European languages as possible and extra points will be awarded if you can find out how to say ‘Thank you’ in languages you have identified! Dictionaries will be awarded as prizes and entry forms can be obtained from Mr. Gaynon.

Kevin Haigh from CAFOD will conduct the Year 8 Assembly on 1st October. We are planning to launch a year 8 CAFOD group under the leadership of Miss McCarthy, to concentrate both on raising awareness of social justice and fair trade issues and on fund-raising ventures. This year, CAFOD Harvest Fast Day is on Friday 5th October and letters will be soon sent out to parents with further details.

A banner workshop will be held at school on Saturday 13^th October from 12 noon to 4pm.. Pupils from Year 11 will create a banner, which will be presented at their Thanksgiving Mass in May.

St. Michael’s was delighted to hear that former students, Katie Coyle, Sinead McCarthy and Lucy Armstrong all achieved a remarkable 4 grade ‘A’ results in their GCE ‘A’ Level examinations at Bede College. News is gradually coming in of the successes of many other past pupils and considerable numbers have now moved on to university to begin their degree courses. We congratulate them and wish them well for the future.

** Zoe Birtle, who left us about 5 years ago, has been awarded a First Class Honours Degree from Cambridge University. Special congratulations to her on this outstanding achievement.

Head of Year 7, Mr. Matthews, says that he is very pleased by the ways in which pupils have settled into their new routines. He adds that they seem really keen to become involved in all that is taking place within St. Michael’s!

Joe Walker and Joanne Bowden have joined the Science Club, Michaela Murton, Steven Nesbit and Jessica Kane-Fidgeon are already members of the Guitar Club and Holly Keenan and Kate Wharry have signed up for lessons in Modern Dance.

Soon, all of Year 7 will be electing members of their Student Council. This Council enables pupils to have a real say in Vaughan House and in school life in general and Mr. Matthews hopes to publish names of those elected in the near future.

A tradition within St. Michael’s is the ‘Welcome Mass’ for Year 7. Among those who have volunteered to do readings are Tim Foley and Sophie Featonby. Drama plays an important part in assemblies and Masses in the school and Sally Crosby, Helen Lindsay, Mark Wem, Kirstie Connor, John Tasker and Lindsay Youdale are among the volunteers for the presentation in this Mass.