Newsletter 18 10 2013

Michaelmas Term

Friday 18th October 2013

COMMUNITY MASS All Hallows' Chapel- Every Friday 9am-9.45am, Parents/Carers/Parishioners ALL ARE WELCOME! PRAYER FOR THE WEEK One World Week Father God, who created all mankind in your image and likeness, we pray that the things which unite us will break down the walls of prejudice, racism, hatred and division.

We ask this through our Lord, Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.

Amen.

SPECIALIST SUCCESS OF THE WEEK Congratulations to Connor Fowler (7 Wiseman) and James Taylor (7 Hulme) and to Chen Ji (8 Newman) and Nica Reyes (8 Newman).

They are the winners of the KS3 word treasure hunt that took place on European Day of Languages on Thursday 26 September. Together these students discovered almost 500 new words in French, German, Spanish, Latin and Mandarin in one day!

PARENTS AS PARTNERS: THE NEXT HALF-TERM Parents – please can you check your child’s equipment for learning and uniform over half term and replenish any items as necessary. Every student should carry with them a pen, pencil, ruler and their planner, in addition to their exercise books and textbooks. A calculator is also required for Mathematics, Bible for RE and dictionaries for languages and English.

Students are also expected to have a suitable bag (see policy) for carrying books and equipment.

CHRISTMAS TERM MONDAY 28 OCTOBER 2013 TO THURSDAY 19 DECEMBER 2013 Thursday 31 October 7– 9:30pm Year 11 into Sixth Form Curriculum Evening Friday 8 November Year 7,9,11 Academic Reviews Issued Friday 8 November, Year 11 Mock Exams begin Thursday 21 November, Year 7 and 9 Parents’ Consultation Day 9am– 7pm Thursday 21 November, Children's Takeover Day for Years 10 and 11, opportunity to accompany relative or friend to work.

Thursday 28 November, Year 7 Sex and Relationship Education Evening 7– 8pm (Information on curriculum for Parents) Monday 2 - Friday 13 December, Assessment weeks for Students Friday 6 December 6pm, PTA Disco Year 7 and 8 Thursday 12 December 7pm (Provisional), Carol Service St Albans Church Friday 13 December, PTA Christmas Party (details tbc) Wednesday 18 December 7– 9pm, Key Stage 4 and 5 Awards Evening– College Hall

RECOMMENDED READS They say that when you die, your life flashes before your eyes. Fabrice Muamba has been there. He knows.

Muamba was the Bolton Wanderers player who collapsed during a televised FA Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur. After receiving emergency treatment on the pitch from medical personnel - including a consultant cardiologist who was at the game as a fan - he was rushed to a coronary care unit at the London Chest Hospital. Muamba's heart stopped beating for 78 minutes. But amazingly he survived. He made a remarkable recovery that has engrossed and enthralled both the footballing and wider world. This is his story.

Everyone said the original Titanic was unsinkable. Shows how much they knew. Everyone says the new Titanic is unsinkable. But there are worse things than drowning as stowaway Jimmy Armstrong and rich girl Claire quickly find out. With a mysterious, incurable disease rapidly infecting the population, being at sea seems the safest place to be…

ATTENDANCE MATTERS Over the last week of College attendance was as follows: Year 7 - 97.7% (up 1.1% on the previous week - well done Year 7) Year 8 - 96.5% (up 1% - well done Year 8) Year 9 - 96.8% (up 0.5% - well done Year 9) Year 10 - 96% (up 2.5% - well done Year 10) Year 11 - 96.1% (up 0.9% - well done Year 11) Well done to all of our students on a fantastic weeks worth of attendance. The average for the week is 96.6% (up from 95.4% last week). Since 3rd September attendance has increased to 96.1%. We aim for 97% and we have almost achieved this!

GIRLS attendance has increased to 96.6%, BOYS attendance has increased to 96.7% last week.

Since 3rd September boys are still winning girls 96.5% to 95.7% but the gap has narrowed.

Parents are politely reminded to avoid absence unless it is absolutely necessary.

Thank you for your on going support regarding medical absence and holiday absence.

Holiday absence from College Holidays will not be authorised from 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 and Mr Diamond 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.

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 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.

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

CALENDAR

Term

College Opens to Students

College Closes to Students

Michaelmas

Tuesday 3 September 2013 (Year 7, 12 and 13 in only) Wednesday 4 September 2013 (All students in)

Friday 18 October 2013

Christmas

Monday 28 October 2013

Thursday 19 December 2013

Epiphany

Monday 6 January 2014

Friday 14 February 2014

Easter

Wednesday 26 February 2014

Friday 4 April 2014

Whitsun

Wednesday 23 April 2014

Thursday 22 May 2014

Trinity

Monday 2 June 2014

Tuesday 22 July 2014

The following are the dates for training days in 2013-14. Students are not required to attend on these days.

Monday 24 February 2014 Tuesday 25 February 2014 Tuesday 22 April 2014 Friday 23 May 2014 Wednesday 23 July 2014

ADVANCED NOTICE Languages Controlled Assessments 2013-2014

Please find below the list of dates for the languages controlled assessments. Each assessment can count for 15% of the final GCSE. Teachers will let your son/daughter know on which dates they will complete assessments. Please avoid time off both on the date and in the lessons preceding these dates. Please contact a.harrison@allhallows.org.uk with any queries.

Year 11 Writing 1 Writing 2 Speaking 1 Speaking 2

11y Thursday 31 October 11g Tuesday 29 October 11y Thursday 16 January 11g Tuesday 21 January Monday/Tuesday 9/10 December Thursday and Monday 13/17 March

Year 10 Writing 1 Writing 2 Speaking 1 Speaking 2

10y Tuesday 10 December 10g Thursday 12 December 10y Tuesday 6 May 10g Thursday 8 May Tuesday/Wednesday 10/11 March Thursday/Friday 3 /4 July

Year 9 Speaking

Tuesday/Wednesday 8/9 July