Private School News

Mount St Mary’s College, Derbyshire – Students host charity holiday week

Sixth-form pupils from a Derbyshire school have launched a new charitable venture, for children with disabilities and special learning needs.

Mount St Mary’s College, invited local children from Chesterfield charity Home-Based and support group Fairplay, also based in Chesterfield, to come and use the facilities on offer at the College, and enjoy a stay at the Mount’s boarding accommodation.

During the new Children’s Holiday Week, the children had the opportunity to go swimming in the school pool, decorate biscuits in the refectory, take part in a treasure hunt and enjoy an Olympic Games event on the school’s Olympic standard athletics track.
They also participated in a celebration Mass in the school chapel.
Helen McKell, the teacher in charge of the event, said: “This was a really worthwhile experience for all our sixth-formers. They impressed the visiting staff with their enthusiasm, their willingness to get involved, and the work they had put into preparing a range of exciting activities and experiences for the children who participated.”

The Children’s Holiday Week is a new venture for Mount St Mary’s, created to help give sixth formers the opportunity to be of service to others.
The holiday week will now become an annual event, taking place in the last week of the summer term.

Photo: Emma Taylor, head girl of Year 7 at Mount St Mary’s College with Elliot Gaskin, from Home-Based charity

STRATHALLAN SCHOOL, PERTHSHIRE – PUPILS ORGANISE GUITAR HERO FESTIVAL IN AID OF CANCER RESEARCH UK

Strathallan pupil Andrew Glover and friends handed over a cheque for over £1,000 to Dorothy Rodger from Cancer Research UK this week.

This sum was raised when Andrew and fellow pupils Oliver Beetschen and Jamie Parker organised an inter-house Guitar Hero competition at the School in April.

Andrew said “We held a smaller event last year, but this being our last term at the School we wanted to organise something much bigger and felt it was a good idea to support a charitable cause. The event was entirely pupil organised and we are very pleased to have raised so much for Cancer Research UK.”

Accepting the generous donation Dorothy Rodger from Cancer Research UK said “This was a fabulous and innovative way to support Cancer research UK and I would like to thank everyone who was involved.”

The FARNBOROUGH HILL SCHOOL Challenge

Yesterday Farnborough Hill Sixth Formers Sophie Crisp and Anna Nicholas, both 17 from Farnham, organised a very special charity event in aid of local charity Disability Challengers. The Farnborough Hill Challenge was a sponsored event where participants walked, jogged or ran a distance of 5km in the school’s beautiful parkland. The whole school was off timetable for the afternoon so that everyone was able to join in the fun and take part. The participants were blessed with good weather and the atmosphere was tremendous. Everyone threw themselves into the spirit of the event, but perhaps the most notable participant was Lauren Dockerty, of Aldershot, a student in Year 9, who currently needs a wheelchair. She completed the course and Sophie said ‘Everyone was really supportive of Lauren and walked alongside her to the finish line.’

Disability Challengers is a local children’s charity passionate about delivering vital play and leisure opportunities to disabled children, young people and their families. Through their two full-time centres in Farnham and Guildford, and satellite schemes across the region, every year they give over 1000 children a place to be creative, make friends and challenge their impairments through play. The charity is close to Sophie and Anna’s hearts because they both used to volunteer there and Sophie now works for Disability Challengers on Saturdays and in the holidays.

At the time of going to press the money is still rolling in but we hope to raise a substantial amount for this very worthwhile cause. Anna herself has raised £1300 but we will wait to see whether she wins the individual prize awarded to the person gaining the most sponsorship money. The Headmistress has promised that the class raising the highest amount will be treated to a bouncy castle in school for a day.

Anna and Sophie loved organising the event, even though it was time consuming and hard work. Anna commented that it was tricky fitting in their AS level exams at the same time! Sophie said ‘it was a huge success and everyone seemed to have a lovely afternoon. So many people helped us out and we would like to thank them all very much.’

Photo: Lucy Sharma (Disability Challengers), Dee Andrews (Biology teacher who helped with the organisation), Anna Nicholas, Sophie Crisp, Jessica Klepacz (Disability Challengers) and Headmistress Sarah Buckle.

Students from STONYHURST COLLEGE take action for Zimbabwean boy

Kundai fun run

Pupils of all ages at Stonyhurst College have been raising money to help a physically disabled boy in Zimbabwe receive the medical care he needs. A fun-run this week has finally achieved their target of £5,000.

14 year old Kundai Mangoma suffers from a rare disease which has caused a huge tumour on the right hand side of his face; this has left him with breathing difficulties and blindness in one eye. He is in much pain from the disfiguration of his jaw and facial bones and finds it difficult to eat and speak. Kundai’s parents lost all their life savings in Zimbabwe’s economic turmoil and are therefore unable to pay any of the medical bills which could improve their son’s condition.

Sixth formers, Sophie Le Breton and Natalie Crouch met Kundai when they visited Zimbabwe this year, visiting a Jesuit school with which Stonyhurst has a long-standing partnership. They were so moved by his bravery that they were determined to raise £5,000 for surgery which could change his life: they met a surgeon who told them about the major operation which should fully restore his sight, ease his breathing and discomfort and significantly change his appearance. The operation is scheduled to take place in Harare in late August so they had no time to lose!

“Kundai was lovely, very shy and uncomplaining,” said Sophie. “We were really moved to hear that his sister had died quite recently from the same condition and realised that the medical care we take for granted just isn’t available in Zimbabwe. We were determined to help and as soon as we got back to school, started a campaign to raise the money.”

A ‘Kundai Committee’ was formed immediately, with representatives from all year groups putting up posters throughout the school and organising fund-raising activities. Kundai T shirts, a ‘Home Clothes Day’, weekly cake stalls, an art competition, charity dinners and finally, a fun-run, have together achieved the target!

Photographs shows Natalie Crouch, Sophie Le Breton, Mrs Crossley and Mr Warrilow, teachers at Stonyhurst College meeting Kundai and his family.

Students in fancy dress, taking part in the fun-run.

Biking For Breakfast – WREKIN COLLEGE

Wrekin College English Teacher Andy Brennan has set himself the challenge of cycling 500 miles in 50 hours to raise money for the Wrekin College Orphanage in Malawi.

Andy’s aim is to raise at least £1000 specifically for food for the Amao Orphanage in Mtunthama, Malawi. He was shocked that the 50 children living in the orphanage did not have breakfast. Their first meal of the day is lunch. It costs just 90p per day to feed a child but securing regular funding is always a challenge.

He plans to cycle 500 miles in 50 hours, starting and finishing at Wrekin College. Starting Wednesday 18th August to Friday 20th August 2010

If you like to support Andy please donate through the Just Giving website: www.justgiving.com/medicmalawi-breakfastboost. Every penny donated goes to the Orpahange.

More information about the orphanage can be found on the Medic Malawi Website www.medicmalawi.org or from Wrekin College T: 01952 265604 E: info@wrekincollege.com

Noah’s Ark Trust receives £2,600 from RGS WORCESTER

Mary Irish from The Noah’s Ark Trust went into RGS Worcester to receive a cheque for £2,600 from the students who raised the money at their recent Fashion Show.
The proceeds of the school fashion show ‘Behind the Seams’ was given to the charity that helps support young people who have had to cope with bereavement.

“We’re so grateful to the girls for their hard work and wonderful result in raising this sum,” said Mrs Irish. “Donations like this mean that we can help offer support to more young people and even cover the cost of a residential adventure for a number children who receive help through the charity. The fashion show was a triumph of success and the hard work of everyone involved at RGS.”

Photo: Mary Irish of The Noah’s Ark Trust, receives a cheque for £2,600 from RGS Worcester Fashion Show students.

CATERHAM SCHOOL Pupils Run to Raise Money for Charity

On Sunday 16th of May, a team of students and teachers from Caterham School dressed as their favourite superheroes and went to Brighton to join over 1500 runners in the annual charitable event, the Heroes Run.

The students and teachers will be going to Tanzania in Summer to visit Lerang’wa Primary School, as part of an ongoing charitable project. The purpose of the run was to raise money for Lerang’wa School and to test their fitness for the challenging climb of Mount Meru, which is also part of their itinerary.

Every member of the team completed the run with Tom Ganley and Lisa Mill winning the men’s and women’s 5km events.

The funds raised for Lerang’wa Primary in previous years has provided money for books, desks, accommodation for teachers, solar panel electricity and food. The current building project is the new kitchen to be followed by a dining area. The Caterham School teachers and students will undertake practical tasks around the school, teach some English, play sport with the pupils and learn about the Maasai culture. The teaching staff will also assist with training the teachers and examine future possibilities for the project. So far the team have raised over £6,500 this year.

Headmaster Julian Thomas, who is one of the team going to Lerang’wa School this year and who took part in the 10K run, said ‘’I was so proud to see the Caterham Superheroes in action. I am always impressed by the time, effort and energy that our students will freely commit to charitable causes.’’

ST MARY’S CALNE – Charity Walk for Molly’s Fund

At the end of April, Esme and Ellie, two Year 8 girls from St Mary’s Calne, took on the challenge of a 20 mile sponsored walk. They mapped out their route and planned to walk, unaccompanied, along the Ridge Way in Wiltshire and then, the following day, complete their trek along the White Horse Trail.

They walked to raise money for Molly’s Fund, a charity set up in memory of Molly Lane Fox who very sadly died aged five of a type of brain tumour known as a Diffuse Pontine Glioma. The money they raised will go towards building the first ever, and desperately needed, dedicated Brain Tumour Unit at the National Hospital in London.

They had set a target of raising £2000 and, to date, have raised an impressive £3490.

Fundraising’s a piece of cake

On September 25th RGS Worcester supported the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support by hosting their own coffee morning and cake sale.

Hundreds of cakes and biscuits were available during the morning break in Britannia House, with the charity event witnessing large numbers of RGS Worcester pupils and staff descending on the tasty delights and all donating and enjoying a fantastic morning.

During the sale the school raised a magnificent £200 with some money still being collected.

“It was great to see pupils and staff coming together in support of a very worthwhile charity. The cakes were brilliant and I am sure – like me – everyone enjoyed the occasion,” commented Margaret Sturdy of RGS Worcester.

Funky Footwear day for Surrey Air Ambulance Fund

On Friday the students and staff of Hurst Lodge School, Ascot took part in a Funky Footwear day in support of the Surrey Air Ambulance Fund. The idea was a simple one. Everyone came to school wearing decorated shoes, flowery wellingtons and anything else which could be described as bright and fun. Each person taking part donated a pound in exchange for a Funky Footwear badge.

Students enjoyed the day which saw some extremely inventive and amusing ideas. Hurst Lodge feel that this is a very worthwhile cause as the air ambulance relies almost entirely on the generosity of the public. Since its launch in 2007 the service has gone from strength to strength now attending on average two missions a day.

It was a fun day with the added feeling that the school have helped to pay for a life saving emergency.

Hurst Lodge supports the NSPCC and Childline

In 2008 the NSPCC launched the Child’s Voice Appeal with the aspiration that no cry should go unheard. When a child needs help, ChildLine and the NSPCC Helpline may be their only hope

Hurst Lodge School, Ascot had a special treat today when ‘Buddy’ (centre) the NSPCC and Childline Schools’ mascot came to visit them with Schools’ Organiser, Mandy Elton.

Assemblies were given about the work of the charity and their special listening service Childline. Pupils and staff were pleased to pledge their support to help the charity to continue their work in helping children and will be raising funds over the coming year.

Mufti Days, coffee mornings and perhaps something for the more adventurous will be on the school’s calendar of events. Watch this space for more news.
www.hurstlodge.co.uk

To support the Child’s Voice Appeal, please visit www.childsvoiceappeal.org.uk

BMS students volunteer in local community

Community Service at Bedford Modern School is an option for Sixth Form students. Placements take place weekly and there are currently 26 students at the School volunteering in organisations such as the Red Cross Charity Shop, Salvation Army and Save the Children Shops in Bedford and Willen Hospice Charity Shop in Milton Keynes. BMS students also visit local schools helping pupils with I.T., reading, drama and art.

Dr Andrew Rowley, Community Service Organiser at BMS, School Chaplain and Head of Philosophy said, “BMS has a terrific group of students volunteering for community service. Every year I am completely bowled over by the amount of effort students put into this and the rewards they get out of volunteering.”

The Community Service volunteers all register to receive nationally recognised awards through the V scheme. V awards recognise and reward the positive impact students make through their volunteering. A special V50 award is available to students who complete 50 hours of volunteering in any twelve month period.

BMS Sixth Form students, Stephen Hartill, Stephen Bone and Madeleine Bogacki are currently volunteering at the Salvation Army Charity Shop. “It is definitely a worthwhile experience. I enjoy seeing how the charity works and it is nice to feel that I might be making a difference,” said Stephen Hartill.

“It is inspiring to hear stories from other volunteers. Undertaking community service helps students realise what is going on outside their comfort zone,” said Stephen Bone.

Madeleine Bogacki added, “Having weekly placements means volunteering is consistent. I would encourage other students to get involved and not be afraid of trying something new.”

BMS community service students are also involved in producing a prison newsletter for relatives of prisoners at Bedford Prison. The newsletter is designed by the students with the intention of providing a support network to families of prisoners.

Macmillan Coffee Morning

On Friday 25th September the 6th form day students hosted a Macmillan coffee morning in the lounge of Havelock – one of our new day houses.

The event was open to parents of day students and teachers alike and was very well attended. Those present did not manage to consume all the cakes, which had been so generously donated by parents and staff alike, but we did give it a very good try! However – the pupils were delighted to part with some of their pocket money and polish off the remainder!

The final sum raised was a fantastic £180 for the Macmillan Nurses. This was, I am sure, the first of many successful fundraising events to be held in Havelock.

Well done to all the 6th form involved.

Help for Heroes back at RGS Worcester

Following on from last terms Help for Heroes charity fundraising day, RGS Worcester where delighted to present a cheque for £1,600.32.

Peter Elcock, Help for Heroes, Volunteer Group Co-ordinator for Worcestershire was on hand to receive the impressive amount and also presented the school with certificates of appreciation, awarded in recognition of the contribution of RGS Worcester and for outstanding fundraising support.

Last terms heroic charity day saw every pupil and member of staff play their part, enjoying a range of themed activities, such as gun running, assault courses and much more.

“Its fantastic to come back to RGS Worcester and receive the cheque for Help for Heroes. I was at the school during the day back in June and saw first-hand just how much effort and planning RGS had gone to for the charity, so its a great honour to be able to come back and thank all the pupils and teachers personally today for their support,” commented Peter Elcock of Help for Heroes.

Emilia moves mountains with charity run

Eight year old Emilia Thompson stormed the field in charity race to secure a top ten finish and help raise hundreds of pounds for charity.

Emilia, a pupil at Barlborough Hall School, Derbyshire, finished in the top ten girls in the Bupa 1.5km Great Yorkshire Mini Run at Don Valley Stadium.

She was cheered on by sister and fellow pupil Talitha Thompson, plus Natalie Sandi and Alistair McInulty, students at Barlborough Hall, Mount St Mary’s College’s preparatory school. The trio had earlier completed the Bupa 3k Junior Great Yorkshire Run at the stadium.

Leading by example was Mount St Mary’s head teacher Laurence McKell, who ran the Bupa Great Yorkshire Run with deputy head Frank Thompson, Tara Thompson, staff Maxine Smith and Dean Smith, plus students David Broadley, Chris Unwin, Ian Taylor and last year’s head boy Adam Gaskell.

The money raised will go towards Moving Mountains – the umbrella group that covers the college’s chosen charities. These include the Children’s Holiday Trust, Meningitis Trust, Safe @ Last and Jesuit Missions.

Laurence McKell, Mount St Mary’s head teacher said: “It was a fantastic day and wonderful to see the enthusiasm of all our students and staff who signed up for the different races. We are delighted to have raised such a good total for charity between us.

“Emilia produced a brilliant performance to come in the top ten girls in the Mini Run and it was a really proud moment when she crossed the finish line.”

Photo caption: Emilia Thompson (front row, second from the left) with friends and fellow runners from Mount St Mary’s and Barlborough.

First Minister supports the Kilgraston Peru Project

Friday evening, 11th September saw the first in a series of fundraising events for the Kilgraston School 2010 Peru expedition. A Gala Dinner was held at the Grouse and Claret restaurant, Kinross and was a huge success raising nearly £4,000.

The First Minister, Alex Salmond, gave a very personal and entertaining welcome to all the guests – after which Georgina Futong, one of the ten expedition members, told the assembled friends and family a little bit about the trip and the goals they wish to achieve. During their time in Peru the girls will be undertaking a village placed community and environmental project, as well as a visit to a sister school in Lima where the girls will be helping to teach English.

A delicious dinner with matching wines was consumed – as the guests were entertained by “Diminished 5th” jazz band and “Dusty”.

The next fundraising event is a “Through the Looking Glass” Fashion Show and Auction on the 21st November at Kilgraston School – this is also set to be another fantastic evening. Tickets are limited but a few will be available by contacting fashion@kilgraston.com

Photo: Kilgraston pupil and member of school’s 2010 expedition to Peru, Georgina Futong, with Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond.