Spring Term TheThe SwanSwan 2016 The Magazine of Christleton High School Aiming High in Sport! Harry Potter and the Theory of Everything Freedom Writers The Curiosities of Counting Art goes to Owl City Multi-Academy Trust Gym and Dance Show 2016 TheThe SwanSwan The Magazine of Christleton High School Spring Music Concert 2 Airbus Placement 29 Architects and Planners of the Future..? 56 Headteacher’s Report 4 Harry Bibring, Holocaust Survivor 30 Reaseheath Open Day 58 Studio and Multi- Academy Trust 7 Product Wars 30 Bowie Blockbusters - Answers 58 Come Dine With Us! 8 Building Journalism Teacher’s Pet - Answer 58 & Literacy Skills 31 Sixth Form Freedom Writers Review 59 Enterprising Activities 9 Come Dine With Year 8 32 Mob Football 60 The Curiosities of Counting 10 Year 7 Book Review 33 Aiming High in Sport! 61 Challenging Times 11 DoE Silver 34 Cheshire Phoenix 62 Biggest Ever Maths and British Biology Olympiad 35 Science Lessons 12 Professional Table Street Eats 35 Tennis Coaching 62 Rock, Paper, Maths 13 Gym & Dance Show 2016 36 Hockey Club 63 Aspiring Chester Doctor 14 Disco 38 ESAA School Cross Borneo 2016 15 Country Cup Finals 63 The Heat is On! 39 Year 9 Business Year 7 Netball 64 Enterprise Challenge 16 World Famous Explorers 40 Badminton County Annual Pancake Relay 18 A Cut Above in Biology 41 Champions 64 Smile 19 Harry Potter and the Under 13 Netball 65 Theory of Everything 42 Charity Collection 19 Congratulations 65 Being an Artist 20 News from Sylvia Wood 46 Table Tennis 65 Colour Me Creative 20 Bowie Blockbuster Quiz 47 County Netball 66 Dürers Rhinoceros 21 Christleton’s Two Apprentices 48 Rugby 67 London Art Fair 21 Why Work Experience Really Matters 49 Girls Football 67 Street Art Portraits 22 Ready for Work, Further County Schools U16’s Netball 68 Artist Kristina Webb 22 or Higher Education 50 Chester and District Volleyball How to Create... 23 IT Apprenticeships 51 Championships 69 Art Goes to Owl City 24 Sylvia’s Apprenticeship Emily Secures 3rd Place 69 Checklist 52 IT Girls Allowed 25 Cheshire Schools Cross U-xplore Instructions 53 Country Championships 69 Young People’s Bus 26 Vauxhall Motors Basketball Round up 70 No matter the weather, Football Academy 54 the biologists battle on! 27 Girls Handball 71 Work Experience is Ready, Steady… Cook! 28 Only 6 Months Away 55 Billy Elliot 72 Keep in touch with Christleton High School via Twitter @ChristletonHS Spring Term 2016 3 ACTINg Headteacher’s roofs. The work has of course,eport caused Baccalaureate qualification. This would some disruptionR with a number of room include elements of creativity, activity closures and at times, some noise and service and an extended essay pervading the school. However, the qualification, which is an independent, resilience of both students and staff in self-directed piece of research and is working together to deliver recognised by universities. the continued excellent learning, In February, students from across the is a credit to them all. school participated in a fabulous Gym Notwithstanding the disruption, I feel and Dance Show to a packed audience. sure that the buildings, which are The event and its standards have got looking good are now fit for purpose bigger and better over the years and it for the school, to effectively teach serves to remind me of the importance students for years to come. of Performing Arts, Dance and Gymnastics in the school curriculum. As mentioned in the Christmas edition of The Swan, it has been a time of change within the curriculum. We are now phasing in changes at GCSE level so that the vast majority of students follow There is much excitement over the English How very quickly our forthcoming second musical Baccalaureate this term is performance of this school year, ‘Billy subjects. This flying by! Our Elliot’; I am delighted to say we are will be compulsory Year 11 and Year one of the first schools in the country for Year 7 students. 13 students are to perform this play. An amazing 137 The options are now now busy preparing students auditioned and 73 have been in place for Year 10 and for their forthcoming cast. Together with backstage and front students will exams. Teachers are currently of house assistance, the production will follow a Geography or checking over coursework grades involve over 100 students. History GCSE course. before samples are submitted to the Preparation is now well underway for exam boards. Year 13 and some Our Year 12 curriculum will also what is arguably one of Christleton High of our Year 11 students see change next year. School’s biggest productions, which has will shortly be starting Advanced levels are generated enormous excitement from their final term at being reformed in the students. ‘Billy Elliot’ follows on Christleton High structure: linear from ‘Our House’ and ‘The Lion King’, School. We two-year courses both of which played out to full houses. naturally wish all with more To avoid disappointment, make sure of our students opportunities for you secure your tickets early! every success in extended writing their exams. in exams are being During February half-term, we saw introduced. The changes to our catering facilities. Both I am very pleased entire course will dining rooms have been refurbished to be able to be assessed in an with new tables and seating. We report that the exam, taken at the also have a new Food Court to building work is now end of Year 13. Most accommodate even more hungry complete! This has been of our students will be students. Our catering partner is a tremendous undertaking taking three ‘A’ levels. This gives offering a new concept for the school with the replacement of the majority us the opportunity to introduce an called ‘Street Eats’, which will be based of windows, the re-building of some additional course of study, focusing on on a ‘grab and go’ type menu. exterior walls and the installation of the core elements of the International new insulation to a large number of 4 The Swan - The Magazine from Christleton High School These This term, trips, including visits to RAF Woodvale, changes we have Rome and Pompeii, The Conway Art are seen eleven Weekend and a trip to Cyprus. designed to members We also hold Duke of Edinburgh’s reduce the of staff work Award Expeditions and numerous queuing, giving with an external day trips. I would like to take this students a longer consultant, Kaz opportunity to thank parents for time to sit and enjoy Kaczmarczyk, from their support and to staff for their meals together. Colourful Solutions, organising such valuable events. More details can be found on the role of Coaching in elsewhere within this edition of Education. This intensive programme Finally, this is my last Report as Acting The Swan. is designed to develop a deep insight Headteacher. It has been a really into a teacher’s own personality and good year for me and I am very proud Calum McIntyre, who was with us as learning behaviours, in order for them to have been given the opportunity. I a student at Christleton before later to better understand their students’ have thoroughly enjoyed watching the transferring to the staff, left us in issues so that they can create stronger school, its students and staff, continue January to begin a new and exciting and more effective student-teacher to develop and move forward. role as Youth Development Coach at learning relationships. Chester FC. We thank Calum for his Despite having been the Deputy work with our students and wish him In late January, staff participated in the Headteacher at Christleton for 12 all the very best. annual Staff Breakout session, when years, it’s been fascinating for me to sit they devote some time to exploring in the ‘hot seat’. The change of roles I should also make mention that we developments in their subject areas, or has given me a different perspective are very happy to have been able to pursuing research into new resources, in viewing the school, particularly the welcome back our Business Director, with a view to enhancing the teaching constant need to balance the needs Nigel Follos, following his heart surgery of their subject areas. The History of the students with the constraints prior to Christmas. It is good to see him department, for example, worked with imposed by our budget. looking so much better and fighting fit. the Chester Civic Society, to explore We wish him well as he settles back I thank you for your continued support how the English Civil War impacted on into his role. and look forward to returning to my the village of Christleton, whilst the RE role as Deputy Headteacher, which Every Wednesday afternoon, all of department visited Alder Hey Hospital I enjoy immensely. our staff participate in Continual to look at counselling work. Professional Development, in which Our school continues to promote they explore innovative ideas in many trips and visits. Such activities teaching and learning, work together enrich and support our students both to solve common issues and share in academic terms and in their own best practice. personal development. This term A D Stenhouse alone, we have logged more than 28 Acting Headteacher Spring Term 2016 5 @ Build your career, create your future BT Apprenticeships Explore career opportunities at BT We off er a wide range of roles across various locations. As an apprentice at BT, you can do amazing things. You’ll be part of a global innovations company, using the power of communications to make a better world and create new possibilities for our customers.