Headlines October 2012

MEG meetings

There will also be master classes in mathematics, science and music for MEG stands for Minimum Expected Grade; it is the standard below which example and visits to museums and art galleries. Later in the programme students would be underachieving based upon their potential and previous in Y11, students will begin to explore A level choices appropriate to their achievements. Students should achieve at least their MEG in all subjects ability and career aspirations. but ideally strive and attain higher levels of success at GCSE. I hope that by offering this programme to students we will inspire many of We run MEG meetings for all students and their parents or carers in Y9, them to apply for our most prestigious universities and of course in so Y10 and Y11 at the start of the year so that the requirements of study at doing, achieve the highest possible grades at GCSE and then A level.

GCSE level are clearly set out. There is such a lot of support available to At our recent MEG meetings, students selected for the programme were students beyond lessons which is explained to them at these meetings. invited to participate and with their parents and carers were given an For parents and carers there is the Parents Gateway, an internet based overview. information system that parents and carers can log into using a password and which allows them the opportunity to view school based information about their own children, including attendance, behaviour, Vivos and HRMZ academic progress.

HRMZ is based at Grangeway in Runcorn and is a There was a good turnout at all three evenings and with such a positive Youth Hub, a place where young people can go to start to the year, I am hopeful that continued success will follow. The take part in different activities such as Youth evenings ran smoothly thanks largely to our volunteer student hosts who Cabinet, Youth Club, The I.T. Crowd and much greeted parents and carers and took them to their meetings ensuring that more. meetings kept to time.

During the October half term holiday there are several events planned including the HRMZ version of “The Apprentice�. Further details can be In partnership with Cronton Sixth Form College, we are offering to our found on their website at www.hrmz.co.uk or by contacting Cheryl on most able students in Y9, Y10 and Y11 a set of experiences that will help 07739 687531 or via email cheryll.darnell@catch-22.org.uk. Failing this, prepare them for entry to Oxbridge and other prestigious universities. you could simply pop in and have a word!

Amongst many activities we have planned, students will get the opportunity to visit Oxford or Cambridge and take part in mock interviews.

Prestigious universities programme

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

October 2012 Issue

Free School Meals

Charity of the year

You may be aware that The Government has changed the way in which it funds schools. One of the most significant changes involves allocating money to schools to help children from lower income families do their very best. This funding is called a „Pupil Premium‟. For every child registered The Grange gets £600 this year.

Each year we raise money for a variety of charitable causes and this year our senior student representatives led by Head Boy Ritchie Redmond and Head Girl Amy Pinkney, have chosen to support the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive disease that attacks the With this money we will continue to provide the very best opportunities to motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. This means help youngsters achieve their potential and clearly, the more money we messages gradually stop reaching muscles, which leads to weakness and receive, the more we can provide in support of student achievement. You wasting. can register your child for Free School Meals if you receive one of the MND can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. However, not following benefits: all symptoms necessarily happen to everyone and it is unlikely they will all  Income Support develop at the same time, or in any specific order.  

Income Based Job Seekers Allowance Child Tax Credit – but only those who are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and whose annual income (as assessed by the Inland Revenue) does not exceed £16, 040 (subject to annual review) Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit

Although there is currently no cure for MND, symptoms can be managed to help you achieve the best possible quality of life.

Deputy Head Boy, Reece Moore put forward MND as the charity of the year and the senior students backed his idea. Reece arranged for one of the charity‟s Trustees, Sandra Smith to visit the school and discuss how we Applications are confidential and will not affect any other benefits you are could go about raising money for this deserving cause. claiming.

Reece and some of the senior students met with Sandra to discuss plans If you are registered for Free School Meals you could also get assistance and they also found time with transport costs. If you wish to make any enquiries regarding for a spot of lunch too! assistance with school transport please contact the Transport Co-ordination Team on 0151 471 7382.  

You can download information about Free School Meals and Assisted School Transport from the parents and careers section of our website www.thegrange.com The Monthly Newsletter for Parents and Carers from the Head of School, Mr B. Carney.

October 2012 Issue

Mamma Mia Summer is over (did it ever begin?) and the cold winter nights are rapidly approaching! Here at The Grange we thought about what we could do to lift and brighten those dark, winter nights in Runcorn. Well, for three nights only in December, let us take you to Greece and join us for Mamma Mia – the world wide theatre and film hit!!

Using the original characters, storyline and of course SONGS, the show has everything you could possible need to forget about the troubles of the day and the cold, wet and windy weather. We have singing, dancing and fantastic acting to transport you from the beach to the Taverna to the church and to the…wait a minute…do we find out who actually is Sophie‟s dad? Well it‟s her wedding and she wants the three possibilities to be there so she can find out who it is so that he can walk her down the aisle.

Will she find out? Will she make it to the church on time?

Join us for what promises to be a fantastic night of entertainment starring the very best talent that The Grange and Runcorn has to offer. Mamma Mia is on from 17th-19th December with curtain up at 7pm. Who knows, you might even catch a glimpse of our very own Super Trouper, Mr Washbrook, performing his version of Dancing Queen!

Tickets will be available from the Finance Office from the 19th November.

Book early so that you don’t miss THE LAST SHOW ever in THE ORIGINAL GRANGE.

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

The main cast:

Sophie Sky Donna (Sophie‟s mum) Rosie (Donna‟s friend) Tanya (Donna‟s friend) Ali (Sophie‟s friend) Lisa (Sophie‟s friend) Pepper (Sky‟s friend) Eddie (Sky‟s friend) Harry Bill Sam

Alisha Nuttall Tony Carmon Lily Gaynor Natasha Preston Alisha Parr Rebecca Ledward Beth White Marc Steele Aaron Owen Ritchie Redmond Jack McAdam Seymour McCashin

October 2012 Issue

House events Y11 Inter House 5-a-side Thursday 13th September.

FUTURE HOUSE EVENTS:

Football

Each house played each other in a very competitive, but sportsmanlike manner.

The eventual winners were Bridgewater with Brindley runners up. Priory were in third place and Castle House received the wooden spoon.

Friday 19th October- INTER HOUSE KENDO Friday 16th November- CHILDREN IN NEED - House fundraising Thursday 6th December Y7 INTER HOUSE „BOPPIT‟ Thursday 20th December- INTER HOUSE GAME SHOWS with the launch of our House Christmas Single (Thanks to Shakin‟ Stevens!).

The Grange Learning Gateway

Parents and carers can use the Learning Gateway to see information online Players of the tournament were Jack Doolan and Declan McMermaid both about their children including personal details (e.g. full name, date of birth, in Bridgewater House and Todd Avis in Brindley House. We look forward to contact telephone numbers) details about timetable, attendance, a Y10 competition in the new year. behaviour, homework and assessments.

In addition, other useful Inter House Countdown Competition - Wednesday 3rd October. information from school is also accessible via the Learning Gateway.

This very successful competition was organised by the English and Maths The Gateway is a secure internet based resource accessible by using a departments. There was a terrific response from Year 9 and Year 11 confidential username and password. Further details can be obtained from students and the event was extremely well supported by staff.

Miss McGuffie in the school office.

After a very close competition the eventual winners were Brindley House with 100 points.

This was mainly due to the commitment and enthusiasm shown by Tyler Kneale and Connor Moorst both in 10 HGH.

This year we want to stop sending paper copies of assessments and reports where possible and instead use the Learning Gateway as the means of communication with parents and carers. This will cut costs and the saving can instead be used to increase spending on educational items such as books. It will also save a great deal of time too. If parents and carers are unsure about the Learning Gateway we will, as last year, put on Priory House were very close behind with 98 demonstrations at all Parents Evening this year. Parents and carers who points. Bridgewater House were in third place cannot access the internet can choose to receive information through with 75 points and, again, Castle House finished traditional, paper-based means. in 4th place with 49 points.

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

October 2012 Issue

Building Update

The scale and quality of the MUGA and the sports hall is without equal in Halton. In total, the entire development represents an investment of ÂŁ30 million and we are very proud and privileged to be able to use these facilities for the benefit and enjoyment of our students.

Remembrance

Remembrance Day and the act of Remembrance, includes all those who have been involved with, and affected by, war and conflict since World War One. The act of a Two Minute Silence began on the anniversary of Armistice Day, 11 November 1919. In 1921, The Royal British Legion While the main school building is obviously progressing rapidly, as viewed lobbied for Remembrance Day, which was then formally adopted as a from Latham Avenue, tucked away in the heart of the existing school is the national day of Remembrance. new changing room facility which is well underway and due for completion

by December 2012. On the sports field the new Multi Use Games Area Shortly after the Legion was formed, the poppy was adopted as its symbol.

(MUGA) is in use although we are also having the latest Astro Turf laid in The poem In Flanders Fields was part of the reason, but other poems had March 2013. The sports hall was completely refurbished over the summer also mentioned poppies as they were one of the few flowers able to survive holiday and has brand new lighting, heating, ventilation and to my in an area severely damaged by fighting. The poppy flowering was a immense delight, 2 indoor cricket nets. symbol of hope on the battlefields, and after the War it became associated with Remembrance, a sign of life continuing after the horrors of conflict.

As in previous years, we will be taking part and from the last week of October through to Remembrance Sunday, we will be supporting the Poppy Appeal. Lapel poppies will be available to buy from reception. There will be a delegation from the school attending the ceremony at the Cenotaph in Runcorn on Remembrance Sunday, 11th November 2012 and students, parents and carers are welcome to join us.

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

October 2012 Issue

OMANI TEACHING DELEGATION VISIT THE GRANGE Four delegates from Oman made a reciprocal visit to Halton after teachers from Runcorn and Widnes visited Oman earlier in February as part of the programme to achieve The International Schools Award.

Assistant Headteacher John Burton took part in the initial visit to Oman and found it a truly valuable experience, helping the school to move from The Intermediate Award to The Full International Schools Award.

The four delegates, Dawood Sulaiman Al-Shabibi (British Council), Said Juma Al‟Abra, Rashid Salim Al‟Badi and Muna Said Mohamed Al‟Lssaei, visited Halton from Sunday 23rd September - Friday 28th Septmber 2012.

They were supported by Nick McGee, the UK Cluster Co-ordinator.

On Tuesday September 25th the delegates visited The Grange School.

They were greeted by Head Boy, Ritchie Redmond and Head Girl, Amy Pinkney.

Over the year, students from Oman and The Grange have been collaborating on two projects. The delegates observed work in Art as part of the project entitled „ View from a Window‟ and also visited the Modern Foreign Languages department with year eight where they looked through artefacts that the students had collected to demonstrate their culture as part of the project called „Culture in a Box‟.

The delegates then had the pleasure of visiting the Music department to discuss the next aspect of the project which will be to link the schools involved through music. Mr Burton led the guests on a general tour of the school, giving them the opportunity to view teaching and learning along with the opportunity to talk to both students and staff about their educational experiences. This was followed by lunch with staff, served by some of the schools‟ students who are studying catering. After lunch, the delegates were whisked off to visit a primary school in Runcorn, but returned to school to have a tour around the innovative new building later in the afternoon with Executive Head teacher David Stanley.

The delegates remained in the school and participated in our Open Evening taking the opportunity to talk to pupils and parents as they were shown around the school.

The delegates commented that: „It is a great school, with fantastic classrooms and very helpful teachers‟ „I like the school you have given me a lot of inspiration, everything is well organised with lovely teachers and pupils.‟ „I have learned and gained a lot from my visit to The Grange.‟ It was a wonderful day. Everyone gave us a warm welcome. I was amazed by the new building. I felt at home with your students who seem to be very hard working.

It was a pleasure to visit the school.

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

October 2012 Issue