DEAR PARENTS

 

A PRAYER FOR BILLIE JAYNE

Lord, this week our hearts have been broken by the death of our great friend Billie Jayne.  We do not understand your plan for her but we do know for sure that she is now in a better place.  Bring comfort to Jenny, Michael, Jack, Charlie, the whole family and her countless friends at this sad time.  May she rest in peace.

 

MR PAUL CHEW RIP

We were very saddened to hear of Paul's death.  He was the father in law of Mrs Chew, Cover Supervisor and Art Teacher.  We pray for the repose of his soul and think of Alex and the whole family at this sad time.  May he rest in peace.

 

MESSAGE FROM FR JAN AT ST BRIGID'S

I would like to invite you to come along to Stations of the Cross on Sunday 25 March at 6.30 pm.  This is being led and prepared by the young people of the parish and is an excellent way to help our Lenten preparations.  Many thanks.

 

LENTEN CHARITIES

I know that we have now passed the £4,000 milestone which is fantastic and there are countless activities going on at the moment.  Just one more week to go -  please do what you can.  Thank you.

 

EXCELLENT YEAR 12 PARENTS' EVENING LAST NIGHT

It was a real pleasure to meet so many Year 12 students and parents last night for what was a really productive evening.  All the data tells us that this year group is doing very well but there is absolutely no room for complacency.  We wish them well over the next few vital months.

 

FINAL INSET DAY OF THE SCHOOL YEAR

A reminder that school will be closed to students on the first day back after Easter, Monday 16 April which is a training day for staff.

 

GOVERNORS' AWARDS EVENING NEXT THURSDAY

It's always a fantastic evening and 2012 will be no different.  We look forward to welcoming Inspector Karen Greasley from West Midlands Police as our Guest of Honour.  It begins at 7.00pm.  Everyone is welcome.

 

GOOD LUCK TO MR TINSLEY AND ZOE

Tomorrow Zoe Gregory and Mr Tinsley will take part in a 50 mile bike ride for our Lenten Charity - Help the Heroes.  Good luck from all Newman House.

 

SPORTS RESULTS

 

LAST WEEK'S QUIZ QUESTION

Congratulations to Abaka Debrah (Newman 3B) who correctly informed us that the town chosen to be a city as a result of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee is Chelmsford in Essex.  Well done Abaka who wins £10

 

THIS WEEK'S QUIZ QUESTION

The Chancellor of the Exchequer presented his budget this week.  Who is he? Email me on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   and remember to tell me who you are for the possibility of winning £10.

Yours sincerely

 

JIM FOLEY 

 

BILLIE JAYNE FULFORD RIP

 

As everyone knows by now, Billie Jayne died in the early hours of Monday morning.  We have had years to prepare for this terrible news but it still came as a huge shock.  All through the day on Monday there was an eerie silence as we went about our business as usual but our minds and hearts were somewhere else.  Father Stefan joined us and he was available in the Chapel to students throughout the day.  After school there was a service for staff and a number of us joined Fr George at St John Fisher for evening Mass where prayers were said for Billie.

 

On Tuesday morning we gathered as a whole school community for a special Mass for Billie Jayne celebrated by Fr Stefan.  We welcomed Billie's family - her mum Jenny, her dad Michael, her brothers Jack and Charlie and their extended family.  I have been to many wonderful Masses in our school but I have never known an experience like that on Tuesday morning.  Billie meant the world to us and it was evident in the response of every single person present - over 1300 people packed into our Sportshall. 

 

In the afternoon I was very moved to receive a phone call from Archbishop Bernard himself who was anxious that we knew Billie was in his prayers as were her family and the whole school community.  Remarkably, by chance, that evening Archbishop Bernard was at St Joseph's celebrating Mass at the conclusion of the recent South Deanery visitations.  And it was wonderful that he included Billie Jayne in his prayers at the end of the Mass.

 

Billie was first diagnosed with cancer in Year 7 and in Year 8 faced the trauma of a huge operation to remove her leg and hip.  For a time we hoped and prayed that Billie would be clear but in Year 10 the dreadful disease returned.  Throughout the years Billie never complained but continued to come to the school she loved every day smiling to everyone she met, completely oblivious to the fact that she was an inspiration to us all.  She did really well in her GCSE examinations and a wonderful memory for many of us was the Year 11 Prom at the Bromsgrove Hilton where she was the Star-of-the-Show looking beautiful, dancing in her wheelchair, surrounded by all her friends.

 

Billie continued to amaze us all and before Christmas she was presented with a special award as Inspirational Young Person of the Year by Richard Burden MP, Inspector Karen Greasley and Commander Emma Barrett from West Midlands Police.  They were VIP Guests but it was when Jenny wheeled Billie down the aisle of the Sportshall that the school erupted in a standing ovation that must have been heard in Cotteridge.

 

And so Billie has now gone to a better place free of the pain and suffering that she had endured so heroically for so long.  We will see Billie no more in this life but the legacy she has left us is beyond measure.  There is not a student or member of staff in school who will ever forget that amazing girl as long as they live.  We did not see the pain she felt every day.  We saw a beautiful smile embracing life to the full with everyone she met.

 

There are numerous people in school who went way beyond the call of duty for Billie.  Her ever faithful friend, Nicole de Valiere was never far from her side.  And countless staff were involved too.  It's always invidious to mention individuals but all of the following colleagues in their various roles lived out the mission statement in their daily care of Billie.  Thank you to Tara Carter, Catherine Connolly, Sarah Crozier, Nuala Hickey, Lyn Jervis, Clare Jordan, Wendy Killingworth, Sarah Lay, Lisa McGinley, Heidi Mannion, Mary Ryan and Fred Stephenson.

 

Billie's funeral will take place at 12.45 pm next Wednesday, 28 March at St John Fisher Church, West Heath.  We will be closing early that day at 11.30 am to allow numerous students and staff to be present.  Once again, I am sure it will be a wonderful celebration of an amazing life.  Watch this space.

 

God bless you Billie.  May you rest in peace.

 

Mr Foley
Headteacher