Coal Clough NewsA school newspaper written by students from Coal Clough Academy, Burnley.

Edited and produced by: Catherine Smyth Media. 01706 877150/ 07903 997375 info@catherinesmyth.co.uk www.catherinesmyth.co.uk

Welcome to the first edition of Coal Clough News written by Key Stage 3 students.It has been an incredibly busy few weeks since we all enjoyed a break in October, read on

to find out all about the many activities our students have got involved with since then.

Respecting others

Why be nasty?Why be unkind?Picking on meAll of the time.

Picking on me...Picking on my friends.We all know youCome in groups of tens.

Mind your own businessLeave me alone.Stop ganging up on meWith your mobile phone.

You’re there on my screenAll of the time,You think you’re good?I wish you would die.

You make me upsetYou need to get a life.Leave me aloneDon’t give me no strife.

But all that you Can ever doIs pick on people Weaker than you.

by the Nurture Group

Don’t be a bully

by Paul Jackson

LESSONS and talksabout tolerance andanti-bullying work havemade us think andexamine how we treatother people.

We had a person comeinto school to teach us allabout helping people thatare down or not getting onwith one another.

That special person wascalled Dave Pascoe and heintroduced us to restorativejustice.

Restorative justice isactually is a good thingbecause it’s a way ofrotating relationships. Whenthere has been an incident

between two studentswhich has resulted in a bigfallout, the victims canshare how they feel so theycan move on and heal.

The talk took place in theKS4 building. Dave, anassociate practitioner withLancashire Police, hasbeen doing his job forabout nine years.

He has helped astudent beforebecause he didsomething at his oldschool. The studentwent on the restorativejustice course and hetold the audience that itchanged his life. Thecourse lasts for fivedays over five weeks.

We have done a lot ofwork on Anti Bullying this ahalf term. We made gamesand Millie designed the bestone. Some of our studentshave also becomeanti-bullying ambassadorsafter traiining in Blackpool.

by Ebony Grimshaw

A SHOCKING and brutal murder was outlined tostudents when Michael Haines visited ourschool.

As part of our work on Anti-Bullying this half term,Michael explained how his brother David was an aidworker who was captured by terrorists and murdered.

Olivia said she found what happened ‘sad andshocking’ while Lewis said it made him realise‘violence is not the answer’.

‘Sad and shocking’ talk

by Deni-Shay George

THE great outdoors becameour classroom when we went toa wood and built some dens.

We went to a wood in Darwenand we had a contest to see whocould make the best den, but Ididn’t win. It was really goodbecause we had loads of fun.

by Bracken Spencer

We have two very special visitors,Laurel and Bramble, who come withtheir owner Tracy.

The Pets As Therapy dogs are 18month old cockerpoos they where bornin Leyland and live in Blackburn.

I like stroking the dogs and playingwith them. Their fur is really fluffy.

KS3 Manager Barbara Ashton said:“They are really, really cute and I love itwhen the dogs come in.”

Forest fun

by Ebony Grimshaw

ALBERT Buruiana movedto England from Braila,Romania, approximatelysix months ago.

It may surprise you to learnthat Year 10 Albert learnt tospeak English from watchingYouTube video’s and films.

Albert started to teachhimself magic tricks just over ayear ago, after a streetmagician showed him a trick,

he was so amazed he wantedto learn how to do it.

Albert now practices 6-7hours each day to improve hisskills and learn new tricks.

He hopes this dedicationwill help him become aprofessional magician whenhe is older.

Albert is certainlydetermined and has shownperseverance in the past toachieve great things. Peoplein school may know Albert for

his marvellous magic tricks,but this is not the only skill hepossesses.

Albert was the RomanianNational Champion in Karatewhen he was just 14 yearsold.

He used to train five dayseach week to reach thisstandard, which he said wasfar harder than learning magic.

Another interesting factabout Albert is that he canalso speak Italian.

Albert shows off new tricks

Four-legged therapy

The NationalCitizen Serviceorganised fantasticteamworkactivities as partof a five-weekprogramme atschool.

Page 2 Page 3 Coal Clough News Coal Clough News

Meet our new Deputy Headby Aiden Harper

AT COAL Clough Academywe have a new DeputyHeadteacher.

Her name is Holly Clarkeand she has come fromShuttleworth College whereshe was the assistant headteacher. She is very nice.

When asked what shethought of the school sofar, she said: “I amenjoying working here atCCA. It is a super school towork in where I feelrewarded. I prefer being atCoal Clough to a mainstreamschool and I like coming toschool every day.”

She explained that she hadbeen at Shuttleworth College for 10

years and was offered the job when shewas still at university.

Holly has always wanted to be ateacher and used to play schools

as a child.She told us: “I decided a

year ago to become a deputyhead and the opportunitycame up very quickly. Iknew a lot about this schoolfrom my previous role.”

Although she said shecouldn’t name a favouritestudent, she did say thatfor this week she wouldselect Isobel Pickeringbecause she had tried very

hard in her mock exams andnot given up.

Her advice to all of us was:“Whatever job you want to do try

your hardest to get it and go for it.Do a job you want to do.”

by Deni-Shay George

HERE at Coal CloughAcademy we believe inGirl Power.

Four girls went to ValleyStreet Community Centre inBurnley to learn kickboxingwhich is a combination offitness and boxing and isreally quite exhausting.

The lessons are heldevery Tuesday and last anhour.

School Counsellor at CoalClough Academy EdelMcGinn said: “I reallyenjoyed it because it helpsme get rid of all my stressand I also get fit at the sametime.

“I go because I can then

encourage the girls to takepart in physical exercise.”

I went along to one of thesessions, I had heard ofkickboxing before but I hadnever tried it.

It was really good funbecause I got to dosomething new and it got ridof a bit of my anger, I mighteven go back again.

GirlPower

‘Hello Eric’

by Charlotte Wilkinsonand Aiden Henderson

OUR Head of English ChrisWhittaker is celebrating the safearrival of his baby daughter.

Eva was born in Chorley

Hospital on November 29 and

weighed 9lb 13 oz.

Chris said: “I am absolutely

exhausted, but Eva and her

mum Laura are amazing.”

by Bracken Spencer

HAVE you met ERIC yet? Coal CloughAcademy has very important new‘student’ in school.

He stands for Everyone Reading InClass.

All classes now have there own classreading corner, which are comfy and invit-ing and make you want to sit and read abook.

Our new Head of English Chris Whittakerhas introduced two new characters Eric –Everyone Reading In Class and Erica –Everyone Reading In Class Aloud – but notat the same time.

We will be asking all staff what theirfavourite books are, so get thinkingeveryone. Some of our reporters’ favouritebooks are:

Paul Jackson – Horrid HenryAiden Henderson – Private PeacefulAiden Harper – War HorseDeni-Shay George – The Drowning

Cycle ride for Pendleside Hospiceby Ebony Grimshaw

RIDING his bike from school toBarnoldswick helped student LoganAlderson raise money forPendleside Hospice.

Logan chose his birthday to completethe ride along the Leeds and LiverpoolCanal.

He completed the fundraiser, alongwith two other students, in just over twohours. They designed posters and asponsor sheet and raised more than

£400.He said: “I did it as part of PSD

Community Action and decided to takepart after a visit from PendlesideHospice.

“Ben from Year 10 and Matthew fromYear 9 also completed the journey.Because it was Remembrance Day wealso stopped to observe the minute’ssilence.”

The money will be presented toPendleside Hospice at the schoolChristmas Fair.

STUDENTS enjoy a fantastic trip to Blackpool

Congratulations - Sir Keepsafeon theNet

by Deni-Shay George

TIPS to keep you safe while yousurf.

Don’t arrange to meet people online,you can get kidnapped or killed. Youcan be putting your life in danger.

If you are being harassed on the

Internet make sure you tell a teacher,parent or friend.

Never put personal informationonline because they can find out whoyou are, where you live, where youwork, what school you go to, yourphone number and a lot more.

Never talk to people you don’t know.

Christmas fair to sparkleby Ebony Grimshaw

WE WILL be having a

cracking Christmas fair on

Monday December 19

between 1 and 2pm.

All our classes will be

involved in running stalls of their

own and all money raised will go

to our charity Pendleside

Hospice. A representative of thecharity will be attending our fairtoo.

Parents are welcome toattend and there will be a raffle;mince pies and tea to enjoy; livemusic and Christmas carols.There will be some amazingthings to buy and even achocolate fountain. Please comealong if you can.

Year 9s make their own keyrings

and Aiden Henderson