Dear Parents / Carers Autumn Term 2018 Issue 5 23rd November 2018 GCSE Awards Evening Congratulations to all our Class of 2018 who attended our GCSE Awards Evening at the Riverside last week, and thank you to colleagues, families, guests and governors for making it such a special evening. GCSE Certificates including certificates for top effort and top progress in each subject were presented by Councillor Madeline de Souza, Mayor of Whitworth. Subject Awards for the top performance in each GCSE subject were introduced by each of our faculties and presented by our guest speaker: Peter Boys, or by our Chair of Governors: Christine Wright and it was lovely to hear all the positive comments and individual student success stories. The evening was a true reflection of the outstanding relationships between staff and students which supports effective learning and helps drive up examination results. Students looked stunning, Mr Duxbury took many lovely photographs, and celebration cakes were enjoyed by students and their families. Highest Attendance Awards went to Will Wolfenden, Samantha Duffy and Jamie Middleton, and Outstanding Contribution to the school over five years to Grace Prime and Katie Bray. In recognition of their student leadership work, awards were presented to Sam Milton, Hannah Smallwood, Megan Whitworth and Tom Crabtree. Nine students received awards for outstanding GCSE results across the ability range: Thomas Crabtree, Lewis Whittles, Declan Larkin, Georgina Bride, Tequila Skerritt, Jonathan Wadsworth, Jamie Middleton, Sophie Greenwood and Sheree Bork. A number of students have successfully completed their Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award and received their framed certificates, and Lucy Farrell was the very popular recipient of our first ever Duke of Edinburgh leadership award. The award for overall Outstanding Effort went to Sophie Greenwood, and the Melissa Sutton/Chair of Governors Award for a student who exemplifies the resilience and motivation of our exstudent Melissa was presented to Jonathan Wadsworth. Finally, Hannah Smallwood was the worthy winner of the Best Overall GCSE Award for her outstanding achievements: 4 grade 9s, English Language, English Literature, RE and Art and we were delighted that Richard Ronksley, Principal of Rochdale Sixth Form College, was able to attend to offer his congratulations and to present the award which the college kindly sponsored. As always, the awards table looked very impressive, thanks to Hanson Springs Limited, and students took away trophies as mementoes of their successes. Best Wishes Calendar December 2018 11th, 12th & 13th December 2018 School Production 18th December 2018 Senior Citizens Party Wicked Trip 19th December 2018 Christmas Lunch/ jumper/hat day Christmas Concert 21st December 2018 School Closes January 2019 7th January 2019 School Reopens 14th January 2019 Y9/10 Exam Week 23rd January 2019 Y8 Parents Evening February 2019 6th February 2019 Y9 Parent s Evening 13th February 2019 Y10 Parents Evening School Website :
Attendance Please note that our new absence number for texting is 07418343218 alternatively you can phone the school on 01706343218 as usual. If you text to notify us of your child's absence, please include their Name, Reg Group and reason for absence. Medical appointments Where possible, medical/dental/opticians appointments should be arranged outside of school hours. If this is not possible, parents/carers should ensure that their child is absent for the minimum amount of time possible and that evidence of the appointment is provided. Consideration will be given to pupils attending hospital appointments for investigations or treatment where a hospital letter or appointment card has been provided. A full day s absence will not be authorised for routine appointments. If an appointment letter, card or letter from the parent/carer is not provided then this may result in the student being marked late or the absence may be recorded as unauthorised. School Website :
Maths High Flyer Autumn Year 7 Shannon Campbell Mia Tighe Grace Timmins Millie Bagshaw Lily MyersAdamson Year 8 Jack Lazaruik David Kershaw Chloe Ashworth Georgia Brown Isabella Taylor Year 9 Kieran Leatham Jessica Jones Elysia McKenzieCobb LeonaJo Sweeney Niamh Poole Year 10 Ellie Sharkey Dolton Walker Elle Marshall Paige Waeland Shelby Grimes Year 11 Alishah Khan Leah Gallagher Jessica Butterworth Leoni Whitehead Thomas Lomas School Website :
Exciting New Reading Opportunity This week we have launched our new online library, eplatform. Students now have access to thousands of different genres of books and can read on the go. One of the main differences with reading an ebook to a hard copy, is you are able to customise the ebook to suit your style of learning and the ebook will automatically return itself after 2 weeks (students can sign the book out again if they haven t finished reading it!) Students can alter the font size, word spacing, letter spacing, line alignment, font style, background colour and the theme of the book. Students can download the free app to their smartphones, iphones, android tablets and ipads. All they have to do is visit the app store or play store. Students in Y79 can also check if the book they would like to read is on Accelerated Reader and what the level the book is. School Website :
'The Great Christmas Book Swap' Over the next few days, we will be informing our students and staff about how they can take part in our first Christmas Book Swap. We will be asking students and staff to donate a book that they have enjoyed this does not need to be brand new so long as it is in good condition and another student or member of staff would love to receive it. If your son/daughter would like to be involved, they will need to sign up with Mrs Barnes and Mrs Knightley. Our Literacy Champions will also be assisting with the organising. More details to follow during the next week... School Website :
School Website :
Year 10 Parents As your child is now in year 10 we would like to authorise one week s work experience from 812 July 2019. More information will follow shortly and there is a parent advice session on Wednesday 5 December at 6:156:30pm that will provide you with the opportunity to ask any questions you may have, but we firmly believe work experience supports our students future career success. Work experience should be regarded as a learning experience and aims to achieve five key goals: developing 21 st century employability skills such as resilience and proactivity, developing personal and social skills, developing job search skills and interview techniques, enhancing students understanding of UK job sectors and providing opportunity to sample a potential future career, enhancing students understanding of GCSE subjects and how they relate to the world of work. A NEW CLUB is helping students get to grips with technology and computing: robotics club every Thursday after school for nine Year 8 students with two Year 10s Josh Brown and Zach Webster taking on the role of mentors. Grace Kenny Whitehead, 12, said: We use BBC Micro:bits and we have a book that tells us about different types of coding. We use the coding so that the Micro:bits can make different things work. They have made circuits and light detectors. Isabella Taylor, 12, said: It has been really helpful to build up my confidence and also to help with working as a team. We have to ask the mentors for the equipment we need, it is not provided, and we have to use the correct names for the tools required so it is expanding our knowledge. Computer Science and Maths teacher Bilaal Hanif said: The club focuses on teaching coding and how to build robots I share my knowledge on how to code, as well as teaching students how to make and fix their own computer programs. This club also develops students problem solving, logical and creative skills, as well as their resilience. School Website :