Newsletter 16

Ashton Highlights Newsletter 16

Friday 30th January 2015

Dear Readers Writing the front page of the newsletter is one of my favourite jobs of the working week because it gives me the opportunity to reflect on what has been happening in school over and above normal lessons. It has been a very sombre week, with the Holocaust and all its associated horrors very much in the spotlight . Mr Clare and two of our Senior Student Leaders attended the Holocaust Memorial Event in Preston, and as you would expect, they represented our school well at what was an incredibly poignant event.

We also closed the school early on Wednesday to launch our year 11 Mentoring sessions.

These went incredibly well, with every single year 11 student assigned to a mentor. The role of the mentor traditionally is one of a “trusted and critical friend” and we hope that year 11 find their mentors to be just this. Targets were set, honest conversations were had and ambitions and dreams were shared; let’s hope that all these come to fruition!

Looking ahead slightly, we have Valentines Day and World Book Day on the horizon and our clever English Department have a plan to combine the two. Read all about their plans on page 5. I hope this inspires some creative entries.

At the end of every newsletter, I sign off inviting you to share any of your stories and also to give me feedback for further improvement. Well many thanks for all that I have received so far! I have responded immediately to one of your suggestions, which is the way I open up—I used to say “dear parents / carers” and I have changed that to “dear readers “ to reflect our growing audience! Our distribution base has spread from its original one of parents, carers and staff because you have been forwarding it on to other family members and friends, which is wonderful!

Please keep your suggestions coming, they are always appreciated and thank you for sharing our newsletter too!

Best Wishes Sharon Asquith

Follow us on twitter @ashtoncsc

School Uniform The U in PROUD at Ashton stands for uniform and this is what the students at Ashton feel about it.

The majority of students do wear the correct uniform but on some occasions the odd trainer will creep in and the skirts will ride a little high with the dangly hoops thrown in and a nose piercing.

We appreciate all your efforts with uniform, but would just like to remind parents/carers that trainers of any description are not allowed and only black shoes will be permitted. Skirts should be of a length that retains your child’s modesty and one earring in each ear is allowed—other piercings are not accepted and students will be asked to remove them.

If your child comes in with trainers, short skirts that can’t be modified or piercings, they will be asked to either have a pair of black shoes brought in to school or asked to wear a pair of our own shop-bought ones. Skirts of an appropriate length will be offered and they will be asked to remove piercings. However, in extreme cases children will be sent home. This of course is a disruption to their education which neither the parent nor the school would wish for.

So in brief, please can you make sure your child... wears black shoes—no trainers. wears a skirt of an appropriate length. has no piercings other than one stud in each ear.

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.

YEAR 11 INFORMATION

Year 11 Countdown to Exams 52 school days until the first exam YEAR 11 PARENTS’ EVENING The Year 11 Parents’ evening will be held on the 5th February from 4pm. This is a very important opportunity for you to discuss your child’s progress with subject teachers. Please can you contact Mrs Allan on 01772 513002 ext 276 to confirm your attendance.

YEAR 11 MENTORING PROGRAMME The Year 11 students met with their mentors this week. The focus of the initial session was to work through an action plan. Areas of focus have now been identified and students discussed any of their concerns. Each mentor will meet with their mentee regularly over the coming months and work with them to see how best they can help with time management, revision techniques and any issues raised by students.

FULLY LOADED EVENING 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 Fully Loaded session will be repeated on the 12th February at 5.30pm for those who missed the first event.

REVISION SESSIONS & GUIDES Revision Sessions. The English department have got revision sessions after school on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for all students. Students are welcome to drop in and speak to Mrs Murray, Miss Kelly and Mrs Yates for any help with their English studies. Revision classes in other subject areas are starting.

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

Please encourage your child to attend these focussed revision sessions and to purchase the appropriate guides.

WEEKLY LITERACY AND NUMERACY CHALLENGES Congratulations to last week’s Literacy winners: Hirtik Maru 8S Kieran Emmet 7O

Congratulations to last week’s Numeracy winners: Jess Walmsley 8S Oliver Wilkinson 10T

RUNNING IN A SNOW GLOBE Despite yellow weather warnings for snow, 15 hardy members of running club braved the winter weather for our usual lap of Ashton Park. Welcome to newcomer, Chengkai, who added strength to the year 11 turn out. Year 7 proved, as usual, to be the most resilient members of school with the usual solid attendance – well done!

Sterling staff performances came from Mr Wiggins and Miss Koerten, who put health ahead of beauty this week. Next week’s run will move to Wednesday to accommodate the year 11 Parent’s Evening. Meet changed at 3:15pm in the quad.

HOLOCAUST REMEMBEROn Tuesday we paid tribute to all those who lost their lives in the Holocaust and genocide around the world by attending the Holocaust Memorial Day service at The Minster of St John. Head boy Josh McGovern, Head girl Hannah Lightowler, and their deputies Conner Dwyer and Mariana Blackstone joined the Mayor and faith leaders from around the city to pay their respects. The service was a moving and poignant reminder of the dangers of persecution.

INSPIRE OFFERS

FEBRUARY Special Offers

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EXPRESSIVE ARTS This week in Expressive Arts, Chris Wright, from UpFront theatre, is coming in to work with the year 10 BTEC class. They're entering a competition called The Beats, which is about raising awareness of road safety, through drama.

Also this week, Katie Beard, a dance tutor at Newman College, was in on Wednesday to work with the year 11 dancers on their exam pieces. There is a BTEC/GCSE catch up club for Expressive Arts every Thursday evening, offered by Miss Barnes in room 17.

WORLD BOOK DAY World Book Day will be celebrated again at Ashton on Friday 6th March. The English Department really go to town on this day and dress up in all sorts of characters. The rest of the Ashton staff join in too. It’s a great day to let your imagination run wild and be that character from your favourite book. To get you in the literacy spirit, the English department are also running a Valentines Day poetry Competition. If you would like to be the next Keats then please contact Miss Kelly or Mrs Murray and they will let you know more details.

THEME OF THE WEEK

"Love means to commit oneself without guarantee, to give oneself completely in the hope that our love will produce love in the loved person. Love is an act of faith, and whoever is of little faith is also of little love."

Erich Fromm

3 February

Year 7, 11 and Post 16 photographs

4 February

Year 7 alcohol roadshow during pd 5

5 February

Year 11 parents’ evening 4pm-7pm Year 8 Challenge day

12 February

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

13 February

School closes for half term

23 February

School re-opens

19 March

Year 10 Parents’ evening

20 March

Year 9 Parents’ evening

27 March

INSET day school closed Ski trip leaves and returns 5th April

ON THE FIELD On Wednesday 28th January, the Year 7 Girls took part in the Preston Schools 7-a-side Hockey Tournament. Braving the arctic conditions of Longridge the Yr7's battled hard and it clearly paid off.

Results as follows; Ashton 3 v Broughton 1 (scorers Kimberley Hall x2, Grace McGarvey) Ashton 1 v ABT 0 (scorer Grace McGarvey) Ashton 1 v Longridge 0 (scorer Keisha Clarke) Ashton 1 v Our Lady's 3 (scorer Eloise Coates) Player of the tournament goes to Grace McGarvey We either won the tournament or will draw as winners with Broughton (still awaiting final results on goal difference).

Team: Holly Goulding Grace McGarvey Kimberley Hall Nicole Grealis Eloise Coates Jessica Lai Keisha Clarke

The School Skiing trip leaves on the 27th March 2015. In preparation for this Mr Waring 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

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.