

FAITH IN YOU
LOVE IN LEARNING
HOPE IN BETTER
this week in our school . . .
Volume 4 Issue 23 April 26th, 2019
getting it right ready respectful safe
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ST AMBROSE BARLOW RC HIGH SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM
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Head’s start .
Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the week. Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the week. have been in the news this week, Young people
making headlines. First there was the appalling is about time of Lyra year McKee, that I meet death ofItthe youngthis journalist shotwith each Head of Department to review the dead in Belfast, then Greta Thunberg took the summer’s exam results. This involves adults of Westminster to task for their lack of plenty of useful andTwo thought-provoking action on climate change. strong voices, discussion, but it is usually talkingchange. about
two young women, at the heart of social numbers and letters. Behind this data are stories: how pupils did, how they felt, what There is no shortage of inspiration for young they liked and what they achieved. We people in these two figures. So it is troubling to always focus on how things can be see the criticism that Greta Thunberg attracted improved as well as celebrating what went from many quarters on social media. Some well. As a Catholic school, exam results are influential adult voices have inexplicably talked just one way of expressing the unique, Goddown the considerable achievements of this 16 given talents and skills of each pupil. It is year old.
important to look beyond the data so I am delighted that much more of my job involves Perhaps they are threatened by the clarity of her being in classes, walking around the school thought and the speed with which she has and talking to pupils, students and staff. secured a platform to speak to the powerful. Perhaps they feel that a young person does not If ever you are feeling at all despondent or know enough, has not lived enough, to have the fatigued I reckon a quick tour of the school right to speak out in this way. Or perhaps they would quickly raise your spirits. Let me dislike the way that her activism and voice show you what I mean. Today (Thursday, threaten the established social order.
September 29th) for instance, I dropped into Year 10 GCSE Music. There, I was Whatever the reason, it is striking that millions of delighted to listen to performances of other young people have been attracted by her Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Hold Back sense ofthe mission, regardless of the negativity of River and When the Saints Go Marching some adults. They and feelDaniel an urgency about In. I also gotsee to sit with and Chester the issue of climate change and they will not as they demonstrated their prodigiouswait DJing for the older generation to act.
I supervised the talents. Next, during lunch, canteen and made a point of watching the This passion is nothing I see daily. it in the young interactions that new take -place Pupils and people we serve each day. They may not always staff holding doors open for one another, be talking aboutthanks, big issues as climate offering littlesuch moments of personal change,appreciation but based on their experiences, they and gratitude. Of course, advancethings strong views and a desire to act to but it don’t always go well in a school, improveisthings. This might be simply in the way lovely to witness a voluntary apology from the stand up for a friend or in the means they a Year 9 to one of the lunch time staff, find or to express through art,who drama or seethemselves one pupil help another is unsure music. where I saw examples of these things this week.
to go for class. One young person in Y10 came atolengthy see mechat to with In Sixth Form, I enjoyed performAidan her poetry, written without any adult who explained both the theory of intervention, articulating of the struggles differentiation andsome its potential commercial she sees around her. It was magical stuff.studying application. In English they were Anotherthe group pupils (from a and variety of year playofBlood Brothers talking with groups)humour were found by me in the assembly hall, and excitement about superstitions; planninginthe summer cabaret with great intensity Year 7 RE they were dissecting our new and focus - laterstatement in the week was even mission andthere exploring the talk of a staff band (I’m in, if they’ll have me).
is a personal meanings within it. School busy, bustling, humming place.
I get to Maths to find all of Year 9 embroiled in a there task that so200 challenging and exciting Then are is the or so Year 11s, days away that I want to stay and have a go myself. from significant public examinations, studying Outside it’s: “Sir, have for youthe seen mygains tie? that hard, planning, looking extra Can you open my bottle? What did you they can make by doing even the smallest things, think last night’s game? Whatpart timeofisour it, yet stilloftotally dedicated to being Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Oh my school community. It is these small dedications, days!” can be noisy at times and in aneeded, little actsIt of effort and focus that, when community this size we can’t expect can find expression in the bigger issues such as everyone to get on with each other all the climate change. time. But it is our community, and a lively, lovely, positive one at that.
our young people express strong Perhaps the single highlight of my week, if I views a desire to act Itohad had to and pick, show would be the conversation with Mrs. Fay who is leading the improve things theylibrary. are an development of our- new I am a library enthusiast and have been ever since inspiration I was little. The furthest reach of my
memory is back to moments spent in our Not every young personby is aitsGreta Thunberg, but local library entranced colour and every young person has a story and can find a bright possibilities. On Twitter sense of purpose that harnesses that #RememberingMyLibrary reveals thestory hold to a bigger issue or campaign.
that such an institution has: ‘A library card was a free pass to wonderment, words and Inthe school, we the talk world’ aboutobserves young people abilitywhen to roam one being activists for Christ, that is we iron mean. user, whilst another quotes the what wrought It gates is alsoofwhat we mean when we use the Stalybridge library, ‘Read, Mark,phrase ‘Faith in You’ from ourDigest.’ MissionOthers Statement: Learn and Inwardly talk of everyone has a story, a set of experiences the escape that a library represented or ofand talents that make them unique.
the refuge it offered from an unkind world.
School offers thelast opportunity them to develop Mrs. Fay spent Saturdayfor peacefully those talents and put them to use in the service stacking the shelves and we are inching ofcloser others. What could any adult possibly to opening. What thrilled me was find her to criticise in that?
comment that several boys, some of whom affect a dislike of reading, were electrified by God bless, of a library in their school: ‘You presence mean I can borrow this and, like, read it, Ben Davis Miss?’ was the breathless utterance of one Headteacher pupil. Our library is at the heart of the Twitter: school:@BenDavis1972 a space for being open to and sharing ideas and experiences. It is openFront a selection last term’s plan cover and itsimage: shelves serve as of a reminder artists of the week. that there should be no barrier to anyone using its volumes or seeking knowledge, solace, entertainment or information. I can’t wait to see it come to life in the weeks ahead thanks to Mrs. Fay and her band of helpers.
Ben Davis, Headteacher Twitter: @BenDavis1972 2
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calendar what’s on
HOUSE POINTS
Advance Notice School re-opens 8:40am, Tuesday, May 7th after Bank Holiday
TUE 30 The band 5West join us in school all day for performances
WED 01
Year 9 Parents’ Evening, 5pm 7pm
THU 02
This Week
This Year
St Benedict of Nursia
295
8222
St. Bernadette of Lourdes
379
7957
St. Francis of Assisi
267
8462
St. Michael the Archangel
316
8305
Blessed Oscar Romero
250
8337
St. Teresa of Calcutta
311
8020
FRI 03
Liturgy for Sri Lanka, Chapel, 1:15pm School closes for May Bank Holiday weekend. 3:05pm
SAT 04
MON 29
COMING UP THIS WEEK week beginning 29.04.19 week A
attendance We aim for 100% attendance for all of our students and have set 96% as satisfactory attendance for this year. Attendance is monitored period-by-period and statistics are published each week. Excellent attendance guarantees excellent learning. Attendance by year (w/b April 15th)
Year 7 Year 8 year 9 year 10 year 11 School
95.6% 94.9% 94.5% 94.7% 92.5% 94.5%
Attendance and its impact on learning 10 days absence means 95% attendance 19 days absence means 90% attendance 29 days absence means 85% attendance 38 days absence means 80% attendance 47 days absence means 75% attendance Please note: If your child is off school you need to contact student services the same day on
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer3 Trust fundraiser
AROUND THE SCHOOL THIS WEEK  
Our victorious Year 9 Football Team. Salford Champions yet again after coming back from being 1-2 down to win 3-2 against Walkden. Well done to coach Mr. Morrison.
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer4 Trust fundraiser
AROUND THE SCHOOL THIS WEEK
It’s that time of year! The Year 7s start to look like Year 8 and some of them have joined the 100 club: pupils who have over 100 achievement/ house points. In Hot Chocolate Friday we have begun celebrating them. This week girls with 100 or more points, next week it’s the boys. Then we move on to pupils who have made the most improvement. Pictured above: Olivia, Mollie, Emily, Jasmin and Amy. Left: it might not look like much but it tells us that the soil is warming and planting out begins soon. The Science Gardening Club set up their greenhouse on Thursday evening. Stand by for tomatoes and strawberries!
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer5 Trust fundraiser
TWEET OF THE WEek More
Mr Carroll @DHT_SAB April 26
Despite the rain, over 120 boys decided to spend lunch playing football. The most bizarre thing was there was not one coat in sight. #resilience #determined #nobarriers
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FAITH IN YOU
LOVE IN LEARNING
HOPE IN BETTER
ST AMBROSE BARLOW RC HIGH SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM www.stambrosebarlowswinton.org 37 Ash Drive Swinton Salford M27 9QP 0161 921 1570 @SABSalford Headteacher: Ben Davis 7