December 2012

Carol Concert On Thursday 6th December we held our Christmas Carol Service for the first time at St. Andrews, Grangeway. The evening was a stunning success which was well deserved as the students involved rehearsed endlessly to polish their individual and group performances. They rose to the occasion magnificently and all performances were of outstanding quality. The students involved were: Tony Allford, Laura Bentley, Samantha Box, Olivia Carmon, Anthony Goble, Emilja Kasprzyk, Rebecca Ledward, Kody Meredith, Reece Moore, Alisha Nuttall, Shannon O’Reilly, Aaron Owen, Natasha Preston, Ritchie Redmond, Bethany White, Tia Bazley, Lauren Kelly, Gemma Rigby, Keeley Warburton, Luke Eaton, Thomas tember Furey, Abigail Holland, Christopher Keoghan, Erin MacDonald, Belinda McCashin, Jennifer-Leigh Roberts, Steven Bromfield, Grace Scott, Brandon Hayes and Rachel Whitehead.

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The evening was very well attended by family and members of the community who all joined in to add to the cheery, festive atmosphere which was evident to all. We received a number of glowing responses from those who attended including this which had been sent by email: “We would just like to say WOW! and congratulations. We had a wonderful evening at the carol service. Thank you to all that took part and to the staff for giving up their time, to enable us once again to witness the talent at The Grange.

We feel privileged and proud to say we are a part of The Grange family!

The Monthly Newsletter for Parents and Carers from the Head of School, Mr B. Carney.

December 2012 Issue

Excellence and Discipline Sean King (Y11) and Taylor Goodall (Y10) have recently been involved in two very prestigious events and I invited them to tell me about their experiences. What impressed me greatly was the dedication and discipline demonstrated by both to reach this level of excellence in their respective activity.

Taylor is a member of Halton Taekwondo based at the Brookvale Community Centre. Their website address is www.haltontaekwondo.com/.

Through the Korean art of Taekwondo students are offered the opportunity of developing their abilities and given the best chance to fulfil their potential through the development of the five tenets of Taekwondo: Etiquette -Modesty -Perseverance -Self control -Indomitable spirit These are worthy principles indeed that anyone would be better for adopting.

Sean is a member of the Runcorn Sea Cadets and was Congratulations to both Sean and Taylor. selected to represent the North West Area at the Building Update Trafalgar Square Parade in London. Around 500 members of the Sea Cadets marched from Horse Guards' Parade to Nelson's Column to mark Trafalgar Day. The day is celebrated by the Royal Navy and its cadet branch every year, and this year marked 207 years since the Battle of Trafalgar, in which Horatio Nelson's naval force defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets of the coast of Spain. Founded in 1854, membership of the Sea Cadet Corps is open to young people aged between 10 and 18 years of age. Further information about the local Runcorn Sea Cadets is available by visiting their website www.sea-cadets.org/runcorn/home.aspx Taylor recently spent a few days at a GB Taekwondo camp for the National Junior Talent Squad. Taylor is a regular member of the GB squad and has enjoyed great success in the past and is determined to go on adding to her collection of honours and medals.

The Monthly Newsletter for Parents and Carers from the Head of School, Mr B. Carney.

December 2012 Issue

Anti-Bullying Ambassadors visit to London On Sunday 18th November 12 of the school’s 18 Anti-bullying Ambassadors travelled to London to attend The National Anti-Bullying Conference accompanied by Miss Cooney and Mr Burton. Students ranging from year 8-11 were selected to represent the school at the full day conference in The International Hotel in Canary Wharf.

After this the students attended various workshops with celebrity guests as their group leaders. Reece Moore took part in a Music workshop led by The Voice star Vince Kidd, which he later performed in front of all the other delegates. Lucy Peach, Anna Timms, George Timms Georgia Leatherland and Emily Dowling produced a piece of Graffiti art that will be displayed in school.

Emily Henderson participated in a Dance workshop led by Britain’s Got Talent starts “Twist and Pulse”. Blake Watson and Liam Hartley improved their public speaking skills.

Other members of the group including Ritchie Redmond and Charlee Day attended Drama workshops led by Director Arthur Landon and Made in Chelsea star Funda Onal.

After travelling to London via mini bus, students enjoyed a buffet meal and spent a night in a luxurious hotel using all the facilities on offer. Students woke up to a varied selection of breakfast choices and then made their way to the conference.

Over 300 student delegates attended the conference from schools across the country as far wide as Scotland, Scunthorpe and London. After listening to Alex Holmes (Diana Award Programme Manager) relate the plan of the day’s activities, the students listened to a live debate with Jodie Marsh, Vic Goddard (from Channel 4’s Educating Essex TV show), a student member of the Youth Board, Robert Mullaney (Anti-Bullying Campaigner, who lost his son to bullying) and Simon Milner (Facebook Policy Director) all chaired by ITV News Presenter Charlene White. The students listened attentively and were enlightened by the debate.

Students were further treated to a dance “Streetomedy” performance by Twist and Pulse and had their photographs taken by another Britain’s Got Talent finalist Nathan Wyburn, who is to create a montage of all the delegates’ faces from the conference.

All the Ambassadors behaved in an exemplary manner and returned from London even more enthused for their Anti-Bullying Week plans.

The Monthly Newsletter for Parents and Carers from the Head of School, Mr B. Carney.

December 2012 Issue

Christmas Disco Organised entirely by Senior Student Representatives, the Christmas disco for years 7 & 8 proved to be one of the highlights of our festive celebrations. Apart from providing our youngsters with a lot of fun, the event was used to raise money for the Head Boy & Head Girl Charity, which this year is in support of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Head Girl, Amy Pinkney, said: “The Christmas Disco was a great success! All the pupils, staff and volunteers that attended had an amazing night, which made them feel that little more Christmassy. The disco was packed with games, laughter and entertainment Deputy Heady Boy, Reece Moore said: especially the Gangnam style dance off, which was hilarious! Every aspect of the disco was fantastic thanks to all that helped and I doubt it could have been any “The Motor Neurone Disease Association (MDNA) is a charity that is very close to better. The funds raised for the MND charity were astonishing and I would like to my heart. It supports people with Motor Neurone Disease and their families by thank you all for coming, and making the Christmas Disco a successful event.” giving them various options of help. I was in contact with a charity ambassador Sandra Smith who has helped the school enormously in our fundraising ventures.

MDNA has been a great charity to support and hopefully this will continue.”

It was a pleasure to welcome back Sandra Smith, a trustee of the MND Association who helped out during the disco, and who has worked closely with Reece Moore.

The Monthly Newsletter for Parents and Carers from the Head of School, Mr B. Carney.

December 2012 Issue

Dates for your Diary Thursday 20th December:

Finish for Christmas Break

Monday 7th January:

Pupils return to school

Wednesday 9th January:

Y10 & 11 Biology Exam

Thursday 10th January:

Y10 & 11 English Unit 2 Exam

Thursday 10th January:

Y7 Parents’ Evening

Monday 14th January:

Y10 & 11 Chemistry Exam

Thursday 17th January:

Y10 & 11 Physics Exam

Friday 18th January:

Y11 GCSE Mock Exam Results

Tuesday 22nd January:

Y10 & 11 Biology Exam 2

Thursday 24th January:

Y10 & 11 Chemistry Exam 2

Thursday 24th January:

Y11 Parents’ Evening

Friday 25th January:

Y10 & 11 Physics Exam 2

Monday 4th February:

Y10 DTP Vaccinations

Thursday 14th February:

Y10 Parents’ Evening

Friday 15th February:

Break for Half Term.

Monday 25th February:

Pupils return to school.

And finally…

Thank you for your continued support and on behalf of all the staff at the Grange may I wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

The Monthly Newsletter for Parents and Carers from the Head of School, Mr B. Carney.

Visit our website to see the students and staff seasonal video

December 2012 Issue

Inter House Bop It and Wii Competition The ICT and Design & Technology faculty organised the latest fun-packed, inter-house competition.

Groups from Y7 & Y8 stepped up to the challenge.

After a close contest, the overall winners turned out to be Priory.

Howay the Lads Eleven of our Year 11 students, accompanied by Mr Higgins, Mr McGovern and Mr Farewell and Good Luck Milne, have just returned from a weekend at the Ghyll Head outdoor education centre in the Lake District. During the weekend the students completed a night We say goodbye to 2 members of staff at the end of term. time navigation activity in the forest, canoed on Lake Windermere, braved a 50 ft zip wire and went potholing. Whilst they were potholing the students got as deep as 50 meters underground and a number of the students showed such a natural ability for the activity, that they were sent through holes and routes in the cave After a short time with us, Miss Oliver is returning to Ireland to that are normally only used to train special forces recruits. Despite the resume her teaching career closer to home. temperature being around zero all weekend, the students all had a great time and were a credit to the school through their behaviour and the resilience and effort Someone who has been here a little longer is Mrs Westwood they applied to all of the tasks. A special mention must be given to Liam Maddock who has given 25 years outstanding service to The Grange. and Alex Waring, who actually jumped in Lake Windermere and had a swim despite the fact that the temperature on the day was minus 5 and the temperaMrs Westwood has been a successful teacher of Food ture of the water was barely over zero!

Technology and Child Development during this time and she has also acted as Curriculum Leader and Progress Leader when the school was in need; such has been her selfless dedication to the Grange.

On behalf of us all, I wish them both well for their future and thank them for their contribution.

The Monthly Newsletter for Parents and Carers from the Head of School, Mr B. Carney.

December 2012 Issue