

witness FAITH IN YOU
LOVE IN LEARNING
HOPE IN
this week in our school . . .
Volume 4 Issue 3 September 28th, 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.
Let meIt tell you about our library. is about this time of year that I meet with
each Head of Department to review the When summer’s I arrived atexam the school three ago we results. Thisyears involves didn’t plenty have one. It baffled me that a school this of useful and thought-provoking size could be built with all the benefits of discussion, but it is usually talking about modern design,and but letters. without a library.this How could numbers Behind data are we properly engage young people in reading stories: how pupils did, how they felt, what without one? they liked and what they achieved. We always focus on how things can be In my improved first year we set about planning to as well as celebrating what went establish a library and, this year, am now well. As a Catholic school, Iexam results are pleased announce the facility hoped justtoone way of that expressing the we unique, Godfor hasgiven beentalents realised. This is thanks to a huge and skills of each pupil. It is range important of people,tonot least the painters, look beyond the datajoiners, so I am plasterers and electricians who an involves delighted that much more turned of my job unremarkable into a magical onethe in six being in space classes, walking around school short weeks. and talking to pupils, students and staff.
Thanks mustyou alsoare go feeling to Mrs.at Fay started or If ever all who despondent the process of the library and latterly to Miss fatigued I reckon a quick tour of the school Chalk would who has approached the project with quickly raise your spirits. Let me great determination. partnership a team show you what In I mean. Todaywith (Thursday, of Learning Prefects from year 11 Miss Chalk September 29th) for instance, I dropped into has achieved many thought would never Year 10 what GCSE Music. There, I was come delighted to pass. to listen to performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Hold Back The library opened the start of this Go yearMarching and the River andat When the Saints contains a few thousand volumes. This is small In. I also got to sit with Daniel and Chester compared to most libraries, but room is aDJing as they demonstrated theirthe prodigious testimony to what can be achieved with tenacitythe talents. Next, during lunch, I supervised and drive, and a love of reading. canteen and made a point of watching the interactions that take place daily. Pupils and It was staff delightful on doors Fridayopen to have the second holding for one another, Hot Chocolate Friday of the year with pupil offering thanks, little moments ofthe personal team that has led the development of our library. appreciation and gratitude. Of course, It was things also wonderful to see prospective parents don’t always go well in a school, but it and pupils admire the space on our Open is lovely to witness a voluntary apology from Evening. a Year 9 to one of the lunch time staff, or see one pupil help another who is unsure My presentation Open Evening always begins where to goatfor class. with an explanation of our mission statement. This document summarises allathat our Catholic In Sixth Form, I enjoyed lengthy chat with schoolAidan is about, but it is merely a pretty who explained both the theory of collection of well-meaning if not lived out differentiation and itswords potential commercial in our application. actions. WeIn are called to witness our faith English they were studying in our the actions and in our everyday experience play Blood Brothers and talking with of school. In particular our pupilsabout are challenged humour and excitement superstitions; to do this by demonstrating a sense of our new in Year 7 RE they were dissecting responsibility personal mission in their missionand statement and exploring the support of charity or good causes. personal meanings within it. School is a busy, bustling, humming place. It is precisely this kind of thing that our pupils have shown in the way they have brought the library to life. Their learning has been for
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. others, their skills are used the service of the Outside it’s: “Sir, have you seen my tie? community. Their actions are witness to our Can you open my bottle? What did you collective faith. think of last night’s game? What time is it, Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Oh my days!” It can be noisy at times and in a 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 are called to witness our faith in our actions and in our everyday experience of school. In particular our pupils do this Perhaps the are singlechallenged highlight of myto week, if I had to pick, would be the conversation I had bywithdemonstrating a sense Mrs. Fay who is leading the of development of our new library. I am a responsibility andhave personal mission library enthusiast and been ever since I was little. The furthest reach of my inmemory their issupport of charity good back to moments spentor in our local library entranced by its colour and causes bright possibilities. On Twitter #RememberingMyLibrary reveals the hold On a recent Duke of Edinburgh expedition a that such an institution has: ‘A library card group of our pupils was complimented by a local was a free pass to wonderment, words and farmer for the care and concern they showed in the ability to roam the world’ observes one rescuing a sheep. Strange as it may sound this user, whilst another quotes the wrought iron act is another example (both literally and gates of Stalybridge library, ‘Read, Mark, metaphorically) of the kind of witness we are Learn and Inwardly Digest.’ Others talk of seeking. I was very proud to be able to relate the escape that a library represented or of this anecdote at Openfrom Evening and then listen the refuge it offered an unkind world. to the very positive comments from those in attendance aboutlast theSaturday helpfulness and service of Mrs. Fay spent peacefully our pupil guides. Another example of witness. stacking the shelves and we are inching
closer to opening. What thrilled me was her The Open Evening was boys, very well attended and comment that several some of whom soaffect manya positive comments about the school dislike of reading, were electrified by were made.ofSoon we will be running presence a library in their school: our ‘Youannual Open Week where prospective parents mean I can borrow this and, like, read and it, carers invited to come into the school during Miss?’are was the breathless utterance of one the day to get a feel for the community. When pupil. Our library is at the heart of the they do I a expect will see our to young school: spacethey for being open and people welcoming them warmly and witnessing to our sharing ideas and experiences. It is openfaith. plan and its shelves serve as a reminder that there should be no barrier to anyone God bless, using its volumes or seeking knowledge, solace, entertainment or information. I can’t Ben waitDavis to see it come to life in the weeks Headteacher ahead thanks to Mrs. Fay and her band of Twitter: @BenDavis1972 helpers.
Ben Davis, Headteacher Twitter: @BenDavis1972 2
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calendar what’s on
HOUSE POINTS
Reminder: Year 7 Parents’ Evening Thursday, October 11th
Morning Prayer throughout October from 8:15am
Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
Student Led Rosary Walks at 8:30am
Parent Council AGM 6:15pm
Feast of St. Michael Archangel
WED 03
TUE 02
THU 04
This Week
This Year
St Benedict of Nursia
404
1561
St. Bernadette of Lourdes
404
1424
St. Francis of Assisi
409
1492
St. Michael the Archangel
417
1536
Blessed Oscar Romero
508
1596
St. Teresa of Calcutta
443
1606
FRI 05
Family Fast Day
SAT 06
MON 01
COMING UP THIS WEEK week beginning 01.10.18 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
96.1% 95.4% 94.7% 94.9% 92.0% 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 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
around the school  
this week DofE: Here we see St. Ambrose Barlow pupils in the wild, at one with the natural world and well on their way to achieving their Duke of Edinburgh Expedition Bronze and Silver.
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer4 Trust fundraiser
around the school  
this week
Hair-raising fun: the Science department was buzzing with all kinds of excitement on Thursday evening as the Open Evening got underway.
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer5 Trust fundraiser
around the school  
this week Open for business: pupils in RE and Drama leading the way at the Open Evening.
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around the school  
this week Mission into action: Hollie and Logan ensuring that the the troops were well watered at the Macmillan Coffee morning on Friday. The event raised over ÂŁ250 and counting.
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around the school  
this week
The beauty of order: our wonderful new library complete with cut-out Dickens, an incredible clock and an inspiration quote. What more could you want? 8
It’s all about impact: former pupil Shania speaking at a construction industry event and describing her story of DEC student to professional in just three years; the inspirational and ever-changing Artists of the Week board.
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TWEET OF THE WEek More
Map and Compass Ltd @dofebargains RT @SAB_Horizons: So proud of these kids today. Saving sheep along their walk and informing the farmer. @SABSalford #DofE
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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