Mossley Hollins High School Newsflash 10 th Friday 15 November 2019 Headteacher’s Message As a school, we focus on academic success and strive to help students to reach their potential, but we never forget that the development of character and the building of culture are equally important. This week I have been reminded once again of the opportunities outside the classroom that our pupils take part in throughout the school week. On Monday, 11th November, I was humbled by the incredible respect that every student showed in memory of members of our armed services who have laid down their lives to safeguard our futures. As a school, we paid homage to the victims of war, especially our own former pupil Corporal Joey Etchells who died whilst serving with the Lancashire Fusiliers in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2009. As usual, we were joined by our colleagues from the Mossley and Carrbrook Partnership schools as well as guests from Greater Manchester Police and from the Police and Army Cadet Training team. We were also delighted to welcome Tracey Akukwe and Vandis Nwanze, Head Girl and Boy from our partner school, Droylesden Academy. Thank you once again to Reverend David Warner for his involvement and prayers. During the service, students representing Army, Sea and Air Cadets, as well as Police and St John’s Ambulance cadets, were joined by members of the scouts and guides to parade to Joey’s memorial tree where they placed their poppy wreath alongside the tributes of each year group and those of our guests. Mr Beardmore spoke eloquently about Joey before leading the musicians in a flawless rendition of the Last Post, our signal to observe, together, the two minutes silence. Not a sound could be heard from everyone assembled as they paid their own silent tribute. There is no occasion when, as a Headteacher, I have felt so proud of our incredible young people. Later in the week, on Wednesday, members of Year 10 excelled when they attended the Clarendon College High Schools challenge, coming away with First and Second prize for the first time ever, and on Thursday I was privileged to see Year 7 bakers as they slaved away making memorial buns for their very own bake off competition. For the results please read the article later in this edition. Finally, on Thursday evening, we welcomed back our former year 11 students, the Class of 2019, to the Learning Awards evening. Accompanied by our wonderful school band and a moving solo from Tilly McGlashan Year 9, the former pupils received their certificates and special awards presented by Richard Lee, Associate Principal at Oldham Sixth Form College and Anton McGrath, Principal at Ashton Sixth Form College. Thank you to our guests for sharing our special evening with us. Mr Marshall School Band Remembrance Sunday, Hollingworth On Sunday, 10th November our band were privileged to take part in two local remembrance services. Each year Mossley Hollins band are asked to lead two churches: Hollingworth Methodists and Hollingworth St. Mary’s, from the churches onto the war memorial. Many players in the band had never marched before and so this was a new experience for them. Having marched to the war memorial the band provided the music for the hymns and the National Anthem. The band also had three cornet players performing The Last Post and then after the two minutes silence The Reveille. The band then marched back along the same route. Our students represented the school with exactly the right attitude for such an occasion. Faraday College (Year 9): Remembrance Work Year 9 have been studying the First World War in history lessons, and completed their studies with a reflection on why we remember. As part of this they considered the role of the many different people who helped Britain and the Allies win the First World War one hundred years ago including the soldiers and sailors who sacrificed so much, the women who made munitions in unpleasant and dangerous factories and the troops from the British Empire who volunteered to fight alongside the British. Students also learned about the terrible conditions facing soldiers in this industrialised war and the ways that they were affected by this. They have also been learning about the Battle of the Somme, which was fought from July until November 1916. The first day of fighting, 1st July 1916, is significant for the losses on both sides, in particular the 60,000 British casualties including over 19,000 deaths on just one day (soldiers were being shot at the rate of eight every second). Sadly, the First World War was not ‘the war to end all wars’ and students’ work also recognised those who made sacrifices in subsequent wars and those in the military today. Nightingale College (Year 11): Impressive Behaviour This week, Mr Marshall was delighted to receive a message from one of our colleagues at Tameside College who came to speak to Year 11 recently. The message commented on how impressive the behaviour and conduct of the students was; ‘impeccably behaved throughout the session, engaged and very respectful. The whole year group was a credit to the school and the college would wholeheartedly welcome any of your learners in joining us on A Level or vocational courses next academic year. It is evident the expectations and values of the school have been clearly communicated to the learners and they have engaged 100% in demonstrating them in their behaviours and attitudes. I look forward to returning to the school in the near future and welcome any application for our courses.’ Nightingale College (Year 11) – Pre-Public Examinations Timetable Year 11, there are only 20 school weeks left, just 100 days in school, until your first GCSE. We would like to thank all students for attending intervention sessions in the lead up to the PPEs. Monday, 18th November - Friday, 6th December. Intervention will resume on Monday, 9th December, with letters inviting students to sessions distributed the week before. Class of 2020 - Year 11 - PPE Timetable Date P1 P2 Dear P4 P5 P6 (and P7 on a Monday) Monday, 18th November English Language: Paper One Biology - Paper 2 Religious Studies Paper 2: A Study of 1hr 45mins 1hr 10mins or 1hr 45mins Christianity 1hr Tuesday, 19th November Spanish - Listening & Reading Business - Paper 2 Geography Unit 2: People and Society 1hr 30mins or 1hr 45mins 1hr 45mins 1hr Wednesday, 20th November Drama: Performance and Response Maths Paper 1: Non-Calculator Music appointments 1hr 30mins 1hr 30mins Thursday, 21st November Photography 2hr 15mins History (Medicine Germany) Religious Studies Paper 3: A Study of Islam 1hr 50mins 1hr Statistics Paper One 1hr 30mins Music appointments Friday, 22nd November Media Studies - Paper 1 Maths Paper 2: Calculator 1hr 30mins 1 hr 30mins Monday, 25th November Spanish - Writing Chemistry - Paper 1 PE (Component 2) 1hr or 1hr 15mins 1hr 10mins or 1hr 45mins 1hr 15mins Tuesday, 26th November English Literature - Paper Two: Lord of the Music Theory 1hr 30mins Geography Unit 3: Decision Making flies and poetry 1hr 2hr 15mins Food and Nutrition Theory 1hr 45mins Wednesday, 27th November Dance Theory 1hr 30mins Maths Paper 3: Calculator Music appointments 1hr 30mins Computer Science Paper 1 1hr 30mins Thursday, 28th November Physics Paper 1 Art 2 hrs Art 1hr 10mins or 1hr 45mins 1 hr Statistics Paper 2 1hr 30mins Nightingale College (Year 11) – Walking-Talking Examinations To support our students to be confident with their exam technique, every Y11 student participated in walking talking mock exams for GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature this week. Students were guided by English teachers - who are also GCSE examiners - through a minute by minute run through of their exam papers. Teachers modelled how successful answers are structured and demonstrated how to manage timings. Students engaged effectively with this opportunity and, afterwards, many students remarked how helpful the experience was and how much value it has added to their knowledge, understanding and skills. Students should now take this opportunity to reflect on their performance during this process and revise areas for development in order to ensure their success when they sit the papers independently. Nightingale College (Year 11) - Inspire St John’s College, Oxford is excited to announce the Year 11 Inspire Programme for 2019-20! Year 11 pupils are invited to enrol in this online programme. A series of newsletters are to be released in spring, which will be full of articles from the perspectives of various academic subjects offering competitions with prizes and GCSE studying tips. Pupils participating in the programme will also be invited to apply for a summer school at St John’s next summer. Full details of the programme can be found here: https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/study/working-schools/-inspire/year-11/ Pupils can sign up here: https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/study/working-schools/-inspire/year-11/inspire-year-11-student- signup/ The deadline to sign up is Friday, 22nd November 2019. If you have any questions, please get in touch at [email protected]. High School Challenge- Year 10 Champions in an all Mossley final A huge well done to the Mossley Hollins teams who entered the High School Challenge at Clarendon College this week. With two teams entered, the final was what else: Mossley Hollins v Mossley Hollins! Well done to all those involved and the prize money should be clearing as we speak! Bronte College (Year 10) – Food & Nutrition Our Food students showed rigour and determination last week to achieve their best possible grade as they sat the Food and Nutrition assessment 1.