Newsletter 28 03 2014

All Hallows Catholic College Newsletter Easter Term

PRAYER Journey Towards Holy Week Father in heaven, help us to accept one another, with all our faults and failings, and especially as we journey towards Holy Week, help us to fast from prejudice and discrimination and to be more tolerant of one another. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen EXAM TIP– EVERYONE KEEPS GIVING YOU REVISION ADVICE. WHAT DO YOU DO? Listening won’t hurt, but you have to decide if the advice is helpful to you. A successful revision plan is the one that suits the way you learn and work. You have to be in control!

GSCE AND A LEVEL COUNTDOWN 45 Days until Monday the 12th May 2014, the date of the first exam.s

Friday 28th March 2014

EXAMS Friday 23/05/14 INSET DAY EXAMS Please be advised that the following GCE/GCSE exams will be taking place on the above date.

GCE (AS) CHEM1 @ 9.00 am GCE (AS) 6RS02 @13.00 pm (Ethics and Philosophy Paper 2) GCSE (Year 11) Drama Unit 3 @13.00 pm GCSE (Year 11) History Unit 2 @ 9.00 am Dates and times are set by the exam boards and cannot be re-arranged by the college. Students taking these courses are therefore expected to attend their exams on this date in school uniform or business dress. School buses will be arranged for students concerned. Parents/Guardians please complete transport requirements slips and return to Form Tutor/ Reception/Exams Office. Thank you.

Exam Results Days - August 2014 Thursday 14th August 2014 8:30am - 10:30am A2 Results (Year 13) 11:00am - 12:30am AS Results (Year 12) Thursday 21st August 2014 10:00am - 12:00 noon - GCSE Results (Y11 only)

SPECIALISM SUCCESS Year 8 BITE students have extended links into the local community by working with Macclesfield based Housing Trust Peaks and Plains. Peaks and Plains Housing Trust challenged local students to create a social media piece, of either an animation or video that promoted the volunteering opportunities available at the Trust for their tenants.

Five groups of Year 8 BITE students set about competing with each other as to who could produce the best piece of social media.

Some looked at producing animation, others videos, all with the hope of having their work chosen.

It was then in February 2014 that a competition was held in the Romero Centre Board Room. Two judges from Peaks and Plains, Miss Sophie Lewis and Mr Harry Moss (ex-student of All Hallows) came to All Hallows in order to judge the different pieces of social media each had produced and select one for their website. All entrants were warmly received. However, the winners were announced in The Celebration Assembly in March 2014 and Josh Mock and Christoph Langer as well as Molly Hodgson, Olivia Shaw and Katie Webster shared the prize.

Sophie Lewis of Peaks and Plains and one of the judges of the competition commented “The entrants were all of a high standard, and the judges were impressed by the work that had gone into the projects. The winners were chosen because of the elements of humour, and the level of research carried out by the students into the various volunteering roles available at the Trust”. Congratulations to Josh, Christoph, Molly, Olivia and Katie! Each student received a glass framed certificate and a voucher for £25.

YEAR LEADER "DROP IN SURGERIES” Year 10 Thursday 24 April 2014 between 12.00 and 1.00 pm with Mrs Remfry.

Year 9 Friday 25 April between 9.00 am and 10.00 am with Mrs Moulsdale 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. Future dates for other year groups will be confirmed shortly.

EASTER GRADE BOOSTER CLASSES , MARCH-MAY The College is open on the following dates in spring to offer the following: 10am-2pm Saturday 29 March – Dance, Product Design GCSE Monday 7 April - French AS/A2, Psychology AS, Chemistry AS/A2, French GCSE, Maths GCSE, English GCSE, Health and Social Care GCSE, Science BTEC, Drama GCSE Tuesday 8 April - French AS/A2, Psychology A2, German GCSE, Health and Social Care GCSE, Food Technology GCSE, Drama GCSE, Product Design GCSE Wednesday 9 April - English Catch Up Year 7, Product Design GCSE Tuesday 15 April - Maths Catch Up Year 7.

Saturday 10 May - RECC GCSE, History GCSE. Saturday 17 May - History GCSE. Please click here for the Grade Booster Timetable (Please note you must be logged into the College website for this link to work).

COLLEGE DAY CONSULTSTION EXTENSION Please follow this link for the College Day Consultation Extension letter We apologise for a reprographic error on the paper copy which omitted a paragraph of important information..

COLLEGE UNIFORM SUPPLIERS 2014 ONWARDS We are pleased to announce that we will have a new on-line supplier of uniform in additional to a shop supplier of uniform in place from 2 June 2014.

The on-line supplier is Price and Buckland, based in Nottingham. Tel: 0115 964 0827 We are also maintaining a shop supplier - Finesse, Mill Street, Macclesfield. Tel: 01625 616986 These are the only official suppliers of uniform and the combination of 'on-line' and 'shop' suppliers is designed to make it more convenient for parents to purchase uniform at any time during the year and irrespective of whether they live in or near to Macclesfield.

Truetex, a former supplier are currently selling a limited range of uniform items at a reduced cost to clear stocks. If parents are purchasing items from Trutex now to be worn in September please ensure that the items bought have sufficient growing room as they cannot be returned later in the year.

ALL HALLOWS IS AGAINST BULLYING We would like to remind students and parents that our website has links to an anti-bullying email service.bullying@allhallowslearning.org.uk is the email address that can be used to confidentially report incidents of bullying to a senior teacher. Students are also encouraged to report bullying to their form tutor and Year Leader.

Together we can stamp out all forms of bullying.

PARENTS AS PARTNERS: EQUIPPED FOR LEARNING Students are generally well-equipped at All Hallows, and we would like to thank you for your continuing efforts to support your child(ren)’s studies. We have had some issues in examinations with students not having essential equipment - including pens on occasion! Some of our younger students sometimes come to class ill-equipped.

COMMUNITY MASS All Hallows Chapel every Friday 9am-9.45am Parents/Carers/Parishioners are all welcome

CAREERS ADVICE FOR STUDENTS Our new careers advisor, Mrs Jean Pilling, has now seen 132 students for impartial careers interviews since she started in mid-December. If any parents would like their son or daughter to have a careers interview this year then please notify the relevant Year Leader who can ensure names are added to the list. Priority will be given to Year 11, 12 and 13 students, but she will also see other students lower down the college for careers interviews. She has a drop in on Thursday lunchtime for students of any year and Year 8's are particularly welcome as they chose their option subjects.

ECO FACT Check out your hot water tank, if it is fitted with an insulating jacket, it will save you money. An insulating jacket only costs around £10 and pays for itself within months. Fit one that’s at least 75mm (3in) thick to save the most energy and money – around £10 - £15 every year.

PARENT DROP IN SESSION - "HELPING CHILDREN MAKE CAREER CHOICES" - 3 APRIL Would you like some advice on how to talk "careers" with your son or daughter? Are you unsure as to which careers route is best for them? Do you need help understanding apprenticeships, GCSE choices, post 16 choices and decisions regards universities? Don't worry as help is at hand. On Thursday 3rd April between 4 pm - 6 pm we are holding an informal drop in session for any parents of our students to help them answer such questions. Mrs Jean Pilling, our careers advisor, together with Mr Blades, Assistant Principal, will be in the Romero Centre Conference Room in our college reception area to help. Feel free to come along, have a drink and ask any careers related questions that may be on your mind.

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 10 Writing 2

10y Tuesday 6 May 10g Thursday 8 May

Speaking 2

Thursday/Friday 3 /4 July

Year 9 Speaking

Tuesday/Wednesday 8/9 July

RECOMMENDED READS Fortune Cookie by Jean Ure A fun and feisty new comedy drama from master storyteller Jean Ure. When Daniella Cassidy and her best friend Lisa fall in love with the gorgeous puppy in the next door garden, they never imagine they'll end up getting to keep him - that they'll have to save his life - or that he'll lead them into such big trouble...A crazy real-life adventure about friendship, family, pets - and a plan that spirals out of control.

Deeper by Roderik Gordon & Brian Williams The Tunnels adventure is far from over for Will Burrows. In his quest to find his father, Will is plunged even deeper underground. And as if things weren't bad enough already, he stumbles across a Styx plot with terrible implications for the world above. And a sister who isn't finished yet.

PARENT VIEW SURVEY FOR 2012-13

17 parent responses so far to the OfSTED Parent View Survey for 2013-14.

Each week we will be presenting a statistic from the 2012-13 survey and asking you a question or two about how we can continue to work together to do our very best for our young people. 130 parents responded last year and we’d like to reach a minimum of 200 this year!

As a Catholic college we pride ourselves on trying to address the needs of the whole child. 86% of parents strongly agree or agree that All Hallows deals well with bullying with a total of 98% if we assume that ‘don’t know’ means there is no issue. We have a zero tolerance of bullying and encourage all children to report bullying. We have regular anti-bullying campaigns and an anti-bully report e mail for students who find it initially difficult to describe their experiences. We ask all parents to regularly talk to their children to make sure they are free from bullying experiences and to contact the college if they become aware of anything untoward. Each year we focus on a variety of forms of bullying and we include LGBT issues and homophobic language. Students know that homophobic words like ‘gay’ are not acceptable within the Christian values of our college – and they know the consequences if they bully others in word or deed.

Parental support is vital in this area of children’s lives and we expect that parents who choose our Church academy actively support our Christian values in the home. Why not have a discussion with your child about values and why bullying is unacceptable? Email your views to parentview@allhallows.org.uk. Please also follow this link to complete the questionnaire this year - http:// parentview.ofsted.gov.uk

ATTENDANCE MATTERS 97.00%

Over the last week of College attendance was as follows: Year 7 - 96.3% (down 1.1% on the previous week) Year 8 - 92.6% (down 3.2%) Year 9 - 95.1% (down 1.6%) Year 10 - 94.5% (down 2.6%) Year 11 - 93.4% (down 2.3%) Year 12: 94.93% (down 0.4% on previous week) Year 13: 95.67% (down 1.2% on previous week)

96.00% 95.00% 94.00% 93.00% 92.00% 91.00% 90.00%

This was a very disappointing week after the previous excellent week. The average for the week was 94.5% (down 2.1%). Since 3rd September attendance is still 95.6%. We aim for 97%.

YEAR 7

YEAR 8

YEAR 9

YEAR 10 YEAR 11 YEAR 12 YEAR 13

Last week GIRLS attendance has decreased 1.2% to 94.6%, BOYS attendance has decreased 3.2% to 94.2%. Since 3rd September boys are still winning girls 96.1% to 95.1% but the gap has closed by 0.1%.

Comparisons on the same week in the previous 3 years are: 94%, 94.7% and 93.1% so once again we have made some improvements despite a disappointing week.

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 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 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 where you will receive a criminal record if you are found guilty.

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.

CALENDAR

Term

College Opens to Students

College Closes to Students

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. Unless taking an external exam.

Tuesday 22 April 2014 Friday 23 May 2014 Wednesday 23 July 2014

COMING SOON– OUR NEW ONLINE PAYMENT SERVICE We’re pleased to announce that we will be launching ParentPay as our preferred method of payment to school from 23 April 2014.

ParentPay offers you the freedom to make online payments whenever and wherever you like, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - safe in the knowledge that the technology used is of the highest internet security available.

Parents will have a secure online account, activated using a unique username and password (these will be sent to you shortly); making a payment with your credit or debit card is straightforward and ParentPay holds an electronic record of your payments for you to view at a later date.

In addition to payments ParentPay also offers an integrated email/SMS reminders option ensuring you never need miss a payment and helping you keep your child’s school meal account in credit.

We look forward to your support in using ParentPay as it will help us further support teaching and learning by reducing the burden of income collection in the classroom and school office whilst improving school-home communication.

BIOMETRIC Can we remind all parents that we urgently need the biometric consent forms returned to college as soon as possible. You can also email your consent to parentpay@allhallows.org.uk, stating the name and tutor group of your child. At present, we have only received 19% of them. A copy of the letter including the consent form can be found on the college website. Thank you to those parents that attended our drop in session, the afternoon was a success. If you have any further queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Many thanks, All Hallows Finance Team.