Archbishop Blanch Newsletter
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Sefton Hockey Club & ABS Partnership Headteacher WELCOME As we approach the Whit half term break, As you read through our newsletter, however, it is apparent that the examination season it is obvious that learning at Archbishop is well and truly upon us. Undoubtedly, this Blanch is not solely exam focused; you will is a time of stress and anxiety for students, see that there has been no let up in the parents and staff alike, but it is also a time to extra-curricular trips, competitions and reflect on our school’s core values; students performances which enhance student life in must Trust in all the hard work they have Archbishop Blanch! put in over the course of their studies, have Faith in their abilities and be Thankful for May I ask that you join me in Miss H Duggan, the support of their teachers, families and keeping our students in your Headteacher friends. With this in mind, I am confident that thoughts and prayers during this our students’ efforts will be duly rewarded examination season. come August. MUSIC CONCERT On the evening of Thursday 31st March, 45 of our girls participated in a Music Showcase in the Theatre. This was our first opportunity to show off our new sound and lights. The programme was designed to `showcase` work from GCSE and A Level groups and included a mixture of girls own compositions and solo /ensemble performances from a variety of genres including Musical Theatre, Pop and Classical. The students delivered a very professional concert We also have our own students supporting the and the quality of work was outstanding. The event on the technical side of things… Amy Perry Choir also presented two numbers to start and and Sarah Burns on sound and Eleanor Black, end the Concert. Ericka Sanchez and Bethany Gedge on lights!!! Parents said ‘it was like being at a live gig’ and We are very proud of all the girls who took part ‘the talent is unreal’! and look forward to the next event. Particular thanks have to go to Augusta Knopov and Hannah Well done to all our talented Hutton (year 13) for their incredible contribution performers and thank you! to the department throughout their time at As always, you make us very Archbishop Blanch. Both students have been accepted at Music Colleges and we wish them all proud. the very best. Mrs Oztuna - Head of Performance live Year 7 students attend a BBC Strictly micro:bit Live Lesson the famous tower. Students experienced the use sessions which was broadcast across the country from the of basic algorithms, loops, sequencing, variables Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Countdown’s Rachel Riley explored and inputs and outputs which combined together some of the amazing things the BBC micro:bit can do with some can create fashionable wearable technology as very simple coding, we were joined by Strictly Come Dancing demonstrated in the final dance. stars Kevin and Karen Clifton. In this spectacular setting, they performed a special dance routine before To view the full show please search the BBC Live explaining how the instructions of dance shows or click on the following are akin to digital coding. Other guest linkhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/ appearances included Anton Du Beke who demonstrated how the pocket-size articles/49tjW0qR05wXrdpK7ZbGTbs/ mirco bit computer can be used to light strictly-micro-bit-live-lesson. TRIP Students from Archbishop Blanch School attend UK’s largest technology event at the NEC Birmingham. At the event students could fly the latest drones or could take driving lessons in one of the most tech savvy cars in the world. The show offered students the chance to get involved in interactive features such as driving a segway and IN RESIDENCE latest wearing virtual reality headset. Writer FORBIDDEN LOVE Short Story Competition who have also set their stories in the past. Sophie’s entry, Students could also receive advice (to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death) ‘True Love Only Happens Once’ is set during feudal times and learn about some of the newest The entries for the competition were varied and and the opening is powerfully compelling: Two words. True products to hit the market in one of inventive, with love happening in unlikely and challenging love. Those two words should never be used, never spoken. the many theatres. The Super Theatre circumstances, from imagined nightmarish futures, to the Don’t even think of them. They ruin lives, crush hearts and saw many of the TV show features familiar present and difficult periods in our past when war darken souls. I learnt this the hard way, so take my advice live on stage. and social class differences lead to tragic outcomes for and from now on never let them poison your mind or fly lovers. Choosing an overall winner was a difficult task as from your lips. There were tech vs humans each story had addressed the competition brief, was unique Charlotte Northover’s story, The Matron’s Secret has an challenges, audience tech help, and had its own distinctive strengths. Those that made it interesting structure with the moving ‘end’ at the beginning: presenter challenges and most from the longlist to the shortlist were certainly commendable He was dead. I knelt in the dirt of the earth with his head on exciting of all, future tech. One of our and worthy of merit, so we decided to award two runner up my lap, his beautiful diamond blue eyes staring into mine, students won the latest parrot drone prizes to recognise this. So, the winners of the competition the hellish sky reflected in his pupils. Set during WW2, it when being selected at random from are: explores the frowned upon love of a nurse for an injured the audience. 1st Eleanor Daniel Mc Keigue for soldier. ‘Forbidden Love’ All writers have created interesting, believable characters 2nd Sophie Conant for and strong, distinct settings that transport readers to other ‘True Love Only Happens Once’ lands and times, where lovers face many challenges and 3rd Charlotte Northover for obstacles. Well done to all competition entrants! The three Literacy/Numeracy Clock ‘The Matron’s Secret’ winning stories will be posted on the school website for all to enjoy. The winner, ‘Forbidden Love’, is set in a distant past and Rebecca Murrall in Year 13 has the story crosses many genres: fantasy, history, romance, designed our very own literacy, mystery and speculative fiction. It explores many of the numeracy clock for ABS. The themes we find in Shakespeare, such as betrayal, secrets, clock is designed to help students deceit and death. The opening paragraph below gives a flavour of the mysterious and intriguing setting and tell the time using an analogue shows the skilful way readers are drawn in: clock. She has certainly done an impressive job! Our story begins in a far off land, a land which now lies forgotten, buried deep, deep down in our memories so A variety of designs were presented to that we may never remember it again. Nobody can now the students and the most popular was remember what it was called, or how you can get there. then produced. They will be distributed They could remember once, hundreds of moons ago, when around the school in a tick….tock. the people of this world still recalled the old ways when the ‘other kind’ came and went from our world as they pleased. The runners up are Sophie Conant and Charlotte Northover, 2 3 Archbishop Blanch first Headteacher Mrs Kathleen Goodacre set the News from our Poster Design school a challenge to design a poster that represented the stained glass windows in the prayer room. She wanted a reminder of the 6th Form Head Challenge journey of the stained glass and how it has come with us to the new build from many different sites. Girl Team... We set this challenge to our Year 10 Graphics group and Miss C Roberts and Miss H Taylor worked with the students to support As we are coming to the end of this term and Year 13 are thinking of exams and where they are heading next, Year them in designing a front cover for all Mrs Goodacre’s important 12 have had the responsibility of thinking who they wish to documents and history of the stained glass windows. represent the school when they enter Year 13. Each year we O announce that Caitlin will be joined by her deputy team of have a strong and dedicated Head girl team nominated by Sophie Townley, Olivia Watt and Ben Aindow. We look forward staff and pupils. After a rigorous process of staff nominations, to the next year and wish this fantastic team all the best. Mrs Goodacre and she selected the following student speeches and then a formal student vote, Archbishop New facilities for 6th Form - Courtesy of” Friends of Archbishop winners… Blanch would like to say a huge congratulations to our new Blanch” Head girl , Caitlin Cavanagh. We are confident that Caitlin will As part of our new site at Earle road, students have seen a large First place - Molly Lightfoot winning a £25 be a inspirational representative of our school. investment in technology and facilities, all to make student Our Head Girl also needs a strong team around her and we experiences at Archbishop Blanch the best it can be. WHSmith token are very happy tWe were very pleased to have received Following a kind donation from the “Friends of Archbishop an anonymous donation which funded the purchase of Blanch” the Sixth form has recently received a brand new Second place - Megan Sloan winning £5 commemorative coins to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s kitchen area, giving them freedom to use these facilities during 90th birthday on April 21.