

FAITH IN YOU
LOVE IN LEARNING
HOPE IN BETTER
this week in our school . . .
Volume 3 Issue 22 & 23 March 23rd, 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 What’seach yourHead favourite poem? Take a moment of Department to review the and think about it. What do you mean you don’t summer’s exam results. This involves have one? why you have one? plentyActually, of useful andshould thought-provoking It’s a strange question to ask, but a pupilabout asked discussion, but it is usually talking me this week as we celebrated World Poetry numbers and letters. Behind this data are Day. It’s not just I’m how an English stories: howbecause pupils did, they felt, what teacher that I love poetry, I have always been they liked and what they achieved. We fascinated by focus it and on even now enjoy reading always how things can be poemsimproved to my kids. I even through a stage as well as when celebrating what went when well. I was As littlea of writing to my Granny in Catholic school, exam results are poetry.just She wrote in verse too. Our efforts one way back of expressing the unique, Godwouldn’t have troubled the greats. given talents and skills of each pupil. It is important to look beyond the data so I am Days like World that Poetry Daymore or National Book delighted much of my job involves Day (or any of those themed days) can seem a being in classes, walking around the school little glib, a bit trite. But what they do is focus and talking to pupils, students and staff. people on something that can easily be taken for granted. this weatare forced to If ever By youdoing are feeling all despondent or consider it and, perhaps, appreciate or school fatigued I reckon a quick tour ofit the understand wouldit. quickly raise your spirits. Let me show you what I mean. Today (Thursday, This was certainly29th) the case for our Year 11 September for instance, I dropped into pupils Year who 10 loved their two days of poetry GCSE Music. There, I was workshops and to performances with local poet delighted listen to performances of LouiseBeethoven’s Wallwein and her associate Ninth Symphony,Isaiah Hold Hull. Back It seems just how loved theimprobable River and When the much Saintsthey Go Marching the work they much In. they I alsodid, gothow to sit withgained Danielso and Chester from the word play and from the joy of the DJing as they demonstrated their prodigious performance poems. Events like this have the talents.ofNext, during lunch, I supervised the capacity to transform our view of something, canteen and made a point of watching the perhaps even transform our lives. As of the interactions that take place daily.one Pupils and staff pointed out, the day open was one that another, will live staff holding doors for one with the pupilsthanks, forever little (andmoments it might just help offering of personal with GCSE English too). appreciation and gratitude. Of course, things don’t always go well in a school, but it Our Sixth formers have been busy having is lovely to witness a voluntary apology from transformative experiences this week a Year 9 to one of the lunch timetoo. staff,The or Physics students flew to Switzerland to see one pupil help another who isvisit unsure CERN,where surelytothe go pinnacle for class.of scientific achievement, while Ellie Stevens proudly saw her portrait of Joseph installed ainlengthy Salfordchat with In Sixth Form, I enjoyed Cathedral as part of a special Mass. It meant Aidan who explained both the theory of so much differentiation to her and herand family to see her work its potential commercial celebrated in this way, work that alsostudying form application. In English theywill were part ofthe herplay A level portfolio. Blood Brothers and talking with humour and excitement about superstitions; This week Mr.7Morrison running in Year RE they has werebeen dissecting our new auditions for Ambrose Got Talent. And the the mission statement and exploring performers have certainly within lived up that title. personal meanings it. to School is a The three judges (Mr. Merriman, Mrs. busy, bustling, humming place. Powell and Mr. Sanders) have had their work cut out to determine who will progress to next week’s final, but what a pleasure it’s been.
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? Pupils’ talents have been on show this week and Can you open my bottle? What did you last beyond the school with young people think of last night’s game? What time is it, performing at the Lowry. The Year 7 & 8 Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Oh my dancers who were such a fabulous centrepiece days!” It can be noisy at times and in a of the week of celebration at the end of January, community this size we can’t expect reprised their of This is Me for everyone to performance get on with each other all the wider audience, with great feedback from local time. But it is our community, and a lively, people. Also, our budding journalists have been lovely, positive one at that. out and about for SAB BBC School Report – you’ll be able readhighlight their work next if I Perhaps the to single of in mythe week, edition of Horizons when it is published had to pick, would be the conversationbefore I had Easter. 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 and bright possibilities. On Twitter #RememberingMyLibrary reveals the hold that such an institution has:wonderful ‘A library card All-in-all we’ve had so many things was a free pass to wonderment, and happen in school over the past fewwords weeks that the ability to roam the world’ observes one there is barely space here to list them. Makes user, whilst another quotes the wrought iron me wish I’d written this introduction as a poem. gates of Stalybridge library, ‘Read, Mark, Now, what rhymes with Barlow? Learn and Inwardly Digest.’ Others talk of the bless escape that a library represented or of God the refuge it offered from an unkind world.
Events like this have the capacity to transform our view of something, perhaps even transform our lives
Ben Davis, Headteacher Mrs. Fay spent last Saturday peacefully stacking the shelves and we are inching Twitter: @BenDavis1972 closer to opening. What thrilled me was her comment that several boys, some of whom affect a dislike of reading, were electrified by presence of a library in their school: ‘You mean I can borrow this and, like, read it, Miss?’ was the breathless utterance of one pupil. Our library is at the heart of the school: a space for being open to and sharing ideas and experiences. It is openplan and its shelves serve as a reminder 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
Achievement Points this week St. Benedict St. Francis St. Margaret Clitherow St. Teresa of Calcutta
 
Beijing Trip departs
TUE 27
WED 28
488 510 505 493
School closes for Easter Holiday, 3:15 pm
THU 29
FRI 30
Good Friday
SAT 31
MON 26
COMING UP THIS WEEK week beginning 26.03.18 week b
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 (March 19th)
Year 7 Year 8 year 9 year 10 year 11 School
95.7% 94.8% 95.2% 93.3% 93.5% 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
Top: Our Anti-Bullying ambassadors with the diaries they created. Below: Left: Mr. McDonagh with his ICE medal; Samuel Bryan in the English Schools cross-country.
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This page: Top: Year 11 with poets Louise Wallwein and Isaiah Bottom: Ellie Stevens unveils her portrait of Joseph at Salford Cathedral
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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
Top: Sixth Form Physics students in Switzerland visiting CERN. Bottom: Year 7 at the Whitworth 6


Top: The Year 7 dancers at the Lowry last week Bottom: Year 8 enjoying a visit from Zoolab
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This week was National Careers Week. Here are pieces of work that show the aspirations of Year 7 pupils.
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TWEET OF THE WEek More
Louise Wallwein @LouiseWallwein
Replying to @maebham00 @SABSalford
Thank you so much. You all inspire me.
12:59 pm - 21 Mar 2018 9
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 10