4 september 2015

All Hallows Catholic College Newsletter Michaelmas Term

Friday 4 Sept 2015

COLLEGE PRAYER SPECIALISM SUCCESS

2015 was the first year All Hallows entered students for GCSE in Mandarin. Their hard work and determination yielded excellent results. All students can be proud and confident that they have a unique skill which is shared by very few other students, locally, regionally or nationally. 87% of students achieved A*-C and five students achieved A/A*.

Well done.

Dear Lord Bless us as we start this new College year.

Help us to make the most of every opportunity that comes our way.

May we show love, respect and compassion to one another.

May the new beginning of this year remind us that you give us chances to start over and over again.

Protect us and guide us Lord And help us to live as you would want us to.

We ask this in the unity of the Holy Spirit, Through Christ Our Lord.

Amen

A VOLUNTARY ACADEMY | A NATIONAL SUPPORT SCHOOL

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY YEAR 6 OPEN MORNINGS COMMENCE 9.30AM - 11AM Thursday 24 September 2015 Thursday 1 October 2015 Thursday 8 October 2015 YEAR 6 OPEN EVENING COMMENCES 7PM - 9.30PM Monday 14 September 2015

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.

PARENTS AS PARTNERS: A New Term Uniform and Equipment: All students should have returned to College wearing the correct, full uniform and be carrying the correct equipment in a bag appropriate for College. Year 7 and 8 students should be equipped with the College bag displaying the BEC logo.

Student Planners: Parents are requested to check student planners regularly and sign them once weekly.

Student Absence: Parents are requested to contact the College on the first and every day of a student’s absence. If no explanation is received by 11am, the College will contact parents in the first instance by mean of mobile ‘phone text message or voicemail broadcast.

Family Holidays: Parents are requested to avoid taking students out of school during term-time. The term dates are published on the website. Any requests for absence should be made to the Principal.

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.

PARENTAL GATEWAY

Letters regarding parental gateway will be sent out during the following week for all new year 7 parents and any other students new to the College.

20 YEAR SCHOOL REUNION

20 Year School Reunion (1995 GCSE & 1997 A-Level Leavers) Saturday 19th September at 7pm School leavers and teachers of All Hallows Catholic College (Macclesfield) 20 year celebration and get together with a 1990's feel.

Tickets cost £20 (plus booking fee) and includes access to the school, welcome drink and refreshments are available.

To purchase tickets via www.seetickets.com.

There will also be music and a paying bar. Any profits to be gifted back to the school.

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.

UPCOMING EVENTS

September Events

October Events

Open Evening Year 5 and Year 6 Monday 14 September 7.00.p.m.– 9.30.p.m.

Year 7 Service of Welcome Thursday 1 October 6.00 p.m.- 7. 00. p.m.

Year 7 and 8 Disco Friday 11 September 6.30.p.m.-8.30.p.m.

Open Mornings Year 5 and Year 6 Thursday 1 October 9.30.a.m.– 11.00.a.m.

20 Year School Reunion (1995 GCSE & 1997 A-Level Leavers) Saturday 19 September 7.00.p.m.

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

Year 7 Parents’ Curriculum Evening, En/Ma/Sc/La Tuesday 24 September 6.00.p.m. - 7.30.p.m.

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

Open Mornings Year 5 and Year 6 Thursday 24 September 9.30.a.m.– 11.00.a.m.

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

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 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

TRIPS IN 2015/2016

The College is already 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

TBC £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

PRINCIPAL’S SURGERIES

DROP IN SESSIONS 2015/16

Parents / Carers are invited to attend a Principal's Surgery to discuss any concerns or ask questions, on the following dates:

KS4/5 students 3:30p.m.- 4:30p.m.

DAY

SUBJECT

Monday

Science/History/Languages/ Hospitality

Tuesday

Maths

Thursday

Music/Geography

Other

ICT any break/lunch Business – by arrangement Art – by arrangement

Monday 28 September 2015, 9.00.a.m. - 10.00.a.m.

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

DUKE OF EDINBURGH FUTURE IMPORTANT DATES

Bronze DoE practice expedition Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2015 Bronze DoE assessed expedition Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October 2015 Gold DoE practice expedition Thursday 24 to Monday 28 September 2015 Gold DoE 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.

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

ATTENDANCE MATTERS

The college finished 2014-15 with overall attendance of 95.1% (down from 95.6% in 2013-14). We aim for 97% attendance across Years 7-13 and politely ask for the support of our parents to help us achieve this.

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.

Friday 4 Sept 2015

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 Pastoral Office (ground floor of Fisher Building)

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

MON

TUES

WED

THUR

FRI

Mrs J Beard and Mrs P Prince

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 22 September (11.45-12.30) and 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 2 October (2.15-3.00) and 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.

Friday 4 Sept 2015

OPENING TIMES 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.

BOOK LOANS

AUTHOR OF THE MONTH Sally Nicholls We have a selection of Sally's books available to borrow.

Log onto: http:// www.sallynicholls.com/ for further details about her work.

Years 7 - 11 - 2 books 2 weeks Years 12 & 13- 3 books 3 weeks It is important that books are returned on time as often other students want to read them. If not, books can be renewed for another two weeks up to three times. Please see MS Sinclair to do this.

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES NEW BOOKS We have taken delivery of over a hundred new fiction books for the coming term and they are display in various places within the library. Feel free to come in and browse or ask for a recommendation.

Review Crew - join the team to read and review our new books. Rewards for each book read.

Text Factor Book Group - for year 7.

Page Turners Book group for years 8 & 9.

Lego Club - Wednesday Break 2 Games Club (including Chess) - Friday Break 2 If students are interested in any of the above, then they should sign up with Ms Sinclair.

IN THE COMING YEAR As we go through the school year there will be lots of other opportunities for students to get involved in the library, as student librarians, quizzes and competitions, as well as shadowing major book awards like the Man Booker and Carnegie.