Communications Home

Uniform Expectations

Please find below some helpful reminders regarding our well-established uniform expectations. You can also refer to our uniform protocol which can be found on our website under the parent link “Dressing for Excellence.”

Our college uniform policy exists to encourage “a sense of equality and cohesion where clothing is not used to highlight levels of family income, create social hierarchies or label students as members of identity groups (other than religious) since this is at odds with the culture of the college.”

Uniform Expectations:

• 1. School Shoes: Plain black flat leather (or faux leather) shoes of a formal and traditional style (no boots, trainers/sports shoes, canvas shoes or other footwear such as vans/converse/plimsolls or similar). Shoes must not display flashings or logos of any kind. Students with a medical note may be allowed to wear suitable alternatives (for a short period of time), but they will also need to be black and discrete. This should be agreed with Mrs Verhofstadt in advance of the college day.
• 2. School Skirt: Smart, pleated, grey skirt of knee length; not rolled or altered in anyway.
• 3. School Trousers: Smart, tailored, plain black trousers only. Plain style belts with small buckles are allowed.
• 4. School Jumpers: While the blazer is compulsory, an optional plain black V neck jumper (no logo) can be worn under the blazer but not instead of during colder seasons. Jumpers must not be worn during the summer term and the college will let students know each year when jumpers can and can’t be worn.
• 5. School Socks: Socks must be black, in line with uniform expectations. Socks should be ankle or knee length. Students should bring spare socks on the days they have PE if they wish to wear white socks with their sports trainers.
• 6. School Bags: All bags should be sensible and practical and have the capacity to hold textbooks, folders and equipment. Fashion bags or designer bags / handbags are not permitted. Separate PE bags are encouraged to be used.
• 7. Hairstyles: Hair or hair extensions must be a natural colour. Haircuts must not be shorter than number 2. No extreme hairstyles or colours are permitted.
• 8. Overcoats/Jackets: A plain style in a single dark colour free of markings. No fashion jackets. Hooded sweatshirts/tops should not be brought into college. Students must wear their college blazers or carry it with them during warmer weather (announcements will be made when this will come into effect).
• 9. Make up: No makeup, nail polish or false nails/eyelashes.
• 10. Jewellery / Piercings: Students are allowed to wear a single small stud in each ear. The only jewellery that is allowed is a wristwatch. Facial piercings are not permitted and will need to be removed.

Dressing in a smart and professional way prepares students for success in the wider world of further education and work. We work within the ‘St Bens sharp’ principle; ‘sharp tie’, ‘top button done up’, ‘Blazers on’, ‘skirts unrolled’, ‘shirts tucked in’.

We would like to thank you for your continued support in maintaining the high standards we expect in our college.

Online Safety

As children all over the country return to school, it is important to ensure that they are safe online as they will be using apps and information from the internet on a regular basis.

We hope that you will find the information detailed below useful, and should you have any concerns about interactions that your child is engaging in online, please contact a member of our safeguarding team, and we will be happy to advise you.

Our Safeguarding Team:

• Mrs M Davis – Assistant Principal
• Mrs S Pavey – Pastoral Lead
• Miss R Wilson – Pastoral Lead

Monitoring Your Child Online and Advice for Parents/Carers:

Step-by-step instructions for setting up a child’s email on a Google account can be found at: Google Support

Advice for parents/carers regarding online risks can be found in a variety of places online, but we think the following websites are particularly useful:

• NSPCC Online Safety
• 11 - 13-year-olds
• 14 plus

Setting Up Devices:

There are many different settings and devices to be aware of as a parent/carer, and sometimes finding help in terms of monitoring these can be tricky. The ‘Internet Matters’ website has a range of useful guides to help and support parents/carers in this – please find some of them below:

• Gaming Consoles
• Smartphones
• Broadband and Mobile Networks
• Entertainment and Search Engines

Social Media:

Social media is often a minefield in terms of privacy settings and interactions online. Generally, all privacy settings have to be actively set up, rather than being automatically enabled when an account is created, and this changes frequently as platforms such as TikTok update their features. This clearly requires parents/carers to be vigilant about the social media that their children are engaging with. Please discuss this with your child so they can understand the dangers and the safety measures that you are protecting them with.

Help and support with this can be found here: Internet Matters - Social Media

Gaming:

Parental knowledge of games and their online world is often much less than their children. There is a lot of peer pressure on children to be part of certain games online, and the website ‘Taming Gaming’ can provide some insight and support for parents/carers at home.

Taming Gaming

We do hope that you find this information to be of use and please do not hesitate to contact any member of the safeguarding or pastoral teams should you wish to discuss anything further.

College Attendance Updates – 2024-25

I am writing to you because the Department of Education (DfE) has introduced new guidance for Schools and Local Authorities (LAs) for managing school attendance. They have also introduced a new national framework for penalty notices and amended the law. These changes came into effect from 19th August 2024, and all schools and colleges across the country will be expected to follow the new statutory guidance.

Support First

The importance of regular attendance at college cannot be stressed enough. All schools are expected to promote good attendance and provide support if a child is not attending regularly. This may mean that we raise the issue of attendance even if your child has only had a couple of days off ill. This is not because we don’t believe you, but because working with you, we can step in early to help prevent patterns of absence from developing. Together, we may identify other underlying issues that are making your child reluctant to attend college and be able to help you and your child. For this to be successful, we need to work together.

National Framework for Penalty Notices

To provide consistency, the Government has introduced a new national framework for unauthorised absence. The threshold for when a school should consider next steps is 10 sessions (5 college days) of unauthorised absence in a rolling period of 10 college weeks. (A school week means any week in which there is at least one possible session of attendance.) This can be made up of any form of unauthorised absence including term-time holidays, late after close (attendance code U) of register (9:30 am), and odd days of unauthorised absence (attendance code O) which add up to 5 days within a 10-week period.

At this point, the College will consider if it is likely that the attendance will improve with further support. They may then decide to refer the case to the LA for formal monitoring. This may proceed to legal action if the attendance does not improve.

Education Penalty Notices are issued to parents of statutory school age children. They can be issued to each parent or carer who is deemed liable for the child’s absence from college. The new costs and process are outlined below:

• First Offence: The first time a Penalty Notice is issued for Term Time Leave or Irregular Attendance, the amount will be: £160 per parent, per child paid within 28 days. Reduced to £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days.
• Second Offence (within 3 years): The second time a Penalty Notice is issued for Term Time Leave or Irregular Attendance, the amount will be: £160 per parent, per child paid within 28 days.
• Third Offence and Any Further Offences (within 3 years): The third time an offence is committed for Term Time Leave or Irregular Attendance, a Penalty Notice will not be issued, and the case will be presented straight to the Magistrates’ Court.

Term Time Holidays

Pupils should not be taken out of college during term time unless it is unavoidable. Schools are required to consider requests for leave of absence in term time and should only approve the leave if there are exceptional circumstances. If a request for leave is denied and the student is absent for 5 days or more, then the College is expected to refer the case to the LA.

The LA will issue a penalty notice with no requirement for a formal warning to be issued. Penalty notices can also be issued where a student is absent for repeated incidents of unauthorised leave in term time that fall below the 5-day threshold. In every case, the request for the Penalty Notice comes in from the College to the LA for the process to be completed.

New Registration Codes

The DfE have amended some of the codes to include numbers as well as letters. These new codes are to enable Schools / Colleges, LA and the DfE to better understand the reasons for absence. For example:

• Code C: Leave of absence for exceptional circumstance.
• Code C1: Leave of absence for the purpose of participating in a regulated performance.

The important thing for you as a parent/carer is still the C code which means that the absence was authorised.

There is also a new code which has been introduced for students who are on the College roll but are temporarily being provided with an alternative education by the local authority, such as a home tutor.

• Code K: Attending education provision arranged by the local authority.

Full details of all of the changes can be found by visiting the Government webpage: Government Guidance on College Attendance

Many thanks for your support in this matter.

Dear Parent/Carer,

We are writing to seek your support in addressing a matter of significant concern regarding the interactions of our students with social media creators outside of college premises.

It has come to our attention that some creators are engaging with students and subsequently posting content that is inappropriate and potentially harmful. Such actions not only cast the students in a negative light but also risk bringing our college into disrepute.

You may recall we drew your attention to the activities of a social media creator known as @younghakzz in last week’s newsletter. This individual has been reported on multiple occasions for asking students questions of a violent and sexual nature. These incidents have been brought to the attention of the Colchester police.

We urge you to speak with your children about the importance of avoiding interactions with such individuals and to reinforce the need for caution when engaging with social media. Furthermore, please be aware that if a student features in such videos whilst wearing our uniform and makes negative references to other students or staff, this will be addressed in accordance with our behaviour policy.

We take these matters very seriously in order to maintain a respectful and safe environment for everyone at our college. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated. Together, we can ensure a safe and respectful environment for all our students.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

As part of your child’s curriculum experience this year, certain aspects of RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) will be taught in RE, Science and PSHE lessons in all year groups.

RSE Policy

Our Relationships and Sex Education policy outlines the principles underpinning our lessons on these topics. Please find a link to the policy here: RSE Policy

Curriculum Guidelines

The programmes of study for RE and PSHE have been designed in accordance with the Curriculum Directory issued by the Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales and the PSHE Association and are appropriate for students’ age and maturity. We have followed closely the guidance given by the Brentwood Diocese in constructing our schemes of work. The teaching of the Roman Catholic Church informs our Sex Education programme in line with the college policy regarding such matters.

Parental Rights

Parents have the right to withdraw their child from some Sex Education lessons after a discussion with the Principal. If you wish to exercise this right, please complete the electronic form here: Electronic Form.

Response

There is no need to respond to the form if you wish your child to receive Relationships and Sex Education.

Our annual Christmas lunch will be served over two days this year 

Years 7, 9 & 11 on Tuesday 10th December Years 8 & 10 on Thursday 12th December 

As usual students will eat with their forms and their form tutor. The menu will be: 

A drink and a plastic free Christmas cracker will also be included with the meal. 

The price is £4.25 which you will need to pay by ParentPay under the ‘Christmas Lunch’ tab, please indicate your menu choice in the ‘notes’ box. The choices are as follows: 

1 = Turkey and festive chocolate muffin 

2 = Turkey and Christmas pudding 

3 = Vegan/Vegetarian Christmas Lunch 

4 = Gluten Free Christmas Lunch 

Please make your payment by Monday 2nd December 2024 if you wish your child to receive a Christmas lunch. 

If you do not have a ParentPay account, please contact the school office and they will issue you with a barcoded letter which you can use to pay at any Pay Point outlet 

Students who receive free school meals will automatically receive a Christmas lunch, the office team will collect their menu choice from them over the coming days. 

If your child does not wish to have Christmas lunch, there will be a small selection of items available from the kitchen at lunchtime. There will be a limited food service at break time.

As part of the preparations for our upcoming trip to France, I would like to invite you to an information meeting for parents/carers and students on Wednesday 29th January at 6.00 pm in the Manning Hall to give you information regarding the travel arrangements and itinerary for our trip to the Opal Coast in March. We will also be able to give advice about pocket money and what to pack.

Please could I remind you to ensure that you have made payments for the trip, provided all information concerning dietary requirements / medical details / emergency contact numbers and that your son/daughter’s passport and GHIC/EHIC Health Card are up to date.

We kindly ask that you check your child's passport to ensure it meets the necessary requirements:

1.       Passport Issue Date: Please ensure that the issue date of your child's passport is less than 10 years from our date of departure to France (Monday, 10th March 2024).

2.       Validity: Your child's passport must also be valid for at least three months beyond the date of departure from France (Friday, 14th March 2024).

If your child does not hold a UK passport, they may require a visa to enter France. Please ensure that you contact the French Consulate for more information and to arrange this, if necessary.

Since all students are required to have their own valid passport, please bring your child’s passport to the information evening so that we can make a copy for our records.

If you require any further information at this stage please contact me at the college. 

Dear Parent/Carer,

I am writing to inform you about the content of English lessons and English home learning for year 7 students as well as the pedagogy that underpins our approach.

At St Benedict’s, we begin year 7 with a ‘fast-read’ of a fiction book. This approach is based on recent research from the University of Sussex, which involved English teachers reading novels at a faster pace than usual in 12 weeks. The researchers found that, as a result of this, students made 8.5 months’ average progress, with poorer readers making 16 months’ progress.

Students’ reading age is something that we continuously work on improving in all year groups. This is important to access GCSEs in all subjects. Students need a reading age of 15 years and 8 months to be able to fully access their GCSE papers in all subjects, including maths!

One significant change from primary to secondary school is the volume of non-fiction texts students will read in almost every subject. This is a contributing consideration to the English department’s choice of the fiction novel – October, October by Katya Balen – to help your child with their transition into secondary school. You can read more about the way the study was successful here.

Your child might also talk to you about:

Home Learning

Whilst we are fast reading in class, students will be set home learning tasks that link to October, October. These will be creative or reflective tasks that might ask students to give their opinion or create something in response to the novel, its characters and the ideas. This will normally take no more than 30 minutes per week. In addition, all students are expected to complete 30 minutes careful reading per fortnight using Sparx Reader – this is part of our whole school literacy approach.

Library Lessons

Year 7 students will spend one of their lessons per fortnight in our college Library where they will be expected to read independently as well as regularly being provided with the opportunity to read aloud to a member of our support staff. Students may bring in a book from home to read for this lesson or they can borrow books from the wide selection we have available.

The 200 Word Challenge

We use one of our fortnightly lessons to complete ‘The 200 Word Challenge’ - students are given a brief for a piece of writing – it could be fiction or non-fiction. They are asked to try to write 200 words in 25 minutes, building their stamina, confidence and knowledge of a range of genres and forms.

We would encourage you to talk to your child about what they are reading and writing. Furthermore, ask your child to read it out loud to you at home to practise their reading accuracy and auracy. Making confident readers is the bedrock of being successful students.

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact your child’s English teacher, or me directly at p.bishop@Stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk.

Yours sincerely,
Mrs P Bishop
Head of Communication Faculty

The college are delighted to offer year 7 students the opportunity to participate in a variety of outdoor and adventurous activities. It is our intention to take students to Mersea Outdoors centre for outdoor learning, enabling them to experience a wider range of physical activities. Here, students will be led by fully qualified instructors while enjoying a range of activities from; climbing, swimming, high ropes, low ropes, aerial runway, archery, mountain biking, all terrain boarding, adventure courses and various team building activities. The opportunity will provide students with an excellent insight into activities that they may not have experienced before, allowing them to learn new skills. Students will also be developing team building and social skills throughout the entire experience. 

The total cost per student for the visit will be £205 which includes board, lodging and activities which is chargeable to parents. Although part of this cost is a voluntary contribution, I do need to point out that it is probable that the visit will not take place unless all parents, who are able, are willing to contribute by the deadline given. Should the college cancel the visit, a full refund will be made, however all monies are non-refundable should you cancel the place yourself. Our preferred method of payment is using the Parent Pay website, where you can pay online using your credit or debit card. 

In order to finalise our booking with Mersea Outdoors it is essential that we know the number of students who would like to take part. Therefore, we would be grateful if you could discuss the above mentioned trip with your child. If you would like your child to attend the trip please complete consent and other required information along with a non-refundable deposit of £45, to be paid via ParentPay by 30th November 2024. 

The college would not want the cost to prevent any student from attending. If you are concerned about meeting the cost of the trip please contact the Year 7 Pastoral Lead Mrs F Jennings by 15th November 2024 to apply for financial assistance. 

You will receive confirmation of your child’s place on the trip and details of four further instalments of £45 to be paid in accordance with the following schedule: 

£40 by 31st December 2024 

£40 by 31st January 2025 

£40 by 29th February 2025 

£40 by 28th March 2025 

By applying for this trip, the college expects that parents feel that their child has the necessary sense of responsibility and general maturity to conduct themselves in a safe and appropriate 

manner throughout the duration of the trip. The college reserves the right to refuse any student a place if their conduct in the future, leading up to the trip, is unacceptable. 

Below is a preliminary outline of the trip details: 

▪ VENUE: Mersea Outdoor Centre, East Mersea, Colchester, CO5 8SX 

▪ DATES: Monday 7th July – Wednesday 9th July 2025 

▪ TRAVEL: Parents are required to drop off and collect students 

directly from Mersea Outdoor Centre. 

This is to ensure that the trip costs are kept to a minimum. It is anticipated that students will need dropping off on Monday 7th July at 8.45 am and collecting on Wednesday 9th July at 3.00 pm. 

▪ AGENDA: Three days of activities and two nights camping. 

Equipment list to follow 

• COST: £205 An initial deposit of £45 will be required to secure the booking. 

If the trip is oversubscribed, a random ballot will be held to determine which students are offered places. 

If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to contact me at St Benedict’s College.

St Benedict’s has been selected to take part in a pilot scheme to encourage students to learn musical instruments that are becoming less commonly played in Essex schools. This scheme is fully funded by Essex Music Service and there is no financial cost to yourself.

We have 12 spaces available for students to learn to play the flute.  Lessons will take place in groups of three for 30 minutes each week and will be provided by our excellent flute tutor from Essex Music Service. If you would like to register your interest for your child to take part in this scheme, please complete this form  by 9.00 am Friday 6th December.  If interest exceeds the number of spaces available, places will be allocated by random ballot.

The scheme will last for two terms and consist of 20 lessons and includes free hire of the flute.  In the second term students will need to attend St Benedict’s lunchtime band on a Wednesday at 2.00 pm to support their progression.

This scheme is a considerable financial investment in your child, and we need you to be fully aware and supportive of the scheme before signing them up.  We suggest that a beginner should be practising their instrument at home regularly, at least 15 minutes, 5 times a week.  Students will need to take their instrument home and transport it to school for lessons and ensemble rehearsals.

If you have any questions with regards this opportunity, please do not hesitate to contact me via email; s.orme@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk

Dear Parent/Carer,

Sparx Reader

As part of St Benedict’s whole college literacy strategy, we have once again partnered with Sparx Reader. Students will be using the platform weekly to enhance their reading ability and literacy skills.

From Friday 13th September, your child will use Sparx Reader to complete weekly reading. Your child’s home learning will be set on Friday at 9.00 am and due the following Friday at 9.00 am each week. This will be in addition to any other home learning for English lessons.

Sparx Reader helps every student to achieve regular independent reading, which is incredibly important for building the vital literacy skills needed to access KS3 curriculums and GCSE exam papers in every subject.

Students can choose from a range of ebooks at their appropriate level. As they read, they will answer questions to check they are reading carefully. Careful readers earn points meaning they can track their progress and climb the league table!

Motivated readers who demonstrate consistent, careful reading can unlock Gold Reader status, which means they can read any paper book from the library or from home by scanning its barcode.

How do they log in?

• Students log in at www.sparxreader.com on any smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer using their college Microsoft 365 account.

What devices are supported?

• Your child can access Sparx Reader on any device that connects to the internet with a web browser.
• Sparx Reader clubs are currently run on Tuesday from 8:00 am to 8:45 am in Room 6 and on Thursday from 3:30 pm to 4:15 pm in the Library.

How can I support my child with their reading?

• Sparx Reader adapts to each student’s reading level, so it’s important that you do not help by answering questions for them. If you help them, Sparx Reader might think they are a very strong reader and display books that are too difficult.
• You can help to provide a quiet space for your child to focus on their reading each week.
• Encourage your child to read their book aloud to you.
• The best way to support your child is to ask them about the book they are reading; discuss what aspects they are enjoying or what characters and events they have recently read about.

If you require any further information or have any questions, please contact me by email at c.hunter@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs C Hunter
Teacher of English & Literacy Coordinator

Dear Parent/Carer,

Year 8 History Trip to the Imperial War Museum, London – Tuesday 18^th March 2025 – Form Groups S T B

We are very pleased to inform you that we have organised a visit to the Imperial War Museum for year 8 students to complement their 20th-century history unit. The visit will include guided tours around the museum, as well as a documentary challenge where students will have the opportunity to use the museum's resources to create their own mini historical documentaries!

Students will travel to London by coach, which will leave college at 7:30 am and should arrive back at college around 5:30 pm depending on traffic. The total cost of the visit will be £35.50 per student. This covers the cost of coach travel, entrance to the museum, and the documentary challenge. Should the college cancel the visit, a full refund will be made; however, all monies are non-refundable should you cancel the place yourself.

If you would like your child to take part, please pay using ParentPay by Friday 29^th November 2024. If we do not receive sufficient interest and payment for the trip by the deadline, it is probable that the trip will not go ahead. Consent will be completed as part of the ParentPay process. The maximum number of places available is 60, and should the trip be oversubscribed, places will be allocated by ballot. The college reserves the right to refuse any student a place if their conduct leading up to the trip is unacceptable.

The college would not want the cost to prevent any student from attending. If you feel that you are in such a position, please contact your child’s pastoral lead within one week of receiving this letter, and we will endeavour to assist so that all students have an opportunity to attend.

Students need to wear college uniform and should bring a waterproof jacket in case of wet weather. Students will need to bring a packed lunch; this will be provided for students in receipt of free school meals.

I am sure that the visit will be an exciting and rewarding experience for your child and that it will give them the opportunity to gain a real insight into some aspects of war in the 20th century.

If you have any queries regarding this trip, please email trips@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk or call the college office on 01206 549222.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs J Ment
Teacher of History

Dear Parent/Carer,

Year 8 History Trip to the Imperial War Museum, London – Thursday 3^rd April 2025 – Form Groups E N D

We are very pleased to inform you that we have organised a visit to the Imperial War Museum for year 8 students to complement their 20th-century history unit. The visit will include guided tours around the museum, as well as a documentary challenge where students will have the opportunity to use the museum's resources to create their own mini historical documentaries!

Students will travel to London by coach, which will leave college at 7:30 am and should arrive back at college around 5:30 pm depending on traffic. The total cost of the visit will be £35.50 per student. This covers the cost of coach travel, entrance to the museum, and the documentary challenge. Should the college cancel the visit, a full refund will be made; however, all monies are non-refundable should you cancel the place yourself.

If you would like your child to take part, please pay using ParentPay by Friday 29^th November 2024. If we do not receive sufficient interest and payment for the trip by the deadline, it is probable that the trip will not go ahead. Consent will be completed as part of the ParentPay process. The maximum number of places available is 60, and should the trip be oversubscribed, places will be allocated by ballot. The college reserves the right to refuse any student a place if their conduct leading up to the trip is unacceptable.

The college would not want the cost to prevent any student from attending. If you feel that you are in such a position, please contact your child’s pastoral lead within one week of receiving this letter, and we will endeavour to assist so that all students have an opportunity to attend.

Students need to wear college uniform and should bring a waterproof jacket in case of wet weather. Students will need to bring a packed lunch; this will be provided for students in receipt of free school meals.

I am sure that the visit will be an exciting and rewarding experience for your child and that it will give them the opportunity to gain a real insight into some aspects of war in the 20th century.

If you have any queries regarding this trip, please email trips@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk or call the college office on 01206 549222.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs J Ment
Teacher of History

Sparx Reader

As part of St Benedict’s whole college literacy strategy, we have once again partnered with Sparx Reader. Students will be using the platform weekly to enhance their reading ability and literacy skills.

From Friday 13th September, your child will use Sparx Reader to complete weekly reading. Your child’s home learning will be set on Friday at 9.00 am and due the following Friday at 9.00 am each week. This will be in addition to any other home learning for English lessons.

Sparx Reader helps every student to achieve regular independent reading, which is incredibly important for building the vital literacy skills needed to access KS3 curriculums and GCSE exam papers in every subject.

Students can choose from a range of ebooks at their appropriate level. As they read, they will answer questions to check they are reading carefully. Careful readers earn points meaning they can track their progress and climb the league table!

Motivated readers who demonstrate consistent, careful reading can unlock Gold Reader which means they can read any paper book from the library or from home by scanning its barcode.

How do they log in?

• Students log in at www.sparxreader.com on any smart phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer using their college Microsoft 365 account.

What devices are supported?

• Your child can access Sparx Reader on any device that connects to the internet with a web browser.
• Sparx Reader clubs are currently run on Tuesday at 8.00 am - 8.45 am in Room 6 and on Thursday at 3.30 pm - 4.15 pm in the Library.

How can I support my child with their reading?

• Sparx Reader adapts to each student’s reading level, so it’s important that you do not help by answering questions for them. If you help them, Sparx Reader might think they are a very strong reader and display books that are too difficult.
• You can help to provide a quiet space for your child to focus on their reading each week.
• Encourage your child to read their book aloud to you.
• The best way to support your child is to ask them about the book they are reading; what aspects they are enjoying, or what characters and events they have recently read about.

If you require any further information or have any questions, please contact me by email at c.hunter@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk

Yours faithfully,
Mrs C Hunter
Teacher of English & Literacy Coordinator

Year 9/10/11 GCSE Food Trip - Walk-Eat-Talk-Eat Tour of London

Students will get a multi-cultural experience of how food is made, served, and tastes across the globe – Friday 6^th December 2024

We are pleased to inform you that we are planning a trip to London ‘A Walking Tour’ where different foods will be sampled at each destination on Friday 6^th December 2024.

The total cost of the trip will be £64.50. This is to cover the cost of transport to and from college, the guided walking tour, and all the food that will be consumed.

Students will have the day to do primary research, giving them a deeper understanding of the appearance, texture, taste, and aroma of foods from different cultures, which is invaluable when studying food.

We are confident the trip will be an exciting and rewarding experience for all students and will give them the opportunity to gain valuable experience in food preparation, nutrition, presentation, as well as tasting an array of different foods.

Trip Details

• Departure from St Benedict’s: 8.00 am by coach
• Return to college: 5.00 pm
• If the college cancels the trip, a full refund will be provided. However, all payments are non-refundable if you cancel the place yourself.

Payment and Consent

If you would like your child to participate, please pay using ParentPay by 30^th September 2024 with a deposit of £32.50, and the second installment of £32.00 by 30^th October 2024. If we do not receive sufficient interest and payment by the deadline, it is probable that the trip will not be able to go ahead. Consent will be completed as part of the ParentPay process.

The maximum number of places available is 48, and if oversubscribed, places on the trip will be allocated by ballot. The college reserves the right to refuse any student a place if their conduct leading up to the trip is unacceptable.

The college would not want cost to prevent any student from attending. If you are in such a position, please contact your child’s pastoral lead within one week of receiving this letter, and we will endeavor to assist so that all students have an opportunity to attend.

Additional Information

• Students will not need to bring a packed lunch but may wish to bring a drink.
• Students wishing to make small purchases may do so, though it is not essential to the trip.
• Students are required to wear uniform on this trip.

If you have any queries regarding this trip, please email trips@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk or call the college office on 01206 549222.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs D Waters
Teacher of Food Technology

We are very pleased to inform you that we have organised a retreat for Year 9 students to Walsingham House in Abbotswick. The retreat will focus on the theme of “What is truly important” and will explore how students can make their faith a more central part of their lives. The retreat will combine moments of prayer and reflection with engaging and thought-provoking workshops.

Trip Details

• Travel: Students will travel by minibus, departing from college at 8:15 am and should return around 4:00 pm, depending on traffic.
• Cost: The trip is completely free for all students, with all costs covered by the college.
• Allocation: If the trip is oversubscribed, places will be allocated by ballot.

Parental Consent

If you would like your child to take part in this visit, please complete the parental consent and medical form, which are available via ParentPay, by Friday, 29th November 2024.

Important Notes

• Dress Code: Students must wear their school uniform as the trip will take place during college hours.
• Weather: Please ensure your child brings a waterproof jacket in case of wet weather.
• Lunch: Your child will need to bring a packed lunch. Students entitled to free school meals will be provided with a packed lunch.

We are confident that this visit will be an exciting and rewarding experience for your child, providing an opportunity to reflect on their faith and what is truly important in life.

We are very pleased to inform you that we have organised a retreat for Year 9 students to Walsingham House in Abbotswick. The retreat will focus on the theme of “What is truly important” and will explore how students can make their faith a more central part of their lives. The retreat will combine moments of prayer and reflection with engaging and thought-provoking workshops.

Trip Details

• Travel: Students will travel by minibus, departing from college at 8:15 am and should return around 4:00 pm, depending on traffic.
• Cost: The trip is completely free for all students, with all costs covered by the college.
• Allocation: If the trip is oversubscribed, places will be allocated by ballot.

Parental Consent

If you would like your child to take part in this visit, please complete the parental consent and medical form, which are available via ParentPay, by Friday, 29th November 2024.

Important Notes

• Dress Code: Students must wear their school uniform as the trip will take place during college hours.
• Weather: Please ensure your child brings a waterproof jacket in case of wet weather.
• Lunch: Your child will need to bring a packed lunch. Students entitled to free school meals will be provided with a packed lunch.

We are confident that this visit will be an exciting and rewarding experience for your child, providing an opportunity to reflect on their faith and what is truly important in life.

Trip to Wembley Arena, London for Flame congress 2025, Saturday 15th March 2025

We are very pleased to inform you that we have organised a trip to Flame congress which takes place in the Wembley Arena, London. The event is run by Cymfed (the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation) and is the largest gathering of young Catholics in England and Wales. The event will combine moments of prayer and reflection with talks from motivational speakers and live music performances.

Students will travel to Wembley Arena by coach which will leave college at 8.00am and should arrive back to college around 8.30 pm depending on traffic. The trip will cost £13.50 per student and has been heavily subsidised by the college.

If you would like your child to take part in this visit, please complete the parental consent and medical form, which are available via ParentPay, by Friday 31st January 2025.

The trip is limited to 26 students. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Students may wear non-uniform as it is a weekend trip and should bring a waterproof jacket in case of wet weather. Your child will also require a packed lunch. There will be a small amount of food and drink available to purchase in the Arena but a packed lunch and a water bottle is recommended.

I am sure that the visit will be an exciting and rewarding experience for your child and that it will give them the opportunity to engage in their faith more fully and share in this experience with thousands of other young Catholics.

Year 9/10/11 GCSE Food Trip - Walk-Eat-Talk-Eat Tour of London

Students will get a multi-cultural experience of how food is made, served, and tastes across the globe – Friday 6^th December 2024

We are pleased to inform you that we are planning a trip to London ‘A Walking Tour’ where different foods will be sampled at each destination on Friday 6^th December 2024.

The total cost of the trip will be £64.50. This is to cover the cost of transport to and from college, the guided walking tour, and all the food that will be consumed.

Students will have the day to do primary research, giving them a deeper understanding of the appearance, texture, taste, and aroma of foods from different cultures, which is invaluable when studying food.

We are confident the trip will be an exciting and rewarding experience for all students and will give them the opportunity to gain valuable experience in food preparation, nutrition, presentation, as well as tasting an array of different foods.

Trip Details

• Departure from St Benedict’s: 8.00 am by coach
• Return to college: 5.00 pm
• If the college cancels the trip, a full refund will be provided. However, all payments are non-refundable if you cancel the place yourself.

Payment and Consent

If you would like your child to participate, please pay using ParentPay by 30^th September 2024 with a deposit of £32.50, and the second installment of £32.00 by 30^th October 2024. If we do not receive sufficient interest and payment by the deadline, it is probable that the trip will not be able to go ahead. Consent will be completed as part of the ParentPay process.

The maximum number of places available is 48, and if oversubscribed, places on the trip will be allocated by ballot. The college reserves the right to refuse any student a place if their conduct leading up to the trip is unacceptable.

The college would not want cost to prevent any student from attending. If you are in such a position, please contact your child’s pastoral lead within one week of receiving this letter, and we will endeavor to assist so that all students have an opportunity to attend.

Additional Information

• Students will not need to bring a packed lunch but may wish to bring a drink.
• Students wishing to make small purchases may do so, though it is not essential to the trip.
• Students are required to wear uniform on this trip.

If you have any queries regarding this trip, please email trips@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk or call the college office on 01206 549222.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs D Waters
Teacher of Food Technology

As part of St Benedict’s whole college literacy strategy, we have once again partnered with Sparx Reader. Students will be using the platform weekly to enhance their reading ability and literacy skills.

From Friday 13^th September, your child will use Sparx Reader to complete weekly reading. Your child’s home learning will be set on Friday at 9.00 am and due the following Friday at 9.00 am each week. This will be in addition to any other home learning for English lessons.

Sparx Reader helps every student to achieve regular independent reading, which is incredibly important for building the vital literacy skills needed to access KS3 curriculums and GCSE exam papers in every subject.

Students can choose from a range of ebooks at their appropriate level. As they read, they will answer questions to check they are reading carefully. Careful readers earn points, meaning they can track their progress and climb the league table!

Motivated readers who demonstrate consistent, careful reading can unlock Gold Reader, which means they can read any paper book from the library or from home by scanning its barcode.

How do they log in?

• Students log in at www.sparxreader.com on any smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer using their college Microsoft 365 account.

What devices are supported?

• Your child can access Sparx Reader on any device that connects to the internet with a web browser.
• Sparx Reader clubs are currently run on Tuesday at 8.00 am - 8.45 am in Room 6 and on Thursday at 3.30 pm - 4.15 pm in the Library.

How can I support my child with their reading?

• Sparx Reader adapts to each student’s reading level, so it’s important that you do not help by answering questions for them. If you help them, Sparx Reader might think they are a very strong reader and display books that are too difficult.
• You can help to provide a quiet space for your child to focus on their reading each week.
• Encourage your child to read their book aloud to you.
• The best way to support your child is to ask them about the book they are reading; what aspects they are enjoying, or what characters and events they have recently read about.

If you require any further information or have any questions, please contact me by email at c.hunter@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs C Hunter
Teacher of English & Literacy Coordinator

Trip to Wembley Arena, London for Flame congress 2025, Saturday 15th March 2025

We are very pleased to inform you that we have organised a trip to Flame congress which takes place in the Wembley Arena, London. The event is run by Cymfed (the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation) and is the largest gathering of young Catholics in England and Wales. The event will combine moments of prayer and reflection with talks from motivational speakers and live music performances.

Students will travel to Wembley Arena by coach which will leave college at 8.00am and should arrive back to college around 8.30 pm depending on traffic. The trip will cost £13.50 per student and has been heavily subsidised by the college.

If you would like your child to take part in this visit, please complete the parental consent and medical form, which are available via ParentPay, by Friday 31st January 2025.

The trip is limited to 26 students. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Students may wear non-uniform as it is a weekend trip and should bring a waterproof jacket in case of wet weather. Your child will also require a packed lunch. There will be a small amount of food and drink available to purchase in the Arena but a packed lunch and a water bottle is recommended.

I am sure that the visit will be an exciting and rewarding experience for your child and that it will give them the opportunity to engage in their faith more fully and share in this experience with thousands of other young Catholics.

Dear Parent/Carer 

Year 11 GCSE art trip to the Tate modern Thursday 23rd January 

We are very pleased to inform you that we are planning a trip to the Tate modern Thursday 23rd January 2025. 

The total cost of the trip will be £30.00 this is to cover the cost of transport to and from college on the day as entrance to the public collections at the Gallery is free. Students will have the day to explore the different collections, using this as an opportunity to collect resources by taking photographs and making sketches for their creative projects with first hand experiences. I am confident the trip will be an exciting and rewarding experience for the students that will give them the opportunity to gain valuable experience of Art and Design work, developing their understating of visual culture. 

We will depart St Benedicts at 8.00 am by coach and return to college by 4.30 pm Should the college cancel the trip, a full refund will be made, however all monies are non-refundable should you cancel the place yourself. 

If you would like your child to take part, please pay using ParentPay by 30th November 2024 If we do not receive sufficient interest and payment for the trip by the deadline, it is probable that the trip will not be able to go ahead. Consent will be completed as part of the ParentPay process. 

If you will find it difficult to pay at this time, please contact your child’s pastoral lead within one week of receiving this letter and we will endeavour to assist so that all students can avail themselves of this enrichment opportunity. 

Students will need to bring a packed lunch. Students entitled to free school meals will be provided with a packed lunch. Time will be allowed during the afternoon to visit the gallery shop. Students wishing to make purchases may bring with them a small amount of money to spend, no more than £10 please. 

Yours faithfully 

Mrs Stewart-Thomas 

Head of Art and Design and Technology

Year 11 English trip to ‘An Inspector Calls’ at Norwich Theatre

Tuesday 21st January 2025

We are very pleased to inform you that we have made a booking to take year 11 students to see a performance of Stephen Daldry’s critically acclaimed production of ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J B Priestley. The trip offers an exciting opportunity for students to gain insight and understanding of the play which will help them immeasurably with their study and revision of the play for GCSE English Literature.

Travel and Cost

Students will travel to Norwich by coach, which will leave college at 5.00 pm and should arrive back to college around 11.30 pm, depending on traffic. The total cost of the visit will be £53.90 per student. This covers the cost of insurance, coach travel and the theatre tickets.

Payment and Consent

If you would like your child to take part, please pay using ParentPay by 30th September 2024. If we do not receive sufficient interest and payment for the trip by the deadline, it is probable that the trip will not be able to go ahead. Consent will be completed as part of the ParentPay process. In the event the trip is oversubscribed, places on the trip will be allocated by ballot. The college reserves the right to refuse any student a place if their conduct leading up to the trip is unacceptable.

Financial Assistance

The college would not want the cost to prevent any student from attending. If you feel that you are in such a position, please contact your child’s pastoral lead within one week of receiving this letter and we will endeavour to assist so that all students have an opportunity to attend.

Food and Uniform

Students will need to bring a packed lunch; this will be provided for students in receipt of free school meals. Students need to wear college uniform. There will be no opportunity to purchase or consume food once your child has boarded the coach. You may therefore need to provide your child with a packed dinner to consume prior to 5.00 pm.

Conclusion

I am sure that the visit will be an exciting and rewarding experience for your child and that it will give them a unique opportunity to gain insight into this seminal play in the context of performance.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs P. Bishop
Head of English

Dear Parent/Carer,

Sparx Reader

As part of St Benedict’s whole college literacy strategy, we have once again partnered with Sparx Reader. Students will be using the platform weekly to enhance their reading ability and literacy skills.

Weekly Reading Schedule

From Friday 13th September, your child will use Sparx Reader to complete weekly reading. Your child’s home learning will be set on Friday at 9.00 am and due the following Friday at 9.00 am each week. This will be in addition to any other home learning for English lessons.

Sparx Reader helps every student to achieve regular independent reading, which is incredibly important for building the vital literacy skills needed to access KS3 curriculums and GCSE exam papers in every subject.

Reading Progress and Motivation

Students can choose from a range of ebooks at their appropriate level. As they read, they will answer questions to check they are reading carefully. Careful readers earn points, meaning they can track their progress and climb the league table!

Motivated readers who demonstrate consistent, careful reading can unlock Gold Reader, which means they can read any paper book from the library or from home by scanning its barcode.

How do they log in?

• Students log in at www.sparxreader.com on any smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer using their college Microsoft 365 account.

What devices are supported?

• Your child can access Sparx Reader on any device that connects to the internet with a web browser.
• Sparx Reader clubs are currently run on Tuesday at 8.00 am - 8.45 am in Room 6 and on Thursday at 3.30 pm - 4.15 pm in the Library.

How can I support my child with their reading?

• Sparx Reader adapts to each student’s reading level, so it’s important that you do not help by answering questions for them. If you help them, Sparx Reader might think they are a very strong reader and display books that are too difficult.
• You can help to provide a quiet space for your child to focus on their reading each week.
• Encourage your child to read their book aloud to you.
• The best way to support your child is to ask them about the book they are reading; what aspects they are enjoying, or what characters and events they have recently read about.

If you require any further information or have any questions, please contact me by email at c.hunter@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs C Hunter
Teacher of English & Literacy Co-ordinator

Dear Parent/Carer,

Year 11 GCSE Design and Technology Trip to the Design Museum

Including Sustainable Design Workshop – Wednesday 27th November 2024

We are pleased to inform you that we are planning a trip to the Design Museum on Wednesday 27th November 2024.

Cost and Activities

The total cost of the trip will be £43.30. This covers the cost of transport to and from college, entrance to the public collections at the museum, and participation in the Sustainable Design workshop.

Students will have the day to explore the museum’s collections and participate in the Sustainable Design workshop. Design students will be able to use this experience in their NEA projects and the core theory content of the GCSE course.

Educational Benefits

We are confident the trip will be an exciting and rewarding experience for the students. It will offer them valuable insights into design work while enhancing their understanding of the environmental impacts and opportunities within design.

Schedule and Transport

The trip will depart from St Benedict’s at 8.00 am by coach and return to college at 5.00 pm. Should the college cancel the trip, a full refund will be issued. However, all monies are non-refundable if you cancel the place yourself.

Payment and Consent

If you would like your child to take part, please pay using ParentPay by 30th September 2024. If we do not receive sufficient interest and payment by this deadline, the trip may not go ahead. Consent will be managed through the ParentPay process.

The trip has a maximum of 30 places. If oversubscribed, places will be allocated by ballot. The college reserves the right to refuse a place if a student’s conduct leading up to the trip is unacceptable.

Financial Assistance

The college does not want cost to prevent any student from attending. If you are in such a position, please contact your child’s pastoral lead within one week of receiving this letter, and we will do our best to assist so all students have the opportunity to attend.

Lunch and Museum Shop

Students will need to bring a packed lunch; students in receipt of free school meals will be provided with one. There will be time in the afternoon to visit the museum shop. Students may make small purchases, though this is not essential.

Uniform and Behaviour

Students must wear uniform for the day.

Contact Information

If you have any queries regarding this trip, please email trips@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk or call the college office at 01206 549222.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs N Isgrove
Teacher of Design & Technology

Dear Parent/Carer,

Year 9/10/11 GCSE Food Trip to the Walk-Eat-Talk-Eat Tour of London

Friday 6th December 2024

We are pleased to inform you that we are planning a trip to London for a walking tour where students will sample different foods at each destination on Friday 6th December 2024.

Cost and Inclusions

The total cost of the trip will be £64.50. This covers the cost of transport to and from college, the guided walking tour, and all the food that will be consumed.

Educational Benefits

Students will have the opportunity to conduct primary research, gaining a deeper understanding of the appearance, texture, taste, and aroma of foods from different cultures—an invaluable experience when learning about food and working on food-related assignments.

We are confident the trip will be an exciting and rewarding experience. It will give students valuable insights into food preparation, nutrition, and presentation, as well as the chance to taste a variety of foods.

Schedule and Transport

The coach will depart from St Benedict’s at 8.00 am and return to college at 5.00 pm. Should the college cancel the trip, a full refund will be provided. However, if you cancel your child’s place, the payment will be non-refundable.

Payment and Consent

If you would like your child to take part, please pay a deposit of £32.50 via ParentPay by 30th September 2024, followed by a second instalment of £32.00 by 30th October 2024. If we do not receive sufficient interest and payment by the deadline, the trip may not go ahead. Consent will be managed through the ParentPay system.

The maximum number of places available is 48. If the trip is oversubscribed, places will be allocated by ballot. The college reserves the right to refuse a place to any student whose conduct leading up to the trip is deemed unacceptable.

Financial Assistance

The college does not want the cost to prevent any student from attending. If you are in this situation, please contact your child’s pastoral lead within one week of receiving this letter, and we will do our best to assist so that all students have the opportunity to participate.

Food and Purchases

Students will not need to bring a packed lunch, but they may wish to bring a drink. Time will be provided for students to make small purchases, although this is not essential to the trip.

Uniform and Behaviour

Students must wear uniform on the day of the trip.

Contact Information

If you have any questions about the trip, please email trips@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk or call the college office at 01206 549222.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs D Waters
Teacher of Food Technology

Dear Parent/Carer,

GCSE in an Additional Language - Summer 2025

We would like to offer our Year 11 students the opportunity to be entered for a GCSE in their home language.

Support and Preparation

In previous years, we have found that students are most successful when parents collaborate with the college to support and prepare their children for these extra exams. Although we cannot provide specific lessons in the chosen language, we are committed to ensuring students and parents have access to online resources from the exam board, including past papers that can be reviewed well in advance of the summer exams.

Exam Entry and Deadlines

All entries for summer exams must be completed by the second week of December.

Costs and Arrangements

Parents will need to cover the cost of the GCSE entry. Additionally, if the college is unable to provide a suitably qualified teacher to conduct the speaking element of the exam, your child may need to visit another centre to complete the speaking test. Alternatively, a teacher from another centre may visit the college to conduct the test, in which case you would be responsible for any fees charged by the visiting teacher-examiner.

Financial Assistance

If you are concerned about covering these costs, please contact your child’s pastoral lead or myself. We will do our best to assist so that all students wishing to take the exam can participate in this opportunity.

How to Register

If you would like your child to be entered for a GCSE exam in their home language in the summer of 2025, please email me at l.hunt@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk by Wednesday 23rd October 2024.

Further Information

If you have any questions or need more information about this exciting opportunity, including which languages are offered by the exam boards, please do not hesitate to contact me at the college.

Yours faithfully,
L. Hunt
Teacher of Languages

Year 11 - Passport to Prom

In assembly this week, we introduced Passport to Prom to our Year 11 students.

We encouraged our students to make the most of this academic year and urged them to regard their prom as a celebration at the end of the academic year, having given their utmost during Year 11 and in their mock and GCSE examinations.

We also reminded them that success at GCSE is best achieved with a positive attitude and a commitment to study both at home and in college. We feel this is the perfect time to launch this support programme to ensure that the weeks between November mocks and the Christmas break are as meaningful and purposeful as possible.

The passport will recognize and reward the achievements and efforts of our students during their remaining time at St Benedict’s, giving them the opportunity to take part in this special event. As a parent/carer, you can monitor their progress via our Class Charts app. Students must have an overall positive point score in order to attend prom. Form tutors and class teachers will encourage students to work to the best of their abilities.

Year 11 students can earn ‘prom’ points by:

• Being on time to morning registration, all lessons, and mock exams
• Regularly attending period six revision classes
• Meeting deadlines for homework learning
• Timely and successful completion of coursework and non-examined assessment (NEA)
• Going above and beyond in their revision
• Ensuring their attendance is as good as possible (95%+)

Note: Any serious breach of our behaviour code could result in a student’s prom passport being revoked. The criteria for the ‘Passport to Prom’ will be measured from Monday 11^th November 2024 up until students begin their GCSE exams. All Year 11 students will start afresh regarding attendance and behaviour points from this date to give them every chance to succeed. Final decisions regarding attendance to the prom will be made by the Principal, and individual circumstances will always be taken into consideration.

We wish all our Year 11 students the very best for their final months here, and we hope they achieve the goals they have set for themselves. If you have any questions, please contact either of us here at the college.

Please click on this link to confirm you have read and understood the above information. Responses must be received by Monday 2^nd December.

Yours faithfully,
Mr T Martin
RSL – Year 11
Mrs A Verhofstadt
Director of Achievement and Behaviour

The JCQ states: “The designation of a ‘contingency day’ within the common examination timetable is in the event of national or significant local disruption to examinations.  It is part of the awarding bodies’ contingency planning for examinations”.

The Joint Council of Qualifications (JCQ) have released their key dates for 2025 and have set the following contingency days:

Wednesday 11th June 2025 (Afternoon Session)

Wednesday 25th June 2025 (All day)

Wednesday 25th June 2025 is also the last date that any exam can take place should one have to be moved from its original date or time.

Students are advised to stay available up to and including Wednesday 25th June 2025 should an awarding body need to invoke its contingency plan.

To view the full GCSE examination timetable for Summer 2025 please visit the exams page on the college website. Students will not receive their individual timetables until March/April 2025.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me on 01206 516836.

Yours faithfully

Ms Carly Adams

Trip to Wembley Arena, London for Flame congress 2025, Saturday 15th March 2025

We are very pleased to inform you that we have organised a trip to Flame congress which takes place in the Wembley Arena, London. The event is run by Cymfed (the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation) and is the largest gathering of young Catholics in England and Wales. The event will combine moments of prayer and reflection with talks from motivational speakers and live music performances.

Students will travel to Wembley Arena by coach which will leave college at 8.00am and should arrive back to college around 8.30 pm depending on traffic. The trip will cost £13.50 per student and has been heavily subsidised by the college.

If you would like your child to take part in this visit, please complete the parental consent and medical form, which are available via ParentPay, by Friday 31st January 2025.

The trip is limited to 26 students. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Students may wear non-uniform as it is a weekend trip and should bring a waterproof jacket in case of wet weather. Your child will also require a packed lunch. There will be a small amount of food and drink available to purchase in the Arena but a packed lunch and a water bottle is recommended.

I am sure that the visit will be an exciting and rewarding experience for your child and that it will give them the opportunity to engage in their faith more fully and share in this experience with thousands of other young Catholics.