

FAITH IN YOU
LOVE IN LEARNING
HOPE IN BETTER
this week in our school . . .
Volume 4 Issue 22 April 17th, 2019
getting it right ready respectful safe
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ST AMBROSE BARLOW RC HIGH SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM
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Head’s start .
Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the week. Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the week. It was wonderful to welcome back pupils and staff
this week. To do so in Holy Week was even better It issignificant. about this time of year that I meet with and more
each Head of Department to review the summer’s exam results. This involves Lent is coming to a close. It is always a period plenty of useful and thought-provoking when, if we are attempting to follow it even but itofiswho usually talking vaguely,discussion, we take stock we are andabout what numbers and letters. Behind this data are we are doing. We might reflect on our sense of stories: how pupils did, how they felt, what purpose or the wider meaning of our lives.
they liked and what they achieved. We always focus on how things can be Often we undertake fasting or similar minor improved as well as celebrating what went deprivations simply out of habit, but they are there well. As a Catholic school, exam results are to help us get in touch with our true selves by just one way of expressing the unique, Godstripping away the things that are extraneous and given talents and skills of each pupil. It is distracting.
important to look beyond the data so I am delighted that much more of my job involves I know that our pupils have been thinking deeply being in classes, walking around the school about Lent. This week I have seen them present and talking to pupils, students and staff. to house assemblies on the meaning of Easter, I have watched them lead prayer and I have If ever you are feeling at all despondent or witnessed them living out the values and beliefs of fatigued I reckon a quick tour of the school their faith across the school.
would quickly raise your spirits. Let me show you what I mean. Today (Thursday, Before we even returned from the holiday our September 29th) for instance, I dropped into Drama group, led by Mrs Tulloch, were in action at Year 10 GCSE Music. There, I was Salford Cathedral performing an excellent Passion delighted to listen to performances of Play for Palm Sunday. The piece was devised by Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Hold Back the pupils and captured beautifully the power of the River and When the Saints Go Marching the Gospel. The young performers took toChester the In. I also got to sit with Daniel and cavernous space very well, even overcoming as they demonstrated their prodigious DJing minor technical andlunch, were I supervised the talents. problems Next, during complemented by many audience members. is canteen and made a point of watching Itthe so powerful to see young people taking the interactions that take place daily. Pupils and message of the Gospel andopen interpreting it in this staff holding doors for one another, way. offering thanks, little moments of personal appreciation and gratitude. Of course, Over thethings holiday a number to but it don’t always of gopupils well inheaded a school, Austria with the PE department for a week of is lovely to witness a voluntary apology from skiing. a They mercifully fewstaff, injuries Yearreturned 9 to onewith of the lunch time or and some very good memories. A huge debt of see one pupil help another who is unsure thanks must wherego toto goMr. forBurns class. and the staff who led the trip, who were effusive in their praise for the pupils. In Sixth Form, I enjoyed a lengthy chat with Aidan who explained both the theory of Head ofdifferentiation Music Miss Jackson was alsocommercial busy in the and its potential holidaysapplication. taking someInofEnglish our musical pupils to the they were studying Spring 2019 Modulo meet with Orchestras for the play Blood Brothers and talking withAll. Pupils explored the theme of wordplay and were humour and excitement about superstitions; joined by tutors from the BBC Philharmonic in Year 7 RE they were dissecting ourand new volunteers from statement the Royal Northern College mission and exploring the of Music. personal This weekmeanings she ran awithin seriesit.ofSchool DJing is a workshops for pupils supported by the busy, bustling, humming place. excellent Inner Trust. The quality of the music produced by the pupils was fabulous.
I get tocan Maths find the all of Year 9 later embroiled As you seetofrom pictures on in this in a task that is so challenging and edition, our sixth formers have beenexciting hard at work that I want to and, stay and haveworking a go myself. on CV writing in DEC, with Outside it’s: “Sir, have you seen my tie? have construction companies. Some students Can you open my bottle? Whatyear. did you already secured posts for next It was also think of last night’s game? What timetoisdiscuss it, great to welcome back former pupils Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Oh my their apprenticeship journeys.
days!” It can be noisy at times and in a community this sizeare wethe can’t expect efforts of Just as impressive charitable everyone to get on with each Jono and Joe (pictured furtherother on inall thethe time. But it is our community, and a lively, newsletter) who spent a night sleeping rough raise lovely, positive one at that. money to combat homelessness as part of the Big Sleep.
Perhaps the single highlight of my week, if I had to pick, would be the conversation I had 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 Just before we brokeOn upTwitter Pope Francis published a bright possibilities. 64 page document entitledreveals Christus #RememberingMyLibrary theVivit! hold(‘Christ Lives!’) which is addressed to young that such an institution has:specifically ‘A library card people. It offers of food forwords thought was a free pass plenty to wonderment, andfor those of ustowho arethe noworld’ longerobserves quite so one young. the ability roam Amongst other messages Father user, whilst another quotesthe theHoly wrought iron encourages us to refresh our‘Read, view ofMark, the gates of Stalybridge library, importance and dignity of theOthers young talk andofof Learn and Inwardly Digest.’ youthfulness in an age where often children the escape that a library represented or of and young people are dismissed misrepresented.
the refuge it offered from an or unkind world.
this week our pupils have been thinking deeply about lent and the meaning of easter
Whilst alsospent reminding the young of the importance Mrs. Fay last Saturday peacefully of recognising the authority stacking the shelves and weand arewisdom inching of age and experience he says,’Jesus use closer to opening. What thrilledhad meno was herfor adults whothat looked down on the young or lorded it comment several boys, some of whom over them. On the contrary,were he insisted thatby“the affect a dislike of reading, electrified greatest among you must become the presence of a library in their school:like ‘You youngest” 22:26). For himlike, ageread did not mean I can(Lk borrow this and, it, establish privileges, and being youngofdid not Miss?’ was the breathless utterance one imply worth is oratdignity.’
of the pupil.lesser Our library the heart school: a space for being open to and He goes ideas on to and emphasise the importance sharing experiences. It is open-of giving hope to the alsoas ofalearning from them plan and itsyoung, shelvesbut serve reminder by being or no made hopeful again. As this that thererenewed should be barrier to anyone newsletter shows, or it isseeking alwaysknowledge, a privilege to work using its volumes with our entertainment young people or and be challenged each solace, information. I can’t day waitintothis seeway.
it come to life in the weeks ahead thanks to Mrs. Fay and her band of God bless, helpers. Ben BenDavis Davis, Headteacher Headteacher Twitter: @BenDavis1972 Twitter: @BenDavis1972
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calendar what’s on
HOUSE POINTS
 
Advance Notice
Year 10 & 12 reviews
WED 24
TUE 23 Easter Monday Bank Holiday, school closed
THU 25
This Week
This Year
St Benedict of Nursia
736
7927
St. Bernadette of Lourdes
733
7578
St. Francis of Assisi
834
8195
St. Michael the Archangel
704
7989
Blessed Oscar Romero
715
8087
St. Teresa of Calcutta
825
7709
FRI 26 SAT 27
MON 22
COMING UP THIS WEEK week beginning 22.04.19 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 March 25th)
Year 7 Year 8 year 9 year 10 year 11 School
95.7% 94.9% 94.6% 94.8% 92.5% 94.5%
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
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer3 Trust fundraiser
AROUND THE SCHOOL THIS WEEK 

Top: Our musicians at Modulo NW Below: Jono and Joe sleeping out for homelessness
Top: at the Siemens4
AROUND THE SCHOOL THIS WEEK 

The Drama Group in action at Salford Cathedral on Palm Sunday. Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer5 Trust fundraiser
AROUND THE SCHOOL THIS WEEK  
Top: former pupils Olivia and Olivia talking to current students about apprenticeships Below: Learning about CVs
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer6 Trust fundraiser
AROUND THE SCHOOL THIS WEEK 

Learning to DJ! Who knew you could do this at school?
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer7 Trust fundraiser
AROUND THE SCHOOL THIS WEEK 

A selection of Ski trip snaps (or should that be Schnapps).
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer8 Trust fundraiser
AROUND THE SCHOOL THIS WEEK 

A selection of Ski trip snaps (or should that be Schnapps).
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer9 Trust fundraiser
AROUND THE SCHOOL THIS WEEK 

A selection of Ski trip snaps (or should that be Schnapps).
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer 10 Trust fundraiser
TWEET OF THE WEek More
Salford Cathedral @SalfordCathedra April 14
Many thanks to everyone who came along today for our Passion Play and Well Done to the Amazing Yr.9 and 10 students from St.Ambrose Barlow RC high school. We hope to see many of you during Holy Week. @sabteamdrama @SABSalford @re_ambrose 11
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 12