REFLECTION 

What is Holy Week?

Holy Week recounts the final days of Jesus’ life including his death, burial, and resurrection.

What is Palm Sunday?

Jesus rode on a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The people waved branches at him, shouting, “Hosanna”.

 Let’s reflect

What would it be like to be in the crowd that welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem?

How can I welcome Jesus today?

 What is Maundy Thursday?

Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his friends. He washed their feet which was usually the job of a servant. Then he broke bread saying ‘This is my body’ and shared wine saying ‘This is my blood.’

Let’s reflect

How would feel to have someone as important as Jesus washing my feet?

How can I serve people humbly like Jesus?

What is Good Friday?

Jesus was arrested and crucified on Good Friday.

Even on the Cross he forgave the people who were hurting him.

Let’s reflect

How does it feel to know Jesus is always loving and forgiving?

How can I be forgiving?

What is Easter Sunday?

After the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices to go and anoint the body of Jesus. 

Very early on Sunday morning, at sunrise, they went to the tomb.  On the way they said to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” (It was a very large stone.) Then they looked up and saw that the stone had already been rolled back. So they entered the tomb, where they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe—and they were alarmed.

 “Don't be alarmed,” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is not here—he has been raised! Look, here is the place where he was placed. Now go and give this message to his disciples, including Peter: ‘He is going to Galilee ahead of you; there you will see him, just as he told you.’”

Jesus’ death show us how much God loves everyone.

His resurrection reminds us that even in the most difficult situations there is always hope.

Reflection: "Holy Week is a privileged time when we are called to draw near to Jesus: friendship with him is shown in times of difficulty." ~ Pope Francis

Prayer:  Give me grace and mercy as I try and fail, guidance when I'm not sure which way to go, and wisdom to trust you in all things. For your love brings light and life to all who seek it. May I seek you evermore as I walk with you through this Holy Week and beyond. Amen.

On behalf of the staff, we wish you and your loved ones a deeply reflective Holy Week and a joyful, hope-filled Easter.

CULTURE WEEK

Our college celebrated Culture Week with a vibrant mix of activities that brought everyone together.  Students shared foods from around the world, took part in Cultural Dress Day, and enjoyed a wonderful Culture Showcase.

The week was a colourful and inspiring celebration of our diverse community, highlighting the many cultures that make our college so special.

TEAM PILGRIM

Year 8 Boys Football 

Fantastic news that our Year 8 boys' football team was crowned Bristol School Champions last night after a truly spectacular game!

Match Highlights

The boys faced a tough test right out of the gate, going 1-0 down early on against Ashton Park. However, Team Pilgrim showed incredible character and resilience to bounce right back. By half-time, they had completely turned the game around to take a commanding 3-1 lead, thanks to a great goal from Zakai P and a brilliant brace from Nelson U.

The second half was thankfully a little less nerve-wracking! We quickly extended our advantage to a three-goal lead following a remarkably calm right-foot finish from Jacob M. While Ashton Park managed to pull one back to keep us on our toes, a late flurry of goals from Team Pilgrim sealed a dominant 6-2 victory.

•  Nelson U: Took home the match ball after securing a fantastic hat-trick to help secure the win.

•  Pilgrim of the Match - Miguel DC: Awarded for his relentless hard work throughout the entire game and an outstanding, positive attitude on the pitch.

The boys represented the school flawlessly, and this championship is a testament to their dedication, teamwork, and spirit. Congratulations!
 

Year 9 Boys Football

Team Pilgrim’s impressive winning streak in cup finals came to a cruel end in a dramatic and hard-fought contest against a strong Bedminster Down side.

Team Pilgrim started brightly, taking an early lead against the run of play when Nathaniel W found the corner from a tight angle. Despite the early breakthrough, Bedminster Down grew into the game and equalised to make it 1–1.

Pilgrim responded well, capitalising on a defensive error to regain the lead through Ciaran P, making the most of limited opportunities. The second half saw Pilgrim under sustained pressure, but their defence stood strong. With just five minutes remaining, Bedminster Down found an equaliser.

In extra time, Pilgrim edged back in front as Ciaran P grabbed his second. However, the lead was short-lived, with Bedminster Down responding almost immediately from the restart.

The match was decided on penalties, where Pilgrim narrowly lost 4–3.

A special mention to Sam MC, named Player of the Match, for an outstanding performance covering every inch of the pitch.

A heartbreaking end, but a performance full of resilience and determination that the team can be proud of.

Year 7 and Junior Girls Football

After a month of miserable weather, the sun finally made a welcome appearance just in time for our girls’ football fixtures against Bristol Free School—and the teams certainly made the most of it.

Both the Year 7 and Junior Girls squads delivered fantastic performances, showing great determination, teamwork, and skill throughout their matches. Despite the challenging conditions leading up to the games, the players remained focused and positive, which was reflected in their play on the pitch.

The Year 7 team put in a strong and confident display, working well together and taking their chances effectively to secure a well-deserved victory. Their communication and energy were excellent from start to finish. They finally got a well deserved first win and nothing more than they deserved. Nadia J was voted Pilgrim of the Match for her two goals. 

The Junior Girls team followed suit with an equally impressive performance, made even more remarkable as they played with fewer players. They showed resilience, teamwork, and great determination to overcome the disadvantage, maintaining control of the game and finishing with a well-earned win. Isla D was voted Player of the Match by the opposition, with Lexie VDW and Michaela K voted joint Pilgrim of the Match by their teammates for superb performances and resilience shown. 

It was a brilliant afternoon of football, made even better by the sunshine, and a great reward for the effort and commitment the girls have shown in training. Well done to everyone involved!

Year 9 Netball 

The Year 9 girls travelled to the county netball finals at BGS as Bristol champions, facing strong competition from schools across South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath. 

With windy conditions and a long gap since their last competitive fixture, the team showed great determination and resilience throughout the tournament. They worked hard to find their rhythm against well-drilled opposition, growing in confidence with each quarter.

The girls had reached the semi-final, where they faced a tough opponent who would go on to win the tournament. Despite a spirited performance and excellent teamwork, they narrowly missed out on a place in the final.

Overall, it was a fantastic achievement to reach the semi-finals at county level, especially given the challenging conditions and limited recent match play. The team represented the school brilliantly and should be very proud of their efforts. We will go again next year to try and win our title back!

Culture Quiz: The Results Are In!

A huge well done to everyone who took part in our recent Culture Awareness Quiz, organised by the MFL faculty!

It was fantastic to see everyone engaging with the diverse heritages that make our school community so vibrant.  

After a hard-fought competition across all tutor groups, the final House standings are:

• 1st Place: Pasteur 

• 2nd Place: Descartes

• 3rd Place: Bell Burnell

• 4th Place: Seacole

Congratulations to Pasteur for taking the crown, and thank you to all students for celebrating our global community!

NOAH'S ARK ZOO FARM 

A small group of our Young Carers were taken to Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm earlier in March as part of the Zoo's “Nature for All” programme.

We had an extremely varied day with talks and activities about wildlife and conservation around the globe, as well as discovering more about the local nature around us.

We all learnt a lot about the animals, and even had a go at willow weaving to make enrichment challenges for the zoo inhabitants.

https://www.carersbsg.org.uk/young-carers/overview    

Year 11 Boys Football: County Champions

The boys won a thrilling end-to-end County Final, beating South Gloucestershire champions The Castle School 4 - 3! 

Goals: Jaja S, Tiago A, Tom C, and Tachari P.

Pilgrim of the Match: Patrick O'N, for his fearless tackling.

They travel to Cirencester to play the Gloucestershire final winners. This is the furthest stage of the competition, so a massive achievement!  Well done!

Padel: National Finalists

History made! Our first-ever Team Pilgrim Padel team competed at the new S3 centre.

A huge congratulations to the Year 9 boys team—Vinnie B, Giulio F, and Fran F, who put on a stellar performance and have officially booked their place in the National Finals in Manchester! Also beating the Year 10 boys in the semi finals.

A fantastic achievement, well done!

You are eligible for free school meals if you receive:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided) you're also not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have a gross income of no more than £16,190
• Working Tax Credit run-on paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Wokring Tax Credit
• Universal Credit with an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400

Further information can be found here: https://bit.ly/4m1OfaT

Inter-House Sports Update

Students have enjoyed competing in the next round of the Inter-House competition.  Completing the cycle from our previous tournament, the boys took to the basketball courts and the girls showcased their skills on the football pitch.

Boys' Basketball: Descartes Dominates the Court

The boys brought incredible pace and strategy to the basketball courts this week. 

While Descartes and Pasteur put on impressive displays to clinch victories in Years 7 and 11, respectively, it was Bell Burnell who truly stole the show. With outright wins in Years 8, 9 and 10.  However, Descartes racked up the points needed to take home the overall joint boys' and girls' basketball crown.

Joint Basketball Results:

Year Group	Winning House
Year 7	Pasteur
Year 8	Descartes
Year 9	Seacole
Year 10	Bell Burnell / Descartes (Tie)
Year 11	Descartes

Overall Basketball Champions: Descartes

Girls' Football: Bell Burnell Battles to the Top

The girls' football competition was incredibly tight, developing into a fierce battle across the year groups.

Bell Burnell started strong by capturing the Year 7 and 11 titles, but Descartes answered back with a decisive victory in Year 9 and 10. Seacole stepped into the spotlight to claim a fantastic win in Year 8. However, the seniors sealed the deal. A crucial Year 11 victory secured the points needed for Bell Burnell to proudly lift the overall football trophy!

Joint Football Results:

Year Group	Winning House
Year 7	Bell Burnell
Year 8	Descartes
Year 9	Descartes / Bell Burnell (Tie)
Year 10	Seacole
Year 11	Bell Burnell

Football Champions: Bell Burnell

Massive congratulations to Descartes and Bell Burnell for their outstanding overall performances in basketball and football.

All students, whether participants or spectators, represented their houses with fantastic sportsmanship and pride.

We cannot wait to see what the next round of Inter-House competitions brings!

HOLIDAY HUB 

Get ready for new adventures this spring with Your Holiday Hub.

Children and young people in Bristol who receive benefits-related free school meals, can book lots of
fun activity sessions taking place during the school holidays from 6 to 17 April.

Your Holiday Hub sessions are fully funded and include a healthy meal as part of the day.

There are lots to choose from with activities ranging from sports to crafts, and drama to baking plus so much more. Join in and stay active with fun new things to see and do. 
Please visit

www.yourholidayhubbristol.co.uk to find out more and book your place today.

SAFEGUARDING SPOTLIGHT