Welcome to the summer edition of our ‘Newsletter’. Within its pages you will find many examples of the excellent activities that our students and staff have been involved in.

2016/17 has been an emotional rollercoaster, as marked by the tragic loss of Lydia through to the joyful exuberance of youth as witnessed at our Year 11 Prom, Sports Week and in the last few days of this term with our students involved in many interesting and exciting activities.

As mentioned in my last letter to parents, we have undergone a successful Diocesan Inspection which bears testament to our excellent community of faith and the tremendous work that goes on every day. This is exemplified in the appointment of our Lay Chaplain, Ms Cherian along with our Chaplain Fr Stephen, which in turn has ensured that our Collective Worship has gone from strength to strength.

Colleagues leaving along with myself at the end of this academic year are: Mrs H Cardy, Mrs D Mandair, Mrs N Lamond, Miss L Paskin, Miss C Shaw, Miss R Marsh and Miss S Jones.

I wish them all the very best for their new ventures and to thank them for their service to the students of Bishop Milner.

In addition, I would once more and sadly for the last time, thank all students, staff and parents for the support given to me during my time as Headteacher/Principal. Bishop Milner is very special, which is evident in its ethos and the people, both students and staff, who make it such a tremendous place to be.

Have a happy and safe summer break and all the very best for the future.

Mr S Haywood

Principal

SHA/JGI

A SUMMER TRIP TO HARVINGTON HALL

The chaplaincy team of fourteen students, accompanied by two staff members

made a summer day trip to Harvington Hall, Kidderminster on 6th July 2017. The

Harvington Hall is a historic building built in 1580s by Humphrey Pakington whose

family were secret Catholics under the Protestant rule of Elizabeth I. Harvington

Hall brought to life the extraordinary stories and the extent of the sufferings

endured by the Catholic priests and Catholic families, in order to protect the

Catholic faith at a time when it was treason to be a Catholic!

Our Students were fascinated by the priest hides where the priests hid

themselves to avoid being caught and put to death for being Catholic. Students had

the rare chance to examine the priest hides and to get a feel for how hard it was

for Catholics to live normal lives at that time and how important it is now, to guard

and respect the faith for which others gave their lives.

Students also had the golden opportunity to enjoy the Elizabethan Wall paintings,

the display of colours offered by the Moat gardens, the stunning ducks and the

fishes in the moat, the Malt House, the Georgian Chapel and curios in the gift shop.

It was indeed, a remarkable day which was relaxing, refreshing and involved

practical learning about the history of the Catholic Church.

PARKING

The Health and Safety of our young people is paramount, before, during and after College. Can we please, once again, appeal to parents not to park on the yellow zig

zags at the front and back of College.

It takes approximately 6-7 minutes for the majority of students to exit the campus; you may well have Milner staff blocking the slip road by the gates in order to allow students to exit safety.

Parked cars on the yellow zig zags create a real hazard for our students, therefore we would be grateful for your support to Bishop Milner by not parking there.

DRIVING ONTO THE COLLEGE CAR

PARK

Please also be aware that parents are not allowed to drive onto our college campus/carpark to drop off and pick up students.

This is to protect the health & safety of our students arriving and leaving the campus.

SIXTH FORM ENROLMENT

THURSDAY 24 AUGUST 2017

Sixth Form Enrolment will take place on

GCSE Results Day, Thursday 24 August, in

the Sixth Form Centre. GCSE results will be

available for collection between 9am and

9.30am, with enrolment for students who

attended Bishop Milner Catholic College for

their GCSE studies taking place between 9.30

– 10.30am. Students who are joining us from

another school should report to the Sixth

Form Centre between 1pm and 3pm. Students

from other colleges must bring your

examination results. Students will have their

photograph taken for their college

identification badge, agree their programme

of study and receive their timetable, badge

and student handbook ready for

commencement of courses in September.

If you are not able to attend Enrolment on

Thursday 24 August please contact the

college in advance to arrange an alternative

appointment.

YEAR 12 ROAD SAFETY EVENT

June 2017 saw go kart, an articulated lorry and a mobile garage descend upon Bishop

Milner Sixth Form, as students took part in half a day of activities to educate them on

important road safety

issues as they begin to

think about getting on

the roads. Students

and staff enjoyed the

karting circuit, with

‘hazards’ placed to

negotiate when wearing

special glasses

designed to simulate impaired vision similar to when having

consumed excess alcohol. The car maintenance session

delivered by Kwik Fit was also a revelation, with many

students commenting how this would help them as they purchase their first cars.

YEAR 10 MOCK INTERVIEW DAY

During the Summer Term, all Year 10 students have been working on preparing their CVs

with the help of our Connexions Personal Advisor in readiness for the Year 10 Mock

Interview Day. This year students were also lucky to receive a presentation from Dudley

Council HR team on how to prepare for, and give, a good interview. This session saw some

of our students taking part in role play to demonstrate what does and does not make for

a successful interview. On Mock Interview Day itself, ten providers from colleges,

universities and local business gave their time to give the students a realistic interview.

Students took the event seriously and we anticipate the feedback provided will stand

them in good stead as they prepare for Sixth Form, college and apprenticeship interviews

in Year 11.

NEW COLLEGE TIES

Upon their return all students will be issued with a new tie at no cost, this will encompass not only the present colours but a subtle addition to represent the colour of the House Group your son or daughter is in.

These new ties are ‘clip-on’ and therefore it is essential that the top button of your child’s shirt or blouse can be fasted comfortably around their neck.

Please note that no students will be allowed to wear one of the old ties from this day on and additional ties will only be available to purchase from the College reception.

ITEMS LEFT

AT RECEPTION

Please be reminded that Reception

is unable to accept any items e.g.

money, equipment, books, PE kit,

cooking ingredients etc from

parents/carers during the college

day.

NEW COLLEGE

TELEPHONE NUMBER

From September the college will be

changing its telephone system and

moving from the traditional Dudley

MBC telephone numbers beginning

with 81.

Our new college number from

1 September 2017 will be:

01384 889422

SCHOOLCOMMS- BISHOP MILNER’S ONLINE REPORTING SYSTEM

We still have a number of parents who have not signed up to our new online reporting system.

It is simply and easy to use and allows you instant access to your child’s attendance, achievements and progress reports as well as allowing you to make payments online.

All college notifications, newsletters and parental circulars will be sent through this system including text messages.

If you require any help or support in accessing the new system, please do not hesitate to contact the college.

MATHS CHALLENGES

Congratulations to all our learners who were selected to participate in this year’s

Maths Challenges. Those achieving certificates are listed below:

Senior Maths Challenge (Year 11, 12 and 13)

Emma Jukes achieved a silver certificate and was also awarded Best in School and

Best in Year 11. Patryk Kowalski also achieved a silver certificate as well as Best in

Year 12. Balraj Sangha achieved a bronze

certificate as well as the award for Best in Year 13.

Sam Hemmings, Khalim Masood, Sophia Millinson,

Kimran Sangha, Mirindar Sangha, Chloe McColgan

and Francesca Polito all achieved bronze

certificates.

Intermediate Maths Challenge (Year 9 and 10)

Hassan Wasim achieved a silver certificate as well as the award for Best in School

and in Year 10. Thomas Rogers, Amanjeet Nijjar,

Corey Rigby and Banita Surae all achieved bronze

certificates. Daniel Parkes was awarded Best in

Year 9.

Junior Maths Challenge (Year 7 and 8)

Vincent Ingram, Jack Ginder, Cormac Vance and

Natasha Garbett were all awarded Gold

certificates. Vincent was awarded Best in School as well as Best in Year 7 and Jack

was also awarded Best in Year 8. Both of these learners progressed to the next

stage of the competition and performed well. Kareena Rana, Jairan Rai, Aoife Kent-

Smith, Igor Lysiak, Joshua Gilbert and Erin Oakley achieved silver certificates.

Cameron Hill, Olivia Nouwe,

Sebastian Mills-Klee and Jack

Bingham achieved bronze

certificates.

Team Maths Challenge (Year 8 and 9)

Daniel Parkes, Sophie Glazzard, Jairan Rai and Natasha

Garbett were selected to represent our College at the

regional final of the Team Maths Challenge.

These learners were a credit to Bishop

Milner Catholic College and performed

admirably against some very strong

competition.

HEAD STUDENT TEAM 2017/2018

Chinonso Nzewuji Head Boy

Aiyra Zahid Head Girl

Dominic Clarke Deputy Head Boy/Sport Co-ordinator

Mollie Mason Deputy Head Girl/Communications Officer

Bethany Piearce House Links Co-ordinator (Stephen House)

House Links Subcommittee

Christine Sorra Year 7 Support Officer Kimran Sangha House support Officer (John House) Simron Kaur House support Officer (Andrew House) Saima Kauser House support Officer (Bernadette House) Lavin Omar House support Officer (John House) Shaunagh Havelin Events Co-ordinator Jordan Hill Events Officer Alex Griffiths Charity Co-ordinator Olivia Fernihough Charity Officer Karolin Joy Chaplaincy Link Co-ordinator Garin Moraghan Chaplaincy Link Officer Joe Clinton Music and the Arts Co-ordinator

ST JOHN BOSCO AWARD

Over the course of the last few years we have been working closely with Stourbridge Catenians on experiences and events for our students. A range of events from public speaking competitions, to mock interview events and fundraising have been keenly supported by Peter Harrington and his team.

As a result of sponsorship from the Catenian Association, the college will be presenting the St John Bosco Award, with the first presentation taking place in September 2018.

The college would like to thank Stourbridge Catenians for providing two fabulous trophies, and their ongoing support with the Award.

YEAR 9’S VISIT TO KENILWORTH CASTLE

On Friday 14 July, 31 of our GCSE History students embarked on a visit to Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire, accompanied by Miss Moody and Mr James in order to study the form and function of castles over the centuries in preparation for their examination in 2019.

Over the course of the day students were treated to a highly informative tour of the castle and its history, being guided by our local English Heritage guide who led us around the ruinous but romantic remains of a once significant and illustrious royal fortress and palace. Of particular note was the money that was once spent on this site by one Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester as he

attempted to woe the virgin Queen Elizabeth I. In his vain, but ostentatious attempt, he spent what equated to £79 million building luxurious apartments in a new wing of the palace as well as a spectacular garden (which still exists today) in order to win the hand and heart of the Queen.

Following on from this students were afforded the opportunity to walk the grounds again, this time taking in the contextual history of Kenilworth, studying the rise and fall of castles and their differing uses over the course of history.

A big well done to our students in Year 9 whose behaviour and attitude were exemplary throughout; with all enjoying a historical and cultural day out.

Congratulations to our Year 10 bronze group

The weekend of the 1 July saw 8 of our students completing their Duke of

Edinburgh’s bronze expedition. This is one module of a four module award where

students have taken part in

rigorous training and a practice

expedition, but now it was down

to them. It involved students

being self -sufficient for the

weekend. 6 hours of walking

activity carrying all the

equipment they need , followed

by pitching tents, cooking their

own food, camping overnight,

preparing their own breakfasts

then walking for another 6

hours. It was a challenging

weekend with students achieving

much more than they thought they could. All smiles as they finished and some

excellent comments from their assessors. Well done guys!

Other DofE news sees some more of our students completing their silver award

with the Merry Hill open group. Here they complete a three day, two night

expedition refining many of the skills picked up during their bronze award. Wishing

you the best of luck.

DofE applications for next year are now being processed. Should your child wish to

participate please fill in an application form and sign the parental letter located on

the DofE area of frog under the resources section.

NATIONAL ENTERPRISE CHALLENGE COMPETITION The college were lucky enough to secure an entry to the

National Enterprise Challenge competition. Representatives

from the National Enterprise Challenge joined all Year 9

students as they designed ‘My Perfect University, a

collaboration with University of Wolverhampton’s ‘Aspire to

HE Scheme’.

Students designed marketing materials, campus layouts,

marketing materials and developed course content as part

of a full day of activities.

During the final session, groups that had been identified

during the day presented to a specially assembled team of

judges. The winning presentation was made by a team

comprising of Edesia Guest, Molly Orr-Love, Kian Wilkinson

and Lewis Macdonald. These students will now represent the

college at the Regional Final in November.

CRICKET

Bishop Milner Year 7 Cricket Team competed brilliantly against

Hillcrest. Louie Parkes, Pav Nijar, Will Beards, Nathan Rigby,

Bradley Brown, Ed Libetan, Alan Momori, James Gibbons, Kian

Moane were all excellent.

DODGEBALL

Our year 8 boys and girls

dodgeball teams qualified

for the black country games

festival last month where

both teams were the

highest placed Dudley school

teams and finished 4th

overall so a great effort!

GROUP ATTENDANCE

Summer 2 Term

2017

Group % Attend

A1 94.3

A2 94.6

A3 95

A4 95.1

A5 95.3

B1 93.7

B2 94.9

B3 94.4

B4 95.2

B5 93.3

C1 93.7

C2 95.3

C3 93.6

C4 94.7

C5 95.9

J1 95.4

J2 94.8

J3 94.9

J4 95.7

J5 94.7

6A1 93.3

6A2 94.7

6B1 95.2

6B2 92.1

6C1 89.4

6C2 92.8

6J1 91.7

6J2 86.2

Totals 94.2

Winner of the House

Attendance trophy for

highest attendance

2016-17

JOHN - 95.1%

Highest attending tutor

groups per house:

C5 95.5%

J4 95.7%

A5 95.3%

6B1 95.2%

CONTACTING COLLEGE:

Post:

Bishop Milner Catholic College

Burton Road

DUDLEY

DY1 3BY

Telephone:

01384 889422

E-mail:

info@bmilner.dudley.sch.uk Web site:

www.bmilner.dudley.sch.uk

If you wish to contact a member

of staff, the easiest way is usually

by sending a note in to college with

your child. If you prefer, you may

ring reception and leave a message

or arrange an appointment.

All visitors to college must sign in

at Reception.

Please be aware that all our staff

have busy schedules and are unable

to meet with visitors except by

prior arrangement.

If your child is unwell and unable

to attend college, please telephone

college each day of absence.

Reception is staffed from 8.30am-

4.30pm daily. Outside these

hours, your message will be taken

by an answer phone. Please tell us

which tutor group your child is in.

If college is closed for any reason

(e.g. bad weather) this will be

announced on local radio, our

website and by an SMS message.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

AUTUMN TERM 2017

Mon 4 Sept PTD 1

Tues 5 Sept Y7 & 13 return

Wed 6 Sept Y8-12 return

Thurs 7 Sept Y12 Parents Info Evening

Mon 11 Sept Y8 Visit to the Black Country

Living Museum

Wed 20 Sept Y7 & Y12 Individual photographs

Wed 20 Sept Y13 UCAS Info Evening

Thurs 21 Sept 6.00-8.00pm Y7 Open Evening

Friday 22 Sept PTD 2

Mon 23 – Fri 27 October Half term

Mon 30 Oct Students return

Thurs 9 Nov 6.00-8.00pm Y12 Open Evening

Thurs 16 Nov 5.00-7.30 Y10 & 12 Careers Convention

Fri 17 Nov Y13 Mock Interviews

Thurs 23 Nov Y10 Parents Evening

Fri 24 Nov PTD 3

Thurs 7 Dec Y9 Parents Evening

Fri 8 Dec Y11 Sixth Form Taster Day

Fri 15 Dec Senior Citizens Party

Thurs 21 Dec Y7-13 Christmas Lunch

Thurs 21 Dec 6pm Carol Service

Fri 22 Dec End of term