

FAITH IN YOU
LOVE IN LEARNING
HOPE IN BETTER
this week in our school . . .
Volume 4 Issue 18 February 8th, 2019
getting it right ready respectful safe
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ST AMBROSE BARLOW RC HIGH SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM
“
Head’s start .
Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the week. Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the week. You may not have heard of John Muir (1833 -
1914). He was a naturalist and in the eyes of many, It America is about this time ofheyear I meet especially in (although wasthat a Scot by with each Head of Department to review the birth), “The Father of the National Parks.” For that summer’s exam results. This involves reason alone you many have benefited from his plenty of of useful and thought-provoking work and his vision the preservation of the discussion, but it usually wilderness, particularly in theisUSA.
talking about numbers and letters. Behind this data are stories: how pupils did, how they felt, what The John Muir Trust (www.johnmuirtrust.org) keeps they liked and what they achieved. We his name and legacy alive in the UK, protecting wild always focus on how things can be land and working with schools to engage young improved as well as celebrating what went people in conservation, adventure and the natural well. As a Catholic school, exam results are world. John Muir was also a philosopher who just one way of expressing the unique, Godsought to find the Divine in the untamed spaces of given talents and skills of each pupil. It is Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. Muir’s philosophy important to look beyond the data so I am about the connections between all things and the delighted that much more of my job involves benefits of nature to the soul are echoed by our being in classes, walking around the school own Pope Francis in his Laudato and talking to encyclical pupils, students and staff. Si’ (2015): ‘A healthy relationship with creation is one dimension of overall If ever you arepersonal feeling atconversion, all despondent or which entails the recognition our errors, fatigued I reckon aofquick tour of sins, the school faults and failures, and leads to heartfelt would quickly raise your spirits. Let me repentanceshow and desire to change.’
you what I mean. Today (Thursday, September 29th) for instance, I dropped into This week over of ourMusic. pupils completed Yearforty 10 GCSE There, I wastheir John Muir Awards, having spent a week in delighted to listen to performances of SnowdoniaBeethoven’s back in December and since then Ninth Symphony, Holdusing Back their literacy and creative skills to the River and When theexplore Saints the Go Marching outdoors. Muir, who got once thatDaniel ‘the power of In. I also to said sit with and Chester imaginationas makes us infinite’ would have they demonstrated their prodigious DJing approved oftalents. the open-hearted the Next, duringenthusiasm lunch, I supervised the pupils havecanteen shown in their endeavours, particularly and made a point of watching the in turning waste into art.that
take place daily. Pupils and interactions staff holding doors open for one another, He would also, no doubt, something to offering thanks,have little had moments of personal say about young people’s wellbeing and mental appreciation and gratitude. Of course, health. Thisthings has been particular focus it don’taalways go well in with a school, but it being Children’s Mental Health Week and Time to from is lovely to witness a voluntary apology Talk day in a form Yeartime 9 toand oneassemblies. of the lunch But timeofstaff, or course it is see central to what we do every day.is unsure
one pupil help another who where to go for class. When I started teaching my experience of discussing In and dealing with mental ahealth was Sixth Form, I enjoyed lengthy chat with negligible. Aidan Now, Iwho haveexplained first-handboth experience of of a the theory range of mental health issues in myself and differentiation and its potential commercial amongst friends and family, the subject is a studying application. In English they were common one. For those who are struggling - and the play Blood Brothers and talking with most of us humour will in the same way that most of us will and excitement about superstitions; catch flu orinbreak - mental and our new Year a7 limb RE they werehealth dissecting wellbeing can never be talked about enough, no mission statement and exploring the one action personal is every sufficient to alleviate the pain. meanings within it. School is a
busy, bustling, humming place. We should be very concerned at the prevalence of anxiety, stress, depression and other conditions in
our young people. We should be worried by the I getpressures to Maths to find all of Year 9 online they experience, byembroiled the way in in a task that is so challenging and exciting which so many young people lose hope. that I want to stay and have a go myself. Addressing this requires an
Outside it’s: “Sir, have you seen my tie? Can youthat open mythroughout bottle? What you system, approach runs ourdid school think of last night’s game? What time it, the does not lose sight of the dignity andisdeep Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Oh my value of the individual behind a veil of exams and days!” It can be noisy at times and in a expectations. community this size we can’t expect everyone to get on with each other all the time. But it is our community, and a lively, lovely, positive one at that.
before we concern ourselves with the formalities of learning, our young Perhaps the single highlight of my week, if I people be well, valued had to must pick, would be theloved, conversation I hadand with Mrs. Fay who is leading the fulfilled … These arelibrary. the things development of our new I am a that library enthusiast and have been ever since really matter, regardless I was little. The furthest reach ofof myProgress memory is back to moments spent in our 8 or Ofsted local library entranced by its colour and
bright possibilities. On Twitter #RememberingMyLibrary reveals the hold Our mission as a school is to ensure that, before that such an institution has: ‘A library card we concern ourselves with the formalities of was a free pass to wonderment, words and learning, our young people are well, loved, valued the ability to roam the world’ observes one and fulfilled with a sense of purpose and belonging. user, whilst another quotes the wrought iron These are the things that really matter, regardless of gates of Stalybridge library, ‘Read, Mark, Progress 8, Ofsted or league tables; they are a Learn and Inwardly Digest.’ Others talk of strong expression of our faith and of the love of the escape that a library represented or of Christ in our school. the refuge it offered from an unkind world.
This was amply reinforced by anpeacefully excellent Year 11 Mrs. Fay spent last Saturday GCSE Drama performance that, with sensitivity, stacking the shelves and we are inching artistry and skill, explored teenage suicide. Our closer to opening. What thrilled me was her young people want to put their wellbeing and comment that several boys, some of whom that of others the top the agenda, let’s makeby sure affect aatdislike of of reading, were electrified wepresence support them in that, rather than dismissing of a library in their school: ‘You them (as Isome commentators ‘snowflakes’ mean can borrow this and, do) like,asread it, who lack resilience.
Miss?’ was the breathless utterance of one
pupil. Our library is at the heart of the St school: Paul, in alast week’s Gospel, reminded space for being open to and us of the limits of knowledge and of the greatest gift of all: sharing ideas and experiences. It is openlove. Whatever else we do let’s continue to work to plan and its shelves serve as a reminder let that that there love flourish in our families, communities should be no barrier to anyone andusing in our so let’s be inspired by itsschool. volumesInordoing seeking knowledge, John Muir and lift our spirits through contact with solace, entertainment or information. I can’t nature.
wait to see it come to life in the weeks ahead thanks to Mrs. Fay and her band of God bless, helpers.
Ben Davis Ben Davis, Headteacher Headteacher Twitter: @BenDavis1972 Twitter: @BenDavis1972 2
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calendar what’s on
HOUSE POINTS
 
Advance Notice School closes for February Half-Term Week, Friday, February 15th, 3:05pm.
Year 8 Reviews
This Year
St Benedict of Nursia
314
6316
St. Bernadette of Lourdes
346
6149
St. Francis of Assisi
486
6510
St. Michael the Archangel
342
6206
Blessed Oscar Romero
427
6664
St. Teresa of Calcutta
345
6154
LA Trip departs
Ofsted Meeting 6:30pm
Mental Health talks for Y9
This Week
WED 13
TUE 12
THU 14
FRI 15
School closes for Half-term break, 3:05pm
SAT 16
MON 11
COMING UP THIS WEEK week beginning 11.02.19 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 January 21st)
Year 7 Year 8 year 9 year 10 year 11 School
95.9% 95.2% 94.6% 94.9% 92.6% 94.6%
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  
From top, clockwise: Year 9 litho prints; Year 11 revision lecture; Year 9 working hard in art; Year 12 Psychology students hard at work.
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer4 Trust fundraiser
AROUND THE SCHOOL THIS WEEK  
The boxes of form readers about to be issued by our team of Reading Ambassadors. Below, a class of young DEC pupils taking part in their steering group discussions.
This week we have explored the theme of Hidden Figures in all classes across the curriculum, looking at women who changed history, were innovators, inventors and changemakers. Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer5 Trust fundraiser
AROUND THE SCHOOL THIS WEEK  
Sixth Form staff and students at the HCPT Lourdes fundraiser at Gorton Monastery on Saturday evening. Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer6 Trust fundraiser
TWEET OF THE WEek More
It’s reassuring knowing that my son’s teachers care about his well being as much as I do. After a meeting this morning with 2 amazing members of staff a weight has been lifted from his shoulders @SABSalford thank you #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek2019
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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 8