St Bonaventure’s School in East Ham, known for its commitment to excellence in education and character development for boys in the East End of London since 1873, has secured three prestigious awards at the 2023 Brentwood Catholic Schools Citizenship Awards. The school’s students, Desmond, Ehsan, and Kaylan, have been recognised for their exemplary display of good citizenship and exceptional contributions to their community.

Year 7 student, Desmond, aged 12, was lauded for his unwavering fortitude and tenacity. Desmondembodies the school’s cherished virtues of Faith, Hope, Charity, Integrity, Courage, Humility, and Kinship both in his academic pursuits and in his interactions outside of school. With an infectious smile and apositive attitude towards his studies, Desmond has become an exceptional role model for his peers. The St Bonaventure’s community looks forward to witnessing Desmond’s continued growth and joyful impact on others in the years to come.

Ehsan, a remarkable Year 10 student, aged 15, was recognised as an inspiration and an outstanding rolemodel. His genuine gratitude for education and well-being at St Bonaventure’s is evident in his gracious and forgiving nature. Ehsan’s determination to learn, succeed, and positively influence society sets him apart as a pillar of the community. His resilience is truly remarkable, inspiring admiration from everyone around him. St Bonaventure’s School takes great pride in having Ehsan as a student, witnessing the positive impact he creates daily.

Year 12 student, Kaylan, aged 17, showcased remarkable selflessness and dedication to making a difference in the lives of others. For the last three years, Kaylan has actively participated in challenging physical activities to raise funds for various charitable causes, including Cycling4Sewa, where he completed sponsored cycling circuits, raising over £2000 to support underprivileged young children. As theteam leader, Kaylan continues to push himself, preparing

for a 100-mile hike across the Brecon Beacons to support the Mark Evison Foundation’s efforts in promoting the personal development of young people. St Bonaventure’s School commends Kaylan for his modesty, selflessness, and dedication to making the world a better place.

The entire St Bonaventure’s School community rejoices in the outstanding achievements of Desmond, Ehsan, and Kaylan at the 2023 Brentwood Diocesan Citizenship Awards. Their commendable actions and unwavering commitment to good citizenship exemplify the core values that St Bonaventure’s strives toinstill in every student. The school remains committed to nurturing such exceptional individuals and providing an environment where students can flourish both academically and personally. St Bonaventure’s School extends its gratitude to the Brentwood Diocesan Citizenship Awards for recognising theseextraordinary students and their invaluable contributions to society.

BACKGROUND FROM DIOCESE:

As far back as 2002, Catholic schools in the Diocese of Brentwood have been invited to nominate such pupils, the initiative having been inspired by Lord Alton, a former pupil of the Diocese and this is supported strongly by the Brentwood Religious Education Service to encourage schools to respond to Governmentrequirements that Citizenship be included in the curriculum. Brentwood Diocese is committed, as is Lord Alton, to the idea that to be a good Catholic involves being a good citizen. The Gospel of Jesus Christ requires us to “love our neighbour as ourselves” and that is at the heart of the Christian interpretation of citizenship.

Pupils receiving the awards are the high points and embodiment of what their schools teach and stand for and are examples of what all our Catholic schools are striving to achieve. The Catholic view of citizenshipis a willingness to act for, speak for and serve the needs of those who, on their own, cannot do it for themselves. In a word, Catholic citizenship is service.

For more details about the awards, please see the diocese website https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/event/brentwood-catholic-schools-citizenship-awards-20 23/