Hallfold, Whitworth, Rochdale Lancashire, OL12 8TS Tel (01706) 343218 www.wchs.co

Newsletter

Climbing higher!

Summer Term Issue 14 4th July 2017

Dear parents and carers

On Wednesday we held our Awards Evening in the glorious surroundings of Rochdale Town Hall. One hundred and eighteen different students from Years 7-10 received Subject Awards: for being the Outstanding Achiever or demonstrating the most Outstanding Effort across their year group. Awards were presented by the Mayor of Whitworth, Councillor Allan Neal, and by our Chair of Governors, Mrs Christine Wright. Awards were given for outstanding Planner /Journals in each year group. Our top Performing Arts student KS3 was Jasmine Clayton and at KS4 it was Grace Prime, and top Sportsperson KS3 went to Callum Worsley, and to Charley Leech for KS4. Top Achievement point students were Ella Lord, Thomas Mason, Oliver Goggins, and Katie Bray. Overall Contribution Award winners were: Rhiannon Fenwick, Meeral Kamran, Grace Sampson, Holly Butcher, Katie Bray and Samuel Milton. Awards for being the Outstanding Achiever overall across a year group went to: Sophie Barnes, Harry Anchor, Elise Pennington, and Hannah Smallwood. Finally, the Headteacher’s Special Awards, for students who have consistently gone above and beyond what is expected of them; or have overcome a barrier; or who have been an exceptional role model were presented to: Niamh Poole, Thomas Mason, Megan Lucas, Oliver Norris and Grace Prime. Our 2016-2017 Head Prefects opened the evening, each saying something about their time in school, and the vote of thanks was given by two of our new Head Prefects: Hannah Smallwood and Thomas Crabtree, who introduced their fellow Head Prefects: Megan Whitworth and Sam Milton. Music was provided by the wind band, led by Mrs Goff, and by singer Amy Longstaff. The Town Hall was packed with students, families, staff and governors, all celebrating the achievements and endeavours of students who really are ‘Climbing Higher.’ Members of our Senior Prefect Team modelled our new school skirt. A reminder that anyone who wishes to wear a skirt from September must wear the new school skirt, available only through school. It can be paid for via ParentPay. We have a full sizing set in school for students to try on, and each skirt size comes in a variety of lengths, ensuring that all students can wear a knee-length skirt, as required. On Tuesday 4th July, at 4.30pm, blazers, skirts, ties and PE kit will be on sale for students starting in Y7 in September. Tuesday 4th July is also Y6 Welcome Day, when the 134 pupils who have been offered a place here for September join us in school, to sample a ‘real’ school day. Our Transition Prefect, Grace Prime, and her team will be on hand to ensure they have a successful day and understand our expectations, and our Extra-Curricular / Enrichment Prefect, Bethany Richards, will be promoting the importance of getting involved in activities outside the classroom. It is also the day of our Charity Cake Sale – so Y6 will be able to join us for that, and our Charity Car Wash. Y6 Welcome Evening commences at 6.30pm on 4th July. On Wednesday 5th July we also welcome Y5 and Y6 families to a Coffee Morning and to tour the school from 10.00am. Our Fire Cadets Passing Out Parade – a great event – is that same evening. Friday 7th July is the culmination of our charity events week, with ‘Be Seen in Green’ Day and we hope all students and staff will wear one green item. If they wish to wear a green item, they will need to make a £1 donation. Rossendale Athletics takes place today, Monday 10th July, and our school Sports Day is next week. Our Summer Concert is on Wednesday 12th July and school finishes at 1.00pm on Friday 14th July. Please remember that full attendance leading up to the end of term is vitally important. We will be rolling our timetable over and we have several events to support an effective and efficient transition into the academic year 2017-2018. All our students have been involved in end of year examinations in recent weeks, mostly in the gym which doubles as our exam hall. This gives students plenty of opportunity to become familiar with formal examination procedures and demands, in preparation for the increased demands of GCSE specifications. End of Year reports will go home via students during the final week of term (week beginning Monday 10th July.) Commendation Assemblies bring the year to a close on the morning of Friday 14th July and we expect all students to wear their Commendation stars. It is extremely important that parents and carers are always vigilant to the ever-changing risks posed by social media. ‘Snapchat’ now automatically enables anyone who is a ‘friend’ to see the location of any ‘friends’ they have on ‘Snapchat’ – creating a potential safety concern. If you allow your child to use ‘Snapchat’ you might want to ensure that the locator is disabled by turning on Ghost Mode.

Best wishes, and we look forward to an exciting final fortnight of term!

Headteacher

School Website : www.wchs.co

Hallfold, Whitworth, Rochdale Lancashire, OL12 8TS Tel (01706) 343218 www.wchs.co

Newsletter

Climbing higher! School Website : www.wchs.co

Charity Group News Be Seen in Green

Our next fundraising event is to raise money for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, and we are supporting one of their annual fundraisers ‘Be Seen in Green’ day. We are currently planning lots of events to take place during the week of the 7th July, which is why we need your help. If you could kindly donate any of the following it would be greatly appreciated: items that are green to be made into hampers to raffle e.g. Pringles, chocolate, sweets,

stationery etc. please send in to Reception by Thursday 6th July. encourage your son or daughter to ‘Be Seen in Green’ and wear one item of green clothing or

an accessory for the donation of £1 on Friday 7th July. The idea is that students replace one item of their uniform i.e. they could wear a pair of bright green trainers, but NOT a onesie! Alternatively, they/you could sponsor a member of the charity team who will be dressing up.

This year, Be Seen in Green Day is raising funds to support children diagnosed with brain tumours, a cause very close to our hearts. By supporting us, you will be helping to provide the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital with state-of-the-art, cutting edge technology that will ensure the quickest possible diagnosis, the most appropriate treatment and the very best hope for the future for some of the poorliest patients they treat.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Music Update The summer term has been very busy so far for our musical students. The Wind Band, who performed in the Rossendale Festival of Performing Arts in March, have been awarded the DeCourcey Wind Band Trophy for their fantastic performance in the festival. Our students were delighted to receive this award for their performance. Sam Milton, tuba player and Head Prefect, was presented with the award on behalf of the Wind Band.

On Thursday 15th June, the Wind Band and Beginner Band performed in the first Rossendale Schools' Festival at the Royal Court Theatre in Bacup. It was a great experience for the students to play on stage in a theatre setting and to hear performances by students from other local Primary and Secondary schools. We look forward to next year's Festivals. The band featured musicians from year 7 to year 11, some of whom have only been playing since September. It was great to see how much progress these students have made and to see their enjoyment when playing together in the bands.

Ski Trip News The governing body has just agreed the 2019 School Ski Tour to Austria, which means we are celebrating 10 years of Winter Snowsport Tours at WCHS. A letter will be sent out before the end of term and deposits can be paid via parentpay. 'The future of British Snowsports starts with school ski trips'.

Uniform sales—August Please note that uniform can also be purchased on the following dates/times in August:

17/08—2.00pm—6.30pm 22/08—10.00am—2.00pm 23/08—10.00am—2.00pm 30/08—12.00 noon—5.30pm

Hallfold, Whitworth, Rochdale Lancashire, OL12 8TS Tel (01706) 343218 www.wchs.co

Climbing higher! School Website : www.wchs.co

Y11 Prom—2017 held at The Dunkenhalgh

Hallfold, Whitworth, Rochdale Lancashire, OL12 8TS Tel (01706) 343218 www.wchs.co

Newsletter

Climbing higher! School Website : www.wchs.co

Calendar

4th July 2017 Y6 Welcome Day

Y6 Welcome Evening 6.00pm

5th July 2017 Y5/Y6 Parents’/Carers’

Coffee Morning 10.30am—12.00 noon Fire Cadets Passing Out

Celebration

6th July 2017 Uniform sales 3pm—4.30pm

7th July 2017

‘Be Seen in Green’ Day

10th July 2017 Rochdale Sixth Form College

Y10 Taster Day Uniform sales 3pm—7pm

11th July 2017

Uniform sales 3pm—4.15pm

12th July 2017 Summer Show 7.00pm

14th July 2017 Commendation

Assemblies School closes—Summer

break

24th & 25th July 2017 Uniform sales 10am—2pm

Uniform sales Please see page 2 for

details

July 2017

Awards Evening 2017 We held our Annual Awards Evening for students in Y7—Y10 on Wednesday 28th July. The evening, which was held at Rochdale Town Hall was a wonderful celebration of the achievements, effort and contribution of our students throughout this academic year. Parent and carers of students receiving awards were invited to attend and were treated to wonderful performances from the school band, followed by a fabulous solo rendition of ‘On My Own’ performed by Y10 student Amy Longstaff, accompanied on the piano by Mrs Goff. Well done to all students who attended the evening and received certificates.

August 2017