Friday 22nd October 2021
Half Term already!
Half term is here and the autumn leaves are well and truly falling! I hope your child has enjoyed their return to school, with lessons in subject classrooms, enrichment activities in full flow and trips, yes trips, back up and running!
There haven’t been many entries for the Poetry Competition I launched a couple of weeks ago so I have decided to extend this encompasses ‘creative writing’. Now I know we have many talented young people in school who could contribute to this aspect, if not poets. Please remind your child they can write something over half term – perhaps on a wet and windy day and they’re stuck inside? Please email all entries to headteacher@altrinchamcollege.com.
Covid Update
Trafford still has the highest number of Covid cases in Greater Manchester. Our school positive cases numbers remain very low, however I would urge you to ensure that your child does everything they can this half term to avoid catching the virus, including twice weekly testing to identify the virus early.
Testing kits are available from main school reception for students to collect whenever they need them; however, if you require more home testing kits to continue testing over half term, you can also order more online through gov.uk or collect from your local pharmacy.
By testing your child(ren) twice a week over half term, you will help us to reduce the transmission of Coronavirus. If your child is not taking the test due to being positive in the last 90 days or for other reasons, then simply do not complete the test, we do not need to be advised.
A reminder that, once you have completed the test, you should log the result on the government website: www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result.
If your child tests positive then, in line with the government guidance, you should book a PCR test asap to confirm the result. Please contact us via email at covid@altrinchamcollege.com as soon as the home test comes back positive and again once you have received the result from the PCR test.
Vaccinations for 12-15 year old will take place in school on 3rd and 4th November. Information has been sent out from Trafford via our school about this and consent forms have also been sent.
Public Health Trafford are reviewing the current measures around wearing face masks in all communal areas on 1st November. Until I receive further information on the outcome of this review, please ensure your child continues to wear a mask on the school bus and also in communal areas around school. Thank you for your support in this matter.
If your child is Clinically Extremely Vulnerable then you should contact Miss Bruckshaw who will complete an individual risk assessment for them.
Building Update
Unfortunately, work has still not started on the refurbishment of the Main Entrance and Reception area due to a shortage of steel. I have a planning meeting after half term when I hope to have a better idea of when this work will start.
Does your child ride a bike to school?
The bike hoops will be moved over half term from their current position to near the History block; student access to the side of school will be prohibited from 1 November.
If your child rides a bike to school they must dismount their bikes and walk with them down the student walkway and secure them safely in the designated area. Please remind them they will need to also bring a padlock and chain so that their bike can be locked to the hoops.
I must stress that bikes are left at the student’s own risk and the school CANNOT take responsibility for them whilst they are there.
I would also urge you to encourage your child to wear a helmet – these may not be ‘cool’ in their minds but head injuries can kill. Please reinforce with them that health and safety must come before anything else.
Presentation Evening: GCSE and Awards, Thursday 25 November (7-8pm)
Each year we celebrate the successes of our Year 11 students by formally presenting them with their GCSE certificates at a very special evening event.
Last year’s Year 11 (‘Leavers 2021’) are cordially invited to take part in this celebration, both those who are still studying here at Altrincham College in Year 12, and those who are continuing their studies elsewhere.
Invitation letters will be going out to last year's Y11 students after half-term.
Department in Focus: MUSIC
Welcome to Altrincham College’s Music Department!
We are delighted to be fully ‘back home’ in our Music Department after a year spent teaching Music all around the school! Bringing the joy of music into everyone’s life is what really matters for Mr Madden (small blue ukulele) and Mr Wilson (big red guitar)… see photo above!
All our pupils in KS3 benefit from two Music lessons per cycle, following our own engaging, rigorous and wide-ranging music curriculum – where we teach them to develop their listening, composing and performing skills. Music and Music Technology then become optional subjects at KS4 and KS5.
This term we have also been working hard to promote Music Enrichment Activities! This year’s school show Bugsy Malone is a very exciting joint production between the Music, Drama and Art Departments. Rehearsals are already underway, and it’s wonderful to see and hear students throwing themselves into all the singing, dancing and acting with such energy and skill.
Our Junior Band, led by Mr Wilson, goes from strength to strength – they performed brilliantly at Open Evening, and we look forward to more knock-out performances from them in the near future!
This week Mr Madden has been delivering year-group assemblies on the theme ‘Music is for Everyone!’. We looked at how music can inspire and unite us, and also the benefits of learning a musical instrument. An information letter about learning an instrument in school has been emailed to all parents and carers. We want to enable all our students to enjoy the life-enhancing benefits of learning a musical instrument!
Star of the Week
Another amazing week of student nominations by staff! Mr Thomas has nominated all the Y7 boys who were involved in the football tournament recently – you were all stars! Poppy G and Adam E were nominated by Mr Moroney for their hard work in Maths. Maisy J was nominated by Mrs Mrozinski for her resilience and for volunteering to be the Assistant Director for ‘Bugsy Malone’. Saul W was nominated by Ms Greenhalgh for his hard work in English; Millie H and Noah C were nominated also by Ms Greenhalgh for their amazing work on ‘Macbeth’. Jess F was nominated by Mrs Wagstaff for fabulous work in Textiles and Mrs Woods nominated Victor E for being such a wonderful Y7 role model!
However, this week’s winner is Jack T in 8.3 for the resilience and cheerfulness he has shown despite his ongoing injury. Very well done on this Jack! You are a wonderful role model!
Staff Star of the Week
The Staff Stars of the Week Award this week goes to Mrs Winter, our new Administrator, and Ms Mitchelmore our Science Teacher and Careers Lead!!
Mrs Winter you are an absolute asset to our school – we all think you’re doing a fabulous job and that we are lucky to have you! Ms Mitchelmore, we have received so many emails from parents, students and outside organisations about what an amazing job you’re doing for our students! We all agree that Careers provision at AC is second to none – thank you to both of you for all you do every day!
I hope you and your family have a wonderful half term week ahead! Relax, enjoy the autumn sunshine and appreciate the small things!
Thank you for your continued support of our school!
Ms K Earle
Headteacher