JULY 2010 Trinity School
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NEWSLETTER TO PARENTS and CARERS JULY 2010 Trinity School Dear Parents and Carers, Here we are then – the last newsletter of this school year – the swine-flu year, the rebuild-the-school year, the seemingly-busier-than-ever-year (but I am sure that many of us feel like that!). It has also been a very good year, and our students have given us so much to be grateful for and to make us very proud of them. Thanks also to all of the staff for their dedication and their care, and for all of the lessons and the trips and the activities and the conversations of the school. Thank you for your support and encouragement throughout the year – at services and parents’ evenings, at concerts and performances, at fixtures and matches, in supporting the trips and visits, by hosting Americans, for keeping in touch – it is much appreciated by all of us. As ever at this time of year , I have to report that some members of staff are leaving us this summer: Congratulations to the McAree family - Mr McAree has been appointed as sole deputy headteacher of Caldew School, while Mrs McAree moves even less far to take on the assistant headteacher – student welfare - at The Newman School. Ms Hawkin is moving back to Prudhoe High School, also as assistant head – after her recovery from serious illness this year. All three have made such a contribution to the school and we shall miss them greatly as they go. Mr (Stuart) Barker retires this year from his role as joint Curriculum Leader for Science – just at the point when science accommodation is finally resolved into our lovely new building! His calm and professional authority and wisdom have guided the department through many changes in his time with us. Ms Mullin is taking a year away from the English department to travel the world, and we look forward to welcoming her back in September 2011. The family Wheelhouse is also on the move: Paul, our Chaplain for the past seven years, has been accepted for training for the ordained ministry, and begins at Cranmer Hall in Durham in September. This means that Karen leaves the Learning Support department and Bethany also leaves our Year 7. Best wishes to them as this new chapter in their lives opens. Mrs Hamilton, having returned after her maternity leave, is now leaving (Maths) to look after her young daughter, but we may see her back on supply from time to time. Mr Rawlinson has done a good year with us in ICT and now moves to a permanent post in the south of the county. Having welcomed back Mrs Lyon and Mrs Miller from their maternity leaves, we have said farewell to Mrs Ben Dhaou and Ms Atkinson who stood in for them. However, Ms Atkinson will be back with us on a permanent basis from September as PE teacher. Mrs Cameron has also given up her role as PE Curriculum Support so that she can rejoin us in September, having been given a place on the Graduate Teacher Training Programme in PE – which is a very competitive scheme to get on to, so well done to her. Betty James also leaves us after 15 years’ service to the school, making sure that we are well cleaned every evening and being as pleasant as could be in the process. Our thanks to all of them for their work and contributions to the school, over many years or few, which have changed us for the better, and for their company, and our very good wishes to all of them for their different futures. And good wishes to everyone for the summer holidays ahead of us – for safe journeys and fair skies, good times and good company, until we meet again in September. Yours sincerely, Headteacher 1 RECENT EVENTS Year 11 Prom Over 220 students and staff had a wonderful evening together at the Year 11 Prom at the Crown and Mitre hotel on 25th June, to celebrate the end of exams, and to wish each other most well. A horse and carriage added to the occasion as everyone gathered at the front before processing in. There were photographs galore, a lovely meal, toasts and speeches and the Prom Awards before the dancing began with the Promenade Waltz! Well done to all students for making it such a happy event. Futures Ready Day On Tuesday 29th June Year 12 students took part in our Futures Ready conference. The normal timetable of Yr 12 lessons was suspended for the day and students attended talks and workshops, and spent time learning about and preparing university applications on line through UCAS (the University and Colleges Application System). The workshops varied from Acting Confidently and Preparing for Interview, Maximising Potential and Raising Motivation, Higher Education in Scotland, How to Prepare for Portfolio Interviews and also Connexions talks for those not planning to go to university. The day was rounded off by a talk for parents in the evening about how the university application system works and how to pay for higher education. The feedback from students and parents so far has been very positive indeed. Any student or parent/carer interested in finding out more about these processes is welcome to contact the Sixth Form Centre for further information. Music Masterclass On Wednesday 30th June 'Pianoman' Richard Meyrick was in school to work with students from years 7 to 13. During the afternoon 60 students watched 6 of our young musicians receive advice on their performances. Richard was not only impressed by the talent of these talented youngsters but also by the behaviour of the students watching the master schools he said 'When I started to perform the students were silent, you would have heard a pin drop and that does not happen in many schools I go into'. Later in the evening Richard gave a recital to a small but appreciative audience. Congratulations also to Daniel Brunskill (10DBI) who came second in the Lanercost Music festival and has also achieved a place at the Sage Centre’s Sunday Music school and in their Jazz band 'Jambone' Rock Night The 30th June also saw the schools annual rock night. 3 bands performed sets to the enthusiastic audience. The bands played a variety of music from rock to punk and it is good to see the school developing the talents of our students in a variety of styles of music. Year 13 Leaving Ball An evening of glamour, reminiscence and humour was enjoyed at our Year 13 Leavers' Ball, held at the Hallmark Hotel on Friday 2nd July. Over 160 students and staff celebrated the Class of 2010, and the atmosphere was warm and emotional. There were plenty of highlights during the evening, including the speeches and awards ceremony and also James Ferguson's film entitled 'Goodbye from the Teachers'. It was a lovely film, full of witty goodbyes and also gentle parodies of people and events. The film is solid proof that PE teacher Mr Phillips can really do double forward flips with consummate ease! Cultural Bazaar On Sunday 4th July, in spite of the wind and rain in the morning, the afternoon became sunny if breezy and some 2000 people enjoyed a superb and varied programme of events. As one of the organisers wrote earlier this week: ‘Well we have finished another amazing Culture Bazaar and now we have to put all our things away until another time...but I am writing here about the extraordinary role that Trinity School played both before and on the day to make it all possible… It speaks volumes for the commitment both you (Mr Lythgoe) and Trinity School have for the Community of Carlisle that you become full partners in this one day extravaganza of Culture sharing.’ FORTHCOMING EVENTS Sports Day The schools annual Sports Day will take place on Tuesday 13th July (weather permitting). This is an excellent yearly event and a showcase for the fantastic talent of our youngsters. All of our students in Years 7 to 10 attend this event as either participants or spectators and the first race will start at 12:45pm at the Sheepmount. On this day the students will be released from the Sheepmount at the end of the school day and they should make their way home from here unless they need to return to school to catch a bus. Any parents wishing to join us watching the students compete are more than welcome. Please do come along to what is a true highlight of the school year. 2 Results days this summer Please note these important dates, especially as the GCSE day is a Tuesday this year for the first time. AS/A2 Results Day – Thursday 19th August 2010 Carliol Library GCSE Results Day – Tuesday 24th August 2010 Chapman Library * * * New school year, new plans and arrangements Staff training days We have two staff training days at the beginning of next term (Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd September), which will allow us to make sure that we are ready and that the new building is ready for the new term. Beginning of term in September The first day of term for students is Monday 6th September. All students should be in school, although we are varying the start time slightly for some so that we can see how the new entrance and building work! Years 7, 10, 11, and 12 arrive at the normal time for a prompt start at 8.30am. Year 13 students should be in the Sixth Form Centre by 9.30am at the latest, and then.