www.lathomhighschool.org Issue five ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM LATHOM HIGH SCHOOL

LATHOM CELEBRATE STUDENTS ACHIEVEMENT IN STYLE

AROUND THE WORLD IN ONE DAY – Local primary schools enjoy a school day at Lathom WE SAY GOODBYE AND GOOD LUCK TO YEAR 11 AT LEAVERS PROM COME AND VISIT US AT OUR OPEN EVENING on Thursday 25th September AROUND THE WORLD IN ONE DAY

WELCOME TO OUR On Friday 4th LATEST EDITION July we invited 350 primary OF LATHOM LIFE. school children from many of our local schools to enjoy a school As this school year comes to an end I am writing to you to say thank day at Lathom. you for your continued support of our school. Throughout the day the children were This has been a year in which everyone at Lathom has faced a number of split up into groups and went round to challenges, and one where we have shared in many successes. There is so different lessons with their teachers much to reflect on and celebrate; from our best ever exam results to the and our student guides. The children recent Summer Awards Evening which was such a wonderful celebration of got a real flavour of what life is like achievement, I want to thank every student, parent and member of staff for the at Lathom taking part in various role they have played in this year. We couldn’t do it without this team effort that different subjects including Maths, makes Lathom so special. English, Science, PE, Drama, Art, Geography and Technology. At lunch While ready for the rest that the summer holidays will bring, I look forward with time the children were entertained great anticipation to September and the challenge of leading Lathom as we in the Arts Theatre by some of our strive to do even better in the coming year. talented students dancing and The time has also come for me to thank several members of staff who leave us playing the piano, also Mr Haynes this summer and to acknowledge the contribution that they have made to the displayed some fantastic science life of the school and to the lives of so many Lathom students, past and present. experiments. We would like to thank all of the staff and children from the Leaving us are Miss Wright, Mrs Brettle, Mrs Edgar, Miss Morris and Mrs primaries for choosing to spend a day Casement who are all moving on to new challenges. Mrs Clark is also leaving us at Lathom and we hope to see you to go on maternity leave. We look forward to welcoming 7 new members of staff again very soon. to Lathom and we will introduce them to you in our Lathom Life newsletter after the holidays. After 37 and 34 years respectively, Mr Robinson and Mr Hodson have both taken the decision to retire from teaching this summer. Mr Robinson will be returning in September to take on a new role at Lathom. Many of you will remember them from your own school days and I hope you will join me in wishing them every happiness for a long and well deserved retirement.

I look forward to seeing the students in September and to working with you in the new academic year. Mrs Galbraith Acting Headteacher

SUMMER AWARDS EVENING IS A HUGE SUCCESS

On Thursday 26th June, we hosted a Summer Awards get to the top, he also commended the Lathom High School Evening to celebrate the achievements of our students over students on their fantastic achievements. It was clear to see the last academic year. Students who attended the evening that his words truly inspired our students and made for what had previously been nominated by teachers and support was a fantastic celebration of their achievements over the past staff, firstly for ‘Subject Superstar’ awards, given to students academic year. The atmosphere created by all who attended who excelled this academic year in a specific subject area. contributed to making it a truly special event. Thank you to all Student learning managers also nominated students from those who attended and well done to all of our award winners. their respective year groups for the ‘Enjoy, Believe, Achieve’ You made us extremely proud. Awards. These awards mirror our school motto and were given to students that have a real thirst for learning, never give up and always try their best and for our very highest academic Special guest achievers. The evening was very well attended with many Shaun Wane and parents, teachers and governors there to support our young people. Also present on the evening to give out the awards were our special guests Warriors head coach Shaun present awards Wane and player Joel Tomkins. Shaun Wane to our addressed the audience talking about giving that extra 1% to Head Boy and Girl. YEAR 11 LEAVE IN STYLE

On Wednesday 2nd July we held our Year 11 Prom at the to a very successful and hardworking year. The general Ramada Plaza Hotel in Southport. The red carpet was laid manager at the Ramada has contacted the school to say out for our arrival and this was totally appropriate for all how well behaved the students were and how they were a our students who looked absolutely stunning. After a two credit to the school. All staff at Lathom have commented course meal on how successful the evening was and how it was a the students pleasure to be in the company of these young people. The and staff took staff are so proud of them all. We are looking forward to the dance to seeing them in August for results day. Mrs Unsworth, floor. It was head of Y11 commented ‘this was the best Year 11 Prom a fantastic that I have ever attended, the exceptional behaviour evening to displayed by the students was never in doubt. They are an remember for amazing group of young people and I am so proud of each all of them and and every one of them’. a fitting end

Meet Mr Hogg our Lathom High School D DAY Tea Party

Student Progress On Tuesday 24th June we invited three local care homes to join us in a Tea Party to mark the Manager for Y7/8 70th anniversary of World War ll D Day. Students from the Y9 food and nutrition class were put into small groups and asked to design an invitation, menu, place mat and bun tin for each of the Name: Danial Hogg – care homes; Stocks Hall, Beacon View and Birch Green, they also Mr.Hogg, aka. Hoggy 9 aka spent all morning preparing sandwiches and cakes for the guests. Superman/Superdan Following refreshments, the students then provided entertainment What do you do at Lathom? Well I which included singing, dancing and playing bingo. Lathom High originally started on supply about 7 years School would like to thank Proctor and Gamble for providing prizes ago when I had a full head of hair that for the bingo winners. A representative from Stocks Hall later was not receding (as so kindly pointed commented ‘Thank you to Lathom High for organising the D Day Tea out by Miss Kerslake and Miss Forster). I Party this afternoon, your students are a credit to the school!’ was fortunate enough to then be offered Charlie and Bradley offer a sandwich to one of our guests. a post as a teacher of boys PE where I have enjoyed developing as a teacher and have had several opportunities to progress such as leading the PE department and Lathom Visit London acting as a head of year. I am looking and Spanish students walked through forward to my next challenge as progress London and went on the London Eye. The manager of year 7 and 8 which I will start whole experience has been an extremely in September. valuable one, as one of our Y9 students Favourite colour? Blue – the main colour Alisha Parry reflects “London was one of my football team. of the best ever experiences, getting a Favourite Film? Well I am a bit of a film chance to meet all of the Spanish people freak! So choosing one is hard, I love I have been speaking to over Skype and thrillers and can be sucker for a romantic Facebook. I really want to do it again”. Mr comedy. Some of my favourite films are The Godfather, The Bourne films, Lock recaps the journey himself and the Snatch, Gladiator and Lock Stock and Two On Friday 27th June eleven year 9 girls students have been on over the last year Smoking Barrels. travelled down to London to meet up with “This whole experience started a year Favourite food? As the girls in the canteen a group of Spanish teenagers visiting ago when I had a chance conversation know I will eat absolutely anything and London from La Coruña in the north west with a Spanish teacher at Edge Hill. After usually as much as possible! My ideal of Spain. initial emails with Moncho in Galicia, meal would be Garlic Mushrooms followed The visit was organised by the Modern we set up a blog that the two schools by Spaghetti Bolognese, finished off with Foreign Languages department as part contributed videos and comments to. Ice Cream and washed down with a glass of its enrichment programme. The visit This then developed into Skype sessions of coke! Spot on. comes as the culmination of a year of after school. Students swapped details What football team do you support? The activities which has seen students set and started to correspond outside best in . Blackburn Rovers – up a blog with the link school, share school and eventually asked if they could Just to educate some of the readers, one of the only 5 teams to win the Premier videos of school life and take part in meet in London. It has been extremely League. regular bi-lingual Skype sessions. After rewarding to do and a joy to see students One Random thing about you? I once won travelling on the London Underground with a thirst to speak another language. a karaoke contest singing Lou Bega’s – and meeting at the front of Buckingham I only hope that it can develop further in Mambo Number 5. Palace, the mixed group of English the next academic year.” ARTZ ACADEMY PROJECT

Since the beginning of the Easter term 14 lucky year 7 students had the opportunity to take part in a unique experience through the creative medium. This Project ran by The Artz Academy is the first of its kind and it was a really exciting and valuable journey for all of the students involved. The project was set up to tackle social issues that young people could be faced with such as peer pressure, crime, leadership, body language and health. These issues were tackled through the creative arts, with students experiencing everything from dance and drama to theatrical makeup and photography all by industry professionals. Deanna Barnes, a student that attended the project said ‘Artz Academy has improved my confidence so much, I now attend the drama club there every Wednesday night after school’. On Friday 13th and confidence grow immeasurably both on the course and back June parents, funders and senior teachers from Lathom all in school on a daily basis. To see their work displayed at the attended the Artz Centre to see the excellent work the students presentation was very emotional and made me incredibly proud. have produced in a celebratory evening. Mrs Galbraith, Acting It was also an absolute pleasure to talk to the girls’ parents about Headteacher attended the evening and commented; ‘The girls the positive impact this work has had on their daughters and just involved have gained so much from completing this course with how much they enjoyed it. We are looking forward to working Mark and his team. They have enjoyed their work at the Academy with Mark and all the fantastic team at Artz Academy again in the immensely and we have seen their self-esteem, leadership skills future.’

STUDENTS DESIGN ART MURAL AT HILLCROFT

Selected gifted and talented art students have recently created a mural for the dementia patients of local care home Hillcroft in Aughton. The students spent time at school designing the wildlife themed mural and then visited Hillcroft on a weekly basis until it was completed. The mural has been specifically designed with colourful images that all point in the same direction, guiding the dementia patients along the corridor to the dining room.

Picutred; Art students show off the finished mural to Acting Head Mrs Galbraith and the Mayor of West Lancashire Doreen Stephenson YEAR 8 ENTERPRISE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY DAY

Year 8 have recently been involved in the Enterprise through Technology Day. This is an annual event and the theme was ‘Pirates’. Students made a range of products in the different national areas, including biscuits in food, sails in textiles for their boats (which are made in resistant materials) and packaging to promote their products in graphics. The students thoroughly enjoyed the day and prizes were awarded for best group and best leadership for both a boy and girl. Overall an excellent day, well done year 8!

His creative writing workshops were HOLLAND MOOR Author inspirational and produced many CHILDREN BECOME would be writers in Year 8. David set DAVID MASSEY the students a challenge to write a SCIENTISTS FOR THE scene for his book. David commented DAY Visits Lathom that the standard was great and very

Award winning author David Massey engaged and entertained Lathom Y8 students in the Arts Theatre with a presentation of his latest book “Taken”. David writes real world thriller/love stories for young adults.

well written but the strongest were Summer Jameson, Ailsa Hodge and Holland Moor Y5’s recently enjoyed a Danielle Fry. After much deliberation day in our science department. Every David chose Summer Jameson as the overall winner, her scene had child had the opportunity to investigate the edge it was tense and descriptive chemicals from NASA, use microscopes and made him feel like he was there. to look at plant and animal cells, made Summer will be presented with her volcanos with vinegar and bicarbonate prize in Year 8 assembly. soda. They were also surprised to Well done Summer! see how much fat was in crisps and maltesers and that those everyday substances such as shampoo and milk were acid, alkaline or neutral. The Mrs Galbraith Raises LOTS children of Holland Moor expressed their at KiddieClimb – enjoyment by writing us a thank you On Saturday 14th June Acting Head letter when they got back to school – we Mrs Galbraith raised over £500 when are really pleased to know how exciting she climbed Mount Snowdon with 100 and valuable the day was for them. children. The money raised will go to local charities Joining Jack who support children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and the Rose Blossom Trust that raises awareness about Dravet. WHAT’S COMING UP NEXT? Coming Soon… School Reopens – Thursday 4th September Our new Y7’s: WEST LANCASHIRE COLLEGE To encourage students to enjoy and develop HAIR & BEAUTY END OF YEAR SHOW their reading, finding new authors and genres. If you have any questions about anything that’s We are really proud of Y11 Our new Y7’s get to choose a new book from going on at Lathom then do not hesitate to get in student Katie Parry who was touch and your question may feature in our next awarded Student of the Year at 12 titles free and it is theirs to keep. This takes edition. the West Lancashire College end place in the Autumn term. Follow us on twitter: @lathomhs or email me of year show – congratulations. directly: [email protected] Open Evening – Thursday 25th September