Staff and Year 7 students dressed up as their favourite characters on World Book Day, to celebrate the end of our sponsored Readathon.
Students were sponsored to read to raise money for local hospitals.
We also linked up live with acclaimed author Michael Morpurgo and enjoyed some World Book Day themed cupcakes.
What a great day!
With thanks to all who supported this Retreat to the Briars Youth Centre. The Briars Team provided a warm welcome with an excellent programme in the Season of Advent. We were delighted our Lead Lay Chaplain, Jamie, could spend the first part of the week with us and we are grateful for his time and hard work. A special thank you to Father Paul who celebrated Mass with us on Thursday evening. We enjoyed a fire pit with hot chocolate and marshmallows, a walk in Derbyshire, a disco, quiz, a Modern Nativity and an action packed Advent Calendar in real life!
Saint John Houghton is set to be either rebuilt or substantially refurbished as part of the Government’s School Rebuilding programme.
The school is on the list of 239 schools that will benefit, the Government has announced.
The Government has said that it will address blocks in need of replacement or major refurbishment, which will be determined during a feasibility stage.
The new projects build on the 161 that have previously been announced, with construction works now nearing completion on the most advanced sites. It means in total, 400 out of 500 schools and sixth forms have now been selected for rebuilds through the 10-year School Rebuilding Programme.
Headteacher Mr Brogan said everyone at the school was delighted.
He said: “We are absolutely thrilled as a school community to have heard that we are part of this project. It is a huge boost for our staff, students and their families, who really deserved this and we are extremely excited by what will come of this. It is also much needed and will really lift our school, at a time when we are doing all we can to give our students a great experience of education at Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy.”
Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said this was fantastic news for Saint John Houghton and two other Trust schools that have also been selected – Saint Benedict, in Derby, and St Philip Howard, in Glossop.
He said: “This really is amazing news, even more so as only 239 schools have been announced nationally for the project. This will be a massive boost for all three schools that have been selected and for their communities. We are delighted for them.”
On Thursday 30 June, we took 68 students to complete in the Erewash District athletics championships at Moorways Stadium, Derby. Our students were absolutely amazing on the day with our highest number ever of district champions. The winners were:
- Natalia L Yr 7 high jump / Katie F Yr 10 high jump & 100m
- Katie T Yr 10 shot put / Dominic J Yr 10 high jump
- Louis F Yr 10 long jump & 200m / Ruby Mae W Yr 9 high jump
- Amelia B Yr 9 shot put / Georgia G Yr 9 triple jump
- Rory B Yr 9 high jump / Chloe P Yr 8 triple jump
- Archie Y Yr 9 shot put / Farren S Yr 7 triple jump
- Cole B Yr 7 shot put / Symeon S Yr8 high jump
- Anton C Yr 7 discus / Samson M Yr 7 300m
- Libby McC Yr 300m / Hallie B Yr 7 200m
- Chloe Mae G Yr 8 200m & high jump / Isabella H Yr 8 100m
- Miranda H Yr 9 300m / Jack B Yr 9 800m
- Sam E-K Yr 10 100m / Tania K Yr 9 discus
- Yr 8 girls relay team (Isabella, Chloe, Libby & Chloe Mae)
- The final results were as follows
- Yr 7 boys – 2nd
- Yr 7 girls – 4th
- Yr 8 boys – 1st
- Yr 8 girls 3rd
- Yr 9 boys – 1st
- Yr 9 girls – 1st
- Yr 10 boys = 1st
- Yr 10 girls – 3rd
Amazing performances from all of our students and well done to everyone who took part.
Rodsley Pilgrimage
In Honour of the English Martyrs The 44th Annual Pilgrimage at RODSLEY, The Birthplace of St Ralph Sherwin.
This Pilgrimage was organised by the Sherwin Society in honour of their Patron Saint who was born in Rodsley in AD 15550 on 25th March 1577. Ralph was ordained a priest in Cambrai (France) for the diocese of Lichfield. Ralph studied in Rome and returned to England to begin missionary work. He was arrested and imprisoned on 4th November 1580 and sentenced to death on 20th November 1581. Ralph Sherwin was one of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales who were canonised by Pope Paul V1 on 25th October 1970.
Oliver and Daisy, Saint John Houghton’s Head Boy and Head Girl, attended the 44th Annual Pilgrimage at Rodsley. SJH is part of the St Ralph Sherwin CMAT.
Bishop Patrick celebrated a Holy Mass in Rodsley.
This was a lovely opportunity to meet our good friend, Fr Alan, who works closely with SJH for J&P, with thanks to Daisy and Oliver who read the Pilgrimage Bidding Prayers, Miss Bailey who joined the Pilgrims and Imogen, former SJH pupil, who organised the sound for the Mass. With special thanks to Bishop Patrick for his support, love and friendship.
Here we are celebrating Catholic Education!
Well done Sean, Jacqueline and Jamie for such a lovely Mass.
SJH will see you in 2023 when SRSCMAT give support to the Sherwin Society to ‘Guard our Faith’ – please put the date in your diary and join us.
We would like to thank all SJH staff who were involved in planning the Agapé for our Year 11 students, it was a lovely evening and thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.
Walsingham Pilmgrimage
Encounter – Discipleship – Mission
SJH joined Bishop Patrick on pilgrimage to the national shrine of Our Lady to pray for vocations and evangelisation.
We would like to thank Fr David Cain for organising the coach, for his care and support.
Mass was celebrated by Bishop Patrick and we had time to visit the slipper Chapel, we enjoyed a picnic in the sunshine and took advantage of the opportunity for the Sacrament of Confession.
We joined the Holy Mile Procession and joined Benediction in the Abbey Grounds.
A wonderful time to meet old friends and new, to walk and sing, and of course try an ice-cream before the journey home!
The message we would like to share is:
‘have the courage to encourage’.
On 18 May 2022, we took a large group of students from Yrs 7-10 to the first round of the English schools track and field cup at Moorways, Derby. This is a national competition and this point we were in the Derbyshire Schools round. 4 teams competed in this event and we are pleased to say that our junior boys team (yrs 7/8) have made it through to the next round which is the North Midlands round.
Well done to all of our athletes who took part in this event with great performances throughout
Mrs Joslin
PE Dept
Well done to our yr 7 and 8 athletes who took part in a trackmeet at Rutland Sports Park last Thursday. The final results were so close with both teams just missing out o 1st place by 1 point
Yr 7 team finished in 2nd place
Yr 8 team finished in 2nd place
Great performances from all involved, well done everyone
Mrs Joslin
Beauvale Pilgrimage – Sunday 8 May 2022
THANK YOU FATHER PAUL!
On May 8th 2022 staff, students and parents gathered at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Eastwood where Fr Paul Newman greeted us and gave us a wonderful blessing, Fr Paul prayed with us before we began our pilgrimage walk to Beauvale Priory.
Saint John Houghton CVA joined the Beauvale Diocesan Pilgrimage in honour of the Beauvale Martyrs: Saint John Houghton & Saint Robert Lawrence (4th May 1535)
How lovely to come together with our schools at Beauvale Pilgrimage. We would like to thank Beauvale Society for organising a wonderful pilgrimage, we had sheep with our shepherd at Mass too! Our Lord certainly shined down on us and we have been given our Mission from Bishop Patrick: Please bring 1 or 2 friends with you next year.
Pupils from The Priory and Saint John Houghton CVA prepared the bunting for this special Mass. Luke and Grace from SJH Year 10 read the First and Second Reading, Rev Liam Carpenter gave the Homily; he reflected upon the life of Saint John Houghton and encouraged us to pray for Vocations and inspired us to listen to God’s calling. Eastwood Parish provided the lovely music for the Mass. Mrs Taylor read the Bidding Prayers. St Thomas, The Priory and SJH students prepared the Offertory and The Knights supported Holy Communion. How lovely to see parish and school together.
Martyrs’ Prayer
Dear Lord,
St John Houghton and Saint Robert Lawrence of Beauvale showed us how to be strong and brave when faced with fear. They carried on believing in Jesus and practising their faith, even through they faced the most terrible death. Dear Jesus , help us, like them, to have pride in our faith, in our school and our church. Guide us in our everyday work; in the way that we show we are Christians, by our love to others. Amen.
