Newsletter: April 2006 Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Archive

PRIESTHORPE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
APRIL 7th 2006



Dear Parents,

I hope you will enjoy reading this Newsletter. You will very clearly see that we continue to offer a range of opportunities for our students both in and out of the classroom.

I would like to use this opportunity to inform the parent body of the process which is currently under way to find a replacement Headteacher. We had over twenty applicants for the post, eight of whom have been invited for interview on Tuesday 25th April. The candidates will meet with staff, governors and the School Council during the day. They will have the opportunity to see the school on a normal working day. There is a second day of interviews for those whom the governors choose to see again. The second day of interviews will be held at Weetwood Hall. The full governing body meets later that day to ratify the decision of the appointment team. The successful candidate will take up the appointment in September '06.

We look forward to welcoming our new Deputy Head Helen Lane after the Easter break. Helen has already been very active within the school and I know she will be a real asset to Priesthorpe as we continue our effort to drive up standards.

Mr Goldthorp has been promoted to the post of Assistant Head in charge of Key Stage 4. I am sure that, with the appointment of the new Head and enhanced Senior Leadership Team, the school will go from strength to strength.

This seems to have been a long term, perhaps because of the miserable weather. I am sure that students and staff are ready for a well-earned rest. You already have the details for the beginning of the new term and should be aware that we have a training day on Friday 28th April. The following Monday is the May Day Holiday.

I hope you have a splendid holiday period and trust you will find time to read this newsletter.

Clive Pickles
Headteacher

PLANT SALE
Despite the incredibly difficult and cold March, we are having a Plant Sale this year. The greenhouse is full of healthy young seedlings which will have matured into bedding plants by the weekend of 20th/21st May. Last year we raised nearly £1,500. As this will be my last Plant Sale I intend to raise closer to £2,000 and, with your support, I will! The money will be used to reward students identified by staff as high achievers, hard workers or role models. There are a lot of them, so please put the date on your calendar and resist the temptation to buy elsewhere! There will be an excellent range of high quality plants on sale.
P.S. If you have any section trays from previous plant sales please bring them to school so I can reuse them.
Mr Pickles

ENGLISH
BOOK CLUB
Congratulations to Naomi Scott-Mearns and Hannah Fahy, both from Year 9, who were recently awarded their 'Gold' Certificates, having read over fifty books each! Mr Pickles presented their prizes of Louis Sachar's new novel 'Small Steps', the sequel to 'Holes'.

Well done also to Katie Fahy, Year 7, who was awarded a prize for reading her first five novels this year.

We have had an interesting term so far with members taking it in turns to lead Book Club. Activities have included an Agatha Christie style 'Whodunit', Fact Files based on Tracy Beaker and a gruesome murder mystery activity. Thanks to all those involved.

We continue to meet Thursday after school in the OLC. New members are always welcome.
Miss McNeil and Mr Stewart

THEATRE VISIT
A group of Sixth Formers from Ms Stein's A Level Literature class and Ms Morley's Year 12 Drama group recently attended a very dramatic production at West Yorkshire Playhouse. It was an adaptation of Angela Carter's novel 'Nights at the Circus' and was performed by the Knee High Theatre Company. The show included a High Wire act, an actress with wings and two characters bungee jumping into buckets of fire, with a host of visual effects and scintillating music. It was altogether an exciting and challenging performance that was enjoyed by everyone.
Ms Stein and Ms Morley


GEOGRAPHY
Our Year 12 Geographers have just returned from their residential field trip to the Cranedale Centre in North Yorkshire. They have gathered some excellent data on river studies, sand dunes and the town of Malton which will be used to write their environmental investigations.

Our Year 10 students are looking forward to their two-day residential trip to the North York Moors, staying near Robin Hood's Bay. Hopefully May will bring some nice weather for their fieldwork!

The Geography department has recently sent the Year 11 coursework to the exam board for moderation. The standard of work is excellent! With hard work over the coming months, we hope pupils can do very well in the summer exams. Revision sessions are starting now so students should make full use of the help offered.
Mr Hutson
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