Helsby High School Autumn Newsletter Year 13 Business Studies On Friday 7th November Y13 Business Studies Students received a visit from one of the best companies in the world! Victrex is listed in the top 250 FTSE and Helsby Business students were able to benefit from a real insight into this multinational organisation. We would like to thank Steve Dougherty (Strategic Marketing Director) from Victrex Plc for visiting Helsby High school and giving the students a brilliant overview of global marketing in action. Dates for your Diary: Fri 19 Dec - School closes early - 2.30pm (19.12.14 - 04.01.15 incl Christmas Holiday) Mon 5 Jan - School re-opens pupils return Thur 15 Jan - Yr 11 Consultation Evening Tue 03 Feb - Year 9 Consultation Evening Wed 11 Feb - Year 9 Options Evening December 2014 Friday 13 Feb - School Closes www.helsbyhigh.org.uk 1 Helsby High School Autumn Newsletter Visitors from Linköping University, Sweden in Partnership with Chester University Last week Helsby High received visitors from Linköping University, Sweden in order for them to experience secondary education in the UK. The group, consisting of eight Swedish trainee teachers taught lessons to a range of English classes on the subject of Norse mythology; a fascinating subject for those of our pupils who are fans of the Marvel comics ‘Thor’ franchise. Whilst here, our visitors commented on how impressed they were with the effort and behaviour of the pupils they met and were able to take many positive ideas back to Sweden with them. The English department looks forward to continuing their work with Chester University and welcoming further Swedish associates next November. Mrs Foulder, English Department www.helsbyhigh.org.uk 2 Helsby High School Autumn Newsletter Trip to Reaseheath College Active Kids Get Cooking On Tuesday 11th November, the Food Technology Students in Year 7 and 8 have completed their Department took 30 pupils for an action packed one and two star chef awards. The Year 7 day at Reasheath College. The aim of the day students have planned and made toasted snacks was to give students an insight into the food which fit into the Eatwell plate. The Year 8 pupils industry. They all took part in 4 workshops, have made creative pizzas, making their own which were: making burgers and sausages in the bread for the base. Congratulations to those butchery, making butter in the food processing pupils who have been halls, setting up and taking part in a taste panel awarded these and finally the college gave a talk on careers and certificates. courses in industry. The students had to wear the correct PPE (Personal, protective equipment) you can see from the pictures this included hairnets, white coats and wellies. In addition, when in the butchery, they had to wear a metal apron and glove when using the knives. For more pictures form the day please follow our Twitter page HHS_FoodTech. Some feedback from the students “The best part about the day was making butter and doing the taste testing (sensory Health and Social Care Trip analysis)” On Wednesday 15th October, the A2 Health and “I enjoyed the day at Reasheath because it Social Care class took a trip to the SureStart gave me an in-sight of what the industrial Centre in Frodsham. When we arrived we were food world is like and what a collage course met by the family support worker who gave us a would be like” tour around the building, showing us the facilities that were on offer and also the sessions that they “Overall the day was pretty good and I would offered to both the children (ages 0-19) and consider going there to do a food related course” adults. The SureStart centre is a community resource providing a wide range of services for “It was a fun day and I learnt lots whilst there” children and their families. They aim to improve “The best part was seeing how sausages are the lives of children and their parents by bringing made” together early education, childcare, health and family support services in the heart of the community. As part of our studies we have to analyse how services meet the needs of the service user. As a group, we really enjoyed visiting the centre, talking with professionals and seeing the centre in action. Beth S www.helsbyhigh.org.uk 3 Helsby High School Autumn Newsletter During an educational visit to Coca Cola in Wakefield, Year 12 Business students were given the chance to see inside a state-of-the-art manufacturing site; the 3rd largest automated plant in the world. Each student had a unique opportunity to develop their knowledge of the world of work and make connections between what they learn in the classroom and the operations that are integral to one of the world's leading brands… and Coca Cola didn’t disappoint! Mrs N Turner www.helsbyhigh.org.uk 4 Helsby High School Autumn Newsletter HHS Bin-it to go Clean & Green ! One of our new bins is pictured below Pictured above are HHS pupils Kayleigh and Louise, along with our KS3 Student Support Co-ordinator Miss Louden, at Helsby Library on Monday night to take receipt of cheques from the Chair of Helsby Parish Council, Mr Andy Macpherson, as winners of a Helsby Community Award. The award was the result of a bid made to support our on-going commitment to make our school community as clean as we can. Commented Miss Louden: 'The Student Voice group have worked hard to make this award a reality and deserve great credit. This funding will now allow the school to invest in new recycling bins and other initiatives to make our school a cleaner, greener environment for us all'. A2 Philosophy As part of the A2 Philosophy unit on the Problem of Evil, two students were selected to participate in the Lessons from Auschwitz Project, run by the Holocaust Educational Trust. In preparation for a visit to Auschwitz Concentration Camp, two year 13 students attended a seminar in Manchester in November. The seminar included an emotional talk given by a Holocaust survivor 'Ziggi', who was taken to Auschwitz as a child. Beth and Libby found the experience both heart rendering and uplifting. Following on from their visit the students will deliver an assembly in January to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day. Mrs J Penney www.helsbyhigh.org.uk 5 Helsby High School Autumn Newsletter Star of the Week is Launched. In November, Star of the Week was launched! The purpose of this award is to recognise and celebrate the achievement of one student each week from Year 7 to Year 11. This recognition could be for various reasons, including commitment to extra curricular activities, work in the community or being an exemplary role model. A survey was conducted with over one hundred students across all year groups the results of which helped to structure the system that now underpins Star of the Week. Year Leaders and Form Tutors discuss student nominations every Friday. The Form Tutor presents the Star of the Week with their gold star badge in form time. Some Year Leaders may recognise this award in assembly time if the student is comfortable with this. The student can then wear, with pride, the gold star badge on their blazer for the rest of the academic year. All members of the school community will be able to recognise this achievement! Mr Dowler has a vital part to play in the celebration of this award. He will write home to the Star of the Week congratulating them. In addition, outside his office, in the main office area of the school is a display board which lists the names and form classes of all Students of the Week so that visitors to the school can also share in their achievement. www.helsbyhigh.org.uk 6 Helsby High School Autumn Newsletter Helsby High School Welcomes Year 6 Parents and Students On Thursday 25th September 2014 Helsby High School opened its doors to over 250 families who visited the school during its Open Evening. Teachers, assisted by existing pupils ranging from Year 7 up to Year 13 helped to demonstrate skills, conduct activities and provide tours around school. Year 6 students were given the opportunity to complete an Interactive Task to win one of two £25 WHSmiths vouchers; the lucky winners were Daisy from Kingsley CP School and Gabby at Aston by Sutton Primary School. Feedback from families who attended the event included they felt their child was made to feel extremely welcome and that the event had been a positive and enjoyable experience! On Monday 6th October and Monday 13th October 2014 we welcomed over 60 families during Open Mornings. This opportunity provided families with the chance to visit the school during a normal working day, and to see the positive working and supportive atmosphere. Year 8 EBuddies who had supported the transition process whilst in Year 7 were Tour Guides during this event. The feedback from parents and teachers was extremely positive. Year 8 students approached the role in a mature, confident and reliable manner. Many of the Year 6 parents commented on how well the tours had been conducted and how helpful Year 8 had been. Year 12 and 13 Religious studies—Philosophy Trip "On Friday 28th November, 31 Year 12 and 13 RS students attended a Philosophy Conference in Manchester hosted by Dr Peter Vardy of Heythrop College London. The conference covered topics on the Variety of Religious Experience, the Problem of Suffering and Arguments for God, which form part of the AS/A2 syllabus.