Newsletter 29 11 2013

All Hallows Catholic College Newsletter Christmas Term

Friday 29th November 2013

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

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

EXAMS

Advent Prayer

Friday 23/05/14 INSET DAY EXAMS

God of hope,

Please be advised that the following GCE/GCSE exams will be taking place on the above date.

As we await the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ,

GCE (AS) CHEM1

Make us mindful of others and their needs,

GCE (AS) DRAM1 GCE (AS) 6RS02

Waken our hearts to your message,

GCSE (Year 11) History Unit 2

And show us how to bring good news to Everyone.

Dates and times are dictated 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. School buses will be arranged for students concerned.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

ECO FACT Carbon dioxide emissions would be cut by 2 million tonnes a year (enough to fill 11 million double-decker buses) if everyone in their UK put a jacket on their hot water tank.

PARENTS AS PARTNERS: MOBILE TELEPHONES Parents and students are reminded that all students’ mobile ‘phones must be switched off between 8:55am and 3:15pm and not be used for any reason during the day. Failure to comply with this rule may result in items being confiscated which will have to be collected from College by a parent. If a student is ill and uses the ‘sick room’, then the office staff must contact home, not the student on their mobile ‘phone.

Thank you for your on-going support with this matter.

Exam Results Days - August 2014 Thursday 14th August 2014 08:30am - 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 OF THE WEEK A group of Level 3 BTEC Health and Social Care students have had both a visiting speaker in College and a visit out of college as they focus on the enterprising skill of ‘communication’ as part of this new course. Their visitor (Matt Evans) introduced them to British Sign Language (BSL) and Makaton skills to aid communication and their visit took them to Park Lane Special School where they observed communication skills within the health and social care sector. This was a follow up to another visit out of College to visit The Seashell Trust, formally the Royal College for Deaf in Cheadle Hulme where they observed communication with multi-sensory disabled children and also interviewed staff members. (JL)

YEAR LEADER "DROP IN SURGERIES” Year Learning Leader "Drop In Surgeries" will be run on the following times and dates: Year 9 - Friday 13 December 2013 between 9.00 am and 10.30 am with Mrs Moulsdale Year 11 - Tuesday 7 January 2014 between 2.00 pm and 3.00 pm with Mrs Williams Year 10 - Thursday 9 January 2014 between 12.00 noon and 1.00 pm with Mrs Remfry Year 12/13– Thursday 30 January 2014 between 8am– 9:30am with Mr Howells and Mrs Garvey 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.

PRINCIPAL’S SURGERY Parents / Carers are invited to attend a Principal's Surgery to discuss any concerns or ask questions, on the following dates Tuesday 3 December, 3.30pm - 4.30pm There is no appointment system so please be prepared to wait

ATTENDANCE MATTERS 98.00%

Over the last week of College attendance was as follows: Year 7 - 97.3% (down 0.3% on the previous week) Year 8 - 94.7% (down 2.0%) Year 9 - 96.8% (up 0.6%) Year 10 - 92.5% (down 2.3%) Year 11 - 91.2% (down 1.9 %) Year 12- 95.28%

97.00%

96.00% 95.00% 94.00% 93.00% 92.00% 91.00% 90.00% 89.00%

Year 13- 96.31%

88.00% YEAR 7

YEAR 8

YEAR 9

YEAR 10

YEAR 11

The average for the week is 94.5% (down from 95.7% last week). Since 3rd September attendance is still 95.9%. We aim for 97%.

Last week GIRLS attendance has decreased to 94.5%, BOYS attendance has decreased to 94.3%. Since 3rd September boys are still winning girls 96.3% to 95.5%, but the gap is closing.

Parents are politely reminded to avoid absence unless it is absolutely necessary. Thank you for your ongoing 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 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 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.

CALENDAR

Term

College Opens to Students

College Closes to Students

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 2 Speaking 1 Speaking 2

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

DICTIONARIES FOR SALE IN THE LIBRARY The latest editions of the market-leading dictionaries and some fiction are on sale in the Library for a special price of £5 each(cash only) saving up to 60% off the RRP! Up-to-date and fully comprehensive editions perfect for homework Accessible - Compiled specifically for students and the school curriculum Designed to last, easy-to-use, and with the quality you’d expect from the world’s most trusted dictionary publisher Carefully chosen selection to be age appropriate for 12+ year olds

Please pay for your dictionaries and books by cash or cheque (payable to the College) on the day. Card payments will not be possible.

CHRISTMAS TERM MONDAY 28 OCTOBER 2013 TO THURSDAY 19 DECEMBER 2013 Monday 2 - Friday 13 December, Assessment weeks for Students Friday 6 December 6pm, PTA Disco Year 7 and 8 Thursday 12 December 7:30pm All Hallows Catholic College 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

CHRIST THE KING YOUTH SUNDAY MASS - 24 NOVEMBER All Hallows' students and staff were pleased to lead the Sunday evening Mass at St Alban's on Youth Sunday, 24 November 2013, the Feast of Christ the King. The College provided a dramatised readings, bidding prayers, volunteers for the offertory, the music ministry, and our very own Revd Harrison, our Chaplain, gave the homily in his capacity as a Deacon. This is now a well established annual event and the parishioners gave us a warm welcome on a cold evening!

STUDY SUPPORT – BARLOW LIBRARY For study support, The Barlow Library is open every day from 8.30am to 5pm (4.30pm Fridays) for after College support with homework and research projects. If students come to use the library after College, they should make sure parents/carers know where they are, just as they would for any other activity.