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www.lathomhighschool.org

ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM LATHOM HIGH SCHOOL

LATHOM HIGH SELECTED TO JOIN IN WE DAY CELEBRATION IN LONDON

LATHOM HIGH SCHOOL START JUDO ACADEMY

JUDO ACADEMY

WE DAY 2015

WELCOME TO OUR LATEST EDITION OF LATHOM LIFE.

Our last half term has been a real time of focus for many of our students as they have prepared for and started to take their exams. As I write, the students are two weeks into the GCSE examinations and I hope you will all join me in wishing all of our students sitting exams the very best of luck. I am confident that their hard work will be rewarded with another set of outstanding exam results this summer and give them exactly what they need to move on to the course or apprenticeship of their choice. Please have a look inside at how some of our Year 11 students have succeeded in securing fantastic opportunities for themselves for their future.

I would also like to put on record my sincere thanks to all of our staff for their dedication and commitment to the students and to everyone who has supported them at this stressful time.

Alongside all of the exam preparation our students have been involved in a wide range of events including ‘The Apprentice’ – our first Citizenship day for students in Years 7-10 with a day’s visit to Cadbury World for the winning team, a fantastic visit to the WE Day celebrations in London for some of our budding global citizens, an inspiring trip to Liverpool Cathedral for Year 7 and opportunities to work with our partners at West Lancs College, the new Youth Zone and Wigan Athletic Football Club.

I have been extremely proud of the many activities that we have had taking place over the last half term but especially our work with our local primary schools. We now welcome over 150 children every week ranging from Year 3 to Year 6 to Lathom for classes in a range of subjects including Design Technology, ICT, Spanish and Music. I’ve particularly enjoyed presenting the awards and meeting their parents at the end of each course. It is wonderful to see so many children coming and enjoying life at Lathom alongside our students and we hope to welcome many more in the future.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity thank our outgoing Year 11 Prefect team and to congratulate the Year 10 students who have been appointed to our new team for 2015-16. They all performed brilliantly in interview and will be outstanding ambassadors for our school.

I hope that this latest edition of our newsletter gives you a real feel for everything that has been going on at Lathom over the last few weeks and the very many ways in which we are living our values – Enjoy, Believe, Achieve. As ever, if you have any feedback for us or wish to discuss any concerns or queries you have, please get in touch or come into school and see us.

Mrs Galbraith Headteacher

LATHOM HIGH SCHOOL ATTEND WE DAY

Lathom High School Attend WE Day in London- Students from Lathom High School had an early start on Thursday 5th March, when they headed down to London to celebrate ‘WE Day’ alongside 12,000 other students across the country.

The celebration was hosted in the SSE Arena in Wembley where all event-goers where enthused to dream big, talk about major social causes, and of course, celebrate all the positive change you’ve been making! From amazing performances by artists like Years & Years and Bars and Melody to mind-opening speeches from speakers like Kweku Mandela and Martin Sheen, this was definitely a day we won’t forget anytime soon.

Students where a credit to Lathom High School and come away from the event full of new ideas and inspirations to develop current school plans to support local, national and global charities.

Miss Clarke commented “We are extremely lucky to be the only school in Skelmersdale to attend such a prestige event. Our students helped to make ‘WE Day 2015’ the best day ever! I am looking forward to develop our work in school throughout the year continuing to support as many charities and organisations as possible”.

Year 10 student Alisha Parry said, “WE Day was a great opportunity to come together with people my age and work together as a big team realising what issues go on around the world today and learning how WE can make a change.”

17 students from Lathom High School arriving at SSE Arena, Wembley to celebrate ‘WE Day’ 2015

Inspiring speech from Martin Sheen.

WINNERS VISIT CADBURY WORLD

On Friday 24 April, the 10 winners of our ‘enterprise’ themed Citizenship Day took to the road at 7am to spend the day in Cadbury World.

Students from Y7-Y10 worked on an excellent product of ‘Golden Crunch’ chocolate and bonded in such an exemplary way across the vertical grouping. On board the coach, discussion was brewing as to what activities and experiences our winning team would take part in while on the visit. Arriving at our destination, we were greeted to a handful of chocolate and our tour began.

Firstly we found the history behind the cocoa bean and where ‘Cadbury’s’ began. We then watched a film production to show the full history behind the manufacturer. We were lucky enough to see the factory in action with the conveyor belts whizzing around boxes of Cadbury chocolate. It was there that we experienced our cup full of warm chocolate, churning right before our eyes! Once our chocolate had been devoured, we watched a Cadbury chocolatier make chocolate ‘the old fashioned way’, designing chocolate truffles by hand. We all stood in amazement and watched. Our tour led

us onto a mini-ride of the cocoa bean experience finally finishing in the Cadbury World shop – chocolate overload! The

favourite part for all our students was the 4D experience cinema where gale force winds blew, the heat was intense, our lift broke down and our hot air balloon plummeted through the sky – all from the exact same chair we sat in on entering the cinema!

Jenny Clarke citizenship leader, said “Lathom students’ behaviour was outstanding and they were a credit to the school. A fantastic day was had by all – a winning trip for a winning team.”

LATHOM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN CITIZENSHIP DAY

DURING OUR SECOND CITIZENSHIP DAY, THE FOCUS FOR OUR Y7S-Y10S WAS ENTERPRISE.

At Lathom, we understand the importance of Citizenship is vital because it builds character, explores British values and develops the soft skills for communication, initiative, interacting appropriately and team working. We understand that all of our students need to develop these skills as it is what employers are crying out for.

Our Citizenship drop down days ensure that our students do not simply learn these skills, they are actively engaged whereby they are facilitating their own groups and taking an active lead to manage each other through team-work.

There was a constant buzz around the classrooms as our students were working in groups to design, market and pitch their own chocolate product. With ‘The Apprentice’ style theme setting the scene, the students were introduced to our very own judges, Mr Welch starred as Sir Alan Sugar,

Mrs Galbraith as Karren Brady and Mr Livesley as Nick Hamer.

Students prepared their final presentation and delivered to the judges. Points were awarded for presentation and delivery of explaining their final pitch. The sports hall was an array of pitching boards and nervous candidates awaiting to be

judged and awarded the final prize. Our winners, ‘Golden Crunch’ are going to be attending Cadbury World on 20th March, with runners up visiting Proctor and Gamble for the afternoon.

It was a day enjoyed by both students and staff, allowing for a number of skills to be developed. Students worked with their groups to budget and plan for developing a chocolate product that was to suit the shelves of our supermarket. Lower School

Student, Necati Ayhan said “It was a really fun day that I will always remember. My group worked really well and the Y10s in our group helped to keep us all on track. I can’t wait for the next one.”

YEAR 7 STUDENTS VISIT LIVERPOOL ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL

14 of our Y7’s were invited to Liverpool Anglican Cathedral to the Liverpool Diocese – Windows of

Worth Conference. The day is centred around Josephine Butler and looking at other important ladies within the Church.

Lathom worked with a number of different schools in the diocese cluster experiencing a day of drama, arts and crafts and touring the grand Anglican Cathedral.

Our students worked very hard during the day and behaviour was outstanding. All 14 students were buzzing at the end of the day, fedback their experiences and what they enjoyed the most. A big thank-you to Mrs Marshall and Mr Guyers for accompanying the trip, it really did look like a magnificent day was had by all.

JON MAYHEW VISITS LATHOM Author Jon Mayhew was recently at Lathom High. All Y7 students enjoyed being scared, especially the boys, during his reading and writing workshops. Many students came to meet Jon bringing their own work for him to read and question him about how to become an author and what it was like. Copies of his signed books ran low and some titles even ran out.

Jon loved his visit at Lathom, here are some of his comments “Thanks! I had a great time. I thought it was one of the best organised events I’ve had the good fortune to be part of. The pupils

were a credit to you and worked really well. I was made to feel really welcome by staff and pupils alike and got a real sense of community from my visit to the school.”

PRIMARY SCHOOL SUCCESS AT LATHOM HIGH SCHOOL Students from Brookfield and Woodland Primary have attended a 6 week Food

Technology course at Lathom High School. Over the six weeks students made a super salad, bread, small cakes, scones, biscuits and raspberry buns. All students have had fun with their learning at Lathom.

On Monday 20 April parents were invited to attend a ‘Primary Celebration’, where students were awarded for their success. Parents enjoyed cakes made by the children as well as refreshments. All students received a certificate and a small prize from Mrs Galbraith, Headteacher. Three students were awarded individual prizes under the school’s mission statement ‘Enjoy, Believe and Achieve’. These students received a book;

Louie Keating and Wilkor Slojewski for Enjoy, George Ager for Believe and Samantha Weston for Achieve.

Karen Morgan, their teacher at Lathom High, said “All students have been fantastic throughout their time at Lathom. They are a credit to Brookfield Primary.”

Mrs Thomas, food technician said, “I found all pupils really enthusiastic about learning to cook. Everyone left each week with beaming faces full of pride. Well done everyone!”

LATHOM HIGH SCHOOL JUDO ACADEMY Every Tuesday 4-5pm

On Monday 23rd March Wigan Judo Club came in to school to show year 7 through to 10 what they had to offer. The two instructors gave demonstrations of the different Judo moves with the help of some volunteers.

Miss Forster, one of Lathom High School’s PE teachers, said ‘Fun was had by all students throughout the day there was a real positive buzz from the students’.

Adam and Phil the two instructors said ‘Thank you to all staff who supported the displays, particularly those who stepped onto the mat. All students throughout the day where fantastic and we look forward to seeing them at the club on Tuesdays 4-5pm (high school session) and 5:15-6:15 (primary school session) ‘Lathom High School Judo Academy’.

LATHOM HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS ATTEND YOUTH ZONE OPENING

The new Skelmersdale Youth Zone was opened on the Tuesday 17th March. It was opened by county councillor Kevin

Ellard and county councillor for children’s wellbeing Mathew Tomlinson.

There was a presentation by young people including representatives from Lathom High (Madison, Emily and Christopher), Glenburn (Szymon), Ormskirk (Saffron), St John Rigby (Declan), West Lancs High (Jordan), Burscough Priory (Lia and ) and West Lancs College (Phil and Ben). The presentation was entitled ‘Places to go, things to do, people to speak to’. Head teachers from all the local area high schools attended to get a glimpse of the new Youth Zone and relay the information back to their schools. This i s a good way to get them more involved with groups going on in their local area and so as they are not isolated from the greater picture of West Lancashire.

LATHOM ARTS PROJECT Lathom High School took five of their students to the Tanhouse subway to take part in an exciting Art Project.

The students worked with Gary Pate of Uthinkcic to create positive changes as these subways are quite a dismal place. Students with the help from Gary and his team created a fantastic piece of graffiti art work. Gary Pate has acquired lottery funding and will be continuing to work with Lathom students both outside of school and also on school’s premises. Students from Lathom will also be invited to apply to be part of the projects and will work in workshops to design their own art work.

LATHOM HIGH SCHOOL

GET READY TO SKI IN AUSTRIA SKI TRIP FEBRUARY 2016

Students recently experienced their first taste of

skiing when they took part in a beginner’s taster

lesson at the Chill Factore, Manchester. In the lead

up to the Skiing holiday next February, students will

be visiting the Chill Factore on a regular basis to up

skill themselves ready for the big slopes of Tauplitz,

Austria.

LATHOM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTSVISIT JIGSAW STABLES

On Monday 27 April, Debbie Stock, Alternative Provision Officer took three

of Lathom High School students to Jigsaw Stables in Mawdesley. The stables mainly work with autistic children.

The three students taken were Olivia Higham, Jodie Sorrell both in year 8 and Chelsie Wallace in year 10.

The students were introduced to the horses which are all mainly rescue animals. The students fed the horses with carrots and mints. They also learnt how to massage a pony with muscle problems. They all rode on the mechanical horse called Bob, where they tried out the walk, trot and canter speeds. They also had the opportunity to look at frogs and wild rabbits.

Debbie said ‘The girls thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon. It was good to see them enjoying themselves and learning so much’.

Students enjoy their first taste of skiing at the Chill Factore

WHAT’S COMING UP NEXT?

Sky Sports Living Athlete Rachel Brown visit to Lathom

FINALLY, WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO WISH OUR Y11 COHORT THE BEST OF LUCK IN THEIR GCSE EXAMS – WE KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!

LATHOM SUCCESS STORIES We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate some of our past and present students on some recent outstanding achievements.

Joe Edwards - Success at CAST and placement offered for when he leaves school.Gary Murphy – Gary has secured a 3 year advanced apprenticeship as an Electrical engineer.Richard Rimmer - Apprenticeship already secured for when he leaves Lathom.Becky Smith – Former Lathom student has now successfully gained an Apprenticeship with JC Construction.

Well done to three of our Year 11 students Gary Murphy, Joe Edwards & Richard Rimmer.

Earlier this month Gary Murphy attended an interview for a 3 year advanced Electrical Engineer apprenticeship with ‘Tyco’ Gary was successful and beat 9 other interviewees for the 3 year apprenticeship. Gary is now looking forward to starting his apprenticeship in August this year.

Joe Edwards has been attending CAST twice a week since January. His placement involves him learning new skills in the field of Horticulture which will lead to him gaining a Level 1 Horticultural qualification. Joe has really settled in and his behaviour and attendance has been very good. All of his tutors are really pleased with his progress.

Richard Rimmer has secured himself a Joinery apprenticeship with Mark Jackson. Richard has already started his apprenticeship, one day a week. To complete his apprenticeship he will also need to attend college one day a week which will start from September. Richard was chosen while he attended West Lancs Training and Learning Centre (TLC) because the work he was producing was amazing. Jan Williams who is in charge of TLC recommended him for the apprenticeship. ‘Congratulations’ to all of you, from all of your teachers at Lathom High School.

LATHOM RAISE LOTS FOR RED NOSE DAY

Lathom took part in a number of fund raising activities to support Red Nose Day.

Activities included swopping a piece of their

uniform for something red, a chocolate and cake

sale and finally a lunch time Staff V Student

badminton competition. Big well done to all the

staff and students that got involved with the day

and helped raise £300.