News & Events

The Academy have continued to raise much needed funds and awareness for many local and national causes during this Autumn Term.  We began our 2019-2020 Charity and Enterprise initiatives by engaging in a ‘Twilight Walk’ in aid of two local hospices; St Christopher’s and Greenwich & Bexley Hospice.  Both services provide care and support to over 9,000 people every year.  The ‘Twilight Walk’ took place on Saturday 28^th September and was a five mile walk, starting and finishing on Blackheath Common.  21 Year 11 students, 1 Year 9 student and 3 SPA staff participated in the walk, collectively raising £310 which will go towards supporting the vital work of both hospice services.  Members of Greenwich & Bexley Hospice were overwhelmed by the support and enthusiasm shown by our students in helping to support their work with students gaining immensely from being provided with the opportunity to actively support their local community.

 The 2019 Autumn Term has also seen our Year 9 Youth St Vincent De Paul students engage in two very successful bake sales which raised £175.  Our staff have also been very active in their support of and engagement in a number of Charity and Enterprise initiatives.  Over £214 was raised by staff as part of our Macmillan Coffee Morning with many delicious homemade treats for sale on the day.  

 As part of our ‘Harvest’ celebrations, staff also took part in a ‘Brighten Up’ day as well as our 2019 SPA ‘Bake-Off’ in aid of CAFOD.  Embracing our ‘Brighten Up’ theme, staff dressed as brightly as possible for a day just before the October half-term break with a number of staff also showing off their culinary skills by baking an array of mouth-watering treats in an attempt to be named 2019 SPA ‘Bake-Off’ Champion.  Both initiatives were a great success, raising over £220 for CAFOD in the process.

During October and November, staff and students actively supported our local Greenwich Foodbank by donating over 200 food and toiletry items.  The services provided by the foodbank actively react to the needs of the local community to provide help and support to local people in crisis.

November saw 7 of our male members of staff and 16 Year 10 and 11 male students bravely take up the annual international ‘Movember’ Challenge in support of men’s health.  Throughout November, staff and students became committed to trying to grow a moustache; becoming walking, talking billboards for men’s health.  This initiative has indeed proven to be a fantastic opportunity to get men and boys of all ages talking about their health, creating some real change.  Through embarking on this endeavour, all participants have played a huge part in helping to raise awareness and understanding as well as make a difference to the lives of so many. 

Friday 29^th November also saw staff participate in an ‘SPA MOVEmber Fitness Challenge’ as a final ‘Movember’ fundraising activity.  We are delighted to report that our ‘Movember’ Campaign has to date raised in excess of £800.  The money raised will help fund research programmes and projects that address some of the biggest health issues faced by men and boys: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.

Thursday 28^th November saw students and staff enjoy our first Mufti Day of the year in aid of the charity ‘Just One Tree’.  ‘Just One Tree’ is a non-profit initiative removing CO₂ from the atmosphere through global reforestation.  The actions of this charity have the greatest positive effect on global warming whilst simultaneously alleviating extreme poverty within impacted communities through training, education and employment.  Through our school Mufti Day we aimed to demonstrate that an individual’s actions can have a positive impact on the environment.  ‘Just One Tree’ made it simple for us to all contribute to collective action on the climate crisis because for each £1 donated a tree will be planted.  We are delighted therefore that our Mufti Day raised almost £900.

We are so pleased to report that throughout the Autumn Term as a school community this academic year to date we have raised in excess of £3,000 for a wide range of local and national charities.  As we approach the season of Advent and with a number of Charity and Enterprise activities planned, we are looking forward to seeing our students and staff continuing to actively demonstrate our school ethos of ‘Faith in Action’ during this the season of good will.

Miss Duffy

Charities and Enterprise Co-ordinator

Year 9 students from St Paul’s Academy received an award trip for either being the top 10 students on Behaviour Watch in terms of positive points or were those who interviewed for student council. The trip meant free tickets to see Men in Black International and each student received a free voucher to see another movie free of charge.

Students were a credit to Year 9 and were complimented by members of the public for being thoughtful, polite and caring citizens. Examples included giving up their seats on the bus, speaking politely to the cinema staff and picking up their rubbish after the film had finished. Well done to all students as you were a credit to the Academy.