Term 1 - 2011-12 

A very warm welcome to our Year 11 students and parents; we are all looking forward to working with you over the next four years.

To all our students a very warm welcome too.  The beginning of a new, exciting and challenging academic year is imminent; the College Staff very much look forward to seeing you all again and hearing about your summer holiday activities.

CARING FOR OUR STUDENTS

This year will bring many challenges and reasons for celebration: our dedicated team of Pastoral Care teachers will ensure that the needs of each of our young people are met.  It is important, however, that you, as parents, play your role in communicating with us about any worries or concerns you may have also.

PASTORAL YEAR HEADS

Year 11            Boys    Mr McCavery

                       Girls     Mrs Todd

Year 12            Boys    Mr Andrews

                       Girls     Mrs Glynn

Year 13            Boys    Mr McCourt

                       Girls     Miss Francis

Year 14            Boys    Mr Hunter

                       Girls     Mrs Montgomery

Please contact your son’s/daughter’s Pastoral Year Head at any time.  If they are unavailable they will return your call.

Effective communication is key to the welfare and success of our young people.

COLLEGE FUND

This fund is used to promote College activities from which all students can benefit.  It subsidises some of the resources in the classrooms and elements of our extra-curricular programme.  You are asked to contribute £40 per student and, when there are two or more students from the same family, £40 for the eldest and £20 per additional family member. This money is collected on the first day of term.  Nearly all post-primary schools request this kind of contribution from parents.  Many schools charge a great deal more and your support in this area is appreciated.

COLLEGE LOCKER FUND

Students are asked to bring £5 on the first day of term.

Lockers are allocated at the start of term.  Students in Years 12, 13 and 14 are asked to bring strong locks with duplicate keys on the first day.  One key will be placed in an envelope provided by the Group Tutor and named and numbered. 

For Year 11 students new locks are provided.

CAR PARKING: UPPER SIXTH ONLY

The demand for student parking is increasing each year.  Consequently the service will be available to Upper Sixth only and places will be limited.  Students must register the details of the car in the office.

Student parking will be clearly marked and

student spaces are at the front of the school only; additionally there are places near the school where students can park legally.  The College accepts no liability or responsibility for damage to vehicles parked on site, or outside. 

Insurance (cars used by students in Upper Sixth)

Parents are strongly advised to check that Insurance Policies are valid for cars driven to/from school by students which remain on the school premises for most of the day.  All students must complete the indemnity form available from the College Office.  We expect our students to complete this on an annual basis, or for part of the year (e.g. after passing their driving test).

PERMISSION TO LEAVESCHOOL

No student is allowed to leave the school premises without specific permission.  Students wishing to

leave school for necessary appointments must bring a note to the member of staff on duty at the end of 
Assembly each day and collect an appropriate ‘chit’ from the office.  Ideally all such appointments should be arranged outside school hours.

LUNCHTIME ARRANGEMENTS  

Canteen lunches are available for all students.  It is important that students who take packed lunches eat them in the canteen and other areas designated for that purpose.  Sixth Form Students only are allowed out of school at lunchtime. Permission is granted to students in Years 11/12 who wish to go home for lunch and a special form, available from the office, must be completed at the beginning of term for this arrangement.  A pass will be issued and repeated misuse of such passes, e.g. to purchase food from local outlets or visit other addresses, will result in withdrawal of this privilege.  Please note that a new form needs to be completed for each new academic year.

ATTENDANCE

Good attendance at school is a key factor in success; all school statistics support this statement.  It is important that attendance is not affected by other activities especially part-time employment and that letters explaining absence are brought to school the day the student returns.  Students in receipt of EMAs (Educational Maintenance Allowances) do not receive payment when attendance is unsatisfactory.

All our students, unless there are special circumstances, should aim for a minimum attendance rate of 95%.  The College holidays are published in good time to allow family holidays to be booked out of term time.  This is especially important this year as controlled assessments at GCSE level must be carried out during school hours.  These important 
assessments will be carried out throughout the year including June.

COLLEGE EVENTS

Our Parents’ Evenings last year were very well attended.  Details of this year’s evenings are enclosed.

There are four wonderful evenings of entertainment planned for this academic year:

Thursday 13 October - Autumn Musical Concert - Assembly Hall 7 pm.

Thursday 1 December and Friday 2 December -College Play - Assembly Hall 8 pm.

Monday 19 December - Carol Service - Assembly Hall 7 pm.

It was wonderful to have the support of so many parents at sporting fixtures on a Saturday morning.  Once again this is an important reflection of how we value the hard work and energy so many of our young people and my colleagues invest in sport.

STAFF CHANGES

We welcome Mrs C Press and Miss S Guiney who will fulfil job share roles in English and PE respectively.

Congratulations to the following staff on recent promotions:

Senior Teachers 
Miss G Gibb and Mrs M Hammond

Heads of Department

·  Geography/Travel and Tourism

   Mrs C Irwin

·  ICT

  Mrs K Hutchinson

·  Modern Languages

  Miss M Boyd