FAITH IN YOU
LOVE IN LEARNING
HOPE IN BETTER
this week in our school . . .
Volume 2 Issue 3 September 30th, 2016
1
ST AMBROSE BARLOW RC HIGH SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM
“
Head’s start .
Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the week. It is about this time of year that I meet with each Head of Department to review the summer’s exam results. This involves plenty of useful and thought-provoking discussion, but it is usually talking about numbers and letters. Behind this data are stories: how pupils did, how they felt, what they liked and what they achieved. We always focus on how things can be improved as well as celebrating what went well. As a Catholic school, exam results are just one way of expressing the unique, Godgiven talents and skills of each pupil. It is important to look beyond the data so I am delighted that much more of my job involves being in classes, walking around the school and talking to pupils, students and staff. If ever you are feeling at all despondent or fatigued I reckon a quick tour of the school would quickly raise your spirits. Let me show you what I mean. Today (Thursday, September 29th) for instance, I dropped into Year 10 GCSE Music. There, I was delighted to listen to performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Hold Back the River and When the Saints Go Marching In. I also got to sit with Daniel and Chester as they demonstrated their prodigious DJing talents. Next, during lunch, I supervised the canteen and made a point of watching the interactions that take place daily. Pupils and staff holding doors open for one another, offering thanks, little moments of personal appreciation and gratitude. Of course, things don’t always go well in a school, but it is lovely to witness a voluntary apology from a Year 9 to one of the lunch time staff, or see one pupil help another who is unsure where to go for class. In Sixth Form, I enjoyed a lengthy chat with Aidan who explained both the theory of differentiation and its potential commercial application. In English they were studying the play Blood Brothers and talking with 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 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? Can you open my bottle? What did you 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. 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 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: ‘A library card was a free pass to wonderment, words and the ability to roam the world’ observes one user, whilst another quotes the wrought iron gates of Stalybridge library, ‘Read, Mark, Learn and Inwardly Digest.’ Others talk of the escape that a library represented or of the refuge it offered from an unkind world. Mrs. Fay spent last Saturday peacefully stacking the shelves and we are inching 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
TWEET OF THE WEEK ‘I really miss school’ Chloe Allan, former pupil 3
sports round-up . Year 10 football team play Station National Schools Cup The very successful year 10 boys football team had their first competitive game of the season on Tuesday 20th September against Wilmslow High School. The boys put in a fantastic display showing immense grit and determination to come out 2-1 winners after extra time. The goal scorers were Joe Cox, who was fantastic and he picked up the M.O.M. and Louis Potts with a fantastic acrobatic last minute winner. Great game, great performance and we are on to the next round. Senior Girls Success The senior girls football team had a great start to the season beating Harrop Fold 7-0. The goal scorers were Millie Edwards, Megan Billingham, Holly Williams Gardener and Leah Thompson. The girls played exceptionally well as a team, they communicated well and they were led by the new team captain Leah Thompson. The senior girls football team continued their dominant start to the season with a 6 - 0 victory over Oasis Academy. Despite being a player up from the start, the team dominated the first half scoring three goals, all coming from Millie Edwards (Y10). The second half continued in a similar fashion with more goals flowing from the strikers, with Millie grabbing a fourth and Holly Grimes (Y11) (coming out of goal!) scoring two to increase the lead and put the game out of sight. Strong performances in defence and midfield from Leah Thompson (Y11) and Danielle Rogers (Y10) ensured that the girls are yet to concede this season. Next
week’s fixtures: Seniors Vs. The Albion, Juniors Vs. Harrop Fold. Great start to the season for girls’ lower school football A positive first week of the league resulted in the lower school girls beating Oasis Academy 5 – 0. After a goalless first 15 minutes, it would have been easy for the team to have become frustrated and lost focus, however an early goal from Isabelle Saunders (who followed this up with another three strikes gaining her the woman of the match), gave the girls the perfect start to the second half. In between Isabelle’s four goals came a good low finish from year seven student. It was a fantastic team performance by the girls, with great performances all over the pitch, setting the side up for what looks to be a successful season ahead! Year 10 and 11 Netball rally. The Year 10 and 11 netball teams both came second in their inter-school netball rally against Salford Schools. The girls played with confidence and determination and narrowly missed out on the first place positions. Well done to Danielle Rogers (Year 10) and Siobhan Houten (Year 11) for captaining your teams and organising your players to such an excellent standard. The year 8 boys football team won 10-1 v Buile Hill. Well done to Jacob McLaughlin who scored a hat-trick and Keane Buckley was Man of the Match.
by Mrs. Grundy, Head of Girls’ PE
4
The lower school girls football team and the Year 9 boys rugby team
5
6
around the school this week On Saturday a group of pupils attended a concert by Manchester Camerata in collaboration with local poet Louise Wallwein. The piece explored the realities of dementia in an attempt to understand a condition that many people fear and most cannot comprehend. The performance was a monologue with music that focused especially on young onset dementia. Afterwards Louise, who has worked extensively with us, spent time speaking with the pupils. Earlier in the day Louise had also been at Manchester’s Home venue for the film premiere of animations created by Year 10 students and pupils from local primary schools and Falinge High School. The films are based on the 1997 Manchester bombing and feature a mix of animation and poetry. They were made with the support of Curious Minds. On Tuesday we hosted Box Clever theatre company who entertained and informed Year 7 with a play about road safety. This high energy piece challenged the pupils with the reality of traffic dangers and managed to be light-hearted and interactive. After the performance the cast led a Q and A with the year group. Friday saw Year 7 visit Wardley Hall. This annual trip is part of the year group’s induction to the school and always stimulate much discussion amongst the pupils, particularly when they see the skull of our school patron Saint. Accompanying the pupils and guiding them was long-standing Governor, Peter Conroy. Assemblies this week were led by Year 10 who focussed on the issue of human rights through the Un Convention on Human Rights. The presentation contrasted our relatively comfortable lives with those around the world who daily have their rights compromised. We celebrated the European Day of Languages on the 26th with activities led by the Modern Languages department and coordinated by Miss Higson. Staff displayed
language profiles outside their rooms and the department donned national dress for the day. Friday saw our annual Macmillan Cancer Coffee Morning. As ever the formidable and capable organisers were Mrs Rudge and Mrs Broadhurt, but this year they were assisted by a team of Sixth Formers. The baking on offer was top notch and as you can see from the photographs there was plenty of it. Thank you very much to all who contributed and made it such a success. Some pupils went even further. Every year for the past 5 years Jonathan Devine (Year 8) has held a cake sale to raise some money for the wonderful nurses at Macmillan Cancer Support who helped his family and friends. This year is Jonathan’s 5th anniversary of the cake sale so he wanted to make it special. He and a couple of friends are doing a relay triathlon, followed by the usual cake sale! Wednesday enrichment for Years 12 and 13 is proving to be an eclectic mix of activities. This week saw the council working on a fashion project with the Teenage Cancer trust, our newest football team preparing for action in the league next week and a large group working with the BBC. Seventeen 6th Form Creative Media students are working on a project for the BBC to promote their Big Weekend festival for 2017. The students will be working with the BBC to come up with new innovative ideas that will capture the imagination of the public and raise the awareness of the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend festival. Course leader Adrian Cammann comments: "The project is run through our creative partners 'The Ideas Foundation' and has given our 6th Form Creative Media students the opportunity to work with the BBC which would be any young person’s dream. Watch this space for their contribution to next years Big Weekend festival." Meanwhile students from Miss Cheshire’s Business class visited the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce to participate in their Quarterly Economic Survey as part of a joint event with Skanska asking ‘What’s the vision for 7 2050?’
Clockwise from top left: Year 12 working on the BBC Big Weekend festival; Year 10 students at Home for the premiere of their animations; Year 7 dabbing with Box Clever
8
The Macmillan Coffee Morning
9
Above: the Modern Languages Department dressed for the European Day of Languages; below: pupils at Wardley Hall with the skull of St. Ambrose Barlow
10
Above: with poet Louise Wallwein at the Manchester Camerata performance Below: Year 7 at Wardley Hall
11
weekly reflection Tuesday is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, one of our House Patron Saints. Particularly given the discord we see in the world at this time it seems appropriate that his famous prayer forms the basis of our weekly reflection in form time this week. Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.
12
calendar what’s on
Open Evenings
oct 6
6th form Geography trip to Wales Feast of St. Francis, one of our House TUE Patrons
WED 05
nov 26
6th Form Open Evening 6pm - 8 pm
THU 06
04
Headteacher’s Surgery 5 pm
oct 20
MON 03
FRI 07
6th form Geography trip to Wales returns
SAT 08
COMING UP THIS WEEK
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. Current attendance by year group (28.09):
Year 7 Year 8 year 9 year 10 year 11 overall
97.9% 96.1% 96.7% 95.9% 96.1% 96.5%
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 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. 13
salford admissions consultation Below is the text of a letter issued by email to all parents regarding proposed changes to schools admissions criteria. Dear Parent or Carer, School Admission Arrangements Consultation 2016 I am writing to inform you that the local authority will be consulting on changes to the admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools. In summary, the local authority is proposing to remove the admission criterion for children with medical needs. Further information on this proposal is available in the consultation documents. These can be viewed at www.salford.gov.uk/ admissionsconsultation. The consultation on these documents takes place between 3 October 2016 and 14 November 2016. You can make your views known by completing the online consultation form by 14 November 2016. Please note that admission arrangements for voluntary aided schools (all Catholic schools and some CE schools) and academies are consulted on separately. Yours sincerely
Helen Nicolle School Admissions Service Manager
Â
14
Artwork from Year 11 inspired by artist Jon Burgerman @jonburgerman
15
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 16