pocket handbook

Welcome to Alder Grange!

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We are very proud of our school and delighted that you have chosen to join us. You may be feeling a bit nervous about starting Year 7, but ‘Alder Grangers’ are a very friendly bunch and I know you’ll have made lots of new friends in no time.

The information in this booklet will help you to get to know how we do things here. All the sta� and other pupils are looking forward to meeting you and will be happy to help you settle in to your new school in September.

The most important thing to remember is that if you are unsure about anything – just ask.

I am looking forward to meetingyou all and working with youover the next seven years ofyour education.

Mrs GriffithsHeadteacher

Here is your pocket guide to Alder Grange. It will help to ease your nerves and answer some questions that you might have now and in your first few months at Alder Grange.

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There are a few main di�erences between primary and secondary school. Firstly we are a bigger school with around 830 pupils and you will be one of about 145 pupils in Year 7. This can be a big change but don’t worry as you will soon make lots of friends and the sta� and pupils will help you with any worries you have.

3 Expectations ForSuccess in Our School

At Alder Grange there is noplace for any form of anti-social behaviour. All thepupils and sta� have the rightto feel free from anxiety andstress, so that it is a comfortableand happy place to be. So we have a number of rights and responsibilities that we all subscribe to.

These are:-

The 3 r’s

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1. BE READYEveryone arrives to school and lessons every day,

on time and ready to work.

Everyone wears full school uniform properly from

the time they leave home to the time they return.

1. BE READY2. BE RESPECTFUL3. BE RESPONSIBLE

Everyone has the right to be treated with respect

and kindness, using good manners; we treat others

as we would like to be treated ourselves.

No-one steals the time of other people

3. BE RESPONSIBLEEveryone takes responsibility for organising

themselves and their work.

All these expectations come directly from theAlder Grange Charter agreed by pupils,students and sta�, in line with the UNCRC.

2. BE RESPECTFUL

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The School DayAt Alder Grange the school day

is split up into six di�erent lessons.

Opposite are the times.

Please notice that on Wednesdays

the school day is slightly shorter.

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8.15 The dining room is open for a breakfast service.

8.55 Sta� go to a briefing with the Head Teacher in the sta� room, students line up outside.

9.00 Students are allowed in and go to their form rooms for registration.

9.15 The bell goes and pupils go to Period 1 lesson.

10.05 Period 2.

10.55 Morning break

11.10 Period 3 lesson.

12.00 Period 4 lesson.

12.50 Lunch time

1.45 Afternoon registration in form rooms.

1.50 Period 5 lesson.

2.40 Period 6 lesson (school day finishes for students at this time on a Wednesday).

3.30 End of the school day.

Your First DayWhat you needto have with you:

A school bag Some food/drinks for break and lunch time or some money to put on your lunch account (not notes). About three pounds should be more than enough for the first day. A pencil case with stationery. Details of your emergency contact numbers. Bus money if needed. Any medicines that you need. For example; inhalers, epi-pens. All need to be clearly labelled and details of your condition filled in on the medical information form that your parents have in their pack.

You will probably feel a mixture of feelings about the first day - scared, nervous, and excited.

All sta� and older students are here to help you - don’t be afraid to speak to them. 8

At Alder Grange we have a special system for paying for your lunch. If you would prefer to bring your own food and drinks, you can do. You can buy hot meals, sandwiches and snacks from the dining room before school, at morning break and lunchtime.

We currently use a cashless system which uses a PIN code for payment at the tills. When you choose your food you will be asked to enter your PIN code and the money will be taken from youraccount. You can add money to your account by bringing in coins toschool each day and inserting them in recharge machines.Alternatively you can bring in a cheque or cash each week.More details on this will be provided in the welcomepack for you parent/carer.

If, like many other people you have a rightto receive free school meals at primaryschool you will need to make sure thatyour parents have completed the form(available and returnable to RawtenstallLibrary) before you start. If in doubt, bring apacked lunchon the firstday untilyou havechecked.

Lunch

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On your first day you will be given by your form tutortwo key items: a personal planner and a timetable. It is important you look after both.

The planner is your own personal brain reminder! If used properly, you can record everything you need to know about or do in some place in your planner.

There are lots of uses to your planner and its full purposes will be explained to you on the first day. But just to give you a few ideas: all your homework is written down on the day to day pages. It is also used for recording your attendance which is vital to your achievements at high school.

The planner contains the detention record page and areas for notes between school and home, messages and absence.

It is also expected that every week you get your parents to check your planner and to sign it, to show that they are aware ofwhat you aredoing too.

Planners

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DayThe transition from primary to secondary school can be a daunting one so we would like to invite you in to Alder Grange for a transition day on Tuesday 30th June2020. This will be followed by an induction evening for your parents on the same evening, starting at 6.30pm. The day will let you get a feel of what it is like at Alder Grange. You will meet your new form and form teacher and have a go at some lessons.

Transition

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Tuesday 30th Jue 20208.45am Year 6 pupils arrive at Alder Grange (main entrance)

9.00am – 10.55am Assembly, form time and taster lessons

10.55am -11.10am Breaktime

11.10am – 12.40pm Taster lessons

12.40pm – 1.40pm Lunchtime (please bring a packed lunch for the day)

1.40pm – 3.00pm Registration, taster lesson and final assembly

3.00pm Pupils to be collected

6.30pm Induction Evening Please arrive wearing your usual primary school uniform and bring a packed lunch and drink with you and any medication that you may require.

This is how the day will run:

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Ground Floor...

Map of main building

L1 Socs1L2

Hu2

M6

Hu4 Hu5Hu3Hu1

BoilerHouse

Kitchen

Dining Room

Dining Room

Reception

Head

LH

SCITT

RM

AA NA

InclusionsuiteAG

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Upper Floor...

If you need help - just ask!

SciencePreparation

SandwichExpress

(Top Floor)

Repro-graphics

AL

AL

ProfessionalLearningCentre(PLC)

Learning Resource Centre E6E5

Uniform &Appearance

All students wear the Alder Grange Uniform

as it’s important that we all share the same

image so that we don’t feel out of place and

so that we have pride in our school and give

the right impression of our community

when we are out of school.

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Navy blue blazer. School blazer badge. Plain sky blue tailored shirt with sti�ened collar. School tie - Year Specific.Plain mid-grey tailored trousers/skirt. Grey or white socks or black tights. School jumper (optional). Plain, dark coloured jacket. Plain dark coloured shoes not trainers.

Our uniform can be bought easily in local shops but the main uniform supplier is Amin’s on Bank Street in Rawtenstall town centre.

Please make sure that you put yourfull name in all items of clothingand in your school bag so thatthey can be returned if theyget lost.

Summer shirts are availableand can be worn betweenEaster to Summer.

The Uniform is:

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Compulsory Kit:· Violet performance shirt/Grey performance shirt· Black performance shorts· Black socks

Optional PE kit· ¼ zip mid-layer top· Full zip track top· Fitted trackpant· Base layer top

Supplier:sales@officialkit.co.uk

PE Kit:

Equipment: Please make sure that right from the first day you have with you a pencil case and pens, pencils, ruler, sharpener, rubber and coloured pencil crayons.

Appearance: We need to keep everyone safe so only one pair of stud earrings is allowed and no necklaces, bracelets or rings are acceptable.

False nails are also not acceptable, neither are skirts that are too short. Make up should be minimal and natural - don’t overdo the eyebrows!’

Your hair must be of a suitable length, style and colour and should be a natural shade. Please save shaved heads, red and blue stripes and anything else of this sort for the school holidays!

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Most lessons last for a 50 minute period although some are double lessons. You will have a di�erent teacher for each subject and be in a di�erent classroom but you will soon get used to this.

SubjectsIn a typical week the following subjectsare usually studied:

EnglishMaths ScienceFrenchHistory GeographyArt PE

RE (Religious Education)Design Technology Computing

Homework You will get homework from most subjects each week and this will be recorded in your planner.

MusicDramaFoodPSELinguistics

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Extra-curricular activities

There are many clubs at Alder Grange for you to getinvolved in.

There are sports clubs including football, rugby, trampolining, cheerleading, netball and badminton. Often you get the opportunity to represent the school in these sports.

There are lots of other clubs such as the Art, IT, Technology, Maths quizzes, craft club, a junior Duke of Edinburgh, music and drama clubs to name but a few.

Charity is important to us at Alder Grange and you will have the opportunity to get your thinking hats on and think of exciting and fun ways to raise money for good causes. There is also an excellent library at AlderGrange, which is open daily and can bevisited before and after school and at breakand lunch times.

Any valuables you bring to school are your responsibility. It is advisable that you keep them in your bag or during PE lessons hand them in to be looked after.

Phones can be used at breaks and lunchtimes in OUTSIDE SPACES ONLY and will be confiscated at any other time and kept in the school safe until a parent or carer is able to come into school to collect. Phones CAN ONLY be used for text messages, games or music – no calls or taking pictures/videos.

Mobile phones, MP3 players and valuables

2020

School Term,Holiday Patterns 2020 – 2021

AUTUMN TERM 2020INSET Day 1 Tuesday 1st September 2020

Re-open on Wednesday 2nd September 2020

INSET Day 2 Thursday 1st October 2020

INSET Day 3 Friday 2nd October 2020

Mid Term Closure Monday 26th October 2020 – Friday 30th October 2020 (inclusive)

Closure afterschool on Friday 18th December 2020

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SPRING TERM 2021Re-open on Monday 4th January 2021

Mid Term Closure Monday 15th February 2021 – Friday 19th February 2021 (inclusive)

Closure afterschool on Friday 26th March 2021

SUMMER TERM 2019Re-open on Monday 12th April 2021

May Day Closure Monday 3rd May 2021

Mid Term Closure Monday 31st May 2021 – Friday 4th June 2021 (inclusive)

Closure afterschool on Friday 16th July 2021

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We like to have you in school at all times so please try to make dental and medical appointments out of school hours. If you can’t avoid being absent from school then a parent or carer should contact school in the morning to let us know. There is an area in your planner that should be signed by your parent or carer on your return to school.

If you become ill during the school day then you should see your form tutor or achievement leader and they will decide whether or not you need to go home.

If you require medication your parent or carer must fill in amedication form available from the school office.

Absence from School