St. Ambrose Barlow Weekly Newsletter Volume 5 Issue 21 February 14 2020

FAITH IN YOU

LOVE IN LEARNING

HOPE IN BETTER

this week in our school . . .

Volume 5 Issue 21 February 14th, 2020

1

ST AMBROSE BARLOW RC HIGH SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM

“

Head’s start .

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

The end of the third half-term this year came about this time I meet around Itallistoo quickly.

For of meyear onethat of the last with each Head of Department to review the acts of the half-term was to host Hot summer’s exam results.

This involves Chocolate Friday, the weekly get together of plenty of useful and thought-provoking pupils who have been nominated for a little discussion, but it is usually talking about treat (hence the hot chocolate) in recognition numbers and letters.

Behind this data are of an achievement.

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

We Each week 12what pupils (two per house) always focus on how things can be gather for this half hour and inevitably the improved asto well as celebrating what went conversation turns food.

But that is not well.

As a Catholic school, exam results are before we hear from pupils about what they just one way of expressing the unique, have enjoyed at school, what they feel their Godgiven talents and skillslessons of eachthey pupil.

It is achievements are and which look important to look beyond the data so I am forward too.

delighted that much more of my job involves being weekly in classes, walking around the for school I enjoy these conversations not just and talking to pupils, students and staff. the celebratory element, but for the insights they provide about the school as a whole.

If ever you are feeling at all despondent or fatigued I reckon aran quick tour of the the school The theme of celebration right through would quickly raise your spirits.

Let week as pupils in each assembly applaudedme showofyou what I Super mean. Students.

Today (Thursday, the dozens Ambrose The September 29th) for instance, I dropped into Super Student is a new initiative that has Year Music.

I was arisen out of10 theGCSE Ambrose Way.There,

delighted to listen to performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Holdtheir Back Each half-term heads of house scrutinise the River and When the Saints Go Marching records, pore over data and receive In. I also to sit with Daniel Chester nominations fromgot form tutors.

Those and whose as they demonstrated their prodigious names are put forward are the aforementionedDJing talents. Next, during lunch, I supervised the Super Students.

canteen and made a point of watching the interactions that into takeaccount place daily.

The idea is that, taking eachPupils and staff holding doors open for one pupil’s circumstances we celebrate the another, offering thanks, littlewho moments of personal hundreds of young people are getting it appreciation and gratitude.

Of right every day. Of course that meanscourse, that, don’t in always well would in a school, but it ideally, things every pupil everygo house is lovely to witness a voluntary apology receive a Super Student certificate. We’re notfrom a Year 9 to one of the lunch time staff, or there yet, but that is the plan.

see one pupil help another who is unsure where to goour forfirst class.

This time around, outing of the idea, each house saw roughly 50 pupils nominated, SixthofForm, I enjoyed lengthy chattowith leaving In plenty opportunity foraother pupils Aidan who explained both the theory look forward to receiving recognition of theirof differentiation and its efforts next time. Further to potential this, the commercial application.

In English theyAmbrose were studying certificates make reference to the the play Blood Brothers and talking with Way and the virtue pairs that have become humour and excitement about superstitions; increasing familiar this year.

in Year 7 RE they were dissecting our new mission statement and that exploring This is an important reminder these the personal meanings within it.

School is a certificates are not ‘rewards’, but recognition 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 I who wantstrive to stay andday, havesometimes a go myself. of pupils each in Outside it’s: “Sir, have you seen my tie? difficult personal circumstances to establish Can you open mytraits bottle? did you habits and character thatWhat will support think of last night’s game?

What their learning and personal growth. time is it, Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Oh my It canare be noisy times and the in a The days!” assemblies about at recognising community this size we can’t expect process of positive change that we all go everyone to get Henry on withNewman each other all‘to the through as St.John said: time.

But it is our community, and a lively, live is to change and to be perfect is to have lovely,often.’ positive one not at that. changed We’re expecting perfection, but we do want to recognise Perhaps singlegrowth highlight of my week, if I progress andthe positive wherever we find had to pick, would be the conversation I had it.

with Mrs. Fay who is leading the development of our new library. I am a library enthusiast and have been ever since I was little. The furthest reach of my memory is back to moments spent in our local library entranced by its colour and bright possibilities. On Twitter #RememberingMyLibrary reveals the hold that such sometimes an institutionwe has: ‘A library Nevertheless really want tocard was a free pass to wonderment, words and celebrate individuals who embody the the ability to roam the world’ observes one Ambrose Way and this edition contains photos user, whilst another quotes the wrought iron of two such pupils. The first is Samual Okafor gates of Stalybridge library, ‘Read, Mark, who at 13 has just achieved this Taekwondo Learn Inwardly Digest.’ aOthers of black belt and (as well as smashing pile of talk wood the escape that a library represented or of with a single kick) and Samuel Bryan who has refuge ittooffered fromGreater an unkind world. beenthe selected represent Manchester in the English Schools cross Mrs.championships.

Fay spent last Saturday peacefully country stacking the shelves and we are inching opening.

Whatsupport thrilled me was In a closer similartovein the literacy work thather comment that several boys, some of whom Mrs. Tulloch has been leading for Year 11s in affect a dislike reading, were electrified by preparation for theirofexams was recognised presence of a library in their school: with certificates. And we mustn’t forget ‘You the mean can (and borrow thiswho and,have like,been read it, many yearI 11s staff) Miss?’ was theeach breathless of one doing a little extra day in utterance preparation for pupil.

Our library is at the heart of the the exams. The English department held a school: a space being open to and special breakfast forfor them.

sharing ideas and experiences. It is openplan and shelves serve as a reminder Whatever it isits that you are celebrating about that there should be no barrier to half-term, anyone our school, have a happy and restful usingforward its volumes or seeking knowledge, we look to seeing our pupils back on solace, entertainment or information.

I can’t Monday, February 24th at 8:35am.

wait to see it come to life in the weeks Godahead Bless, thanks to Mrs. Fay and her band of helpers.

Ben Davis Headteacher Ben Davis, Headteacher Twitter: @BenDavis1972 Twitter: @BenDavis1972

Nearly 50 pupils in each house received recognition in special assemblies before we broke up

2

2

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 House points and house news pages

st. assisi St francis Francisofof Assisi House Form tutor Mr. Clancy writes: Lots of good things have been happening with the students of 2 Francis.

Ewan has been learning to drive. Lauren is preparing for a dance competition with her dance school Fun-key Dance factory and she is going to audition for the school production.

Abbigail plays for football for Blackpool under 16 Girls and her team has reached the final of the league cup.

Charlie and Syzmon Both represent the school in football and rugby respectively Evan continues to train as part of his Thai Boxing club and wil. be in competition later this year.

Finally James’s rugby team has reached the final of the league cup.

Mr Stephenson St. Bernadette of Lourdes St. Bernadette of Lourdes

Mrs Sidebottom St Teresaofof Calcutta St. teresa calcutta Form tutor Mrs. Rogerson writes: We have lots to celebrate in 6T this week. We have consistently been earning achievement points and this week has been no exception, bringing our total for the year to 809. Leading the way this week Charlie Dalton and Leah Mullineaux, along with Liam Featherstone, Henrique De Sousa Neto and Kelisha Nyathi are all stand out performers, earning the most achievement points. Well done and keep

st. benedict of nursia

St. teresa of calcutta

st. francis of assisi

up the good work! Liam must also be congratulated for earning the most achievement points in 6T so far this year with 68. Katie Donohue (year 7), Leah Mullineaux (year 8) and Ryan Dunning (also year 8) are hot on his heels however with 56, 56 and 53 achievement points respectively since September.

Well done Liam, Katie, Leah and Ryan! In addition to achievement points Ailis Shannon in 6T still has 100% attendance so far this year and deserves celebration: well done Ailis! 6T also had the best attendance in St Teresa house last week.

This week has been a busy week for our year 10’s with them sitting their mock exams. Alex, Eve, Chrystal and Evan have done themselves proud with their attitude and effort towards these mocks and deserve every success. Well done year 10!

Year 11 have continued their preparations this week and indeed this term for their Summer GCSE examinations. In the last 6 weeks Darragh, Ailis, Leah, Joe and Sophia have been working hard towards their GCSEs. To his credit Joe Mulvaney has been attending intervention sessions in the mornings and Sophia Dionson has particularly liked going through past papers in Maths as it is helping her to improve her grades and to learn new skills and exam question techniques. Joe and Sophia’s attitude here in preparation for their GCSE’s definitely reflects our mission statement “Faith in You. Love in Learning. Hope in better.” They are to be commended for this.

The rest of 6T are also showing their desire to progress into better versions of themselves.

Throughout 6T pupils are enjoying the learning that they are doing in school – Kelisha is currently enjoying Maths and appreciates the time her teacher takes to plan the lessons, Mia and Ellie are both enjoying Music and the group and instrumental lessons involved in this subject. Daniel is enjoying his imedia lessons and Jack his PD lessons. Eve has really enjoyed her English lessons recently as they have been reading poems and analysing them 3

in their anthologies whilst Alex, Ryan and Henrique are very much enjoying their PE lessons and especially

when they are playing dodgeball, basketball or rugby. Lincoln is also enjoying his PE lessons because he knows the importance of exercise. Evan has enjoyed the coursework he has been doing with Mrs Taylor and finishing off his Revit module in DEC with Mr Waterworth. Finally, Ayomide has enjoyed French again this term and is very excited to go to Paris next week!

6T come prepared for school every morning and always have their planners, endeavour folders and pens ready for checking. I thank them for this. They participate well in our house prayer and read exceedingly well when we complete our Wednesday Word activity in which every member of the form contributes by reading aloud. I cannot ask for more from them all here. Well done 6T! We have covered a lot of topical and historical events in form this term and indeed this year. Ayomide has particularly enjoyed this and especially the work we have done on Holocaust Memorial Day and Black History.

On Fridays we finish the week by watching Newsround in form. 6T really enjoy watching Newsround – Charlie says this is because she enjoys learning about what is happening around the world whilst Darragh finds watching Newsround “unusual but informative and I quite enjoy it”. Mia, Kelisha, Katie, Sophia, Ellie, Daniel, Jack, Eve, Henrique, Ailis, Leah E and Lincoln all share Charlie and Darragh’s views here and it is encouraging to see 6T taking such a keen interest in the world around them. Newsround has certainly also sparked many interesting discussions in form recently – Iran, the Australian Bush fires, Holocaust Memorial Day and Coronavirus have all been hot topics. Chrystal and Alex are often leading contributors in our discussions making valuable and inciteful comments and I commend them for this.

Besides being shining lights within school 6T are also leading the way outside of school. Leah Mullineaux has a cheerleading competition coming up on 15th February and we wish her well in it, Ailis Shannon has recently had a dancing competition in which she came 2nd and Leah Edwards has recently found out that she has qualified for the Dance World Cup for the third year in a row. She is very excited this year as it is to be held in June in Rome! Congratulations Leah and Ailis.

Well done this term and keep it up for the rest of the year 6T! Mrs Rogerson is very proud of you all!

St Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us Mrs. Robb

St. Benedict of Nursia st. benedict of nursia Form tutor Miss Scholes writes: 3 BN remains at the top with the most achievement points in St Benedict’s House.

A huge congratulations to the following students for being recognised as SUPER STUDENTS. These people encompass what it means to be a St Ambrose pupil by consistently upholding the school’s values, taking pride in their work and showing respect and kindness to those around them.

Finn Baxter Lucy Boyle Lucas Butler Isabelle Cornfield Charlie Deacon Rumena Govedarova Demi Gray Cael Molloy Lexi Salisbury Maya Siwik Heather Turner Grace Warke Lara Zino 3 BN have been having open discussions about mental health in light of Children’s Mental Health Awareness week 3-9th February. As a form we recognise the importance to talk and also the importance of being kind to everyone because you never know what battle they may be fighting inside.

We say ‘au revoir’ to Grace Warke who is off on the Paris trip next week, we hope she has a wonderful time and we can’t wait to hear all about it!

Miss Scholes would like to also recognise the hard work of the year 11 students in 3BN; Charlie Deacon, Fin Baxter and Cael Molloy who have been working extremely hard preparing for their GCSE’s as well as applying for colleges and attending interviews.

Mr. Merriman St Romero st. Oscar oscar romero This week we have welcomed back Mrs Prady and have been celebrating our achievements of the half term with her in assembly.

The following students have been rewarded for having SUPER qualities: S = Standards and Safety U = Uniform P = Pride in Work E = Engaged and Enthusiastic in School R = Ready and Respectful 4 Olivia Brown, Hannah Shedwick, Lily Walsh, Rebecca Walsh, Kevin Biju, Maxwell

Chidgey, Oscar Kershaw, Rebecca Melia, Jemimah Moliaf, Imogen Moore, Paige Pennington, Joe Davies, Jono Devine, Callie Garner, Ruby Godsell, Ellis Kenny, Nicole Stockwell, Olivia Thurston, Georgia Birchall, Jasmin Marsland, Holly Rollinson, Amelia Valleley, Scott Anderson, Luke Collier, Isabelle Jackson, Arusha Janson, Ruby Johnson, Goda Liakstutye, Natasha Nalus, Danyal Nematiyan, Victoria Smith, Noah Smout, Marissa Branagan, Sam Bryan, Josh Fishwick, Elisha Morgan, Annabel Pattison, Callum Thompson, Delina Bahta, Cameron, Blears, Maisie Colom, Jessica Eckersley, Ciara Greenwood, Joe Manning, Kate Macdonald, Natalie O'Malley, Isaac Skeels, Kornelia Szostak, Lily Ward Well done to everyone! We are so proud of you!

Have a wonderful and restful half term and we look forward to seeing you on Monday morning.

Miss Jackson St michael Michaels news st. theHouse archangel This week we have been looking at how we can be the best versions of ourselves.On Wednesday we looked at the Gospel from Mass at the weekend which fitting follows last weeks assembly. It was Racial Justice Day and it reminds us that all people are equal .Everyone has the right to be treated fairly.

Celebrated in assembly at the end of this half term were the Super students who come in everyday and do the right thing.This follows on from the Ambrose way worked on in forms and how we model ourselves.Well done to the 57 pupils in the house who have demonstrated their super student qualities this term.

Mrs. McGowan

St. Charles’ PS Mini Vinnies raising money for HCPT 5

Around the school This week

Clockwise from top left: Samual Okafor celebrating his Taekwondo black belt; Samuel Bryan, Year 11, representing Greater Manchester in cross country; staff v pupils netball

6

Around the school This week

Yet another Hot Chocolate Friday

7

calendar what’s on

Advance Notice

Pupils return Monday, February 24th, 8:35am

LENT BEGINS Ash Wednesday (services in school)

 

Parent Council, 6:15pm TUE

WED 26

THU 27

25

Paris trip returns

FRI 28 SAT 29

Year 10 mocks begin

MON 24 HT Surgery 5:00pm

COMING UP THIS WEEK week beginning 24.02.20 week B

attendance We aim for 100% attendance for all of our students and have set 96% as satisfactory attendance for this year.

Attendance is monitored period-by-period and statistics are published each week. Excellent attendance guarantees excellent learning.

Attendance by year (w/b February 3rd).

Year 7 Year 8 year 9 year 10 year 11 School

96.0% 93.9% 91.1% 93.0% 93.3% 93.5%

Attendance and its impact on learning 10 days absence means 95% attendance 19 days absence means 90% attendance 29 days absence means 85% attendance 38 days absence means 80% attendance 47 days absence means 75% attendance Please note: If your child is off school you need to contact student services the same day on 0161 921 1589/1551. If the school has not been contacted within five days, the absences will automatically be unauthorised. Ten unauthorised marks may lead to a fixed penalty notice being served.

8

TWEET OF THE WEek Ambrose Barlow Eng @SABEnglish1

Celebration end of term breakfast this morning for our dedicated Y11 Breakfast Booster group. They have worked their socks o for the past 6 weeks to improve their grades! #hardworkwillpayo

9

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

FAITH IN YOU

LOVE IN LEARNING

HOPE IN BETTER

ST AMBROSE BARLOW RC HIGH SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM www.stambrosebarlowswinton.org 37 Ash Drive Swinton Salford M27 9QP 0161 921 1570 @SABSalford Headteacher: Ben Davis 10

11