FAITH IN YOU
LOVE IN LEARNING
HOPE IN BETTER
this week in our school . . .
Volume 2 Issue 9 January 13th, 2017
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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. Happy New Year! It was lovely to welcome our It is about this time of year that I meet with staff and pupils back to school and into 2017 each Head of Department to review the earlier this week. summer’s exam results. This involves plenty ofisuseful thought-provoking Early January a timeand of year when the cold discussion, but it is usually talking and dark can seem to close in around us.about What numbers and letters. Behind this seemed manageable in the auburn lightdata of are stories: pupilsmore did, how they felt,inwhat autumn, feels how suddenly challenging the they liked and what they achieved. We depths of winter. I love this time of year anyway, always focusit on howthe things can be not least because brings promise of lighter improved as well as celebrating went days and shorter nights. Nevertheless,what I think well. As a Catholic school, exam results there was something apt about the timing of theare just one announcement way of expressing the unique, government’s of funding for Godgiven talents and skills of each pupil. It is young people’s mental health this week. important to look beyond the data so I am delighted that much more change of my job involves If I could pick the single biggest I have being in classes, walking around the school noticed in my career, it is the relatively recent and talking to pupils, students and staff. increase in young people struggling with anxiety, depression and many other mental health If ever Even you are feeling at all despondent or challenges. more recent is the fatigued I reckon a quick tour of the widespread recognition of this shift and a school would quickly raise your spirits. Let response to it. It feels as if we have gone me in five you what I mean. Today years show from barely acknowledging the (Thursday, realities of for instance, I dropped into mentalSeptember ill-health to29th) it finally having greater Year 10 GCSE Music. There, I wasin prominence in the media, in schools and delighted to listen to performances of society in general. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Hold Back the River and When the is Saints Go Marching Acknowledging the challenge one thing, doing In. I also got to sit with Daniel and something about it is quite another. Last Chester year as they demonstrated their prodigious DJing we committed to a strategy to improve talents. Next, during lunch, I supervised wellbeing, particularly to challenging stigma andthe canteen and made a point of watching the establishing a school culture that places interactions that take place daily. Pupils wellbeing at the top of the priorities list and at and staffofholding doors for one another, the heart what we do. open That remains my offering thanks, of personal resolution for this yearlittle and,moments I expect for years to come.appreciation and gratitude. Of course, things don’t always go well in a school, but it is lovely to witness a voluntary Schools must be places where peopleapology can from Year 9places to oneofoflove, the lunch timeand staff, or thrive;ahappy learning see one pupil help anothermy who is unsure kindness. That’s why I finished presentation to go for class. to staffwhere on Monday with the following quote from John Henry Newman, reminding us to remain In Sixth I enjoyed a lengthy focused on ourForm, purpose, the unique role,chat skillswith Aidan explained both the theory of and gifts thatwho each of us enjoy. differentiation and its potential commercial application. In English they weredefinite studying “God has created me to do Him some theHe play Brothers andwork talking with service. hasBlood committed some to me humour and excitement about superstitions; in Year 7 RE they were dissecting our new mission statement and exploring the personal meanings within it. School is a busy, bustling, humming place.
I get to Maths to find all of Year 9 embroiled which He has not committed to another. I have in a task that is so challenging and exciting my mission… I am a link in a chain, a bond of that I want to stay and have a go myself. connection between persons.” Outside it’s: “Sir, have you seen my tie? Can you open my bottle? What did you Let this be a year when, as a school community, think of last night’seffort game? What time it, we make a special to connect withisothers, Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Oh my to act out of kindness and love celebrating the days!” It canaround be noisy best of those us.at times and in a community this size we can’t expect everyone God bless to get on with each other all the time. But it is our community, and a lively, lovely, positive one at that. Ben Davis
Headteacher Perhaps the single highlight of my week, if I had to @BenDavis1972 pick, would be the conversation I had Twitter: 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 memory is back to moments spent in our local library entranced by its colour launched and Our Sixth Form Cadet programme bright possibilities. On Twitter this week and was highly successful. Through #RememberingMyLibrary reveals hold of the programme we are working withthe a number that such an institution has: ‘A library card businesses to link students with professional was a freeand pass to wonderment, wordsthese and individuals companies. Developing the ability to roam the world’ observes one links is imperative to helping our students user, whilst another iron succeed not only withquotes us herethe butwrought also in their gates of Stalybridge library, ‘Read, Mark, future education and careers. The students have Learn and Inwardly Digest.’ Others of identified areas in which they have antalk interest the escape that a library represented or of and we will place them with the appropriate the refuge it offered from into an unkind world. industry to gain an insight it and also to gain work experience. Mrs. Fay spent last Saturday peacefully stacking the launched shelves and are and inching Mrs Cheshire thewe event has closer to opening. What thrilled me worked to build links with businesses was and her comment in that boys, some of area. whom individuals theseveral Greater Manchester affect a dislike of reading, were electrified by Business engagement is essential to developing presence a library their school: ‘You our studentsofinto younginprofessionals. We wish mean I can borrow this and, like,programme. read it, our cadets lots of success on this Miss?’ was the breathless utterance of one pupil. Our library is at7th, theaheart On Saturday, January groupofofthe staff and school: a space for being open to and pupils flew out of Manchester Airport heading for sharing ideas and experiences. It is opena week of fun on the slopes of Val Di Fiemme. plan and its shelves serve as a reminder You seeshould many be pictures and one or two thatcan there no barrier to anyone videos of their time on our Twitter feed. Once using its volumes or seeking knowledge, the pupils return we will feature and article on solace, entertainment or information. I can’t the trip. wait to see it come to life in the weeks ahead thanks to Mrs. Fay and her band of helpers.
around the school this week
Ben Davis, Headteacher
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Twitter: @BenDavis1972 2
 
The launch of our Cadet Programmeoffering students the opportunity to work alongside our Business & Industry partners in a range of career 3
calendar what’s on Year 9 Parents’ Evening
WED 26
Headteacher’s Surgery, 5 pm
Year 11 Mocks begin
MON 16/30 MON 16
COMING UP THIS MONTH
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. Best Attendance by form (w/b December 19th):
Year 7 Year 8 year 9 year 10 year 11
7M 8L 9L 10C 11A
98% 97.7% 95.2% 95.9% 95.3%
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 0161 921 1589/1551. If the school has not been contacted within five days, the absences will automatically be unauthorised. Ten unauthorised marks may lead to a fixed penalty notice being served. 4
TWEET OF THE WEEK Wuu2 website @wuu2salford Jan 11
#salfordyouthday #inspiringstories nominations are up -Know any inspiring young people? Nominate now http://www.wuu2.info/youthday/Â @SABSalford
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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 6