newsletter 15

Ashton Highlights Newsletter 15

Friday 23rd January 2015

Dear Readers Where is the term going? I remember reading Chaucer when I was at school and being asked to reflect on his words about time: that “Time and tide wait for no man”. At the age of 12, with a whole lifetime ahead of me, the words of my then English teacher didn’t really feel relevant to me. Yet this week, I found myself saying something very similar to year 11.

Time passes so fast and before we know it, it has gone. The processes of nature continue, no matter how much we would like them to stop. We are already fast approaching half term and have a busy and exciting time ahead of us, with school production rehearsals, year 8 options evening, parents’ evenings and mentoring sessions to cram in before we finish in February!

Time and tide indeed do not wait for any person, be they man or woman, but noone can accuse the students and staff of Ashton of not packing as much as we possibly can into the time we have. In this newsletter, you will read all about the things our students have been up to in the last week. You will recall I mentioned the girls engineering residential experience in the last newsletter, and on page 4 in this edition you will be able to find out more of how their visit went.

For those of you who enjoy facts and trivia, page 7 will be of particular interest. Many thanks to those of you who have given feedback on what you would like to see included in the newsletter; we have tried to accommodate your requests in this edition. As always, we are pleased to receive items for inclusion, so if you do have anything you wild lisle to see published , please contact school in the usual way.

Best Wishes Sharon Asquith

Follow us on twitter @ashtoncsc

Expressive Arts This week in Expressive Arts, year been composing their own piece music (very well I may add!) and recording it in their next

8s have of film will be lesson.

Also, rehearsals are well under way for Mamma Mia, as you can see from the photographs. We have been using choir time to rehearse for this as well as after school on Wednesdays. Any students who still wants to join the choir are more than welcome!

Finally, the keyboard photographs below are from keyboard club this week where you can see Sam and Joe practising hard as well as some of the year 7 girls! Anyone who would like to come along on a Monday lunchtime to practice on the keyboards, maybe learn some new pieces, feel free!

YEAR 11 INFORMATION

Year 11 Countdown to Exams 59 school days until the first exam REVISION SESSIONS & GUIDES Revision Sessions. The English department have got revision sessions after school for all students. These are on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday . Students are welcome to drop in and speak to Mrs Murray, Miss Kelly and Mrs Yates for any help with your English studies. Other subject areas are also holding revision sessions; we will include details in a future edition.

Revision guides are available from Maths for £5.00 which includes a practice booklet and DVD. Science also have the Chemistry , Physics and Biology guides available for £2.50 each.

Fully loaded is a school initiative which we introduced last year to encourage parents and students alike to make sure that they are prepared for the year ahead—how to survive and succeed Year 11 and the crucial GCSE exam period. The second Fully Loaded session of this school year will be held on the 12th February at 5.30pm. If you log on to the following link this will give you more information on Fully loaded and how it can help you and your child. http://www.ashton-on-ribble.lancs.sch.uk/year-11-fully-loaded

YEAR 11 PARENTS’ EVENING The Year 11 Parents’ evening will be held on the 5th February from 4pm Please can you contact Mrs Allan on 01772 513002 ext 276 to confirm your attendance.

YEAR 11 MENTORING PROGRAMME After its successful introduction last year, the Year 11 mentoring programme will begin again on 28 January. All Year 11 students will be taking part and we will send out further information nearer the time.

GIRLS ENGINEERING THE FUTURE As part of their engineering club, sponsored by The Small Piece Trust, BAE Systems and The Outward Bound Trust, six determined Year 10 girls attended a challenging Outdoor Learning Programme last week in Aberdovey, Wales. Despite the wintery weather conditions they took part in a two day expedition; staying overnight in a wooden cabin without electricity, water or toilet facilities! As well as a gorge walk, orienteering, climbing and many more team building engineering activities. All students reported back to say they overcame their fears, gained confidence and met new friends. Each of them enjoyed summarising the week and more importantly made Ashton and themselves PROUD “It was challenging, very challenging but I persevered and I am proud of what I achieved. I will always remember this amazing opportunity and all of the skills I learnt� Ashmi Kiku 10H.

THEME OF THE WEEK

HOPE “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.

Nothing can be done without hope and confidence” (Helen Keller) DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 5 February

12 February

13 February

Year 11 Parents’ Evening 4pm-7pm

Year 11 Fully Loaded evening 5.30pm-6pm Year 8 Options Evening 6pm-8pm

School closes for half term

SIGN OF THE WEEK The sign this week is for the 16-20

Important Uniform Information.

Bang Bang have informed us that due to shop damage they will now be solely trading as Top One at 23 Miller Arcade, Lancaster Road, Preston. Tel: 828616. We appreciate the constant effort regarding uniform but please can you ensure that no trainers are worn by the students at any time. We thank you for your co-operation with this.

WEEKLY LITERACY AND NUMERACY CHALLENGES Congratulations to last week’s Literacy winners: Joshua Tomlinson Jasmin Critchley

Congratulations to last week’s Numeracy winners: Ryan Gardner 7S Jack Stevens 11O

SPEED CAMERA Running Club turned out 15 souls this week and one of them had a camera to capture evidence of this and the fact that Ashton Running Club runners come in all shapes and sizes.

The lighter nights are certainly on their way so if you fancy joining us then please come along. Next week’s run will return to Thursday at the usual time of 3:15.

The next FilmClub showing on the 26th Jan is Hancock made in 2008. It tells the story of a vigilante superhero, John Hancock (Smith) from Los Angeles whose reckless actions routinely cost the city millions of dollars. Eventually one person he saves, Ray Embrey (Bateman), makes it his mission to change Hancock's public image for the better. Will Smith. Jason Bateman. Film Type: Action / Adventure, Sci-Fi / Fantasy.

INSPIRE OFFERS

Special Offers HAPPY NEW YEAR – HAPPY NEW YOU! Now the festive season is over, treat yourself to some real ‘me time’ in our Hair & Beauty Salon with the following treatments 2 for £5, 3 for £8, 4 for £12 Indian Head Massage

Back, Neck And Shoulder Massage

Full Body Massage

Pedicure

Eyebrow Shape or Tidy

Eyelash Tint

Shampoo & Set

Curls

Blow dry

Manicure

Eyelash Perm

Semi-Permanent Colour

Also on offer this month Half Price Gel Polish Quasi colour reduced to £6.00

ASTRONOMY FACTOID

Eratosthones and the Earth’s Circumference The first accurate determination of the circumference of the Earth was performed in the 3 rd century BC, by a Greek geographer and mathematician – Eratosthenes.

He was the Chief Librarian at the Great Library in Alexandria, Egypt.

He read somewhere that at noon on the 21st June (Summer Solstice) in Syene (now Aswan – and close to the Tropic of Cancer) the Sun lay directly over a well. Vertical sticks and columns of temples did not cast a shadow either at this time.

So, he measured the Sun’s position in Alexandria on the same date at the same time by using vertical sticks in the ground and they cast a shadow of 7 degrees (this is equivalent to almost a 50th of a circle – 7 x 50 = 350 degrees).

Eratosthenes learnt that Syene was approximately 790km further south and so used simple geometry to deduce that the Earth was approximately 50 times this distance – i.e. 39,500km.

This was surprisingly accurate (within 5%), given his method!

The School Skiing trip leaves on the 27th March 2015. In preparation for this Mr Wareing has secured a great deal at the Chill Factor’e. You don’t have to be going on the skiing trip to take part in this but all practice is good practice. Just call the number on the advert and they will arrange your visit.

T.G.M. Chill Factor'e Sessions Ski or Snowboard on Sunday 8th February 2015 UNBELIEVABLE - JUST £12 FOR 2 HOURS This price cannot be beaten!!

Join us at The Chill Factor'e on Sunday 8th February for a 50 minute beginner or improver ski lesson.

If you don’t need a lesson recreational skiing/boarding are available from 6 pm for 2 HOURS. Give me a call on 07515588949 if you have any other requirements. £12 for all activities - Save 62% savings on normal prices Book on line at http://www.skitgm.com/chill.php

ON THE FIELD Results Girls Football: Archbishop Temple 2—Ashton 1 Scorer Katy Higham Ashton 0 St Cecilia’s 1 Longridge 0 Ashton 1 scorer Katy Higham

Next Weeks Girls’ Fixtures Wednesday 28th Year 7Hockey

DE-CLUTTER YOUR LIVES WITH CARITAS CARE Ashton is helping Caritas Care by de-cluttering. If you can help too, please take any items from the list below, either to their shop on Tulketh Road or into school for the attention of Miss Ascroft by the end of next week and we can take it for you. Caritas Care provides a number of services for the community and that is what Ashton is about; families and communities. Many thanks.

Following the loss of one of their players, Melissa Smith, in October Cadley FC have been looking at ways in which they can increase access to heart screening opportunities in Preston.

As a result they are facilitating a private screening event on May 2nd & 3rd 2015, which will be held at CPC. The screening will be undertaken by CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young). Each week 12 young people aged between 14 - 35 years die from undiagnosed heart conditions. The cost of an individual screening at this event is ÂŁ40 per person. Candidates must be aged between 14 and 35 years of age on the date of the screening.

Screening will identify most cardiac abnormalities. At least 12 young people die suddenly each week in the UK of previously undetected heart problems.

Raise awareness of symptoms amongst coaches and physiotherapists.

Raise awareness throughout sport of the risk of Sudden Death Syndrome / Sudden Cardiac Death and highlight the families that are most at risk – particularly those that have already had a young sudden cardiac death in the family and who might not be aware that other family members must be screened.

Encourage young people to take better care of their heart/health in a broader sense.

Reassure parents who are well aware that these tragedies occur and often cannot gain access to further information at a time when there are increasing demands on physical fitness in all high profile sports.

Symptoms are: Chest Pain (exercise related) Severe Breathlessness Palpitations Prolonged Dizziness If you would like to register for this event please visit the Cadley website, http://www.cadleyfc.com/ and select the "Heart Screening" option on the left of the screen and follow the instructions given.

Please note Cadley FC are not making any profit from this event, they are simply facilitating the booking between CRY and yourself.

If you have any questions please get in touch with Jo Burrow either by email joburrowcadley@Hotmail.com or via mobile 07815694482.