Parting Sweet Sorrow for Upper Sixth Leavers

3 June 2019

Our upper sixth students left on a high note on Friday 24 May.

The leavers’ liturgy was full to bursting with music and prayer provided by our students. The highly talented Macy Loftus, Laureen Missidimbazi and Tamara Gaskin Henry opened the liturgy with a worship song, accompanied by Omaatla Phiri on the piano. Led by Joe Robinson, a small procession of students brought the cross, candles and flowers to the front of the hall. Hannah Boyle, Louis Hickling (and College Principal Mrs Justine Barlow) read passages from scripture beautifully.

The students also offered prayers of thanksgiving for all the experiences they had been blessed with at Notre Dame. These were illustrated by the various artefacts – such as sports and Lourdes shirts, books, flags and a giant globe – that made up the backdrop to the main stage. Both our Lay Chaplain Mr Andrew Sullivan and our College Principal spoke eloquently about the importance of being a community rooted in Catholic values.

Towards the end of the liturgy, all students had the opportunity to come forward and receive a blessing, while the staff choir gave a beautiful rendition of The Lord is my Shepherd. To close, Simran Athwal wowed her peers with her performance of Song of Thanksgiving.

After a short break, our students returned to the hall for their leavers’ assembly, to celebrate their time at Notre Dame. We congratulated the Student Executive team for all their efforts, and noted that they had raised a stunning £4945.63 over the past year. Each Head of Faculty awarded High Flyer and Rising Star Awards to students from their subject areas. We also recognised student resilience with three awards, and chose eight Notre Dame Legends, all nominated by staff (award winners are listed below).

Then came a musical interlude: students Simran Athwal and Christina Xaviour sang Stand by Me, and everyone joined in, creating one of the most heartfelt moments of the assembly. Students used their mobile phones as torches, swaying in unison, each point of light adding to the sense of community and belonging.

After a whistle-stop tour of the past year’s events, we moved on to the Student Awards, voted for by the students themselves. King and Queen of Notre Dame were Feras Abulula and Aimee Denton, with Aimee also receiving the award for Notre Dame’s most inspirational student. Before the assembly ended, the audience chose the best fancy dress outfit: Notre Dame’s two student spidermen.

Refreshments in the sunshine of St Joseph’s Court provided an excellent photo opportunity, as you can see from the pictures below. An email has been sent to all upper sixth students containing a link to photographs taken on the day.

Higher Flyer Award Winners for academic excellence

Omar Valeinis

Sean Carey

Yasmine Bridge

Macie Buchanan

Rising Star Award Winners for most improved student

Kerys Hall

Finn Rea

Thomas Chappell

Mine Cothay

Student Resilience Award Winners

Shakra Ahmed