Weatherhead High School WEATHER REPORT

A high performing academy providing excellence for all Autumn 2013

Outstanding School, Outstanding Results!

Top Scores for Some of our outstanding students with Mr Dyment A Level Students

tudents and staff celebrated outstanding A Level results with 79% of grades at A*-C and Sa record 49% A*-B grades. Nearly 140 students secured University places. Mr Dyment congratulated all students on their achievements and wishes them every success in their new adventures at University.

Rebecca Dennis A* A* A B Lancaster University - Mathematics Hannah Thurlow A* A* A Liverpool University - Mathematics Alice Lucking A* A A B Birmingham University - Medicine Christine Duncan A* A A Liverpool University - English Louise Evans A* A A Manchester University - English & Spanish Olivia Stowell-Smith A* A A Loughborough University - Sport & Exercise Science Rebecca Benson A* A B Surrey University - Mathematics Emily Moore A* A B Manchester University - Architecture Hannah Simmons A* A B Lancaster University - English Laura Cook A A A C Liverpool John Moores University - Zoology A-Level Results Day

Tougher Grade Boundaries No Hurdle to GCSE Students

e also celebrated another exceptional year of GCSE results with 73% of This year’s top performers students achieving 5 A*- C grades (including English and Maths). A record Sarah Houlighan 8A* 6A numberW of 634 A* and A grades were awarded with students securing a 99% pass rate of 5 or more GCSEs. 87% of students achieved A*- C grades in Maths and the Bethany Johnson 7A* 6A success of students achieving the English Baccalaureate was excellent. In addition, Wynsei Chu 7A* 5A 1B 73% of our Year 10 students achieved A*- C in early entry Maths and 82% Year 10 Grace Blundell 6A* 7A students achieved A* -C in Media. Emma Watts 6A* 5A 1B Mr Dyment congratulated students on their outstanding success and said, “All Jaspreet Kaur 6A* 5A 1B our students had worked tremendously hard and were rewarded for their efforts. Every child has secured a qualification and many have achieved exceptional grades. Jodie Oliver 5A* 8A 1B I am delighted that Weatherhead is able to provide such excellent teaching that Eleanor Saunders 5A* 6A 2B supports students to achieve such outstanding results.” Faye Edwards 4A* 9A Sam Pipkin 4A* 9A

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 1 16/09/2013 08:11 A New School Year

Welcome Evening for New Year 7 Parents and Carers

arents, Teachers & Friends @ Weatherhead (PTF) invite Year 7 parents and carers to an information evening on Tuesday 15th October. This informal social event will enable new families to the school to meet other parents. PWe seek to create a caring and supportive school community for all students and families and hope that you will feel Weatherhead is a welcoming and open place. For more information on Weatherhead PTF please visit our website or contact our Chairman Ann Blundell via email [email protected] Headteacher’s Welcome

“I am delighted to introduce the latest edition of Weather Report. Once again our GCSE and A Level results were outstanding, placing Weatherhead amongst the best schools in England. Equally, the wealth of opportunity and number of activities that our students are involved in never ceases to amaze me. They are great ambassadors for young people today and I am grateful to the staff that organise all the trips and activities. I would £1,200 PTF fundraising for school refurbishment also like to extend my thanks to parents for all the encouragement and support given to students.

We celebrate this year our tenth anniversary in our impressive state-of-the art building New Appointments in Breck Road. It’s a great time and place to welcome our new intake of Year 7 students Senior Leadership Team and their parents to the school. Starting secondary school is an exciting time. In iss Sullivan has been promoted from Year 7 Leader and has been addition to a packed timetable we encourage appointed Assistant Headteacher - Pastoral. We also welcome Miss Powley all girls to get involved in extra-curricular who will be the new Assistant Headteacher - Curriculum and Head of activities - there are plenty to choose from. SixthM Form. Mr Wright is currently Acting Deputy Headteacher. I would also like to remind parents that I offer Miss Sullivan Miss Powley an open surgery for any parent or carer who wishes to see me. Dates of termly surgeries are available on our website along with all the school’s information, letters and calendar dates. Enjoy reading about our school!”

Mr Dyment - Headteacher

2 WEATHER REPORT

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 2 16/09/2013 08:11 Leading News

Student Senior Leadership Team 2013 - 2014 Head Girl Nicole Robson Deputy Head Girl Rebecca Edwards Deputy Head Boy John Buckley Assistant Head Girl Amy Langton Assistant Head Girl Anna Ghader Assistant Head Girl Alex Heron Assistant Head Girl Esther Richardson Assistant Head Girl Georgia Moss SSLT 2013 - 2014

Awesome SSLT! he new Student Senior Leadership Team started their year in office on a high note! Having already represented the school at Key Stage 3 Awards TEvening, Open Evening and Induction Day they cemented their team spirit by spending the day learning to climb at Awesome Walls in Liverpool. It certainly proved a challenge but they supported each other well to overcome any difficulties. They also attained a climbing qualification as part of their leadership training. They certainly are a team to be proud of! Awesome SSLT

Term Dates Dates for Your Diary School closes Thursday 17th October Sports Awards Evening Wednesday 9th October INSET (Teachers) Friday 18th October Settle In Evening for Year 7 Tuesday 15th October Half Term Monday 21st October - Parents/Carers Friday 25th October Senior Awards Evening Thursday 17th October School opens Monday 28th October Performing Arts Showcase Wednesday 30th October Year 9 Parents’ Evening Thursday 14th November School closes Friday 20th December Year 13 Parents’ Evening Thursday 28th November Christmas Monday 23rd December - Holidays Friday 3rd January 2014 Christmas Concert Wednesday 4th December Careers Fair Thursday 5th December School opens Monday 6th January Year 12 Parents’ Evening Thursday 9th January Year 11 Parents’ Evening Thursday 13th February Year 10 Parents’ Evening Thursday 27th February Year 7 Parents’ Evening Thursday 13th March Year 8 Parents’ Evening Thursday 27th March

For a full list of term dates and events please visit the Key Information for Parents and Carers section on ! the school website

For all the latest news visit www.weatherhead.wirral.sch.uk 3

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 3 16/09/2013 08:11 Celebrating Achievement

KEY STAGE Year 7 Latin cohort 3 Per aspera ad astra! he Year 7 Latin cohort received a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in Latin to reward and celebrate the completion of their first year of Latin. Taught by the University Tof Liverpool, the students undertook a year’s introductory course and will have the opportunity to start GCSE Latin in Year 8.

Year 10 celebrate success Key Stage 3 Awards Evening

ey Stage 3 Awards Evening was a wonderful evening celebrating the successes of nearly one hundred students in Years 7, 8 and 9. The girls were rewarded for their hardK work and effort as well as for their academic achievements. A number of students also received special Year Leader Awards. The evening showcased the talent of our Performing Arts students with a Year 8 Dance performance to Seal’s Crazy followed by Year 8 student Rebecca Barrow playing A Whole New World by Menken Mr Dyment congratulates MENSA students on the cornet. The evening finished with a solo performance of Adele’s Turning Tables by Jessica Henry, accompanied by Mr Brown on piano. Chamber Choir sang a full repertoire of beautiful pieces as MENSA IQ Tests guests arrived and departed from the Theatre. Our guest speaker, ifted and Talented Leaders, Mr Riley and Mr Stringer, Miss Gabrielle Wenham from Atlantic Chambers, gave an inspirational coordinated eighty students from Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 talk about her career as a Barrister and provided the girls with some to take MENSA IQ tests. The IQ test is a series of short words of wisdom, encouraging them to work hard, aim high and testsG of verbal, spatial and numerical reasoning taken under remain individual. Thank you to all of the staff and students who a strict time limit of five to eight minutes per test. The girls contributed to making the evening such a wonderful celebration of achieved some phenomenal scores including seven students all that is great about Weatherhead. who attained MENSA membership which place them in the top 2% of the population. Well done to Ellen Brown, Jade Award winners Franks, Sarah Jackson, Nicole Marnell, Rebecca Moulesdale and Molly Stafford who were invited for tea with Mr Dyment in recognition of their achievement and to celebrate their impressive MENSA membership.

Senior Awards Evening will take place on ! Thursday 17th October

KEY STAGE Poetry by Heart ear 10 and 11 students Alex Cooke, Abigail Keane Atkins, Jordan McDonald and Melanie 4 Squires took part in the Poetry by Heart competition. Launched by Poet Laureate, Sir Andrew Motion, Poetry by Heart is a passionate competition that requires students to memoriseY and recite a piece of their favourite poetry. Talented Year 11 student Melanie Squires won a place to represent Merseyside in the National Finals at the National Portrait Gallery, London, in front of a distinguished panel of leading British poets. Melanie recited Oscar Wilde’s Ballad of Gaol and Badly Chosen Lover by Rosemary Tonks. Although she didn’t win, Melanie represented the school and region brilliantly. Melanie thoroughly enjoyed the experience and “regardless of winning or losing - it was the pure enjoyment that made it everything, being surrounded, perhaps for the first time, by kindred spirits”. A huge thank you to Miss Jones for organising this fantastic event and giving students the opportunity to perform poetry. Congratulations to Melanie and all the girls who took part.

4 WEATHER REPORT

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 4 16/09/2013 08:11 Celebrating Achievement

Year 10 Celebrate Good Times

ear 10 girls celebrated the end of their exams with Miss Smith and their form tutors with a non-uniform day, special awards ceremony, celebration lunch in the Upper Common Room and Ywatched the Grease sing-a-long film in the afternoon in recognition of their exam success. The girls coped with the demands of their trial exams well which puts them in good stead for their GCSEs next summer. Year 10 celebrate success Cambridge Chemists Students Prove They Are Up for the Challenge

en Year 12 Chemistry students participated in the 2013 online Cambridge Chemistry Challenge. More than six thousand students entered the competition from 435 UKT centres and three international centres in China, Thailand and Singapore. The challenge ran from November to June culminating in a written exam designed to challenge the very brightest Chamber Choir students. Each month students were required to complete an online challenge involving problem solving and scientific Taste Success knowledge. The challenge tested the resilience, ambition and ifteen members of the now 30 strong Chamber talent of students at the highest level. We were delighted that all Choir performed two pieces at the Chester Festival for our students obtained a mark in the top 50% of all applications Performing Arts held at the King’s School, Chester. Chamber and were awarded a certificate for their achievements. Charlotte Choir opened with John Rutter’s traditional piece For The Beauty Burgess, Emily Jones, Khushbu Morar and Emily Xu obtained a F mark within the top 20% and received a Silver Award for their of the Earth followed by a more modern piece Born This Way by Lady Gaga. The Choir sang beautifully and were praised for their success. Congratulations to Charlotte Burgess, Gemma Christian, sweet sound, well-paced and confident performance and were Rebecca Edwards, Rachel Grice, Emily Jones, Kelly-Ann Lomax, commended with a score of 85, with judges commenting that it Sarah Mahon, Khushbu Morar, Alexandra Ruse and Emily Xu for was “a convincing performance both technically and artistically”. taking part. The Choir secured the Delia Fitzsimmons Memorial Cup for the second year in a row. Congratulations to Choirmaster Mrs Rees and the girls who took part. Making an Exhibition of Themselves! leven of our most talented A level Fine Art and Textiles students were honoured to have their work chosen to be exhibited at the prestigious Chamber Choir show off their trophy ERBA seventh National Students’ Art Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London. Only three And the Band Played On... hundred pieces of artwork from Jazz Band eatherhead performed brilliantly at this year’s across the UK were chosen to Wirral Performing Arts Festival scoring 85 out of a possible be exhibited so for our students 100 to take third place, beaten only marginally by three this was a real honour. Well done points by the winning ensemble. Judges were impressed by the W to all the students for a truly Jazz Band’s performance and comments came in that Weatherhead magnificent achievement! “looked and sounded great” with “a thoroughly enjoyable, well Student admires her work on show prepared and well played programme” which “had us all tapping our feet”.

For all the latest news visit www.weatherhead.wirral.sch.uk 5

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 5 16/09/2013 08:11 Careers & Higher Education

e are delighted to welcome Miss Laura Smith, Guidance Coordinator Careers Advice to Weatherhead. Miss Smith will offer and provide career advice and guidance to all our students with One-to-One interviews, group & Guidance sessionsW and drop-in sessions and will be based in A024 or F109. Much support is in place for our students to help them understand the range of opportunities available to them once they have left school. Time is dedicated to careers within PSHCE lessons and there are assemblies, events To find out more and Careers Fairs arranged throughout the year to please go to support this. Year 10 and 11 students have an interview www.weatherhead. to help them to plan, prepare and make choices for their wirral.sch.uk/school/ future. To help students and parents in this process a community/careers series of useful websites are listed on the school website information/ including Mersey Interactive and U-explore which are particularly useful.

Year 9 Aim High

s part of our Aim Higher programme all students in Year 9 enjoyed a taste of University when they visited Liverpool AJohn Moores and took part in a range of activities and tours to help them to understand more about life as a student. They learnt about the choices they can make and the broad range of opportunities available to them in the future. The girls thoroughly enjoyed the experience and gained a lot of information, advice and guidance from the trip. It has certainly motivated many of them to continue to work hard so that they have a good chance of gaining a place at University Year 9 enjoy JMU trip when they are older. A typical University student

Working A Taste of Summer 9 to 5 s an alternative to work experience, ten girls attended Summer Liverpool at the University of Liverpool. Students from schools across ach of our Year 10 students enjoyed a week of work experience Merseyside attended the residential course which was giving them the opportunity to gain essential skills for the workplace A aimed at raising awareness and aspirations in relation to including communication, team work, taking responsibility, using their Higher Education. The girls spent three days attending initiative and being independent. The girls travelled throughout the North E workshops and taking part in activities delivered by West working in a range of employment sectors including Law, Retail, lecturers across a range of subjects. Students stayed in the NHS, Hospitality, Catering, Administration, Media, Veterinary, Dental, Halls of Residence and spent their time experiencing Performing Arts, Real Estate and Education. Our girls demonstrated excellent University life and the challenges that come with it. behaviour and attitude during the week and should feel very proud of their They thoroughly enjoyed the experience and are now achievements. The feedback from employers was excellent and as a result looking forward to working hard so that they can attend of their experience a number of students have University in the future. gained Saturday jobs or enrolled for voluntary If you own or work. We are very grateful to staff, parents and work at a company local employers who help to make Year 10 work that could offer Work experience such a worthwhile and valuable Experience opportunities for students next year, please experience for the girls. contact Mrs Jones or Mrs Bainbridge at school.

6 WEATHER REPORT

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 6 16/09/2013 08:12 Careers & Higher Education

National Citizen Service (NCS) hirty Year 11 students signed up for a summer of volunteering and fun with the organisation Catch 22. Students enjoy a tour of Oxford T The NCS programme is a Government backed scheme aimed at working with young people to Oxbridge Eye Opener Through provide them with an opportunity to help build up skills for work and life, whilst enabling them to take ‘Gifted Gateway’ on new challenges, make new friends and make a difference in their community. It is also a great way to ey Stage 5 Gifted Gateway Coordinator, Mr Stringer, took Year 11 students improve their personal leadership skills and add to Grace Blundell, Faye Edwards and Sarah Houlighan to the Cambridge their CV. The programme involved two residentials University Conference at Everton’s Goodison Park to learn more about to introduce participants to a range of activities and studying at Cambridge. The girls, along with fellow student Jodie Oliver, also K to develop team building skills. The students also attended a residential at St. Peter’s College, Oxford, where they toured the spent time planning and delivering a community team College, experienced a typical lecture and had dinner in the College’s grand dining action programme which aims to benefit the wider hall. The trips gave the girls an insight into life at these prestigious Russell Group community. Well done to all the girls involved! universities which will help shape their decision about where to study.

Students Take to University UCAS Fair lmost all of our Year 12 students attended the North West Like Water off a ‘Dux’ Back UCAS Fair at the University of Liverpool - a national event attended by every University in the country who provide cience teacher, Miss Basford, workshops, lectures and information about the range of courses accompanied Year 9 students A available. Students were also able to talk to lecturers, admissions tutors Caitlin Clarke and Vicky and students about their experiences which enabled them to gain an Cooper to Cardiff University. S understanding of the range of courses on offer and the grades needed. The girls were invited to attend a residential as part of the Dux Award Scheme which recognises and All Work, No Pay rewards talented Year 9 students from all over the country. ear 12 students have shown their commitment by securing work During the day Caitlin and Vicky attended a Science lecture placements and voluntary work to help them to gain valuable where they carried out experiments, studied chemical experience and enhance their University applications. Students reactions and the science of glow sticks and after lunch volunteered hundreds of hours at local care homes, schools, nurseries, tried their hand at Japanese. The visit certainly opened the Y NHS settings, animal care settings and local charity shops contributing girls’ eyes to the opportunities available to them within to the community and giving them the best chance of being successful Higher Education and how wonderful student life is at in their University applications. Congratulations and well done to the Cardiff University. The girls had an amazing time and rated students for all their hard work on top of their A level studies! the trip 10 out of 10!

For further careers advice visit www.weatherhead.wirral.sch.uk/schoolcommunity/careersinformation 7

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 7 16/09/2013 08:12 Careers & Higher Education

Higher Education Events After returning to school after their AS examinations, Year 12 students participated in a range of activities in and out of school to help them make decisions about their future.

Intromed wo keen Year 12 students Emily Jones and Khushbu Morar, who are hoping to Living on the Edge study Medicine and Dentistry at ear 12 students enjoyed a visit to Edge Hill University to University, attended a five day Intromed course at T take part in workshops about how to apply to University Wirral University Teaching Hospitals. The girls were given and to write a personal statement. The students particularly the opportunity to tour hospitals, talk with Doctors and enjoyed the tour of the University and were able to compare undergraduates, shadow Doctors at work, attend clinics and Y a campus University to a city University, like the University of visit patients. This was a great experience for the girls which Liverpool. The highlight for many students was talking to the has made them even more determined to gain a place at students about what they enjoyed about University life and the University to study the course of their choice. The scheme, courses they were studying. believed to be the only one of its kind in England, is run by A number of our students signed up for support programmes Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust including the University of Liverpool Recognise Project, Raising to support teenagers in their decision to become a Doctor. Aspirations with Social Mobility Foundation and a host of summer Intromed was introduced in 1997 by Consultant Radiologist Dr residential experiences like the Edge Hill University Residential. Joyce Magennis and has supported more than 1,200 students Students are now busy attending University Open Days to help to date - many of whom have gone on to become Doctors. them with their final decision about where to study next year!

Work Related Learning Day or those students not opting for University straight away we offer an insight into career We are always delighted opportunities available after they graduate through our Work Related Learning Day. to hear from our ex-students! Students attended a series of workshops run by local employers and University careers Have you graduated recently? Are officers on how to set up your own business, how to choose a degree course, apprenticeships, F you travelling? Are you in work? Keep CV writing, interview techniques, plus careers in Science and Engineering. Representatives from local businesses conducted mock interviews with students which was a great success, testing how in touch and tell us what you are doing. well students performed under pressure. Students were given feedback from the interviewer to Send us your news via email to help them to prepare them for real University and job interviews. Thirty companies supported Mrs Leweson a Careers Fair held that afternoon and attended by students in Years 8, 9, 10 and 12 to provide lewesona@weatherhead. more information about careers, apprenticeships, training and University. Representatives from a wirral.sch.uk wide range of companies attended including the NHS, Liverpool Galleries and Museums, Nat West Bank, Jaguar and Landrover. The day was a great experience for the students and allowed them to gain valuable information from experts in their field.

Students enjoy a workshop

Careers Fair

8 WEATHER REPORT

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 8 16/09/2013 08:12 An Eventful Time at Weatherhead

Rainforest Roadshow masks Rainforest Roadshow

he Rainforest Roadshow returned to Weatherhead bringing the rainforest to life with an animated talk from Amazon TDave and his collection of giant stick insects, tarantulas and tropical artefacts. The girls learnt about the rainforest habitat and creatures and had the opportunity to taste rainforest foods and hold insects. Dave shared his intrepid travelling Creepy experiences with the girls and passed on the skills acquired from the Waorani and crawly Quichua people of Ecuador including how to handle a giant blow dart!

Year 8 students meet Angela Eagle Local MP Visits Weatherhead ear 8 student campaigners had an opportunity to meet local MP LIPA project band Angela Eagle to raise and discuss the issues close to their hearts. The girls are seeking backing to improve Wirral’s parks and protect them LIPA Project from funding cuts. The group has already been in contact with local councillors Y ver fifty of our Year 8 and 9 talented musicians, and with the local residents’ park committee and valued the exchange with dancers and actresses were involved in an Ms Eagle to understand more about the lobbying process and to discuss exciting Performing Arts project in conjunction campaign developments. withO the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). LIPA tutors worked with the girls within their Mini showcase performance discipline of Dance, Music or Drama. Students spent seven weeks developing their Dance choreography, devising a Drama performance based on stereotyping and class prejudice and putting together a band. The project culminated in a performance showcase to parents which was well received. Musicians performed Trouble by Taylor Swift and Next to Me by Emelie Sandé and dancers performed to Seal’s Crazy. We are delighted to be one of LIPA’s chosen partner schools within Merseyside and look forward to working with them again next year.

Performing Arts Mini Showcases erforming Arts students continued to wow audiences with mini showcases which took place in the Theatre once a month during the Summer term. Students were able to perform pieces that they had perfected during class as well as during Drama club and extra- P curricular Music lessons. The mini showcases will continue this year … watch this space. For all the latest news visit www.weatherhead.wirral.sch.uk 9

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 9 16/09/2013 08:12 An Eventful Time at Weatherhead

Mini Olympics Omelette Challenge One-to-One Day & World Arts Day tudents in Years 7 and 8 enjoyed a day off timetable taking part in One-to-One and World Arts Day. Year 7 spent the morning developingS their Study Skills and partaking in interviews with their form tutor to discuss their progress and targets. This was followed by well-being activities including Zumba, Circus skills, Drama, Samba Self defence drumming, jewellery making and mini Olympics. Year 8 students spent the morning participating in well-being activities and taking part in their form tutor interviews and got creative in the afternoon decorating Dream Boxes inspired by Aboriginal art. For the last session of the day the girls took part in a Fun for Food demonstration run by the school caterer Chartwells which included the infamous Omelette Challenge! Dream boxes

‘Stepping Up’ Summer School Creative Showcase ifty five of our new Year 7 students attended the ‘Stepping rt, Design Technology, Media and Music departments joined Up’ Summer School, designed to aid the transition from forces for Weatherhead’s first Creative Showcase. The school primary to secondary school, whilst encouraging the girls to came alive with a showcase of the creative skills and talent improve their creative, teamwork, organisational and communication of our students - the standard of work exhibited was amazing. Visitors F A skills. The girls worked in groups and were involved in Drama games, were able to view GCSE and A Level Art and Textiles work in the a tour of the school, mini Olympics, creative Maths, introduction to foyer as well as horror posters, films and radio adverts in the Theatre. Shakespeare, as well as jewellery and bath bomb making. They also Visitors were also treated to an open air concert in the sunshine on managed to fit in a trip to Chester University and the Chester Roman Weatherhead’s Street area with performances by Chamber Choir, Hitting Experience which included taking part in a Roman centurion foot the High Notes students and soloists of Abba’s Thank You for the Music patrol! The girls had a fantastic week which helped prepare them for and Penny Lane by Lennon and McCartney. Thank you to staff and starting at Weatherhead. students who helped to coordinate the event and contributed work.

Year 10 Media work Summer Schoolers

10 WEATHER REPORT

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 10 16/09/2013 08:12 Department News

MATHS Gifted Mathematicians at

UKMT Challenge winners Weatherhead

Students prepare for UKMT Challenge

ear 8 students Talia Bell, Holly Cook, Poppy Heron and Poppy UKMT Junior Maths O’Brien represented Weatherhead in the UK Mathematics Trust Team Maths Challenge at Birkenhead School. The team Challenge 2013 enduredY four rounds of challenging questions including a relay where they had to run and answer questions! The girls had been ear 7 and 8 recently took part in the UKMT Junior Maths practising hard covering the types of questions that might have come Challenge, which involved sitting a ‘puzzle Maths’ style paper and up and were well prepared for the challenge. The girls enjoyed the competing against students from all over the country. This was experience and beat last year’s position. Ya great opportunity to apply mathematical and problem solving skills that were developed during lessons and certificates were presented to the high achievers. Abbie Lorimer from Year 7 was awarded ‘Best in School’. Mathamagical Visit

ight Year 10 pupils visited the University of Chester with Turning the Miss Gordon. The girls learnt how to apply Mathematics to create games such as Angry Birds and Cut the Rope, card Tables tricksE relying on Maths to appear magical, made a mobius strip, solved problems like an Egyptian and learnt how to juggle! aths Teacher, Miss Cook, and a group of keen mathematicians known as the Times Tables Friends organised a Times Table Challenge and Times Tables week ENGLISH Mfor Year 7 and 8 students. As a result, the girls all improved their times tables and thoroughly enjoyed the lunchtime and lesson activities. Congratulations to Year 7 student Caisey Joy and Emma Smith in Year Skyping with Poland! 8 who took the ‘Times Table Champion’ title for their year groups! ear 12 English Language students took part in an English/ Polish video conference with students from Lowicz, Central MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES (MFL) Poland. Comenius Assistant, Magda Salamon, organised the YSkype session with teenagers from her home town. Our students discovered more about learning English as a foreign language and the Polish students enjoyed practising their English and benefited greatly Bom Dia Weatherhead! from the experience and the support they received. Well done and e are delighted to welcome Portuguese teacher Ana Sofia thank you to our English Language students who took part. De Matos Ferreira to school who joins us as an Assistant as part of the British Council’s Comenius programme. WAna will be working with students and staff to develop a greater awareness and celebration of the range of European cultures and traditions we can learn from. Ana Sofia will be working with students in a range of lessons from PSHCE to Humanities - there may also be opportunities for students to learn more about the language and culture in extra- curricular activities. I am sure we will all help to make her feel welcome and we are looking forward to working with her. Skyping

For all the latest news visit www.weatherhead.wirral.sch.uk 11

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 11 16/09/2013 08:12 Department News

SCIENCE STEM Leaders

National Science & Engineering Week (NSEW)

ational Science & Engineering Week is celebrated every Nyear in March and aims to show young people how Science, Technology, STEM Leaders Award Engineering and Maths (STEM) relate to our group of keen Year 9 students were given the chance to everyday lives. Students are complete their STEM Leaders Award. To achieve the Award, the encouraged to participative girls were expected to write a letter of application explaining in fun, creative and Science Awhy they would like to become a STEM Leader and complete a based activities to inspire the registration form. Each of the girls interviewed a STEM professional about next generation of scientists and engineers. The theme this year was their job and produced a 650 word report. Congratulations to Agalya ‘Invention and Discovery’. Our Key Stage 3 students took part in Amalanathan, Megan Cockcroft, Rebecca Gardner, Jacey Hesketh and Science themed assemblies and were given the chance to complete Jessica Hesketh who all completed the Award. a range of exciting activities in lessons including an invention competition. CREST Bronze Award

fter their end of Key Stage 3 examinations Year 9 classes were given the opportunity to develop their independent enquiry skills and conduct Aa piece of scientific research on anything they wanted. Examples included how many elastic bands does it take to explode fruit? Are the soaps that kill 99.9% of bacteria real? Plus a variety of make-up experiments.

Students with their Weather-bot Big Bang Fair

he four winning CREST Award projects were taken to St. George’s Hall to compete in the Big Bang North West. Robot Wars The girls presented their research and explained their our Year 10 students were invited to join forty students projectsT to students from competing schools and a panel of expert from secondary schools across Merseyside for the judges. The competition was stiff and unfortunately the girls did not MerseySTEM Vex Robotics Challenge held at Deyes High go through to the National finals. However, they had a great day School,F Maghull. The girls-only event, organised to celebrate taking part in the competition and an array of fun scientific activities. International Women’s Day, involved students working in teams to build a robot (which they cleverly named the Weather-bot) and go into battle in a Robot Wars style competition. Unfortunately, the group did not win but the Weather-bot was the first robot to be completed on the day, well done girls!

The Big Bang Fair

12 WEATHER REPORT

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 12 16/09/2013 08:12 Department News

STEM Day Do You Wanna Dance?

n One-to-One Day Year 9 ance students were lucky students had the chance enough to be invited to to develop their STEM attend a Saturday master skillsO and were challenged with classD run by practitioners from designing and building a model the Lowry’s Centre for Advanced roller-coaster or marble run! Students create marble run Training in Dance (CAT). The Taster Students worked together Workshop was an opportunity for our girls who have a passion in groups turning their design concept into a reality. There were and talent for Dance to explore their potential through a practical some excellent entries including a ‘loop the loop’ roller-coaster and three hour session with a tutor from the CAT Programme. The girls a roller-coaster that lasted an impressive twenty two seconds. Well thoroughly enjoyed the workshop which was particularly beneficial done Year 9 - you showed that there are some budding designers, for our exam classes. engineers and entrepreneurs amongst you! MUSIC PERFORMING ARTS

Performing Arts Examination Success Production Team Grace Blundell Year 11 Grade 6 Saxophone Tom Brooks Year 13 Grade 8 Electrical Guitar Courtney Campbell Year 11 Grade 4 Vocal Georgia Foundation Year 7 Grade 2 Musical Theatre Shanane Hollingworth Year 7 Grade 1 Vocal Tamar Lee-Hart Year 13 Grade 7 Clarinet Ellie McGrath Year 7 Grade 2 Piano Charley McGuiness Year 9 Grade 3 Vocal

Spotlight on Youth

he new Performing Arts GCSE course, which was alented vocalist Jessica launched last September, has proved a huge success Henry in Year 8 performed for the twenty seven girls currently taking the course. Turning Tables by Adele at TThey have had a busy year studying sound and lighting techniques, Tthe Spotlight on Youth variety show at stage management and front of house as well as improving the Floral Pavilion. Jess joined a line-up performance skills in Drama, Dance and Music. They were able to of thirty three acts and over two showcase their performance skills and provide technical support at hundred performers from Wirral and the Performing Arts Mini Showcases, the school production of Peter the North West. Held every year for Pan and the Summer Sizzler. over thirty years, Spotlight On Youth has developed into one of the North West’s premier children’s variety DANCE shows showcasing talented youngsters from Wirral and beyond. The show he Dance department had a busy raises thousands of pounds for the Mayor Summer term, working hard on of Wirral’s Special Charity Appeal. The former Mayor, Councillor performances for the Performing Arts Gerry Ellis, supported three local charities; Birkenhead YMCA, Wirral MiniT Showcases, Key Stage 3 Awards Evening and the Summer Sizzler. and North Cheshire Prostate Cancer Support Group and Wirral Dancers from Year 8 and 9 performed a beautiful dance based Guide and Scout Associations. around the theme ‘Street Life’ to Ellie Goulding’s I Need Your Love (choreographed by Miss Luscombe). Some of our most talented Year 10 and 11 dancers performed to Bruce Springsteen’s Streets of Philadelphia (choreographed by Miss Chappell) based around Follow the negative connotations surrounding gang culture. us on... @WeatherheadHigh

For all the latest news visit www.weatherhead.wirral.sch.uk 13

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 13 16/09/2013 08:12 Department News

Jazz Band at A QUESTION OF SPORT Mariner’s Park

Battle of the Atlantic Wirral Schools’ Celebrations Relay Championships strong team of girls in Years 8 to 11 competed in the azz Band were invited to perform a mixed repertoire Wirral Schools’ Relay Championships at the Oval Sports of new and old favourites to the residents of Mariners Centre in Bebington. The girls performed well, particularly Park Care Home, New Brighton. An audience of twenty Alex Collins, Chloe Eccleson and Taylor Johnson who came second five residents, including a group of ex-Merchant Navy Seamen A J in the 100m, 800m and 300m respectively. Weatherhead finished in (and their medals), enjoyed the concert to mark the 70th fourth place overall in the relay with each year group represented as Anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic. The students were a follows: credit to the school, some of them taking time out from their Year 7 - Libbie Davies, Chloe Filer, Alisha Jones and Lia Metcalf. A level and GCSE studies to perform in the concert which was Year 8 - Georgia Barber, Amy McKiernan, Charley Quinn, Niamh much appreciated by the residents and staff. Rattray and Chloe Swift. Year 9 - Janie Allen, Alex Collins, Chloe Eccleson, Rebecca Gardner, Georgia Murphy, Jessica Spilsbury and Amy Thompson. Year 10 - Faye Dean, Amber Ledward, Hannah Newton, Megan Smyth, Sophie Turner, Kyra Woolley and Amy Wyatt. Keeping Track

eatherhead students had their first taste of competition Jazz Band meet Merchant Seaman when they took part in the Year 7 Wirral Athletics Tournament at the Oval. Molly Banford, Millie Blair, Ella Burns, LibbieW Davies, Lois Davies, Chloe Filer, Faye Jenkins, Alicia Jones, Lia Metcalf, Amy Seabury and Samantha Seabury competed in a variety of disciplines including shot, discus, long jump, 150m and 800m with some great first time scores. The girls loved their first experience of Musicians are track and field events and hope to continue next year. Note Perfect! Everybody was r Brown and Mrs Rees were delighted that Jazz Band and Chamber Kung Fu Fighting! Choir were invited to perform at the MNotes for Notes - Wirral Schools’ Music Service concert at the Floral ew this year, GCSE PE students were given Pavilion for the second year running. The event showcased over the opportunity to study Martial Arts within curriculum time. 500 young musicians from secondary schools across Wirral with Their hard work was rewarded when they completed their final proceeds going to the new Mayor Councillor Dave Mitchell’s Charity assessment in front of an external moderator and achieved outstanding SSAFA Forces Help Wirral Breast Cancer N Appeal which supports , and marks. The girls performed brilliantly, showcasing the high level of skill Wirral Deaf Children’s Society. they have acquired in Karate this year. A big thank you goes to Sensei Paul Nolan for his excellent coaching and inspiring programme.

14 WEATHER REPORT

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 14 16/09/2013 08:12 Department News

Trampolining squad Wirral Schools’ Rounders Tournament he Wirral Schools’ Rounders Tournament is an annual event hosted by Wirral Grammar School with students from Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 represented. Our Year 7 and 8 students competedT against Birkenhead High School Academy, Oldershaw School, Prenton High School for Girls, South Wirral High School, West Kirby Grammar School and Wirral Grammar School for Girls’ B Team. Well done to Abisaliny Arunprakash, Seliena Clarke, Year 7 & 8 Triatheletes Erin Cuthbert, Lois Davies, Alisha Gibson, Abby Jackson, Hannah Reynolds, Chloe Roscoe, Phoebe Rowlands, Georgia Sprigings, Hattie Townsend and Bethany Ward-Scott.

Going for The Year 9 team, captained by Gemma Moreland, comprised Ellie Ainsworth, Megan Cockroft, Lucy Greer, Chloe Jones, Chloe Kwok, Gold! Gemma Moreland, Lucy Seddon, Amy Taylor and Olivia Whetnall. The team competed against St. Mary’s College, Upton Hall School, eatherhead girls joined hundreds Wallasey School, Wirral Grammar School for Girls and Woodchurch of students from schools across High School. Wirral to participate in the Wirral Schools’ Games at the Oval. Amongst the successes W Year 10 had two squads competing and played four tough matches were Weatherhead’s Under 15s Football team who played in against Oldershaw School, St. Mary’s College, Weatherhead High five games, scoring thirteen goals. Year 9 student Jessica Splisbury School and Wirral Grammar School for Girls. was the leading goal scorer of the tournament and was awarded ‘Woman of the Tournament’. Team A comprised Eleanor Cox, Faye Hunter (captain), Molly Evanson, Shannon Gower, Amber Ledward, Shannon Jones, Leah Girls from Years 7 and 8 were delighted to represent McGinty, Melissa Pugh and Amy Wyatt. Weatherhead for the first time in the Triathlon. The teams comprised Libby Myers, Abbie Lorimer, Abbie Lowery, Katie Team B comprised Sophie Cameron, Ellie Greenough, Rachel Mann, Georgia Mercer, Kezia O’Brien, Katie Ross, Ashleigh Holden, Banusha Kugabalan, Jazmine Markl, Charley Miller (captain), Watson and Georgia Williams with Year 7 student Katie Mann Maddie Thomson, Sophie Turner and Kyra Woolley. The girls all played sprinting home to finish in first place! fantastically well and were a credit to the school. Year 8 Rounders team Jodie Diamond captained the Trampolining squad comprising Megan Berry, Niamh Caley, Rebecca Chittick, Holly Cook, Aine Corcoran, Hannah Davies, Lauren Hancox, Melissa Whitwell and Emily Williams who finished in fourth place.

Sports Day winners

Sports Day Year 9 Rounders squad he PE department hosted Sports Day for Years 7 to 9 Year 10 Rounders squad during the July heat wave. TEach form was allocated a country which the girls then competed under. The day saw a huge amount of talent in each event, with each country cheering and willing on their teams to success. The girls showed excellent sportsmanship as Japan took the title winning with 277 points. Second place was awarded to Australia and Germany came third. The Olympic podium from last summer made a second appearance and was a great addition to the medal ceremony!

For all the latest news visit www.weatherhead.wirral.sch.uk 15

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 15 16/09/2013 08:12 Department News

ART HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (HSC)

There’s a First Weathertots he schools’ mother and toddler group Weathertots waved Time for Everything farewell to one of their regular attendees, a local ine Art and Textiles students childminder who is retiring and has been bringing were delighted to display childrenT to Mrs Hearne’s group for almost fifteen years! Our Health their work in a wide variety of and Social Care students who support the group presented her venuesF across Hoylake in The Festival of with flowers. Mrs Roden and Mrs Hearne organised a graduation Firsts. Now in its third year, the Festival ceremony and leaving party for the tots who were leaving the group provides opportunities for creative to start primary school in September. Art students in Venice people of any age from across Wirral to showcase their work in different locations. Ceramics, poetry and photography was exhibited, as well as the artwork from Weatherhead students!

Weathertots

Art on Hoylake promenade If any parents or friends of the school wish to register for a place ! at Weathertots please contact Mrs Roden on 0151 631 4400 Recycled Art PERSONAL, SOCIAL, HEALTH & ear 9 Art and Design students completed a recycling and eco- CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION (PSHCE) awareness project in the Summer term. The project was run in conjunction with the local council and required girls to team Yup with other students to create large pieces of art which were displayed on old blueprints of landfill sites and waste ground. The girls created fantastic pieces using a variety of weird and wonderful Party Politics resources including fused bubble wrap, melted crisp and sweet s part of their PSHCE wrappers, weaving, printing and painting. The results were displayed course Year 9 students locally for all to see. Year 9 recycled art study politics and goAvernment. To make the topic more exciting, Mrs Moretta encouraged the girls to create their own political parties complete with manifesto and party political broadcast based on things they would change about school. Students watched each of the party political broadcasts over a number of lessons and the year group voted for their favourite. The whole process of putting together a political party, deciding on policies, creating promotional videos and voting dispelled the girls’ preconceptions that politics is boring! The ‘Weatherhead Girls’ Party’ was the overall winner taking the majority of votes with their policies on bullying, free lessons and uniform. Party members Chloe Eccleston and Sophie Ryall were delighted with their win and learnt a lot from the experience.

16 WEATHER REPORT

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 16 16/09/2013 08:12 Trips

Taking Things to the Anyone for Tea? he Food department took ‘Art of the Matter Year 10 Catering students to the Liverpool Maritime MuseumT to experience a traditional afternoon tea in preparation for their coursework which is worth 20% of their GCSE. Students sampled a range of culinary delights and discussed ideas with the chef who came into Weatherhead to review their practical controlled assessments. The visit certainly wet the girls’ appetites and inspired them to create and present their own delicious high tea treats. Art students in Venice

ight of our talented Year 12 Art students took creative inspiration for their Arts and Textiles exams from a fantastic trip to Venice, organised and chaperoned by EMrs Freckleton and Mrs Stewart. The trip aimed to stimulate and inspire students’ minds with the rich tapestry of culture, art, In My Liverpool Home Level Geography students enjoyed a whistle stop architecture and uniqueness of this ‘floating’ city. The group visited tour of Liverpool as part of their World Cities unit. The all the favourite tourist spots including the Piazza San Marco, group visited Toxteth, Childwall, Calderstones, Allerton Doges Palace, the famous Rialto Bridge, the Galleria dell’Accademia, Road, Otterspool, the Festival Gardens, Brunswick Park ending not forgetting the obligatory gondola ride as well as a Ghost Tour A at the Albert Docks and looked into the characteristics, causes of the city by night to end the trip. and effects of urbanisation. They also looked at the geographic elements of the different areas surrounding the city.

Jamie Oliver Restaurant Visit Sutra performance our of our students on vocational courses, Katy Greenwell, Georgi Hayes, Leah Sage and Cheyenne Tripping the Light Fantastic Stewart, were taken to Jamie Oliver’s Italian in Liverpool OneF by MTEC to see first-hand how their new found cooking iss Chappell and Miss Gould took fifteen Weatherhead skills could be put to good use. Sharon Plant from MTEC in Dance students to see Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s, critically Liscard is responsible for delivering the Jamie Oliver Home acclaimed Sutra at the Lowry Theatre, Salford. The Cookery Course which introduces practical cooking skills and aims Mperformance saw Cherkaoui (one of Europe’s most exciting to set students up for life. Our girls loved the course and enjoyed choreographers) collaborate with sculptor Antony Gormley and the trip to the restaurant even more! seventeen practicing Shaolin Buddhist monks from China. Combining elements of Tai Chi, Kung Fu and Contemporary Dance along with a stunning set and beautiful music, Sutra was truly breathtaking.

For all the latest news visit www.weatherhead.wirral.sch.uk 17

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 17 16/09/2013 08:12 Trips

Ferry Cross the Mersey group of fifty keen Year 10 Geographers took the ferry to Liverpool’s Waterfront where they carried out their fieldwork into whether tourists visiting Liverpool have a positive impact on the Acity. The girls carried out questionnaires, completed environmental surveys, carried out land use surveys, undertook pedestrian counts and completed field sketches before taking the ferry back to Seacombe. The students studied their results upon their return to school. All Around the World...

he Science department took Year 7 girls to the World Museum for a day of hands on Science activities. The day included a visit to the planetarium to travel through the Solar System from the Sun to the furthest reaches of the Universe and to Tlearn about how our view of the Universe has changed. During the Rock Pool session, girls learnt about the diversity of life within our local shore ecosystems and were able to get up close with some of the local inhabitants, including starfish, crabs and anemones! A How Science Works session called ‘The Invisible Dinosaur’ enabled the girls to look at scientific evidence through the recreation of a fossil footprint and worked out what the creature was really like millions of years ago!? The day was rounded off with an introduction to museum specimens and live creepy crawlies to learn about taxonomic groups including insects, arachnids and myriapods. Year 7 visit the World Museum

Year 8 Performing Year 12 Trip to Liverpool Arts Residential University rs Day and a group of Year 12 students spent a day at Liverpool ixty talented Year 8 Performing Arts students University to hear from Mathematicians who use Maths every with a keen interest in Dance, Drama and Music day in their careers. The group heard how Maths has been enjoyed a weekend residential at the beautiful used in research and creating computer programmes. Did you know that Ingestre Hall in Staffordshire. During the weekend M S mathematicians are responsible for designing many everyday items including students enjoyed a creative learning experience cooling towers, electronically heated aircraft windscreens, non-drip tea in Drama, Music and Dance in a stunning working pots and a method for filling sausage skins with meat so they don’t burst!? environment. The workshops were designed to improve Mathematics is used in important calculations to stop oil tankers crashing into the girls’ skills in improvisation, song writing and submarines, in cancer research, treatment and prognosis. choreography. The hot weather allowed rehearsals and evening activities to be held outside and a great time was had by all. The students were able to perform their pieces at the final Mini Performing Arts Showcase a few weeks later as well as during assembly and at Key Stage 3 It’s Behind You! Awards Evening. ur GCSE Performing Arts students were lucky enough to receive a backstage tour of theO Floral Pavilion. The tour covered information about the Theatre facilities (including technical specifications and lighting and sound equipment), job roles, how Theatre shows are organised as well as a look at the dressing room facilities, stage space and features of the auditorium. The trip Performing Arts students allowed the girls to relate the technical running of the school’s Theatre with that of a professional theatre and provided scope for their portfolio work.

18 WEATHER REPORT

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 18 16/09/2013 08:12 Trips

The Walker Art Gallery

ixth Form students Abbie Jones, Rebecca Law, Lindsay McCavish, Emma Minshull andS Katie Usher visited the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool with Miss Robinson. After a guided tour of Year 9 in Ypres the gallery (which houses one of Europe’s finest collections of art) the girls delivered a session about their favourite paintings within the Gallery. The Walker is Year 9 Battlefields Trip a fantastic venue currently housing Rankin’s critically acclaimed Alive: In the Face of Death exhibition. The day allowed the girls to he History department took their annual pilgrimage to develop their teamwork skills, build their knowledge of Art and the battlefields of World War 1 and Ypres with forty Year learn a little about what goes on behind the scenes at a major 9 students. After an early start on the first day, a smooth art exhibition. Look out Sir Roy Strong! Tferry crossing to Calais and a short coach journey, the group arrived in the beautiful Belgian town of Ypres. The day continued with a visit to the In Flanders Field Museum which presents the First World War in graphic detail with the help of interactive installations. The girls participated in the nightly ceremony of remembrance at the Menin Gate, with two students laying a wreath on behalf of the school. The second day included a trip to the Musee Somme 1916 as well We’re All Going to as a guided tour of the battlefields ofYpres Salient, the trenches at Sanctuary Wood and memorial cemeteries - a rather sombre and the Zoo Tomorrow ear 8 and 9 students went to Chester Zoo and were poignant experience for the girls. The journey home gave a chance delighted to meet new arrivals Eastern black rhino calf for the group to reflect on their experiences and brought home the Embu and four week old Sumatran tiger cubs. The girls importance of never forgetting the millions who lost their lives in the rode the monorail and the water bus, got their faces painted, First World War and wars since. Y bought and wore animal masks and saw as many of the 11,000 animals who live at the Zoo as possible. The bat cave, the orangutan enclosure and the butterfly house were particular Year 10 Artists Draw favourites! Students enjoy the zoo Inspiration

ear 10 Fine Art and Textiles Students visited the Manchester Museum and Ythe Whitworth Art Gallery to gain inspiration and ideas for their own portfolios. The Museum (which is owned by the University of Manchester) displays works of archaeology, anthropology and natural history. The group viewed cultural artefacts from around the world and saw works by artists as diverse as JMW Turner, Edvard Munch and Paul Gauguin. Despite it being one of the hottest days of the year, the students were enthused for their upcoming projects and GCSE exams next summer.

Drayton Manor ear 10 were treated to a day trip at Drayton Manor Theme Park in Shropshire. After a two hour coach journey the girls were given six hours to discover the park in groups. Highlights of the Yday included the sunshine, the 15 acre zoo (housing over 100 species) and most of the thrill rides: Apocalypse (named as the UK’s scariest ride), G Force and Pandemonium.

For all the latest news visit www.weatherhead.wirral.sch.uk 19

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 19 16/09/2013 08:12 Trips

London Calling Students go underground Croeso i Conway! iss Elliott, Miss Lambert and ver two hundred excited Mrs Carney accompanied Year 7 students made fifteen Year 12 students the annual pilgrimage to Mon a jam packed trip to London the Conway Centre in Anglesey taking in many of the most famous O during the last week of the cultural and historic sights of the Summer term. Now in its city starting with a whistle stop fourth year, the residential tour of Harrods where the group had the opportunity to buy gifts and is a vital part of the school’s Some students canoe for the first time experience the amazing food hall. The day continued at a fast pace with programme of enrichment activities providing the chance for girls a behind the scenes tour of the new BBC building where students had to develop new skills. Students and staff enjoyed the heat wave and the opportunity to present the weather. The day ended with a hearty spent three jam packed days taking part in a variety of activities. meal at the Giraffe Café before a performance of the amazing West End musical Wicked! After a late night and an early wake-up call the group The more adventurous students chose rock climbing, the zip wire, visited Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on the South Bank. Armed with a canoeing and raft building whilst others took part in arts and crafts, tube map and their Oyster card handy, students headed off on their drama and orienteering to name but a few. Leadership and team own for four hours of ‘free time’. The day finished with a relaxing river work were essential as was learning to live and work with friends cruise down the Thames and a flight on the London Eye. and peers. As always the disco proved the highlight of the residential!

Weatherhead Extra

Film Fiesta magazine launch Read All About It! tudents from Journalism Club, run by Mrs Joynson and Miss Parkins, worked hard over the Summer term producing two editions of their newly launched Film Fiesta magazine. Students worked together conducting interviews, typing up articlesS and choosing images for the magazine which is available to read on the school website. Our budding journalists are Imogen Cook, Sophie Ellis, Jade Hibbin-Hudson, Niamh Kelly, Kezia O’Brien, Courtney Render, Courtney Robinson, Emma Smith and Chantelle White! Offering That Little Bit Extra... e offer an extensive extra- Extended Schools curricular activity timetable at Weatherhead and all our Programme students,W particularly those in Year 7, are encouraged to attend at least eatherhead’s Extended one club per term. The clubs on offer Schools Programme include drama, choir, orchestra, jazz continues to go band, reading buddies, cookery, poetry, fromW strength to strength and gymnastics, trampolining, football, offers a number of activities to students, parents and gardening, radio, film, homework, craft, members of the local community every Monday evening. friendship and much, much more. This year we have enjoyed classes in Cookery, Latin, English as an Additional Language (EAL), First Aid with St. John Ambulance and Zumba! Classes will commence in October … please look for details on Weatherhead’s Check your form room and the website for the full timetable website as we may have new classes starting next term. ! and get involved!

20 WEATHER REPORT

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 20 16/09/2013 08:12 Charity

Year 12 Get Packing! hirteen Year 12 students have signed up for the World Challenge Expedition in July 2014 to Malaysia. Natalie Abbott, Joseph Atherton, Kate Benson, Olivia Brandwood, TCharlotte Burgess, Erin Courtney, Khushbu Morar, Sarah Noble, Ruth Piercy, Eleanor Raftery, Alex Ruse, Jasmine Williams and Tara Van Woerdekom will spend five days working with a local blind school to renovate classrooms and complete a four day trek through the Cameron Highlands as well as visiting Kuala Lumpur! To help pay for the expedition, students completed a charity bag pack at Morrisons, New Brighton. The students’ next fundraising project will be a staff car wash.

Year 9 complete the Wirral Coastal Walk Coast to Coast

orty Year 9 students and 3 members of staff completed the annual fifteen mile Wirral CoastalF Walk. The day began at Seacombe Ferry terminal at 10.00am and after passing through New Brighton, Leasowe, Meols, Hoylake and West Kirby (stopping off for refreshments and ice creams on the way) the group reached Thurstaston at around 4.00pm. The group raised a staggering £2,000 in sponsorship which was donated to the Year 9 nominated charity, Team George. Team George was set up by former Weatherhead pupil, Hannah Cassidy, to raise awareness and support for children, like her nephew George Comic Relief Johnson, who suffer from a rare motility condition which he Food department received over fifty entries from all year means they cannot eat or drink. George’s Mum, Emma groups for their Comic Relief themed cake competition. The Johnson, came into school at the end of June to receive standard of entries was outstanding and the girls put a huge a cheque for £3,000 which was the total raised by Tamount of effort into their cake baking and decoration. Staff judged the students since September. cakes and after much deliberation the winners were Georgia Smith (Year 7), Millie Marshallsay (Year 8), Alex Collins and Jessica Hesketh (Year 9) and Team George cheque presentation Emma Segar (Year 10). After the competition, cakes were offered for sale to staff and students with over £250 raised for Comic Relief.

Red Nose Day cake

For the most up-to-date Extra Curricular information and timetable visit www.weatherhead.wirral.sch.uk/keyparentsinformationforparents/extracurricular 21

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 21 16/09/2013 08:12 Primary Liaison

Literacy Leaders

A Sense of Community Creative Literacy Event ollowing on from six weeks e continue to offer a varied and rich of fairy tale themed Drama Community Programme to pupils from workshops (run by Miss Elliott our partner and feeder primaries in our Media Arts Specialism Manager) over Drama, Dance, Music, Media, Cookery, Sport F W thirty enthusiastic Year 5 and 6 pupils and Art. Staff and students put on activities and from Mount Primary and St. George’s events throughout the year inviting pupils into Primary School filled the Learning Weatherhead as well as reaching out to primaries. Resource Centre (LRC) for an afternoon. Last year we engaged hundreds of pupils in film Year 12 Literacy Leaders, aided by Mrs making, cake baking, drawing, creative literacy, singing Ronan, created fun and challenging and dancing. Pupils were also invited to attend our activities for the pupils including word school production of Peter Pan and the Summer searches and describing and creating Creative Literacy in the LRC Sizzler community event. You can keep up-to-date fairy tale characters. The event was also supported by with all our community work by visiting the latest Year 12 Arts Leaders. The event was a great way for pupils to news page on the school website. engage in fun activities whilst developing their literacy skills.

Artist in Residence

ocal watercolour artist, Ian Fennelly, delivered two Saturday workshops Weatherhead Bake Off with pupils from Great Meols Primary SchoolL and Somerville Primary School as well as Weatherhead GCSE and A Level Art students. Ian spent the mornings working with Year 5 and 6 pupils to produce drawings of local landscape scenes and helping to develop them into watercolour paintings. Pupils found the sessions really fun and produced some beautiful work. During the afternoons, Ian worked with Weatherhead’s GCSE and A level Art students, helping them Pupils show off their amazing art work to develop their drawing and painting skills. The students produced some impressive pieces which they can add to their portfolios.

22 WEATHER REPORT

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 22 16/09/2013 08:12 Primary Liaison

Summer Sizzler The Hottest Ticket In Town!

eatherhead once again hosted the annual community showcase the Summer Sizzler. Now in its second Summer Sizzler dancers year,W over 350 students came together to showcase their acts. Choirs from Egremont Primary, Liscard Primary, Mount Primary, St Alban’s Primary, St George’s Primary and Weatherhead delighted the audience with performances of Jessie J’s Price Tag, Penny Lane by the Beatles and New York by Alicia Keys. Year 2 pupils from Somerville Primary danced to Singing in the Rain and the New Brighton Primary street dancers were a hit with their choreography and costumes as well as Dance acts from Weatherhead and Foxfield School. This popular event, which ran over two nights, attracted an audience of six hundred family members and friends. The event was supported by our talented Year 10 Pacific Swing perform Performing Arts students who acted as sound and lighting engineers, back stage crew and front of house team.

The Icing on the Cake! CSLA Festival ighteen of our Community Sports Leaders coordinated ver sixty Year 5 pupils from St. George’s Primary School enjoyed the CSLA Festival involving over a hundred pupils from an afternoon of cupcake baking and decorating workshops with Greenleas Primary School and Mount Primary School. the Food Technology department. The mixed group of boys and Pupils spent the afternoon working on fun problem solving girls learnt baking and decorating skills and were extremely creative and E O activities and sporting activities. The pupils were put through made hedgehogs, caterpillars, ghosts and other fancy cupcake designs! their paces on the Astroturf playing a range of games and Staff and helpers enjoyed working with the pupils who were delighted trying to work out brainteasers. Our CSLA Leaders were great to leave Weatherhead with a selection of gorgeous cakes to impress ambassadors for the school and showed off their leadership their friends and families. We hope to run these baking workshops again skills and coordinated the day’s running order and arranged next year in what may become the Great Weatherhead Bake Off! refreshments and prizes for the pupils. The pupils enjoyed their day at Weatherhead and had a brilliant time. Many of them

Weatherhead Bake Off asked to come back next year!

CSLA Fun Day

For all the latest news visit www.weatherhead.wirral.sch.uk 23

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 23 16/09/2013 08:13 Primary Liaison

TIE performance Pure Theatrics

ear 10 GCSE Performing Arts students visited St. George’s Primary School and Greenleas Primary School to perform their TIE (Theatre in Education) piece to an audience of Year 5 and 6 pupils. The girls wereY formally assessed on all areas of the performance including devising of script, characterisation and acting skills under a controlled assessment environment which will form part of their final GCSE mark. The groups performed their ‘friendship’ and ‘stranger danger’ themed pieces brilliantly and the pupils were a great audience and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon. The afternoon also included a question and answer session which allowed pupils to comment on what they liked/disliked about the performance which will help our students strengthen their practical work in the future. ¡Olé! iss Chappell and Miss Gould linked with Head of Spanish, Miss Ryan, Mto take part in Riverside Primary School’s first ever Spanish Day. Weatherhead’s Dance department led Flamenco Dance sessions for pupils in Year 3, 4, 5 and 6. A smaller group of pupils (two from each year group) took part in an eatherhead celebrates its 10th anniversary this year of the additional workshop with Miss Chappell culminating school’s relocation to the Breck Road site. The school in a performance in their final assembly. A traditional officially opened its state of the art building in September Flamenco dancer in costume was also there to 2003. To mark this milestone we invite former students, staff and inspire and educate the pupils. It is hoped that this W community members to make contact. Over the course of the year we will become an annual event and will further develop will be holding celebrations and creating a showcase of Weatherhead’s Weatherhead’s relationship with Riverside. history and events. We look to our school community - present and past - to help us shape the true picture. Keep up with developments online at www.weatherhead.wirral.sch.uk or contact Mrs Leweson on 0151 631 4407.

For more information on Weatherhead’s Primary Liaison, contact In Memory Mrs Leweson via email lewesona@weatherhead. t is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of our school wirral.sch.uk caretaker, Mr Roy Nicholson, after a short illness. Roy was a committed or call colleague and valued member of our team. During the summer we also 0151 631 4407 Ireceived some very sad news that former Deputy Headteacher and friend, Mr Martin Boston, passed away after a very short illness whilst on holiday in Canada. Our thoughts are with Martin and Roy’s family and friends.

Weatherhead High School Breck Road, Wallasey, Wirral CH44 3HS Tel: 0151 631 4400 Fax: 0151 631 1805 Email: [email protected] Follow Website: www.weatherhead.wirral.sch.uk us on...

110_WR_Autumn13_v6.indd 24 16/09/2013 08:13