altrincham grammar school for girls weekly bulletin · ipad mini - mrs affleck ... project for our...

PTA Raffle Prize Winners A very big thank you to all those who supported the PTA Fair and the Raffle. We’ve made almost £5,000 towards the improvement of the ‘Ledge’ outside the library and we will be holding a design competition for this area in the New Year! The tickets were drawn on Monday morning and the winners are as follows:

iPad Mini - Mrs Affleck (11-6)First Luxury Hampers – Mrs Harding (7-4) Second Luxury Hamper – Mrs Slade (8-3)Mother & Daughter Hamper – Mrs Brundrett (12-2)24 Carat Gold Facial Spa Experience - Mr Afzal (10-3)Garden Design Course - Marie Shaw (7-1)£20 Voucher at Vanilla’s Boutique, Hale - Mrs Corker (8-1)A Sophie Conran Herb Pot Set from Gift, Hale – Miss Farrell (13-6)Manicure at Nail Studio, Hale – Mrs McDowell (8-6)A Twelve Portion Cake from Cafe Gourmand – Mr Grime (13-4)A Donation from Sea Saw lingerie shop - Mrs Hanif (8-1)2 Tickets for the Silverblades Ice Rink – Saeeda Hussain (12-2)

AGGS@AGGSchool

Follow AGGS on twitter to keep up to date with all our news: @AGGSchool#AGGS

School Diary

Diary for the Week Commencing Monday 5th January

Mon 5th January New term begins

Wed 7th JanuaryY10 -13 Drama trip to watch ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ at the Lowry, 7.30pm

Altrincham GrammarSchool for GirlsBright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST

Weekly BulletinDecember 19th 2014 Volume - 49 Issue - 15


December 19th 2014 Volume - 49 Issue - 15

National Enterprise

Congratulations to the team who won the Y9 Ryman National Enterprise In-School Challenge on Monday 8th December. All of Year 9 were off timetable working in teams to design a new attraction ride for Alton Towers with a budget of £15 million! They had to consider the design, the theme, the age range it would be for, TV and advertising and the queuing system for the ride. Well done to Team 15 who will go on to a grand final in July at Alton Towers to compete against other schools from all over the country. They will also get the chance to meet Theo Paphitis, who is the ambassador for the challenge and appeared on TV’s Dragon’s Den. Well done to Holly, Fiona, Tayiba, Anna and Elysia, all from 9-3.

SUPI Workshop on Gender and Language

This week saw another excellent SUPI (Schools University Initiative Partnership) project for our English Language AS students and visiting students from Connell Sixth Form College. Dr Alex Baratta, from the Institute of Education, delivered a fascinating and thought-provoking talk on the impact of gender and language. Is it a tool used by one gender to dominate the other? Does the different language we use with girls and boys affect their own sense of self and their roles in society? As you can imagine, some lively discussions ensued! Our thanks to Dr Baratta for a really interesting talk and for providing much food for thought.



This term in Food Technology

We have had another busy and successful term in Food Technology with lots of exciting events going on.

Competition – some of our budding young chefs entered the Sainsbury’s “Cool Cooks” competition and designed and made a healthy meal. We are waiting to hear whether any of them are through to the next round where they may get to meet Ashley Banjo so fingers crossed! Thank you very much to all the girls who entered, their dishes were delicious and inspirational.

Cakes - as always we have had hundreds of cakes passing through the doors of F7 to be sold for various charities and to celebrate many birthdays. There has been lots of festive Christmas baking going on too. Well done for all your efforts and carry on baking!

GCSE – all GCSE students have continued to work hard and develop excellent practical skills. The Year 10 students have made a great start to their new course and the Year 11 students are determined in their approach to their Controlled Assessment so another thank you and well done to them.

Recipe Books – I am still keen to update the selection of recipe books available in the Food Technology Library and are sending out a plea for all parents and guardians to scan their own recipe books for any they might not need or use anymore. We would be very grateful for any donations and they can be dropped off in F7 at any time. If any students want to spend time at Rec or Lunch browsing the recipe books or latest Good Food magazines please feel free. Books or magazines are also available to borrow. Please see Mrs Clutton.

Environment and Equipment– we continue to try to update and improve the learning environment for everybody. The new cooker has arrived giving us more space to cook and bake many more exciting dishes. Later on this year we will look to try and update our food processors.

Thank you – Mrs Clutton thanks all her students for all their hard work this term and looks forward to another busy term after the Christmas holidays. Please check the notice board outside F7 for information about any future events. There are also some ideas for seasonal recipes you may like to try. Don’t forget all school recipes can be found in the “Pupil Read” area. Have a happy holiday and, if you find yourself at a loose end, get that apron on, wash your hands, roll up your sleeves and create a feast for your friends and families!

Happy Christmas to you all.



India Trip, October 2015

Details for the trip to India in October 2015 are currently being finalised with the tour company. Further information will be distributed in the New Year.

Connexions Careers Advice

Connexions have a drop in session in the 6th Form library every Monday lunchtime. Any Year 12 or 13 students that would like advice, or have any queries about their future steps, they are welcome to just call in.

Bus Cancellation

Marsh coaches have contacted us to inform parents that they will be ceasing the service they have been providing for students from the Warrington area attending schools in Altrincham. Due to a decline in numbers, they are no longer able to continue this service. The last service will be on 19th December 2014.

Year 7 Parents’ Evening

Year 7 Parents’ Evening will be held on Wednesday 14 January 2015 at 4:30 pm.

Year 12 Parents’ Evening - December 2014 Feedback

Poor Satisfactory Good Excellent

Organisation - 5% 34% 61%Waiting time 1% 7% 38% 54%

Teachers’ Comments

- 1% 26% 73%



Monkhouse

Monkhouse’s Altrincham store is now open again.It will be open on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10.00am to 5.00pm through to July, and then back to Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from July through to the end of September. The opening times over the festive period will be as follows:

•Monday15thDecember–open •Thursday18thDecember–closed •Saturday20thDecember–closed •Monday22ndDecember–closed •ChristmasDay–closed •Saturday27thDecember–open •Monday29thDecember–open •NewYear’sDay–closed •Saturday3rdJanuary–open

Augsburg work experience programme

The final payment for the Augsburg work experience programme is due by the end of December. The total cost of the trip is £375. Payments should be made via Parent Pay. The dates for hosting have now been confirmed as 3rd-10th July. I will pass on the flight times as soon as I have them.

Many thanks.Mrs Stokes

ParentPay Message

We have had several queries from parents as some trip items to be paid are not showing up on their ParentPay. We have contacted ParentPay to resolve the problem, and they have advised parents to check in their baskets as sometimes items can move into the basket if you have clicked on the item and then not cleared it before logging out. If you have any queries regarding this, please contact Miss Cutts-Watson.



The University of Sheffield History Essay Prize Competition

Essays must be received by 31st March, and must be accompanied by a cover sheet, which can be downloaded from the university website. Essays should be no more than 1500 words in length (including any footnotes, but excluding any bibliography).Some example essay titles: • How ‘Roman’ was the Roman Empire?• Was the French Revolution a world historical event?• Was slavery a real root cause of the American Civil War?• ‘Lions led by donkeys’. Why has this interpretation of the First

World War been so popular?• What changed in Britain in the 1960s?• Why are centenaries of historical events of interest to the historian?

Peterhouse Cambridge Vellacott History Essay Prize Competition

Write an essay of between 2,000 and 4,000 words on one of the essay titles provided. Include a bibliography and, if necessary, a webography. Essays may be hand-written (if clearly legible) or word-processed. Some example of essay titles are below:• When and why did democracy emerge in Classical Athens?• Was there a ‘Roman Revolution’ at the end of the Republic?• To what extent did England or the English emerge in any period

before 1066?• Was there a ‘Norman achievement’ in England after 1066?• To what extent and why did population growth occur in the

centuries prior to the Black Death?• How can we most profitably study women in later medieval

Europe?• Was the Reformation ever a popular movement?• To what extent did African political and economic interests shape

the Atlantic slave trade?• Could slavery have been ended without imperialism?• ‘The most significant scientific advance of the twentieth century

was not the atomic bomb, but penicillin’. Discuss.

History Department Year 12 Competitions 2014-15The History Department can offer current Year 12 students the opportunity to enter two university essay

competitions. They are as follows:



History Visit to First World War Battlefields 14th-18th February 2015

Dear Parents and Carers

Many thanks for your final payments and return of the information sheets etc.I should now have; • a copy of your daughter’s passport photo page • any medical or dietary information• final payments of the total cost of £390.

Please note that the trip will depart from school Saturday 14th February at 12.30am (midnight Fri/Sat).

Letters will be sent home after the Christmas break inviting you to a meeting on 21st January at 6.30pm to give the final itinerary and details of the trip.

Kind regards,

Mrs L. Price (History Dept)Senior Tutor Year 11

Year 7 and 8 Horrible Histories Club

Year 7 and 8 Horrible Histories Club every Wednesday lunchtime from 12:30-1:15pm in B1.

Mindfulness Course FoundationWhat is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a way of paying attention – of being deeply attuned to yourself, your environment and those around you from moment to moment. It is a natural state of mind – focused, present and aware.

Programme Structure

Our weekday after school courses are taught over eight 1 1/2 hour sessions at weekly intervals. The course typically comprise approximately 25 people working together as a group. On them, you will learn several key mindfulness practices and have the chance to discuss these and your experience of them in the group. The training is based on the core mindfulness principles found within the course book Mindfulness, finding peace in a frantic world. by Professor Mark Williams and Danny Penman.

.b Foundation offers an alternative to our Mindfulness Skills for Life course, with shorter sessions and home practices designed to be accessible for busy people. Staff who develop a regular practice and feel inspired to go on to teach mindfulness to students could then attend a Teach .b or Teach paws .b certification course.

What are the aims?

The core aims of the programme are to: • Experience greater wellbeing and personal fulfilment • Practise different mindfulness tools and techniques • Select and use mindfulness techniques that will work

for you • Respond more wisely to stressful situations • Building your resilience to cope with work or personal

demands • Achieve improved concentration, focus and creativity

• Enjoy greater calm and inner peace

Taster session15th January

6pm-7pm AGGS

Venue: Altrincham Grammar School

for Girls

6-7.30pm29th January 2015

5th February12h February

26rd February5th March12th March19th March2nd April

What does it involve? We gradually learn to direct our attention in a more focussed way to whatever is actually happening – whether it be breathing, the sensations in our body, thoughts and feelings, or everyday activities such as walking and eating.

For more information or to book a place please email Rebecca Stokwisz, Mindfulness Lead, at [email protected]





Citizenship & PSHE Corner

CLUBS CORNER...Model United Nations Club:

Meets Weds Lunch time in Room 13. Debating from 12.40 -1.15pm.

Year 9 upwards.

Debate from a country’s perspective, attend competitions, meet new people from lots of different year groups and have fun.

The next conference is at Manchester High at the end of January.

We are hosting a MINI MUN with Loreto and AGSB here in January, watch out for details.

We now have a rota for debates, please sign up if you would like to submit a resolution to be debated.

Oxfam Youth Action Group

Are you passionate about a local, national or global issue? Come and make some noise about it and get others passionate about it too. Do you enjoy campaigning and raising money?

Youth Action Group meets on a Tues lunchtime in the Language ICT lab, room 14. For Years 7, 8, 9& 10.

Do you want to win a trip to New York?

Although not all students were able to attend the speech by the international terrorism speaker last week, they can get involved in a competition run by the organisation. The competition requires pupils to write a short essay or create a 3-5 min film on the question: How did 9/11 change the world?To enter the competition students should visit the website: www.since911.com/competitionAny enquiries should be sent to: [email protected]

Year 10 speaker – Disability Hate Crime

Within General Citizenship this week four Year 10 classes heard a talk about disability hate crime. They explored what it was, how it made people feel and how they can stop and challenge disability hate crime. The talk was challenging and eye opening. A big thank you goes to our speakers Janet and Darren from the Trafford Centre for Independent Living.

Have a lovely Christmas and New Year from the Citizenship Department



Do you want to catch up on the news or read a book about a topic that interests you related to Citizenship?

Come and enjoy the Citizenship Reading Corner, where you can access a selection of books at rec in room 13 or take them out and read them at home.

Quote of the week…

“As free citizens in a political democracy, we have a responsibility to be interested and involved in the affairs of the human community, be it at the local or the global level.”

Paul Wellstone

What’s going on in the news?

If you follow the news and find an article you are interested in, why not share it with the rest of the school?Check out your year group’s focus and put the article onto the ‘What’s Going on in the News? Board’ in Room 13.

Year 7: local news focus

Year 8: national news focus

Year 9: international news focus

Year 10: Comparison of newspaper articles

Year 11: analysis of a newspaper article

What’s in the news...

BBC News - Abbott: Why was Sydney siege gunman not on terror list?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-30490696

National & International Events this week:What is happening around the world? Find out and get involved…..

18th Dec International Migrants Day

20th Dec International Human Solidarity Day



Maths Puzzle of the Month:December

KS3:It is possible to climb three steps in exactly four different ways

How many ways can you climb ten steps?

KS4:Three consecutive integers are multiplied together and the middle number is added.E.g. 3 x 4 x 5 = 60 and 60 + 4 = 64 = 43

Will this always produce a cube number?

If any student would like to enter, they should submit a solution to Mr Barry with their full name and form written on. Winners and solutions will be announced at the end of each month.

We would like to take this opportunity to let you know about The Day, an online current affairs resource that school has subscribed to. Three news stories are selected each day and are explained in a straightforward manner, within the context of the curriculum. Each story includes discussion points, a glossary, several activities and links to other relevant news and current affairs websites which makes it a fantastic resource, providing a great opportunity for pupils to discuss topics using real and current issues.With a comprehensive list of subjects covered; including PSHE, citizenship and translated stories, this resource is currently available to the pupils and teaching staff at school. However we are also pleased to let you know that pupils and parents can now access the service at home, from the school website within the “Learning Outside the Curriculum” area or direct from http://www.theday.co.uk/ using the school’s login details:

Login: agsgPassword: theday

We hope that you will enjoy this resource and use it to further your daughter’s understanding of and engagement in the world around us.



Bands

Jazz BandMonday 3:30 - 4:45

HallMr Lodge

Folk BandTuesday 12.45 - 1.20

Room 10Student Led

Wind BandFriday 12.30- 1.00

Room 10Student Led

Ensembles

Clarinet EnsembleMonday 12:45 - 1:15

Room 11Student Led

Guitar EnsembleTuesday 12:45 - 1:15

Room 15Student Led

Recorder EnsembleTuesday 12:45 - 1:20

Room 2Student Led

Saxophone EnsembleTuesday 12:30 - 1:00

Room 11Student Led

Flute EnsembleWednesday 12:45 - 1:20

Room 10Student Led

Junior StringsWednesday 12:45 - 1:20

Room 15Student Led

String QuartetWednesday 12:45 - 1:20

Room 11Student Led

`Quackapella’Friday 12:30 - 1:00

Room 15Student Led

Folk BandThursday 12:45 - 1:20

Room 15Student Led

‘Quackapella’Friday 12:30 - 1:00

Room 15Student Led

Choirs

Junior Choir Y7 & 8Tuesday 12:45-1:20

Room 10Mrs Rowley

Senior Choir Y9 - 13Monday 12:45-1:20

Room 10Ms Mayall

Chamber Choir

(Auditioned by any years)

Tuesday 3:30-4:30

Room 10Ms Mayall

Orchestras

1st Orchestra

(Auditioned Wind)

Wednesday 3:30 - 4:30

Hall Ms Mayall

2nd Orchestra

(No Audition)

Thursday 12:45 - 1:20

Room 10Miss Wright

String Orchestera

(Invited Players)

Friday 3:30 - 4:30

Room 10Mrs Janes

Extra Curricular Music

GCSE Help Sessions

Mon and Thurs 3.30 - 4.30 Room 15 Ms Mayall

Please see Music Notice board (RM 10) for details of playing standard / auditions. See Ms Mayall / Miss Wright if you need a lunch pass



AGGS NOTICEBOARDPupil Safety

As always, please can all parents/carers remind their daughters to consider their personal safety when travelling to and from school and ensure that arrangements are in place for the after- school journey, especially in the dark

evenings. The school library closes at 5pm.

Road SafetyPlease can all pupils/students remember the need to be careful when crossing between sites. Mobile phones and any other electronic devices should not be visible when crossing between sites. Pupils/students should stop at the zebra crossing, look and listen to make sure it is safe to cross, and never assume the traffic will stop. It is absolutely prohibited for pupils/students to cross the roads between the school sites anywhere except at the zebra crossing or by using the traffic island on St Margaret’s Road. Any pupil/student who does cross anywhere other than the two safe locations, will be reported to the Headteacher.

Collecting pupils after schoolFollowing the recent letter regarding Homework Club and the use of the library after school, please can parents/carers make arrangements to collect their daughters and agree the time and place before coming to school. Parents/Carers are asked not to approach other pupils, especially girls they do not know, to go into the library to pass on a message or to inform their daughter that they are waiting to take them home. Your support in this

matter is most appreciated.Fixtures at the Devisdale

Please may we ask all parents/carers to ensure that, when attending sports fixtures at the Devisdale, they park considerately and do not block the drives of local residents. Please also avoid parking on the grassy areas.

Your support in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Important Safety NoticeWe have received several reports about school pupils having their mobile phones stolen on their way home from school. Please can all pupils/students be vigilant, keep mobile phones out of sight

and remember to be aware of personal safety.

Reminder to parents regarding after- school detention

Notifications to parents of an after- school detention for pupils will still be sent by letter (either posted or

through Parentmail) and not by a text message.After- school activities

All pupils/students are expected to change into full school uniform following an after- school activity. Pupils/

students are not to travel home in their PE kits.Car Parking

We should like to remind parents and carersto ensure that, when collecting girls after school, they park

considerately and do not block or use the driveways of local residents. Please also avoid parking in the bus stop space. There is a danger that cars which are not parked safely and appropriately will cause a hazard



HockeyResults

Unfortunately we had to cancel another set of weekend matches against Westholme School, Blackburn because of frosty pitches.

The Year 7 teams played some excellent hockey against Withington Girls’ School. The ‘A’ team drew 1-1 and the ‘B’ team lost 3-0. During the winter midweek matches the ‘B’ teams are often made up of girls who do not normally play at the weekend. In this match some of the team were playing their first match for school so well done everyone.

Hockey Practices week beginning Monday 5th JanuaryFirst Week Back After Christmas

Lunchtimes: 12.30pm – 1pm

Monday: Year 8 and 9Tuesday: Year 10 and 11Wednesday: Year 7 Thursday: Years 9 and 10Friday: Year 8

After School:

Monday: Badminton as normal (Mrs Finch will be back from the hockey tournament). 4pm – 5pm: Years 10-13 5pm – 6pm: Years 7-9

Tuesday: Year 8 at Bowdon Hockey Club. Every player should have received a letter detailing the arrangements. A signed reply slip should be returned before the first practice. Please put in the PE post box. Each session costs £2 as we have to pay for the use of the facilities. Wednesday: Year 7 and Year 8 mini teams v Alderley Edge School for Girls - away. Team sheets have gone out. Please make your own way there and back. If there are any problems please see Mrs Finch as soon as possible.

Thursday: Years 10-13 at Bowdon Hockey Club

Saturday: Away fixture v Newcastle-u-Lyme School

Sunday: U14 County hockey final trials: Devisdale 9.30am – 12.30pm for those who will be selected to attend.

Mrs Finch and Mrs O’Neal would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas.

We look forward to seeing you again in the New Year for the second half of the season.



Badminton

Congratulations to the U14 ‘A’ and ‘B’ badminton teams for their performance in the Trafford Schools’ round of the National Schools’ Competition.The ‘A’ team won their first round matches 5-0 and 5-0.The ‘B’ team also won their first round matches 5-0 and 5-0The 2 teams met in the final where the ‘A’ team beat the ‘B’ team 5-0.

This was a great performance particularly for the ‘B’ team who beat other ‘A’ teams easily to reach the final.Well done, girls.

The ‘A’ team now join the U16 team in the county finals at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester in January.

Netball

The girls have worked hard this term and have had many successes. The U14’s were runners up in the Greater Manchester and District Tournament and the U16’s were crowned Champions having won all of their games. At National Schools’ all three teams played some superb netball in what we know is the most challenging region in the North West. The U19 team comfortably reached the semi-final stages after easily winning all their games in the section and played Oldham Sixth Form College. It was a draw at full time so it then went to extra time and unfortunately a few turn overs meant that they were not successful and were knocked out. The U14’s again comfortably reached the semi-final stages with an unbeaten track record in the section. They met Cheadle Hulme High School in the semi-final but couldn’t quite manage to compete and fell behind after drawing at half time and lost by two goals. It has been eventful and we are very much looking forward to getting back started in January with lunchtime training and fixtures. Have a lovely break girls!

Netball U16 M and D Champs

U14 M and D Runners Up



Date Opponents Teams VenueSat 10th Jan Newcastle-under-Lyme/Nottingham All years Newcastle

Tues 13th Jan Wellington Year 10 Wellington

Sat 17th Jan St Monica’s High School All years St Monica’s

Tues 20th Jan St Bede’s College All years St Bede’s

Sat 24th Jan TBC TBC TBC

Tues 27th Jan Sale Years 7 & 10 AGGS

Sat 31st Jan TBC TBC TBC

Sat 7th Feb Wilmslow/Leeds Grammar School All years Wilmslow

Sat 28th Feb Bury Grammar School All years Bury

Thurs 5th Mar County Tournament U13 Stockport

Sat 7th Mar County Tournament U14/U16 U14 Wright Robinson/U16Cheadle

Sat 12th Mar Loreto All Years AGGS

Sat 14th Mar Cheadle Hulme All years Cheadle

Wed 18th Mar County Tournament U12 Bury

Sat 21st Mar County Tournament U15 TBC

Wed 25th Mar County Tournament U19 Cheadle

Netball Fixtures



For all the latest news, information and photos visit us at

www.aggs.trafford.sch.uk

PTAContacts

If you have any enquiries about the PTA and its fundraising efforts or meetings, would like to volunteer to help or join, and would like to contact us, here are some useful contact email addresses for your reference:

Covenant Scheme enquiries [email protected]

200Club enquiries [email protected]

General enquiries [email protected]

Secretary [email protected]

Refreshments [email protected]

Name a Brick enquiries [email protected]

Garden sponsorship [email protected]

2nd Hand Uniform [email protected]

Please note that all PTA members are volunteers and although emails are likely to be checked on a fairly regular basis, there may be some delays in response time and we ask for your patience and understanding in this regard.

PTA Twitter

Follow AGGS PTA on twitter to keep up to date with all our news:@AGGSpta

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