WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

NEWSLETTER 38 – 21ST JULY 2017

I wish to thank all the staff and students for their outstanding efforts throughout the school year.

At the end of the Academic ear, it is rewarding to take a few moments to reflect on the many

achievements that have taken place, including the tremendous academic endeavour of all our students,

the sporting events, the school production, our liturgical celebrations, the celebration of expressive

arts, the Erasmus+ International Week, the Art Exhibition, work experience placements, the various

school trips and visits, Pilgrimages, field trips, the charitable events for Cystic Fibrosis Trust and other

good causes, the work of the SVP, Youth Alpha, Prayer 4 you and Beatitudes groups as well as the STEM

groups, D of E groups, Spelling B, Student voice and Eco groups, the graduation ceremonies and proms.

Such a busy year but hopefully one which will form lasting memories for our community.

Over the summer break period, many projects are planned to improve our site and service including

replacement boilers, replacement doors to improve access to Jervaulx block, re ordering of the walkways

and re tiling of the swimming pool area. These improvements will be completed during the summer break

ready for the return of our students in September.

I am very proud of our students and the positive contribution to our school community. I look forward to

seeing their ideas and projects develop and grow in the forthcoming year.

The eco council have some splendid ideas to help improve our awareness of environmental issues. I would

particularly encourage all our students to be mindful of our environment and encourage each other to act

responsibly with our waste. From September I would like to encourage all our students to use a personal

(named and labelled) reusable drinking bottle for their daily drink, I know this is something which is

encouraged in all our feeder primary schools and is something I would like to continue to encourage in

our school setting. Reusable bottles are far more environmentally friendly than the waste weighting

generated from disposable bottles.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you a number of staff for their dedication and

contribution made to the school over a number of years. This summer we say farewell and best wishes to

the following staff: Miss Joiner (PE); Mrs Gower (Hairdressing); Miss Chisholm (DT /RE); Mr Parker

(English); Miss Hunter (English); Miss Taylor (Dance); Mr Treanor (IT); Mr Gorman (Business/

Economics); Mrs Clifton (MFL); Miss Johnson (History); Miss Speed (History); Dr Hulme (Science); Mr

Wellington (Science), Mr Turner (Science) and Mr Lee (Science). We wish all our colleagues the very

best in their futures and we wish Mr Lee a very long, happy and well earned retirement.

We also wish Mrs Smith (RE ) and Mrs Savage (Science) all the best as they leave this summer to start

their maternity leave.

We look forward to welcoming to our school community in September the following staff Miss Pritchard

(Maths); Mr Quddusi (Maths); Miss Neal (Dance); Mrs Burnett (RE); Mrs Larrington (Science); Miss

Fraser (Science); Mr Jurban (Science); Mr McPhail (Science); Mrs Murphy (Science) Ms Adams (English)

and Mr Chinnian (English). We also welcome Ms Smith and Ms Gould who will be joining the LSA team in

September.

May I take this opportunity to thank you for the continued support that you offer the school and I wish

you all a very relaxing and enjoyable summer.

Mrs Gilroy

Rewards

This year all our students have been working hard and have been successfully achieving positive

contribution points in recognition of their diligence and effort. Many students have astounded us in

their endeavour and have achieved more than 1200 points. Those students who have achieved such

an impressive total of points are invited to participate in a reward trip to Flamingo Land in

September 2017.

In addition to this, all students who achieved 1200 positive contribution points were entered into a

prize draw for each year group during summer term. The prize being an Amazon Fire HD8 tablet.

Mrs Gilroy and all the staff would like to pass on their many congratulations to the following winners

Year 7 - Georgie King

Year 8 - Naomi West

Year 9 - Jessica Pycroft

Year 10 - Ethan Swales

Students who had received a Headteachers commendation a P5 were also entered into a prize draw

during the summer term to win an IPAD air 2, we are pleased to announce that Abbie Chocholski in

Year 11 received this award. Abbie was nominated for a P5 commendation for her outstanding

achievement with her mock examination results at Christmas.

1140 reward points are awarded at the start of each year for every student; 6 per day. Students

are required to achieve a total of 1200 points to be eligible to be entered into a prize draw. The

student with the highest points this year was a young man in year 10 who managed to achieve

a magnificent 1452 positive commendation points. Mrs Gilroy and all the staff wish to pass on their

many congratulations to him and his family.

It is very encouraging to witness the spectacular efforts and talents of our students. We are

fortunate that St Wilfrid's students are outstanding ambassadors of the school, we are very

privileged to have so many young people who have so many gifts to share with their peers and the

wider community. We are greatly looking forward to next academic year, where we will be able to

recognise further opportunities of excellence.

Photographed below are the winners.

A Level and Level 3 BTEC Results Day Thursday 17th August 2017

Results will be available to collect from the Sixth Form Study base as follows:

Year 13 (2016-2017) 9.00am -11.00am

Year 12 (2016-2017) 11.00am-12.30pm

Please note there are no BTEC results and limited AS results in year 12

GCSE and Level 2 BTEC Diploma Results Day Thursday 24th August 2017

Results will be available to collect as follows:

Year 11 (2016-2017) and sixth form GCSE re sits 9.00am- 11.30am

collect from Bruynseels Hall

Year 10 (2016-2017) 11.30am-12.30pm collect from Bruynseels Hall

Please note there are only 55 Year 10 students with results to collect. A letter has been sent home

to the students concerned.

UNFORTUNATELY WE CANNOT ISSUE RESULTS OVER THE PHONE ON THESE DATES

Year 10/ 11/ 12/ 13 - Uncollected results will be posted home

Paperless contact with parents and carers

From September 2017 we are moving to a paperless system for both reports and assessments. Can

we please urge you to ensure that we have up to date email and telephone contact details.

Bishop Marcus visits St Wilfrid’s

Bishop Marcus Stock visited St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School on Thursday 20th July to bless the

newly created Chaplaincy. In the present of students, staff and guests from Primary Schools and

the Bishop Konstant Catholic Academy Trust, the Bishop led a short service of blessing for the

Chaplaincy area located in a central part of the school. The Bishop blessed its students and staff

and the work that will be done in evangelisation, catechesis, and acts of mercy and service. The

Bishop listened to a number of student representatives from Youth SVP, Be-Attitude, Diocesan

Family Life Ministry, and Youth Alpha and those who had recently been to Lourdes and the Faith

Day hosted by Notre Dame VI Form College. The Bishop noted how brave they were to speak about

their experiences considering that there are

many who would not be able to speak so openly

and positively about their faith in our day and

age. In his homily, he emphasised why the

Chaplaincy is an important area of the school

where support, prayer and solidarity can be

found and where Christ is at the centre. The

service concluded with the Bishop having his

photograph taken with all the representatives

of the different Chaplaincy groups.

Summer Preparation and Enrichment activities booklet

All students in Year 8 have been given a “Summer Preparation and Enrichment activities” booklet.

This provides information on how best to prepare for GCSEs and also includes tasks to be

completed over the summer holidays. The expectation is that students will complete the activities

for their chosen pathway subjects and return these to their teachers in September. Please take

this opportunity to develop your skills and study habits for GCSE study.

Library news

Owen Taylor, Alen Biju Abraham and Michael Farnsworth in Year 7 and Charlie Burnell-Anderson in

Year 8 have been rewarded with a £10 Book Token for their fantastic and outstanding effort this

year, reading and passing AR quizzes. They have worked incredibly hard to improve their reading

skills and it has been a pleasure to see them progress. Well done. Kim Simpkin (School Librarian)

Layla Black Swimming success

Layla Black successfully defended her Commonwealth

Youth Games 200 metres breaststroke title with a

commanding display on a thrilling opening night of

swimming finals here today. Black's triumph in a time

of 2min 31.00sec, handed her a third Commonwealth

Youth Games gold medal after she also won the 100m

breaststroke race at Samoa 2015. The 17-year-old, a

bronze medallist at the inaugural European Games,

where swimming events where held for juniors only,

touched the wall in front of Mya Rasmussen of New Zealand.

Year 8 Water Sports 2017

What a fantastic trip, 39 students and 4 staff have made memories to last a lifetime. During our

visit to Labaume in the south of France we encountered a multitude of experiences. On our first 2

days we made our descent canoeing the Ardecehe River including an overnight bivouac, manoeuvring

through the rapids and covering a total of 26 km. Throughout the rest of our stay we conquered

many challenges including caving, climbing, abseiling, night walks, kayaking, river trek, mission

impossible, the leap of faith and the gladiator wall. We also experienced the French culture in the

village of Ruoms and market town of Labeaume. The magnificent caves of Aven d’Orgnac were a

spectacular sight. Our students were a credit, our village manager said we were the all-round best

group to have visited in her 2 year season.

Lourdes 2017

Last week 26 students from Years 10 and 12 took part in the 79th Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes

led by Bishop Marcus. They supported the sick and elderly pilgrims of the diocese tirelessly. We

received wonderful comments from the pilgrims about our students about the kindness and

compassion they were shown.

Father Christopher led us in prayer as we lit a candle for our school community and from that

individual candles for our own intentions.

Geography GCSE grades 9-1

GCSE Geography pupils are studying underneath the new GCSE Geography Specifications, designed

for grades 1 to 9. The Geography team have produced a range of resources and lessons that will

allow your child to make to progress in Geography. In order to support your child’s progress the

department have made arrangements to order some GCSE study support guides, that you can

purchase to support your child’s progress and potential achievement.

The Geography department are recommending:

New Grade 9-1 GCSE Geography AQA Complete Revision & Practice by CGP

ISBN: 978 1 78294 613 7

Cost: £5.50

And

Collins GCSE Geography grades 9-1 all-in-one revision and practice

ISBN 978 0 00 816626 7

Cost: £3.99 school price (£10 rrp)

Further details are available on request or can be found on www.cgpbooks.co.uk and www.collins.co.uk

Other guides are available to purchase online, however the books outlined above covers the

materials in a clearer and more student friendly way. The cost of these support guides are

significantly more expensive online and in book stores than the price the school is able to buy and

sell the guides for.

Geography KS3

Pupils in Years 7 into Year 8 are studying the new Key Stage 3 Curriculum in Geography. The

Geography team have produced a range of challenging milestones (viewable on the school website),

that will allow your child to make to progress in Geography. The government advise that pupils

should study History and/ or Geography at GCSE, as these subjects facilitate skills and knowledge

for later life. In order to support your child’s progress the department has made arrangements to

order some study support guides, that you can purchase to support your child’s progress and

potential achievement.

The Geography department are recommending:

KS3 Geography Complete Study & Practice by CGP

ISBN: 978 1 84146 392 6

Cost: £5.50

Further details are available on request or can be found on www.cgpbooks.co.uk

Other guides are available to purchase online, however the book outlined above covers the materials

in a clearer and more student friendly way. The cost of this and other support guides are

significantly more expensive online and in book stores than the price the school is able to buy and

sell the guides for. Any student wishing to purchase this book can pay £5.50 directly to the finance

office and bring their receipt into Geography to receive their copy of the book.

AUTUMN TERM 2017

Open Staff Only Monday 4th September (INSET)

Open Year 7 & 12 only Tuesday 5th September (school photographs will be taken)

Open Whole School Wednesday 6th September (Yr9 & 11 photographs will be taken)

Close Half term Thursday 19th October (Closed on Friday 20th)

Open Monday 30th October

Close Christmas Friday 22nd December

SPRING TERM 2018

Open Monday 8th January

Close Half term Friday 16th February

Open Monday 26th February

Close Easter Thursday 29th March

SUMMER TERM 2018

Open Monday 16th April

Close May Day Monday 7th May

Close Half Term Friday 25th May

Open Monday 4th June

Close Summer Friday 20th July

SCHOOL CALENDAR

TERM DATES -2017/2018