www.lathomhighschool.org Issue eleven ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM LATHOM HIGH SCHOOL s k “ HOUSE LAUNCH NEW BEGINNINGS NEW BEGINNINGS AT LATHOM HIGH SCHOOL WELCOME TO Lathom High School has marked the start of a new term OUR LATEST by launching its new House system ensuring ‘a new House for everyone’ and welcoming many new students, parents EDITION OF and staff to the Skelmersdale school. In the first week of term, students were involved in a range of activities LATHOM LIFE. including visits to work with the major Liverpool museums and dramatic workshops with Skelmersdale company ‘Artz Academy’ focused on themes of identity. The week’s It has been a very busy start to the school year with events culminated in a fantastic launch event at Robin Park our students and staff involved in so much already. Arena, Wigan, which was attended by the Mayor of West Some of our autumn highlights have included our Lancashire, Cllr Nikki Hennessey. House Launch day at Robin Park, Charity Day for As Lathom is growing in size significantly from September Joseph’s Goal, our first whole school photograph 2015, staff at the school felt that this provided an excellent in over 10 years and our recent visit to the Council opportunity to create a new House system with vertical Chambers in Ormskirk to meet the Mayor as part of tutoring to enable students from different year groups to Local Democracy Week. I would like to thank all of the support each other in Tutor groups and during Tutor time. staff for organising these events and congratulate the Each day Tutor time provides the opportunity for students to students for representing our school so well. focus together on Lathom’s core values of ‘Enjoy, Believe, Achieve’ and support each other to promote the very highest I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all of our new standards in all aspects of school life. students and staff to our Lathom family. We had over 250 new students join us in September in Years 7 to 10 along with lots HOUSE PROFILE of new staff, and I am immensely proud of how hard everyone has worked to make the transition process go smoothly. A huge part of this has been the introduction of our new House and tutor groups system. Congratulations must go to Radcliffe House for winning the Sports Day, Livingstone House for the Maths Challenge and to Rosalind House for winning the fundraising challenge for Joseph’s Goal. Good Luck to Bronte NAMED AFTER: The Bronte sisters House ‘Show Racism HEAD OF HOUSE: Mr Lock who are organising activities to promote ASSISTANT HOUSE OF HOUSE: Mrs McCarthy the Red Card’ on 23 October. I would also like to wish every ANTHEM: When the Reds Go Marching In student standing for the role of House Captain the best of luck in our forthcoming democratic House Elections. My challenge to every member of our Lathom school family this year is to be PROUD of themselves, of one another, of what they do, who they are and where they come from and together to be PROUD of our school. The five values which we believe will help every student to succeed and Enjoy, Believe, Achieve NAMED AFTER: Dr David Livingstone are set out below: HEAD OF HOUSE: Mrs Fennah ASSISTANT HOUSE OF HOUSE: Mrs Connelly ANTHEM: ‘Livingstone Lions’ with ‘Katie Perry ‘ROAR’’. Perseverance Chanting ‘Livingstone! Hear us roar!’ on repeat Responsibility Ownership Understanding Determination NAMED AFTER: Paula Radcliffe HEAD OF HOUSE: Mr Hogg We will be covering the values through assemblies and hope to ASSISTANT HOUSE OF HOUSE: Mrs Grice ANTHEM: ‘Radcliffe, Radcliffe. Radcliffe see them develop and flourish in every member of our Lathom …..on repeat! ‘ family over their time with us. This is a time of exciting change at Lathom and we have great hopes for the future. I hope that this edition of Lathom Life gives you a real flavour of life at Lathom. If you want to find out more about how our school is growing, please contact as at school and we will be delighted to show you around. Mrs Galbraith NAMED AFTER: Rosalind Franklin Headteacher HEAD OF HOUSE: Mrs Woods ASSISTANT HOUSE OF HOUSE: Mrs Newnes ANTHEM: We are the champions LATHOM HIGH SCHOOL HOLDS ‘PRIMARY MATHS CHALLENGE’ JEANS On Tuesday 29 September, 13 local primary schools took part in Lathom FOR High School’s ‘Primary Maths Challenge’. Students who attended the evening were presented with various maths challenges, competing GENES against each other. The evening was a resounding success with DAY Deputy Headteacher Mr Morris commenting that “it was good to see so many primary students enjoying maths with lots of support from parents, primary teachers and governors.” Parents were also given the opportunity to return to school to compete in a maths challenge as well! Students and staff at Lathom Individual certificates were given out to students for participating and High School in Skelmersdale prizes were awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. raised an amazing £1221.65 by holding a House uniform day with Head of Maths at Lathom, Mr Wilde said that “It was a fantastic evening, with all denim on ‘Jeans for Genes Day ‘, teams fully committed to trying to win the event. The effort levels and the maths Friday 18 September. The event ability shown were a joy to watch. A massive well done must go to the eventual was a celebration of the school’s winners from Brookfield Park. The high level of competitiveness was shown in the new House and vertical tutoring result, with only 2 points separating 1st and 3rd! Well done to everyone who took part!” system, launched at Robin Park, Many congratulations to the winners Four Year 7 students from each Wigan the week before. Students of the 2015 Lathom Primary Maths ‘House’ at Lathom also competed. and staff worked together in their challenge. This provided an excellent opportunity Houses and there was strong for them to get involved in the primary competition to outperform the The results were: event and they demonstrated their other Houses by raising the most team spirit with determination not to money! let their House down! The results were: 3rd St Thomas the Martyr Primary – Team members: Dominic Ford, Harry James, Jak Ford and Isobel Ware 3rd Radcliffe House – Team members: Alice Eadie, Bradley Petty, Kaya Kwantreng and Sophie Heron The motivation came from the Headteacher, Jane Galbraith and her designated charity for 2nd Cobbs Brow Primary – Team the year – ‘Joseph’s Goal’. The members: Harry Marsh, Harrison Cox, Logan Dunn and Ryan Parry charity supports research to find better treatments and 2nd Bronte House – Team members: eventually a cure for Non-Ketotic Amy Lockhart, Ben J Jones, che Hyperglycinemia . The focus of Prunetti and Philip Woods the charity is Joseph Kendrick, a five year old boy who has NKH, a very rare life-limiting genetic disorder that severely affects his development. The whole school community is delighted 1st Brookfield Park Primary – Team to have made such a significant members, Owen Hunt, Ryan Hunt, George Ager and Zac Taylor contribution to ‘Joseph’s Goal’. Find out more about the charity Students and staff at Lathom High School 1st Livingstone House – Team supported by Lathom High, your would like to thank all of schools involved members, Holly Cotton, Molly Neild, local community secondary school in the event, as it couldn’t run without Elisha foster and Kaiza McCabe at www.josephsgoal.org. their continued support and involvement. WELCOME TO NEW STAFF Lathom are delighted to inform you of some new appointments within our school teaching, pastoral and admin. Congratulations to Lee Baines, Rachel Baines, Amanda Baron, Christine Brown, Sharon Connelly, Lucie Golton, Debbie Grice, Collette Hoare, Rosalin Lazaroff, Paul Livesley, Louise Mawdsley, Helen McKinnon, Frank Meehan, Gemma Norris, Lindsey Penny, Alan Pye, Melanie Shanahan, Zoe Sherborne, Nicola Smith, Rachel Swords, Mike Sykes Wright, Susanna Taylor, Julie Thompson, Matthew Wilde. Name: FRANK MEEHAN Name: DEBBIE GRICE What do you do at Lathom? I am the new Head of RE. What do you do at Lathom? I am an Assistant Head of House. What does your role entail? Difficult this one. I am looking at ways to make Religious Education ‘cool’ in school. I think the What do you look forward to most in your new role? I majority of students enjoy the way I teach the lessons. I am looking into ways of getting all students to understand look forward to getting to know the students and making their responsibilities of being good spiritual, moral, social every day in Lathom a good day. and cultural (SMSC) people. What does your role entail? My role is to support What do you look forward students. I am here for to most in your new role? I students to talk to, remove look forward to taking on the challenge of putting RE on the any barriers to learning and ‘map’ of Lathom High School. encourage students in their daily lives at school. I also look forward to teaching the students the skills of Which house are you discussion/debate and never attached to? The best house being frightened of giving their own opinion as long as Radcliffe. they can back it up. What do you like about Which house are you Lathom? I like the nice happy attached to? Radcliffe feeling around school and the bacon and cheese paninis! What do you like about Lathom? The students Favourite colour? I can’t along with the challenge of engaging them in the subject. believe you’ve asked me that, it’s blue of course! Favourite colour? Orange for its brightness and how it stands out among other colours.