Newsletter `24 01 2013

All Hallows Catholic College Newsletter Epiphany Term

PRAYER Holocaust Memorial Day, January 27 Lord, remember not only the men and women of goodwill, but also those of ill will. Do not remember all the sufferings they have inflicted upon us; remember the fruits we bear, thanks to this suffering – our comradeship, our loyalty, our humanity, courage, generosity, the greatness of heart which has grown out of all this. And when they come to judgment, let all the fruits that we have borne be their forgiveness.

(A prayer found on a scrap of paper beside the body of a young girl who died at Ravensbruck Concentration Camp.)

ECO FACT Turning down your thermostat by just 1oC could cut your heating bill by up to 10% and save around £30 a year. If we all did this now together we’d save over £530 million worth of energy every year. That’s over 7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

PARENTS AS PARTNERS – AEROSOLS A reminder to parents and all students that aerosols are banned in College. This includes aerosol deodorant's Only roll-on deodorants may be used. Aerosol deodorants brought into College will be confiscated. This is for health and safety reasons, particularly the potential harm to students and staff with asthma. Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.

Friday 24th January 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 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 OF THE WEEK Congratulations to Year 11 Students Isabel Glen, Charlie Waller and Robyn Tybolsley. Their spoken French has been judged to be so good that they have been invited to join the Sixth Form French immersion tutor group

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

YEAR LEADER "DROP IN SURGERIES” Year Learning Leader "Drop In Surgeries" will be run on the following times and dates: Year 12/13 – Thursday 30 January between 8am– 9:30am with Mr Howells and Mrs Garvey Year 7 and Year 8 - Friday 7 February between 8.30 am and 9.30 am with Mrs Moffat and Mr Parke Year 9- Friday 14 February between 9 am and 10am Year 10- Thursday 6 February 2014 12:00pm and 1:00 pm with Mrs Remfry Year 11 - Tuesday 4 March 2014 between 2.00 pm and 3.00 pm with Mrs Williams 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.

YEAR 8 AND 10 PARENT CONSULTATION DAY On line booking for this event is now available through the College website. Please go to "For Parents>Parental Gateway". For problems with log-in please contact the College on 01625 426138/01625 410287. The College hopes to see all parents/students in Years 8 and 10 as we consider this an essential aspect of home-school partnership. As a College event, students are expected to attend in full College uniform.

PRINCIPALS SURGERY Parents / Carers are invited to attend a Principal's Surgery to discuss any concerns or ask questions, on the following dates Wednesday 29 January, 9am - 10am Wednesday 5 February, 9am - 10am There is no appointment system so please be prepared to wait

ATTENDANCE MATTERS Over the last week of College attendance was as follows: Year 7 - 96.7% (up 0.8% on the previous week - well done Year 7) Year 8 - 96.9% (up 0.7% - well done Year 8) Year 9 - 93.6% (down 1.0%) Year 10 - 94.6% (up 0.1% - well done Year 10) Year 11 - 96.0% (up 1.0%- well done Year 11) Year 12- 93.2% Year 13- 94.92% This was another good week this term for our students overall. The average for the week was 95.5% (up 0.3%). Since 3rd September attendance is still 95.6%.

We aim for 97%.

Attendance matters at All Hallows 98 97 96 95 94

93 92 91

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

Last week GIRLS attendance has increased 0.2% to 95%, BOYS attendance has increased 0.4% to 96.1% so well done girls and boys this time!. Since 3rd September boys are still winning girls 96.0% to 95.2%. Come on girls, you can beat the boys!

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 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

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. Unless taking an external exam.

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 Speaking 2

Thursday and Monday 13/17 March

Year 10 Writing 2 Speaking 1 Speaking 2

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

RECOMMENDED READS Itch by Simon Mayo Meet Itch - an accidental, accident-prone hero. Science is his weapon. Elements are his gadgets. All-action adventure perfect for fans of Alex Rider and Young Bond. Itchingham Lofte - known as Itch - is fourteen, and loves science, especially chemistry. He's also an element-hunter: he's collecting all the elements in the periodic table.

Which has some interesting and rather destructive results in his bedroom. Then, Itch makes a discovery. A new element, never seen before. At first no one believes him - but soon someone hears about the strange new rock and wants it for himself. And Itch and his family are catapulted into a breathless adventure with terrifyingly high stakes.

The Baker Street Boys: The Case of the Disappearing Detective

by Anthony Read This is the first title in a thrilling, fast-paced adventure series about Sherlock Holmes' gang of street-urchin detectives. It is 1897, Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee year, and the Baker Street Boys are helping Sherlock Holmes to solve a case involving a mysterious American when Holmes himself disappears. Only the Boys realize that he hasn't gone undercover but has actually been kidnapped by a Fenian gang from Boston who are planning to assassinate the Queen...This title is based on a popular 1980s BBC television series by the same author

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE READING BLOG (Year 8 Parent Consultation Day 30th January 2014) Go to the All Hallows Website - www.allhallows.org.uk Log in using their REALSMART username and password.

Either: A) Click the image on the homepage that says “Student Work for Parental Consultation Day” on the homepage and then click “Year 8 Reading Blog” OR B) Click “For Students” in the main menu and the choose the link that says “Parental Consultation Day Year 8 Blog” At the bottom of the page there is a comments box. They need to type their response to the blog in the comments box and hit submit.

Their blog will then be checked by staff in College and then published once spell checked.

CHILDRENS TAKEOVER DAY Many thanks to all parents, relatives and friends of families who will allow the 71 students of Year 9 and Year 11 the chance to experience Children's Takeover Day on Thursday 30 January. Can any employers take a second child? If so then please contact Mr Blades in College and we will match a student to the placement. Please can students going take a photo of themselves in the workplace and email this to Mr Blades (staffmpb@allhallows.org.uk) for our website?

FORTHCOMING PTA EVENT Friday 28th March - Race Night at All Hallows £10 per person for hot supper and racing Please email a.heaton@allhallows.org.uk to reserve a table.

Parental Consultation Day - Work for Students Thursday 30 January 2014- Arrangements Year 7 Attend College Year 8 Home study and attend appointments Year 9 Do not attend College Experience of work day Year 10 Home study and attend appointments Year 11 Do not attend College Experience or work day Sixth Form Do not attend College subject reading

Year 7 Students attend College as normal for a day focused on Mathematics and Physical Education Attend College with parents/carers for booked appointments and Reading challenge (accelerated Reader – blogs to be sent between 9:30am – 3:00pm) Young people’s take over day (Self placed – take your child to work day) or Maths based work agreed with teachers if not attending work day.

Attend College with parents/carers(s) for booked appointments and Subject Reading Day (Making Science notes/cards for topics agreed with Students) Young people’s take over day (self-placed – take your child to work day) or Subject Reading day (making science revision notes/cards for topics agreed with Students) Subject Reading Day Work Experience Opportunity