Friday 10th October 2014 Issue No. 6 ______

Dear Parent/Carer,

 School Events

Events for the coming week (Monday 13th – Sunday 19th October)

Day Activity Time and venue Tuesday 14th Year 7 Residential Parents’ Evening 6.00 – 7.00pm October Main Hall Thursday Sixth Form Opportunities Evening 6.00 – 8.00pm 16th October Friday 17th Year 9 and 10 Visit to Savio House departs October Sunday 19th Year 9 and 10 Visit to Savio House returns October

Events for the following week (Monday 20th – Sunday 26th October)

Day Activity Time and venue Monday 20th Family Information Evening on Internet Safety 6.00 – 7.00pm October Main Hall Tuesday 21st Year 11 Additional Science Whole Investigation 5.15 – 6.15pm October Parents’ Information Evening Lab 47 Year 10 and Year 11 LRC Ambassadors’ Visit to 4.00 – 7.00pm Book Awards Launch Winsford Academy Friday 24th Year 10 Battlefields Visit to France and Belgium October departs Year 10 and Year 11 Visit to Rome departs Year 13 A level Philosophy Visit to Greece departs Sunday 26th Year 10 and Year 11 Visit to Rome returns October

Notes/Reminders

2015-2016 term/holiday dates:

The dates for the next academic year can now be viewed on the website in calendar/Term dates 2015-16. Click here for the link: http://www.wilmslowhigh.com/calendar/term-dates-2015-16

Sixth Form Opportunities Evening:

This open event takes place on Thursday 16th October. Any Year 11 students who are considering High School Sixth Form as a post 16 option should attend this evening, in full school uniform, with their parents/carers. There will be an opportunity to view the school and to speak to staff about the subject option choices available. Please note that the entrance point for this evening will be via High Options. There will be a limited number of parking spaces available; if you are able to walk to this event or use Sainsbury’s car park (free after 6.00pm), this will reduce any possible congestion.

Harvest Food Appeal:

From Monday 13th – Friday 17th October we will be holding our annual Harvest Food Appeal in conjunction with Food Friend. This is a project which was launched in 2011 by Wilmslow Parish Church and helps anyone living in the SK9 postcode area who is in long or short term financial need to access free basic food.

Please support our appeal by delivering any non-perishable food donations to the Main Hall or the Social Studies office during morning registration or break time next week.

Family information/skills sessions:

Raising a family presents all parents with ever changing challenges. As we are very much in the business of helping young people to achieve their best, we feel that we are also well placed to offer advice, guidance and other learning opportunities that may be of interest to parents and carers. Young people face pressures in today's world that you as parents or carers may not have experienced. Once every half term, there will be a free of charge family information event held at school that will be open to any interested parents. The first event will take place on Monday 20th October, 6.00 - 7.00pm in the main school hall. Our guest speaker, Jane Commins, Police School Liaison Officer, will offer advice and information to parents on being ‘NetSmart’ and ‘Safe surfing’: keeping young people safe online. So that we know how many people to expect, please email Charlotte Whatson on [email protected] to reserve your place.

Hoping to join Wilmslow High School from primary school in September 2015?

Over recent weeks we have been delighted to welcome so many people hoping to join Wilmslow High School from primary school in September 2015.

We trust you have found the Open Evening, Open Day and talks at primary schools informative and enjoyable, however, we also know that there is a lot of information to take in. The school website is designed to provide a lot of information to help parents and prospective parents, and you might find the following page of particular use: www.wilmslowhigh.com/curriculum/moving-up-from-primary/

In addition, if you missed any of these events you might want to view the presentation used: Presentation to Year 6 parents - October 2014 - The journey from primary to secondary school - what do you want to know.

If you still have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the school reception team who will look to put you in contact with the person best placed to help.

Road resurfacing works by Highways on Parkway:

The carriageway will be closed from the junction with A538 Alderley Road (north) to the junction with Holly Road North (south). The work will be carried out for 4 days from Tuesday 14th - Friday 17th October, inclusive, between 8.00am and 5.00pm. If you have any concerns regarding these works please contact the information centre on 0300 123 5020. 'Have your say':

We are constantly seeking to improve what we do, so we would like to invite parents to have more opportunities to offer constructive suggestions and feedback. Over the course of the year, parents will be asked, via High Notes, to provide us with ideas as to how we can further develop current practice that will benefit both parents and students. We will also be asking interested student groups to contribute their ideas. The first area where feedback is requested is the school website. We have been very pleased with the website which is now over a year old, but we are conscious that it could be more ‘user friendly’. If you have any thoughts on how this focus area could be developed, please email us on: [email protected]

PTA Meeting:

The next meeting is on Tues 4th November in the school Costa Cafe at 6.30pm. All welcome! Use of social media:

Peru Expedition:

Calling all sixth formers ….. We still have a few places available on this year’s expedition to Peru. During this visit you will have the opportunity to:

 Spend time in different areas of the high Andes in Southern Peru  Be part of a supportive team  Help to improve the standard of living for rural communities  Take part in on-going conservation activities to protect valuable and sensitive ecological areas  Learn to speak Spanish or build on your existing knowledge  Trek to the iconic Machu Picchu and visit Lake Titicaca  We travel from first weekend in July and return in 4 weeks (2 weeks of term and 2 weeks of summer holidays)  Teachers: Miss Speed, Miss Humphreys, Mr Conley & Mr Brudy  Student group: mixed year 12 & 13 students The cost of the visit is £3890 in total. A payment plan can be put together to help you with this as those students dropping out may be able to offer you a discount or longer to pay the amount.

For more information please contact Miss Speed on [email protected]

Deadline for signing up is Monday 20th October.

Careers Focus:

The below link has been created on the school website to allow sixth form students to view careers information, which may help them to access opportunities, such as, work experience, apprenticeships, competitions and employment: www.wilmslowhigh.com/curriculum/careers-education-and-guidance/ks5-opportunities/ Should parents, carers or students in any year group wish to access further information, advice or guidance regarding career ambitions or course choices, the below link may be of interest: www.wilmslowhigh.com/curriculum/careers-education-and-guidance/useful-careers-websites/ Both of the above links and other careers guidance information can be accessed via www.wilmslowhigh.com : Curriculum/ Careers Education and Guidance.

Community Events

World War One Centenary:

2014 marks one hundred years since the outbreak of the First World War. A community event is going to be held at Wilmslow High School, in conjunction with a number of local primary schools and other organisations, to commemorate this historic milestone on Saturday 8th November. The event will include a range of displays and presentations including music, drama and art installations. We are appealing for any artefacts, photographs and letters from members of the local community that could be loaned on the day to form part of the exhibition. Some secure display cases will be available for more precious objects. If you think you can help, please contact the history team at Wilmslow High School at [email protected] or [email protected] or telephone 01625 441072.

The Allergy & Free From Show North:

The Allergy and Free From Show North is aimed at helping anyone who suffers from or who cares for someone who suffers from allergies, food intolerances, coeliac disease, hay fever, IBS, eczema or asthma. This event is taking place on 25th-26th October 2014 at Liverpool's BT Convention. Anyone wishing to access these free tickets should go to: www.allergyshow.co.uk/go/school to download them.

Community ‘X-tra’

Royal British Legion:

The local Poppy Appeal organiser is currently looking for volunteers to stand outside Sainsbury or Waitrose in Wilmslow for a 2 hour shift to collection donations from the public for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Last year this raised in the region of £26,000 in Wilmslow alone. There are 4 shifts of 2 hours in duration which need to be filled every day between Saturday 25th October and Saturday 8th November. Volunteers need to be a minimum of 16 years of age. If you would be interested in volunteering to man a shift, please contact Charlotte Whatson on: [email protected].

In addition to this the Wilmslow branch of the Royal British Legion are currently looking for a new standard bearer to lead the parade through the streets of Wilmslow and carry the branch flag. Please refer to this web link for further information on both matters: http://www.wilmslow.co.uk/news/article/10453/british-legions-urgent-appeal-for-new-standard-bearer

Alderley Edge Library Homework Club:

From 17th October, Alderley Edge Library will be holding a homework club from 3.30pm to 4.45pm, to encourage local children to use the library to obtain information and reading materials to aid them in completing their homework. For further information please contact Janet Haley, Senior Library Assistant on 01625 374030 or by email on [email protected]

Buttercup Park/ PTA promotion:

Buttercup Park on Chapel Lane are running the following promotion: 10% of any sales to a Wilmslow High parent will be donated to Wilmslow High School PTA. Simply make the sales assistant aware that you are a parent at the school and they will do the rest. Our thanks go to Buttercup Park for their support.

Wilmslow.co.uk:

For timely and accurate reporting of community issues and reports on school related stories, visit wilmslow.co.uk. To keep fully informed of what's happening in the community sign up to receive the free wilmslow.co.uk weekly newsletter. A flyer advertising this local news site can be accessed via this link: http://www.wilmslowhigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/wilmslowcouk.pdf

Letters

Letters distributed this week (all letters can be viewed on the school website):

Highlight of the Week

Hockey Squad Success:

Five members of the Senior Girls squad, Saskia Swatkand, Anna Perry, Issy Reynolds Duffy, Ava Johnston and Emilie Kelman have been involved with the Junior Regional Performance Centre this year. The five girls have progressed via assessment from the Junior Academy Centre and receive high level coaching from JRPC coaches who are supported by Hockey’s centrally contracted coaches. Saskia has now been selected for the U17 HIPAC (High Performance Assessment Camps) squad and will attend national age group squad sessions every Monday. Issy has been chosen for the Futures Cup U16 squad and will represent the North of England at Cannock hockey club which will take place between October 30th and November 2nd. Congratulations to Saskia, Issy and the rest of the squad for their high level of performance. Keep it up, girls! For more details, please refer to this weblink: http://www.wilmslow.co.uk/news/article/10415/wilmslow-high-prepared-for-new-hockey-season

Useful Contacts

Reception:526191 Attendance: 441089 Sixth Form Attendance: 441070 Second hand uniform shop: 07889 924692/ 07870 070468 Community Liaison: 444159 School lettings: 441053

For more community news, visit the www.wilmslow.co.uk website and the Wilmslow Express. Please email [email protected] if you would like to advertise in the ‘X-tra’ or the ‘Events’ section. Please do not reply to this email. If you need any further information please visit the school website.