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GUNNERSBURY CATHOLIC SCHOOL AD ALTIORA NEWSLETTER

WINTER TERM 2025

1 Vashishta Parupudi (7D)

Our Headteacher’s Christmas message:

Christmas is already upon us – where has the term gone! There are, however, few better times of year than the festive season. Matching the joy of Christmas are the brilliant news items within this latest edition of our newsletter, Ad Altiora. A publication of which the new director – Martina Youssef – and her team have continued its editorial excellence. My profound appreciation to them all for their commitment, efforts and undoubted talent. Advent is such a special time of year at Gunnersbury. We remember and celebrate the birth of Christ and the events leading up to this miracle across the school. During these Advent weeks, Gunnersbury focuses upon our understanding and contribution to Catholic Social Teaching. Our efforts until the end of term are centre upon: raising the profile of the poor; helping those of our community in need; caring for our environment. Such efforts include: cake sales for the charity Caritas; Christmas jumper ‘fees’ to raise money for the Shooting Stars Children’s Hospice; carol singing at neighbourhood care homes; clearing and planting to further our school environment. Our final week of term concludes with the organisation of Christmas parties for those within our local community they are always a raucous affair! The last weeks of this term also brings celebration of the achievements of our school community. A community whose efforts bring so much to celebrate. Our annual prize night takes place in the final week of term; an occasion at which we pay tribute to the successes of the previous year and show our appreciation for those individuals who have achieved so much and provided considerably to Gunnersbury. Over the last week we additionally hold our ‘Colours’ assemblies at which individuals in each year group are celebrated for their achievements and awarded with Colours Certificates. It is fabulous to have these occasions at which we can celebrate our fabulous community – not least our tremendous staff who enable so much for our students. To all within the Gunnersbury Catholic School community and beyond, I wish you a fantastic Christmas: one of utmost joy, good company and festive celebration. Take care and I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

Kevin S Burke Headteacher

In this Edition: Chaplaincy at Gunnersbury Bake Sale Christmas Jumper Day The Music Department The PE Department Art at Gunnersbury Year 7 Christmas Artwork Competition

Jack Petchey Awards Night Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge South Korean Exchange Trip Poland Trip Magistrates Club Chess Club Sixth Form Life

Letter from the director: Welcome back! With a new school year, there is fresh excitement, new faces, and, of course, another great series of newsletter editions. It's already been quite an eventful and inspiring term, full of incredible opportunities for our students, from unforgettable school trips and workshops to remarkable competitions, performances, and achievements across so many departments. This issue offers just a glimpse into the energy, talent, and enthusiasm that make our school community so special. This newsletter has indeed been a team effort in its production. I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all those involved in this work: for their hard work, creativity, and dedication. From writing and editing, layout, and design, this team has worked right through in putting together an edition which captures the spirit of our school. Their commitment behind the scenes has been nothing short of exceptional, and I am truly grateful for every contribution that shaped this edition. It is a real privilege to be taking on this new role of Newsletter Director for the first time. I feel incredibly honoured to help share the stories, achievements, and memorable moments which define our school community. In the last term alone, I have learned so much about the passion and teamwork that go into the making of this publication. It has also been an inspiration to work with such a talented and motivated group of students and staff. I look forward to further developing and refining the newsletter with this brilliant team, so each issue celebrates the very best of what our school has to offer. I hope you enjoy reading this edition as much as we enjoyed creating it. I also hope that it gives you a sense of pride in the hard work, determination, and creativity displayed by our students and staff throughout the term. As the Christmas holidays approach, let me take this opportunity to wish one and all a joyous, peaceful, and well-deserved break. Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to sharing many more amazing stories with you in the New Year.

Martina Youssef

Newsletter Director

Chaplaincy

We welcomed Bishop Jim this term for our 'Pilgrims of Hope' Celebration Masses and the blessing of our mosaic to mark the Jubilee Year! It was a momentous occasion and a wonderful way to begin the school year!

at Gunnersbury Our Chaplaincy Team have been busy bringing the Catholic faith to life in beautiful and meaningful ways, filling our school with prayer and moments of deep reflection.

World Kindness Day display created by the Chaplaincy team. Class Masses with Fr Keith every Friday.

Jubilee Celebration day - each class created its own chain to form a whole-school ‘Chain of Hope’.

The annual Poppy Appeal.

Our liturgical leaders delivered the gifts our school community have donated for the Catholic Children Society Christmas Appeal 2025 - thank you for your generosity! 5

Charity

Cake

Sales

Our two cake sales this term were an absolute triumph! Every year group pulled out all the stops, filling the tables with a mouthwatering array of homemade treats. Excitement buzzed through the school as a long, cheerful queue quickly formed, with students eagerly waiting to choose their favourite cakes. There was something for everyone, and the atmosphere was full of smiles, chatter, and sweet success. A huge thank you to everyone who baked, bought, and supported these fantastic charity events! Together, both cake sales raised a total of £587 for charity.

Christmas Jumper Day

Charity continued at Gunnersbury with our annual Christmas Jumper Day! All participating students donated £1 to the Shooting Star Charity. Thank you for spreading festive cheer and supporting a great cause. Merry Christmas, everyone—Ho, Ho, Ho!

The Music ADOREMUS CHOIR

Throughout this term, the Adoremus Choir have tirelessly demonstrated what it means to be Catholic and to embody the Catholic values of our school, giving their time and service to others.

On Sunday 21st September, the choir led The choir were delighted to be invited once again to the music at St Peter and Paul’s, perform at the Archconfraternity of St Stephen Mass Northfields, the parish church of at Westminster Cathedral in October. John Boniface, Associate Governor.

A beautiful start to Advent providing the music at the Catholic Children’s Society Benefactors’ Mass at St Etheldreda’s Church.

It was a pleasure to fill West Middlesex Hospital with Christmas carols, bringing joy to both staff & patients.

Adoremus Choir brought some Christmas cheer to Maryville Care Home, where they performed a selection of Christmas carols for the residents.

Department

CAROL SERVICE, WITH YEAR 7 MASSED CHOIR

Year 7 Massed Choir On Thursday 11th December our annual Carol Concert took place. It was a fantastic evening, demonstrating the dedication and enthusiasm our students have in all that they do here at Gunnersbury.

Adoremus Choir

Concert Band

Gunnersbury KS3 rugby Our boys enjoyed rugby through the Autumn term with a number of boys representing the school on Saturday mornings. Our Year 7 boys regularly had over 50 boys attending training and the A, B and C team thoroughly enjoyed their first experience representing the school when they travelled to Halliford school at the beginning of the term. A number of new students to the sport also got the chance to represent A and B sides in year 8 and 9 which was pleasing to see. We will resume rugby training in February in preparation for Rugby 7s.

PE Department Netball Y12 We’ve loved welcoming our new Year 12 players, who have quickly settled in alongside our experienced Year 13s. The team has shown fantastic teamwork and determination, securing victories in their last two matches. A brilliant effort all round—well done, girls! More exciting netball action to come after Christmas.

Football Our Year 7 football team got off to an emphatic start winning their first game against Bishopshault, Ruislip 10-0 and are through to the next round of the Middlesex Cup. Our year 8, 9 and 10 teams will begin their defense of their Hounslow Borough leagues next month.

Our Year 10 football team were runners up in their first futsal competition. The boys performed brilliantly throughout and narrowly lost in the final on penalties.

SPECIAL MENTIONS Some of our students represented their Gaelic Football clubs in the London Championships and were victorious in securing the title of U15 and U17 London Champions! Well done boys! 11

Art at Gunnersbury Our GCSE and A-Level students recently visited Kew Gardens, where they were inspired by the stunning greenery around them. They captured the beauty of nature through photography and then translated their observations and creativity onto paper, producing some truly beautiful artwork.

As part of Art Enrichment Week, Years 7, 8, and 9 created amazing candle holders. These beautiful designs were carefully painted in gold and blue. At home, the boys will light them and say a prayer for peace and hope, while thinking of Ukraine and all those who are suffering.

Year 7 Christmas Artwork Competition Using their God given talents, Year 7 students created beautiful artwork for the Carol Service programme.

1st

2nd

Filip Pajak 7D Vasishta Parupudi 7D

Nathan Rodrigues 7W

5th 4th

3rd

13 James Ogwal-Odongo 7R

Jayden Fernandes 7R

Alan Rak 7P

Matthew Abebe 10N, Ethan Ogungbuji 13PEM, Jacob O’Connor 13StCarlo, Mr S Hickey, Mr D Jukic Fritz Clyde Hisole 11N, Robert Pais 11N, Tommy Sullens 8N, Luke Buyers 8B, Kwaku Agyarko-Boateng 9R

Congratulations to this year’s Jack Petchey Achievement Award winners, who have each demonstrated outstanding commitment, positivity, and initiative within our school community. The Jack Petchey Award is a prestigious programme that celebrates young people who go above and beyond, whether through exceptional effort in their studies, dedicated participation in extracurricular activities, acts of kindness, or consistently being a role model to others. Winners are nominated by their peers and teachers, making the award a true reflection of the impact they have on those around them. We are incredibly proud of our recipients and grateful for the inspiration they continue to bring to our school.

JACK PETCHEY’S

” ! T U O “SPEAK CHALLENGE

hallenge is C t u O k a e p S y e h The Jack Petc programme g in k a e p s c li b u p and n an inspiring o d n o L s s ro c a ts n for Year 10 studed to build confidence, Essex, designe ills. Run k s ip h rs e d a le d n communication, aetchey Foundation in by the Jack P t, it offers a s ru T rs e k a e p S h par tnership wit op where students learn full-day worksh nd deliver power ful how to craft a speeches. Selected par t icip their schools inants then go on to represe grand finals h local, regional, and even nt venues. The c eld in prestigious London ha people to findllenge encourages young their voice, sp purpose, and eak with make a positiv e communities. impact on their

south Korean It has been an experience of a lifetime for students from both South Korea and the UK, who have enjoyed visiting each other’s countries and learning about cultures from the opposite side of the globe. Year 9 and 10 pupils from our school, have hosted their exchange partners in London and also travelled to South Korea. During their stay in South Korea, our students attended school and learned about daily life there, and the same experience was offered to the Korean students when they visited us.

Exchange TRIP

In preparation for the journey, students took part in team-building activities with the Korean students who visited their school, as well as preparing the presentation they later delivered in South Korea. When the South Korean students came to Gunnersbury Catholic School, they also gave a presentation in front of Years 7–9, who thoroughly enjoyed it.

Poland Day 1

The students flew from LHR to KRK. They then visited Krakow Old Town, St. Mary’s Basilica and Krakow Old University.

Day 2 On the morning of the second day, students visited the Jewish quarter and heard the testimony of a Holocaust survivior. In the afternoon students visited the Divine Mercy Convent and prayed in the chapel.

Trip Day 3 On the morning of day three, students undertook a very solemn and reflective trip to Auschwitz learning about the atrocities that took place there during the Holocaust. In the afternoon, students visited the home and Church of Pope John Paul II in Wadowice.

MAGISTRATES CLUB A huge congratulations to the Magistrates Club who participated in the Young Citizens Magistrates' Court Mock Trial Competition. Our Young Magistrates Club has been going from strength to strength this year, giving students the opportunity to see how justice works in our society. Each week, members take part in mock trials, explore real-world legal issues, and develop skills in critical thinking, public speaking, and teamwork. The club continues to inspire leaders with a passion for fairness, responsibility, and community.

CHESS CLUB On the 18th November, Years 7 to 12 participated in the British U19 competition and won! Congratulations to: Evan Elwell 12G, Feliks Kosterski 12G, Nathan Olano 12G, Dominik Kaim 11B, Alexander Royce 10R, Rico Wan 8B, and Benjamin Nakhla 7R. Very well done to them. The second round will take place in January. We wish them the best of luck!

Sixth Form Life Our Year 13 students proudly represented the school travelling to Twickenham to donate blood. They met the NHS Blood Donation team and learned about the vital role donors play in saving lives. We are incredibly proud of their maturity, compassion, and commitment to giving back to the community. Well done to all involved for doing their bit for the NHS. The first of two special breakfasts for our new Year 12 students which are hosted at the start of the year. The event provided a relaxed and supportive space for them to connect with Year 13s—students who were in their position just last year—and to share experiences, advice, and encouragement. We were fortunate and privileged to welcome Marvey to our school, giving students a fascinating insight into life as a medical student. Currently in her third year of Medicine at King’s College London, Marvey shared her experiences and offered valuable advice to our aspiring medics and dentists. It was inspiring for our students to hear firsthand what studying medicine entails and the dedication required to pursue this path.

At the start of Year 12, our students took part in a team-building day designed to help them get to know their classmates and make new friends. Through a variety of fun and challenging activities, students worked together, developed teamwork skills, and began building the strong connections that will support them throughout their Sixth Form journey. We were lucky to welcome Martin O’Halloran, Head of the Temperate Collection at Kew Gardens, to our school. He shared expert advice on which seeds to plant and how to make green spaces bloom beautifully this spring, inspiring our Laudato Si’ to bring their gardens to life.

Our Year 12 ventured to Kensington Olympia for the University and Apprenticeship Fair. The event gave them the chance to speak directly with leading universities and apprenticeship organisations, exploring a wide range of options and gaining valuable insights to plan their next steps.

Credits: Newsletter Director Martina Youssef (12T) Our Team Anais Fernandez Pequeno (12D) Isabella Marsh (12T) Chris Joseph Said-Mparmpat (12P) Selina Shudar (12T) Parth Tewari (12P) Vladyslav Betlii (10P) Filip Bystrzynski (10R) Radcliffe Panares (10B) Dominic Feeney (9P) Benedict Hullis (9W) Tadei Smytsniuk (9P) Lucas Fisseha Negasi (8D) Kerem Ozdogar (8W) Aurelien Ryder (8W) Tommy Sullens (8N) Szymon Ksiazek (7B) Alexander Rogoz (7R)

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