Y10 STUDENTS RETURN FROM BARCELONA

Y7 STUDENTS ENJOY NEW ENRICHMENT CLUBS

www.lathomhighschool.org

ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM LATHOM HIGH SCHOOL

If you missed us...

EVERY DAY is OPEN DAY

at LATHOM HIGH SCHOOLplease come and see our school in action

our NEWHEADTEACHER

Issue seven

Jane Galbraith

It has been a very busy start to the school year with our students and staff involved in so

much already. Some of our Autumn highlights have included trips to the War Horse exhibition, to the Council Chambers in Ormskirk to meet the Mayor and our extremely successful trip to Barcelona. I would like to thank all of the staff for organising these events and congratulate the students for representing our school so well.

We have also welcomed lots of children from our local primary schools to school this half term, not only for lessons but also for the Primary Maths Challenge and the SHARES Dodgeball tournament. Well done to everyone who took part in those competitions. Special congratulations to the winners who were Crow Orchard and Trinity and thank you to all of the staff and Lathom students who helped to organise and run those events.

On a personal note I would like to thank everyone for their very kind messages of support and best wishes on my appointment as Headteacher. I am delighted to have been appointed and excited by the challenge of leading Lathom. I know that you will support us in our drive to set our standards high and to make our school the very best it can be for all of our students.

I look forward to working with you all in the future.

Mrs Galbraith Headteacher

Lunchtime

(12.50-1.40pm)

After school

(3.20-4.30pm)

(12.50-1.15pm) (1.15-1.40pm) (3.20-4.30pm)

Mon Gymnastics

BasketballFootballArt Club

Computer Coding Club

TueHandball

FitnessFrench

Step Aerobics

Community Club

WedBadminton

Debating Club

Eco Group

FootballFitnessDanceDrama

ThurBasketball

Choir

Math’s Puzzle Club

Netball

FriFootball Badminton

CLUBS

For more information about our school visit our website... www.lathomhighschool.orgor follow us at on Twitter @LathomHS T: 01695 725653 E: enquiries@lathom.lancs.sch.uk

ALL of these CLUBS are FREETransport is available at 4.30 and 5.00pmFree school mini bus available at 4.30pmSchool bus available at 5.00pm

Y7 ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIESHere at Lathom we value the importance of providing enrichment opportunities for our students to help widen their interests and develop vital social skills such as teamwork, leadership and communication.

Recently, we held an Enrichment Fair to encourage all of our new y7 students to sign up to two enrichment clubs of their choice. The sportshall was packed with stalls, props, posters and sign up sheets from various departments as they advertised their club to the students. There was something for everyone including choir club, maths puzzle club, computer coding, art club, community club, drama club and various sports clubs. The best bit about it is they are all FREE, all clubs finished at 4:30 (4pm on a Friday) and there is availability for students to be dropped off by the school mini bus at this time, alternatively the late is available leaving school at 5pm. Please see below a full timetable of activities that take place on a weekly basis and are ready for your child to access now;

Y11 Mentoring Scheme

Lathom Life took time out to catch up with intervention leader Lynn Unsworth as she reveals the impact the mentoring scheme has on our Y11 student’s success.

What is the mentoring scheme? The scheme provides extra support for our Y11 students who are currently under target in some of their subjects with a particular focus on English and Maths. We have high aspirations for our students and we want them to achieve the best possible grade that they have the potential for.

The students are placed into a team of 8, allocated a team mentor and a team captain is appointed. These teams compete against each other on a weekly basis collecting points in their lessons for attitude to learning. As the year progresses students are given specific subjects to focus on, these subjects are chosen from the assessment data. Points are allocated for attendance as we feel this has a massive impact on achievement.

Why is it in place? The mentoring scheme is in place to increase achievement and attainment and create an ethos of challenge and success. We want to achieve the best possible outcomes for our students. Last year 58% of the students on the scheme improved their grades from the start of the scheme to their final results.

Who are the mentors? The team mentors are teachers that also make up our senior leadership team within school.

DK, AM, CW.ACG, H Johnston, J Marshall, M Ball. The mentors are all committed to the scheme and are very competitive. Sometimes I have to step in to ensure that the rules are not broken.

How often do the group meet up with their mentor? Students meet up with their mentor every Friday were they total up the students score cards from the week. This time is really valuable as it is a chance for students to discuss how their week has gone and set new targets for the following week. Students also meet their mentor at individual times to discuss their progress and any concerns that they may have.

What are the incentives for the winning mentoring group? The team that scores the most points and the students who are most improved receive texts messages home to inform parents of their efforts. There are rewards such as a free snack at break, vouchers and there are also trips to McDonalds up for grabs! Results are read out in assembly in reverse order and the mentors are as eager as the students to know their scores- no one likes being bottom.

LATHOM VISIT

Written by Georgia O’Brien (Y10 student)

Students Before the climb to the top of the castle at Tossa Del Mar

From the beach of Tossa De Mar and the eye pleasing hotel Don Juan, to the many magnificent monuments of central Barcelona, the 2014 Lathom High School trip created awe – inspiring memories that I’m never likely to forget…

At eight am, the morning of Saturday 4th October, the year 10 class, including me, departed for what was set to be the school holiday of a lifetime. Despite the rocky 28hour drive, and the obvious nausea of the ferry, the trip began with a spectacular splash as we launched straight into the swimming pool, on arrival at the hotel, at twelve thirty in the afternoon (Spanish time). We all wasted no time, eagerly throwing ourselves into the activities of day one, as we ventured out to the mini bowling alley in the centre of the scenic village of Tossa De Mar. Enjoying a fantastic first night out (pictures to be seen on twitter @lathomhs) we all trudged back to the hotel with weary heads, falling blissfully asleep from the exhaustion of the tiring coach trip only several hours before.

The Nou Camp Barcelona Football stadium was amazing, and not being a football fan, it truly exceeded all of my expectations. Viewing the vast variety of trophies and awards was inspiring, the gift shop remarkable, and snapping photos next to the gorgeously green pitch was undeniably an experience that many Barcelona football club admires would be jealous of. As if the second day wasn’t creative enough, another hour long coach drive dropped us at the world famous Park Guell. Spending a couple of precious hours educating ourselves on the outstanding art work of Guadi, us Lathom students rode back to the hotel with our imaginations bright and alive – just in time for karaoke! All in all we experienced a wondrous night of (semi) sensational singing and everlasting memories of music and laughter.

Rising terribly early, 7am, on Tuesday morning, we were all ecstatic to spring from bed and head straight to the Puerta Ventura theme park. By far everyone’s favourite destination of the entire holiday, the joking and screaming on the roaring rollercoasters will forever be imprinted in our young, adventurous minds. Finally allowed to venture through the authentic village during a rapid quiz game, we all became more familiar with common Spanish customs and were successfully able to efficiently interact with the Spanish public. Our Spanish speaking skills finally put to good use, we all went to bed with our heads lighter, hoping that, eventually, the teachers would quit nagging us about the importance of education, and would be satisfied with our great efforts.

Socially, our last full day was upon us. Travelling to the breath taking cathedral, admiring the historical beauty in all its glory (I hope to revisit this place in later life). Moving onto the world known shopping street, Las Ramblas, students and teacher alike indulged in a variety of shoes, clothes and gifts – and, of course, we couldn’t miss McDonalds!

Rounding off the day with a social game of charades, and a competitive pool competition, all of the Lathom year 10 students and teachers came together to achieve a superior last night away.

Students down at the port after Las Ramblas

And then unfortunately, Thursday was the day to begin our journey back home to Skelmersdale – back to reality. A quick stroll on the beach and an ice cream later, the coach whisked us away back to raining England. No more heat or sun, no more time to tan. Although, we were all overjoyed to re-join our families back at home, secretly, we will forever wish that we were back on our memorable little holiday, with all of new friends we managed to make there. Stars - *****

Primary Liaison

Since the start of the new academic year local primary schools Holland Moor and Crow Orchard have been accessing specialist ICT, Modern Foreign Languages and Resistant Materials lessons at Lathom on a weekly basis.

During Crow Orchards ICT lessons they have been learning about computer programming. Binary was the first subject covered. In those lessons the primary students learned how to count in binary, how to add

two binary numbers together and how to subtract two binary numbers. The next challenge they will face is Algorithms.

In Resistant Materials Holland Moor have been studying computer aided design and manufacture to design and make a door hanger and in their Spanish lessons they have been discovering Spanish Greetings, pronunciation and the alphabet. After all their hard work in the classroom they then stay

to have lunch with us before being transported back to school.

Local Democracy Week Year 10 students visited Ormskirk Council Chambers on Thursday 16th October 2014 on Local Democracy Week. The visit really gave them an insight on what life is like as a counsellor.

Students were asked to debate about ‘Controlling Dog Fouling in the Borough’ and then follow up with a ‘mock’ voting exercise’. Students then returned to the Mayor’s Parlour where they had refreshments and some further insight into the history behind the Ormskirk Council Chambers. It was a lovely afternoon enjoyed by all!

WHAT’S COMING UP NEXT? Y9 consultation evening – Wednesday 12th November 4:00-7:00pm

Y12 Awards Evening - Thursday 20th November

Primary Sportshall Athletics – Tuesday 2nd December 4:00-6:00pm

Primary Handball Competition – Wednesday 3rd December 3:30-5:30pm

Christmas Concert - Thursday 15th December

3,2,1 DODGEBALL

ON the evening of Wednesday 22nd October children,

teachers and parents from eleven of our local primary schools filled the sporthall to take part in the Primary Dodgeball Competition.

The evening was a huge success and enjoyed by all. Well done to the winners of the Fair Play award Cobbs Brow and a huge congratulations to the overall winners Trinity Primary.

The winners Trinity pictured with head teacher Mrs Galbraith

We look forward to seeing you all at the Primary School Handball Competition which will take place on Wednesday 3rd December 3:30-5pm.

The Crow Orchard team really got into the spirit of things.

Open Evening Prize Winners Revealed

We were delighted to welcome many families through our doors at our Open Evening on Thursday

25th September to see what life is like at Lathom High School. On the evening we had a variety of challenges and competitions to keep our visitors on their toes. Well done to all that took part in our “Guess the Book Competition”.

Congratulations to our winners from Cobbs Brow; Maise Ball, Keira Hamilton, Ryan Parry, Harry Cox, Liliy Crompton. These children were presented with their prizes by Lathom Headteacher Jane Galbraith during their school assembly on Thursday 9th October. Other lucky prize winners include Kayleigh Leet, Ethan Willis, Holly Watson, Bethan Fairhurst, Zoe Fish (Holland Moor Primary), Luke Robbins-Brown (Hillside County Primary), Jack Blakeley (Crow Orchard), Ellie Sellick (Moorside Academy) and Molly Cutler (Brookfield Park). Well done to each and every one of you! If you missed us on Open Evening and would like to see Lathom in action EVERY DAY is OPEN DAY and we welcome you to get in touch with us today to arrange your visit.

CONGRATULATIONSLathom Life would like to take this opportunity to congratulate MFL teacher Mrs Clark on the birth of her son Owen William Clark and say goodbye to D&T teacher Miss Owen who is leaving us to go on maternity leave.

ATTENDANCE

Congratulations to the following students who achieved 100% attendance for the first half term. Their names were picked out of a draw by Mrs Galbraith.

Each student has won £10 Pizza Hut voucher/£10 Empire Cinema Voucher.

The winners were:-Ashyea Levens, Denis Slobodyanuk, Luke Smalley, Luke Gallagher, Danielle Fry, Jack Lloyd, Bethany Sawyer, Leon Birch, Katie Garner, Connor Brown.

Well done to all students achieving 100% attendance for the first half term.