Altrincham Grammar School for Girls Weekly Bulletin · Students currently in Year 9 and Year 10...

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A Message from the Principal

School Diary

Tues 9 School Photographs Y7, 9, 11, 12

PTA Meeting

Wed 10 Y12 Induction Evening

Thu 11 Principal’s Talk for Parents, 7.1 - 7-3

PTA Welcome Meeting for Parents, 7-4 – 7.7

Sat 13 Entrance Exam

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all back to a new academic year here at AGGS. I extend a particular welcome to the parents and carers of new students and hope that your daughters have had an exciting and fulfilling first week here. I am sure that they will settle in quickly to school life here at AGGS and would encourage them to make the most of the huge range of opportunities to make friends and get involved in the wider life of the school, through sporting, musical, cultural,

pastoral or academic activities. If you do have any concerns, however, please do not hesitate to contact us. Following some outstanding examination results this summer, I would like to congratulate all girls in Years 12 and 13 on their performances in their GCSEs and AS levels respectively, and extend thanks on their behalf to the teachers who supported them so ably. Year 12 students will be getting their first taste of life as sixth formers, with the new freedoms, opportunities and responsibilities that this involves. As AS level studies begin, they may find the next few weeks challenging as they adjust to new ways of working and the greater demands of the subject matter at this level. I would like to reassure you, however, that they will soon get into their stride. For Year 13 students, the need to make choices about the next few years of their lives is perhaps uppermost in their minds. For those applying for universities and apprenticeships, do seek the advice and support of your form tutors, senior tutors and teachers.My own first week has been a great introduction to life at AGGS and I am very proud to have taken up the role of Principal of such an impressive school. I am very much looking forward to all the opportunities I will have to get to know you and your daughters over the coming weeks.

Ms Gill

Altrincham GrammarSchool for GirlsBright Futures EDUCATIONAL TRUST

Weekly BulletinSeptember 5th 2014 Volume - 49 Issue - 1


July 5th 2014 Volume - 49 Issue - 1

Attendance Notice

Medical Appointments/Special Requests/ Extra-Curricular Requests.

The school policy is that permission is granted on theunderstanding that students should be present in form time wherever possible and students should return to school as soon as possible.Thank you for your support.

Anti-Bullying

On Friday 18th July, Anti-Bullying Ambassadors from Years 9 and 10 were treated to a conversation over Skype with a celebrity anti-bullying ambassador, Danny-Boy Hatchard, an actor who plays Lee Carter in Eastenders. This was a reward for the video competition they won in Anti-Bullying week earlier last year. The girls were able to ask him questions about his acting career and why he became an anti-bullying ambassador for the Diana Award. He told us about how he has dealt with online bullying himself and gave the girls lots of encouragement for the work they do in school to take a stand against bullying. It was an interesting and enjoyable event, but he wasn’t able to give us any clues as to who killed Lucy Beale!Epipen/Anapen Notice

At the start of the academic year we would like to remind you that it is the responsibility of parents to ensure all epipens / anapens kept at school are within their expiry dates. If you are uncertain, or think the epipen / anapen may be out of date please bring a new one to Reception and collect the old one.

We should also like to remind you that if there are any relevant changes in your daughter̀s recommended use of her epipen / anapen please let both the school and the school nurse know in writing.

We will also be reminding the girls that they need to ensure they carry their epipen / anapen with them at all times during the school day and on school trips.

World War 1 Battlefields Trip

Girls who are going on this trip are reminded that the full cost MUST be paid by September. You can see on ParentPay how much you owe. If you cannot find your ParentPay login, girls should go to Reception to request their login details.



Science and Sustainability Project 2014-15, Y10-Y13

We are planning to run a project again next academic year, using a similar model to that followed in 2011-12, when sixty students from Y10-Y12 worked in teams to look at what the challenges of the future are likely to be, and to analyse in depth one particular issue and how science and technology are involved in finding a solution. Students currently in Year 9 and Year 10 have heard presentations in assembly about the project, and are being invited to apply by writing a short paragraph indicating their interest. We plan that students taking part will work in mixed year group teams, deciding on three initial issues, and then carry one of these forward for their final study; they will be working for the prestigious British Science Association CREST Awards at Silver (the initial study) and Gold level. Students who took part in the last study experienced both independent and collaborative study far beyond any syllabus taken in school, and gained insight beyond the everyday. They read widely, worked with experts in the chosen fields and delivered presentations, all of them to a standard that made us very proud. More information about the project can be found by clicking here. Please read more if your daughter is interested, or if you have expertise that you might be able to offer to help our students on their way

AGGS AUTUMN BALLin aid of Zephania Secondary School, South Africa

& 2015 South Africa Hockey Tour

Ringway Golf Club, HaleReception 7.30pm

3 Course Dinner, Band & Disco, £40 per head.CARRIAGES: 12.30AM DRESS CODE: BLACK TIE

Auction AND Gift Tree

SATURDAY 11TH OCTOBER 2014

AGGS AUTUMN BALLin aid of Zephania Secondary School, South Africa

& 2015 South Africa Hockey Tour

Ringway Golf Club, HaleReception 7.30pm

3 Course Dinner, Band & Disco, £40 per head.CARRIAGES: 12.30AM DRESS CODE: BLACK TIE

Auction AND Gift Tree

SATURDAY 11TH OCTOBER 2014

AGGS Autumn Ball

Tickets are available from reception. The money raised will be in aid of Zephania Secondary School and the 2015 South African Hockey Tour

http://www.aggs.trafford.sch.uk/downloads/Project%20description%20for%20parents%20June%2014.docx



Citizenship & PSHE CornerCLUBS CORNER...

Quote of the week… To get you pondering on Citizenship related issues:

“No-one is born a good #citizen, no nation born a #democracy. Both are processes that evolve over a lifetime”...

Meets Weds Lunch time in Room 13. Debating from 12.40 -1.15pm.Year 10 upwards.

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

OUR NEXT COMPETITION IS AT CHEADLE HULME SCHOOL IN OCTOBER.

Model United Nations Club: 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 Year 7, 8 & 9.

Are you interested in what is happening around the world? Does the international communities’ response to Syria and Iraq make you angry or worried? Do you support military action? Come

along and debate these kind of topics and topics relevant to the world stage at....



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.

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...

Scottish Independence -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28783688.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28783688



What 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 evening courses are taught over eight 2 hour sessions at weekly intervals.

The courses 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.

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

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 please visit http://allianceforlearning.co.uk/ or contact 0161 912 5912

Mindfulness Skills for Life

Autumn Term 2014Thursday 16th OctoberThursday 23rd OctoberThursday 6th NovemberThursday 13th NovemberThursday 20th NovemberThursday 4th DecemberThursday 11th DecemberThursday 18th December

Spring Term 2015Thursday 29th JanuaryThursday 5th FebruaryThursday 12th FebruaryThursday 26th February

Thursday 5th MarchThursday 12th MarchThursday 19th MarchThursday 2nd April

Summer Term 2015Thursday 7th MayThursday 14th MayThursday 21st MayThursday 4th JuneThursday 11th JuneThursday 18th JuneThursday 25th JuneThursday 2nd July

What is Mindfulness Skills for life?

The Mindfulness Skills for Life course we run is designed to help you learn new ways of handling difficult physical sensations, feelings and moods.

Programme Structure

Our weekday evening courses are taught over eight 2 hour sessions at weekly intervals.

The courses 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.

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

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.

Thursday 18th September 2014Thursday 15th January 2015

Thursday 30th April 2015

For more information please visit http://allianceforlearning.co.uk/ or contact 0161 912 5912

Mindfulness Taster



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.



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 carers to 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.



Netball

Netball Training Days

All girls in all year groups are welcome to attend netball training regardless of ability. It is a great way to have fun, keep fit and make new friends. Lunchtime practices begin straight away at 12.30pm. Girls only need to bring socks and trainers not full kit (no tights please). Girls get their lunch after the practice finishes at 1pm. After school practices begin at 3.30pm and finish at 4.45pm. Girls will need their full kit and must change back into uniform to return home. Parents can collect pupils from the Devisdale. Practices may change if there is a school event or a fixture so girls MUST check the noticeboard each week.Year 7: Monday lunchtime and Thursday after school until 4.45pmYear 8: Friday lunchtime and Thursday after school until 4.45pmYear 9: Friday lunchtime and Thursday after school until 4.45pmYear 10: Tuesday lunchtime and Tuesday after school until 4.45pmYear 11: Tuesday lunchtime and Tuesday after school until 4.45pmSeniors: Tuesday after school until 4.45pm

Netball FixturesThe netball fixtures for this half term are below, there are more to add as I wasn’t here at the end of the last term. They will be updated on the games board as and when is possible.



Date Opponents Teams VenueSat 6th Sept Stockport GS/Bradford GS Years 8-13 StockportSat 13th Sept Bury Grammar School All Years AGGSSat 20th Sept Withington Girls All Years AGGSTues 23rd Sept St Bede’s College All Years AGGSSat 27th Sept Wirral Grammar School All Years AGGSSat 4th Oct TBA Wed 8th Oct National Schools’ County Round U19 TBCSat 11th Oct Manchester and District Tournament U14/U16/U19 TBCSat 18th Oct Manchester High All Years Man HighSat 8th Nov National Schools’ County Round U16 TBCSat 15th Nov National Schools’ County Round U14 TBCSat 22nd Nov Wilmslow High School All Years AGGSSat 22nd Nov Bolton School All Years AGGSSat 29th Nov Wirral Grammar School All Years WirralSat 6th Dec TBA



HockeyWelcome back everyone. Here are the details of practices for this year.Normal practices will be at the following times.

Lunchtimes: 12.30pm – 1pmMonday: Years 8 and 9Tuesday: Years 10 and 11Wednesday: Year 7Thursday: Years 9 and 10Friday: Year 8

Sometimes these practices may have to be changed because of matches/tournaments. There will be an up-to-date list of practices on the games board first thing every Monday morning. It is the responsibility of EVERY hockey player to look at this list at the beginning of every week. Everyone is welcome to come to practices – whatever your ability. As last year, we hope to organise matches for a ‘B’ team to keep more girls playing hockey.

Saturday fixturesWe have another full season of Saturday fixtures. Each player involved in extra-curricular hockey will receive their own fixture card. However, there will be extra mid- week matches organised once it has gone dark and we are unable to have regular practices after school. We are going to make use of the Bowdon Hockey Club pitch on Tuesdays after school, as we did last year for Years 7-9 from the beginning of November. Further details will be sent nearer the time.If a regular team player is unable to play in a Saturday match they must write their name in the Unavailability Book, which is on the hockey notice board, BEFORE 3.30pm on the Tuesday before the Saturday match.

After School: 3.30pm – 5pmTuesday: Years 8 and 9Wednesday: Year 7Thursday: Years 10-13 at Bowdon Hockey Club



Badminton

I have booked all 8 courts at Altrincham Leisure Centre again on a Monday from 4pm – 6pm.4pm – 5pm: Years 10-135pm – 6pm: Years 7-9Everyone is invited to these practices regardless of your ability. Why not come along and learn a new sport.Cost: as we have to pay for the courts there will be a charge of £2 each week for the hour session.

If anyone has any questions regarding any of the above, please contact me at school.J. A. Finch



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 PTA [email protected]

General enquiries PTA [email protected]

Secretary PTA [email protected]

Refreshments PTA [email protected]

Name a Brick enquiries PTA [email protected]

Garden sponsorship PTA [email protected]

2nd Hand Uniform PTA [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.

Altrincham Grammar School for Girls Weekly Bulletin · Students currently in Year 9 and Year 10...

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Transcript of Altrincham Grammar School for Girls Weekly Bulletin · Students currently in Year 9 and Year 10...