Wellington School 11-18 School

Excellence in Everything Summer Term Newsletter www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk May 2016

INSIDE THIS EDITION: Welcome to the Welcome 2 Year 7 team - Trafford Basketball Champions Art News 3 Summer Term Design & 2016 Newsletter Technology News 9 English News 13 Geography News 15 ICT News 15 History News 17 Maths News 18 Music News 18 MFL News 20 School Council 21 PE News 22 REP News 25 Science News 26 STEM News 27

Year 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 29 ‘Sing with 7s’, Bowdon Festival Sixth Form News 31 Careers News 32 Sponsored Walk Day

Year 7 Trafford Netball Champions Vermont and New York Trip, February half term

1 HEADTEACHER News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

Welcome to our Summer Term Newsletter We hope you enjoy reading about many of the activities and events that took place at Wellington during the Spring Term of 2016. I’m delighted to have the opportunity (no relation!) has joined us from Easter as via this termly newsletter to report on Second in Music. One or two others will be another full and varied term enjoyed by leaving us at the end of Summer Term and our students. Along with my weekly blog we have been busy recruiting to fill their on the website and 32 pages of news here, posts. This term has also seen the arrival you will be left in no doubt as to the huge of some new ‘Wellington babies’. Welcome breadth of experiences we endeavour to to Xavier Ray Ramsumair, Serge Walter provide, with the aim of helping to produce Campbell, Harriet Lillian Willingham and young people who ultimately flourish and Isabella Emily Stephens. Congratulations find fulfilment as adults. Trips (both local to all the new mums (and dads) and we and further afield), workshops, theatre look forward to visits from you all soon. group visits to School, myriad sporting The Sponsored Walk took place on Friday opportunities, a memorable Sponsored 26th February on a bright, dry day. We Walk (this year for Teenage Cancer Trust were delighted to welcome Anthony Crolla, – a record amount raised as you can read WBA Lightweight later in this newsletter), careers events, We are already speeding headlong through champion, and Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, the another busy term with Sports Day, Sports fundraisers ENABLE Project and appointment of anti- Award Dinner, Open Morning, New Pupil Vanessa and bullying ambassadors and exciting STEM Day, meetings for parents of new pupils, Sabina from activities, all alongside a term of Parents’ primary school visits, sports fixtures, Teenage Cancer Trust to School to send Evenings, offer just a flavour of life here at reward trips, internal exams, report the students on their way. Students and Wellington and you can ‘read all about it’ writing and of course GCSEs and AS / A staff have totally embraced this year’s in the Newsletter. Suffice to say, I am, as Level examinations, all upon us or rapidly charity and at the time of writing we always, grateful to my unparalleled and approaching. A lot of hard but rewarding have hit £39,000 for the first time ever. dedicated staff and the support of you, our work ahead for all of us and very best What a phenomenal achievement by the parents. Our pupils are always so grateful wishes to all our students undertaking Wellington community. I’m delighted to be for the opportunities we provide and it is examinations. able to add a further £2,000+ to this as a wonderful to see them develop in such result of generous friends, colleagues and Anyway, that’s quite enough from me. a stimulating environment. So, I hope family who kindly sponsored me to throw Enjoy the Newsletter, keep up to date via you enjoy this term’s Newsletter, a true myself out of a plane on Saturday 23rd the website, don’t hesitate to contact the illustration, in my humble opinion, of that April from 15,000 ft. School to discuss any matters and, above personal development and the vibrancy of all, have a great Summer Term. the Wellington community of which I speak. A truly memorable and exhilarating experience – just glad I could do my bit S P Beeley A summary of Spring Term staffing news. for this wonderful cause. So, we will be Headteacher We were joined in February by Mrs Baxter, presenting a cheque to Teenage Cancer Examinations Officer, replacing Mr Wood Trust for approximately £41,000 at who retired with our very best wishes Awards Evening at the after 9 years of service. Miss O’Malley Bridgewater Hall on 27th re-joined the Art Department as cover for September, more details Mrs Willingham’s maternity leave. Miss about that event will be Edmonds joined the support staff as sent home later this term. Teacher Support Assistant and Mr Edmonds

2 Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 ART News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk Excellence in Everything

Primary Sculpture time! Well Green Primary visited Well Green the Art department and Primary Arts created a number of Week different works. One group completed studies of famous Year 5 pupils from Well sculptures and monuments including the Green Primary school Sphinx, Statue of Liberty and my own personal visited Mrs Kearney for part of their Arts week. favourite, Picasso’s goat! (Seriously worth a Pupils were able to learn about the sculptor, Nikki De Saint look!) Phalle before working in groups to create these The pieces were all presented as the Angel of the large Nanas in mosaic North, you can see the work here along with a style paper collage. Lots couple of Wellington’s very own Art Angels! of pupils told me they were hoping to come Another group created Giacometti style sculptures to Wellington next year of figures. The groups worked using a wire frame which I was very excited then built up the form with tin foil. They were super to hear as the class were enthusiastic and the poses of the figures were bursting with creativity. something to rival Saturday Night Fever (ask your parents … or grandparents!) I know Well Green were Good work Well Green! delighted to have such lovely pieces for display. Mrs Kearney Miss Grey Year 7 Amazing Believe in your selfie! Acrobats Year 7 worked hard to complete their pop-tastic Check out the self-portraits! outstanding pattern work on Lots of skills went into these brilliant pop art portraits, inspired these high flying by Julian Opie, Andy Warhol and Roy paintings! Lichtenstein. I could not be more Well done Year 7! impressed with these acrobats by Mrs Kearney and Miss O’Malley 7.1b and 7.2b, the level of patience put in to achieve accurately drawn shapes was incredible. I’m looking forward to having these pieces of art flying around Room 14 this summer. Miss O’Malley

Roll Up, Roll Up! The circus has taken over Year 7 7.4b and 7.5a have been practising their mixed media skills to create their circus posters. There was plenty of clowning around in lessons too! Miss O’Malley

Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 3 ART News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

Year 8 Hundertwasser Houses Colour, pattern and even a hidden Cultural Hands face or two… what more could you homework want from a painting? To conclude the Who knew that drawing without rulers Year 8 homework was going to be such a challenge?! Well in true Hundertwasser style, 8.3a booklets, all pupils accomplished it! I’m over the moon with were asked to these paintings, well done everyone! complete a project Miss O’Malley based on the culture they were studying. Pupils were asked to decorate their hands with patterns and art from their culture. All pupils worked very hard and ‘handed’ in some excellent pieces of work. Lovely Landscapes 8.1a have been taking inspiration from David Hockney and the English countryside to produce their brilliant paintings It’s a hard task being asked to draw and paint a landscape from scratch but 8.1a have nailed it this term with these stunning paintings. In addition to landscapes, Here are some of my the aim of this project was to build their confidence with colour mixing and I favourites! think they have got it spot on. I could not be more proud of this bunch! Well done everyone. Well done Year 8, Miss O’Malley a great effort! Mrs Kearney

Japanese parasols Konnichiwa! Check out this Stunning group work from Year 8 Year 8 have taken inspiration from Japanese designs Creative Landscapes to create sections for Some Year 8 students have been the parasols; learning about the work of Ton I can’t wait Schulten. to have these up All students completed some sketchbook on display, experimentation with tissue paper collage, brightening paint and pastel before completing these the room! fantastic landscape studies in oil pastel. Miss They are so colourful and make for a O’Malley wonderful display in Room 12. Well done Year 8. Mrs Kearney

4 Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 ART News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk Excellence in Everything

Year 9 Robot Wars Some year 9 students have been busy designing and Charming Charcoal producing these quirky Robot How fantastic are these? lino prints. Year 9 pupils put their Students worked hard to ensure that mathematical hats on and the proportion of their bodies was created these measured correct, the symmetry was accurate symmetrical drawings before and lots of vital detail was added, completing them using such as buttons and dials. charcoal. The detail and Of course, all the Robots were application of tone has been given names. ‘Roberto’ proved very well planned and all Robots popular amongst the group. I think show 3D qualities. a few crafty Well done Year 9, Great shops around work! Manchester would have Mrs Kearney no problem selling these designs on Creating Waves gift cards! Lots of exciting work from 9.1 this term! Well done everyone. They have been working in groups to create work with text and objects in their sealife pieces. Now I like a Mrs Kearney pun as you know and they came up with a few Mixed belters! Media They also created some Paintings beautiful fish in clay; I’ve never seen Continuing with them so quiet, completely engrossed the farm theme, in the technique and in decorating. Well done on some lovely work. 9.3, 9.4 and 9.7 have studied the Miss Grey work of the artist Cori Dantini Bah–rilliant Pen The groups all worked hard studies on getting Starting off our farm themed their drawings just right and project, 9.3, 9.4 and 9.7 looked the results are at Henry Moore’s drawings excellent. I’m not Everyone tried their hardest on these the only one who tough studies and should be proud of thinks so either their results. The students practised mark … when the work making to show texture and shapes. Keep was posted to up the focused work Year 9! our Instagram Miss O’Malley page, Cori Dantini showed her appreciation too! Great work guys! Miss O’Malley

Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 5 ART News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

Year 10 Animal Kingdom 10c rounded off their Feather, Fur, Fin project with some excellent final pieces Well done to the Year 10 girls on their creative final pieces, there are clear links to the artists and some outstanding skills on show! Keep up the good work in project 2. Power of 10 Miss O’Malley Year 10 artists are exploring a range of themes in their new Year 10 projects. Project 2 The planning and the drawing is really There’s a lot coming on. Their skills in art formal going on in 10c elements are really being pushed to enhance observational qualities as well as at the moment! exploring new techniques. The girls are all working hard on Keep up that focus and determination! their second GCSE project; they were Miss Grey able to choose from some broad themes and have produced some exciting studies. There is a lot of creativity taking place as everyone is becoming more confident in their abilities – well done girls! Miss O’Malley

Year 10 final pieces I promised in the last newsletter that I would give you an update on how our Year 10 final pieces turned out! Each pupil worked very hard and applied lots of detail to their final pieces. In my opinion, they are the best Year 10 final pieces yet! Well done! Mrs Kearney

6 Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 ART News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk Excellence in Everything

Year 11 Well

I’m delighted with the heeled! progress of our Year 11’s. This GCSE Each and every pupil is exam prep working their socks off in by Kate preparation for their GCSE exam. Miss Grey has even in Year promised a Dominos delivery before the end of term as a reward. 11 shows These are some photographs of their preparation sheets. Look out in the next newsletter to see their final pieces. I can’t wait to a broad range of drawing see their outcomes! techniques and styles, Well done. Mrs Kearney including handmade paper versions. Year 11 have come a long The mixed media work being produced way during the course is beautiful and is giving Jimmy and I wish I could include Choo a every picture of their run for his work which I’ve taken money! this term (but that would be a ‘Shoe’ erly whole new newsletter!) some of the nicest Everyone has put 100% effort into their studies you projects and I am super proud of them! have seen!? Well done Year 11. Miss Grey Miss O’Malley

Year 13 Body Beautiful Portrait perfection Exploring the theme of Amber Grundy in Year 13 power, Eboni in Year 13 has continued the theme is producing some really of portraiture in her exciting preparatory examination preparatory work that shows a broad work, following the range of materials used to success of her portraiture reflect the components that in her coursework. make and power the body, This work explores distortion and including prints of her own contortion. Amber has contorted body. the face with tape and by pressing the face against windows before I was particularly impressed with photographing it to work from. the experimental piece of the torso, which includes paint, tissue After using her sister as her muse and collage, modroc and wire to create model in her the 3D study. coursework, its Amber’s little brother who is star of the show in the latest studies. He really is very understanding and kind to allow his head to be Really looking forward to sellotaped and photographed!! seeing how the exam work Great work Amber, well done! develops. Good luck Eboni! Miss Grey Miss Grey

Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 7 ART News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

Lowry Exhibition Pizza Night The annual Schools Competition The Department ran an evening run by Cheshire Life magazine saw session from 4pm – 6.30pm back several of our students have the in March so the students from Year honour of 11, 12 and 13 could be prepared for exhibiting their up and coming examination. their work To tempt them and help them keep their at the strength up we organised a pizza delivery Lowry, - well it was a good job the man from Salford dominos had a van, because that was some pile of pizza we got! Quays. It fuelled the students for the second Selected to half of the session and even Mr Beeley represent managed a slice (or 2!) the school was Ella Easter school sessions were also Spencer in provided in the department again Year 7 and her allowing the students to be able to Lichtenstein complete valuable preparatory studies. style portrait, Miss Grey Abreanne Fernandez in Year 11 with Instagram a whimsical Teesha I encourage you take a regular Moore style look at our instagram page, @ multimedia wellingtonschool_artdepartment . piece with a seaside We now have over 1600 posts of amazing theme, and work from all year groups. As Head of Amber Grundy department I have to pay tribute to my from Year 13 team who plan, prepare and organise was entered such amazing opportunities, outcomes, with her themes and techniques that allow the students to create expressive such beautiful work and make the progress they do. But portrait the talent of our pupils makes this site a real treasure to triptych with celebrate their achievement, success, ideas and progress. reference to artist Francis Bacon. Very excitingly a number of established artists and designers The work looked wonderful and although have started following us and have even liked some of our no winners this time, it was lovely to see the posts which is fabulous and well deserved recognition! students there with their families and share in their pride. Have a look and get ‘liking!’ Miss Grey Miss Grey #teamart

Independence and Support If you haven’t looked at our Pinterest page, I would highly recommend it! Not only is there lots of imagery to inspire and support topics, but we have been developing exemplar for homework in Key stage 3. Homework extends class tasks but also develops independence and resilience. Some of our topic work now has examples and the standards expected. We know it can sometimes be difficult for students to set a standard independently, but against this visual they can make decisions on how to build upon their work and make improvements to reflect their ability. We hope to build on this further as a resource and help students become more independent and raise their own expectations of their outcomes. Please take a look and encourage your sons and daughters to use this resource where appropriate. Miss Grey

8 Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk Excellence in Everything

KS3 Year 7 & their amazing animals Year 7 students have created Year 8 Cross Curricular Project a range of ‘amazing animal’ cushions by designing and - Year 8 Hindu Bag project making cushions suitable for This year in Textiles we are working with the young children aged 3 and REP department to develop a cross curricular under. project based on Hinduism. These decorative cushions were produced using a range of hand and machine Year 8 students are linking the work taught in their REP embroidery and appliqué. lessons to develop designs based on the Hindu festival of Diwali. I’m sure you will agree the cushions look fabulous. Well done to all those pupils involved. Students have learnt how to create a number of decorative techniques such as dip dye, tie dye, and Miss Hudson block print and stencilling. They have been very creative with the theme and designed their own Rangoli patterns. Year 9 Go Novelty Hat Crazy The bags created are a wealth of colour and very Year 9 students have created a range of creative. ‘novelty’ ski hat designs aimed at young people Fantastic aged 11- 18 years old. job Year 8! Miss Hudson Students chose their own themes such as fantasy animals, food types, seasonal wear and many more… The hats have been created using a number of decorative techniques such as hand and machine embroidery and appliqué. I’m sure you will agree the ‘hats’ are extremely original and would not be out of place on any ski slope or at any fancy dress party. Well done to all those pupils involved. Miss Hudson

Year 8 Product Year 7 Product Design Novelty Clock Design - Boats Project Another term, another Year 8 students studying round of wonderful Year 7 Product Design have been boat submissions! designing and making a range Some of the more ambitious of ‘novelty’ clock designs based upon a theme of their students have even been trying out the new equipment, for choice. Students have developed a range of practical example the line bender to add and design processes to create their designs. a translucent plastic window. Courtney Disley in 8Y explains: There has also been a focus on using masking tape to gain a “For the last nine weeks I have been studying Product Design and I more precise overall finish. have made a novelty clock based on the children’s character ‘Winnie the Pooh’ this is because it was for young children up to the age of Looking good Year 7! 8 years old. Miss Carter I used a number of different materials such as MDF, Acrylic and felt and I also used different tools and equipment to make my clock. I used a coping saw to cut out the shape of the clock; I used a belt sander and sand paper to smooth the edges. To create the number sections I used a pillar drill, I used emulsion to paint Winnie the Pooh on the MDF and inserted a clock mechanism. I also made a stand using a machine called a line bender which allowed me to heat the acrylic so I could bend it into shape.” Year 8, the outcomes demonstrate the skills you have developed - a great job, well done! Mrs Booth

Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 9 DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

KS3

KS3 Food Technology As the end of another rotation approaches, Key Stage 3 pupils are putting the finishing touches to their final designs. In Years 7 and 8, pupils are involved in group work with the aim of developing either a healthy packed lunch or Mediterranean meal. Each pupil will be designing and making an individual dish which will complement the rest of the team’s designs. Year 9 have been working hard planning “Budget Main Meals” which are filling and nutritious. I’m really excited to see the end results. If the final products are made half as well as the variety of dishes already produced, then I’m sure each and every Food Technology pupil will pass their final assessment with flying colours. Well done. Mrs Ryan

GCSE Year 10 GCSE Textiles Technology Year 11 GCSE GCSE Textiles Textile Technology students Technology have been Year 11 working students have extremely designed and hard on manufactured their GCSE textile products Controlled that reflect a Assessment; specific brief, they have that all have selected a particular to design function. a fashion They could choose garment from ‘A Costume for the inspired by West End’ & ‘A Children’s Toy’. The students have a different identified a target audience culture of and client to ensure all the world or a textile products have been unique child’s developed to meet their toy. needs. Students have The costumes have been completed designed for ballets and musicals mainly, such comprehensive as Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Coppélia research and & Narnia. The toys include interactive play produced some mats, animals & educational cubes. outstanding designs The students have worked extremely hard which are highly original yet functional for a specific and have shown real dedication resulting need or purpose. in fabulous work completed to a very high commercial standard. All of the textile I look forward to seeing how the students develop and products have shown high levels of skill and creativity. test their ideas though experimentation samples. You should be as proud of yourselves as I am Year 11, well done. Keep up the hard work as we head towards Year 11! Miss Hudson Mrs Booth

10 Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk Excellence in Everything

GCSE GCSE Food Technology – Year 10 The Year 10 Food Technology class have been working hard Year 11 Food Technology improving their practical skills for the GCSE controlled assessment which is worth 60% of their final grade. On Thursday 25th February, Leon Shorrock, the School’s Catering Manager from The group have been working well and I have been impressed by the enthusiasm Chartwell’s, attended a Year 11 practical and commitment shown by every single pupil. lesson where he was on hand to advise The products produced so far this year definitely highlight the high standard of on a number of practical skills as well as practical skills and I am certain the exam board will agree with me when they see the final dishes. presentation skills. The pupils were impressed with the simple yet I am looking forward to some excellent portfolios in Year 11 and can’t wait to see effective tricks that can be used to make a dish more what future delights will be produced in practical sessions. appealing. Mrs Ryan The class were making the final products for their GCSE controlled assessment. The dishes produced looked fantastic and hopefully they tasted as good as they looked. Thanks Leon for giving up your time to advise the group and teach them a variety of catering skills, we look forward to doing Year 11 – Nutritionist Visit more work with you in the On Monday 25th April the Year 11 GCSE class worked with visiting future. nutritionist, Clare Hedderman from catering company Chartwell’s. Mrs Ryan Clare helped the pupils with revising the nutrition aspect of the GCSE written examination which they will be sitting on June 6th. Pupils took notes and participated in a question and answer session – in fact Clare was very impressed with the level of knowledge displayed by the group. Well done Year 11 – I hope you continue putting lots of effort into your revision. Special thanks to Clare who gave up her time to visit the group and who made the nutrition work interesting and informative. Mrs Ryan

Year 11 GCSE Product Design Year 11 Product Design students have designed and manufactured products that reflect a specific theme or function inspired by a chosen design movement. The students identified their target audience and client to ensure the products they developed met a specific need; these products ranged from lights, clocks, docking stations and storage units. The students have worked extremely hard and have shown real dedication and commitment and the results are outstanding! The products have been made to an exceptional standard which demonstrate high levels of skill, originality and creativity. Both Miss Carter and I are proud of your efforts - well done Year 11! Mrs Booth

Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 11 DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

GCSE

Year 11 GCSE Graphics Congratulations to the current Year 11 Graphic Products students who have successfully produced a range of high quality 3D outcomes. All of the projects photographed are completely original. There has been no copying /pasting of clipart images from the internet and the 3D nets have been designed entirely by the students. Images have been drawn using the software package Serif Draw and several elements of a number of projects have been cut out using our new laser cutter for added precision. I’m sure you will be impressed with the level of quality achieved! Mr Travis

A Level Product Design Trip Year 12 A Level On Tuesday 5th Product Design January, 14 Sixth Form Product Design This term our Product Design students went to Year 12 students have been the Manchester hard at work completing their Metropolitan Special practical submission. Collections Unit. The brief asked the students to The Unit currently complete a light and storage unit has an exhibition influenced by the about architecture in Bauhaus design Manchester throughout movement. The the ages, including some standard of work sketches from Piranesi, produced is images of modern buildings belonging to the university excellent and the and related objects. We also requested a number of more students have specific objects from the University’s private collection used both the new for the students to see. These ranged from a Bakelite laser cutter and lamp and Bauhaus posters to laser cut contemporary 3D printer to great lightshades, giving students the chance to consider form, effect. function and context. Miss Carter Pupils were invited to photograph, sketch, handle and discuss the objects as well as learn a little more about the Manchester Metropolitan Library as a whole. Sixth Form students are currently creating either lights inspired A Level Textiles by The Bauhaus movement or storage inspired by It has been a pleasure to see Postmodernism. The curriculum also asks for students to how much the Year 12 & 13 understand the historical context of these movements so students have continued to this trip was key to building a more rounded knowledge develop their creativity and of how these design movements came about. Students this year the students have were able to use geometric definitely produced some shapes from images of the of the most original ideas, Alhambra to consider new clearly demonstrating their lighting designs as well as dedication and passion for redesigning pieces of Onyx the subject. from 5 BC into desk lamps. A very worthwhile visit. Well done. Miss Carter and Mr Travis Mrs Booth & Miss Hudson

12 Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 ENGLISH News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk Excellence in Everything

Descriptive Writing Mary Poppins 10.5 took part in an Apprentice style descriptive writing task over 4 Theatre Trip lessons. Miss Simpson, Mrs Mildenstein, Based on the extraordinary documentary, ‘Touching the Void’, students were required Mr Hay, myself and 50 Year 7s all to complete 3 tasks: a 3d visual of a moment from the documentary, a 250 word piece of description based on their 3d visual interpretation and a 250 word character had a ‘supercalifraglistic’ time at description for either Simon or Joe during their experience of descending the mountain. ‘Mary Poppins’ in February at the Students worked incredibly hard on this mini-project, producing some of the best Palace Theatre. The performance descriptive work I have ever read from a Year 10 class. Some examples include: was wonderful; the pupils were • ‘Elongated clouds as plump as a baker’s bun, glided across the baby blue sky like completely – not just practically geese migrating to the south’ • ‘I was a monster to make a choice as mortifying as this’ – perfect and I even purchased a • ‘I can feel the coldness murdering me from the inside’ parrot head umbrella too! • ‘The peak had its own story’ We also ran a competition to win a Bert • ‘I lay there as still as a corpse staring at the dark and gloomy crevasse’ Bear for the best newsletter articles; Well • ‘The snow’s idle and indecisive movements swerved and charged into nothing, done to the winners Grace Cottrill, Madeline creating a dull and almost opaque atmosphere.’ Rogerson and Amy Harrison. Here are a As you can see, students used lots of imaginative and complex vocabulary, alongside couple of excerpts from their articles: excellent imagery, to “As we got to the theatre I couldn’t wait to create work which see the play. When we were queuing up it showed flair, ambition was busy and noisy with all the excitement. and creativity. The 3d The lights and the sounds were magical; it element of the project was so exciting. In the interval, some of us also enabled students to bought some lovely ice cream. During the visualise the scene and play, the characters went to a conversation show-off their artistic shop and they saw a lady feeding the birds talents! who taught them family values – just like Mrs McDonnell Mary Poppins. At the end Mary Poppins flew up into the sky, right into the crowd. Thank you to Miss Hitchens, Mrs Simpson, Visit to the John Rylands Library Mrs Mildenstein and Mr Hay for taking us.” In March, a group of Year 12 and 13 English Madeline Rogerson (7ESD) students visited the John Rylands Library in “The Mary Poppins trip was really fun! We Manchester to take part in a workshop about all sat in rows of seats with a great view of the stage. All the actors were really change within the English language. good at playing their parts. We also got We were given a talk on the development of the language, the opportunity to buy binoculars for £1 from 1066 to the present day, and shown examples of for an even better view! I think the Mary this change in action from the library’s collection, which Poppins trip was really fun because we got included manuscripts over 500 years to experience what it’s really like to be in old. a theatre and see how spectacular all the We were also given a tour of the actors are in the way they play their roles.” library and everyone was impressed Amy Harrison (7MLE) at the architecture and interior of Miss Hitchens the building (the exterior’s pretty impressive too). Well worth a visit when you’re in Manchester; one of the Year 12 students remarked how being at the library was almost like being at Hogwarts – praise indeed! (Thanks to Rachel BBC SCHOOL REPORT Whyte for the photos of the library). Miss Hitchens and Miss Spencer were in Mr Williams charge of meeting this year’s News Day deadline in March for the BBC and the Year 8 team worked tirelessly hard to produce Cinema Visits some amazing content for our dedicated Miss Hitchens and Mr Hay took members of ‘Book into School Report page. Please visit the page Film’ club and the participants of ‘The Cube’ intervention at: http://www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk/ to see ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part Two’ at the bbc-school-news-report/41110.html cinema in December. Thank you to all involved and well The pupils had loads to talk about at club during the proceeding half term as we done for meeting discussed the novel further! Meanwhile, Miss Hitchens, Miss Spencer, Mr Hay and Mrs the deadline. Mildenstein ventured out again to see ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ with the Year 11 Media Studies cohort. The exam topic is ‘Sci-Fi Films’ and given the impressive efforts of Miss Hitchens the cohort this year the trip provided a suitable treat too. and Miss Spencer Miss Hitchens

Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 13 ENGLISH News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

I Love English Badges Year 12: Language and Literature Look out for the new “I Love Our Year 12 Language and Literature students English” badges on blazer are analysing a range of fascinating texts which lapels! centre around the topic of Paris. They are awarded each month to the One of the pieces within their anthology contains a recipe pupils who have the top ten most by the chef David Lebovitz, an American in Paris, for Behaviour Watch points in English, ‘Chocolate Mole’. To better understand the experience and to pupils who have produced work of an American adapting his native menu for a Parisian that has been displayed on the “I Love palette, Sarah Willington, Emma Whitehead and Holly English” corridor display board. Work Minshull prepared a quart of the stuff… with mixed is displayed on this board when class results. teachers feel it is of excellent quality, or if it represents a considerable Lebovitz asked: ‘How can you not love mole?’ Well, we investment in didn’t. The unsweetened chocolate seemed to pair oddly effort. with poblano chillies, garlic and tomatoes. Parisians may ‘seem to love anything that has chocolate in it’ but I’m not sure even the chefs themselves would share this view. The Well done to class seemed surprisingly delighted by the prospect of putting the ‘Mole au Chocolat’ to one all pupils who side and concentrating upon some proper linguistic analysis. I wonder why… have received a badge so Despite my reluctance to tuck heartily into a second slurp of the sticky, brown, French- far. Mexican cuisine, I was impressed by the girls’ commitment. Such dedication is surely a good Mrs Collinge sign with examinations looming ever nearer! Très bien! Miss Spencer

GEOGRAPHY News

Shropshire Field Trip During the last week of the spring term, we took 44 Year 10 students to a lovely part of Shropshire. They packed their bags (some of them packed enough for a month, let alone 2 days) and headed south, with a short stop at Burger King and the last of the 4G (much to the students dismay). While staying in a ‘haunted’ manor house the students took part in a range of activities to enhance their GCSE course (and the famous Geography Quiz!) The students walked for miles and despite the rain, there was no complaining, even when our map reading skills were not perfect. We woke up on Geographer of the Month Wednesday and travelled to Carding Mill Valley, Well done to all of our geographers of where students got into the fieldtrip spirit and the month this term. Your efforts are measured the river at a variety of different points. The students used a wide range of equipment from ranging poles to clinometers and were very sensible recognised and rewarded! Keep up the when both in the river and climbing up to the source. Some of them even good work into the summer term. climbed in to a waterfall!! Thankfully the weather was the best it’s ever been and January 2016 – Rianna Legg (Year 9) for 100% effort despite a few short showers, most of us had our sunglasses on for the entire in homework and classwork. Nominated by Miss trip! On Thursday we were very lucky to be taken on a tour of the local farm and English look at calves and hold lambs that were less than a week old. The students left tired, but definitely not hungry, and incredibly sad to be leaving, despite the lack February 2016 – Caitlin Halfpenny (Year 9) for of mobile phone signal – anywhere! I am sure the activities completed will add consistently hard work in both class work and home to the students understanding of rivers and prepare them for their GCSE exam! work. Nominated by Miss Barsoum. I want to say a massive well done to all of the Year 10 students we took – you March 2016 – Rebekah Court (Year 8) for excellent were fantastic and we couldn’t fault your attitude or your behaviour at any verbal contribution in class. Nominated by Mr Holt. point on the trip. I was very proud to be your teacher and hear all the positive Well done to all! feedback from the people we worked with. Mrs Kenny Miss English

14 Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 GEOGRAPHY News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk Excellence in Everything

Geography Year 12 AS and A Level Groups Combined This term, Year 12 Geography students embarked on their residential trip to the Lake District. We stayed four days at the Blencathra FSC centre near Keswick. You may recall that the mountain was for sale last year for £1.7 Million, as seen on Country File. We had a successful trip despite the rain and snow! The days involved walking and wading in rivers and then analysing the data through hypothesis testing and analysis. We also studied glacial features and sediment in Easdale near Grasmere, despite having to take a huge detour due to the A591 road closure caused by the December floods. We also experienced the aftermath in local villages and towns of the disastrous floods caused by storm Desmond on the 5th December. We saw the effects on Keswick and Glenridding and the responses taking place by building and insurance companies. The students were really shocked by the destruction that was caused. The students completed a fieldwork study for the examination in June and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. The food and accommodation was amazing and the mini bus definitely felt heavier on the drive home. A big thank you to all the students who behaved impeccably, this was noticed by the centre staff who also thanked them. Mr Whitaker

Spring Term Stickers and rewards As a department, each term we award stickers for excellent pieces of class work and homework to Key Stage 3 students who have shown real effort and progress in Geography. The following students from each class have earned the highest number of stickers and have received a prize. Well done to all and keep up the good work!

Spring Term Praise postcards Mrs Kenny 9.6 Ruby Shaw Miss English Each half term we send out praise postcards as 7.1A Eleanor Lloyd Hannah Kayes 7.2B Awena Owen a department to Key Stage 3 students who have Williams Callum Everitt Josie Flynn shown real effort and progress in Geography. The Armeen Shehzad 9.9 Morgan Larkin Hannah Gibson following students have been chosen. Mia Liddell Tiep (Thanison) 7.4B Amber Kelly Eva-Jean Quested Mrs Kenny 7.4A Deepshika Srikanth Adil Mohammed Pothong 7.1A Malaika Ali and and Ben Wakefield 7.2A Ethan Stewart Mauro Pereira Leech Eleanor Lloyd- 8.1A Finlay Nugent and Katie McCorquodale Sally Thorley Williams Fariha Agha Lucy Kilvert Miss Barsoum 7.2A Cameron Davenport 8.3B Aadam Ashraf and 7.3A Andrew Foden 7.1B Kiya Lau and Kate Maxim Charlotte Cosh Ashley Dawber Emily Speed 7.5A Lucia Munday 7.3A Ellie Budenberg and Miss English Nicole Page Elizabeth Hayselden Grace Cottril Ashley Dawber 7.2B Awena Owen, Will Kaden Bowen 8.1B Rachael Eckersley 8.1B Emily Read Jack Holden Parums Rachel Eckersley 7.3B James Colledge 9.0 Lottie Warburton and Elizabeth 7.4B Amber Kelly, Eva- Elizabeth Brouard Holly Grice Megan Wardle Brouard Jean Quested-Leech 8.2A Caitlin Maguire and 7.5A Ellisha Ascott, 8.2A Isabelle Leslie 7.4A Maizy Price Phoebe Ross Thomas Addison Jessica Gethins Caitlin Maguire Alexa Morales Mead 9.4 Maddy Daniels 8.4B Isaac Scanlon and 9.0 Elliot Jones, Megan Anna Bugg Georgina Oakes Bronte Ward Gabrielle Dale Wardle 8.4B Hollie Adamson 8.1A Fariha Agha Libby Nurse 9.3 Sumayya Awan and 9.4 Bronte Ward, Oscar Sinead Leech Jenny Gee 9.7 Imogen O’Mahoney Mina Faisal Clarke Imogen Walker Sam Jolly Laura Rundle Mr Whitaker 9.7 Laura Rundle, 9.3 Shannon Heywood 8.3B Natasha Ellams Theo Konstantiou 7.5B Lauren Hodcroft and Caithan Street- Luke Waugh Larkin Oliver Donnelly Erica Morris Sumayya Awan Freya Mulvey Mr Holt 8.2B Fraser Birchall and Mr Holt 8.3A Oskar Szejmo Aimee Linney 8.3A Rebekah Court, 9.2 Jaydon Brady 8.5A Rhiannon Mcmahon Emma Tanner, Mr Whitaker Gabe James – Keep Amelia Karabedian and Ben Beech Patrick Waters and 7.5a Madeline Rogerson Ellie Frost Emma Tanner 9.6 Jake Riddell and Oskar Szejmo Matthew Memory 9.5 Florence Davies 8.4A Amelia Atack Connie Taylor 8.4A Amelia Atack, Libby Mollie–Jo Rotherforth Collins Libby Mulcahy 9.1 Arnese Thaqi and Mulcahy and Dylan Joseph Horsley Frost Layton Mathieson 8.2B Aimee Linney Aimee Sutton Jones Molly Short Mohamad B 8.5B Chantel Tshuma 9.9 Thanison (Thiep) 8.5B Chantel Tshuma and Katie Davies 9.8 Rebecca Williams Harlie Edwards Pothong and Callum Byrne Bradley Malakouti 8.5A Abbie long Alexia Gordon Daisy Joynson Miss Barsoum Huge congratulations to Adriatic Hoxha 7.1B Rory Jones and everybody for their hard Rhiannon McMahon Well done to everybody Annabel Wright work and excellent effort 9.1 Issy Fallon involved! 7.3B Callum Macdonald this term. Keep it up!! Alice Lamb and Melanie Dook Mrs Kenny Toby Redman Mrs. Kenny

Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 15 ICT & COMPUTING News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

Coding There have been some significant changes in the Key Stage 3 Curriculum in ICT & Computing. We are now teaching text-based programming to Years 7-9, which has proved quite a challenge to students and staff! Students have been learning the basics of programming in Python. This language is relatively easy to learn and there are a wide range of free resources to support coders. Why not download it at home and ask your children to show you what they know? You’ll be pleasantly surprised! Some classes have recently completed assessments on programming. Pictured are Sam Sparks (9MRN), Natasha Cartmell (9CCE), Scott Topping (9VMI) and Seb Whitehead (9ETR), who performed brilliantly on the test. They are sporting our new ‘coder’ badges, given to those who scored well. Mr Little

HISTORY News

Year 7 Visit to Manchester University The History Department were delighted to take 10 Year 7 pupils to visit Manchester University on Friday 4th March 2016 to experience how Ancient History and Classics are studied at University. The trip provided the opportunity for pupils to explore Roman Manchester and the ancient world at the Manchester Museum and was a reward for all the hard work that these 10 pupils had put into their studies recently. The trip was fantastic… despite the heavy snow and artic conditions! Pupils managed to learn some Latin, create interactive Roman Manchester iPad exhibits at the Manchester Museum and learn all about underwater archaeology by studying the famous Uluburun shipwreck. I was massively impressed with our Year 7 pupils and received countless compliments from Professors and PhD students about their genuine enthusiasm, impeccable manners and impressive knowledge! Well done to all involved! Mr Gerschler

16 Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 HISTORY News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk Excellence in Everything

Project Work KS3 History Project I have been setting my Work teaching groups in Year 7 and 9 some project-based All KS3 History classes have homework during the Spring Term and the standard of been producing independent work produced has been phenomenal. project homework since the Year 7 have been researching life in Medieval England and Year 9’s Christmas break. focus has been Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. From beautifully Year 7 have been looking at life in modelled castles, such as Year 7’s Alexa Lima’s stone castle-keep Medieval Britain, Year 8 at life that is proudly on display in the main reception, to George Davis’s under the rule of British Empire and scrummy doom painting cakes that went down a treat with 7.2a for Year 9 at life for ordinary people not only its physical display of heaven and hell, but also its heavenly in Nazi Germany. The quality and and hellish taste!! Esme Hardwick also deserves a mention for her creativity of work produced has beautifully written Medieval diary. been outstanding! All of the History Not to be outdone by Year 7 the standard of Year 9’s homework department have been incredibly projects has also been incredibly impressive. Eve Selwood-Metcalfe impressed with the effort, thought has produced some very moving art work depicting the Holocaust and time that has been put into and Marcus Jones made a fantastic board game reflecting life in Nazi these projects and we would like to Germany. I am currently sifting through their latest projects, life in say a big well done to all of our pupils. Britain during World War Two and the standard is again equally high. A massive well done to all in 7.2a, 7.5b, 9.0 and 9.7 for their project- Special mentions go to Owen Wadsworth’s based homework, they truly have been a delight!! Medieval castle, the aborigine diaries completed by Emily Read, Michelle Chan Miss Tidbury and Leah Cummins, Zainab Shather’s booklet about 20th Century changes to South Africa, Lizzie Brouard’s Scramble Holocaust Memorial Day for Africa game, Abi Coleman’s Growth Holocaust Memorial Day takes place of the Empire game, Abi Leboutillier’s on 27th January each year. project on Medieval Monarchs, Emily Atkinson’s Medieval Shield, Brandon Stevens’ ‘monopoly’ approach to life of ordinary It’s a time for everyone to pause to remember Germans in the 1920s and 1930s, the Empire board games the millions of people who have been murdered or whose completed by Rory Johnson, Kian Wykes, Daisy Joynson and lives have been changed beyond recognition during the Holocaust, Francesca Renwick, Ruben Varela’s research project into life in Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. On HMD we can honour the survivors of these India, Chantel Tshuma’s poster on life in 20th Century South regimes and challenge ourselves to use the lessons of their experience Africa, the artwork linked to life in Nazi Germany completed to inform our lives today. 27th January marks the liberation of by Imi Kerr and Charlotte Gethins, Cameron Stenhouse’s board Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. To commemorate game about German political parties of the 1920s and 1930s, HMD, the History Department took 12 Year 9 pupils to a remembrance Marcus Jones’ board game about life in Nazi Germany and Lucy service at Sale Waterside Theatre. Thomas Palmer and Louise Cross Beaumont’s diary of life in Nazi Germany from a Jewish German’s would like to share their experience of attending this year’s service: perspective. ‘It was interesting to see so many stories linked to the Holocaust. Well done to everyone for your amazing work! The motto for this year’s event was ‘Don’t stand by’ and many of the Mr Gerschler speeches encouraged us to speak out if we know something bad is happening. We learned about the Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations in Israel, a remembrance garden that honours non-Jews who Holocaust risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. We also heard about ‘Ronnie’ Harry Stewart, a German Jew who joined the British Survivor Talk military to help fight against the Nazi Regime. We also learned about 21st March the persecution of European Roma and Sinti people during the Second World War and witnessed a traditional Gypsy Ballet performance. We The History department learned about the efforts of Muslims to save Jews across Europe and were very fortunate to the Middle East during World War II, many of these stories are not be able to welcome Joanna Millan from the Holocaust Educational that well known and should be shared more often. Rabbi Portnoy read Trust to speak to all Year 9 students. prayers and candles were lit as a memorial to those lost in genocide. Joanna delivered a stimulating, engaging talk to the students, who The main message of the day was to speak out against wrongdoing have been studying the Holocaust as part of their History studies and to see that all humans are equal; we all experience the same this year. During the course of the talk, many students asked very thoughtful, interesting questions which were very impressive to thoughts, feelings and hear - this shows they have been paying attention this year! emotions. We were Over 20 Year 9 students were also nominated by their History told about the current teacher to attend a lunch reception with Joanna, which was also migrant crisis in Calais attended by myself, Mr Gerschler and Mr Scott. It was pleasing to and how more could witness the students continue asking some excellent questions be done to help those and this made the lunch event very enjoyable for all concerned. At fleeing war in 2016. the end of the talk, Joanna was presented with a card and flowers, No matter how small, and informed of the £134 raised for the Holocaust Educational we can all make a Trust through selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts as a token of our difference’. appreciation. Mr Gerschler Mr Wright

Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 17 MATHS News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

Maths Masterclass Salford Maths Feast University Sam Gregg, Megan Burns, Mia Hughes and Ben Hayes from 10.0 competed in the North West Maths Feast Year 10 On Wednesday 23rd March, 8 Year 10 Competition on Tuesday 15th March at Manchester University. mathematicians visited Salford University for a series of Maths Masterclass workshops. The competition is organised by the Further Maths Support Programme who aim to encourage more students to “take maths further” post-16. The aim of the day was to inspire the pupils to continue Wellington won the comprehension round which involved studying a poster with the subject post-16. The pupils spent the day for 3 minutes on a topic that they hadn’t seen before, complex numbers, calculating mechanics, computing with dominos and and they scored full marks in this round. There were 29 schools at the event trying out some maths magic tricks as part of a talk and Wellington were placed fifth. Well done, team! by Katie Steckles (a phd student and maths busker!). Each activity used a different type of maths and the Miss Latham day allowed the subject to be seen from a variety of interesting angles (both obtuse and acute...). Miss Latham Pi Day On Monday 14th March (3.14) Pi Day was celebrated at Wellington School. Year 7 took part in Pi-based activities in their Maths lessons and learnt about the history of Pi as well as competing in a freehand circle drawing competition- winners received an apple pie (you can’t say we’re not generous in the maths department!)- and making Pi bunting to decorate our classrooms. All year groups took part in a Pi dingbats competition and 9CSR were the overall winners, the only tutor group to score 100%! Miss Latham

MUSIC News

Bowdon Youth Sponsored Walk Day Festival Thanks to the Year 10 and 11 buskers Wellington School Music who entertained the walkers on Department are very quite a cold day. We need to proud to support the remember our fingerless gloves next Bowdon Youth Festival year! and have now competed Mrs Moorhouse in the Senior Choir of the Year class 3 times. This year we were represented as always by Sing and Sing with 7s. Neither choir disappointed in the quality of their outcome and it was very encouraging to see so many of our parents and staff at St Margaret’s Church to cheer on both these choirs. I am pleased to report that Sing retained the trophy for Wellington School as they delivered 2 stylish, a capella performances which would amaze and astound even Gareth Malone. Their renditions of The Cure classic ‘Friday I’m In Love’ and Fleet Foxes’ ‘White Winter Hymnal’ were flawless and Sing fully deserved the accolade of being Bowdon Youth Festival’s ‘Senior Choir of the Year’. Sing with 7s did not come away empty handed either as they won their own trophy for ‘The Most Entertaining Performance’ during the competition. This was thanks to an amazing performance of ‘Everything is Awesome’ from the Lego movie. Sing with 7s were singing in harmony, rapping and even throwing down some shapes! It’s not often that I find myself speechless, however all the performances by the 2 choirs reinforced the high quality of singers we have here at Wellington. Llongyfarchiadau a da iawn chi bois! Mrs Moorhouse

18 Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 MUSIC News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk Excellence in Everything

Instrumental Lessons Just a reminder to students that instrumental lessons will carry on from term to term. Also, you must ensure that you are involved in at least 1 extra curricular activity this half term. If you’d like to take advantage of our very competitively priced Music Service then please see Mrs Moorhouse for a letter.

Talent Show It’s that time of year again! We’re on the look out for every single different talent, so if you’re a Well Green Primary Visit whizz on the juggling balls or keep-e-uppies, get practising. As part of the Well Green Primary School Arts week Sing with 7s and the Year 10 GCSE Music group visited the school to The staff are also practising hard and I know following last year’s rendition of the Macarena by Mr Beeley and the deliver a musically packed assembly to the entire school. alternative ‘SLT’ dance performance, we’ll wait with baited It was a special breath to see what they have to offer us this year! Auditions visit for Sing with will take place after the May half term. And if you’re 7s as they were interested in joining our very able technical team then come still riding high and tell Mrs Moorhouse. following their success at the Bowdon Youth Graded Exams Festival the previous week and During March a group of students made their they were keen way down to the Friends Meeting House to show off their in Manchester to complete their ABRSM award winning examinations. performance of ‘Everything is Awesome’. It was also an extra special visit for one of the members, Zara, who was a Well Green alumnus. I am pleased to report that all our students entered I know that you have made your old school extremely proud Zara. by our visiting Music Teachers were successful in these examinations. Could I also remind you to notify The Year 10 group had been told to prepare their own performances in us if your son/daughter is sitting or has passed a groups of their choosing, and we were treated to 3 very different and Music examination with any of the examining boards very mature performances: an Adele song by Georgia, Jasmine and such as ABRSM, Trinity, LCM and Rockschool. These Yasmin; Ben and Angus performed a 12 Bar Blues piece which featured qualifications are on the National Qualifications piano and violin improvisational sections; and Amelia, Lily and Owen Framework and some can be used to access points for performed their own version of the Ed Sheeran anthem, Sing. The Year UCAS, the university admissions service. 10 students impressed myself and Mr Holt with the way they explained their performances, giving students an insight into why they’d chosen the And now for the results. Congratulations to the following pieces and explaining how some of the more unusual instruments they students: used such as the cajon were played. Georgia Brennan (Singing) G3 with Merit; Rachael It is always a privilege to take our musicians out and about into the local Eckersley (Singing) G1 with Merit; Isabelle Fallon community and this visit was no different. Watch this space for more (Violin) G1 with Merit; Lewis Murphy (Violin) G3; community visits by our amazing musicians. Francesca Renwick (Singing) G1; Sam Sparks (Cello) Mrs Moorhouse G4; Jasmine Spinks (Piano) G2; Demica Thomas (Singing) G1; Angus Thompson (Violin) G3.

Music Bulletin The weekly Music Bulletin is published on the school website. It has details of all the weekly rehearsals for our ensembles, drop in sessions for students and extra lessons for examination groups so make sure you check it weekly, even if it’s just to make sure the whole family listen to the Music of the Week. Send your nominations in to Mrs Moorhouse for any piece of music you think the students of Wellington School should be listening to. Mrs Moorhouse

Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 19 MFL News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

Boppard 2016 Ancient Greek In July of this year, Greek Club was a the MFL department club created to teach will be taking those who had an 40 students to interest in ancient Boppard on the Greek language Rhine in Germany. some of the culture around it. Every year we take There were 5 sessions in total students to either and students learned the ancient France or Germany to Greek alphabet and some basic introduce them to the phrases; such as ‘Hello’ and ‘’My culture of the country and obviously, chocolate factories name is’, which was fun. We also are a firm favourite of both students and staff! The photographs here are learned about some of the ancient from our most recent trip to Boppard, where we visited Cologne cathedral Greek gods and goddesses and and the Lindt chocolate factory. how to translate phrases and words Mrs Williams from ancient Greek to English. The sessions were insightful and interested me greatly. I would definitely recommend the experience to others. Aaron Mellish 10 JLM

AS Level Workshop On Friday 18th of March, the Year 12 Spanish and French classes travelled to Manchester University for the AS Speaking workshop. The aim was to learn valuable techniques to aid us in our forthcoming speaking exams and to help us to understand how we can achieve our full potential! During the day, we learnt phrases and vocabulary for each sub-topic that could show up in our exams, and how to get the best possible marks. For the Spanish group, we were arranged in groups of three in a room with six tables, each table focusing on a particular topic. We spent roughly 30 minutes at each table, with 5 minutes break in between sessions. During each session, we played games to help us learn vocabulary, as well as being asked questions in the format of our exams, Spanish Breakfast so it was a very interactive and enjoyable experience. At the 8.3A had the opportunity to try typical Spanish foods like end of the day, we were each given a certificate and were asked about phrases we had learnt during the day. Overall, I chorizo, jamón serrano and tortilla española as they had think it was a very useful experience – I will take their advice been studying food and drink in lessons. on board and try to use as many phrases they taught me as Mrs Roe-Bennett’s tortilla went down very well and Dan Adams managed possible in my speaking and writing exams. Thank you to the to eat nearly a full jar of olives! Hopefully, it gave the students a good staff and students at Manchester University for inviting us! insight into an important part of Spanish culture! Ashleigh Cross 12AWS Mr Mani Dual Linguist Careers The Dual Linguist group had a discussion about the possible career options which studying languages can bring with local sports journalist Matt Ford. He spoke to them about jobs he has done with his French and German degree including writing for football magazines, translating novels and websites, teaching English and online marketing. 9-0 spoke in French and German with him and Matt was very impressed with both their linguistic skills as well as their genuine enthusiasm! Mr Mani

20 Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 MFL News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk Excellence in Everything

French Spelling Bee On Wednesday 23rd March, Megan Williams (7ARI), Abbie Le Boutillier (7ARI) and Heba Adhami (7SRU) took part in the Regional Finals of the Routes Into Languages French Spelling Bee at MMU, accompanied by Mrs Roe-Bennett and Miss Becker. All the girls were very excited to see that there were free cupcakes and very nervous for the task ahead! Nerves aside, they performed admirably in front of an audience of approximately 100 students and staff and all received an excellent goodie bag for their efforts. The competition was fierce – the winning student in our heat managed to spell 26 French words in one minute!! No pressure for next year then…… Mrs Williams

Love is in the air! World Book Day In February, pupils On Thursday 3rd March, from Miss Weeks’, Mrs the MFL department Williams’, Mrs Allen’s and celebrated world book Mrs Whitham’s groups day in its own inimitable produced fantastic display style! work for the MFL corridor Students from Year 7 had a book title translation in the run up to Valentine’s challenge in all three of our Modern Foreign day. Languages, translating such titles as ‘Caballo Amongst many beautiful pieces, pupils in Year 7 used opinions to de Batalla’ (War Horse) and ‘Nos Étoiles say which school subjects they like and love, pupils in Year 8 wrote contraires’ (The Fault in our Stars). We had lots a ‘recipe’ for their perfect partner and Year 9 pupils designed some of enthusiastic students taking part, well done beautiful pieces of work about loving learning languages. Year 10s everyone. described their ideal partner and we also had love letters, online Mrs Williams dating profiles and poems in the target language. A lovely way to jazz up the corridor! SCHOOL COUNCIL News

School Council News School Council has once more been at the forefront of everything good about Wellington School over the last few months. Elections, discussions, suggestions and debate are at the heart of what the School Council do, and this hard-working and dedicated group provides an invaluable link between students and staff. This not only helps to develop essential key skills in our students but actively informs the development of school policy. This is typified by the way in which students have added value to the on-going review of Wellington’s values and vision. As one would expect of our students, many of the best ideas have been generated by them themselves! While this has taken up much discussion time this term, however, the Executive Committee have also made time to hold a ballot for the election of Member of Youth Parliament for Trafford. This represents yet another exercise in Photo shows Caitlin Kemp and Yasmin Lee ready to democracy for our students following the ‘Make Your Mark’ campaign earlier conduct the MYP election this year. While this year’s Member of Youth Parliament is not a Wellington Student, we have high hopes that some of our Council members will appear on next year’s ballot paper. Leading this particular political charge are three Year 10 students; Yasmin Lee, Caitlin Kemp and Aaron Mellish, who attend weekly meetings of politically motivated young people from across Trafford and ensure that the voice of Wellington is heard beyond the school grounds. As members of Trafford Youth Cabinet they have recently returned from a weekend in Wales where, as one would expect, they represented themselves and Wellington School Council fabulously. Mr Holt

Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 21 PE News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

Sixth Form Football Girls Football As the football season comes to an end it’s time to reflect, and I would like Year 7, 8 and 9 played against BTH under to say well done to all the Sixth Form footballers, who have represented the floodlights and it was a great evening Wellington so well this season. for games. It has been our busiest year yet, with The coaches from Broadheath Central FC have home and away games versus, Ashton, been running sessions in school for the girls so it Wellacre, Sale Grammar, St Ambrose, was lovely to see them coming along to support and Urmston Grammar. Results have the girls in their opening games. The 7s had a been mixed, as has the side that has seen many cracking start to the season with a 4-0 win. Goals changes over the year, but this has been positive as more students have came from Millie Clayton (2), Katy Worthington, wanted to get involved. I hope next season we get the same enthusiasm and if possible and Esther Hoare. The Year 8s were down 2-0 but more fixtures, and not only in football, it would be a real positive to try and get some managed to bring it back to 2-2 in the second half. Sixth Form fixtures in a range of sports, transferring our success lower down the school into Sixth Form sport. I would like to wish our Year 13’s Kieran Wright, James Moore, Joe Unfortunately, they couldn’t maintain the pressure Cronshaw, Adam Burgess and Chris Partington all the best in the future and thank them and the end result was 4-2 to BTH. Erin Tighe for their commitment to sport while at Wellington. was named as Player of the Match after a great performance. The Year 9’s have a strong squad with Mr Morgan many club / county players and they put up a good fight against the side from BTH. Connie Taylor made some great saves in net and Hannah Smith was Year 9 Football first to the ball throughout the game. The 9s were What a triumphant season so far for the Year 9 football team following a disappointing unlucky to come out with a 2-2 draw with both campaign last year. goals coming from Jess Richardson. We have a good, core group of players who work hard for each other and they have The Year 7 and Year 9 teams played Ashton on certainly got their rewards this season. We dominated the South Trafford League and Mersey in thrilling battle encounters. Nervous remain unbeaten to this point. We beat ACA 5-0, Sale Grammar 5-1, BTH 4-2, Sale faces soon turned into beaming smiles as the goals High 12-0 and Broadoak 15-0; this meant we played Wellacre in the league playoff started to rain in. The girls not only showed great to get to Carrington. What a game that semi-final was, 2-0 up into the second half teamwork but some fantastic individual skills. The and the game ended 3-3 after extra time. We won penalties 4-3 and progress to Year 7’s won 4-0 with goals coming from Esther Hoare, Millie Clayton, Katy Worthington and Maizy the final on the 10th May. The team are going in the cup with the potential to win Price. The Year 9’s beat AOM 4-0 with goals from both competitions and play Sale Grammar or BTH in the semi final. We are hopeful Jessica Richardson and Ella Richards. of a successful campaign but that aside, I am so proud of how the team have come together and played collectively with the same intensity as each other. The Year 7 team were superb against Sale Grammar. They have been working hard in training Mr Tomlinson and it’s definitely paying off! We had some lovely team work and ‘1-2’ passing all over the pitch and our defensive line stuck tight to their players and didn’t give them an inch. We had a lot Year 7 Trafford of shots but just couldn’t get them on target. The girls never gave up and finally their work paid off Basketball when Daisy Glazebrook slotted it past the Sale Grammar keeper for a 1-0 win. Our player of the Champions match was Katy Worthington. The Year 8 team Year 7 Basketball - “The year 7 played a very tough Sale Grammar side. They Basketball squad managed to top were physically stronger than us but the girls worked hard to the bitter end. The final score was their unbeaten league season unfortunately a 5-0 loss. The Year 8 player of the with victory in the Trafford Schools match was well deserved and went to Mia Claude- Basketball Final. Williams. Following the unbeaten league run last term, the squad faced Sale Grammar in the Miss MacGlinchey semi-final. After a tough, hard-fought game, Wellington went on to play Ashton on Mersey in the final. Travelling away to Ashton with a full squad, Wellington produced their best performance of the year to claim the Trafford Schools Championship. Both Mr Tomlinson and myself are extremely impressed with the hard work and dedication U13 Manchester United the boys have shown to both training and fixtures throughout the season. We both look forward to defending our title next year.” Mr Higginson Tournament “The team took part in the Manchester United U13 girls tournament at the Cliff in Year 11 Football Salford. Same as the Year 9 story really and a continuation of the previous season’s success. Unfortunately, they came up against a few bigger I have to commend the lads on their commitment to the team during their most and stronger Year 8’s but the experience will stand important school year and they have been honest with their approach to this season. them in good stead for next year’s competition. They played 7 games with only a few minutes rest We successfully navigated the league campaign beating BTH 2-0, Broadoak 1-0, Sale between each so physically it was tough going! High 5-0 and North Cestrian 5-1. We drew 2-2 against ACA and Sale Grammar to finish They played teams from all across Manchester - top of the league and played Wellacre in the semi final. Unfortunately, Wellacre had to beating Manchester Academy, Broadoak, MCMA forfeit the fixture which puts us in the final for the first time in three years. The team and Ambrose Barlow. The girls won 4 games and are also going strong in the cup with a semi final against Broadoak coming up with the lost 3. Numerous goals came from Milly Clayton hope of replicating the Year 9 team and reaching two finals. I have to say I hope they (our captain, and birthday girl!), Maizy Price, Katy do make both finals as it is the least they deserve for their efforts, endeavours and Worthington and Lucy Kilvert. The girls gave it their commitment to each other. Again very proud of the lads!! all and had a good day of sport.” Mr Tomlinson Miss MacGlinchey

22 Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 PE News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk Excellence in Everything

Year 8 Rugby It has been a very promising year for the Year 8 rugby team at Wellington.

Mr Dearnaley and myself have been very impressed with the way the team has grown this season. Despite infrequent training sessions and gaps between fixtures, the team have still managed to record some very impressive results. The highlights of the season must be the victory over a strong Lymm High side and a draw against St Ambrose away; with both schools having a far greater rugby pedigree than Wellington.

Year 7 Rugby There have been many impressive individual performers this season, such as the Allan twins, Barney and Toby and Ashley Ross. Boys such as Morgan Blair and Dylan Jones Having laid a solid foundation in have been fantastically committed throughout the year, never missing a training session. the Autumn Term, the Year 7 rugby Others, such as Alex Wright, have made a return from football and really made their team, with several new recruits, mark. It has been really pleasing from our perspective to see rugby continue to grow at developed well in the Spring Term. Wellington and all of the lads developing as people, not just players. We would urge all of the lads to continue next year and even consider joining a club outside of school. We look Numbers at training remained high forward to a very promising Year 9 season next year. throughout the term and the boys were also grateful recipients of some additional Mr Wright coaching from Salford Red Devils Rugby League team. Unfortunately, several games were postponed due to either Year 9 Rugby weather or our opponents ‘running Girls Without Boundaries/This scared’, but we did play 5 further fixtures The Spring term was against Manchester Enterprise Academy frustrating for the Year 9 Girl Can…Dance! (won by a cricket score), Ashton on rugby squad. Looking to Lancashire County Cricket Club have set up community links Mersey (won 17 – 24), Knutsford (won carry on from the previous with Wellington and have done this through dance. term, the lads had to settle (12 – 61), Altrincham College of Arts (drew The girls choreographed the dance themselves with the for 1 game with numerous 36 – 36) a closely fought local derby, and support of Natasha from LCCC. She taught them some cancellations due to a second fixture against St Ambrose that mixed martial arts too, so punches and kicks were added weather, unavailability etc. ended in defeat. to the dance. They have performed this twice, once in front Well done to all the squad members on a The one game that we of other schools who had also received this opportunity great first season of Wellington rugby, and managed to play was a and a second time at LCCC. The performance was a hit and I’m sure with even greater commitment return fixture Vs local the girls came second plus they got the chance to meet the we can go from strength to strength in rivals Ashton on Mersey. Lancashire County Cricket Club mascot, Lanky the giraffe! the 2016 – 2017 season. We may also Following on from a heavy They have now have some 7-a-side tournaments to look defeat in the previous been asked to forward to in the Summer Term and I hope game, the boys produced perform at a as many of the boys and their parents their best performance of 20/20 event in can join us at the Sports Award Dinner on the year and ran out 58-22 June. Thursday 23rd June, more details to follow winners. The girls in the next few weeks. I would like to congratulate are Lauren McKendry, Niamh Our record for the season, therefore all players who have McLaughlin, stands at: P12; W6; D2; L4 (St Ambrose represented the school this Natasha Ellams, Daisy Joynson, Freya Mulvey, Michelle twice and Lymm HS twice) year and with the progress we have made as a squad, Chen, Amelia Atack , Amelia Karabedian, Ella Percy, Holly S Beeley look forward to next year. Evans, Rebecca Court, Caitlin Maguire and Yasmin Ennis. Mr Higginson

Trafford Futsal Competition The Year 7 girls football team took part in the Trafford 5-a-side Futsal competition at the Powerleague Sports Dome. The squad chosen for the competition were Jemma Cave (capt), Maizy Price, Milly Clayton, Daisy Glazebrook, Kate Maxim, Katy Worthington, Ellie Budenberg, Lucy Kilvert, Ellie Jinks and Glory Bristow. We had a good team formation with lots of 1,2 passes (which the girls have been working in at practice) and it clearly paid off! We beat Stretford Grammar 2-0 (goals from Jemma Cave and Katy Worthington); beat BTH 1-0 (Milly Clayton); beat Broadoak 2-1 (both goals from Maizy Price); drew 0-0 with Urmston Grammar and in our final game we beat Flixton 2-1 with the first goal scored by Milly Clayton and in the final minutes Jemma Cave slotted home a cracking penalty to win the game! We finished in first place overall in the competition and are through to the County Futsal Finals on Tuesday May 3rd. Miss MacGlinchey

Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 23 PE News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

Year 9 Netball Year 10 Handball Congratulations to the Year 9 Netball team who were crowned A team of 10 Year 10 girls entered the Trafford Trafford Champions, following a win against Urmston Grammar. Handball competition this year for the very first The girls have had another excellent season, and we look forward time. to another fantastic year as we enter Year 10. Our tactical play has continued to improve this year, with a stronger understanding of our The GCSE PE students had been learning the sport in lesson positioning and a much greater use of set plays. Thanks as always time, and put their skills to the test by playing against to the parents who come and help on match days- your support is Flixton, Sale Grammar and BTH. The girls finished 3rd in the always appreciated! competition, but all of them improved their GCSE scores and were able to play against some good opposition to learn how Miss Hodges the game is played properly. Miss Hodges Year 7 Trafford Netball Champions The Trafford Year 7 netball final took place against BTH in March and Indoor athletics it was a very tight game throughout, even going into extra time. Year 7 and 8 girls indoor All the girls have worked athletics teams competed so hard to develop their against nine other local skills and create a strong schools and there were team. The final score was challenges of every kind, 10-12 and girl of the game including the speed bounce, from the opponents was the standing broad jump, an Esther Hoare, plus Alexa obstacle race, relay races and Lima from Mrs Thomson, a paired event called the 8 lap the coach. Well done Parlaff where you take it in turns to run two laps, then your partner girls, Trafford Champions! does two, until eight are completed in total. A very tough event. All the girls worked well as part of their team and scores were added They also played in together. Both teams came 3rd in their respective year groups. Well the Trafford netball done to Courtney Disley, Georgie Scrace, Darcy Popplewell, Abi tournament at Broadoak. They came third in their pool and following Middleton, Ellie Swain and Amy Mollard. a 4-0 play-off victory over Flixton Girls came fifth in Trafford! This is a tremendous success as only one of the team plays outside of school. Well done to Isabela Bandiera-Leigh (c), Charlotte Christian, Esther Hoare, Katie Chown, Ruby Sykes, Alexa Lima, Sophie Hurlstone, Leah Year 12 Manchester United trip Rushton and player of the tournament Ashley Dawber. Year 12 AS PE students went on a trip to Old Miss Richards Trafford this term! They experienced a tour of the stadium, led by a very able match day steward, this was then followed by an educational session from an ex professional footballer covering the Wellington B and C teams nutrition aspect of the course. The students learnt about the On Tuesday 8th March, two of our teams completed in a Trafford dietary intake of footballers, and how this changes between Tournament at BTH school and thankfully the weather was on our training sessions and match days. The content was all very side. relevant to the course and the students were able to take away lots of information that they can use in their exams. There were teams from all over Trafford Miss Hodges and all the girls thoroughly enjoyed the chance to show off their skills. The Year 10 Gymnastics Leaders final match even In March, 10 GCSE PE students from Year 10 went saw our B team play against the C team! to Whalley Range High School in Manchester The results were that to volunteer at the Greater Manchester Primary that the B’s came 7th school athletics competition. and as they beat our The students were responsible for around 20 small children, C team, the Cs came who they had to look after and make sure were all in the 8th. Well done to all right place at the right time! We had excellent feedback from the girls who played the competition organiser and some of the primary school but the girl of the teachers, who took the time to write into school to show tournament for the B their gratitude! Well done Year 10! team goes to Annabel Wright and for the C team goes to Lynn Bustani. Miss Hodges

24 Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 PE News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk Excellence in Everything

Ski life – Vermont and New York, February half term We were lucky enough to be taken on the ski trip to Vermont and New York during half term. The first days were spent in the ‘The Beast of the East’ Killington Ski Resort. The resort was huge, it had six peaks, and each had their own café and lodges where we would usually stop for lunch. Our favourite was definitely Bear Mountain however Killington Peak was extremely picturesque. There were many trails, the slopes were very wide and it gave us the opportunity to practice our technique and despite the cold, the skiing conditions were very pleasant. The instructors at Killington were amazing! They were great fun and helped us to improve our technique and style and we all made great progress and picked up lots of tips. When our five days of skiing were sadly over we said our goodbyes to our instructors and then headed to New York. On our journey we stopped at the Woodbury Common Outlet mall for some retail therapy then travelled to our New York hotel. In the evening we went for a fantastic meal at the Hard Rock Café and then we explored the bright lights of Times Square. On our last day in New York we had an incredible opportunity to explore the famous landmarks – we walked over the Brooklyn Bridge and viewed the New York skyline; then we visited Ground Zero was a touching experience which we’ll never forget. Next we ventured up the Empire State Building where we saw the most breath-taking view of the city. We made life-long friends with people from other years which we would normally not have the opportunity to mix with. We all enjoyed every minute of the ski trip and would do anything to go back.” by Emily Madden and Annie Dickinson Year 10

REP News

Inspirational People Debate Competitions Project This half term, we have been leading a series of debate competitions with Year 10. Students in Year 9 have just Students were given time to prepare for a range of completed an independent project questions relating to the Full Course topics and then went head to head with an opposing team. There on an inspirational figure of their were several rounds leading to a grand final which choosing. was judged by Year 13 students. All students really engaged with this challenge and gained a lot from The students had a choice of many these lessons. Outstanding contributors included: Rosie inspirational people including the likes of Coan, Joseph Abadi-Johns, Jessica Chappell, Katy Chapman, Martin Luther King, Anne Frank and Nelson Jana Jackson, Leah Shaw and McKenzie Bryce Clegg. Mandela to name but a few. The challenge was to cover a variety of different aspects Mrs Jones of their chosen inspirational person, from their life and times, to how they were influenced by religion and how they influenced others throughout history. They Mezuzah then needed to present the project in an innovative way that captured the attention This term Year 9 students have been of the reader and informed them about completing experiential lessons in REP; I the inspirational figure. The year group have been extremely impressed with the as a whole worked extremely hard over a work students have produced when learning series of lessons to complete the projects and some of the finished pieces of work about the Shema. are outstanding. Well done year 9 for your The Shema is a sacred prayer written on small scrolls engagement with the project and your and placed within the mezuzah outside every Jewish household and Synagogue. The enthusiasm so far this year, keep up the students created their own models which were brightly coloured and ornately decorated. good work! Prizes were given our for the best designs and special mentions go to; Alisha Bundhia, Megan Wardle, Hannah Smith, Phoenix Beardall-Tang, Phoebe Ross and Adam Jennings. Mr Harrison Mrs Jones

Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 25 SCIENCE News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

GCSE Science Live 2016 Rocket Science During last term, the Science department took This term, 7 Year 7s joined 60 triple Scientists to the Bridgewater Hall for a thousands of other schools in series of Science becoming Space Biologists. lectures. For those of you that have seen We were treated to “The Martian” starring Matt Damon you will have an idea some time travel of the importance of being able to grow your own food in Space. The talk by Professor Jim UK Space Agency and the RHS Campaign for School Gardening have Al-Khalili, explanations of evolution without the use of fossils challenged half a million UK students to grow 200 rocket seeds; half of by Professor Alice Roberts and how to become a millionaire which have spent months on board the ISS with Major Tim Peake. by computer scientist/inventor Professor Dave Cliff. Without Jess Wardle, Will Dewey-Simmons, Eren Sayan, Jack Ryan, Patrick doubt the highlight of the day for staff and students was a Gibson, Alban Kapa and Adil Mohammad have taken up that lecture by Professor Lord Robert Winston. Probably most challenge. They diligently prepared 200 plant labels before planting famous for his “Child of our times” series, he talked us their 200 seeds. Over 6 weeks they will need to care for, monitor through his past research with understated flair, enthusiasm and collect data on the growth of these seeds. This data will then be and humour. Undoubtedly, he is someone who has made a forwarded to the UK Space agency. The out-of-this-world, nationwide massive contribution to Science and has inspired many people science experiment will enable the students to think more about to become scientists. Having spoken to some of our students how we could preserve human life on another planet in the future, who attended the event, it seems that he has truly inspired what astronauts need to survive long-term missions in space and the them too and hopefully they will become our future Scientists difficulties surrounding growing fresh food in challenging climates. who will go on to make amazing contributions to society! We wait to see what transpires! Miss Lee Miss Lee

Healthcare Trip To celebrate British Science Week, 14 Year 9 Triple Scientists visited the Central Manchester University Hospital to discover the different careers as Healthcare Scientists, attending interactive sessions given by Transplantation Scientists, Cardiologists and Geneticists. The students also had the opportunity to meet more Healthcare Scientists and discuss their day-to-day role and their educational pathway. The students found it interesting and thoroughly enjoyed the day. We may have some budding healthcare professionals! Miss Tan

KS3 Praise Postcards This half term, Science staff were asked to nominate 2 pupils from each of their KS3 classes whom they felt had performed to a high standard all half term. Each pupil nominated received a praise postcard and a special Wellington Super Scientist pencil. The pupils rewarded are listed below. Congratulations Super Scientists! Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Natalie Sparks, Eren Sayan, Hannah Kuhn, Lewis Berry, Phoebe Wilson, Sophie Kelly, Hannah El-Qedeh, Patrycja Glodowska, Jack Judge, Ella Richards, Megan Lloyd, Emily Speed, Cameron Sanderson, Stephanie Eaton, Patrick Waters, Francesca Wren, Megan Ingleby, Jack Draper, Nadia Hussain, Tash Ellams, Freya Mulvey, Grace Ferguson, Jakub Kessel, Felix Hoxley, Abbie Chan, Alex Rogerson, Maxwell Thoms, Maciej Dworakowski, Andrew Foden, Nicole Page, Robbie James, Ashley Ross, Harvey Baskerville, Eve Pesticcio, Holly Grice, Joe Edwards, Abbie Long, Rhiannon McMahon, Jacob Riddell, Jake Lineham, Chloe Gregory, Lois Hinds, Daisy Joynson, Kian Wykes Theo Konstantinou, Megan Lloyd, Oliver Tyson-Comer, Charlie Neild, Oliver Tero, Liam Munday, Sinead McColl, Grace Cottrill, Hannah Kayes, Madeline Rogerson, Shaqeel Ahmad, Mauro Pereira, Jordan Ruchat Mollie-Jo Rotherforth, Ghulam Shad

26 Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 SCIENCE News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk Excellence in Everything

Science Club British Science Week This term, March 2016 Wellington’s Our KS3 pupils celebrated British Science Club were Science week with an extremely busy involved with lots week of activities. of themed events In lessons they were following the theme to celebrate of space. This does not just mean outer various national science days space which was looked at in Science club, including making personalised bath but also means open space, personal space and built bombs as Mother’s Day gifts. space. Pupils investigated which areas of the country’s open spaces were affected by acid rain. They looked at During British Science Week, attendees trialled how a specifically designed built space in a hospital can numerous timed activities that demonstrated help fight diseases such as Ebola and then looked into the difficulties of life in Space such as building managing personal space by making and testing their own circuits and models while wearing thick protective toothpaste. gloves. Other activities that pupils thoroughly enjoyed included making slime and sugary Year 7 have been doing some project based learning snakes, based around the open space theme. Their focus was zoos building and conservation. The department took 120 pupils to hologram the zoo to carry out some research tasks about the designed viewers spaces the animals live in and how it mimics their natural and fire- habitat. They are now in the process of teaching their peers to extinguishers produce a group project and summarise their findings. These and will be judged at the beginning of the summer term with lots dissecting of Chester Zoo prizes available for the best entries. lamb hearts! A great week enjoyed by all! Miss Tan Mrs Brown

STEM News

Big Bang Fair In March, 30 KS3 pupils visited the Big Bang fair at the NEC in Birmingham. The fair is intended to raise the profile of STEM subjects, careers and promote engineering. Pupils took part in a ‘Tomorrows Engineers’ challenge, which involved them building Lego Mindstorms robots from scratch and then programming them to perform various tasks. The pupils then competed against each other in heats and a tense final saw Mia Claude-Williams and Darcy Popplewell take a resounding victory over Jack Deighton- Brown and his teammates. Go girls! Pupils then had a chance to wander round the Big Bang fair itself and get involved with virtual reality, accelerator challenges, movement sensors and watch the ‘Mad about Energy’ show which showcased explosive experiments linking to energy and how we use it. Pupils also had the opportunity to see how STEM is used in industry and speak to professionals working in STEM careers, for example JCB, Rolls Royce, BAE & Siemens. The fair was attended by 7,000 students from around the country and as usual, Wellington students were complimented on their engagement, effort and polite demeanour. Many thanks to all the parents and guardians for dragging pupils out of bed an hour earlier – one pupil in particular arriving at 6:30 am, even before us! A thoroughly enjoyable day for the students and the staff. Already looking to next year! Miss Tyrer and Miss Carter

Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 27 STEM News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

Year 7 Lego Year 7 STEM club Mindstorms have been busy At the end of last this term making year, we managed bobsleds! to win access to a Using high impact fabulous competition! polystyrene, metal It is called ‘Tomorrows Engineers: EEP Robot Challenge’ and wire, acetate and the correct involves pupils building a LEGO robot using engineering, design and tools to form and decorate technology skills with equipment worth almost £2000. these items (including the The pupils will then be required to try and tackle a contemporary laser cutter to add their scientific problem proposed by NASA! This exciting programme is sled’s name), students currently running as an extra-curricular club and will culminate in made a speedy bobsled a regional finals competition, set for the 8th June. If our pupils are that we shot across the floor successful they will be entered into a national final! to measure the distance travelled. Congratulations Wellington has been selected based on our enthusiasm for STEM and to Josie Watson (VLE) for the the continuing commitment from pupils and staff. Watch this space winning sled. for more exciting news and pictures as the competition rolls around. Miss Tyrer Miss Carter and Miss Tyrer.

STEM at Wellington It’s been a really busy term for STEM with numerous different activities going on. In February, two exciting events took place in school for both Year 10 & Year 8 pupils. Firstly, 30 Year 8 pupils were off timetable involved in an Engineering Challenge from the Smallpiece Trust. Pupils heard about routes into engineering and why it is so important. They also completed a task looking at the different forms of energy and why we need to consider renewable energies as opposed to fossil fuels. As their main challenge, pupils were tasked with using one of those non-renewable energies. They had to build a solar powered car themselves, power it using only a desk lamp and then work out the power needed for it to travel a certain distance. It got extremely competitive with two solar powered cars racing to the final! The overall winners managed to get the measurements exact, thus sweeping them into the glorious 1st place position. An educational and engaging activity which ties in very well with the Year 8 curriculum on energy and the future. Well done year 8! Just two days later, 20 Year 10 pupils were also involved in STEM endeavours. Pupils were involved in a LEGO Mindstorms activity which saw them programming robots to complete different tasks. Pupils were taught about the importance of robots and programming for ventures such as the Mars Rover and the danger of handling nuclear materials. They then proceeded to learn how to use the programming EV3 tool and programme their robots to move around, sense objects, change direction and play sounds. Pupils were even able to make their robots cross the room and pick up an object according to its colour! An exciting opportunity which the pupils found very enjoyable. Winners of the competition for the best programmers went to Jack Povah and Morgan Nelson, who were able to calculate the distances their robots were moving to absolute perfection. They were closely followed by a team of Sophie Bakash, Philippa Brady & Lara Abunasra, whose unfortunate robot dropped their collection block, meaning that they missed out on the award. This is especially relevant, as having won a LEGO Mindstorms competition, Wellington School have now received two of their own robots for building and programming. Miss Tyrer and Miss Carter

28 Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 YEAR 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk Excellence in Everything

Year group impressed me immensely with Wood, Eleanor Lloyd-Williams, Alexa Lima, Year 7 their homework projects and I was blown Ollie Charman, Lucy Kilvert, Joe Edwards, The Year 7’s have made a very away with how confident their delivery Tomas Soar, Mia Liddell, Ethan Steward, positive start to Wellington School was throughout them. We recognise a Amy Robbins and Grace Cottrill. The Year and are growing in confidence. MVP (Most Valuable Pupil) each month for group are a close bunch of students who students who have gone above and beyond are starting to gel well together and with Our attendance, punctuality and behaviour in terms of their standards for learning and over 140 100% attenders it bodes well for record are very good. The support for the service to the school. The latest group our future. Year 7’s is strong with individual support of students are: Armeen Shehzad, Jenna Mr Tomlinson happening in Maths and English. The

Year 8 Year 9 We have been This term I set immensely Year 9 a challenge proud of our based on a national Year 8 students competition called this year. the £10 Challenge. They have The £10 Challenge responded provides a sum of money positively to the for students to form a pressures of no longer being the ‘new kids on the block’ ‘business’; all costs and expenses need to come from the original sum of and in setting a good example to the new, incoming Year money or any profit that is made. Each tutor group would be allowed to keep 7’s of the standards expected of students at Wellington. the profits to buy themselves an end of year reward. Whoever made the Our pupils have shown a real get up and go attitude most money would win the competition. – embracing our Year group motto of “Year 8 All However, the kind hearted individuals in Year 9 wanted to donate their Stars”. The pupils have remained bright and positive profits towards our school’s Sponsored Walk charity, Teenage Cancer Trust. showing good effort and a real commitment to school Therefore this term Year 9 have been making, baking, cleaning, painting, and and learning. We have recognised excellence with our selling a whole host of products from fudge and chocolate, to car washing competitive tutor league competition which awards the and nail painting, as you will see from the accompanying photographs. At best attending and most punctual pupils. the last count the combined total was heading towards the £400 mark. Ever the sportsman, Mr Gubbins has taken the There were also a couple of raffles ran by different tutor groups. SLS punctuality race to heart and his tutor group have organised a raffle where Key 103 tickets were up for grabs. The lucky winner smashed the league for the year to date. Well done to was Zara Ahmed 7ESD; we hope you enjoy the concert Zara! More winners 8JGS who have enjoyed lollies and ‘Fast Track’ passes to to come! Massive well done to Year 9 for all their hard work with the project. lunch for being eager beavers to getting to registration But I have to add that I was very thankful for the Easter break not only for my on time. Miss MacGlinchey has been close on the heels waist line but also my purse, which has regularly been emptied over the last of 8JGS however and has been recognised as the most few weeks. One Year 9 pupil, who shall remain nameless, intentionally put a improving tutor group for attendance and punctuality. mark-up on the price of some sweets I was buying! His reason? ‘Ah well it’s Meanwhile over in the Science block, 8SPR and 8NTN you Miss!’ Charming! have been battling it out, sharing best attending tutor groups and being rewarded for their achievements with a Year 9 have also started to prepare for their GCSEs, which they are due free breakfast for their tutees. to start from September, by thinking about stress and how to effectively manage it. Tutor groups have been producing posters that will be put on There have been lots of successes both in the classroom display for the duration of their GCSEs as part of a wider attempt to ensure with effort, homework and academic achievement as that the year group has a positive ethos and growth mindset, which will be a well as on the sporting fields –notably our award winning big focus point for the next two years. Year 8 cheerleaders and our football and rugby teams. We have individuals in the Year group who are elite Finally well done to KJS who won this term’s attendance league and have athletes in judo, Irish dancing, cheerleading and football. tucked into a hearty breakfast of bacon butties. Individual prices for the In Music we are represented in the Halle Youth Choir. year’s 100% attenders have also included vouchers and Easter eggs. Whilst an exceptionally high achieving Year group This term saw the launch of Wellington’s Parental Partnership, which aims to our pupils remain grounded, polite and respectful In continue to develop good relationships between school and home. Our first Assembly and tutor time we have been thinking about event was a showcase of pupil talent. A mix of Year 8 and 9 pupils came off positive role models in life. These have ranged from timetable for Period Five on the last Tuesday of term and made canapés and Rocky Balboa and Nelson Mandela to Oprah Winfrey. cakes for invited teachers and their parents. Parents got to see the students busying themselves in the Technology department before they served Also recognising our good manners and how our pupils the scrummy treats to parents and staff. On display were pieces of work are prepared to go that extra mile are the especially selected by the students involved and a chance to meet parents. Year 8 PRO (People Respecting Others) Awards. These The event was undoubtedly a success, with students clearly proud of the awards have been created to acknowledge students in praise that they were receiving from their teachers and the superlatives the Year group who are continually respectful to their and compliments parents paid to the event. Oh and the students were very peers and teachers and go that extra mile in class. Very appreciative of their cinema vouchers as a reward for their participation! soon we will be rewarding this group of students with a Well done to all students and staff involved (especially Mrs Ryan) and a morning or afternoon mountain biking to show that even massive thank you to parents for taking the time to come along to share in good manners are acknowledged in Year 8. the achievements of their children. Mr Travis and Mrs Thomson Miss Tidbury

Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 29 YEAR 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

Year 10 Year 11 Year 10 have been preparing for The Spring term was an extremely busy time for Year 11. After a relaxing their upcoming GCSE exams this Christmas break, pupils were asked to start thinking about putting term. Tutor time activities have together revision timetables for the upcoming Mock exams in March. covered a range of revision based This came together with assemblies delivered by Heads of Department, which gave activities. specialist advice on how to best complete exams in the core subjects. Students have learnt and practised a On top of revision, Year 11 pupils had to complete their applications to the Sixth Form and variety of revision methods, they have go through the daunting task of interviews with Mr Cropper and Miss Grey. I have been also learnt some top tips for managing the told that all of them did well and both complimented the pupils for their maturity. inevitable anxieties that crop up around exam time. Mentoring also took place before and after the Mocks in March, allowing pupils to discuss their revision strategies and any areas for improvement that needed addressing. Students have also completed a unit of It is great to see the vast majority of Year 11 taking the challenges of final GCSE exams work around managing their finances, and seriously and the advice given by mentors is crucial to their success. have had to work out how much things cost in real life! They then went on to think Finally, a huge thank you to all of the parents of Year 11 pupils. Without your support, about what can go wrong, and how to it would be umpteen times harder to reach the academic achievements we have had in keep on top of their finances. The students the past and, hopefully, in the future. This was epitomised by the great turnout at GCSE finished the term by starting some drugs Preparation Evening at the end of the Spring term. education sessions that will continue after Good luck to all of Year 11 in the Summer – the Year 11 team are hoping that the grades the exam period. will reflect the hard work that you have put in! Miss Hodges Mr Williams, Director of Year 11

Mrs Copeland reports on some of the fantastic events of the Spring Term:

Anti-Bullying Ambassadors “Hope” January saw the launch of the Following the ‘Enable’ Project at Wellington School. anti-bullying theme, Years We are extremely proud to have been 7 and 8 were selected as one of the two schools in fortunate Trafford to be given the opportunity to to be able take part in this European project. Forty six to watch pupils from Years 7-13 received two days the play “Hope” performed by The Takeaway Theatre in March. This was an excellent of training to become fully fledged anti- production and the message was very clear- never underestimate the effect your behaviour bullying ambassadors and peer support can have on someone. The play really made pupils think about how they behave towards mentors. Alistair Black, Behaviour and each other: “Hope” is the story of a beautiful and successful pop star returning to the town Attendance Consultant for Trafford was where she grew up for the first time in years. A chance encounter between her and an old kind enough to deliver the level 1 training school acquaintance brings back painful memories of her childhood and the systematic with me in January and Level 2 training was abuse and bullying she suffered at the hands of a classmate. It is a story of courage, self- delivered by the 6th Form anti-bullying empowerment and redemption. The play, expertly delivered by professional actors, was ambassadors in March. Following the informative, thought-provoking and entertaining and there were follow up activities in tutor training we now have a job description periods. for the role of peer supporter, contact cards for pupils who are unsure who to Social Media Evening for Parents talk to if they feel unhappy and pupils in On 15th March, Sharon Dixon from Essential Safeguarding delivered training to parents all Year groups who patrol the site daily regarding e-safety and covered such topics as the risks of certain “apps”, cyber bullying, alongside duty staff who feel confident to sexual exploitation, grooming and many other topics. All parents were welcome and I know deal with issues that may arise both in the that those who attended found the event extremely informative. playground and around the site, and much more! On 3rd May Peter Bower, Online Safety Consultant working with the Safer Teenage Cancer Trust – cancer talks Internet Centre on the Enable Project, is Also in March, Kelly Scott from The Teenage Cancer Trust came into school and talked to coming in to School to film and interview pupils in Years 10-13 about this disease which affects so many of us in some way. Kelly some of our peer supporters. Huge thanks emphasised how rare cancer is in teenagers and the survival rates for most teenage must also go to the PSHE Department who cancers. She didn’t just talk about the symptoms and treatment, she also talked about her delivered ten sessions to Year 7 on the own experience with cancer and the effect it had on her friends and family. I know from topic of bullying and created a scheme of talking to the pupils how much they gained from the talk in terms of awareness of cancer work based on resources provided by the but also how to deal with loved ones and friends who may be suffering from the disease. Project.

30 Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 SIXTH FORM News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk Excellence in Everything

to study to lead them on to their chosen Wellington Sixth Form career paths. We really enjoyed the News, Views and interviews and how well they articulated themselves. We are looking forward to our Reviews new cohort! Well done Year 11! Well, this term has been a ‘put Year 12 braved the elements on Wednesday 2nd March to attend the UCAS Convention your head down and get on with at Manchester Central. Despite it Competitive Application’ and ‘Student it’ kind of term. Both students being officially the second day of the Finance and Careers’. It provided our and staff have been very busy, meteorological Spring, a raging sleet storm students with an opportunity to find out greeted them upon their arrival off the loads of information to get them thinking but here’s a flavour of some of tram! Things improved enormously once about the important choices they’ll make the enrichment and support that inside the venue where it was, thankfully, this summer and into the autumn. Even if has been going on… warm and dry. 200+ exhibitors had set up they decide an Oxbridge application is not their stands and the place was buzzing for them, the hints and tips they acquired In January, our 6th Formers were visited with conversation. Our students spent the on the day will be extremely useful for any by the Trafford Elections Team. They were afternoon collecting information, talking university application. A good day was had all encouraged to register to vote and to representatives from UK universities, by all! members of the team were available to gap year providers and employers and At the end of March there were many Year answer questions and offer advice. There attending seminars on a range of topics 12 & 13’s involved in a study day, different were lots of leaflets to take away and read including student finance, studying abroad techniques were discussed trying to help in their own time with the crucial message and post-degree career options. At the students discover new ways to learn and being that their votes matter and that they end of the day they were laden down with styles of learning that suited them better. really should exercise their right to vote and free promotional gifts (phone stands and Revision techniques and planning have also take an interest in political issues. clips, water bottles, pens, bags…) and very been a big feature of the tutor programme. heavy prospectuses. Now the research and Of course we had the Sponsored Walk With the big jump in content, standard reading really begins in earnest as they in February and the usual amazing and amount expected within A-levels, it is try to narrow down their choices and firm costumes. The photos show the effort our important that new ways to tweak, develop up their plans. The Convention is a timely students went to, to make the day such an and improve are in place to help our Sixth event to kick start this process and our Year enormous success! This year it was in aid Form make progress. Those students who 12s were very positive in their feedback of the Teenage Cancer Trust and our Sixth engage with it really see a difference and about the day. Exciting times – we know Form students in particular were inspired using the time planning makes a huge from experience that it’ll be the end of Year by Laura McDonagh in Year 13 and the difference in the stresses and strains the 13 in a flash so it’s crucial to think ahead assembly she gave to share her experiences workload can put you under. and set themselves goals. As always, the and advise how the trust helps those 6th Form team are available to answer battling this disease. So, off our students To round off the term, huge thanks to staff questions and offer advice. So, parents and went all dressed up with their buckets for extra lessons at Easter school, the Sixth students, please do get in touch if you’ve and coaxed the very generous public of Form really do appreciate it! a query or you’d just like some support in Timperley to dig deep and raised a record making these important decisions. So that’s all for now, good luck to £2,300 from their collection on the day to the Sixth Form in all their AS and A2 kickstart the donations! On Wednesday 16th March, 5 Year 12 examinations, we know you can do it. students, accompanied by Mr Cropper, Mr Cropper and Miss Grey completed attended the North West Oxbridge Mr Cropper, Miss Grey, Mrs Wilson interviews for Sixth Form last term, and Conference at Aintree Racecourse. It was we have to say there were some very well a busy day of seminars on a range of informed students who had clearly done themes including ‘Oxford and Cambridge their research and knew what they had Universities Explained’, ‘Making a

Summer Term Newsletter May 2016 31 CAREERS News www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

On Wednesday 9th March Years 9, 10 Whilst the two Ben’s were presenting the National Careers Week and Sixth Form Students attended Skills news, Year 10 students Jess Chappell, Lola 7th- 11th March North West at Events City in Manchester Charvin and Rosie Coan were taking part in a accompanied by Mrs Mackay, Mrs Taylor- televised scene from Coronation Street, very During this week schools were asked Crooke and Mrs Warburton. This is one of the exciting! biggest careers, jobs and skills events in the to focus in particular on Career Our Students were able to obtain advice, region where the students were able to meet related activities. guidance and the latest information available with top employers, colleges, universities, to help them make informed decisions Wellington is already fully involved in Careers training providers and advisers and industry about their future careers. They picked up and Work-Related areas across the school experts with in-depth knowledge. There leaflets, prospectuses and even some free during the whole year, but we did embrace were numerous exhibitors, who had set promotional gifts, such as mugs, badges, the challenge and were able to engage our up information and interactive stands for pens, clips etc. students in various activities throughout the students to participate in throughout the week. morning. This event as ever was both enjoyable and very beneficial to our students and we were Year 8 were introduced to “Launchpad” One stand in particular caught everyone’s proud that they were representing Wellington which is an interactive, online careers site eye and that was the ITV News Stand, School. where students are able to match their where THE Tony Morris was actually helping interests , abilities and personalities to students to read the news from an auto- On Thursday the 10th March we welcomed suggested Careers for the future. There are reader whilst being filmed live on television. Trafford College into school to speak to our over 400 careers with essential information, Tony actually complimented two of our Sixth students and provide information about plus engaging case studies, photographs and Form Students, Ben Leith and Ben Johnson, Apprenticeships, which was well attended by videos illustrating real-life work activities. on how smart they looked, he was obviously Years 10, 11 and Sixth Form. The Year 8 Tutors introduced this to their very impressed! Mrs Taylor-Crooke was Mrs Mackay tutees in morning registration and the enamoured to be in the presence of Tony following week each group were booked into Morris, but was too shy to take a turn at a computer room so that they could register reading the news, even though we did try to and obtain some very useful guidelines and persuade her! information.

Wellington School, Wellington Road, Timperley, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA15 7RH Tel: 0161 928 4157 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk

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