FAITH IN YOU
LOVE IN LEARNING
HOPE IN BETTER
this week in our school . . .
Volume 5 Issue 19 January 31st, 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. Around the corner from our school is Bav’s is about timevisit of year that Iand meet with Londis It store. Thethis pupils it before each Head of Department to review after school for all manner of sweets and the exam This involves drinks. summer’s It is also at heartresults. of the local plenty of useful and thought-provoking community as it contains a post office and but itservices. is usually But talking offers adiscussion, variety of other thisabout isn’t numbers and letters. Behind this data are an advert for Bav’s.
stories: how pupils did, how they felt, what theymorning liked and what theya achieved. Every day, and night, kind, quietWe always focus on how things can be woman stands at the door of the shop improved as well as celebrating what went ensuring that our pupils enter in small groups well. As a Catholic school, exam results are and do so politely, without fuss. Everyone just one way of expressing the unique, Godknows her, perhaps we even take her for given talents and skills of each pupil. It granted, but the pupils do not ever disrespect is important to look with beyond data so I am her or fail to co-operate her the gentle delighted that much more of my job involves requests and reminders.
being in classes, walking around the school andItalking to pupils, students Her name, have come to find out, is and Jan.staff. Jan is always there at the door of the shop, until ever youwhen are feeling at all despondent or one dayIf recently she wasn’t. It didn’t fatigued I reckon a quick tour of the school take long for the pupils to discover that she quicklyfallen raise and yourbroken spirits. her Let me was offwould work having show you what I mean. Today (Thursday, back as well as inflicting other injuries. It also September for instance, I dropped into didn’t take long for29th) the pupils to decide that Year 10 GCSE Music. There, I was they needed to do something for Jan, so over listen to performances the pastdelighted few daystothey have put together aof Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Hold Back card, signed by hundreds of pupils and packed the River and When the Saints Go Marching with good wishes for the woman who the In. I of also to sitshop. with Daniel and Chester gatekeeper thegot sweet
as they demonstrated their prodigious DJing lunch, I supervised What istalents. striking Next, is the during strength of feeling that the canteen and made a point of watching many of the pupils displayed about doing this,the interactions daily. they wanted to sendthat hertake bestplace wishes for aPupils and staff holding doors open for one another, speedy recovery. Basically, they miss her and offering thanks, little moments of personal recognise that kindness should be met with appreciation gratitude. kindness, that quiet and service should Of be course, things don’t always go well in a school, but it celebrated.
is lovely to witness a voluntary apology from a Year 9 towe one of the staff, or So, earlier today gave the lunch card, time and some see one pupil help another who is unsure flowers, to her son. Get well soon Jan, the where to go for class. kids can’t wait to see you back at the door. Like I said at the Presentation Evening last In Sixth Form, I enjoyed a lengthy chat with week, our kids are fantastic.
Aidan who explained both the theory of differentiation and marking its potential commercial This week we have been Holocaust application. In English they were studying Memorial Day in assembly, building on last the play Blood Brothers and talking with week’s assemblies that introduced the theme. humour and excitement about superstitions; This edition of the newsletter contains the in Year 7 RE they werehouse dissecting usual house reports, but one has our new mission statement and exploring the presented theirs in a different way. Mr. Lewis’s personal meanings within it. School form from St. Bernadette of Lourdes house 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 I want stay a goshort myself. havethat taken the to time in and formhave to write Outside it’s: “Sir, have you seen my pieces of fiction, imagining life from the tie? Can youof open my bottle? What perspective someone affected bydid theyou think of last night’s game? What time is it, Holocaust.
Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Oh my days!” It can be noisy at times and in a community this size we can’t expect everyone to get on with each other all the time. But it is our community, and a lively, lovely, positive one at that.
Our pupils are beacons of hope in the way that they have responded to holocaust memorial day
Perhaps the single highlight of my week, if I hadbrief to pick, would the conversation I had These pieces are be insightful, powerful and with Mrs. Fay who is leading the beautifully written, especially bearing in mind of our new library. I am20 a that development they have been created in the short library enthusiast and have been ever since minutes that is form time. We feature them in I was little. The furthest reach of my this edition of the newsletter with great pride backduty. to moments spent in our and memory also as aiscivic
local library entranced by its colour and possibilities. Twitter The bright work represents theOn best response of our #RememberingMyLibrary school to an unspeakable act reveals of evil. the It ishold a that such an institution has: ‘A library card way that over 75 years after the event, young wasseek a free wonderment, wordsof and people to pass maketosense of the horrors the ability to roam the world’ observes one hatred and it says much that is positive about whilst anothertoquotes the wrought iron theiruser, ability to respond and interpret history. gates of Stalybridge library, ‘Read, Mark, I sincerely hope that you can take a moment to Learn and Inwardly Digest.’ Others talkthey of dwell on these writings and consider what the escape that a library represented or of say.
the refuge it offered from an unkind world. Our assemblies this week have reinforced the Fay spent last Saturday peacefully needMrs. for society to learn the lessons of history, stacking the shelves and we are inching to look at terrible acts such as the Holocaust, opening. What it. thrilled was her say, closer ‘neverto again’ and mean Theyme also, like comment that several boys, some of whom the story of Jan’s card (above) remind us of the affect a dislike reading, were electrified importance of livingofout our Catholic faith withby presence of a library in their school: ‘You compassion and love, as the Ambrose Way mean I can borrow this and, like, read it, has it.
Miss?’ was the breathless utterance of one pupil. Our at the heart of the of Once again, ourlibrary youngis people are beacons school: a space for being open to and hope.
sharing ideas and experiences. It is openand its shelves serve as a reminder Godplan Bless,
that there should be no barrier to anyone Benusing Davisits volumes or seeking knowledge, solace, entertainment or information. I can’t Headteacher wait to see it come to life in the weeks Twitter: @BenDavis1972 ahead thanks to Mrs. Fay and her band of helpers. Front cover image: The Ben GIFTDavis, team on their way to see the Bishop. Headteacher Twitter: @BenDavis1972 2
2
HOUSe News St. Bernadette of Lourdes st. benedict of nursia
6553
6860
6114
st. oscar romero
st. michael the archangel
St. Bernadette of Lourdes
6483
5850
6628
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
Mr Stephenson St.Bernadette Bernadette of Lourdes St. of Lourdes This edition of the newsletter features creative writing based on the Holocaust by pupils from Mr. Lewis’s form. Mrs Sidebottom St Teresaofofcalcutta Calcutta St. teresa Another week has already flown by with half term and GCSEs fast approaching, its lovely to see so many year 11's taking pride in their learning and putting in extra hours of revision to ensure they get the best possible grades they can. This half term has seen us joining with St Oscar Romero for assemblies which has been a lovely experience. This week we have been remembering victims of holocaust and forms have produced some beautiful pieces to remember this, they have also looked at some of the comments from the news that the survivors have made about their experience. As a house we are in 6th place for achievement points, I am very proud of each and every one of you who have achieved points but let’s give it a real push this week, ask teachers what you can do to achieve a point in class and push yourself to achieve these. Auditions are being held at the moment for the school performance of "the greatest show" it would be great to see some of our house represented in
st. benedict of nursia
St. teresa of calcutta
st. francis of assisi
this, see Miss Jackson for further information if you are interested. A reminder that you should be recording your points and attendance in your diary weekly. Form tutors will provide you this information. Make sure you have all of your equipment and correct uniform each day to show you are ready to learn. Form leaders for achievement points are; 1T - Macie Gilligan - 48 achievement points 2T - Grace Belcher - 64 achievement points 3T - Summer Byrne - 62 achievement points 4T - Isabel Enebeli & Ellis Shaw - 60achievement points 5T - Peter Ellis & Erin Robinson - 47achievement points 6T - Ryan Dunning & Laim Featherstone 48 achievement points 7T - Viktoria Chakarova - 71 achievement points Well done for being the highest in St Teresa House Viktoria. Mrs. Robb St. Benedict of Nursia st. benedict of nursia 1BN write: Since we came back after Christmas, 1BN have embarked on a literacy project centred around the novel “Wonder” by R.J.Palacio. We have been reading sections in form and analysing the different messages that the author is trying to convey to us readers. We have almost finished and discussed themes such as inclusion and acceptance. The story of Auggie, a facially disfigured boy, and how he copes with school is quite inspiring. One of the teachers tells the class – when given the choice between being right or being kind, then choose kind. 3
This not only links in with what we are trying to achieve as a school community but also with Holocaust memorial day, which was on Monday. We looked at how the unkindness of prejudice and discrimination is affecting people’s lives. We are also looking forward to the beginning of Lent in February. This begins our fundraising efforts for St Joseph’s Penny. There is also a CAFOD Family Fast Day on March 6th. So as Auggie’s teacher says “Choose kind” Mr. Merriman St Oscarromero Romero st. oscar
Miss Jackson St michael Michaels news st. theHouse archangel This week in form time we have all been focusing on Holocaust Memorial Day and how past events impact our life’s. Each form has had discussions and we have looked at the importance of positive relationships. Each form has members who have demonstrated these values this week and shown compassion and kindness towards each other. This has been seen in the house’s positive achievement points which has seen every pupil in the house achieve a positive comment from staff this term ranging from excellent academic work to beacons of hope. We are current house leaders so we’ll done everyone and keep up the good work. This can be seen in the kindness demonstrated by the following members of the house: Bethany Mclaffery, Halle Christian, Olivia White, Sharon Okwu have shown in working towards support members of the wider community with their gestures of kindness Mrs. McGowan
4
Around the school This week
The following pages contain creative writing from Form 1BL, developed in response to Holocaust Memorial Day. Images courtesy of the Weiner Library via the Holocaust Memorial Trust website.
House to house, life to life. Tears stream down my face as I try, I really try to bring them back. Bring them back in my mind. I can’t even remember the day I had to leave. Whether I cried, they cried, we cried together still remains unsolved. The thought slips loose from me as I try to hold on to it, I reach out to grasp it, but all I feel is tears. Every day is practically the same, only with different faces and different names, all the same looks, the same glares align upon the girl who can’t speak a word of English; the girl with no parents, the girl with nothing. House from house, life to life. And just when I think I’ve finally settled, I can hear the train before I’m once again flung to the station, flung into a new house, flung back into all the usual glares and whispers amongst my new family. I don’t speak a word of English, but I can read stares. I can read whispers, I can read faces. I know what they’re thinking. I know why I’m here; and so do they. Don’t get me wrong, they took me in when I needed shelter, and I’ll always be grateful for that, yet I can feel their glares burning the back of my head. I can feel the sharp breath pierce the air like arrows through me as I’m blinded by a distant memory of my family telling me to be strong, that by me being weak I’m letting them down. Who knows if I’ll see them again? House to house, life to life. Written by James
5
Around the school This week
The following pages contain creative writing from Form 1BL, developed in response to Holocaust Memorial Day. Images courtesy of the Weiner Library via the Holocaust Memorial Trust website.
Dear Diary, We are not living at home anymore we went to Prague, but then my father realised he was on a wanted list so he left my mother and it’s hard for her. My mum is very brave though because she went house to house asking for help and everyone was accepting my mum but not us and my mum refused to keep us apart. Last night we got a knock on the door mum said it was someone trying to help us she gave us train tickets, but said don’t take anything that makes it look like you are going for longer than a day. So we didn’t. We got onto the trains and then onto a ferry but then we stops mum said we didn’t have the right visas or something like that but my mum lied and told them that we were visiting family but that wasn’t true. Written by Ruby
6
Around the school This week
The following pages contain creative writing from Form 1BL, developed in response to Holocaust Memorial Day. Images courtesy of the Weiner Library via the Holocaust Memorial Trust website.
I look out of the window in horror of the Nazi marching their victory. They sang songs of their bloody victory as they took power of my city. As a Jewish child, they burnt down the local synagogue and disrespected us all. They arrested my parents. They were imprisoned for five weeks. For the five weeks alone, me and my older sister lay low. Whenever we had to go out, shards of glass lay on the floor from the windows smashed. Stores were vandalized and crowds of Nazi members are shouting words of hate and abuse to a crowd of innocent worshipers. People are being arrested front right and centre. I miss the days without the Nazi. When my parents came back, they were different. They weren’t the kind parents that took us to the park or bought us icecream. They became strict and shouted at every small incident. They had cuts and bruises that scared their admiring faces. They became dull and were always unhappy. Written by Venice
7
Around the school This week
The following pages contain creative writing from Form 1BL, developed in response to Holocaust Memorial Day. Images courtesy of the Weiner Library via the Holocaust Memorial Trust website.
Life was once so simple and pleasant in Paris. Living in a small home with my beloved mother and father. Low and behold it would change in the blink of an eye. Longing for my life to be the same as it was back then, The better days. It all happened on a cold crisp day when small changes were made to my life. I could not go play outside like all the other children did and I never went to school again. I stared out the window for hours on end every day and I began to see strange people turn up with weapons. I would ask my parents who they were but they seemed so reluctant to answer, So I never asked. One day it all changed drastically Instead of the men being outside the window far away from our house They were outside our door My parents ushered me under the bed and told me to stay quiet Bang! Bang! They came into the house and I could hear them marching up the stairs I did not know exactly who they were but I knew they were not good people “They are here!” my father said They bashed on the door but we did not open it in fear of the unknown But that didn’t matter anyway because they bashed the door down with an axe instead It was horrifying! I saw my mother and father getting dragged out from under the bed and shouted at to pack their bags. And in the midst of all this Madame Colombo came to rescue me. She told the men I was her child who somehow was lost in our house and took me with her to only what I can assume was safety. She took me into her home and hid me under her dining room table for about 2 weeks. It was very lonely and quiet under the table and gave me nightmares about what happened I never saw my parents again I always wondered where they went No one ever gave me answers I hoped they were safe But I guess not all stories end happily ever after. Written by Emily 8
Around the school This week
Yet another Hot Chocolate Friday
9
calendar what’s on
Advance Notice
School closes for Half-term, Friday, February 14th, 3.05pm Pupils return Monday, February 24th, 8:35am
Year 11 Parents’ Evening, 5:00pm
TUE 04 Paris Trip Meeting, 5:00pm
WED 05
THU 06
FRI 07 SAT 08
MON 03
COMING UP THIS WEEK week beginning 03.02.20 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 January 20th). Attendance and its impact on learning
Year 7 Year 8 year 9 year 10 year 11 School
95.6% 94.6% 93.0% 92.8% 93.4% 93.9%
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. 10
TWEET OF THE WEek Amanda Swindells @buttonmoon1215
Amazing night@SABSalford presentation evening seeing my daughter and all leavers receiving their certificates etc. music department well standard has gone through the roof and oracy full marks @Bectully and @misshcjackson
11
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 12
13