helsby high school

Helsby High School Newsletter

A colour copy of this Newsletter can be found on the website www.helsbyhigh.cheshire.sch.uk 1

HELSBY HIGH SCHOOL

Welcome back!

I would like to welcome everyone back to what I am sure will be another busy and successful year for Helsby High School and our young people. We have had a very good start to the term with Year 7 settling very quickly into secondary school life and work. We are also delighted to welcome so many students to our sixth form. We would like to welcome new staff to the school. Dr G Clarke joins us as Deputy Headteacher, Mrs T Rawcliffe who will be teaching German and French and Ms S Louden joins the Drama department. I know that they will enjoy their time at Helsby High School. Exam successes

We are delighted to report that Helsby High School students have achieved an excellent set of exam results this year. At ‘A’ level our students did exceptionally

well with 99.5% achieving A*-E grades, 55% of all grades were A*-B with 29% of all grades being A* or A’s. There were many outstanding individual performances with 16 students achieving

3 or more A*- A grades. We opened school early so that students could collect their results at 8am (which many

did!!) This allowed students the maximum time to contact Universities to secure places. We are delighted to report that all who were seeking a place were successful in doing so. I would like to thank all the staff particularly the 6th form team for their hard work in supporting our students as they move on to the next stage of their learning. At GCSE 91% of students achieved 5A* -

C grades which is an excellent achievement. There are many exceptional individual performances with 34 students achieving 8 or more A* - A grades.

Students from Year 8, 9 and 10 also collected results on the August results day and there were some very good results across these years. We would like to say a big “Well Done” to all our students who have done so well as well as

thanking their families for their ongoing support and staff for all their hard work.

Visits and building improvements

Over the summer 29 pupils and 3 staff enjoyed a superb watersports visit to Spain (where the weather was much better than we experienced in the UK!) and the Music department visited Geneva. We have started to improve the reception area and the hall (which now has new more comfortable chairs). We hope that over the coming months the reception area will become more attractive with more displays celebrating the successes of our students. Due to the hard work of the “Friends of Helsby High School”, led by a dedicated team of parents, funds have been raised to purchase a new minibus which will benefit many students in years to come. I would like to thank them very much on behalf of us all and I would like you to consider how you could assist them in raising future fund (please see page 15 for further details).

We are looking forward to working with you over this school year and would like to thank you for your continuing help and support

Mr J Dowler Headteacher

September

2011

GCSE students

‘A’ level students



On Saturday 2nd July a group of 32 pupils from Year 7 to 6th form embarked on the long coach journey to Lake Geneva. After much munching of sweets, a brief ferry crossing, three films and about 24 hours later we

arrived at our destination.

The youth hostel we were staying at was in the beautiful town of Evian, overlooking the lake made even more breathtaking by the amazing weather. We didn’t have much time to enjoy our hotel as we were told to get our swimming kit. We were heading to

the lake!

After a brief stroll down a huge hill, (nobody was looking forward to walking back up it!) we arrived at the pool. It was brilliant with three main pools, a water slide and three diving boards that were situated in Lake

Geneva itself.

After a couple of hours it was time to wander back through the quaint village to the hotel, stopping for ice cream along the way. Most of us were very tired now

after the long journey and the swimming and went straight to sleep.

By the next day we were all much more awake and refreshed. It was time for our

first concert!

Monday 3rd July — The concert was on a stage in a park at a beautiful town called Annecy which is in the South of France. It was Monday afternoon and another lovely day with plenty of boats and people swimming in the lake. All of the major bands and the choir from Helsby went on the tour to Switzerland, including jazz band, senior band, junior band and a mixture of all of

Helsby’s choirs.

Lots of people turned up to watch us playing and all of them enjoyed it. Both senior band and jazz band played seven songs, the junior band played two and choir sang three songs. All of the pieces went really well and some of the crowd even said ‘well

done’ to a few of us.

The bands and choirs performed a variety of music from the Radetsky March, to the jazz band repertoire of Birdland and Moanin and even film themes such as the James Bond Medley, Hedwig’s theme and Somewhere over the Rainbow. After the concert we had a chance to

go off with our friends and have a wander around the town.

Tuesday 4th July — The next day we headed to our second concert venue in Yvoire. The concert was to be performed at lunchtime. We played in the town square which was bathed in sunlight and was really beautiful. The only bad thing about this venue was that the temperatures rose to 35.5 degrees (HOT!), and many of us had

to sit in the sun for the whole concert in our school uniforms. Not quite as many people came to watch this concert but there were still quite a few. Many people came and went throughout the performance and all of them

enjoyed it. We all did too.

Our last concert was everybody’s favourite and was in Evian, the town where we were staying. Unlike the other concerts this took place in the evening. Many people came to watch us and it was probably the biggest audience that we had on the whole tour. All of the songs went as planned and everything sounded really good. In our last piece (Superstition)

everybody played and sang along and some people even danced. Basically it was really fun and enjoyable.

The whole tour was great and we all enjoyed it immensely.

Thomas Vaughan—Year 9

Music Tour 2011 Music Tour 2011 Music Tour 2011 ——— Lake GenevaLake GenevaLake Geneva



Montreux Jazz Festival On Tuesday, we went to visit the Montreux Jazz Festival on the edge of

Lake Geneva. It was one of the best days of the week (well, in my opinion

that is, as most people would probably prefer the dodgems!).

When we arrived, we got off and split into our separate groups went around the hundreds of

stalls and concerts. First, I went to see an AWESOME trombone player from New Orleans called

Trombone Shorty who was doing lecture on jazz and trombone but played a few songs as well.

His small group consisted of a Trombone (obviously), a Baritone Sax, a Snare Drum and a Bass

Drum.

Next, we went to see a good band on the outside stage while eating our dinner, they were, let’s

say, “passionate” about their music. After we had eaten we all got up and danced.

When the concert had ended we went round the stalls and I bought a cool hat (well, two

actually!) before going back to the hostel.

Matthew Kilborn—Year 9

Helsby High School

d’Angleterre

CONCERT Dirigé par Mme Briony Wells

Profitez d'un fabuleux concert de musique populaire présenté

par ces jeunes musiciens talentueux formants un orchestre

d’harmonie, de jazz et de musique folk ainsi que leure chorale.

Lundi 4 juillet 2011, 16h00

Jardin d’Europe, Annecy

Entrée gratuite. Bienvenue à tous!

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Girls Netball - Condover Hall, Shropshire On Friday 15 July we took the Year 7 and 8 netball teams on a residential netball tournament

weekend to Condover Hall in Shropshire. This was arranged as a reward for the excellent

commitment and attainment of these girls throughout the year. They enjoyed a number of

activities over the weekend such as the laser game, team building and abseiling as well as

other exciting activities. The girls also got to play a netball tournament umpired by England

netball players against different schools from all over the country. The year 7 and 8 teams were

entered as separate teams within the same tournament which made for an exciting head to

head game. However the Year 8’s won the match and indeed the whole tournament with the

Year 7’s finishing as runners up. The pupils were excellent ambassadors for the school and

were superb at entering into the true spirit of the weekend. Well done girls!

Miss R Clarke

The Champions and runners up!

The Year 8 Team – champions!

The Year 7 Team – runners up!



Year 7 Condover Hall Football

Tournament July 2011

The Year 7 football team has developed really well

as a team this season and has achieved some

excellent results. It was decided that the team were

ready to take on more challenging opponents. The

Condover Hall Football Tournament included Year

7, 8 and 9 teams from East London and Liverpool

and it was a highly competitive tournament which

tested skill, endurance and teamwork.

The pupils were really impressed with the facilities

and played on a 3G pitch which is used by

Shrewsbury Town for their training sessions. The

Year 7’s were split into two teams which played six

games each. The boys played with strength and

endurance and did not allow the older teams to

intimidate them.

The team members of Helsby Team A’s were

James Knipe, Michael Calveley, Ben Burrows, Nyle

Sykes, Tom Merrill, Daniel Holden, Oliver Marx and

Edward Ditchfield. Their first game was a baptism of

fire against a mature and intimidating North

Liverpool A Team. Unfortunately Helsby Team ‘A’

lost 1-0 despite Oliver Marx marshalling the defence

and some outstanding saves by James Knipe. Their

next match was against North Liverpool ‘B’ Team

was a 0-0 draw. In a hard fought game which was

played in adverse weather conditions, Edward

Ditchfield was the outstanding player defending for

his life! In the next game against Burnt Mill Farm ‘B’

Team, Niall Sykes scored the first goal whilst Oliver

Marx scored the second. Daniel Holden scored two

goals and Michael Calveley scored the fifth and final

goal in an excellent exhibition of attacking open

football.

The team members of Helsby Team ‘B’ were

Grantley Stening, Ollie Upton, Tom Hughes,

Dominic Molyneux, James Stamps, Billy Young and

John Cooper. In their first game against Burnt Mill

Farm ‘B’ Team, Helsby Team ‘B’ won 3-0 and

passed the ball extremely well. Grantley Stening

proved to be a rock at the back, Billy Young scored

the opening goal, John Cooper scored the second

and third goals. In the battle of the two Helsby

Teams there was no love loss. Tom Hughes was

outstanding for Helsby ‘B’ and Ben Burrows showed

excellent skill on the ball. In a hard fought game the

score ended 0-0. The next game for Helsby ‘B’

Team was against Burnt Mill Farm ‘A’ team the

match end 0-0. The match against North Liverpool

‘A’ Team was also 0-0 although I believe the team

gave an excellent performance of skill and

determination. James Stamps went very close to

scoring, Dominic Molyneux and Ollie Upton were

outstanding and had a ‘never say die’ attitude

throughout the game. Johnathan Cooper also

linked play really well.

The boys displayed an excellent attitude and were

committed throughout the tournament.

Unfortunately, the strength, power and extra

experience of North Liverpool ‘A’ meant that they

were victorious overall. However, all the boys

should be proud of their efforts and conduct

throughout the weekend. Edward Ditchfield was

awarded player of the tournament, demonstrating

excellent tackling and defending skills and was

always prepared to put his body on the line to block

goals.

Report by

Mr Bennett



Watersports@Budworth 2011

During the summer term 2011, students from Helsby High School participated in Sailing, Canoeing and Kayaking at the Budworth Sailing Club at Budworth Mere, near Northwich with Mr

Jankowski and Mrs Darlington.

Students from Years 7, 8 and 9 came for three Thursday afternoon sessions during June. They were free to choose which watersport they wanted to spend the most time trying, and had lots of

fun on and in the water whilst also improving their skill and fitness levels.

During their Activity Week in July, a number of Year 8 students chose their day trip out of school

to be to Budworth Mere, and were able to have a taster of each of the three watersports.

Mr Jankowski



Activity Week—July 2011

During Activity Week at the end of the summer term 2011, Year 7 were involved in a variety of activities designed to encourage them to think about cultural diversity. Workshops included jewellery making, RAP poetry, puppets, dye-making, making anzac biscuits and lamingtons, Afritwin, shanty towns, native American symbols, Mandala, Le Senegal, African drumming, Fairtrade, Aboriginal History, Lacrosse and black scientists. Most of the workshops were delivered by Helsby teaching staff, who thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity, and some were delivered by outside speakers, who were full of praise for the students’ contributions and

conduct.

The students had an exciting and thought-provoking week. When asked for their feedback at

the end of term their responses included:

‘We did more physical activities which made it easier to learn

because we were doing it

ourselves!’ ‘I learned more because it was

fun’

In normal lessons you learn subjects yet in Cultural Diversity Week we learned about how people live in a

daily life’

‘Culture is a type of life you choose

to live’

We learned about different countries and what they do

as hobbies and activities.

‘I learned about cultures

I’d never heard of before’

Year 7 students at

Chester Zoo



Lower Sixth Residential Biology Field Trip trip

to Anglesey July 2011

“The trip gave us the opportunity to see an interesting and diverse range of species in their natural

environments, something you can’t get from a classroom” Rebecca Norman

“The organisms varied greatly, each offering their own unique characteristics and differentiated habitats. A

particular favourite were the glow worms” Ed Benson

“The topics studied linked the concepts learned in class and the environment and put them into context”

Ben Satchell

“I particularly enjoyed searching for different species at Silver Bay” Reid Gardner

“The dog whelks were really interesting” Tom Stockton

“We studied some interesting organisms, some I had never heard of” Jack Firth

“Silver Bay was a nice beach and I liked visiting there, especially at night” Naomi Trevett

“ I particularly loved the night walk as I thought seeing the glow worms was really spectacular as it is not

something you see every day” Reid Gardner

“I really enjoyed staying at the field centre and I liked seeing the glow worms on the night walk” Lily Beck

“The field study centre had very good food. The beaches were beautiful and it was very peaceful being in the

middle of nowhere” Sarah McGinley

“We enjoyed the amount of space outside and things like football nets and the games room”

Jack Chesworth

During July this year the Lower Sixth Biologists spent three days at T’yn-y-felin in Anglesey on their A2 residential field trip. They completed a wide range of tasks, widening their understanding of ecology topics as well as giving them hands-on experience of surveying and studying the living organisms found on the

beach.

Every opportunity was taken to get out in the fresh air and explore the local environments, and the field centre provided opportunities for follow up classroom sessions as well as being

a very welcoming place to eat and relax in the evenings.

Highlights included the night walk to Silver Bay to see the glow worms, a nightly table tennis competition in the games room and the walk across the sand dunes on the last day finishing with playing rounders on the beach and building sandcastles!! Mr Jankowski

Students who went on the trip

commented…



“Visiting the sand dunes was a great way to end the trip, leading to a beautiful beach”

Ben Satchell

“With friends like these who needs anemones!?” Anonymous

The food and drink were good and always available”

Dean Simcott

“There was a good balance between work and free time. The night hike was good”

Tom Halliwell

“We found out a lot about native sea creatures at the Anglesey Sea Zoo” Hazel Clarke

“The Sea Zoo was really good fun, I loved the quiz and enjoyed the talk about the sharks”

Tom Stockton



PGL Watersports Trip to La Fosca, Spain 2011

In August three members of staff took 29 Year 9 and 10 students to La Fosca, on the Mediterranean Coast of Spain, for a week-long Watersports Trip. We braved the long coach journey through England, the English Channel, France and Spain throughout the day and night and arrived safely to beautiful

weather.

During the week our students took part in many exciting activities, including sailing, canoeing, snorkelling, kayaking and having a go on a banana boat. Every evening we took part in games and everyone got the chance to meet new people and get to know them. On the last night three Helsby students took part in the PGL Talent Show and represented our school fantastically, singing and playing the guitar in front of the other schools. All the students took part in the activities with great enthusiasm and were a credit to the school. We are looking forward to taking another equally successful trip this coming

summer.

Miss H Mounsey

Trip Leader



Healthy Living Week 2011

This was by far the most common observation from the students in Year 8

who took part in Healthy Living Week.

All of Year 8 went out of school on either Tuesday or Wednesday morning. They had the choice

of The Trio Challenge, The Helsby Village Triple Challenge, rowing, kayaking and sailing,

playing golf or going to The Chill Factor-e. The staff who accompanied the students said how

much they had enjoyed the activities as well.

‘It was fun’



During the rest of the week the workshops were done

in school or on the field. All students had a go at

fencing, sports day with a difference, dodgeball,

skipping, dancing and body combat. Some students

were better than others at the new activities but all

had a go.

Teacher comments about the week were absolutely fantastic. They enjoyed taking part and

running different activities. The activities they ran went down well and the pupils really enjoyed

them. Pupils had to tackle a ‘Murder in the Jungle’ challenge, taste and make their own healthy

food and took part in a range of quizzes designed to be fun but also to give out information. On

Thursday and Friday we were treated to The Junk Food Roadshow; a favourite of Year 8 for a

very long time.

Who is that dressed in the monkey suit and what did they find in the boxes?

Have

you ever

seen a

science

lab look

like this?

A big thank you to all the teachers who organised and ran the workshops. It was absolutely brilliant.

Mrs C Sharp



Successful Motivational Placements

for Year 11 students

A number of students in last year’s Year 10 and Year 11 completed very successful motivation-al placements at local Helsby and Frodsham businesses. The students spent one day per week at a local business learning ‘on-the-job’ and caught up on their studies whilst back at school. Each of the students decided on the career area they wanted to work in and Helsby High School, with the help of Education Business Plus sourced the placement and monitored

the student whilst out of school.

A number of students who completed the motivational placement scheme, last year have now

been offered apprenticeships with the companies they spent one day a week with last year.

On behalf of Helsby High School and the students who took part in the scheme I would like to thank the local employers for their help and guidance they have shown to students who have

worked with them.

If you would like to get involved and feel you would be able to offer a student in Year 10 or 11 a motivational placement in your company, please contact Mr Cooney at school via email

[email protected]

Year 10 students experience the world of work

For two weeks at the beginning of July, 220 Year 10 students swapped school uniforms for business attire and embarked upon two weeks of work experience. Students in Year 10 spent most of the year getting organised for the two weeks of work experience by learning about health and safety in the work place, how to deal with problems and how safeguarding affects

Mrs Neal, Mr Hale and I, along with a number of other staff spent the two weeks of work experience out and about in the businesses of Cheshire, Merseyside, Manchester and North Wales, visiting Helsby High School students. The feedback from the vast majority of employers was that our students were a credit to the school and their families and were

extremely well prepared for the world of work.

mailto:[email protected]



Some of the companies that students went to were: Shell, Liverpool FC, John Lewis, Blue Planet Aquarium, Vauxhall Motors and The Countess of Chester Hospital. On behalf of Helsby High School

and the students I would like to thank all the employers who took a student for the two weeks.

If you would like to get involved and feel you would be able to offer a student in Year 10 a work

experience placement in July, please contact Mr Cooney at school via email [email protected]

This year’s work experience for Year 10 is from Monday 2nd July until Friday 13th July 2012.

Mr J Cooney

Work Related Learning Coordinator

Year 10 students have a taste of college courses at Riverside College

As part of Helsby High School’s Information, Advice and Guidance process, Year 10 students had the opportunity to attend college and have a ‘taste’ of college life. Sixty students spent the day at Riverside College, Cronton, Widnes and took part in vocational lessons such as Dance, Sports,

Business and ICT, Motor Vehicle and Construction.

At lunchtime the Riverside College record label had one of their bands playing on the field, whilst students had a barbeque lunch to feast on. Luckily the sun shone for us and we were able to sit on

the grass and eat our food ‘al-fresco’ style!

At the end of the day we took part in a closing assembly, where one student from each school present had a ‘hoola-hoop-off’ to win a prize. Our volunteer, Liam did a great job but was beaten

when his hips couldn’t keep up with the hoop! Well done Liam, you did Helsby proud!

Mr J Cooney

Work Related Learning Coordinator

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‘Friends of Helsby High School’

The school was delighted at the start of the new academic year to take delivery of a new minibus. This is the second time in five years that the efforts of the ‘Friends of Helsby High School’ has provided the school with the means to transport pupils from all year groups to

sporting fixtures, field trips and residential visits.

The money for these buses and all other equipment the ‘Friends’ provide for the school is raised in a number of ways. The ‘Friends’

volunteers come into school every Monday to run the uniform shop. Other volunteers organise the annual Craft Show, raffles at school concerts and sometimes the catering at school events. Not every parent can support the school at these times and choose to either join the 100 Club, where they are entered into a draw for just £2 a month, or decide to gift aid a sum of money to help the school provide a range of opportunities for pupils that would not be

otherwise possible.

If any parent is in a position to offer support to the ‘Friends of Helsby High School’ in any way

they should contact either:

Chair: Nadia Dickie - [email protected] or

Secretary: Gail Swart – Email: [email protected]

All parents and carers are automatically members of the ‘Friends of Helsby High School’. For new parents there will be an opportunity to meet some of the committee and learn more about their work on Year 7 Tutors’ Evening on Tuesday 11th October. The Friends’ first event of the new academic year will be a Family Quiz night on Friday 14th October so make sure you look

out for the letter when tickets go on sale.

HOLIDAY DATES 2011-2012

Date of Closing Date of Re-opening

All pupils

Wednesday 7 September 2011

Autumn Half-term Friday 21 October Monday 31 October

Christmas 2011/2012 Friday 16 December Wednesday 4 January 2012

Spring Half-term 2012 Friday 10 February Monday 20 February

Easter 2012 Friday 30 March Monday 16 April

May Day 2012 Friday 4 May Tuesday 8 May

Summer Half-term Friday 1 June Monday 11 June

Summer 2012 Friday 20 July





Important Dates for Autumn Term 2011

September

Thurs 29 Sep Staff Training Day (Students not in school)

Thurs 29 Sep New Intake Open Evening

October

Thurs 07 Oct Yr 9 : Castleton Field trip

Fri 08 Oct Yr 9 : Castleton Field trip

Tues 11 Oct Yr 12 & Yr 7 : Consultation with Form Tutors

Fri 14 Oct Parents’ Society Quiz Night

w/b 17, 18 & 19 Oct Menai Induction Course for Lower Sixth

Fri 21 Oct Upper Sixth : Assessments to Parents

Fri 21 Oct ‘Own Clothes Day’

Fri 21 Oct School Closes

21 Oct – 30 Oct incl : Half Term

Mon 31 Oct School opens : Pupils return

November

Thu 03 Nov Yr 11 into Sixth Form Evening

Wed 23 Nov Upper Sixth : Consultation Evening

Fri 18 Nov Yr 7 : Broughton Park visit

21 Nov – 25 Nov incl Mock Exams : Yr 11

Sun 27 Nov Parents’ Society Christmas Fair

Tues 29 Nov Yr 10 : Consultation Evening

December

Thurs 08 Dec Carol Concert at Chester Cathedral

Thu & Fri 08 & 09 Dec Christmas Hamper Distribution

Fri 09 Dec Lower Sixth : Assessments to Parents

Mon 12 Dec Awards Evening

Thurs 15 Dec Yr 7-9 : Interim Assessments to Parents

Fri 16 Dec School closes early – 2.30 p.m.

16 Dec – 03 Jan incl : Christmas Holiday

helsby high school

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