St. Ambrose Barlow RC High School Weekly Newsletter Issue 26

ST AMBROSE BARLOW RC HIGH SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM

FAITH IN YOU

LOVE IN LEARNING

HOPE IN BETTER

this week in our school . . .

1Volume 5 Issue 26 April 24th, 2020




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“

Head’s start .

Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the week.

Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the week.

Everywhere I go I hear silence. There are no planes overhead, fewer vehicles crowd our roads. is creak about of thisa time meet with In school Itthe hingeoforyear the that clickI of a lock each Head of Department to review the carries through near empty rooms and corridors. I exam results.

This involves am awaresummer’s of the absence of presence.

Where plenty of useful and thought-provoking there were people, there is space. Where there is usually talking about should bediscussion, movementbut andit interaction, we are still numbers and letters.

Behind this data are and hesitant.

stories: how pupils did, how they felt, what they liked theyvery achieved.

The sky, which has and beenwhat the the best of We always focus on how things can blues in the last few weeks, is not scarredbe by trails well as celebrating what went of vapour.improved Into thisas near-vacuum comes perhaps well.air, Aslight. a Catholic school, exam of results wildlife, pure It seems that many us are just one way of expressing the unique, Godare appreciating the pause, the chance to conjure given talents and skills of each pupil.

It is a new perspective on our lives, to spend time with important to look beyond the data so I am those we love, even if we did not choose these delighted much more of mythis jobinto involves circumstances andthat would never wished being in classes, walking around the school being.

and talking to pupils, students and staff.

Just as space is reclaimed by the wild so our ever are feelingare at filled all despondent or thoughts Ifand ouryou discussions with fatigued I reckon a quick tour of the school speculation, with questions, with anxiety, with would quickly spirits.

Let me fear, perhaps with hope.raise We your talk of ‘returning to show you what I mean.

Today (Thursday, normal’, we wrangle with the ‘new normal’, we September 29th) for wonder what will be ‘when thisinstance, is over.’ I dropped into Year 10 GCSE Music. There, I was delighted to listen to performances of And into the gaps left by normal life floods, well, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Hold Back life. Learning goes on, families come together, the River and When the Saints Go Marching argue, laugh, dream (and how we dream just In. for I also to sit with and think.

Chester now!), worry onegot another, eat,Daniel sleep and as they demonstrated their prodigious We like to fill our time, we like to feel useful, we DJing talents.

Next, during lunch, Iwe supervised are humbled by the million sacrifices see from the canteen and made a point of watching the workers in our health care services. We are rallied interactions that take place daily.

Pupils by great acts of generosity and feats of endeavourand staff holding for one another, and ingenuity.

All the doors thingsopen that marked our lives offering thanks, little moments personal are still going on, still as they were, just of suffused appreciation and gratitude.

Of course, by presence of the virus, its effects, its potential things don’t always go well in a school, but it and its mystery.

is lovely to witness a voluntary apology from to one of lunch time staff, or For someaofYear us, 9 perhaps all the of us at various times, see one pupil help another who is unsure new and unwanted experiences have invaded the where to go forworld class.we had fashioned: near-normal temporary grief, loss, sadness, uncertainty, hunger. It is easy In Sixth Form, I enjoyed a lengthy chatall with to be fooled by the sunshine and the quiet that Aidan who explained both the theory of is well with everyone. Those on the margins of differentiation itsthe potential commercial our communities are, asand ever, ones whose application.

In English they were fragile worlds are most damaged. We muststudying all, play BloodtoBrothers and talking with more thanthe ever attend our neighbours: social humour and excitement about superstitions; distancing and isolation have never demanded Year 7 RE they dissecting our new more thatinwe connect with were others, bring them mission statement and exploring the close and care for them. We must make room for personal meanings within it. School is a them as never before.

busy, bustling, humming place.

It is tempting to plan furiously for the end of this I get Maths to about find allthe of Year embroiled time, totostrategise return9 to school in a task that is so challenging and excitingfor and there are practicalities to be addressed that I want stay and have a go itmyself. whenever thattohappens.

However, seems to me Outside it’s: “Sir, have you seen myfor tie? to be more important not to prepare returning Can you open my bottle?

What did you to normal (can we do that?), nor going back to think of last game?

What time is it, what was, but night’s focusing on what is happening Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Oh my than now. The present moment matters more days!”

It can be noisy at times and in a ever: appreciating it, seeking to understand it and community this size we can’t expect acting in it for the benefit of others. The everyone to on with other the connections weget build with each others nowallare the time.

But it is our community, and a lively, foundation for life a world that may be renewed, at that. butlovely, will bepositive deeplyone affected by loss and trauma.

That is why our relationships are of such value.

Perhaps the single highlight of my week, if I had to pick, would be the conversation I had In with the absence a familiar there is Mrs. Fay of who is leading world the development of our new library.

I am still the presence of joy, love, faith aand hope library enthusiast and have been ever since I was little. The furthest reach of my Whatever the challenges, we are open for our memory is back to moments spent in our community. In this edition of our newsletter many local library entranced by its colour and staff have taken the time to write messages of bright possibilities. On Twitter hope and fondness - that is what they can do. #RememberingMyLibrary reveals the hold Staff are busy in school every day working with that such an institution has: ‘A library card young people, setting work, delivering meals, was a free pass to wonderment, words and vouchers, supporting families in difficulty. These the ability to roam the world’ observes one are the things we know we can do that will make user, whilst another quotes the wrought iron the most of the present moment, squeeze the gates of Stalybridge library, ‘Read, Mark, best from each second to make life better for Learn and Inwardly Digest.’ Others talk of another person. As you can see from their the escape that a library represented or of messages they are also battling with home the refuge it offered from an unkind world. learning, navigating the paths and pitfalls of family life in lockdown.

Mrs. Fay spent last Saturday peacefully stacking the shelves and we are inching What of our pupils? They are producing some closer to opening. What thrilled me was her fabulous work, a small amount of which is comment that several boys, some of whom showcased here. They are helping others, lifting affect a dislike of reading, were electrified by spirits with small acts of generosity, gratitude or presence of a library in their school: ‘You compassion. Let’s not forget too, that they are mean I can borrow this and, like, read it, staying in, forgoing the rush of being out with Miss?’ was the breathless utterance of one friends, the freedoms of socialising. In doing so pupil. Our library is at the heart of the they, as ever, radiate hope, they are the energy school: a space for being open to and that will carry us into whatever comes next.

sharing ideas and experiences. It is openplan and its shelves serve as a reminder Stay with us Lord on our journey. St. Ambrose that there should be no barrier to anyone Barlow, pray for us.

using its volumes or seeking knowledge, solace, entertainment or information. I can’t God Bless,

wait to see it come to life in the weeks ahead thanks to Mrs. Fay and her band of Ben Davis helpers.

Headteacher Twitter: @BenDavis1972

Ben Davis, Headteacher

Twitter: @BenDavis1972 Front cover image: a Rainbow painted by pupils in school over the Easter holiday, fixed to our school 2 fence as a sign of hope.

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“

Head’s start .

Deputy

Mr. Carroll, Deputy Headteacher, reflects on the week.Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the week.

As most of you know, I went to St Ambrose It isfeel about time of thattoI meet Barlow and it anthis honour to year be able servewith each Head of Department to review the community and school that gave me a the results. wonderfulsummer’s 5 years ofexam learning.

The This past involves few plenty of useful and thought-provoking weeks, since the enforced partial closure, having discussion, buttaught it is usually about to work from home has me a talking great deal numbers and letters.

Behind this data and reinforced what makes this school unique inare stories: how pupils did, how they felt, what many ways.

they liked and what they achieved. We

always things can(at beleast For the first time focus in my on life,how I have taught improved as well as celebrating what tried to teach) a primary school child, my own went well.

As aschool Catholic school,isexam results son. Wow! Primary teaching not an easy are just one way of expressing the unique, feat. I started off with the best intentions in the Godtalents and skills each pupil. world – a given daily timetable with theofnation’s PE It is important to look beyond the data teacher Joe Wicks opening our eyes every so I am delightedby that much and morebreak of mytimes. job involves morning followed lessons But being in classes, walking around the school there have been problems….

and talking to pupils, students and staff.

The glorious weather for one….Samuel’s ipad for If ever youtoare feeling all despondent another. His desire build densatand bake and or fatigued I reckon a quick tour of the school cook and draw and design cities on Minecraft would quickly raise your spirits.

Let me have opened my eyes to something I often miss show you what I mean.

Today (Thursday, out on: fun!

September 29th) for instance, I dropped into Yearexplore 10 GCSE I was Children will andMusic. learn inThere, creative ways delighted to listen to performances of and this helps adults. I have relaxed a little and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Hold Back our days can be exhausting yet enjoyable. I’ve the River and When the Saints Go Marching been taught how to paint using Pointillism In. explored I also gothistorical to sit withtopics Danielhe’s andlearnt Chester techniques, as they demonstrated their prodigious DJing at school, had PE lessons (without Joe Wicks) and talents.

Next, during lunch, I supervised enjoyed our time together. Life is so fast-paced, the canteen andtime made a point watching the we often fail to have with each of other and this interactions that take place daily.

Pupils moment has given us that. Samuel has taught meand staff holding doors open for one things and I am grateful for his impact on another, me.

offering thanks, little moments of personal

gratitude.

However,appreciation I’m under noand illusion that lifeOfiscourse, difficult things don’t always go in my a school, for us all, in the same way that itwell is for son. but it is lovely to witness a voluntary apology He’s not seen friends for over a month. He has tofrom a Year 9 to of thehis lunch time and staff,the or put up with me as hisone ‘friend’, teacher see one pupil help another who is unsure one who tells him to tidy his room (the moaner). where to go class.we’ve not been to We not seen family orfor friends, the park, he’s not seen schoolmates and this lack In Sixth Form,We I enjoyed a lengthy of interaction is tough. have tried Zoom chat with Aidan who explained both the theory meetings between the children in his class butof differentiation and its potential commercial they all stared and giggled in embarrassment.

English studying There’s noapplication. way they’reInlike that inthey the were classroom!

the play Blood Brothers and talking with humour about superstitions; Despite this loss –and theexcitement gain has been significant. in Year 7 RE they were dissecting We have all got the opportunity to enjoy theour new and the exploring the of companymission of each statement other without demands personal meanings within it.

School school and life’s busy schedule. For instance, is

a busy, bustling, humming place.

I get to Maths to find all of Year 9 embroiled in a task that is so challenging and exciting that read I want to stay and have together a go myself. we’ve books and cycled for the first Outside it’s: “Sir, have you seen my tie? time. Would I have managed this otherwise?

Can you open my bottle? What did you Probably not.

think of last night’s game? What time is it,

Sir?” and, at least brought once a day, “Oh my Recent weeks have sadness, worry and days!”

It can be noisy at times and inour a school. pain to many, including people within community this size we can’t expect We are far from seeing an end to the suffering everyone to due get on with each other all the facing people to COVID-19.

But our school time.

But it is our community, and a lively, has given me hope, faith and courage that lovely, we positive one atthrough that. this stronger.

together will come Perhaps theand single highlight my been week, if I Pastoral staff Form Tutors of have had to pick, would be the conversation I had talismanic in their efforts to ensure everyone is with Mrs. Fay who is leading the safe and in good health. Families have been development of our new library.

I am a and supportive in conversations we have had library enthusiast and have been ever sincethe many members of our community have gone I was little.

The furthest reach of my extra mile to look out for each other.

memory is back to moments spent in our local library entranced by its colour and Webright havepossibilities. all got the opportunity to enjoy the On Twitter #RememberingMyLibrary reveals thedemands hold company of each other without the that such an institution has: ‘A library card ofwas life’s busypass schedule a free to wonderment, words and the ability to roam the world’ observes one

user, whilst another quotes the wrought Looking out for each other is what definesiron St gates of Stalybridge library, ‘Read, Mark, Ambrose Barlow. We are here to provide the best Learn and Inwardly Digest.’

Others talk of opportunities for students within a supportive the escape that a library represented or of

environment and live our Catholic mission. the refuge it offered from an unkind world.

I cannot wait for this lockdown to be lifted and Mrs. Fay spent last Saturday resume normality (however thatpeacefully may be in the first stacking the shelves and we instance) but I am also mindful are thatinching we cannot closer to opening.

What the thrilled meof was her rush things and jeopardise safety children comment that several boys, some of whom and staff.

affect a dislike of reading, were electrified by presence of a library in their school: ‘Youthrough What am I missing?

1000 children coming mean I can borrow this and, like, read it, the doors every day, teaching and planning Miss?’ was the breathless utterance of one lessons, interactions with staff, parents and pupil.

Our library is at the heart of the children and having a routine. For now I will school:to a hold spaceyou forall being open to andand continue in my thoughts sharing ideas and experiences. is openprayers and look forward to seeingItyour faces.

plan and its shelves serve as a reminder thatwith there nojourney. barrier toSt. anyone Stay us should Lord onbeour Ambrose using its volumes or seeking knowledge, Barlow, pray for us.

solace, entertainment or information. I can’t wait to see it come to life in the weeks God Bless,

ahead thanks to Mrs. Fay and her band of helpers.

Mike Carroll Deputy Headteacher Twitter: @DHT_SAB Ben Davis, Headteacher Twitter: @BenDavis1972 4

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Eugene O’Neill Rest in Peace Headteacher of St. Ambrose Barlow RC High School 1962-1992 We learnt last week of the death of our school’s second Headteacher (or Headmaster as he may have been known then). Eugene O’Neill served the school for thirty years and at the time of his appointment was Salford’s youngest ever headteacher. He led the school in the early seventies as it changed from Blessed Ambrose Barlow to St. Ambrose Barlow on the canonisation of our patron. He oversaw considerable change in very turbulent national and international times. Our condolences, thoughts and 5 prayers go out to his family in recognition of a life given in humble service to our school and to Catholic education more widely.

HOUSe News St. Bernadette of Lourdes

st. benedict of nursia

6849

7176

6414

st. oscar romero

st. michael the archangel

St. Bernadette of Lourdes

6896

6201

6957

st. oscar romero st. michael the archangel st. francis of assisi St. teresa of calcutta

FoRM TUTOR mESSAGES

Last week we featured the work of pupils.

This week each team of form tutors has written messages to their pupils. There are a few interesting pictures too.

St. Bernadette of Lourdes Hi Pupils and Families of St Bernadette House.

Well what a strange time we are all experiencing! I hope you are all staying healthy and well, keeping yourselves busy and enjoying this unexpected time with your loved ones. I know some of you may be finding it difficult to adapt in the current circumstances however, keep going! You’re all doing amazingly well and both I and all your form tutors are really proud of you! Speaking of which, some of them wish to send a little message……

I hope that everyone in 1BL is well and your families are safe and coping during this time. I look forward to the day when I can see all of you back at school.

For many, this time is very challenging and some may see no end in sight. Try to focus on all of the positives in your lives: family, friends and hobbies.

Continue to work hard and make progress, but also take regular breaks and enjoy some free time. Your mental health is just as important as your physical.

I have been enjoying long walks with my wife and plenty of gaming!

I hope that Lee, Sommie, Ben and Niamh enjoyed their birthdays, in spite of the current circumstances.

I look forward to seeing you all soon.

All the best, Mr Lewis A big thank you to parents and students in 2BL for responding to my contact and letting me know how they are in these uncertain times. I have enjoyed hearing you are healthy and managing the current situation well. I hope to see you very soon when everything is back to normal. Take care of yourselves and families.

Mr Pemberton

st. benedict of nursia

St. teresa of calcutta

st. francis of assisi

SHOUTOUT to 3BL!!

Hi everyone, I am so proud of you all. You are doing so well with not seeing me every morning :) I know that many of you will find staying at home and not being able to see your friends really quite difficult but we know this will come to an end, we just have to be patient.

Please find time to do something nice at home each day and stay in touch with your friends. I am in touch with you all regularly, but If you need my help, please email me on alison.vallance@salford.gov.uk and remember when you return, Freddos will be waiting xx Mrs Robinson Just want to say a big thank you to all of 7BL’s students and parents. I love being in touch so you can keep me updated on how they are getting on and what they’ve been up to during lockdown. I’ve really enjoyed receiving your emails and phone calls and am very proud of how well you all seem to be coping during these difficult times.

I would like to give a special mention to a couple of students who are celebrating their birthdays over the next week, Madison (25th April) and Flynn (28th April). Happy birthday! It will certainly be one to remember! Stay safe and take care everyone, I look forward to seeing you all when we return.

Miss Fishwick Hello 6BL, Mr Harrison here. You might not remember me but I’m the guy who used to put Newsround on every Thursday. Hope you are all well and not working too hard on your school work, except maths.

Maths comes first. I personally have been waking up every day at 7am and working until 5, no time for 6 PS4 at all…..I still haven’t cut my hair so

hopefully we’ll still get to shave me bald in the future.

It was my birthday last week and both Mr Lavin and Mr Paize forgot, so boo them next time you see them.

Stay safe and we’ll all see each other again soon.

Mr Harrison Hi 4BL, Just a quick one to say how proud I am of you all for coping as brilliantly as you have done these past few weeks. Thanks to parents and carers for responding to my updates! You’re all very much missed!

Stay safe Miss Maxwell Hi 5BL, glad to hear that everyone is well and keeping safe! From the many conversations I've had with your families, 5BL have been enjoying; this weather, trampolines, gardening, baking, cooking and a bit of online work too. I've been doing the exact same (minus the trampoline). Thanks to everyone for staying in touch! Keep going, keep safe and look after each other.

Miss Alker Stay safe everyone, look after yourselves and your loved ones and in the words of the great Vera Lynn….’We’ll Meet Again’! (no doubt you’ll need to google that!)

Mrs Toon

st. benedict of nursia I think everyone has been delighted by how well our students are dealing with this period of uncertainty. I’d go one step further and say that in some cases, they are coping better than adults! Having spoken to so many parents and carers over the past 5 weeks, the general consensus seems to be that our students are proud to be doing their bit. They realise that their actions have a direct impact on the prevention of the spread of this virus that has changed our daily lives beyond recognition. Please keep it going!

So many are keeping busy during this time by ‘tapping in’ to areas of their own interests and exploring new ones. Our young people are still learning each and every day despite not being in school. They are baking, exercising in the garden, keeping in touch with friends via video calling, learning to play an instrument and creating fantastic pieces of art, creating portfolios of photographs and producing research projects.

Grace Seddon (6BN) and her family have been sharing their creative talents and adding a bit of colour to their surroundings during this uncertain time.

Well done to the Seddons! (see picture below) This is such an uncertain time for everyone but it has been an absolute pleasure taking time speaking to so many parents and carers. The overall response from Form Tutor’s conversations with parents has been overwhelming. We may not have seen each other for weeks but as a community, it feels like we are closer than ever.

As teachers, we cannot do our job with the support of parents and carers at home. I know that we, as teachers, are missing school, missing the contact with colleagues and students and missing the structure that the school day brings. This period is allowing us all to further invest in relationships. Amidst all the uncertainty, one thing that is certain is that, as a community, we will come through this stronger.

We still want to celebrate the successes you are having, no matter how little you may think they are. If you have mastered a new skill, baked a cake, mastered a dance on TikTok, created a piece of art or done a good deed, we want to know about it. Please send us your pictures or tell your form tutor when they call.

Please keep doing what you are doing and please keep in touch. It may not feel like it right now, but you are all making a difference and myself and your Form Tutors are looking forward to seeing you all soon.

Take care, Mr Merriman

st. oscar romero Hi St Oscar Romero House! We miss seeing all of your happy faces and we hope you and loved ones are well. It has been great hearing about all of your lockdown activities. Our form tutors have loved calling home to all of their pupils.

Here’s what some of us have been up to: Miss Owens has been busy baking with her daughter - watch out Mary Berry and watching their little pet caterpillars turn into moths. Miss Cheadle has been getting creative, decorating her house. Miss Greenhalgh has recently taken up cycling. Miss Santosuosso has been FaceTiming her family in California. Miss Chalk has knitted some lovely donkeys for a Donkey Sanctuary, as well as some baby clothes for refugees.

I’ve been doing lots of arts and crafts with my daughter. I’ve also used the ‘Couch to 5k’ app and I’m on my final week - this app is great to use for beginners or if you just want to improve your fitness.

I’ve also recently done the ‘Run 5, Donate £5, Nominate 5’ which is great motivation to run 5k, donate £5 to charity and nominate 5 people to do it.

Details for this and other activities on our Twitter page @SABOscarRomero Miss you all and see you soon!

Miss Prady

st. michael the archangel Hello everyone!

I hope you are well and everyone in your

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family is keeping well. It seems such a long time since we were all together as we enter the sixth week of school lockdown.

It is really strange not seeing you all everyday saying hello on the way into school and checking that you are all ok during the day.

letting us know and keep in touch, we want to know how you all are.

Mr Senior: I hope everyone is well and staying active!

I have been keeping myself busy by reading, cycling and exercising.

As a team we have been working hard to keep in touch with you all by speaking to your parents and carers and also all of you to let you know we are here if you need anything.

It has been lovely speaking to many of you and hearing how you are getting on.

It is important to look after each other we are all missing our daily routines, but we all know that staying home is staying safe and helping the NHS save lives.

Keep in touch and if you need any support or just want to say hello Best Wishes Mrs McGowan Here are some hellos from your form teachers who are missing you!

1M Mr Burns Hello 1M how are you all doing. It has been great hearing from many of you and I am glad that you are all doing well.

I am missing form times and are Curly Wurly Fridays. Make sure you keep in touch and stay active.

2M Miss West Hi 2M! Missing seeing you but I am glad you are all well.

I love keeping in touch and hearing how you are all doing.

It is great to get a message from you to see what you have been up to. Stay safe and well.

See you soon ………when probably a few more of you are taller than me.

3M Mrs Grundy and Mr Senior Hello 3M, From both of us we are glad to be checking in with you every week and that you are all doing well in these uncertain times. If you need anything keep

Mrs Grundy: I have been keeping myself busy with work and home schooling my children. Today my daughter has had her birthday and we have made and decorated a unicorn cake for her birthday.

Keep safe everyone and keep active!

4M Miss Macphail Hi 4M! Miss Macphail here missing you all a lot during this time. I hope you are all doing your very best with any work you have been set and keeping your self safe. I managed 5 kick ups with a toilet roll, who can beat that? Form challenge!

Joe, Liam, Sya and Ruben I might even be missing your morning routine in form. Peaches I miss talking to you in the morning. Mason and Harry daily diary checks just aren’t happening and Harry I miss telling you to take your coat off. My year 7s Macjic, Alan, Joseph, Daniel, and Harvey I miss your prefect uniform’s and how organised you all are every morning. Megan, Chloe, Sharon, Olivia, and Beth I am missing seeing you all sat with your diaries ready. Chloe, I miss your prayer reading, Beth I miss hearing you play the piano, Sharon, Olivia, and Megan I miss how polite you both are. Lilly, I miss seeing you revising so hard, I was so proud. Job I miss hearing about your weekend football and how you played.

Grace, I miss you daily. Isaac and Lee, 8 I miss seeing you watch Newsround! Jake, I miss your stories about the x box.

Stay positive I look forward to seeing you all, please stay safe and keep smiling.

you seem motivated to do your best and are managing really well I am so proud of you all.

I have been in school helping as much as I can and when I have had the chance, I have been in the sun eating lots of biscuits!

Stay safe and I will see you all soon

See you soon Miss Macphail 5M Miss McGrath Hi 5M Glad to hear that you are all keeping safe and well and hearing what you have been up to. I know it is a really strange time we’re all experiencing but make sure you keep in touch with your friends and family.

I have been keeping busy by going for a daily walk, checking in on family and friends. I am trying not to be sat in front of a computer all day, so I have been doing some art and listening to music. I hope you have been enjoying the great weather too! Keep letting me know how you are doing. Take care.

Miss McGrath 6M Miss Taylor HELLO 6M - I hope you are all ok and keeping yourselves busy at home.

Who would have thought it would be so difficult staying at home?!

I've been trying to learn new skills during the lockdown and I can now thread my very old sewing machine that I have had for many years gathering dust in the cupboard and have been busy sewing face masks to help keep our teachers in school safer and headbands, scrubs and scrub bags for the key workers. It has been really great focussing on a new skill to keep me motivated and busy.

I know from speaking to many of your parents/ carers that a lot of you have been busy keeping up with hobbies from doing artwork, to dancing and even Hockey skills in the garden. It has been really lovely being in contact with your parents/ carers each week to make sure you are doing ok and I have especially enjoyed speaking to some of you during my calls (those of you who have been awake early enough).

Please know that I am here for you and if you need support please remember to email me.

Stay safe guys.

7M Miss Ball Hi everyone!

Hope you are all well. I am missing you, but I know you are all doing really well from speaking to you and your parents. You have been producing some great work and learning some great life skills. So many of

From us all in the house Hope to see you all soon Look after yourselves and your families if you need anything please let us know and keep in touch.

Miss Ball

st. francis of assisi !

I hope everyone is as safe and well as you can be at the moment. The St Francis form teachers have been keeping me up to date with how the House are coping with the current situation. I’m really glad to hear that lots of you are keeping yourselves busy and in touch. I have seen some excellent examples of work completed by many of you that has been made available on the school website.

However, we must keep in our thoughts and hearts those of us who have experienced suffering and loss as a result of COVID-19. It only emphasises how important your actions are in staying at home until we are over the worst of the current crisis. I know that many of you have family members, who are key workers, and I have seen some of you in school over the past few weeks as your parents and carers continue to put themselves at risk for our benefit.

We all owe them a huge debt of thanks, so remember to show your appreciation at 8pm on Thursday.

So from me and the St Francis team stay safe and well and we will see you back in school as soon as it’s safe to do so.

Mr Stephenson

St. teresa of calcutta Hello St Teresa House,

I hope you and your families are all well and staying safe, it’s been lovely to speak to you and your parents during the time we have been off so far, and I love hearing about how you are all doing from for form tutors, we have had some wonderful displays of caring tributes to key workers come through from many of you, if you do these share with us on Twitter or email form tutors and I will add these, I know how much it means to the NHS especially with my mum working for Ambulance service, staff say it keeps them going, it would be lovely to see something from all forms. I have collected some comments 9 from your form tutors who are also missing you all as I am.

Take care

Mrs Rogerson

Hi 1T, I hope you are all doing well at home and are in good health. It has been lovely to hear some of the things you are getting up to at home like baking and gardening. Please keep responding to my efforts to keep in touch, I look forward to seeing you all back in form as soon as we can. Miss Moore

Hi 2T! Hope you are all well and have been staying safe. It has been brilliant hearing about your activities from yourselves and your parents/carers. Miss you all! Miss Mills x

Hi 7T it’s been lovely to hear from so many of you when I have called home and to know you are all safe at home with families. Looking forward to this being over when we can all be together as a form again.

Stay in touch, stay safe. Mr Martindale.

Hello 3T, I hope you’re all well. It's been brilliant to hear how you’re getting on at home and that you're keeping up with your friends and staying active.

Please continue to stay safe and I look forward to seeing you back in school when this is all over. Well done to Tom R for getting a college placement secured and Happy Birthday to Quinn who is 16 today (22/4/20). Mrs. Marshall

I think the above from your form teachers shows how much you are all missed, stay safe, enjoy time with your families and some of this lovely sun we are getting.

Mrs Robb

Hope all of you in 4T are safe and well. Keep up the good work. I am missing nagging you all in a morning. Take care Mr C.

Hi 5T - I know you are all doing your best to stay safe and well, it has been lovely to hear from your families whilst we have been off and look forward to use all being back as a form. Stay in touch and stay safe. Mr Murray

Hi 6T,

I hope you are all safe and well at this strange time and trying your best to keep smiling? When we discussed all the things that could happen and we prayed together about Coronavirus on Monday 16th March even I never thought that that 20 minutes would be our last form time together for a long while and how the world would change so much!!

I'm missing seeing your faces and hearing every morning all of your thoughts and opinions on what is happening in the world and chasing you about your pens, planners, endeavour folders and achievement points!! Don't worry though - I'm saving up all of our Wednesday Words to do when we are back together (I know you can't wait!) and as I know you all like and are no doubt missing Newsround Friday's (Especially you Daniel!) here is the link to Newsround so you can watch it: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround. We will certainly have lots and lots to discuss when we are back together and I look forward to that day being very soon!

It has been lovely to about many of you via email and phone calls what you have been doing - lots of fantastic work, exercise and dance classes, painting of rooms and garden fences and water fights to name a few! Your emails are certainly making my days brighter! Thank you and keep them coming!

Please continue to look after yourselves and stay safe. Enjoy this extended piece of time with your families and remember i'm here if you need me!

See you all soon hopefully!!!

!

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Around the school This week Celebrating Successes on the Literacy Platforms: Literacy Platforms, Bedrock Vocabulary and Lexia

programme since January and has been our highest achieving student across the whole school.

Mrs Tulloch would like to celebrate the hard work that is going on at home across the Literacy tutoring programmes. Firstly, the Literacy Planet Leader board. These were are winners at the end of the Spring Term:

He has moved his literacy skills for Word Study and Comprehension from the foundational level all the way up to through the Intermediate level and will soon begin the Advanced level. This is an incredible level of progress and testament to his commitment and hard work. Jemson's mum Janine said, 'I'm so proud of him!'. We are too, well done Jemson!

Well done to all our winners - we have added your achievement points!

Remember there are 10 achievement points for the top player on the leader board at half term, 9 for the 2nd, 8 for the 3rd and so on until the 10th top player gets 1.

We also award achievement points for weekly enagagement, this is how the Leader Board looked on Thursday prior to publishing the newsletter: Secondly, as the year 10 students and year 9 students start their work on Bedrock Vocabulary to help with their distance learning, we would just like to celebrate the achievement of Joseph Davies, who has been our top achiever to date on this programme.

When he started, he said, 'I am learning so much on this programme'; it really is a fantastic tutoring system for English so go for it year 9 and 10.

Finally, I want to celebrate the achievement of Jemson Appleton on Lexia Power Up Literacy. Jemson has completed 309 units on the

We'd like to say a big well done to everyone who has worked hard on these programmes, remember that they are a really good way to start your day of learning at home and don't forget to do at least 30 minutes of quiet reading on every school day because Reading is Power. I would love to hear what you are all reading? I am currently reading And I would highly recommend it! Send me an gmail with any recommendations you'd like to share.

Stay home, stay well everyone! Stay with us, Lord on our journey.

Mrs Tulloch

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Artwork featured on these pages by: Page 12: Lily Berry, Year 9 Page 13: Lily Berry, Year 9 and Wiktoria Karpowicz, Year 10 Page 14: Wiktoria Karpowicz, Year 10 and Louie Percival, Year 10 Page 15: Livia Kelly, Year 9 Page 16: Livia Kelly, Year 9 Page 17: Livia Kelly, Year 9

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TWEET OF THE WEek Victoria Kenney @VictoriaKenney8

Finally made it to tie ribbons on @SABSalford @SalfordRoyalNHS @NCAlliance_NHS

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Parishes in our Catchment Area Holy Trinity, Worsley (formerly Christ the King; St. Edmund’s) Sunday Mass Times • 9:00am at Christ the King • 11:00am at St. Edmund’s Our Lady of Hope, Salford (formerly St. Luke’s; SS. Peter & Paul, Pendleton) Sunday Mass Times • 6:30pm (Sat vigil) at St. Luke’s • 9:30am at St. Luke’s • 8:00am at SS. Peter & Paul • 11:00am at SS. Peter & Paul St. Ambrose Barlow, Swinton & Pendlebury (formerly St. Mark’s, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, St. Charles Borromeo) Sunday Mass Times • 9:30am at St. Mark’s • 11:15am at St. Charles • 4:00pm at St. Mark’s WORSHIP ONLINE NB: Masses suspended in response to COVID-19 pandemic - stay home, stay safe, save lives Some parishes are offering online streaming of Masses - please check websites https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/watch-the-salford-cathedral-livestream/ https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/covid19/church-opening-times-

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FAITH IN YOU

LOVE IN LEARNING

HOPE IN BETTER

www.stambrosebarlowswinton.org 37 Ash Drive Swinton Salford M27 9QP 0161 921 1570 @SABSalford Headteacher: Ben Davis 20