25 november 2014

Friday 28 November 2014

All Hallows Catholic College Newsletter Christmas Term SPECIALISM SUCCESS All Hallows is part of the Ensemble Languages Project which was successful in bidding for funding from the Department for Education funding to support developments in languages. The funding is allowing us to work even more closely with our partner primary schools. This week has seen the beginning of work on this project: Representatives from Park Royal, All Hallows for colleagues from across the country scoping a project developing assessment strategies to secure progress in primary language at KS2.

Specialism Focus: Celebrate the language you do know.

Italian is a good language to start with.

Most people can quickly get into double figures in the number of words and phrases they know.

COLLEGE PRAYER FOR ADVENT God of Hope, As we await the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ, make us mindful of others and their needs, awaken our hearts to your message, And show us how to bring good news to everyone.

We ask this through Christ our Lord Amen

PARENTS AS PARTNERS –MEAL DEAL We would like to remind you that our canteen offers a fantastic meal deal for all students. This meal deal is designed to ensure that students on free school meals can get a good meal with their daily allowance, but it is available for every one of our students.

For just £2.25, students can buy: 1) A sandwich or Panini, a cookie and a bottle of water 2) Hot meal of the day, hot dessert and a bottle of water Please note, the hot meal option is only available during second break. Hot meals vary but, Wednesday’s are a gammon roast dinner and Friday’s are fish and chips.

If you would like some more information, please don’t hesitate to contact the Finance office on 01625 426138.

COLLEGE INTERNAL EXAMS/ ASSESSMENTS

YEAR 10 WORK EXPERIENCE On Thursday 20 November students in Year 10 were give the opportunity to spend a day in the workplace.

Students have returned with many positive experiences from the day. We thanks employers, parents and their friends and relatives for making this event possible. If students took a photo of their experience then please can this forwarded to their form tutor? It was a great pleasure to see some of our students taking up roles inside the college; working with the kitchen staff, the IT support team and even in the Print Shop.

Friday 28 November 2014

All Hallows Catholic College Newsletter Christmas Term FITNESS SUITE NOW AVAILABLE Students are now able to use our fantastic new Fitness Suite. Those students who have completed a Fitness Suite .

Induction and wish to use the facilities must sign up on the day using the sign up sheet on the notice board in the Sports Hall. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, up to a maximum of 28 students for each session.

The following sessions are available: Monday - Y7/8 (mixed) until 4.30p.m.

Tuesday - Y7/8 (girls only) until 4.30p.m.

Wednesday - Y9/10/11 (girls only) until 4.00p.m.

Thursday - Y11/Sixth form (mixed) until 4.30p.m.

Friday - Y9/10 (mixed) until 4.30p.m.

The Fitness Suite is also open at lunch (second break).

Any queries please contact Mr Lawson or a member of the PE staff for more information.

NEW SPORTS FACILITIY NOW OPEN

Thursday 27 November hosted the official hand-over of the newly built artificial 3G sports pitch at All Hallows. The College welcomed members of the FA and the St Paul Sports Foundation to meet with members of the sports teaching staff to formally open the new sports Pitch. Over the last 5 months the College has eagerly awaited the completion of St John Paul ll Football Pitch. The project combines new and existing facilities to enhance the sports experience here at the College along with the Fitness Suite and outdoor gym already running. The College’s Head of Sport, Mr S Lawson said “fantastic the students will really benefit and so will local community clubs”. The build is supported and inspired by the John Paul II Foundation for Sport in the hopes of developing spiritual character through excellence in sporting skills and fitness. More information on the sport news and achievement of the foundation and the College sport’s extra-curricular timetable can be found on our College’s website.

STUDENT ART SUCCESS All Hallows is very pleased to announce that Charlotte Oxenham in Year 12 has won Cheshire Life Magazine Young Artist of the Year 2014. She is due to appear in the magazine shortly and has made references on how the brilliant teachers at All Hallows have encouraged and motivated her to become a great artist, well done Charlotte!

Friday 28 November 2014

All Hallows Catholic College Newsletter Christmas Term

TRIPS AND UPCOMING EVENTS Geography drop-in session KS4/5 students every Thursday 3:30p.m.- 4:30p.m. The session will provide assistance on case studies, exam questions and key terms.

AHLC Rugby Tournament Wednesday 3 December. 1p.m.-3p.m.

Advent Service Assemblies Thursday 4 December 2014: Years 11,12&13—Periods 3/4 Years 9&10—Periods 5/6 Year 7&8—Periods 7/8

Carol Service St. Alban’s Church Thursday 11 December. 7p.m.

Year 10 Retreat Monday 8 - Friday 12 December (Places still available).

GCSE & A Level Awards Evening Thursday 18 December. 7p.m.-9p.m. (College Hall) All Hallows Has Talent Friday 19 December 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time' Monday 5 January 2015. For letters see Mrs Michaels in Drama. First come first served to open to all Years 913.

Y12 Taster Day for Y11 Friday 5 December

NUT ALLERGIES A number of our students have allergies to nuts. In some cases they will only react when they touch or eat nuts, but in other cases their reaction may be caused when traces of nuts are in the air. It would help these students if nuts or nut related products were not brought into school. We thank parents and students for the co-operation with this matter.

PARENTAL GATEWAY AND STUDENT REPORTS In order to support the College values on stewardship and care of the environment, the College is issuing all students’ reports on line through the Parental Gateway. This brings to an end the issuing of paper reports, unless specifically requested through the Data and Examinations Office: Mrs Hulme on G.Hulme@allhallows.org.uk. (A small charge will be made for this request, except in exceptional circumstances). Please note that the Parental Gateway registers a “read receipt” for reports and academic reviews. Please ensure that you have viewed your child’s academic review, which have been available from Friday 14th November.

ARRANGEMENTS ON PARENTS CONSULTATION DAYS

Parents of students should be aware that not making appointments on Parent Consultation Day will be considered as an unauthorised absence . Reminders to make appointments will be sent out.

Friday 28 November 2014

All Hallows Catholic College Newsletter Christmas Term STUDENT SUPPORT ACROSS THE COLLEGE NAME Mrs J Pilling

JOB Careers Advisor

MON

Mrs L Nolan

Visyon Counsellor

Student Support Office

Mrs J Jones

College Nurse

Student Support Office

Mrs P Shatwell

Family Support

Mrs J Beard and Mrs P Prince

Education Welfare

Office next to rooms A9 and A10 Pastoral Office (ground floor of Fisher Building)

bullying@allhallowslearning.org.uk beingme@allhallowslearning.org.uk esafety@allhallowslearning.org.uk

TUES

WED

THUR

FRI

VENUE Student Support Office

emails will be read by a Senior Teacher

= Staff Present MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS DURING THE COLLEGE DAY Students must sign out at the Attendance Office before leaving College to attend a medical appointment. When they return to College the student must sign back in. This ensures registers will be accurate and we know the student is off site should we have a fire alarm. The Attendance Office is now located in their new office along the RE corridor (since 10th November). We thank parents for making medical appointments, where possible, that do not take up a whole day of schooling. This often allows a student to have their legal registration mark for both morning and afternoon sessions and so their overall attendance does not fall.

BEING PUNCTUAL AT ALL HALLOWS Most students appreciate the importance of being in College on time. Children who are regularly late do miss out on their education and form bad habits that will not be tolerated in the workplace.

As a result of the change to the College day we need to inform parents that students must be in the registration form class for the register to be taken at 8.45a.m. This means students should arrive 5-10 minutes earlier in College to be on time.

Any student who arrives after 8.45a.m. will receive a L code. Two L codes within a week will result in a whole college detention (which started on Thursday 6 November). This is a recent change in procedures and moves the detention away from the form tutor and it will now be seen as a whole college issue.

Any student who arrives after 9.05a.m. will receive a U code. This means they will be classed as absent for the whole morning and this may have consequences for overall attendance.

We are aware that College buses are sometimes late and we can confirm these students are not negatively marked in the register when this happens.

Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.

CAREERS ADVICE FOR STUDENTS If any parent would like their son or daughter to have a careers interview with Mrs Pilling, our Careers Advisor, this year then please notify the relevant Year Learning Leader who can ensure names are added to the list. Priority is now with Year 10 students (now Year 11 have all been seen) and also with sixth form students. Students in Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 are welcome to attend her lunch time drop in. She uses the Student Support Office based next door to Music.

YEAR LEARNING LEADER “DROP IN SURGERIES�

Year 7: new dates will be confirmed shortly Year 8: held on 16 December (11.45a.m. - 1.15p.m.)

Year 9: held on 1 December (9.00a.m. - 10.00a.m.)

Year 10: held on 5 December (1.15p.m. - 2.00p.m.)

Year 11: held on 8 December (2.30p.m. - 3.30p.m.)

These are for parents who would like to discuss any concerns relating to their child. No appointment is necessary but please be prepared to wait. Please contact our Pastoral Assistant (Pastoral@allhallows.org.uk 01625 410285 x215), should you require an appointment with a Year Learning Leader at any other time.

Friday 28 November 2014

All Hallows Catholic College Newsletter Christmas Term CALENDAR Term

College Opens to Students

College Closes to Students

Christmas

Tuesday 4 November 2014

Friday 19 December 2014

Epiphany

Monday 5 January 2015

Thursday 12 February 2015

Easter

Monday 23 February 2015

Thursday 2 April 2015

Whitsun

Monday 20 April 2015

Thursday 21 May 2015

Trinity

Monday 6 July 2015

Tuesday 21 July 2015

The following are the remaining dates for training days in 2014-15. Students are not required to attend on these days unless taking an external exam.

Friday 13 February 2015 Friday 22 May 2015

ECO FACT Recycled paper produces 73% less air pollution than if it was made from raw materials.

ATTENDANCE MATTERS AT ALL HALLOWS ATTENDANCE MATTERS Over the last week of College attendance was as follows: Year 7 - 97.1% (up 0.6% on the previous week, well done Year) Year 8 - 94.2% (down 1.0% and a fourth consecutive fall) Year 9 - 95.3% (down 0.5%) Year 10 - 95.7% (up 1.0%, well done Year 10) Year 11 - 95.1% (down 1.9%) Year 12 –95.9% (down 0.2% on last week) Year 13 –97.3% (up 0.1% , Well done year 13!)

98.00% 97.00% 96.00% 95.00% 94.00% 93.00%

92.00% YEAR 7

YEAR 8

YEAR 9

YEAR 10 YEAR 11 YEAR 12 YEAR 13

Attendance last week was 95.5% (an decrease from 95.8% in the previous week) but still 1.0% up on the same time last year. Our overall attendance since 2 September is still 95.9% We aim for 97%. Last week GIRLS attendance was 94.2% (down 0.7% on the previous week), BOYS attendance was 96.9% (up 0.1%). The overall girls attendance since 2 September is 95.3% whilst boys is 96.5%.

Holiday absence from College Holidays have not been authorised since 1st September 2013 under new legislation on all English schools. Requests for holidays must still be made in writing to the appropriate Key Stage leader (Mrs Garvey KS5, Mr Blades KS4/KS3), but in the vast majority of cases they will be unauthorised. A Fixed Penalty Notice may be issued of £60 per parent / carer per student, to be paid within 21 days, otherwise the penalty will rise to £120 per parent / carer to be paid within 28 days. If the penalty remains unpaid then the matter will proceed to the Magistrates Court where you will receive a criminal record if you are found guilty. Please can all holiday requests be made well in advance of the holiday being taken if not before the holiday is booked.

Medical absence from College Whilst the College requires parents to contact us on each day of absence , school policy now requires that any student who accumulates 7 or more days of absence during the course of the academic year will be asked to provide medical confirmation of the need to be absent before any further absences are authorised for medical reasons. This is a necessary measure as we closely monitor absence due to illness / medical reasons in order that we can ensure students are supported where needed.

For your information medical confirmation does not have to be a doctor's note but can also take the form of a medical appointment card, a copy of a relevant dated prescription or evidence of medication being taken If no medical evidence is provided then the absence will be coded as unauthorised. Ten or more unauthorised absences may result in you receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice. This incurs a penalty of £60 per parent / carer to be paid within 21 days, otherwise the penalty will rise to £120 per parent / carer to be paid within 28 days. If the penalty remains unpaid then the matter will proceed to the Magistrates Court where you will receive a criminal record if you are found guilty.

The link between attendance and achievement is well researched and documented and students should be aiming for an attendance rate of no less than 97% over the year. Thank you for your continued support with this importance issue.

Friday 28 November 2014

All Hallows Catholic College Newsletter Christmas Term

ATTENDANCE MATTERS AT ALL HALLOWS ATTENDANCE MATTERS Applications are invited for new panel members to join independent education appeals panels in Cheshire East. If you have an interest in education and feel able to offer some time, we would be most grateful to hear from you. Appeals are heard Monday to Friday during normal office hours.

Each panel is made up of three members who are independent of the Local Authority. The panel hears admission appeals against decisions not to admit children to particular schools.

Applications are invited from people of all backgrounds as the panel is made up of lay members and those with experience in education. A lay member is a person without personal experience in the provision of education in any school (disregarding experience as a school governor or in another voluntary capacity). A member with experience in education is a person who has experience in education (such as a retired headteacher or teacher); or has knowledge of educational conditions in the local area or is a parent of a registered pupil at a school.

Full training will be provided for new members and if you are successful you would be required to attend a training day on Tuesday 21 April 2015.