2 october 2015

All Hallows Catholic College Newsletter Michaelmas Term

Friday 2 Oct 2015

COLLEGE PRAYER SPECIALISM SUCCESS Congratulations to students currently in year 13 who took AS in languages in the summer. All three languages, French, German and Spanish achieved results which put them in the top 25% of schools nationally. This is a great achievement for these students and represents a lot of hard work and resilience. As the number of students taking languages at 6th form level continues to fall across the country, these students can be confident they have a skill which sets them ahead of the crowd.

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi 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; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

NEW SAFEGUARDING WEBSITE FOR PARENTS - PARENT INFO

In schools we have lots of opportunities to learn about safeguarding and, particularly the online aspect. Parents on the other hand need access to support too. It is not always easy to encourage parents to meetings about esafety, but it is crucial they understand the risks.

The government has recently launched a brand new website to support parents. The website has being developed with ParentZone and CEOP, the police command responsible for child exploitation and online protection.

Parent Info is a collection of articles, tips, expert advice and resources designed to help parents keep up with what their children are doing on-line. For example, the site currently includes information about staying safe on minecraft, mental health, and building online resilience.

You can find further information here: http://parentinfo.org/ PARENTS AS PARTNERS

Parents are reminded that they should not pick their child up by car from the bus turning circle at the end of the day. The potential for gridlock and the subsequent hazard this would pose for the students, staff and wider community including the emergency services needs to be avoided. The College is grateful for the partnership of the vast majority of parents who already avoid the turning circle at 3.30pm

COLLEGE TERM DATES

Term

College Opens to Students

College Closes to Students

Michaelmas

Wednesday 2 September 2015 (Year 7, 12 and 13 in only) Thursday 3 September 2015 (All students in)

Friday 23 October 2015

Christmas

Tuesday 3 November 2015

Friday 18 December 2015

Epiphany

Monday 4 January 2016

Thursday 11 February 2016

Easter

Monday 22 February 2016

Thursday 24 March 2016

Whitsun

Monday 11 April 2016

Thursday 26 May 2016

Trinity

Monday 6 June 2016

Tuesday 19 July 2016

CHANGES TO SMOKING LAWS

As a College we often get useful information from outside agencies that we like to pass on to parents and students.

Smoking in Cars From Thursday October 1st 2015 it will be illegal to smoke in a car or other vehicle when someone under the age of 18 is present. eCigarettes From Thursday 1 October 2015 it will be an offence to sell a nicotine inhaling product, eCigarettes, nicotine cartridges or nicotine refill substances, to a person under the age of 18.

It will also be an offence to buy or try to buy tobacco products and relevant nicotine products, effectively eCigarettes, nicotine cartridges or nicotine refill substances, to a person under the age of 18.

PARENTS AS PARTNERS: STUDENT PLANNERS

Parents are requested to check student planners regularly and sign them once weekly. Student planners are used to record homework but also as a means of communicating between college and home. We would ask parents to support us in checking homework is being recorded and checking for any messages from college staff.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW COLLEGE COUNCIL Mr Blades was pleased to hold the first meeting of the new College Council on the first on Tuesday 29 September.

Members of the council are: Year 7 - Jay Stanier and Yazmim Smith Year 8 - Alistair Nickson and Faye Anderson Year 9 - Pippa Scott and Drew Evans Year 10 - Joshua Mock and Jessica Townley Year 11 - Eddie Sherratt and Anna Moncur Sixth Form - Charlie Waller and Katie Wilson Charlie and Katie, as Head Boy and Head Girl, will chair all future meetings and we look forward to hearing the voice of our wonderful and insightful students through the College Council this year.

STUDENT VOICE AND LONG HAIR - AN UPDATE

On Tuesday 29 September the full College Council met for the first time this year. Representatives from each year met a senior teacher and one issue discussed was long hair and the use of bobbles.

The College Council accepted that on some occasions long hair must be tied back and they identified Science, PE, Food, DT and Dance as subjects in which they would expect to be told by the teacher to tie their hair back. They also accepted that other subjects may on occasions have a similar request. They fully supported the need for this rule for health and safety reasons and that any student with long hair must be equipped with suitable bobbles at all times.

The College Council believe the bobble should be dark, neutral and simple in design, but not restricted to black or red. The College Council accepted some students would otherwise go too far with bright designs that are inappropriate.

The College and it's Senior Leadership fully accept the voice of the College Council and the above will be included in our uniform policy with immediate effect.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Assistance for families on Free School Meals/Working Tax Credits All Hallows offers assistance to families on free school meals each academic year through vouchers that can be used for uniform and bus passes.

If you are eligible for free school meals, you will be entitled to a voucher from All Hallows up to the value of £100 towards replacement uniform annually. The claim form for this is available on the College website under Parent Information > Uniform Matters.

Further to this, we offer assistance with bus pass costs. If you are eligible for free school meals, All Hallows may fund up to 100% of the bus pass or 50% for those on working tax credits. The claim form for this is also on the College website under Parent Information > Transport and Trips. A copy of a refusal letter from Cheshire East or your 2015/16 Working Tax Credit Award will be required to approve this claim.

Throughout the academic year, each student eligible for free school meals is allocated an allowance of £50 which can be used towards the cost of educational trips and materials.

If you have any questions on any of the above, please contact Miss Wakefield in Finance.

PTA QUIZ NIGHT PTA quiz night Friday 9th October at All Hallows Catholic College Tickets £7.80 per person via Parent Pay or please ring finance. Ticket includes cheese and biscuits supper. Licensed bar available. Over 18's only. From 7-10.30pm. For more information please email a.heaton@allhallows.org.uk TRIP PAYMENTS

Please can we remind all parents that the College does not accept payments for trips by cash or cheque. All payments should be made using our online payment system, ParentPay. If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact the Finance Office.

TRIPS IN 2015/16

The College is planning a number of foreign trips and other visits in the new academic year. The major ones are: Date 18 - 25 Oct, 2015 18 - 20 Nov, 2015 24 - 27 Nov, 2015

Details German exchange students visiting UK Retreat to The Briars, Derbyshire Retreat to Soli House, Alton

Year Group Year 8 to Year 13 Year 12 Year 11

Estimated Cost TBC £95.00 £130.00

07 - 11 Dec, 2015

Retreat to Castlerigg Manor, Keswick

Year 10

£180.00

10 - 20 Feb, 2016 03 - 08 Feb, 2016

Trip to India project Spanish exchange to Barcelona

Year 12 Year 12 and Year 13

12 - 17 Feb, 2016 12 - 19 Feb, 2016

Year 10 – Year 13 Year 8 to Year 13 Year 12 and Year 13 Year 8 Year 8 and Year 9 Year 12 - Physics Year 9 to Year 13 Year 12

TBC £115.00 £575.00 £400.00 £1,050.00 TBC

13 - 15 July, 2016

Language / culture visit to Paris German exchange – UK students visiting Germany Spanish exchange students visiting UK Retreat to Alton Castle Andalucia CERN, Switzerland Beijing and Xian Enrichment visit to either New York or Rome Malta – Performing Arts

£700.00 £200.00 for flights plus excursions £500.00 £475.00

Mixed

TBC

Early July, 2016

Belgian Battlefields

Year 10

£500.00

March, 2016 04 - 06 May, 2016 26 - 30 May, 2016 Late June / early July 2016 26 June – 03 July, 2016 July, 2016

A letter containing details of these trips can be found on the College website

DROP IN SESSIONS 2015/16

UPCOMING EVENTS

KS4/5 students

DAY Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

SUBJECT

October Events

TIME

Science/Languages

3:30 – 4:30

Maths

3:30-4:30

Art

2:45 – 4:00

Product Design

3:30 – 4:30

Target Setting Parental Information Evening Thursday 8 October 7.00.p.m.- 8.00.p.m.

Open Mornings Year 5 and Year 6 Thursday 8 October 9.30.a.m.– 11.00.a.m.

PTA Quiz Night Friday 9 October 7.00.p.m.- 10.30.p.m.

E –Safety Awareness Thursday 15 October 6.00.p.m.– 7.30.p.m.

PRINCIPAL’S SURGERIES

Parents / Carers are invited to attend a Principal's Surgery to discuss any concerns or ask questions, on the following dates: Tuesday 13 October 2015, 3.45.p.m. - 4.45.p.m.

Monday 30 November 2015, 9.00.a.m. - 10.00.a.m.

Tuesday 15 December 2015, 3.45.p.m. - 4.45.p.m.

There is no appointment system so please be prepared to wait

Year 7 Music Showcase Tuesday 20 October 6.00.p.m.– 7.00.p.m.

Wednesday 21 October 6.00.p.m.– 7.00.p.m.

Year 13 Higher Education Information Evening Wednesday 21 October 7.00.p.m.-8.00.p.m.

Year 11 Post 16 Curriculum Evening Thursday 22 October 7.00.p.m.– 9.30.p.m.

October Half Term Booster Classes Monday 26 October Tuesday 27 October DUKE OF EDINBURGH FUTURE IMPORTANT DATES

Bronze DofE assessed expedition Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October 2015 Gold DofE assessed expedition Thursday 22 to Monday 26 October 2015

Congratulations to those students who have made a commitment to work towards their Duke of Edinburgh award. Currently we have 35 students working on their bronze award, 21 on silver and 5 on gold.

If any students are unsure, need help or want more detail please see Mrs Connor.

Well done to all those who are uploading their evidence for each of the areas on eDofE. If you have not started to do this yet can you please have a go. You will need to have completed two of the three sections before the expedition. Again if you need help with this come and see Mrs Connor.

ATTENDANCE MATTERS Over the last week of College attendance was as follows: Year 7 - 97.0% (down 0.4% from last week) Year 8 - 95.2% (down 1.7% Year 9 - 96.3% (up 0.1%, well done Year 9) Year 10 - 94.8% (down 0.1%) Year 11 - 92.8% (down 1.4% and not good enough Year 11) Year 12 - 97.4% (down 0.6%, but still the highest in the College) Year 13 - 93.3% (down 2.7%) This was another disappointing week with all but one year group falling. Year 11 are especially still too low for students at this key stage in their education.

Attendance between Year 7 and Year 11 last week was 95.2% (down 0.8% from last week). The cumulative figure to date is 96.3% . We aim for 97%.

Last week GIRLS attendance (Years 7-11) was 95.5% (down 0.2%), BOYS attendance (Year 7-11) was 94.9% (down 1.3%).

CHANGES TO ATTENDANCE POLICY From September 2015 the College will change the definition of “persistent absence” we use to include those students who are under 90% attendance. This is in line with national guidelines and increases the threshold from 85% at present.

MEDICAL ABSENCE FROM COLLEGE Whilst the College requires parents to contact us on each day of absence , College 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.

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 located in office along the RE corridor. 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.

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 Diamond/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.

STUDENT SUPPORT ACROSS THE COLLEGE 2015/16 NAME

JOB

Mrs J Pilling

Careers Advisor

Student Support Office

Mrs L Nolan

Visyon Counsellor

Student Support Office

Mrs J Jones and Mrs J Fox

College Nurses

Student Support Office

Mrs P Shatwell

Family Support

Office between rooms A9 and A10

Mrs J Beard and Mrs P Prince

MON

TUES

WED

THUR

FRI

Education

Pastoral Office (ground floor of Fisher Building)

Welfare

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

VENUE

emails will be read by a Senior Teacher = Staff Present

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. Mrs Pilling will prioritise Year 10-13, but students in Years 7-9 are welcome to attend her Thursday lunch time drop in. She uses the Student Support Office based next door to Music.

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.

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 to be held each Thursday.

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.

Gates are manned by members of staff and names will be taken of those students who are late.

YEAR LEARNING LEADER “DROP IN SURGERIES” Year 7: will be held on Tuesday 10 November (11.45-12.30) Year 8: will be held on Wednesday 7 October (9.15-10.00) and Wednesday 2 December (9.15-10.00) Year 9: will be held on Friday 4 December (2.15-3.00) Year 10: will be held on Monday 12 October (9.00-9.45) and Monday 14 December (9.00-9.45) Year 11: will be held on Friday 23 October (11.15-11.45) and Friday 11 December (11.15-11.45) 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.

ALL HALLOWS CHOIR INSPIRE CHOIR INFORMATION Rehearsals are on Friday, 3:30 – 4:30 pm Inspire Choir Form (during registration) will be: Monday – None Tuesday – Year 9/10/11/12/13 Wednesday – All Years Thursday – Year 7/8 Friday – Year 9/10 After School Commitments will be: Sunday 22nd November – St Alban’s Church Macclesfield 6:30pm Thursday 10th December –Carol Singing and Christmas Service 6:00pm Sunday 28th February – St Gregory’s Church Bollington 10:30am th 13 - 14th April - 'An Evening at the Movies' Performing Arts Concert 7:00pm Friday 17th June – St Alban’s Macclesfield Confirmation Service 6:30pm There will be other commitments during school time for other masses throughout the year.

The Inspire choir is entry by audition. In addition to singing ability, you must have a good sense of commitment, and the values required to be in such a group. It is with a common sense of purpose that we sing, and this makes it more enjoyable for both the listener and the performer.

Auditions : 9th October / 16th October We are hoping to go on a trip this year to Malta. You must show excellent commitment and attendance to all rehearsals and performances in order to be included on the trip. The performing arts department will cancel your place and offer it to someone else if you are not fully committed to the choir. We hope to get more information out to you about price in a few weeks - the airlines confirm their prices for next summer in October.

X.Cell Youth Club All in Years 7-9 are welcome for games, tuck, meeting friends, and lots of fun!

Friday 9th October and Friday 27th November, 7-9pm, St Alban's Parish Centre.

Bring ÂŁ1 entry and money for tuck. We'll ask you to fill in a Consent Form the first time you come.

Come along, bring your friends, meet up with your old friends and make some new friends!

More info: Anna & Greg Hughes 614406

NETBALL RESULTS All Hallows vs Congleton high School 7A Lost 25-9 POM Maddie Whitehurst 7B Lost 8-4 POM India Wilson 8 Lost 26-9 POM Molly McNicholas 9 Lost 18-17 POM Rosa Hart & Katie Whyatt 10 Lost 24-19 POM Georgia Hall Senior Lost 25-4 POM Sarah Duffy

aga_hughes@lineone.net

REMINDER TO ALL PARENTS Please make sure students are bringing appropriate clothing to their PE lessons if they are on an outdoor lesson. During extreme weather parents are reminded that students can and are advised to wear the following: All Hallows PE trousers (plain black joggers/tracksuit bottoms will also be allowed during the cold weather) All Hallows Black jacket (or a plain black sports jacket/waterproof) All Hallows black fleece Hats (black/dark in colour/plain) Gloves (black/dark in colour/plain) Under-armour/skins/undergarments - as long as red/black or white in colour Also, a reminder that all girls should now own football boots/astro-turf trainers for use on the new 3G Astro-turf pitch.

USEFUL INFORMATION Welcome to the Library!

Monday - Thursday 8.15.a.m. - 5.00.p.m.

Friday 8.15.a.m. - 4.00.p.m.

The library is open before school, during breaks and after school for students to research, complete homework, browse the shelves, read and return books.

ONLINE RESOURCE: COMPLETE ISSUES Complete Issues is a reliable and valuable resource that students can use from any computer 24/7. The site contains thousands of articles and statistics on, as well as links to a wide range of social issues. The resources can be used for many different subjects, including RE, English and Geography.

Log on to: http://www.completeissues.co.uk/ to get started and take a tour. The username is AHCC and password is allhallowsuser (both case sensitive).

Please ask if you have any questions about the resource

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB Why not invest in some of Autumn's new read or some classics by logging onto to http://schools.scholastic.co.uk/all-hallowscatholic and searching the huge range of discounted books available? For the total of orders placed above ÂŁ10, the library will receive 20% of the value back in free books.

This half term's ordering period finished on Friday October 9th to allow the books to be delivered in time for the half term break.

Why not have a look as there are videos, interviews and competitions as well!

BOOK AMNESTY Since the new has started I have noticed that we have lost a number of fiction books off the shelves in the library. So, I am asking if any student has a library book at home that has not been issued to them that they return it as soon as possible - no questions asked! Taking books disadvantages other students as they cannot read then read the books. Also, as our budget is finite and we cannot afford to replace every book that goes missing. Your support in this matter is greatly appreciated.

BOOKBUZZ BOOKS FOR YEAR 7 All year 7 students have now ordered their choice from this year's Bookbuzz selection. The Bookbuzz scheme provides a free book to every year 7 student. If you want to look at this year's selection, log onto: http:// www.bookbuzz.org.uk/ We are also running a competition for all year 7 students to win one of the Bookbuzz selection. Students need to write in 100 words or less, why book make them buzz and hand it in to their English teacher or the Librarian by Friday October the 9th. Good luck!

RECOMMENDED READS The Sound of Whales by Kerr Thomson This book is a magical, wild adventure set on a Scottish Island. It tells the story of Fraser and Danny, two brothers and Hayley, an American visitor who are shocked to find the body of a whale and man washed up on the island's shore. Where can they find the answer to the mystery? The sea itself but someone has to learn to listen....