Our College Feast Day!
This week on Thursday, we celebrated our college feast day - Our Lady and the Immaculate Conception. Our order of service notes read as follows:
Why is December 8th such an important day at Mount Saint Mary's College? Since the earliest foundations of the College this day has been set aside from every other day in the academic year. But the question is why?
In the late 16th and early 17th Century Jesuit priests risked life and limb in our part of England to ensure that Mass was celebrated and to offer education to young people. Those early Jesuits dedicated their work, their mission, to "Mary Conceived Immaculate".
At long last, in 1829 persecution of Catholic Christians was forbidden by parliament and plans were made to bring the educational work of the Jesuits into the open. In 1842, one hundred and eighty years ago Father Randal Lythgoe, the chief Jesuit in this area, formally opened a school which bears the name "The College of the Immaculate Conception". This proved to be a bit of a mouthful and so the school was commonly known as Saint Mary's College and because it stands on the peak of a hill it became Mount St Mary's College.
In the College of the Immaculate Conception, Mount Saint Mary's College, from 1854 onwards, December 8th, the annual Church feast day automatically became the great feast day!
Hockey News
Last week was a busy week for the Juniors who competed Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday in various formats of the game, including three competitions and a fixture against Worksop College - where they were able to secure a 2-1 victory!
The Juniors girls entered the In2Hockey North Competition on Friday 2nd December. This was a wonderful opportunity to get some of our younger players more games and let them experience a competition.
The Juniors had an unbeaten four games to see them make the semi-finals, with a fantastic effort by Jess who didn’t let a single goal past her. We faced Sheffield Girls High and narrowly lost 1-0 in the dying minutes of the game.
The final game for 3rd/4th against Pocklington was an end-to-end affair and narrow chances, with the final blow the Juniors finished a respectable 4th in the competition.
The Juniors were yet again in action at the Ratcliffe U13 Hockey Festival on Saturday 3rd December. With a late arrival the games were underway without much preparation, starting the first game while our goalkeeper kitted up. A slow start with no warmup meant we were straight into the festival without much though.
The Juniors girls managed an unbeaten run without conceding a single goal throughout the festival, scoring a total of 7 goals. The final was set against an unbeaten Ratcliffe team. With only 4 minutes left and plenty of end-to-end hockey, both teams creating chances, the Juniors managed to score. Shortly after a monumental defensive effort before the final whistle- WINNERS! The final score was 1-0 to the girls.
A superb team effort and a wonderful plate to bring home to the Mount.
Rugby update!
The Mount 1st XV finished off the term with a great win over King's Grantham!
The boys had a rather shaky start and found themselves 12-0 down only 6 minutes into the game. The Mount then started to find some momentum and built some quality phases. The pressure told on the King's Grantham defence and the Mount boys scored two tries in quick succession. The Mount were trailing 12-10 at the half time break but scored soon after half time to lead 17-12. Once the Blue and Gold were in front we never looked back and started to play some very good rugby that has become expected of this good team. The Mount finished off the term with a great 38-12 victory.
After the game the boys said goodbye to two players who have been on exchange from South Africa for this term. Connor and Kyle are flying back to South Africa at the end of the term after adding huge value to the Mount 1st Xv this season. We wish them all the best and want to thank them for all their hard work and dedication.
1st Team go close against one of the best in the world!
Last Saturday, 3rd December the 1st XV made the long trip north to Sedbergh to test how far this group have come. Last season the Mount played Sedbergh 2nd team and won 45-0, from this we have continued building and had the chance to have a crack at the 1st team.
We had the first say, with a good defensive set we forced the mistake and Charlie Davies kicked the loose ball forward and regathered to score. Sedbergh then scored two good tries that just showed why they are representing England at World Schools' Championships next week. The Mount played to our strengths with keeping the ball tight in the mauls and getting into our shape in attack. With us applying pressure in this area they eventually broke and we pushed them over in the corner from a well executed driving maul, to take the score to 12-10. At times we struggled to exit and we put pressure on ourselves, Sedbergh capitalised on our mistake and scored just before half time. The Mount trailed 17-10 at the break. Sedbergh looked very dangerous on the counter attack and when they played multiple phases in attack, with their sharp skills and strong runners they were very dangerous.
With three minutes remaining in the game the Mount were losing 26-17 and typical Mount the Boys threw everything at Sedbergh to try and level the game. Sedbergh scored in the last play to win 31-17. This is a massive achievement for the Mount and shows how far our rugby has progressed in the last few years.
U14s win first match!
What a day for the under 14s! After a tough run of games the under 14s managed to get their first well-deserved win. After working very hard in training and on the pitch in fixtures we have been building nicely and they managed to get across the line. On Tuesday a strong King's School, Pontefract side turned up to the mount. King's scored first as we allowed them to have all the possession in the opening 10 minutes. However the heads of the under 14s didn’t drop and we returned with a try of ourselves. Ben Slater-Sheppard leading the team as captain scoring 2 tries on the day. With storming runs all day from forwards Alistair Slocombe, Harris King and Alex Joseph kept us on the front foot which allowed our backs to run riot. Noah Castro and James Smith also picking up 2 tries each to finish off an outstanding performance. Not just to mention the players who have been with us for a couple of years but also 6 boarders who have only been with us since September who have never played rugby before, who have been key members of this team since joining us. Final score 36 - 12!
Cross-country championships
A fantastic day at the North East Derbyshire Cross Country Champs. Mount had six strong teams running across Y7-10 boys and girls. The cold and muddy conditions didn't put off the Mount pupils with both individual and team success across the day.
First up was the Y8 girls who showed domination across the field with Ava Cranfield placing 2nd with Annie Finlay, Hollie Flint and Jess Hind all making the qualification spot for County Championships. However the success didn't stop there, the girls also won team gold so a huge well done to Ava, Annie, Georgia, Hollie, Liv, Jess and Minnie.
Not to be outdone by their younger peers the Y9 girls also took team gold with Izzie Fiddle also claiming 3rd individually. Tess Wilson, Emma Binns and Samaya also made individual qualification for the County champs. A huge well done to Izzie, Tess, Sara, Emma, Ruby, Nehir, Samaya and Keira.
Georgia Wilson also put on an exceptional performance finishing 2nd after being directed in the wrong direction as she lead the Y7 girls race. Also making county selection was Leo Wilson who finished a very respectable 6th and Ben Hough who finished 8th in a highly competitive Y7 and Y8 boys race.
Well done to all those who took part in the Cross Country and breaking yet again another school record for most success in the North East Derbyshire Champs and we look forward to more performances in the County Champs in the New Year.
Brand new barbershop quartet!
Recently we auditioned some of our senior boys for a place in the brand new Mount Barber Shop Quartet. Barber Shop is a unique genre of music featuring 4 independent singers in close harmony. The repertoire is very varied with a mix of traditional and contemporary arrangements both proving popular with audiences. The ‘a cappella’ style (no piano accompaniment) means that the singers need to be confident at holding the harmonies on their own – no mean feat even for experienced and confident choristers!
After a rigorous audition featuring a number of excellent singers, the final four were chosen. Congratulations to Alex Marriott (tenor), Chris Penny (lead), Rowan Kitchener (baritone) and Joseph Wilson (bass). The boys will start work in earnest next term and their first performance will be at the Spring Concert.
Casuals day
Tuesday, 13th December we will be a casuals day to raise funds for St Wilfrid’s. Students are invited to wear casual clothes that are suitable for school. The school day and all lessons will run as normal. On that day, we ask that they bring a minimum donation of £2 to tutorial time, when form tutors will collect donations. Those students in Upper Elements and Figures who have Games on Tuesday may give donations to form tutors on Monday, 12th December.
For those who prefer to donate electronically, the details are as follows:
Christmas crates!
7B have been getting very creative this week. They have made nativity scene Christmas cards to send to members of the school support staff, they scripted and acted out their modern day versions of the nativity story and they have created an amazing sleigh with 5 large creates and multiple smaller creates full of warm clothes, toiletries, tins of food and edible treats for the clients of St Wilfred's and were the winners of the Christmas crate competition!
Ukraine Appeal - Nick Higham, OM
Fun in Spanish!
In Enrichment with Mrs Oates, Upper Elements have been learning the words for body parts in Spanish and how to apply definite and indefinite articles correctly. We have designed and made our own monsters and written sentences in Spanish to describe them. Well done 7C, I am very pleased with your creativity!
Mr Murphy's Marvellous Christmas Quiz!
Thursday night was a sell-out event - the theatre was full of Christmas cheer and not an empty seat to be found as Mr Murphy did what only he can do: find the energy at the end of term to provide good, old-fashioned entertainment for the best part of three hours!
5 rounds of quizzing with generation game style fun in-between with Head Girl Charlie Haddock assisting alongside fellow captains. Our thanks to all those who were involved in the setting up of the evening, especially Mrs Nicola Self who is our Assistant Domestic Bursar. A wonderful start to the Christmas run-in!
7 continents in 7 days!
Denis Cormican, parent, will be running an incredible seven marathons in seven continents in seven days, in a bid to raise £50k. The race kicks off on 31 January 2023 in Antarctica before heading to Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, South America and North America. Denis will be organising and funding all of his travel.
If you’d like more information, to donate, or find out about sponsorship options, please visit the Just Giving page:
Grammar students' Artwork!
Grammar students continue learning new art techniques and media. This week Lino cutting; Once they’ve selected an appropriate image for their theme, they carefully cut out their lino block ready to print!
Enterprise Club!
Members of Mrs Stockwell’s Enterprise Club were honing their sales skills this week. This Activity gives students the chance to run a real micro business, risking their own money for a combination of profit and charity.
Leicester Tigers Rugby Camp
We're very happy to be working with Leicester Tigers in 2023. In the February half term, we will be hosting their rugby training camp, and anyone wishing to sign up can do so by clicking on the button below.
The Mount Carol Service
We are delighted that we are once again able to bring back our live Carol Service for the first time since 2019.
We hope that many of you can join us for this event. Tickets cost £5 and you can buy these via our website.
They are selling fast, so be sure to get your tickets early, before they are all gone!
Asteroid Impact!
This term 8B have been investigating the possible effects of an asteroid impact and how we might mitigate them. This week we looked at how size and shape of the asteroid might affect the size of the impact crater formed. Other activities this term have included growing cress in different colour greenhouses, making dust masks, looking for tardigrades and designing a meal plan with delicious insects. Does anyone fancy mealworm porridge for breakfast?
Headmaster's Post
The Jelly Pass!
On Sunday, an ages-old Mount tradition will take place (and by ages-old, we mean "when Mr Murphy joined the Mount"!) - the boarders' "Jelly Pass"!
There are curiosities that set the Independent Sector apart, and this is certainly one of them - a delightful tradition that is child-like and harks back to a simpler time.
The jelly-pass is part of the boarders' Christmas festivities on the final Sunday of the Winter term. Our boarders, houseparent team and site residents will gather along Long Gallery and the Second Master will lead us all in a rendition of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" which must complete by the time a giant jelly has been passed from person to person all the way up one side of Long Gallery and back down the other.
Now if that isn't one way of striving for the magis, I don't know what is!
Yours in Christ
Dan Wright, Headmaster
LDS
Credits:
Created with images by Prot - "the Blessed Virgin Mary Statue blue sky background." • Renáta Sedmáková - "PALMA DE MALLORCA, SPAIN - JANUARY 29, 2019: The painting of Immaculate Conception in the Capuchin church by Joan Muntaner Cladera (1744-1802)." • Rob Bouwman - "hockey stick on the field" • Melinda Nagy - "rugby player preparing to kick the oval ball during game" • kovop58 - "Trail race, cross country athlete on autumn field" • BillionPhotos.com - "Red bauble on green christmas fir tree" • Pasko Maksim - "Christmas Tree with Decorations Near a Fireplace with Lights" • Lars Johansson - "Rural winter landscape with a farm"