

FAITH IN YOU
LOVE IN LEARNING
HOPE IN BETTER
this week in our school . . .
Volume 3 Issue 19 February 9th, 2018
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 Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the week. week. It is about this time of year that I meet with Duringeach the special we held for Keythe Head ofservices Department to review Stage summer’s 3 on February 2nd several people spoke. exam results. This involves
plenty of useful and thought-provoking Mr. Lawford introduced the banners we hd made discussion, but it is usually talking about for event by reflecting on the personal numbers and letters. Behind this data are contribution each member of our stories:made how by pupils did, how they felt, what schoolthey community, noting that this is liked and what they achieved. We represented the way the names of allbepupils alwaysinfocus on how things can are listed on the banners. Mr. Carroll improved as well as celebrating read whatawent powerful self-penned poem on being part of St.are well. As a Catholic school, exam results Ambrose Barlow, a rally cry for unity and just one way of expressing the unique, Godcommon purpose. given talents and skills of each pupil. It is important to look beyond the data so I am My modest contribution was what have delighted that much more ofImy jobcalled involves a personal manifesto, a short piece on it being in classes, walking around what the school meansand to be part of St. Ambrose. Since the talking to pupils, students and staff. event I have put the text out to all Years 7-9 for consultation If ever and you ideas. are feeling at all despondent or fatigued I reckon a quick tour of the school The first three wordsraise of the piece are ‘Here I would quickly your spirits. Let me Am’. This was a very deliberate choice. On one show you what I mean. Today (Thursday, level they contain the first two letters of the September 29th) for instance, I dropped into school’s name (AM) and one There, anotherI was they Year 10 GCSE Music. reminddelighted the listener that each day we show to listen to performances ofup at schoolBeethoven’s as ourselves. Ninth Symphony, Hold Back the River and When the Saints Go Marching I onceIn. heard a stupendously talk I also got to sit withclever Danielpriest and Chester about as thethey power of these three words and hisDJing demonstrated their prodigious analysis has stayed with me, informing my use the talents. Next, during lunch, I supervised of them. Although they seem simple, the priest canteen and made a point of watching the pointed out that whenever appear interactions that takethey place daily. inPupils and scripture they usual indicate trouble, staff holding doors open for onea another, challenge, a problem bemoments solved or of something offering thanks, to little personal being appreciation demanded ofand us humans. gratitude. Of course, things don’t always go well in a school, but it In Hebrew theytotranslate ‘Hineni’ and they from is lovely witness as a voluntary apology mean amuch more than first appears. The Year 9 to one of the lunch time staff, or phrasesee is designed way of expressing one pupil as help another who is unsure readiness to serve, to give one’s self, to be where to go for class. ready for action, to make a sacrifice, perhaps to lead, but certainly to Ibe ready to change.chat with In Sixth Form, enjoyed a lengthy Aidan who explained both the theory of They feel like words and for our times andcommercial for our differentiation its potential school. It is all too easy simply to arrive at application. In English they were studying schoolthe and hide who we are, either through play Blood Brothers and talking with reluctance, worry, or laziness. we humour and fear excitement aboutBut superstitions; shouldinall seek to be our true selves, our best Year 7 RE they were dissecting our new selves;mission as Father Gavin reminded us God statement and exploring the doesn’t make rubbish. personal meanings within it. School is a busy, bustling, humming place.
I get to Maths to find all of Year 9 embroiled in a task that is so challenging and exciting that I want to stay and have a go myself. Outside it’s: “Sir, have you seen my tie? By hiding from ourselves we are missing Can you open my bottle? What did you opportunities, depriving others of the unique think of last night’s game? What time is it, difference we can make in their lives and Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Oh my denying our talents and skills. days!” It can be noisy at times and in a community this size we can’t expect We are all being to each something, to the do God everyone to getcalled on with other all ‘some definite service’ as John Henry Newman time. But it is our community, and a lively, says. Above all we called to love, lovely, positive oneare at that. something we can only do properly when we have accepted ourselves. Perhaps the single highlight of my week, if I
had to pick, would be the conversation I had with Mrs. Fay who is leading the development of our new library. I am a library enthusiast and have been ever since I was little. The furthest reach of my is very backdifficult to moments spent but in our Allmemory of this is for anyone, local library entranced by its colour andfaced especially so for young people who are bright possibilities. On Twitter each day with so many reasons not to be #RememberingMyLibrary reveals holdthe themselves: the pressures of social the media, that such an institution has: ‘A library card uncertainties of growing up. Nevertheless, it is was a freefor pass to wonderment, words something which we must continue toand strive the ability to roam the world’ observes one be if think what a special place our school would user, whilst another the wrought ironfor we all simply acceptedquotes ourselves and others gates of Stalybridge library, ‘Read, Mark, who we truly are. Learn and Inwardly Digest.’ Others talk of the escape that a library represented or of There are some simple acts that we can all the refuge it offered from an unkind world. undertake to move closer to this ideal: being punctual, being prepared, committing to our Mrs. Fay spent last Saturday peacefully work. These are all examples of how we can stacking the shelves and we are inching exercise some self-discipline in order to be the closer to opening. What thrilled me was her best we can be, be ourselves. comment that several boys, some of whom affect a dislike of reading, were electrified by Lent, which begins this week, is a great time to presence of a library in their school: ‘You do this. It is why we place value as a school on mean I can borrow this and, like, read it, being on time, for example, on those small acts Miss?’ was the breathless utterance of one that show we care and it is also why we are pupil. Our library is at the heart of the celebrating our school’s achievements with an school: a space for being open to and Awards Evening on Thursday evening. sharing ideas and experiences. It is openplan and its shelves serve as a reminder Let’s make this Lent a time when we all say, that there should be no barrier to anyone ‘Here I Am’ and mean it. 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 God Bless. helpers.
Let’s make this Lent a time when we all say, ‘Here I Am’ and mean it
Ben Davis, Headteacher
Ben Davis, Headteacher
Twitter:@BenDavis1972 @BenDavis1972 Twitter: 2
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calendar what’s on
Achievement Points this week St. Benedict St. Francis St. Margaret Clitherow St. Teresa of Calcutta
LENT BEGINS Ash Wednesday: Services and activities take place in school
TUE 13 Headteacher’s Surgery 5pm
WED 14
685 679 617 665
Year 8 - 11 Awards Evening 7:00pm in school
THU 15
FRI 16
School closes at 3:15pm for half-term holiday Paris trip departs
SAT 17
MON 12
COMING UP THIS WEEK week beginning 12.02.18 week A
SAVE THE DATE! Special Awards Ceremony for Years 8 - 11, February 15th
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 (February 3rd)
Year 7 Year 8 year 9 year 10 year 11 School
96.0% 94.6% 95.2% 93.3% 93.8% 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
 
Top: Year 8 train Y7 in Science club; another great Hot Chocolate Friday recognising pupils who go above and beyond. Below: Year 9 working on their ‘zines with our designer in residence; an Art trip to Blackpool
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Around the School This Week Former pupil Emily Cox (left us in 2015) came in to share her pieces for audition at Drama School with year 9 and year 13 Drama pupils. She shared three monologues: two modern and one Shakespeare with both groups. The students were so impressed with her level of skill and the way she engaged them. She was so confident and mature about the whole process - modelling great skills as an actor in her use of voice, movement and vocal expression. Afterwards the students had the opportunity to ask her questions about her life since St Ambrose at college, in her year out and were able to explore the choices post 18 that she has made. We have shared the websites of all the Drama Schools she has applied to via Google Classrooms. She was a real beacon of hope for our students, which was best exemplified by how the session ended with as she talked about access to opportunities. 'I meet a lot of really rich southerners and it would be easy to feel as a working class northern girl that I don't belong, but I do, we do - acting is really diversifying and the more people like us have the courage to be in those places, to stand up to the challenge the more we will change the world. Don't accept those feelings... that we don't belong there, we do.' Also‌ This week saw a massive turn out at the Year 8 Curriculum Evening - thank you to all parents and carers who attended. There were trips to the Chamber of Commerce, to Edgehill, Manchester University, to Blackpool and to Loreto Grammar where Year 12 students joined in workshops on university application. Coming up‌ Next week pupils head to Wardley Hall for Ash Wednesday, where they can view the Shroud of Turin and to Paris. When we return after half-term Drama pupils get to see Brief Encounter at The Lowry. Pictured: Top: work for Safer Internet Day by Rebecca and Rumer in Year 8; Bottom: All the fun in a French class with Mr. Deay.
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TWEET OF THE WEek More
Mr Cammann @Mr_C_Media_SAB
When an ex @Ambrose6form student who once said “I could never do this.....� comes to you with this news ...#believe #whyweteach
https://twitter.com/Mr_C_Media_SAB/status/961999878934196225
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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