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December 2013

For Parents, Carers, Parishes and Community

Staff and students at Bellerive FCJ Catholic College in Sefton Park, Liverpool have been busy raising much needed funds to help the massive recovery effort in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan.

They amassed over £650 on Friday 15 November via bucket collections and the efforts of individual form groups selling cakes and hot chocolate and offering manicures in return for donations at break times.

Thousands of people lost their lives to this natural disaster and the country is in desperate need of aid. There are 16 Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ) schools all over the world; the order also runs educational projects in many areas of need, including the Philippines.

Sister MaryAnne Francalanza is the assistant head of sixth form at Bellerive FCJ. However, five years ago she worked at the FCJ Learning and Development Centre just outside of Manila with a community of 5000 people who lived on and around a rubbish dump.

Sr MaryAnne taught a group of women book keeping skills to support their co-operative ventures selling handmade cards, bags, beaded jewellery and soap. She also tutored the brightest young students who had been awarded an FCJ scholarship to attend high school in maths – free education ends at primary school level in the Philippines.

Sr Mary Anne said: “Everyone in the local area was so warm, friendly and

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Bellerive supports fundraising efforts for the Philippines

welcoming; I have kept in touch with many people and groups out there and I was keen to engage the help of our students and staff to help those affected by this devastating storm.

“I often talk to our students about my time working in Quezon City and in the last year or so we have received visitors from other FCJ sisters still working out there. I think that’s why our school community has pulled together so well. Our girls have a strong, personal link to the area because they know that members of the FCJ family are affected and are keen to help. Their efforts embody the six values of our FCJ schools – companionship, dignity, excellence, justice, gentleness and hope.”

The school also held a soup day with the proceeds donated to the appeal. And earlier this month about 50 members of staff and sixth formers ran the Liverpool Santa Dash. The final collection took place on the annual school feast day of the Immaculate Conception, this year celebrated on Friday 6 December.

Bellerive FCJ will be passing any further funds raised to Cafod as soon as they are available to help the relief efforts during their time of greatest need.

To keep up to date with Bellerive’s fundraising story in the coming weeks please visit http://www.bellerivefcj.org/ or follow @BelleriveFCJ on Twitter.To make a donation, visit: www.cafod.co.uk

Photograph: REUTERS/alertnet.org

Religous Education

The R.E. Department were thrilled to welcome back Zen Safiyah to Bellerive this term. Zen, a past pupil of Bellerive, has visited us annually in recent years to deliver a presentation to the Year 12 NOCN General RE group.

The group are studying a topic called ‘Living in the Community’ and they have to study how a range of cultures and religions live in Liverpool in 2013.Zen’s presentation enlightened and informed the Year 12 students on the topic of Islam and they had lots of questions to ask.

Praise from our parents

We always value the views of parents and were delighted to receive this email in September from one of our current Y8 parents:

“I wanted to say a massive and sincere thank you to all the staff at Bellerive from teachers to canteen staff and cleaners. My daughter had a really happy Year 7 at Bellerive, and has really spoken highly of everyone. I myself was so impressed by so many positive things, such as staff being on duty at the bus stop each day and ensuring that the girls use the crossing: - the safety and welfare of the children after school is also a concern to the staff and that is so comforting to know. Also the free school lunch on the first day which may only seem a small gesture but actually says so much about the school and its high standards, and the standard of uniform is something to be proud of along with the good communication back to home. Teachers were always available when I did need to speak to them and were always helpful empathetic and professional. It seems that nothing is too much trouble for this very organised open and successful school and I am so happy my daughter made this choice. “

Talented singer and Bellerive sixth form student Lauren Taylor is celebrating after recently winning a place in the prestigious Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir. She has been a member of our school choir since Year 7 and secured her place with the Philharmonic after singing the Lord’s Prayer at her audition in September. Lauren now attends rehearsals each Monday evening and is looking forward to taking part in a special Christmas concert in Liverpool One.

The Year 12 student said: “I auditioned last year but didn’t make it so I went away and had some singing lessons. I was really pleased when I found out I’d managed to do it, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to but I’ve exceeded my own expectations.” The Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir offers young singers from across the region exceptional choral training and performance experiences, last year they sang Imagine by John Lennon at the London 2012 Olympics closing ceremony!

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Year 11 student Sophie Donnelly also has reason to smile after successfully auditioning for the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Sophie has been playing the French horn for two and a half years; she played the tenor horn for several years before that and plays with the school orchestra. Sophie performed two contrasting pieces Nocturno by Strauss and The Rondeau from Mozart’s Concerto Number Three for the judges and obviously impressed them in the process. She said: “I’m made up because I didn’t think I’d be able to do it but it’s definitely something I want to do in the future.”

In the run up to the three performances held per season at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Sophie will practice three or four nights a week. The first Youth Orchestra concert will be held on Sunday 17 November at 7.30pm, please visit www.liverpoolphil.com to find out more. Congratulations, Mrs Winstanley and everyone in our Music Department is proud of you both!

Sweet sound of success for Bellerive musicians

Bellerive bus services go from strength to strength

Since they began to serve our students in September, our Green Buses have grown in popularirty. Every morning and afternoon the buses from Halewood/Speke, Huyton and Anfield provide a reliable and clean - not to mention cheaper - alternative to Merseytravel. Students wishing to join the ranks of girls using the service can either pay £1 per journey or see Mr Taylor for more details on Green Bus passes. Details of the 3 routes are available on the school website: www.bellerivefcj.org

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Both AS and A2 Biology groups and the AS Applied Science group visited Chester Zoo this term. The Biology AS group spent their time viewing the exhibits and focused on the topics of classification and biodiversity (essential content of the AS Unit 2), while the A2 Biology group concentrated on natural selection and aspects of conservation (part of A2 Unit 4). The AS Applied Science group attended a lecture delivered by the education

Discovering DNA

As part of the AS Biology course Y12 students have completed an in-depth study of the structure and function of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). This has involved isolating it from their own cells and making a DNA necklace, researching the discovery of its structure by Watson and Crick, modelling its structure and viewing real DNA in the form of chromosomes in slides they have prepared themselves. This detailed study will hopefully reap rewards in the Unit 2 GCE examination this summer.

centre which covered the different roles of zoo staff, their qualifications and training as well as health and safety, to help with their Unit 1 portfolio on ‘Investigating science at work’.

An informative and thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all, which will hopefully enhance our students’ knowledge and understanding in readiness for their GCE examinations this summer.

Year 8 Guide Dog Visit

On 7th November 2013 a speaker from The Guide Dog Association, Clare Currie, came to Bellerive to talk about her life with a guide dog. As a little extra surprise she brought along her very own guide dog called Gulliver. Gulliver is a beautiful golden Labrador who was very gentle and loved the company of 150 school girls around him!

Gulliver’s owner is partially sighted. She described to us all about what it was like not being able to see and the dangers that come with it, how every time she stepped outside there could be a chance of an accident e.g. tripping over a kerb, bumping into a post or a passing person, walking in front of a car. She explained how important a guide dog is and how every time they take you out you place your complete trust in them.

In the assembly we did a demonstration which showed how Gulliver leads his owner to safety through a series of obstacles. A few students were invited out (including myself) to become a tree or a post, and hold our arms out in different ways and in different positions. Gulliver passed our little test and made his way safely to the other side of the sports hall.

We finished by presenting a cheque to Clare and Gulliver for £1,500, which Year 8 have raised from doing lots of different fundraising activities.

We loved our little visit from Gulliver and we all learnt a thing or two about the concept of guide dogs!

Lucy Miller 8R"A’ Level Students visit Chester Zoo

Nuffield Research Placements

‘Nuffield Research Placements’ is a scheme that Bellerive FCJ students have enthusiastically taken part in for many years. Its objective is to give sixth form students at the end of Y12 the opportunity to spend a month of their summer holidays at a leading institution doing cutting-edge scientific research alongside professional scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians.

Joshua Goulding, one of our current Y13 students, was accepted on to the scheme and was placed in Hope University to take part in a project called the ‘Warburg Phenomenon’. Joshua’s project involved the use of computer software to simulate how cells produce lactate and how cancerous tumours may develop from this. Joshua said, “I thoroughly enjoyed working on such an important area as cancer research and gained much satisfaction presenting and discussing my findings to a gathering of scientific experts at Liverpool’s World Museum. I would definitely encourage other students to grasp the fantastic opportunity offered by the Nuffield Foundation.”

Application forms for our growing sixth form available on the website www.bellerivefcj.org

Life at Bellerive Sixth Form Life at Bellerive Sixth Form

Life at Bellerive Sixth Form Life at Bellerive Sixth Form

Application forms for our growing sixth form available on the website www.bellerivefcj.org

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We didn’t know what to expect on the day we visited Auschwitz, on that warm October day. All we knew were facts and statistics that are known to everyone: that in the Holocaust 6 million Jews were killed and 1.1 million of those were at Auschwitz, and so on. We aimed to take away statistics and to add humanity to this complete dehumanisation, an aim set in our first seminar when a man called Zigi Shipper came to talk about his unjustified sentence at Auschwitz when he was a boy, and how he came to be liberated. His story ended wonderfully, however many stories didn’t. Many stories ended abruptly, for no reasonable reason at all: just because of one man’s complete violation of power, with his group of idiots given a gun and a badge to define their wrongly-given authority.

After getting lost on the way to the first seminar in Manchester, meeting and speaking to a lovely survivor, Zigi Shipper, and sharing ideas on how we thought it was going to be, we were ready; well, ready as we ever could be; nothing actually can prepare anyone for such an impact upon their lives. The day to Auschwitz was smothered with fatigue, so nothing kicked in initially. We still find ourselves thinking: "I went to Auschwitz," and then finding ourselves completely baffled and astonished. The first question asked by everyone is a simple: "did you cry?" We don't think it matters whether or not we cried because we’re sure thousands of people have and will. We’ll mark our respect another way, through words. We've passed on something different to everyone and we hope they all remember at least one thing. We'll be happy if they do; it means it's unlikely that it'll be forgotten.

During our trip we visited three places: a Jewish graveyard, Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II, or Auschwitz-Birkenau. The graveyard is forgotten, with the last Jewish person in that area dying in a few years ago. It doesn't even open anymore: we had to get permission from the Rabbi to open it for us. We learned that it suffered so much during the Holocaust but now it's forgotten. It baffles us as to how it can be just left there and never be pondered upon, how people can go about their lives around such a devastated ground, and how anyone could forget anything like the Holocaust.

We then went to Auschwitz I. As we went past we all fell completely silent. It’s hard to describe it, but it was one of the most poignant moments of our lives. The barracks stood tall in a uniformed stance and were guarded by a large electric fence, just like you'd imagine. Hidden inside was a museum. The 20 barracks that made up Auschwitz I were full of items left behind. Sealed behind glass walls were shoes, human hair, keys, baby clothes, prosthetic legs; and so much of each. It was heart-breaking to see. We also went inside gas chamber 1. We couldn't move when we were inside it; it was completely haunted. The more we walked around the more sinister the whole day become. Inside one room were hundreds of drawings by children, which showed soldiers hanging people, shooting people and torturing people. This affected us the most; children draw what they know and this horror is all they ever saw. It's just awful.

The second camp was Auschwitz-Birkenau. This camp was much bigger and far more distant to any form of

humanity than Auschwitz I. It is revolting now, so it’s hard to imagine how horrific it was during the Holocaust. The one moment most prominent from this camp was the long walk out of the giant entrance down the railway track, lit only with the candles we were holding. We endeavoured to escape and did so extremely easily. How many people dreamt of this, to walk out of their prison so effortlessly? I feel so privileged and guilty to have done so.

The whole day was such a significant day, one we'll remember forever. We have taken so much from it, and we’re so glad to have visited. Thank you to the History department for giving us the opportunity to go.

Now, don't take from this that there was a room of hair, or that 6 million people died, 1.1 million of which in Auschwitz, or that all of this was seen as right by German laws – instead, take this: this is the first thing we read as we went into Auschwitz I: "The one who does not remember history is bound to live through it again." Regardless of whether or not you take history, or even like history, this is what we all need to remember; if we forget it'll happen again. We, as a community, as a society, as a generation, we need to remember everything. If we don't have memories we have nothing, so remember: this happened. Things happen every day so take notice, remember and never forget.

Caitlin O’Connor and Molly Carmichael Y12

Impressions of Auschwitz

Bellerive welcomes our new chaplain

Hi! I’m Mrs Henry and I am delighted to have been appointed as Lay Chaplain at Bellerive. I’ll like to tell you a bit about myself. I’m from Warrington and am married with two young children. I have been an RE teacher for 7 years and prior to that I worked with adults with Autism. I am an active member of my local parish; I lead children’s liturgy and play flute in the church music group. I also am part of a team of catechists that prepare children for the Sacraments. I wanted to become a Chaplain because as a teacher I took responsibility for Chaplaincy and it was a role that I excelled in and really enjoyed. I feel that this is my vocation and I am really excited about my role at Bellerive; sharing the FCJ values and walking with the young people and staff on their faith journey.

I hope that pupils have enjoyed their Advent preparation in school and wish you all a happy and Holy Christmas.

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Geography

We ran a very successful fieldwork visit to North Wales. The students’ main task was to collect primary data from the Afon Nant Peris in Snowdonia and then analyse this to investigate river theories. They worked hard in teams to collect a range of accurate data, fortunately this year in sunny weather!

The fieldwork tutor was extremely impressed with how committed, knowledgeable and polite our Bellerive students were throughout the day – they were a credit to themselves and our Sixth Form!

Bellerive FCJ was delighted to welcome Sr Claire Sykes and Sr Brenda Russell to the college recently to officially confirm the purchase of new land for the college at the entrance to Sefton Park. Sr Claire and Sr Brenda work with the FCJ sisters at a national level and have been very interested in Bellerive's progression over the years. The land in question will house a state of art sixth form site, supported by the Mayor of Liverpool's capital investment fund for schools.

Sr Claire said:' We are delighted to see Bellerive pressing ahead with these ambitious plans and hope to visit again in the near future to see how the construction is progressing'.

The college is now in detailed discussions about the design of the new building and we hope to keep parents and the community updated on progress in future issues of the newsletter.

A theatre production called X&Y!

Eight sixth form mathematics students from Bellerive FCJ, Mrs Walters and Sr MaryAnne FCJ made their way to the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry on a wet Saturday morning in November.

We were there to watch a mathematical play, called X&Y! We were not sure what we were expecting. The play was thought-provoking, bizarre, mathematically challenging, surreal and amusing.

The show was produced by Twin Primes Theatre Company and featured the well-known mathematician Marcus du Sautoy and Victoria Gould as X and Y respectively! It explored questions like: Where did the universe come from? Does time have an end? What is the shape of the Universe? Is it finite or infinite? Does it have an edge? Can we ever prove anything about our Universe for sure or is there always room for another surprise?

We all enjoyed it but we have to admit that the unforgettable moment of the day was when Marcus du Sautoy chose to sit in the middle or our group during the play. The two girls on either side were rather star struck!

We also had the opportunity to wander round the rest of the museum, with some students going for a ride on the steam train. We ended the day with a coffee together in one of the local shops.

Bellerive confirms exciting building plans

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A new chapter in the life of the FCJ sisters

During October of this year, in Loyola Hall, Rainhill, just a few miles from our school, the FCJ sisters held their General Chapter. A General Chapter happens every five years and is always a key moment for each FCJ Sister as they take time to look at their individual lives and the life of the whole group across the world, so that they can be led by the Holy Spirit into the future.

FCJ sisters from all over the FCJ Society were elected to come and represent their communities. The theme of the chapter was "Salt for the Earth, Light for the World". (Matthew 5:13-14)

General Chapters are held to discern the future directions of the FCJ Society and to elect members of our Central Leadership.

After much discernment and prayer—and supported by the prayer of the rest of the sisters all over the world, the Companions in Mission, colleagues, and friends—the sisters at the General Chapter held elections.

A new Superior General was elected as well as three General Assistants who will help her in her work. The new Superior General is Sr Mary Claire Sykes FCJ. She is from Hartlepool in the North East of England and has visited our school many times. Among many other things, she has been working with all the FCJ schools in Europe on the six FCJ values and how we can live them more fully as an FCJ family.

As part of the FCJ family, let us pray for Sr Claire Sykes and the rest of her new team so that their work will bear much fruit.

For more details have a look at the FCJ website – fcjsisters.org

Science is brought alive for sixth form students

In November, Professor Peter Myers visited Bellerive to give budding Applied Science students an in depth talk about chromatography. Born in Yorkshire and unable to read and write until he was 13, Prof. Myers now has 3 PhDs in maths, chemistry and physics. Initially wanting to become a photographer, Prof Myers is now very passionate about chemistry and chromatography and wanted to share that with us.

During his talk Prof. Myers showed us how to make nanoparticles of spherical silica, which is used in modern day chromatography techniques. This can be sold for around $20,000!

After the talk students went away with a vast knowledge of how chromatography can be used in everyday devices, and how things can be detected using chromatography. Professor Myers’ message throughout was ‘believe in yourselves’, and his story was inspirational.

We all thoroughly enjoyed the visit, and were extremely grateful to Prof. Myers for taking the time to come and talk to us. Thank you Prof. Myers!

Sarah Johnson, 6th Form Applied Science Student.

Sixth form encounter 'Big Brother'

On 31st of October, students from year 12 and 13 History and English literature classes viewed a matinee performance of George Orwell’s '1984' at the Playhouse, Liverpool. The play explored themes such as indoctrination, state control and individual freedom, relevant to the content of the A Level courses being studied. All pupils who attended the trip, led by Mr McVeigh and Ms Palmer, agreed it was a brilliant stage production, and although in our modern world the fear of totalitarianism may not be as strong as it was in Orwell’s day, the play’s warning is still relevant and made the audience question their own versions of reality. We would highly recommend it to anyone above the age of 14. However, the company ‘Headlong’ are currently touring, so be sure to keep an eye for their return to Liverpool!

Blood Brothers

On Thursday 13th November students from Years 10 and 11, accompanied by Ms. Brennan, Miss Farnin, Mrs. Samuels, Mr. Wareing and Ms. Whitehead, went to see ‘Blood Brothers’ at the Liverpool Empire. Here’s what they had to say about it:

‘Humorous and heartbreaking, we laughed and cried together at this exceptional musical. Welcome home Blood Brothers - Superb!’ Miss Farnin.

‘A fantastic story which had both pupils and staff laughing and crying together.’ Mr. Wareing.

‘Seeing Blood Brothers was an amazing experience and I’m thankful that I got the chance to go.’ Kendal Fanning, Year 11.

‘I laughed, cried and sang my heart out to all the songs.’ Megan Doran, Year 11.

‘I enjoyed every minute. Keeps you entertained from beginning to end.’ Abbie-Leigh White, Year 11.

‘Two words – absolutely outstanding!’ Mylan Bourke, Year 10.

‘I can only think of one word to describe this play – SENSATIONAL!’ Ellie Winstanley, Year 10.

‘It kept you on the edge of your seat. It was very emotional.’ Elle Lavelle, Year 11

‘Amazing.’ Savannah Rogers ,Year 11