witness 

FAITH IN YOU
LOVE IN LEARNING
HOPE IN BETTER
this week in our school . . .
Volume 4 Issue 4&5 October 12th, 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.
Over the two weeks I have It ispast about this time of yearbeen that Iprivileged meet with to giveeach assemblies to each house the theme Head of Department toon review the of Travelling Companions. I love assemblies, summer’s exam results. This involves even more moved to the vertical plentysoofsince usefulwe and thought-provoking forms discussion, and new house system, there’s but it is usually talking about something special them.
this data are numbers andabout letters. Behind stories: how pupils did, how they felt, what As well as sharing my ownthey experiences travel they liked and what achieved.ofWe in theyalways assemblies I have been encouraging the focus on how things can be pupilsimproved to consider the idea of the journey as well as celebrating what went through their This was an opportunity to are well. Aslife. a Catholic school, exam results use a just couple of my favourite poems, but also to one way of expressing the unique, Godleave them with the idea of how they witness to given talents and skills of each pupil. It is their faith in our to school, at home and in the important look beyond the data so I am community.
delighted that much more of my job involves being in classes, walking around the school It is easy a Catholic school to be and seenstaff. as andfor talking to pupils, students shut off from the world, absorbed with itself. But weIf are to be living a time when everfortunate you are feeling at allatdespondent or our Pope calls us to enter into dialogue with all fatigued I reckon a quick tour of the school peoples, This is a great show would quickly raiseopportunity your spirits.toLet me that our faith is about communicating with show you what I mean. Today (Thursday, othersSeptember and building a better world. I dropped into 29th) for instance, Year 10 GCSE Music. There, I was We talk to pupilstoabout all the time and delighted listen this to performances of I covered this in my assembly with the idea that Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Hold Back we need to consider who we are carrying the River and When the Saints Go Marching through whogot wetosupport who is Chester In.life, I also sit with and Daniel and supporting us. For this I used the well known as they demonstrated their prodigious DJing prayer-poem ‘Footsteps’. This linked well withthe talents. Next, during lunch, I supervised one ofcanteen the big themes of the week: World the and made a point of watching Mentalinteractions Health daythat on October 10th.
Pupils and take place daily. staff holding doors open for one another, I wanted pupils to consider the waysofinpersonal which offering thanks, little moments their faith can nourish them even when they appreciation and gratitude. Of course, feel life is hopeless or they arego overwhelmed by but it things don’t always well in a school, worry is and stress. When we recognise that wefrom lovely to witness a voluntary apology all need to be helped and supported in life then a Year 9 to one of the lunch time staff, or we also notice that we have a duty to is help see one pupil help another who unsure otherswhere and improve their lives. Doing this is the to go for class. ultimate witness to our faith, it is our own small way ofInimitating the actions and love of Jesus Sixth Form, I enjoyed a lengthy chat with Christ.
Aidan who explained both the theory of differentiation and its potential commercial We can easily lose In sight of the ultimate aim of a application. English they were studying Catholic education. It is about so much the play Blood Brothers and talkingmore with than exam results. These are about just a fraction of humour and excitement superstitions; the formation and development of a young in Year 7 RE they were dissecting our new person. I would much rather we judgedthe the mission statement and exploring qualitypersonal of education by the capacity of young meanings within it. School is a peoplebusy, to make change in the world, bustling, humming place. the extent to which they fulfil our mission statement as Change Makers. Having a head of knowledge and a folder full of achievements, but no ability
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. to influence the society around you other than Outside it’s: “Sir, have you seen my tie? to meet your own needs is not an end that I can Can you open my bottle? What did you easily support. Achieving this is another matter think of last night’s game? What time is it, altogether, particularly when we consider the Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Oh my pressures on young people and their families, days!” It can be noisy at times and in a not least the temptations of materialism.
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.
we have a duty to help others and improve their lives. Doing this is the Perhaps the single highlight of my week, if I had to pick, would beto theour conversation ultimate witness faith, itI had is with Mrs. Fay who is leading the our own small way imitating development of our newof library. I am a the library enthusiast and have been ever since actions and love of Jesus I was little. The furthest reach ofChrist my
memory is back to moments spent in our Each I am given hope the wonderful localweek library entranced by itsbycolour and example of the young people I work with and by bright possibilities. On Twitter the actions of staff who aimreveals higher the thanhold mere #RememberingMyLibrary exam success.
that such an institution has: ‘A library card was a free pass to wonderment, words and Inthe thisability edition thethe newsletter you can one read to of roam world’ observes about the week in our school, but we have also user, whilst another quotes the wrought iron included key information about the charities gates of Stalybridge library, ‘Read, Mark, each house is supporting; the Others recent talk AGMofof Learn and Inwardly Digest.’ our excellent Parent Council; the range the escape that a library represented orofofextracurricular activities onfrom offer;anand the world. the refuge it offered unkind forthcoming House celebration assemblies.
Mrs. Fay spent last Saturday peacefully Thank youthe for shelves your continued and stacking and we support are inching encouragement.
closer to opening. What thrilled me was her comment that several boys, some of whom God bless, affect a dislike of reading, were electrified by presence of a library in their school: ‘You Ben Davis mean I can borrow this and, like, read it, Headteacher Miss?’ was the breathless utterance of one Twitter: pupil. @BenDavis1972 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
HOUSE POINTS
Reminder: Year 7 Mass of Welcome, St. Mark’s Church, Swinton Thursday, October 19th Year 7 Mass of Welcome
Morning Prayer throughout October from 8:15am Student Led Rosary Walks at 8:30am
WED 17
TUE 16
THU 18
This Week
This Year
St Benedict of Nursia
404
2340
St. Bernadette of Lourdes
404
2186
St. Francis of Assisi
409
2322
St. Michael the Archangel
417
2388
Blessed Oscar Romero
508
2460
St. Teresa of Calcutta
443
2432
FRI 19
School closes for half-term at 3:05pm
SAT 20
MON 15
COMING UP THIS WEEK week beginning 15.10.18 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/e September 28th)
Year 7 Year 8 year 9 year 10 year 11 School
97.2% 96.7% 95.2% 95.7% 93.8% 95.7%
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 Challenge; Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster unauthorised marks may lead to a fixed penalty Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer3 notice being served.
Trust fundraiser
Monday


Tuesday
8:00-8:40
Break
Lunch
3:05-4:00
Morning Club
KS3 & KS4 Nurture
Miss Collier KS4 Art catch up Mr Waterworth Y11 DT Booster Mr Morrison Basketball all years
Miss Collier KS4 Art catch up Miss Turnbull KS3 Art club Mrs McGowan Y11 Food Mrs Taylor Y11 Year book meetings
Morning Club
KS3 & KS4 Nurture
Wednesday
Morning Club
KS3 & KS4 Nurture
Miss Collier KS4 Art catch up Miss Hughes Y11 Maths Booster
Thursday
Morning Club Mr McDonagh DEC club
KS3 & KS4 Nurture
Miss Collier KS4 Art catch up Mrs Taylor F1 CLUB
extra-curricular
Boys PE After school
Girls PE After school
Mr Clancy KS4 CS and Coding revision Miss Newman Y11 Maths Mrs Tulloch Y11 Drama rehearsals Mr Deay KS4 Spanish Mrs McGowan Y11 Food & Nutrition
KS3 Football Mr Morrison Fitness Miss Harrop
Year 7 Netball Mrs Grundy
Mrs Tulloch Y10 Drama rehearsals Mrs Taylor STEM Enterprise club Y7&8
Football Fixtures
Year 8, 9 and 10 Netball Mrs Grundy
All Years Football Miss Macphail
Football Fixtures
Mrs Tulloch Y10 Drama rehearsals Mrs Robb KS3 Gardening club Mr Lewis KS4 Imedia catch up Mr Deay KS4 Spanish Mr Waterworth KS3 DT club
activities 2018
Fitness Miss Harrop
Football Fixtures
Netball Fixtures
All Years Badminton Miss Rhodes
All Years Trampolining Mrs Grundy
GCSE/ Coursework in the LRC
Miss Macphail
All Years Badminton Miss Rhodes
All Years Trampolining Mrs Grundy
GCSE/ Coursework in the LRC
Miss Macphail
Friday
Morning Club Mr McDonagh DEC club
KS3 & KS4 Nurture
Miss Collier Mrs Tulloch Y11 Year 7 Rugby KS4 Art catch Drama Training up Mr Top: atrehearsals the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; WaterworthBelow: Y11 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer4 DT Booster
Trust fundraiser
around the school
this week
Parent Council The Parent Council held its AGM on October 2nd. Sarah Bell stood down from the role of Chair that she had held since the Parent Council’s inception - thanks and best wishes go to her. The new office bearers are: Chair: Kerry Farr Vice Chair: to be confirmed
Secretary: Kate Parkes Treasurer: Jeanette Pickup
House Charities This year we have identified the following as House school charities: St Benedict
Young Minds
St Teresa of Calcutta
Anti-bullying Alliance
St Bernadette
Francis House
St Michael
Teenage Cancer Trust
St. Oscar of Romero
CAFOD
St Francis
Salford Loaves and Fishes
House Celebration Assemblies Tuesday, October 16th St. Bernadette of Lourdes St. Teresa of Calcutta
10am 12.15pm
Thursday, October 18th St. Francis of Assisi St. Benedict of Nursia
10am 12.15pm
Friday, October 19th St. Oscar of Romero St. Michael, Archangel
10am 12.15pm
Building the Kingdom: pupils taking part in the Share the Journey walk; some of the daily Rosary Walk crew with Fr. Landers.
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer5 Trust fundraiser
around the school  
this week
Sporting success: Year 7 rugby are still unbeaten in Salford; Girls’ netball coming 2nd.
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around the school 

this week
From top left: Year 11 in Alton Towers; St. Oscar Romero House Family Fast Day; Hot Chocolate Friday at the St. Oscar of Romero Canonisation Breakfast.
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around the school 

this week
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TWEET OF THE WEek More
Mr Carroll @DHT_SAB @SABOscarRomero are leading the House Achievement Points this week. Extremely fitting considering his canonisation this weekend. Well done to all pupils that have succeeded this week. @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 11