2019 Edition CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Half Term Newsletter Message from the Headteacher SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT Dear Parents and Carers Together we are the body We have reached the end of an incredibly busy and of Christ In our school community somewhat long half-term! Our older pupils in years we will 10 and 11 are now not very far away from their show our love by GCSE examinations. Pupils have been given their helping and forgiving examination timetables and I would ask that each other parents look at these together with their children recognise that everyone with a view to planning their revision. On Monday is unique and celebrate evening this week, it was a privilege to meet with their differences Year 11 pupils to take them through some revision value ourselves, develop our talents and tips and strategies. I want to thank parents for help others to develop turning up to support their children. theirs strive for excellence in Earlier in January we had some very pleasing everything we do Mathematics and Maths Numeracy GCSE results. grow closer to God in Congratulations to those Year 11 pupils who have word, in Sacrament and in what we do now achieved their target grades. Half-term must live in partnership with be viewed as an opportunity for both Year 10 and all those around us Year 11 to do some serious revision and I would respond to Christ's call appreciate it if parents ensure that this is a to build His kingdom priority for their children next week. Away from the classroom, we have also had many successes. Our various sports teams, our choir and various music groups continue to bring great credit to our school. The Gym and Dance evening last week was another amazing spectacle and pupils of all abilities wowed the audience with their talent, determination and support for one another. May I take this opportunity to thank the PFA for their unstinting generosity in giving their time on that evening and indeed on behalf of the various departments in Corpus Christi, to thank them for the donation of £100 to each department. As we are all only too well aware, school budgets are tight and so any extra funds are always gratefully received. As we approach this season of Lent, we are called to spiritually prepare for the most important time of the Church’s year, Easter. Ashes will be distributed on Ash Wednesday here in school as a sign of our belief and faith in the cross as a sign of the reality of our redemption. During Lent there will be opportunities for our school community to enter into this penitential season through prayer, fasting and good works. There will also be the opportunity for pupils and staff to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I would like to thank in advance our Parish Priests for availing themselves, yet again, to our school. Finally, may I remind parents that their children should be dropped off for school in the turning circle? This is for the safety of all our pupils, staff and visitors. After half-term, cars not belonging to staff or visitors will not be permitted onto the site. I know you will understand my real concerns regarding this issue. I would like to thank all of our parents for all that you do to support your children and the school. Patrick Brunnock Headteacher ATTENDANCE The whole school attendance total is currently running at 95.50%, which is lower than we would want it to be for this time of year. The Welsh Assembly Government’s target for pupil attendance is 95%. Anything under this figure could mean that the Educational Welfare Service will contact you to find out why your child has been absent from school. Below is a current breakdown of each Year Group’s attendance: (14.12.18) Year 7 96.80% Year 8 95.90% Year 9 94.80% Year 10 95.10% Year 11 95.00% It is a parent’s legal responsibility to ensure their child attends school every day. Parents responsible for children who exhibit poor attendance risk prosecution and a Fixed Penalty Notice fine being issued by the Local Authority. Children are not allowed to go on holiday during term time. Absences due to Illness or Medical Appointment Although you may have contacted the school by telephone, E-mail or in person to notify us of your child’s absence, you are still required to provide a parental note, E-mail or appointment card in order for the absence to be authorised. In certain circumstances of illness medical evidence may be requested in order to authorise your child’s absence. WHY ATTENDANCE MATTERS Attendance Absence Lessons Missed 100% 0 Days None 99.5% 1 Day 5 Lessons 97.4% 5 Days 25 Lessons 95% 10 Days 50 Lessons 80% 38 Days 190 Lessons Missing lessons makes the work more difficult. For every day you are absent from school YOU fall behind in 5 Subjects. 100% Attendance = ACHIEVING YOUR POTENTIAL. CALENDAR 2019 FEBRUARY 2019 School Events School Events Day Evening Wednesday 20 Year 10 Parents’ Evening 4.00pm-7.00pm Thursday 21 Friday 22 Year 11 Photos 23 School Skiing Trip 24 Monday 25 Tuesday 26 Half Wednesday 27 Term Thursday 28 MARCH 2019 School Events Friday 1 2 WEEK B 3 Monday 4 Year 10 Exams Tuesday 5 Wednesday 6 Thursday 7 Friday 8 9 WEEK A 10 Monday 11 Yr10 Art Music & Performing Arts Practical Exams Tuesday 12 Wednesday 13 Thursday 14 Friday 15 CALENDAR 2019 MARCH 2019 School Events 16 WEEK B 17 Monday 18 Tuesday 19 Wednesday 20 Year 8 Parents’ Evening 4.00pm-7.00pm Thursday 21 Friday 22 23 WEEK A 24 Monday 25 Tuesday 26 Wednesday 27 Year 10 Welsh Oral Exams Thursday 28 Year 10 Welsh Oral Exams Friday 29 Year 10 Welsh Oral Exams 30 31 CALENDAR 2019 APRIL 2019 School Events School Events Day Evening Monday 1 Teaching & Learning Meetings(4) 3.30pm -4.30pm Tuesday 2 Wednesday 3 Year 11 Welsh Oral Exams Thursday 4 Year 11 Welsh Oral Exams Friday 5 Year 11 Welsh Oral Exams 6 WEEK A 7 Monday 8 Art GCSE Exam Whole Staff Meeting (2) 3.30pm -4.30pm Tuesday 9 Art GCSE Exam Wednesday 10 Art GCSE Exam Thursday 11 Art GCSE Exam Easter Liturgy 7.00pm Friday 12 Easter Liturgy School Finishes 1.30pm RE Pilgrimage to Lourdes departs 13 WEEK B 14 Monday 15 Tuesday 16 Wednesday 17 EASTER HOLIDAYS Thursday 18 RE Pilgrimage returns Friday 19 20 WEEK A 21 Monday 22 Tuesday 23 Wednesday 24 EASTER HOLIDAYS Thursday 25 Friday 26 27 WEEK B 28 Monday 29 Year 7 and 8 tests / National Tests from today Heads of Department Meeting (5) 3.30pm -4.30pm Tuesday 30 Yet again it’s been a busy term for the Home Economics department. Links have been made with the Park Inn hotel, where Mrs Gunningham’s Year 11 students were invited to enjoy a two course meal and a full tour of the hotel; front of house, back of house, food and beverage areas including the kitchen and restaurant areas and the bedrooms and conference facilities. This gave our pupils an excellent insight into the operations of a hotel which is a huge part of the Hospitality and Catering qualification they are studying for. Mrs Wilson’s pupils will be afforded the same opportunity in March. Mrs Wilson held a full day’s course in school for Cardiff Met University PGCE students who are training to be Design and Technology teachers. The course was an incredible success and the students really got into the swing of things leaving with apple muffins, rock buns, a pizza and a wealth of information. We have been asked to repeat this in the future. Mrs Wilson attended CPD for the new Health, Social and Childcare GCSE qualification that will be running from September 2019. This brand new and exciting course will equip learners with a whole host of information for working in any of the sectors covered. Watch this space for more information as we develop the course here at Corpus Christi. Upper school pupils are busy completing their controlled assessment tasks - keep up the good work! We have some fantastic work coming through and teachers are looking forward to the final outcomes. Pupils, please remember to see Mrs Wilson or Mrs Gunningham for after school catch up sessions. Mrs S Wilson Head of Home Economics Key Stage 3 Year 7 Pupils have just finished their assessment on ‘Who should be King in 1066?’ and are now starting to learn about the two major battles of that year – the Battles of Stamford Bridge and Hastings. Year 8 Pupils have been learning about the Tudors and are currently studying Elizabeth I, looking at her religious settlement, why she had her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots, executed and why Britain won the Spanish Armada. After half term pupils will begin studying the Industrial Revolution. They will find out why this was such an important period in British History. Year 9 Pupils have been studying the First World War, and are now beginning their studies learning about the Holocaust, an extremely important and significant topic. ‘Studying the Holocaust is about studying people, real-life individuals caught up in the destructive whirlwind of Nazi aggression. It is this human element and the poignancy of the individual narrative that compels one to study and to remember, so that “Never Again” becomes a reality’ – the Holocaust Centre Key stage 4 Year 10 Pupils have begun their N.E.A, worth 20% of their final mark.