Birchwood Update Monday 2 October
- Week 1
- Oct 2, 2017
- 10 min read
Make sure that you come along to our College Open Evening this Thursday 5 October between 6pm and 8.00pm to visit what has become the “College of choice” for East Warrington.
At Birchwood College we have a wide range of courses to choose from, all of which are tailored to suit individual students needs and requirements. We work hard to create a really positive working environment for learning and our caring staff are aware of the importance of an excellent relationship between teacher and student. Recently identified by OFSTED as a ‘good college with high quality provision which is both inclusive and aspirational’ and with results for 2017 of a 100% pass rate at BTEC level 3 courses and a 97% pass rate at A-Level, It’s a great place to be!
Come along to visit us. Meet our staff and students, look at our facilities and find out why we really are the College ‘where you matter’.
Molly supports Princess Diana’s legacy
Huge congratulations go to Molly Cullum in 7DR as she will collect an award in November for her work against bullying, from Inspire North, in memory of Princess Diana.
The Diana Award is a charity legacy to Princess Diana and her belief that young people have the power to change the world. 2017 is a very special year as it marks the 20th Anniversary of Princess Diana’s passing. The Diana Award are celebrating Diana’s life and legacy throughout the year and as a part of the celebrations they have travelled across the UK highlighting the achievements of exceptional young people for their selfless commitment to transforming the lives of others.
To gain her award, Molly established the Hate Crime Champions in school which deals with anti-bullying and trying to prevent future hate crime. She readily and regularly gives up her own playtime and lunchtime to support others through the project. She has worked tirelessly at school and home to raise awareness of bullying and to find solutions, inspiring and empowering others along the way. Molly’s thoughtful and empathetic approach to every situation shows a maturity beyond her years. She believes that she, and others in school, can and should make a difference
Well done Molly, you are truly inspirational and a credit to our school and we hope that you have a fabulous time at the sparkling award ceremony to take place next month in Leeds.
Harvest Festival Assembly, donations for Warrington Foodbank
Once again, at our Harvest Festival Assembly at the end of this half term we will prepare food parcels in support of the Warrington Foodbank. Learners, students and staff have been asked to donate an item to support the foodbank. Form tutors will go through the list of items needed by the Foodbank. This can also be found on the link below. At present they have a good supply of pasta, soup, beans, breakfast cereals, teabags, sweet biscuits, and tinned sweetcorn and other pulses. so it would be helpful if learners could avoid these items. Urgent items include UHT milk, coffee, tinned desserts and meats. They are also desperate for toiletries and cleaning products.
We do hope that you will support this worthy cause.
La journée européenne des langues, European Day of Languages
Last Tuesday was European Day of Languages and our Languages department in conjunction with the Kitchen celebrated with a French Café during break on Tuesday and Wednesday, a ‘Design a European inspired mobile phone case’ for year 7 & 8 and an International menu in our dining room.
School Show T shirt (optional)
This year our Performing Arts Department have decided to give learners the option of purchasing “Show T-shirts”. This will be a black round neck t-shirt embellished with the school logo and “Cast” written on the back.
This will enable learners to rehearse in more comfortable clothing and be useful for pre and post shows. It will also distinguish them from other learners on the show nights. Prices range from £4.50 - £5.50 dependent on size. To order see the letter here
All orders must be with Miss Senior by 4 October.
A great opportunity for our Year 11 TAG learners
Last week 9 TAG year 11 learners attended Cambridge University with Mr Hamilton and Mrs Morris. Learners stayed in the accommodation at Sidney Sussex College for two nights and spent the days visiting a number of other colleges including Peterhouse and Fitxwilliam. Learners also visited the Engineering and Law department in addition to attending lectures on Law, Natural Science, English as well as having the opportunity to learn Russian. I’m the evenings the learners attended a ghost tour and got to see the building where Stephen Hawkin’s office is based. A great time was had by all despite sore feet from all the walking!
Macmillan Cake sale
A very well done to our new Learner Officer Team who organised and ran a charity bake sale last Friday in support of Macmillan, raising a splendid £63.13. As a school we support local charities: The Warrington Foodbank, Macmillan and St Rocco’s Hospice every year. Our Leaner Officers, however, aim to also support a national charity and, through a learner voice survey, they are polling the school with a selection of worthy causes in a bid to choose one to go forward with.
Thank you to Mr Sukhdeep Singh from Everything 13, for giving us an insight to Sikhism
On Thursday of last week, our learners had the opportunity to learn about Sikhism as we were lucky to have a guest speaker in our EPR lessons from the organisation Everything 13 which is a UK registered humanitarian charity whose mission is to demystify Sikhism and inspire those of all faiths to live better lives. Mr Singh gave Learners an introduction to Sikhism and a presentation about relationships and family roles in Sikhism. Learners then had an ‘open house’ opportunity to ask questions from the speaker, to learn a little bit more about What Sikhism means. Our learners were a credit to us, welcoming our visitor and really benefitting through their questions, from this great opportunity.
School Show Rehearsal Schedule, Week beginning 2nd October
Monday 2 October
Orin, Seymour, Audrey, Mushnik-pg. 38-40- pa2 HS 3-4.15pm
3 Degrees with KM – 3.15-4.30
Lunch rehearsal with HS: Seymour + Audrey 2
Tuesday 3 October
Lunch rehearsal with HS: Seymour + Audrey 2
NO AFTER SCHOOL REHEARSAL
Wednesday 4 October
Mushnik+ Seymour- CX in pa2 “musknik and son”
Orin, 3 Degrees and Dental Girls in PA1o with KM 3.15-4.30
Lunch rehearsal- Seymour + Audrey- HS
Thursday 5 October
Whole cast rehearsal- pa2- 3-5.50pm
LUNCH REHEARSAL WITH HS-3 degrees + Audrey
Friday 6 October
Orin and Seymour- HS+ CX- Gas + scene before
Audrey with KM in PA10 – 3.15-4.00
Important info regarding a traffic survey in the Birchwood area.
Message from the Regional Coordinator of Tracsis: I am writing to inform you (for pupil safety reasons) that on 6 October 2017 a manual traffic survey is scheduled to take place on Benson Rd, near the Peacock Public House, between 7am and 7pm. Staff cars will be parked nearby. The vehicles will carry appropriate signage and the staff will have ID badges.
Year 7
Final deadline to order school photographs
We are doing a final collection of orders for school photographs taken by our school photographer.
Any orders must be with the school office before Friday 13 October when they will be collected by Kittle. Any orders received after this date cannot be fulfilled.
Your child will be bringing home their photographs today, for those orders which were received by 20 September.
Year 7 Parents’ opportunity to meet with form tutors – Thursday 19 October, 3.30 – 6.30pm
Your child has now been at Birchwood Community High School for almost half a term and we would like to invite you into school to give you a clearer picture of how they have settled in. This will give you the opportunity to meet your child’s form tutor again and to receive up to date information on your child’s progress.
Your child will bring home a letter with regard to making an appointment for this event. The letter can also be accessed here
Please return all reply slips to the school office no later than Monday 17 October so that appointments can be allocated. Thank you.
Year 7 Residential Trip to Conwy Centre, Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 April 2018
We are happy to inform you that we are organising a trip to the Conway Centre for all of Year 7. This will be an ideal opportunity for learners to experience new and different activities and to encourage them to start Year 8 with a focus on making good progress throughout the curriculum. The centre offers a very valuable learning experience, setting learners a challenging programme of activities which go far beyond the scope of the normal school day. Learners who have previously attended a similar residential course in Year 7 have enjoyed the experience so much that it is often mentioned as one of the highlights of their time at Birchwood!
The centre runs a full programme of activities from 9am to 9pm. There is a wide range for us to choose from, including raft building, problem solving, zip wire, craft activities and archery
The cost of the trip is £210 per learner. This includes transport to and from the centre, board, lodgings and the cost of all the activities and can be paid in instalments.
Your child will bring home a letter with further details of payment and how to book. A copy of which can be found here
Year 8 – No specific Information
Don’t miss the opportunity to Join Youth Speaks!
What is it? Youth Speaks is a public speaking competition. You can come up with your own ideas and topics that you wish to discuss – the best teams will be taken through to Regional and National heats where we will compete against other schools.
Who can join? Year 9 and 10
When? After school on Wednesdays ,3-4pm
Where? M5 with Miss Fogg
Year 9
Getting Ready for KS4 Residential Trip to Lockerbie Manor, 11 -13 July 2018.
We are excited to be able to inform you, that we are organising our Getting Ready for KS4 Residential Trip to Lockerbie Manor in Scotland, for all of Year 9.
This is a fantastic opportunity for Year 9 learners to consolidate skills developed during the foundation year and to develop new skills to ensure they are fully equipped for the challenges of key stage 4. It will also be an ideal opportunity for learners in Year 9, to experience new and different activities and challenges, encouraging them to start KS4 with a focus on making good progress throughout their KS4 curriculum.
Lockerbie Manor offers a very valuable learning experience, setting learners a challenging programme of activities which go far beyond what learners experience during a normal school day. The activities available for learners on the trip will have real focus on team building, resilience and challenging yourself. All of which are vital skills as we embark on GCSE and BTEC courses. Activities are yet to be finalised, however some of the activities that may be on offer include abseiling, dragon boating, high ropes and obstacle courses, orienteering and survival skills.
The cost of the trip is £230. This includes transport to and from Lockerbie, all activities planned and full-board accommodation at Lockerbie Manor.
Your child will bring home a letter with further details of payment and how to book. A copy of which can be found here
Year 10
Final deadline to order school photographs
We are doing a final collection of orders for school photographs taken by our school photographer.
Any orders must be with the school office before Friday 13 October when they will be collected by Kittle. Any orders received after this date cannot be fulfilled.
Your child will be bringing home their photographs today, for those orders which were received by 20 September.
Year 10 – KS4 Residential Lockerbie Manor, 25 – 27 June 2018
This year we will be running our first KS4 Residential Trip to Lockerbie Manor in Scotland, for all of Year 10.
This is a fantastic opportunity for Year 10 learners to reflect upon how their first year of GCSE has gone and to build and develop skills they will need moving forward into year 11. It will also be an ideal opportunity for learners in Year 10, to experience new and different activities and challenges, encouraging them to continue their KS4 study with a focus on making good progress.
Lockerbie Manor offers a very valuable learning experience, setting learners a challenging programme of activities which go far beyond what learners experience during a normal school day. The activities available for learners on the trip will have real focus on team building, resilience and challenging yourself, all of which are vital skills as we embark on GCSE and BTEC courses. Activities are yet to be finalised, however some of the activities that may be on offer include abseiling, dragon boating, high ropes and obstacle courses, orienteering and survival skills.
The cost of the trip is £215. This includes transport to and from Lockerbie, all activities planned and full-board accommodation at Lockerbie Manor.
Your child will bring home a letter with further details of payment and how to book. A copy of which can be found here
Year 11
Calling all year 11s
Make sure that you come along to our College Open Evening this Thursday 5 October between 6pm and 8.00pm to visit what has become the college of choice for East Warrington.
At Birchwood College we have a wide range of courses to choose from, all of which are tailored to suit individual students needs and requirements. We work hard to create a really positive working environment for learning and our caring staff are aware of the importance of an excellent relationship between teacher and student.
Recently identified by OFSTED as a ‘good college with high quality provision which is both inclusive and aspirational’ and with results for 2017 of a 100% pass rate at BTEC level 3 courses and a 97% pass rate at A-Level, It’s a great place to be!
Come along to visit us. Meet our staff and students, look at our facilities and find out why we really are the College ‘where you matter’.
Other School information:
View your child’s information on your mobile phone or tablet, a great new way to keep in touch.
We are pleased to announce the launch of a new service to make communications between school and home quicker, easier and more effective.
You will be able to view information about your child or children securely on your mobile phone or tablet using the Groupcall Xpressions app.
Once you are set up you will be able to see information such as:
Free messages sent by the school delivered to the app
Attendance and absence information
Attitude to learning (“ATL”) scores for each lesson.
Daily/Weekly timetable information
The app is completely free of charge to you and supports Apple iOS and Android devices (with Windows mobile to follow).
In order to use the app school must have your correct mobile number and email address on our school system. Forms are available from the school office to check and update your details or you can simply email them to the school. You’ll need to make sure you keep these details up to date in future to maintain access to the service.
You can download the app by searching for “Xpressions” in the App Store or on Google Play. Once the app is downloaded, simply follow the on screen instructions.
We hope that you take advantage of this new service, which has replaced our ParentsLive system. If you have any issues or need to know more please contact Mr O’Reilly here at school on aoreilly@birchwoodhigh.org or click here
Children on site out of school hours
As a Community School, we welcome clubs and booked activities to use our facilities and school grounds outside the school day. We have become aware though that there are groups of both learners and ex learners on site in the evenings. Please make your child aware that learners are only allowed on site after the school day, if they are part of an organised and booked group. Thank you for your co-operation.
School Nurse: Please note that the school nurse comes into school every Wednesday from 12.15- 1.30pm and is available in the BSR Mentoring Room if any learners or students have any health related issues they would like to discuss.
Commentaires