Blog w/c 23^rd May 2022

Hi All,

Welcome to the last blog of the half term. It has been a busy few weeks with lots to report and there has been a number of events to celebrate student success.

Worry Monsters

A big welcome to the Blacon High School family of Worry Monsters.

Some of our students struggle to deal with the kind of things the rest of us may take for granted. This is a lovely idea designed to help some of our young people cope with the different challenges they may be facing on a day to day basis.

Mrs MacIntosh has finally taken delivery of her Worry Monsters from ‘Knit for Nowt’, a charity who help support the emotional wellbeing of young people in education.

These particular monsters were made by knitters and seamstresses from all over the UK and each one has its own personality. The hope is that all students will find one that they feel they have an affinity with.

Any resemblance to staff members from our fantastic Sanctuary team is completely accidental J

KS3 Film Night

Blacon High School PTA continues to offer a programme of activities that enhance our extra-curricular offer.

On Wednesday 25^th May, lots of KS3 students enjoyed a screening ‘Sing 2’ in the Hall; an oppor

tunity to watch a film and spend some time with their friends. Of course, the Diner was open for refreshments and everyone enjoyed a great time.

Keep an eye on the school website and social media for future events.

Rewards

It’s always great to take the opportunity to reward those students who consistently model the school’s values.

It was a real pleasure to take ten students each from years 7, 8, 9 and 10 out for pizza at La Fattoria in Chester. These students were rewarded for their attitude to learning, excellent attendance and for being positive ambassadors for the school at all times.

Well done everyone!

Camping

In recent years, students have been able to take advantage of a camping trip offered in the autumn term but this hasn’t happened since 2019 because of Covid. However, over the last few weeks, we have finally been able to put this right.

In a series of trips led by Mr Blain, with support from Miss McHale, Mr Colewell and a host of other staff, a huge number of students across years 7, 8, 9 and 10 each enjoyed a camping trip to Alderford Lake.

Students all had a fantastic time and engaged in a number of activities including: archery, rock climbing, raft building, bush craft and a host of other water based sports.

Thanks to all of our students for their excellent behaviour while they were away, and thanks also to staff for giving up their time to support these trips.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

The ‘Theatre in the Quarter’ presents 'OUR JUBILEE', a short film aimed at connecting generations. Inspired by many meetings, workshops and conversations between groups of teenagers in Cheshire and over 100 people who were children at the time of Queen Elizabeth's Coronation. Performed by a community cast of all generations from Chester and Cheshire to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Filmed on location in Chester and Cheshire, United Kingdom, Spring 2022.

Please follow the link below to the Jubilee video with sections filmed in our school and using members of the school choir as extras.

https://vimeo.com/714721592

Exams

As teachers, it makes us really proud to see the maturity that our Year 11 students are displaying in their approach to their GCSEs. As you know, they are the first students who have had to face summative examinations since 2019 and we are very proud of the effort they are putting into them.

Our best wishes go without saying and we wish them all continued good luck for the remaining exams, which finish on June 23^rd.

Half term

So, another half term comes to a close and we now move into the last few weeks of the school year. As always, time is flying past and we look forward to what the second half of the summer term will bring. For our Year 11s, it’s their last few exams, a prom and some farewells. For the rest of school, it’s that time when you might be starting to think about facing the new challenges of moving up a year.

There is always an element of celebration when the sun shines and, like all schools, will do our very best to make the most of the June and July with rewards assemblies, reward trips and a host of other activities.

Keep an eye on the school website and on social media for key dates and information on upcoming events.