Welcome message from Mrs Madeloso Welcome to the first edition of our termly Appeal and Children in Need to name just a newsletter for the academic year 2019-20. Our few. This is such a testament to our fantastic first term has been another busy time in school, young people who will continue to develop and which has passed by so quickly but has been full nurture their caring natures as they continue of wonderful opportunities and experiences for their Archbishop Blanch journey into the world all of our students. beyond. Our students show how they embrace the caring I would like to take this opportunity to wish Christian ethos of our school through our core you and your families a peaceful and joyous values particularly at this time of year with their Christmas and New Year. fundraising efforts for Foodbank appeal, Shoebox Claire Madeloso School Direct Programme Teacher Training at Archbishop Blanch – Do you want to teach? In September, we welcomed our first group of trainee teachers to the school through our School Direct Programme. The School Direct Initial Teacher training (ITT) programme is a route into teaching which allows degree holders to complete a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), by undertaking the majority of their training in school, under the support of qualified staff members and Liverpool John Moores University. At the end of the one year training course the trainees will have achieved Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Our partnership between Archbishop Blanch C of E High School, St Hildas CE High School, St Margarets Academy, King David and The Academy of St Francis of Assisi provides an outstanding teacher training experience under the supervision of experienced staff, who can collaborate across the partnership in order to produce outstanding teachers of the future. Our seventeen School Direct trainees have settled well into their school communities and are beginning to develop their teaching timetable and gain valuable experience across different school environments, even getting involved in school trips and assemblies. We are also now recruiting for the 2020/2021 academic year. Places on the School Direct course are extremely competitive. Successful applicants must hold, or be expected to achieve a good degree before the course begins, maths and English GCSEs grades C/4 (or above) and complete an application and assessment day before being accepted onto the course. Applications are made through UCAS, using course code 2KA and we welcome these from any of our school communities who are considering a career in teaching. For more information about the school direct course, contact [email protected] English NEWS MFL - NEWS In The Classroom Modern Foreign Language Year 8 have been focusing on ‘Women in Literature’ this term, looking at a wide range of outstanding female authors and constructing projects to reflect the work they European Day of Languages produced. Year 7 have also taken inspiration from what Unilever they have been studying and devised innovative ways to September saw the Modern Foreign Languages Department Andalucía Trip reflect the themes of the novel. Year 9 have spent time celebrate European Day of Languages across the school. focusing on travel writing and then extended this to their Bright This year’s European Day of Languages celebrated the In October this year, 45 pupils and staff enjoyed a very own lives and created pieces of writing about why they theme linguistic diversity. European Day of Languages on successful visit to Andalucía, Spain. We stayed in Málaga love living in Liverpool. Their creative responses were 26 September provided us with the perfect opportunity to and enjoyed visits to Granada, Ronda, Mijas and Puerto outstanding and the ‘home baked’ Liverpool cakes tasted Futures highlight the huge value of Europe’s cultural diversity and Banús. The pupils had plenty of opportunities to soak up great! We continue to be proud and amazed by the talent to celebrate the many languages spoken across our school the Spanish culture and to practise their language skills. and creativity of our students! As the Unilever Bright Future programme restarts for 2019, ABS community. Mr Davenport was very impressed by the enthusiasm and has 5 year 8 students working as a team on a project to create interest demonstrated by pupils throughout the visit and is a novel product. The competition’s challenges this year are to Students took part in a special Euro Language Quiz, organised already thinking about plans for a future visit to Spain. Educational Visits create a product which meets certain criteria a product which by our Y12 Spanish Ambassadors. We also enjoyed French offers affordable sun-care, which reduces the use of single-use and Spanish inspired menus in the dining room and various Exploring new heights in Liverpool, year 8 students visited plastic and which uses as water as possible. The students had language activities in lessons during the week. Mr Davenport, the new Paddington Village, home to the University of the chance to take part in a day out at Unilever Port Sunlight, our Head of Modern Languages, commented that celebrating Liverpool’s science buildings. Six years ago, Archbishop where Unilever staff hosted workshops including: social this important day in the calendar allows our students to reflect Blanch resided there, students went back to see how it had media, formulation, packaging and recycling, and consumer on their own language learning skills and to see the importance changed. During our day out, the girls listened to the site technical insight. At the end of the informative of language learning for them as they move through school. manager about what the buildings were going to become, and inspiring day, the staff helped our team how they are planned for and how they are constructed, brainstorm ideas for our product - we have ensuring safety was the priority. Students protective glasses, some brilliant ideas to work on over the next high visibility vests and hard hats, as well as sturdy metal few months! ABS is very excited to take part in plated boots and gloves, and walked to the exterior lift that the competition again this year, and we hope to took us to the 7th floor of the Spine, which will be home to maintain the school’s podium finish 3 years on the Royal College of Physicians. Arriving on the floor, our the trot! Fingers-crossed! breath was taken away (both by the views and the cool open air) we discovered the incredible architecture of our home, Liverpool. A little while later, the students began to envision the city in 50, 100 and even 1,000 years’ time. This was a new experience, and though the revolutionary village was new Ex-ABS to our students, for the teachers, there was a huge sense of nostalgia. Student Retires Year 12 and 13 students were fortunate enough to spend a Anyika Onoura an ex Archbishop Blanch student who went on day at Warwick University in November. Meeting examiners, to compete as a British sprinter in the 100m, 200m, 400m and lecturers, writers and poets who were able to support the relays has sadly announced her retirement from the sport. Miss World Hispanic Day work that the students have been doing in class as they Walker, Mrs Graham and Mr McFarlane, our Chair of Governors In October, the school celebrated World Hispanic Day with head towards their A Levels in English Literature. Students were invited to the announcement at Wavertree athletics track music, dancing and celebrations with a Spanish and Latin were also fortunate to be able to spend time on the campus on Monday 25th November. theme. and get a grasp of university life and what may lie ahead! Anyika won bronze in Rio 2016 as part of the 4 x 400m relay team, which was the same medal she won the previous year at the World Championships. Throughout her career Anyika has Book Clubs won the “full set” European, Commonwealth, World and Olympic This term we have been thrilled to welcome our first group medals, for which we are immensely proud. Congratulations on of students into book club! Mrs Baker has been busy a fantastic career and we look forward to see where your next reading with two groups of students; exploring a range of journey will take you. genres, their personal reading journeys, taking part in book tasting alongside competing in library challenges with Year 7, whilst enjoying Jane Austen’s most famous novel, La Tasca and Bistro Pride and Prejudice with Year 9. They have been getting to grips with Austen’s dry humour, the stringent rules of Pierre visits for Y11 Regency etiquette as well as comparing the text to on screen interpretations. All are looking forward to continuing this in students of Spanish and Amélie Theate Visit the New Year! Year 10 French pupils, along French with Mrs Irving and Miss Querol, visited the Liverpool Year 11 Spanish and French students recently visited Playhouse Theatre in October restaurants in the city for French and Spanish themed to see a production of the evenings. Organised by the MFL Department, these visits French musical Amélie. All gave students an opportunity to try different Spanish pupils thoroughly enjoyed this tapas and French cuisine to develop their speaking skills opportunity to develop their in a more authentic setting. Miss Querol, Mrs Irving, Mrs knowledge of French film and Carter and Mr Davenport enjoyed the events with the culture and we look forward girls and were impressed with their speaking skills and to arranging more visits in the hunger for French and Spanish food. future. 2 3 Sixth Form Magic Breakfast Year 7 Careers fuel for learning Girl Guide Visits – Student Year 7 pupil, Isabella was chosen Inspiration Station to represent the Girl guides for the Experiences media event at LJMU.