It has been a busy few months in schools all around the country, and our Salesian Schools are no exception. So let us share the news about what they have been up to:

In Battersea, they have been regularly inviting speakers to talk to their students as part of their "Bosco Discovery" series.

Recent guests have included:

• Children's Doctor, Dr Sanchita Pal
• Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, leader of the inauguration of Black History Month in the UK
• Bushcraft and Survival expert, and adventurous storyteller, Yara Ghrewati
• Rohan Choudry from Revolut
• Joanna Boyle, Author of "Sue Ryder: A life lived for others."

The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco in Bootle have taken their Year 7 students on retreat to St Joseph's in Formby. Each day a different form joined the chaplaincy team for a day of Salesian activities involving games, reflection, prayer and learning about the St John Bosco and the Salesians.

At Salesian School, Chertsey, they have also been inviting people to come and speak to their Sixth-Form students. Ben Greensmith from Tony's Chocolonely visited to talk to students about the unknown issues of cocoa companies especially those using slaves in their workforce.

Students at St John Bosco Arts College recently went to Liverpool Cathedral to sing at the Educate Awards. Students performed during the drinks reception playing a mix of classic dance anthems, and the choir singing Heather Small's "Proud". The choir also sang at the beginning of the awards ceremony performing Emile Sandé's "Shine".

In Farnborough, Year 7 students at Salesian College have also been on retreat. The following text has been written by William of St Dunstan's house.

For our Year 7 retreat, we went to our local parish church with our form tutor, Mrs Morrison, Brother Martin and Father Pat for a day to reflect on our year so far. When we arrived, we began by playing some games to get to know each other better: we played skill bingo (where you had to find a different person for each skill) and chicken to superman (you start as a chicken and play rock paper scissors and try to evolve into a superhero). Afterwards, we worked in small groups and discussed three things we have enjoyed so far this year and three things we have found difficult. In our small groups we wrote letters to ourselves that we could open when we reach Year 11. We asked ourselves questions about lessons, hobbies, general life and what we want our Year 11 self to be.

Later, we prepared our class contract on how we will behave and treat each other as a class. We then went into our separate groups to prepare different things for our service in the church. We sang songs, read our prayers, and showed our posters to the class.

After the service we were given a book on Don Bosco, kindly gifted to us by Father Pat.

This trip was a perfect example of the values of a Salesian school. It was a perfect demonstration of:

School: we all learnt about each other and the way of God.
Home: we all felt like a second family and came together as a form
Playground: we played some games
Church: we were quite literally in a church, and we also learnt about the way of the God.

And at Thornleigh Salesian College, they have also taken their year 7 students on retreat. Thornleigh have been to Savio House for their retreat on Bridges and how to build bridges between each other and with God. The few days they were they went for a walk to the iconic White Nancy, had time to reflect and play as a large group and in smaller groups, and spend time with God through Prayer and the sacraments of Reconciliation and receiving the Eucharist.