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NOVEMBER 13TH 2015 Issue 2
Our Aim
In accordance with our Mission Statement the School’s aim
Faith and Worship
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To help us to grow spiritually as followers of Christ and as members of a C community: to make prayer, worship and liturgy central to school life.
School and Community
Celebrating 60 Years of Celebrating 60 Years of Outstan Outstanding Learning 1955 - 2015
To encourage and develop relationships between home, parish, school and the wider com in order to prepare our pupils to become responsible, I love comingcaring to workcitizens. here each day.
Communications and Relationships IMPORTANT DATES & FORTHCOMING EVENTS Year 11 Mocks November 9th - 17th To develop ansessions effective system Year 10 Mindfulness weekly
Often itcloses doesn’t feel like work. We are18th a Catholic co School for Christmas December 12.00 pm privilege to see our youngJanuary people 4th flourishing, sp School reopens 2016 8.45toam
ways and watch grow in confidence. They a of communications and them relationships which is based every lesson great adventures and stories unfold bor Gospel values of mutual respect, tolerance, care andLAUNCHES understanding towards all member NEW WEBSITE and creativity. Our equally inspiring staff are dedica Presentation Evening (school closes at 2.00 pm) In collaboration with Hive, a local company, we have school community. person in their care. They may get outstanding re
November 19th 7.00 pm developed our new website with an improved look, brings clarity so much the education of our studen Year 11 Retreats November 24th greater and more more to features. The website address Individual Support and Development has School Remembrance differently so thatWhat every child canwhen realise their not changed. you will see you visitgifts the a Service November 27th they are. Doing this means that we are bringing site is the first phase. There is more to come and the to Careers Focus Week November 23 27th ethos theencourage final siteofwill goschool. live on December 7th. All feedback To celebrate the unique nature of each person and to their development asisindi 6th Form Open Morning November 28th 10.00am welcome. Year 9 reports to parents There is great spirit and energy in this school. You c Curriculum December 11th & guardians curricular activities, in the array of research projec 6th form open morning (november 28th) Barcelona Trip December 12th - 13th Don’t miss the additional morning the 6th There form. the creativity that flowsopen through our for learning. A National Teach To introduce all pupils to a broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum and t We currently have over 130 applicants for places. one is left behind, no-one is left out. Visitors often Advent Liturgy December 15th
A National School o
pupils with the necessary knowledge, skillsofand Christian values required a rapidly ch purpose they find in the school; in this comes fro
On Monday night the Royal Exchange Theatre in city centre Manchester, buzzed with ideas and creativity from over 40 young people from across the area. Each one was talking about an issue of interest or concern to them and trying to persuade the audience of the value of their perspective and insight. This was part of an event called TaY Talks or Truth about Youth. The English department had entered several pupils to speak and Dan SellwoodBlythe was chosen. He chose to talk about his experiences as a transgender person in school and his reflections were articulate, moving and insightful. A number of staff attended along with pupils. It was without doubt a very successful evening.
TaY talks @ the royal exchange
This week we hosted over 15 representatives from local This week marked the start of a business and industry in the year-long project in collaboration school at an event designed with an organisation called to develop our engagement Commando Joe. This is a with business people. The company of former military Business Breakfast was personnel who work with young organised by Miss Cheshire. people in over 350 schools on The Year 10 pupils who issues of leadership, self-esteem and confidence. Over the next few make up the school’s Yung Enterprise group welcomed months a member of staff from the guests and worked with Commando Joe will be in school them to discuss the essential one day each week working with skills and qualities that individual pupils and groups as well as being around the school to employers are seeking in all support learning and achievement. school leavers. These were then distilled into lists and You can find out more at http:// the employers and pupils www.commandojoes.co.uk examined them in more depth. commando joe
REMEMBRANCE week
former pupil speaks at conference
We were very impressed with pupils from form 8B who led the week of Remembrance Assemblies. Miss West’s form spoke of the history of remembrance, the lessons we can learn from the past and show respect for memory of the victims of war whilst at the same time honour the sacrifice of the fallen. The school observed a two minute silence at 11am on Wednesday.
On Wednesday former pupil Daniel Bateson spoke at the Education Estates Conference at Manchester Central (GMEX). The conference is a national event for the construction industry focussing on the way it works to build and maintain education buildings and property. Daniel was speaking to representatives from top firms, universities and schools describing the impact of the Design Engineer Construct course on his learning and progress and arguing for more of these experiences for other pupils in all schools. Also speaking as teacher Mr. McDonagh, Headteacher Mr. Davis, Alison Watson from Class of Your Own and Caroline Blackman, director at Laing O’Rourke
business breakfast
ZUMBATHON Led by Miss Cunningham a group of Year 7 pupils raised money for charity with a sponsored Zumbathon. The pupils raised the impressive sum of £172.30. Miss Cunningham said: ‘I organised the Zumbathon as an extra-curricular activity for a number of reasons; to raise money for charity, to educate the students on how fundraising can be enjoyable, and to inspire them to help others. A number of Year 7 girls took part and all did extremely well I was very impressed with their efforts. The Zumbathon was held in aid of Variety, the Children's Charity (North West Branch), meaning that all money raised will stay and help youngsters right here in our area.’ We are a charitable school and there are many more opportunities for fundraising before Christmas.
T HI S WEE K IN PI C T URE S  
year 11 hockey; Commando joe; business breakfast From left: our talented Year 11 Hockey squad last week fresh from their Salford win; Bryn, joining us next week from Commando Joe; the businesses and pupils put their heads together to come up with essential employability skills earlier in the week.
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zumba; tay talks; badminton
FROM TOP: the brilliant Year 7 Zumba artistes; Dan at the TaY Talks at the Royal Exchange; the Year 10 Salford Badminton champions.