If you know of anything happening in and around our school community, let us know, or if you have any comments about the newsletter email: stewartd@heathschool.org.uk

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MARCH 2013

United Kingdom MathematicsTrust Challenge 2013

Two   pupils   from   year   9   are   in  t h e   t o p   4 0 %   o f   y o u n g  Mathematicians  in  the  country.

Ten  pupils  from  year   9  &   10  have  been   working   hard,   challenging  their   mathematical   skills   to   the  maximum   to   participate   in   the  United   Kingdom   Mathematics  Trust   Challenge   2013.   This   is   a  national   competition   that   has  600 ,000   pup i l s   f rom   4000  secondary   schools   competing.  P u p i l s   t o o k   p a r t   i n   t h e  Intermediate  Individual  Challenge,  open   to   years   9   –   11,   and  were  

required   to   answer   a   set   of  intriguing  and  demanding  multiple  choice  questions.  

Congratulations   to   Alex   Maddock  and   James  Prescott   for   winning   a  Bronze   certificate.     This   means  that  they  are  in  the  top  40%  of  all  year   9   –   11   pupils  taking   part   in  the   competition.   An   especially  commendable   reward   as   they  would   have   been   two   of   the  youngest   members   competing   in  that  category.  Well  done  Alex   and  James,   and   good   luck   for   next  year’s  competition!

Olympic Legacy@ The Heath

The   Heath’s   Olympic   legacy  continues   this   half   term   with  students   going   to   Runcorn  Rowing  Club  every  Thursday  on  the   indoor   rowing   machines.  Hopefully,  in  a  few  week’s  time  the   students   will   get   the  chance   to   row   on   the   river  once   their   technique   is   up   to  scratch.

Also   the   selection   process   for  t h i s   y e a r ’ s   O l y m p i c  Ambassadors   has   begun.   The  Y10   students   that   take   on   the  role   as   an   Ambassador   for   PE  are  expected  to  lead  form  time  activit ies,   f ind   out   what  students   want   from   their   PE  lessons   and   also   lead   their  form  during  sports  day.  

Thackray Museum History TripOn   Friday   8th   February-­‐2013,   the   History  Department   went   on   our   annual   visit   to   the  Thackray  Museum  (Medicine  museum)  in  Leeds.  The  trip  is  to  help  Year  11  pupils  to  revise  for  the  ‘Medicine  through  time’  section  of  their  GCSE.

We  learnt  about  the  problems  and  developments  in  surgery  and  saw  a  limb  amputation  in  the  operating  theatre.  We  also  got  to  watch  a  clip  of  a  real  amputation   done  without  anaesthetics,   the   quicker  the  better.

It   is   a   brilliant   day   out  where  pupils  get   to   learn  a n d   d e v e l o p   t h e i r  knowledge   of   medicine  t h r o u g h   t ime   i n   a n  inte rac t i ve   way.   The  museum   has  a  mock   19th   century   street   with   its  filth   and  smells.   Pupils  get   to  follow   Victorian  characters  around  the  museum  looking  at  their   living  conditions,  disease  and  weird  and   wonderful   remedies   they   tried   when   they   visited   the  quack,  the  pharmacist  and  the  herbalist.

All  pupils  behaved  perfectly   and  showed  a  mature  approach.  They  were  a  credit  to  The  Heath  School  and  themselves.

Miss  G  PiggottHead  of  History

UK  Mathematics  Trust  Challenge  2013  

The  Mathematics  Department  are  keen  to  offer  gifted  and  talented   young   mathematicians   the   opportunity   to  broaden  their  mathematical  thinking,   in   an   inspiring   and  challenging   way.   We   are   offering   all   pupils   in   KS3   the  opportunity   to   practice   and   compete   in   The   United  Kingdom   Mathematics   Trust   Challenge   2013.   This   is   a  national   competition   where   they   will   compete   against  600,000  young  mathematicians  in  the  UK.  If  you  would  like  your  son  or  daughter  to  take  part  in  this  competition  then  please  do  not  hesitate  in  contacting  us.

The  Competition  date  is  on  April  25th  2013  for  the  Junior  Challenge  (Year  7  &  8)

RAF Band at Halton

LegionThe   Music   department   took   GCSE  pupils   to   Halton   Legion   recently   to  Watch   The   RAF   Salon   Orchestra  perform  a  variety  of  well  known  Jazz  and   big   band   classics   including  ‘Mack   the   Knife’   and   ‘Candy’   by  Robbie  Williams.

It   was   an   excellent   opportunity   for  pupils   to   experience   a  big   band  up  close   and   to   hear   experienced  musicians  in  their  field  perform.  We  are   looking   forward   to   next   year’s  concert.

Handball  TeamThe   Year   8   boys   represented   The  Heath   at   the   Merseyside   handball  tournament  at  Oldershaw  Academy  on  the  Wirral.

The   team   bravely   entered   the  tournament   with   little   more   than   a  crash   lesson   beforehand   about   the  rules  of  the  game.  Oldershaw  Academy  and  St  Chads  also  took  part  and,  with  the  effort   and  determination   that   the  team   demonstrated   against   their  opponents,   we  were  unlucky   to   come  away  empty  handed.

Desp i te   the   resu l t s   the   team  thoroughly   enjoyed  the  afternoon  and  hope   to   build   on   their   experience   in  the  future.    Well  done  team!

Breakfast   club   continues   and   we  have  quite  a  few  faithful  followers.    The   group   have   been   organising  their  own  games  whilst  Mrs  Wood    prepares  breakfast.    

Du r i ng   ha l f   t e rm ,   The   PE  department   linked  up  with  Halton  Council  and  British  Cycling  to  host  the   Level   3   Cycling   Proficiency  Course.     This   training   enables  riders   to   make   journeys   in   a  variety  of  traffic  environments  and  in   all   types   of   road   conditions,  competently,   confidently   and  consistently.     Here   are   the  students  who  received  their   Level  3  award.

Westfield   Primary   school   visited  the  PE  department   to  take  part   in  a  multi   skills   circuit.     The   event  was   hosted   by   the   year   11  leadership   group   who   designed  the   activities   and   supervised  throughout.     This   year   11   group  are   nearing   completion   of   their  Junior  Young  Leaders’  Award.    Well  done  girls!

3   groups   of   GCSE   PE   students  visited  the  Stobart  Stadium,  home  of   Widnes   Vikings,   for   a   GCSE  revision  day.    They  were  looking  at  revision  techniques  in  preparation  for   their   forthcoming   final   exam.  The   students   really   enjoyed   the  experience   and   were   a   credit   to  themselves  and  the  school.    

March   1st   was   the   Merseyside  Schoo l s   Ath le t i c s   t r i a l s   a t  Wavertree  Athletics  Track.    Two  of  our   students  attended   this   event  even  and  we  await  confirmation  of  their   success  at  being  selected  for  the  county  squad  at  athletics.    Ben  Jackson-­‐Spruce   and   Ca l lum  Doherty   were   put   through   their  paces   in   a   number   of   athletics  disciplines,   including   track   and  field  events.

CONGRATULATIONS   TO   THE   YEAR  7   NETBALL   TEAM.     Not   only   did  they   win   the   Halton   schools  tournament,   they   are   now   going  on   to   represent   Halton   at   the  

Merseyside   School   Games.     The  girls  played  fantastically   well  and,  despite   the   really   cold   weather,  they  kept  going.    They  didn’t  lose  a  point  and  beat   Sts  Peter   and  Paul  in  the  final  7-­‐2.    Here  is  a  picture  of  the  winning  team.

“The  Heath  Hurricanes  have  made  a   s t o rm   s i n c e   fo rm i n g   i n  September.   They   are   looking  amazing  in  their  kit  and  are  training  to  compete  in  the  United  Kingdom  C h e e r l e a d i n g   S c h o o l s  Championships   on   Sunday   23rd  June.   They   will   be   entering   both  the  Stunt   and  Pom  section  as  they  have  been  learning  the  latest  cheer  moves  along  with   the  stunts.   This  month   the   Cheerleader   of   the  Month   Award   went   to   Lauren  Begley   and   Eve  Groome   for   their  “outstanding   contribution   to   the  cheerleading  squad.  “

PE News

LIPA 4:19, a franchise of The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, has been established in Halton since 2009.

We are a part time performing arts academy for 4-19 year olds, and run classes on a Saturday during term time in singing, dance and drama. We have also performed several full scale shows in venues including the Brindley and across Merseyside, enjoyed thoroughly by performers and audiences alike.We also give the students opportunities to take part in performing arts examinations(dance/drama & singing) by accredited boards.

For all age groups, classes are fun and stimulating and are carefully designed to reflect the correct stage of performing arts development.We recruit the very best staff and all our tutors have relevant qualifications in their discipline, alongside working in the performing arts profession as artists and performers. We also have a uniform dress code ( LIPA t- shirt and black leggings/trousers). We believe this allows students to focus on classes and friendship without worries or concerns. If you wish to find out more information or wish to apply for a place at LIPA 4:19 at the Heath, please contact:

Kate Allerston, Principal of LIPA 4:19 at the Heath 01928 576664 or kallerston@heathschool.org.uk

The Heath - Closure DatesSCHOOL CLOSES SCHOOL REOPENS TO STUDENTS

Thursday 28th March 2013 Monday 15th April 2013

Friday 3rd May 2013 Tuesday 7th May 2013

Friday 24th May 2013 Monday 3rd June 2013

Friday 19th July 2013

Inset Days

Monday 22nd July 2013

Tuesday 23rd July 2013

Wednesday 24th July 2013

ICT Learn for life day – New TechnologyOn  Tuesday   12th  March  year  10  had  a  Learn  for   life  day,  the  day  involved  ICT   work  and   creating   an   app  that   would   be  useful  to  help  with  everyday   life.  The  first  part  of  the  day  was  in  the  library  and  we  were  taught  about  a  variety  of  useful  apps  and  how  to  use  them  by  an  apple  expert  who  visits  schools  across  the  country   to  teach  students  how  to  make  the  most  of  the  apps  available  on  the  App  store.  Then  we  headed  down  to  an  ICT  room  in  order  to  take  part  in  the  “design  an  app  icon”  competition,  choosing  one  of  the  following  categories:  Eat  well,  Save  Energy,  Be  Active.    The  winning  Icon  will  receive  a  new  ipad  mini.  

In  the  next  session  of  the  day  we  came  up  with  possible  problems  and  solutions  to  take  into  consideration  when  designing  an  app.  We  set  off  thinking  of  an  app  that  can  be  used  to  help  solve  problems  that  we  come  across  in  everyday   life,  once  we  thought  of  the  app  idea  and  designed  what  it  is  going  to  look  like  we  had  to  present  it  to  our  own  forms  and  they  were  judged  by  teachers  within  the  form.  The  best   in  form  then  went  forward  to  perform  their  presentation  in  front  of  year  10   in  order   for  the  three   judges;   Mr   Rogers,   an  ICT   consultant   and   an  apple  educator   to   choose  an  overall  winner.  We  were  allowed   to   use  our   mobile   phones  and   tweet   to   give   feedback   about   the  day   that   we  had  and   the  final  presentations,  using  #ICTLFL.  Our  favourite  part  of  the  day  was  the  role  play  within  the  presentation  because  it  was  something  that  you  can  have  fun  doing  by  over  exaggerating  and  adding  humour  to  the  performance.  Our  form  10LSHG  won  overall  and  received  £50,  a  certificate  and  a  rosette.

By  Lauren  Macdowall,  Elle  Goodwin  and  Tasha  Williams