Porthcawl Post Lent Term Feb 2012:Layout 1 12/03/2012 12:21 Page 1 Welcome to the second edition of the Porthcawl Post for the school year 2011-2012 Porthcawl Porthcawl Comprehensive School Newsletter ~ Spring 2012 Headteacher’s Address Very many celebration of Welsh culture, language and heritage In closing I should like to mark the success of the congratulations in music, song, dance, poetry and readings before school in the recent National Banding System. to the Performing the scrutinising eyes of several specialist judges. There has been much discussion and publicity Arts faculty and especially the Drama and Music A special ‘thank-you’ is extended to the Welsh about this system of banding schools in the media. departments for enabling our pupils to provide such Department in particular, and to the House Leaders It was very encouraging to pupils, parents and staff an outstanding production of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ and Captains not forgetting to mention the to learn that Porthcawl Comprehensive School was this year in the Pavilion. exceptional performances of our young people from placed in the top band (band one) of five. The Audiences over four successive evenings spoke in Year 7 through to Year 13 on-stage and to the many banding placement is determined by success in rapturous ways of the gift and talents of our young pupils who took part in the off-stage competitions. GCSE examination performance, attendance and people and of the huge energy and effort that they Earlier in the term Year 11 pupils were impressing a other factors. Our all time record, results last had clearly put into this high profile and prestigious different group of ‘judges’ in the form of summer and excellent attendance ensured our top event. representatives from the world of business, band place, the only one in the Local Authority. Our special thanks and appreciation are extended to commerce, industry and other services. Over two Well done to all! Miss Hardwick, Mr Smith in the Drama days each Year 11 pupil was interviewed individually Enjoy reading this edition of the ‘Post’. department and Miss Mayo and Miss Atherton in regarding their career aspirations and interests. Kind regards the Music department. Miss Mayo, our new Head Many of our guests commented very positively about K Dykes Headteacher of Music, who only arrived in Porthcawl in January the politeness, maturity and well developed was clearly very impressed by the show and by the communication skills our Year 11 pupils various contributions of the whole school demonstrated over two days. My gratitude goes to community. our interviewing guests. “It was very My gratitude goes to all of the pupils and staff who Space prohibits me from expanding upon the many helped make the show the success it was. other initiatives and activities that have taken place encouraging to pupils, Sadly there are fewer and fewer secondary schools in since I last wrote to you in the Autumn edition of parents and staff to South Wales holding an annual Eisteddfod. This is the ‘Post’. definitely not the case in Porthcawl Comprehensive Much could be written of our very successful learn that Porthcawl where the opposite is true as our annual event gets Christmas Fayre, our Winter Sports, our outstanding Comprehensive better and better. Carol Service at All Saints Church and, more Our four houses of Dyfed, Gwynedd, Morgannwg recently Year 11 Induction Evening at which parents School was placed in and Powys, the names of the four ancient regions of and student learned of the many courses and exciting the top band (band Wales, fought it out at the Pavilion for the highest experiences available for our young people as they honours. Pupils of all ages engaged in a wonderful move on to the school’s Sixth Form provision. one) of five” Porthcawl Post Lent Term Feb 2012:Layout 1 12/03/2012 12:22 Page 2 Housekeeping News Anti-Bullying Week As has been mentioned earlier the school has revisited its aims. The aims of a school is where and how we share our vision for our school. A conference was held where learners, governors, support staff and teachers met to discuss the aims. The outcome of this meeting was a new set of aims for our school. The group felt that this new set of aims more closely suited the needs Anti-Bullying Week started on the 14th November2011. and aspirations of all learners and stakeholders. Mrs Thomas has produced a fuller article for Themed assemblies took place across the school and each the newsletter, thanks to her and the team for all their effort. year group dealt with a different aspect of bullying: such as friendship, racism, and homophobia. It also coincided Visitors to school will notice a programme of investment and improvements. The school has with Children in Need Week, so there were lots of great been considering a whole range of improvements. The overriding aim is that of sustainability opportunities for all pupils across all age groups to come via improvement. We are trying to make changes that will benefit our school for many years together to send the message that bullying is to come. We are planning to install photovoltaic cells to the roof of A block. These will generate unacceptable at our school. Youth workers from “Bridgend Says End Bullying” also electricity which will offset out costs. Also while the school is closed we will receive revenue for came in to school to work with our year 8 pupils to the electricity sold back to the supplier. Another important dimension is the reduction in our explore the effects of bullying on the victim and the carbon footprint by producing “clean” electricity. A major investment will take place in I.C.T perpetrator. The music department is currently involved as one I.C.T room will be created. The curriculum is increasingly being delivered via I.C.T so in a competition to write, perform and possibly record this investment is necessary to give our learners every advantage, School Council has requested music with an anti-bullying message. We are looking additional shelters to keep pupils dry. To meet this need we are currently discussing and forward to some of these songs being performed in planning the creation of more shelter space to allow pupils to stay relatively dry and warm. assemblies. If you are experiencing or know of someone else who is The current economic climate is harsh and shows no signs of immediate improvement. School experiencing bullying, it is essential that you report it to is keen and willing to help should the need arise. Should a family’s circumstances change then a Parent/Guardian, Police Officer, Teacher, Youth Worker, to anyone you trust. Remember the school also free school meals and a uniform grant are available. If you feel you may benefit from either has a peer listening service where you can talk about source of help then please do not hesitate to contact school. Both sources of help are confidential bullying or any other worries you might have. It is and are administered very discreetly by school. located in the youth wing at lunchtimes; these are young people just like you who are especially trained to help As I write this article rehearsals for the show are in full swing. The staffing is now complete in and support you. Performing Arts and we eagerly await the production. The school has a national reputation for its Performing Arts, something we are justifiably proud of. As a school we look forward to the Useful telephone numbers: future with confidence and assurance. I do hope you all enjoyed the production!!! Childline: Free phone 0800 1111 Bridgend Youth Service Bridgend says End Bullying: May I conclude with a few basic reminders: 01656 724057 Please try not to leave any items in reception. Just @sk Information Centre:01656 815150 Reception is very busy and it is very difficult to accommodate requests to pass kit or ingredients to learners. Lost property is very full at the moment. Please have a look for anything you may have lost before Family Engagement @ Porthcawl C omprehensi ve all the stock donated to charity. Mobile phones are very useful and most have one. However may I remind all y engaggement @ Porthcawl Co mprehensive offers a range of they are not to be used in lessons. Further, a phone is suuppp ort for families and children. brought to school at the owner’s risk. The school simply es opportunities for p ar ents/ carers to work closely w ithh the cannot be held responsible for any mobile phone loss VFKRRO WRSRVLWLYHO\ LPSDFWRQ WKHLU FKLOG·VHGXFDWLRQ however caused. ding learning oppporo tunities for families to suppport ch ildren and young people. And finally, please can we remind parents that any pupil who wishes to sign out from school must go to the n session for paare nts to di scuss w orries and concerns abobout attendance office with an appointment card or letter stating their children and young people. the pupil’s name, form and reason for absence. rtunities for families to take part in a range o f programm es designed to engage, inform, supporo t and above all haav e FUN! Once again thank you very much for continued support, much appreciated. Please feel free to c onttac t th e fa mily engagement officer if you have A Slade - Rhiannon Jones any Deputy Headteacher Family Engagement questions or if yo u ar e i nterested in Phoone: 01656 774100 becoming involved in our fam ily E-mail: engagement programmes.