News Blog

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Posted on: 24/01/2020

Head of School Blog - Week 18

Students have experienced another week of exciting and informative events at the Academy which I am very happy to share with you. On Tuesday, Tempest Photography arrived at the Academy bright and early to set up for year 11 photographs.  They photographed the whole year group together as well as taking individual photographs of students.  Further information regarding the procedure for placing orders will be sent to you by the pastoral team. Two year 7 students took part in the second round of The Rotary Young Chef competition at Bolton High School on Wednesday.  Holly prepared a Rack of Lamb and Tiramisu, whilst Keira’s menu consisted of Prosecco Chicken with fresh pasta and a Mango Cheesecake to follow.  The girls were accompanied by an extremely proud Miss Sargent and were an absolute credit to the Academy.  After each contestants menu had been tasted by the judges, the eagerly awaited results were announced.  Holly came in 2nd place and Keira was runner up – Holly will now go through to the regional final which will be held at Hope Academy.  Well done to both girls, we are extremely proud of you.  Good luck to Holly in the regional final; I will keep you all informed of her progress. One of the most popular events in the calendar is our annual Career Fair for students from years 9-13.  We welcomed over 25 providers to the Academy on Thursday. Students had the opportunity to spend 30 minutes in the hall gathering information and advice that will help to support them in the future.  I am aware of a number of students who found career opportunities that they had not previously considered or even been aware existed!  We would like to thank all the organisations who attended and look forward to continuing to grow this event and supporting our students in the extremely important area of CEIAG (Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance). We have reached a very important point in the academic year for year 9 students as they prepare to choose their GCSE options.  Curriculum Option Recommendation letters have been posted home and are also available via the SIMs Parent app.  You can view the 2020 Options Booklet and timeline on our website. /521/options-timeline-and-booklets-for-2020.  The Academy is looking forward to welcoming both parents/carers and students to our Options Information Evening on Wednesday 29th January at 6pm. You will have the opportunity to speak with teaching staff and visit each subject area.  It is our expectation that all students attend this important event.  As you are aware Halton Travel, operators of the 725 school bus service have been experiencing difficulties.  We have received the following update from Merseytravel this afternoon: Halton Transport have ceased to operate bus services.  Merseytravel has secured emergency provision and school services previously operated by Halton Transport on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will now be operated by Stagecoach from Monday 27th January 2020.  This is an interim measure whilst we secure more long term provision.  We would ask schools, students and parents to work with us during this transition period as there may be some initial teething problems.  For up-to-date information on affected services visit www.merseytravel.gov.uk/travel-updates.  For alternative ways to make your journey visit www.jp.merseytravel.gov.uk. This week in Inspire time the theme has been Unusual Kindness – Christian Unity. From the 18-25th January the whole of the Christian World joined together in prayer for Christian Unity.  We are in the privileged position of being a joint Catholic and Church of England Academy, which spearheads the work of Christian Unity to develop closer relationships and better understandings of all Christian faiths.  We prayed for our Christian family around the world and for peace and understanding between faiths, so that we may always try to show ‘unusual kindness’ to everyone around us. God of unity and peace, Your Son Jesus prayed that his followers might be one. Make all Christians one with Him as He is one with You. Amen Important diary dates Wednesday 29th January Year 9 Options Information Evening – 6.00pm Wednesday 5th February Year 11 Parents’ Evening 3.00pm-6.00pm Tuesday 11th,Thursday 13th and Tuesday 25thFebruary Year 7 Liverpool University Visit Wednesday 12th February Year 8/12/13 Parents’ Evening 3.00pm – 6.00pm Thursday 13th February Year 11 Mock interviews   Kindest regards Mrs Adams - Head of School
Posted on: 17/01/2020

Head of school Blog - Week 17

Students have experienced an exciting week of events at the Academy which I am very happy to share with you. Our year 11 students have continued with their mock examinations this week and have been absolutely fantastic.  A large number of students have been arriving at the Academy from 7.30am to enjoy breakfast in the LRC whilst doing their final preparations before their exams.  We look forward to sharing the results with both students and parents during the Parents’ Evening on Wednesday 5th February. On Tuesday we hosted the latest presentation in our Journey of Hope programme.  ‘Helping your Child to make the Correct Career Choices’ was supported by presentations from Carmel College, Hope Academy Sixth Form Centre and St Helens Chamber regarding apprenticeships.  Further information for future Journey of Hope presentations can be found on our website.  /1012/journey-of-hope-workshops-2019-20 Twelve year 9 girls travelled down to Oxford earlier in the week, supported by Mrs Crean and Mr Wignall, for the ‘It all adds up’ maths conference for girls at The University of Oxford. They spent Tuesday afternoon shopping and exploring the historical sights of the city. On Wednesday, they spent the day at the university exploring probability through Bayes Theorem, looking at career options involving maths, and learning what being a student at Oxford is all about. The girls’ attitude and behaviour throughout the two days was exceptional and they represented themselves and the Academy with pride.  I would like to thank Miss Brophy for organising this amazing opportunity for our students and also Mrs Crean and Mr Wignall for their support. We have reached a very important point in the academic year for year 9 students as they prepare to choose their GCSE options.  I explained the options process to students on Wednesday and shared more detailed information regarding the timeline of events.  The Academy is looking forward to welcoming both parents/carers and students to our Options Information Evening on Wednesday 29th January at 6pm.  You will have the opportunity to speak with teaching staff and visit each subject area.  It is our expectation that all students attend this important event.  You can view the 2020 Options Booklet and timeline on our website.  /521/options-timeline-and-booklets-for-2020 This week in Inspire time the theme has been Media and Democracy (Brexit). Students have reflected upon the impact the media and our government have on our lives, and how Parliament is run. We looked at the democratic voting system and then used it in a classroom vote after discovering facts about Brexit. We learnt about the danger of Fake News and how important it is to look for the real facts behind the opinions we are given. Finally, students read this week’s news stories to find out about what is happening around the world today. We prayed for our politicians and media to strive for justice and truth, and we prayed for peace in our world: If there is to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart. Amen Important diary dates Monday 20th January Year 13 Mock Exams begin Tuesday 21st January Year 11 Photographs (am) Tuesday 21st January Ski Meeting – 6.00pm Thursday 23rd January Careers Fair 10.00am – 2.20pm (Yr9-13) Wednesday 29th January Year 9 Options Information Evening – 6.00pm Wednesday 5th February Year 11 Parents’ Evening 3.00pm-6.00pm Tuesday 11th,Thursday 13th and Tuesday 25th February Year 7 Liverpool University Visit Wednesday 12th February Year 8 Parents’ Evening 3.00pm – 6.00pm   I sure that you are all aware of the important work carried out in the local area by N.E.C.G (Newton and Earlestown Community Group).  Please click on the following link to find out their wonderful calendar of events for 2020.  tinyurl.com/NECG2020 #community Kindest regards Mrs Adams - Head of School
Posted on: 10/01/2020

Head of School Blog - Week 16

Happy New Year!  I hope you all enjoyed Christmas and the festive break with your family and friends.  It has been great to welcome back staff and students this week for what will be a very busy and exciting half term. Our year 11 students made a fantastic start to their mock examinations this week, they will continue with these until Friday 17th January.  Students have displayed a high level of maturity during preparation and I am sure that this will be reflected in their individual results.  The mock examination timetable can be viewed on our website.    /950/year-11-mock-exam-timetable-january-2020 On Tuesday our Ski Trip students enjoyed their last visit to the Chill Factore before they leave for the slopes of Italy on Saturday 8th February.  There will be a final parent meeting on Tuesday 21st January. We have reached a very important point in the academic year for students in year 9 as they prepare to choose their GCSE options.  Parents and students had the opportunity to speak with subject teachers during Parents’ Evening on Wednesday.  The most important event is our Options Information Evening on Wednesday 29th January; parents and students will be able to speak with teaching staff and visit each subject area.  Further information will be sent out next week.  You can view the 2020 Options Timeline on our website.  /521/options-timeline-and-booklets-for-2020 If your new year’s resolution was to have a general tidy-up at home we would welcome any items of good quality uniform that you may have.  Items can be left at reception or student services.  We have a stock of re-cycled uniform for parents to view and take home.  Please contact your child’s Head of Year for further information.  I have mentioned in previous blogs the need for students to wear suitable outdoor clothing.  All our students are outside at some point during break and lunchtime, therefore please encourage your child to dress appropriately for winter weather conditions. This week in Inspire time the theme has been The Epiphany – ‘Los Tres Reyes Magos’.  Students have found out about Epiphany celebrations from around the world, what the three gifts signified, and the meaning behind the Christian tradition of blessing houses at the New Year.  During Year Group Collective Worship students reflected on what the Three Wise Men can teach us: to be committed to our journey wherever it may lead, even if it takes us into unknown territory. We meditated on a quote from Jeremiah about the plans God has for us.  Let us reflect on those words now: ‘“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future.”’   Important diary dates Tuesday 14th-Wednesday 15th January Maths Conference for girls at Oxford University Tuesday 14th January Journey of Hope – Guiding your Child to make the correct career choices – 6.00pm Monday 20th January Year 13 Mock Exams Tuesday 21st January Year 11 Photographs (am) Tuesday 21st January Ski Meeting – 6.00pm Thursday 23rd January Careers Fair Wednesday 29th January Year 9 Options Information Evening – 6.00pm Wednesday 5th February Year 11 Parents’ Evening 3.00pm-6.00pm Tuesday 11th,Thursday 13th and Tuesday 25thFebruary Year 7 Liverpool University Visit Wednesday 12th February Year 8 Parents’ Evening   Kindest regards Mrs Adams - Head of School
Posted on: 10/01/2020

Chaplains' Corner - December 2019

CHAPLAIN’S CORNER   December was a very busy month for the Chaplaincy at Hope Academy. Below are just a few of the highlights… Throughout December we had been collecting food for our Christmas Hamper Appeal. By the last week of term we had enough food to create nearly 50 hampers to be delivered to local families! Hampers were taken to families and to local primary schools in the last week of term. We were also able to deliver three big boxes full of toys to Warrington and Halton Hospital for their Christmas Present appeal. On Monday 16th December, we hosted our Carols by Candlelight service at Hope Academy. We enjoyed a number of carols led by our Hope Choir and Bible verses telling the Christmas Story read beautifully by our students. It was a wonderful evening to set the tone for our Christmas break. On Thursday 19th December Year 7-9 attended Advent services at St Peter’s throughout the day where staff and students enjoyed a time of carols, readings and prayer.  Thank you to Rev. Chris for leading our time of worship, and to St. Peter’s for allowing us to use your beautiful church for the day. The Chaplaincy at Hope encourages staff and students to put Faith into Action and just one of the ways we do this is through our charity and community work. I am delighted to share that in our first term we raised over £1000 for our partner charities, collected over 200kg of food for St. Helen’s Foodbank, and delivered nearly 50 Christmas Hampers to individuals and families across Newton-le-Willows. There are lots of exciting things happening in the Chaplaincy – to keep up to date with all our news and events by following us on Twitter @HopeChaplain                                                         

4 Blog Posts found