THORNLEIGH SALESIAN COLLEGE WINTER 2023 NEWSLETTER
Dear parents, carers and friends of Thornleigh Salesian College, welcome to our winter newsletter. As we reach the end of the Autumn term and approach the Christmas holidays we have got a lot to celebrate. We have had an exceptionally busy term as you can see from this bumper edition of our newsletter! Our students have worked really hard this term and have quickly got used to the pattern of our new school day. Our focus on student independence and responsibility has been enhanced by these new routines. I have been especially impressed this term with the enthusiasm and commitment from the whole school community to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable in our local area. Every form in the school has been involved in fundraising activities to support Caritas and Urban Outreach and we have surpassed all the original targets that we set for ourselves - thank you to everyone who has been involved and contributed to ensure that people can enjoy and celebrate Christmas this year. We have concluded the term this year with many community events beginning with our whole school production of ‘Legally Blonde’ which was rapturously received by sell out audiences in early December. Following this we had our annual Seniors Christmas Party-hosting over 100 pensioners from our local parishes- always a wonderful event. We ended our term with our Bolton Catholic schools Carol Service and finally end of term services for all our students - there is no finer way to prepare for Christmas! May I take this opportunity to wish you a very happy and holy Christmas and I look forward to seeing you in the new year. Mrs O’Callaghan 2 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 HEADTEACHER’S MESSAGE
3 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Open Evening We were absolutely delighted to welcome so many to our Open Evening this year and were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the prospective students who visited us. We are always proud to have the opportunity to show what an extraordinary school we are, with the facilities we have and our fantastic staff and students. Take a look at the photos from the evening, with explosions and dissections in the super science labs, a gig in music and a cauldron of trouble in the English department...
4 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Student Leadership Meet the Student Leaders 2023 - 24 Charlotte Year 7 My favourite sport to watch is dance, I dance myself so I can learn a lot. Evalyn Year 7 I like the film Home Alone because it’s very funny. Liam Year 7 The Grinch is my favourite film because it is very nice. Jenson Year 7 I love the Cannonball Club because I like the cars in the film. Maisie Year 8 I love peppers because they are very vibrant and are good in different foods. Luca Year 8 I would love to go to Italy because although I’m Italian I have never been. Alessandro Year 9 I love pizza because there are so many different varieties of toppings. Ellie Year 9 I like the first Harry Potter film because it has very good cinematics. Padma Year 9 I like noodles because it is my comfort food. Iman Year 10 I would love to be a language teacher. Toni Year 10 I am excited to run for Youth Parliament. Emiliana Year 10 My dream career is to hopefully one day be on the west end! Xander Year 11 I have a toy poodle called Freddie and he is extremely cute. Alfie Year 11 I am an aspiring actor and hope to be on the west end in the future. Favour Year 11 My dream career is to be a fully qualified doctor. Liam Year 11 My favourite song to listen to is ‘Pretty Hurts’ by Beyonce. Ovez Year 11 I would love to be totally rocking the title of a robotics engineer. Liv Year 11 I have a gorgeous cocker spaniel called Arla, she’s the light of my life. We are delighted to introduce to you our Student Leaders. They have worked particularly hard this term, well done to them all.
5 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Chaplaincy The first week of October was the conclusion of our Hope in the Future journey as our fifth and final stage drew to a close with a joyful celebration. On Tuesday 2nd October, schools came together for a fantastic event that celebrated all that we have learned and achieved over the past six years. The schools event welcomed almost 500 schoolchildren who raised the roof with a whole host of prayerful songs performed by creative worship group ‘One Hope Project’, before enjoying fun-filled talks about faith and mission, learning a signed prayer, sharing stories and ideas, taking part in group projects, and more. Our focus now turns to how we more fully become ambassadors for Christ! Hope in the Future The Confirmation Programme has begun well with over 70 candidates from the St Joseph’s Deanery parishes. We run the hybrid programme in collaboration with the parishes and school. The opening session with a prayer session and introduction in Thornleigh Chapel, followed by sessions for candidates. The parents and adults who were accompanying our young people had a separate session on guiding and leading the young people in their faith. The parents’ and adults’ session concluded with moments of prayer and adoration in the chapel. It is wonderful to see some of our new staff taking the role of being catechists in helping our young people in their faith journey. Confirmation Programme As part of the transition programme, our Year 7 students took part in a retreat programme, here they spent time as a form getting to know one another better and taking the time to reflect on their journey at Thornleigh so far. During these retreats, our students also had the opportunity to visit Thornleigh House. Here they learned more about the history of Thornleigh, where the name ‘Salesian comes from’ and why we are Thornleigh Salesian College. They also got to see Don Bosco Publications and met some of the important people who work there and how they help the message of Jesus be spread to thousands of people across the world. Year 7 Mini Retreats and House Visits
6 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Year 7 students who were active members of their GIFT (Growing in Faith Together) teams at primary school have been invited to continue as GIFT leaders this year. Their first mission was to take a lead in animating the CAFOD Harvest Fast Day campaign. GIFT Leaders I’m confident when I say that most of you reading this newsletter have heard of CAFOD and the amazing work that they do across the globe. From providing resources to poverty stricken countries, to supporting relief efforts in war torn areas - CAFOD are without a doubt changing the world for the better. And so when given the opportunity to be a part of the CAFOD young leaders programme, I knew this was my chance to get involved. One thing I especially value about CAFOD is the priorities given to the needs of those affected - CAFOD provides resources tailored to the needs and the wants of those directly involved. Being a small part of this worldwide team has helped me and the other CAFOD young leaders feel closer to our national AND international community. So far we have organised the harvest fast day in our school with the theme “Brighten Up”. We asked everyone in the Sixth Form to wear bright colours and donate as little or as much as they could to the cause and the outcome was incredibly successful. In addition to our work in Sixth Form, we also asked for donations from lower school students and gave them the opportunity to light a candle for someone in need. Recently, we have taken part in our first training session focusing on the aims and values of CAFOD and were given the opportunity to learn about their work: How they work, the aid they provide, their cooperation with other countries which support the cause and the fundraising side of the charity. During this session, we met other leaders from the Diocese of Salford and got to work alongside them to plan future fundraising events. We look forward to taking part in future events and training programmes as we continue to work with CAFOD and represent our community as your CAFOD young leaders. Cafod Young Leaders This was another occasion of “Growing Together, Rooted in Faith”, with families and the wider community. We celebrated Mass to welcome all the Year 7s as well as to pray together as a community for the new academic year. The choir sang to make it a memorable celebration of the Eucharist. Community Mass
7 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 On the occasion of the visit of Fr Roman Jachimowicz SDB, Regional Councillor for Central and North Europe, a service of commissioning was held in the school chapel for the student leaders for this academic year. We invited year Captains and Head Students to renew their commitment to serving the school community in a spirit of RUAH. As a reminder of their belonging to the wider Salesian Family, Salesian badges were blessed and presented to each student after their prayers of commitment. After the short service, the student met with Fr Roman and shared their experience of being students in a Salesian school community. Commissioning of Student Leaders Every year, the tradition of celebrating a Mass on Remembrance Sunday has become part of the Thornleigh programme. This year the mass was held on 12th November and was led by our newly ordained priest, Fr Steven Lloyd. The Catenians from the Bolton area, school staff, students and the Salesian community all took part. It is time to remember all those past students who have died in the war. The school choir sang for the mass. Everyone joined for refreshments after mass in the Sixth Form. Remembrance Mass Two Year 7 groups went on retreat to Savio House this term, with both retreats being sold out very quickly. This continues to be a very popular part of the induction programme for Year 7 and builds on the work started by the mini retreats in school to establish the students as members of the wider Salesian Family. Students were accompanied by staff from chaplaincy, the year team and the leadership team. Retreat Programme The Diocese of Salford as part of the preparation for the Diocesan Synod had a Big Listen Exercise in the school. The exercise was led by Ms Lorraine Leonard from the Youth Ministry Team, who guided the group through the four questions of the Big Listen and collected their responses. These questions, which have been shared with Synod groups across the diocese and are available on our Synod portal, invited the group to reflect on their core values, the mission of the Church, and its role in the 21st-century. Young people from the school participated and gave their views and outlook on the church at this present time. Listening Exercise
8 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Follow us @tsc_re RE Over summer the RE department has had a phenomenal makeover! As a department we planned how we would like a student’s journey through the RE corridor to look like and the final result wowed both students and staff. We have the story of creation, places of pilgrimage, Catholic Social Teachings as well as much more on display for students to explore. This has not only made the RE corridor look more vibrant and colourful, but everything that we have designed is there to support students with their knowledge and understanding especially of biblical events and scripture. Students have commented on how the corridor makes coming to RE an exciting place to be. The RE Department Wall Art To support our Year 11 students in preparing for their first PPE’s we have been providing revision Master Classes every Tuesday after school. These have included how to make and use flashcards in a purposeful way, create revision sheets with core knowledge as well as how to answer tricky GCSE exam questions. Students have enjoyed the chance to work in small groups with staff as well as individually to prepare for their PPE’s and went into their exams feeling extremely confident. Masterclasses
9 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Just before half term, students in Years 9 - 11 were treated to a theatre trip to see a production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool. With Mr Antonio and Fr Saju driving the minibuses, we arrived in perfect time to sit back, relax and enjoy the show! The story, told entirely through song, explores the personal relationships and struggles between Jesus, Judas, Mary Magdalene, his disciples, his followers and the Roman Empire. Therefore, students not only got to experience a theatrical spectacle, but were also able to consolidate their understanding of the Passion of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ Superstar This year we have brought back St Francis’ Animal Garden, named after St Francis of Assisi. Here we currently have two Guinea Pigs that are settling in and some eager students who are ready to help in the animals garden and become our student leaders. These students are mostly from our Chaplaincy area who want to get involved in caring for our animals. Not only has this provided a calm outdoor space for students, but they have also been learning about the best way to care for our animals and how to lead other students who are new to the Animal Garden in caring for the animals. Animal Garden During the season of Advent, students in Year 10 and Year 11 are being given the opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. This is something that students study as part of their GCSE but more importantly is a time when they have the chance to pause, reflect and repent. As part of this sacrament students will take time in our chapel where they are led through an examination of conscience and then had the opportunity to speak to one of our Salesian Priests. Many of our students have said how beneficial this has been to them in not only preparing themselves during the advent period but also giving them the opportunity to reflect in what can be an extremely busy time in their lives. Reconciliation As part of our Year 7 induction in RE our students went to Thornleigh House and whilst there met some of our Salesian Priests. To continue this we invited these priests into school where our students were able to conduct an interview with a priest. Our students prepared some intriguing and captivating questions about life as a priest, the responsibilities it comes with, the difference between living in community and being a diocesan priest as well as the importance of vocation in their lives. We would like to thank our Salesian community for giving up their time to meet our students and give them this great opportunity. Interview with a Priest This term we are continuing to work with Father Chris Gorton to provide students with the opportunity to explore our mission of Growing together. Each week students in KS3 have had the chance to create a piece of art that they, as a class can add to, and map their journey in Year 7. Fr Chris Art Workshop
10 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Over 100 students were involved in this year’s school music production of Legally Blonde Jr which was performed on the 6th - 8th December to a sold out audience every night! Students involved had been rehearsing since July and all their hard work really showed - well done to all involved! From your production team of Mr Eccleshare, Mrs McKeon, Miss Griffin, Miss Eccles and Miss Smalley.
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412 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Follow us @tsc_dt Design Technology There are moments within every teachers life where miracles happen. I’m not talking about waving a magic wand but about where little things happen, one moment at a time and as these small moments happen they all build up to be something magical. At the start of the year in Design Technology we did something that we have never done before and that was to ask for help with paying for practical projects. We wanted to make sure that every child had the option to take home something that they had made. One of the most beautiful moments was when one of the parents called the school and said that not only did they want to contribute to the school but that their child also used their pocket money to pay for someone else. Someone that they had never met but they still wanted to give more. With a little tear in my eye I was reminded how beautiful little moments like this are. Miracles are like the stars in the sky, one by one they add up to be something amazing. Even though this is the first term, here are a few projects that have already happened this year… and this is only just the beginning… Year 7 This term Year 7 have been learning how to use the workshop tools and equipment safely. The focused practical task this term has been how to create an animal peg. They will shortly move on to the CAD LED lighting project Mr Hughes Year 8 Year 8 are learning how designers create new ideas and how to develop their very own designs. They are presently working on the next project which is to develop a Pewter Cast keyring.
13 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Year 9 Year 9 started the year looking at how to become an Architect. The latest project is now the Memphis inspired clock. Mr Cox Year 10 Year 10 GCSE Design Technology have been looking at Biomimicry (creating designs influenced by nature. Their final designs are exemplary. Mrs Birchall Year 10 Within this term Year 10 BTEC Construction students have been looking at different vocations. The topic this term has been electrical wiring. The Year 10 Design and Technology students have been working on producing an adjustable light with biomimicry as their inspiration. The students have been working independently and collaboratively to develop practical skills which will become the foundational experience for their two year GCSE course. These skills will be embedded throughout the forthcoming academic year and will facilitate their eventual success in their NEA. Revision Guide All the new GCSE Design Technology revision guides are also now available from the school for £5 or you could buy it off amazon for £6.53.
4814 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 The Duke of Edinburgh Award In October, our Year 11 Duke of Edinburgh bronze award participants took part in their qualifying expedition at Waddecar campsite in Bleasdale, Lancashire. Thornleigh has been visiting this part of Lancashire for many years to complete the D of E expeditions, and thanks must go to Waddecar campsite for being so accommodating to our participants. The weekend involved our students putting into practice the skills they had learnt from their training sessions and practice walks earlier in the year. Using skills such as map reading, cooking on gas stoves and first aid, as well as using their knowledge of the countryside code, participants were required to complete a hike for 6 hours each day in the Bleasdale countryside. This meant participants being self-sufficient throughout the weekend, carrying everything they needed in their rucksacks, cooking for themselves on camping stoves and pitching their own tents. The weather was excellent and we were treated to an amazing sunset on the Saturday evening as students neared the finish line for day one, after which our students sat around the campfire singing songs and toasting marshmallows. On the Sunday, students cooked breakfast for themselves before completing the second hike of the weekend. After their hike, students had the opportunity to visit Beacon Fell Country Park to spend some time exploring the nature trails and wooden sculptures there. The participants completed the expedition showing resilience and good humour, and we look forward to celebrating their success at the completion of their other sections for the award. Thank you to Miss Brindle, Miss Denoual, Miss Gibson, Mr Hodson and Mr Grundy for volunteering to give up their weekend to support our participants, and thanks to Mr Fairclough and Mr Pritchard for organising the expedition.
1 59 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Kindness Month The Bosco Centre ran a kindness month throughout November. Firstly, students designed and produced our ‘Choose Kindness’ board. Each day, a student was chosen to open an envelope that contained an act of kindness or an uplifting statement. Secondly, students and staff worked incredibly hard producing crafts for remembrance. Thirdly, students visited Entwistle Reservoir to embrace the outdoors and continue their kindness acts. Each student produced a kindness bag that they hung from trees as they journeyed around the reservoir. Each bag contained a hand-painted glass star, a kindness quote or prayer and a handmade kindness bracelet. Members of the public will find the bags. Numeracy Challenge The numeracy challenge continues to run in all Year 7 and 8 forms this year and the competition between the forms and form tutors has been intense. In Year 7 at the time of writing Mr Hodson’s 7 Gamma lead the way with 3 point lead over Mr Woods’ 7 Alpha with Miss Millers’ 7 Omega 5 points behind in third place. All forms have competed really well with almost all forms having weeks when 100% of students got a correct answer. In the Year 8 numeracy challenge, a lot of forms have performed exceptionally well this term, with many forms scoring 100% on the challenges each week. The current leaders in Year 8 are Mr Jones’ 8O with Mr Birchby’s 8 Alpha in second place. 8 Zeta are in third place and 8 Kappa are in fourth place. The competition will continue until the final week of term when the winners will be presented with the coveted numeracy challenge trophy and a form prize. Maths Follow us @ThornleighMaths
4816 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 MFL This summer we embarked on another one of our Turing visits to Malta, spending 7 days exploring and educating ourselves on the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Life Below Water, Quality Education and the Gender Equality as well as many more. After arriving mid afternoon, we spent the day by the pool, before going out to explore St Paul’s Bay and then having our meal and catching up on some well needed rest. On our second day in Malta we visited the Esplora Science Centre and the planetarium where we learnt about our planet as well as the astrological signs and ancient Greek mythology. Alfie, a current Year 12 student who went on the trip said “this was an exciting excursion that inspired me to delve deeper into Greek mythology and our own solar system.’ We also visited Valletta and the three cities to enjoy some shopping, and looked at the different architecture and history within the city. Our third day was spent at the National football stadium and museum where we enjoyed a talk from Malta’s first national team’s women’s coach, Pierre Brincat, and how gender equality has evolved overtime. He was so passionate about the roles of women and the influence of sport and this was particularly inspirational on the opening day of the Women’s World Cup. We also have a piece of Thornleigh in the museum after a shirt exchange. Some of us experienced the Maltese passion that evening when we returned for a local football match. Jake said ‘Going to the football game and feeling the experience and passion that everyone shares globally no matter their background for the same beautiful game. I feel like it made me realise how although we know there are other cultures, there are significant factors that connect us as one race and make us realise that we are one no matter the location of our own community, faith, relations and values.’ We also visited the silent town of Mdina before going to Mosta for a tour of the basilica and a traditional lunch in a Maltese house, before visiting the WW2 tunnels. Ciara said, ‘it was amazing to learn about Malta’s history whilst immersing ourselves in the culture.” ‘Global Thinkers, Sustainable Collaborators’ – KS4/5 Malta Turing Visit Follow us @tsc_mfl_dep
1759 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Day four was spent at the Green Living Learning Centre, a charitable organisation which allows outdoor learning for children after school and in the school holidays to inspire the children further outside the classroom. During this visit we completed many sustainable activities with the children including building herb spirals, turtle houses and even painting the environment connecting international communities. Olivia said, “it was such a rewarding outdoor learning experience which had a profound effect on all of us.” Another student also said ‘this has also inspired me to take up volunteering in future’ and another said ‘contributing to the community allowed me to realise how small actions can have varying impacts on others.’ After a morning of hard work, we had a fabulous afternoon at Gnjena Bay reflecting on Life Below Water and the human impact on nature. We worked closely with Sharklab-Malta where we enjoyed an informative talk about turtles and also had the opportunity to go snorkeling which was an amazing way to explore life below water and the importance of preserving our coral. One student said ‘I enjoyed snorkelling as it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and it was a new experience for me which pushed me out of my comfort zone.’ On day five we enjoyed a journey on an open top bus then had a relaxing boat trip around the island before heading to the local shopping centre to enjoy some free time. Day 6 was spent at the National Aquarium at St Paul’s Bay with our new friends at Sharklab-Malta where we enjoyed an informative talk about sharks and marine life whilst also enjoying a guided tour around the aquarium and seeing the impact of women on oceanography. After this we went for a swim in the bay before going back to the hotel to reflect on our trip. Fr Bob led a mass to conclude our amazing adventure. We headed out into Valletta that night to enjoy a night at the food festival where we all got to spend some time together as a group and after returning we had our nightly reflection then got some well needed rest for our long day of travelling the next day. We arrived home mid afternoon on the Monday all fulfilled with the joy of our trip, one that we will all remember forever, as a highly educational yet exciting trip- that we were all incredibly grateful to go on. It is always lovely to receive positive feedback from parents: ‘The knowledge and experience of the trip is invaluable moving forward and inspires those who went to continue learning and promote sustainability to their peers.’ ‘Natalie loved this trip and came back full of admiration for the sustainable projects (e.g. shark and turtle conservation). She also enjoyed meeting people from different countries and also made new school friends on the trip who she has seen again since coming back.’ ‘A well organised trip with lots of support from staff. Thank you to staff for giving their time.’ ‘Thank you for the opportunity.’
14018 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Language Leaders During our Language Leader meetings this term, we have been developing our ideas for how to raise the profile of languages within our school. We have launched an extracurricular language club and are now completing the selection process for the borough-wide Translation Bee competition. A group of our Language Leaders have also been meeting to complete their preparation for the Routes into Languages award. Throughout the year they will build evidence in their log books and have had some fruitful discussions about what is required of a language teacher. Some of our KS5 students have also supported our younger students in their lessons in preparation for their own teaching episodes where they will teach in a local primary school. Global Leaders Our Global Leaders have worked hard this past term delivering key messages during whole school assemblies. The have discussed key messages on sustainability, creation and protecting our planet. The group will be meeting soon to discuss more ideas on how we can develop initiatives in our own community and give back to others. Bolton Learning Partnership MFL Network We have launched a ‘design a card’ competition across all the schools in Bolton. Where the prizes are supported by the Bolton Learning Partnership. The students have to design a card reflecting the traditions and customs of this time of year within different cultures and countries. Fingers crossed we will have some winners at Thornleigh. International School Update Following reaccreditation of the International School Award from the British Council, we have also been awarded the Global School Alliance Bronze Award in recognition of all the outstanding international work that we complete in the school. As part of the International work, we have completed our work with the Erasmus+ Creative I-Media project with France and the International Climate Action Network with Italy, Hungary and France. Last year we also made the most of our success funding of just over £120,000 from the Government’s Turing Scheme. This money has continued to support us in enhancing our Global Curriculum and creating critical thinkers and sustainable collaborators amongst our students. We embarked on three educational visits, a return to Gibraltar in January for Years 7 and 8, a visit to Turin in April for Years 9 and 10 and a visit to Malta in July for Years 11 and 12. During these visits we have increased our connections with educational programmes and school throughout the world and this has been supported through by our own Global Leader Programme. We are hoping to now use some of ideas further in our own school community this year and we are so proud of the continued effort and commitment from all of our students in support of the various projects. We began a lunchtime languages club running on Wednesdays Week A 1:05 - 1:30pm and Week B 12:35 - 1pm, to write to Salesian schools around the world about school life at Thornleigh. The club will also run language activities in French - January until Easter break, Greek - Easter until May half term, and Mandarin - online following Easter, until the end of the year. It is a fantastic opportunity for all students to get a flavour for languages and cultural experiences from across the globe, that they would not normally experience within their Spanish lessons. Students have enthusiastically become engaged with French this term, and there is a keen interest for Greek and Mandarin for the remainder of the school year. Languages let’s go! Language Club The MFL department has led an exciting curriculum since September this year. There has been and continues to be enthusiasm across all year groups, particularly with topics in Year 7 “Me presento” to greet and introduce yourself, talking about classroom items, talking about your age and birthdays and “Mi familia y yo” covering vocabulary on family members, relationships, opinion phrases, and describing hair and eye colour. In Year 8, students have begun learning about past holidays and to give details on where they went, how they travelled there, who they travelled with, what they did and what the weather was like. In Year 9, students have been learning about celebrity culture in Hispanic countries - from descriptions and fashion to the use of the imperfect tense to describe both past and contemporary Spanish music. Following on from a successful Year 9 Parents Evening, MFL career starters will be introduced in the lessons, providing activities and videos to students on where careers with languages can take you. The MFL Curriculum
19151 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Art Key Stage 3 Art club has produced canvases as a sign of respect and rememberance. These canvases are on display in our main school reception. Thank you to all those students who gave up their time to remember, create and share. Art Club Canvases Astley Bridge Rememberance Gallery Thanks to Milly, Joshua and Oliver who worked alongside Mr McGreevy to produce Thornleigh’s contribution to Astley Bridge’s rememberance Gallery. This artwork has been displayed alongside work from all local community groups, nursery’s and schools near Astley Bridge bowling green. We are delighted to share with you our contribution to Astley Bridge’s Cemetery Chapel, two of our art leaders, Amelia and Layla, took inspiration from the stained glass here in our school chapel to form the design. It has been wonderful to be part of such a worthwhile project. Astley Bridge Cemetery Artwork Year 7 art club have worked hard to make Thornleigh’s contribution the Astley bridge Christmas display. This work alongside work from all local schools and community groups can be seen around the Andrew Lane area of Astley Bridge this December. Astley Bridge Christmas Display Year 7 students have used clay to create these designs for tea light holders. They learnt about the properties of clay before firing in our kiln and decorating to take home. Year 7 Clay Tea Light Holders Follow us @tsc_art
120 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 ThornleighArtGallery We are extremely proud of our Art students this term. They have worked very hard and produced some fantastic pieces of artwork. Take a look at our gallery showcasing just a few examples of what students have been doing! Follow us @tsc_art
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422 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Rome Trip Jess and Nancy, two of our Sixth Form students, give us their insight into the Rome trip, which was organised by the RE department during the October half term holiday: We went to Rome with high expectations and they were certainly fulfilled. The city is full of culture and enlightenment for people of any age and we feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to take the trip and see all that we saw. On the first day we visited the Vatican City where we went into St Peter’s Basilica which was nothing less than what we expected; it was spectacular, filled with famous statues and images such as La Pieta. We also went into the tombs on which the church was built, where Saint Peter’s tomb is located. Then to the Sistine Chapel where we were surrounded by the famous artworks of Michelangelo: The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgement, where we appreciated in-depth information from our tour guide, Sandra, about the meanings of both of the art works and the significance they still have for Christians today. The Castel Sant’Angelo was a lovely break from walking where we enjoyed the views of Rome from various points in the castle and took the opportunity to take photos of the city. On Wednesday we had a guided tour of Rome admiring the architecture and the cultural, historical atmosphere that engulfs the city. With it being Wednesday we returned to St Peter’s Square where we saw Pope Francis and listened to his special Angelus address for All Saints Day - a once in a lifetime opportunity for some. We then celebrated Mass at Basilica Sacro Cuore, the Salesian church in Rome, led by our very own Father Steven, which was in itself extremely beautiful, and we were taken round the house where Don Bosco lived. As with any trip, one has to explore the local culture and there is no better way than to eat their food! Italy is of course famous for their pasta and pizza and we took this opportunity to fill our boots and take advantage of the many restaurants located throughout the city. There were, as well, wonderful gelato shops everywhere which we were able to enjoy in the hot weather. Thursday was our last day and we visited the Colosseum, which enabled us to indulge in history while having the opportunity for pictures of the lovely views. It helped us to learn about the history of Rome and how people were entertained before televisions and phones! Our lovely tour guide, Sandra, then took us on a walk around a place of historical buildings and lovely sights to take pictures of as the views from here were amazing, and it really showed us the architecture of Rome and just how beautiful the city is. On our way back to the airport we stopped at the Catacombs of St Callistus - a poignant way to mark All Souls’ Day. The catacombs were built in order to bury people from the early Christian communities in Rome. We saw the original graves of popes who have since been moved to the Vatican, as well as original frescoes around the burial places of early Christian martyrs. This experience was very moving as it made us think about those who have gone before us in faith. The whole trip was really eye opening, and an experience we won’t forget.
235 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Science This year, we were inundated with applications for the role of Science Leaders. We now have a team of keen individuals with amazing ideas who were chosen to promote Science across the school. The team initially met towards the end of October to discuss their ideas for the year ahead. After the success of Science Club last year, the Science Leaders again wanted to offer opportunities to complete fun, wacky science experiments outside of their normal lessons. Our “Spooky Science Spectacular” event went down a treat before Halloween and Bonfire Night! Students wrote secret messages with potassium nitrate and revealed them using our Fire writing technique. They explored the properties of polymers by creating gooey slime and investigated the flame colours corresponding to different metals. Of course, this was all followed by lots of explosive demonstrations! Our Student Leaders are in the process of planning the Christmas themed special where all experiments will have a wintery theme. Expect shiny ornaments made in scientific glassware using a concoction of chemicals; the creation of fake snow; colourful chromatography baubles and, of course, magical Christmas demonstrations! We look forward to working with every single one of our wonderful Science Leaders and are confident they will be a huge asset to the school. Science Leaders Follow us @tsc_science
424 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Food Technology Year 7s have been busy preparing their fruit salads and preparing for their pasta salads whilst displaying their understanding of the ‘Eatwell Guide’ and ‘Hygiene and Safety in the Kitchen’ units of work. Year 8 have been studying ‘Food from around the World’ and have so far studied cuisine from India, China and Mexico with excellent results. They are currently planning their Italian menus to prepare after the Christmas break. Year 9 have been learning about Fair Trade and Food Miles and have been involved in lots of discussions about where our food comes from and why it is so important to be supporting our local businesses. They have shown excellent understanding of environmental issues and sustainability whilst demonstrating their practical skills baking cookies and cooking curry and Bolognese. We have been really pleased to see the wonderful homework that has been completed throughout the year, especially when this involves cooking at home with families. Child Development Our Year 11 Child Development students have completed the second piece of coursework and shown an excellent understanding of how children can learn through play at different ages. They have also been looking at individual circumstances that may impact on learning and development and how to create safe environments so all children can learn through play. During the Physical Play section we worked on how to help a child’s fine motor skills in a junk modelling activity and we also looked at how to make breakfast more fun to help with healthy eating, diet and nutrition. Follow us @_HomeTech
25 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Health and Social Care Our Year 11 Health and Social Care students have been studying the Care Values and gaining an understanding of why they are so important in a Health and Social Care setting. A blindfolded tour of the school highlighted the importance of effective communication and their understanding of a sensory impairment. Year 10 have made an excellent start to the course and we look forward to seeing what they can produce in their first written exam in February 2024. Year 11 have had an introduction into the health and safety aspects of working in the Hospitality and Catering sector, expanding on their knowledge from coursework for their external exam with their assessment taking place in the June exam series, they have been expanding their practical skills cooking both sweet and savoury products. Year 10 have started a practice version of their controlled assessment and in the run up to the Christmas break they will be researching and planning a series of dishes to meet the brief based on a bistro called ‘Waste not, Want not’. The class will be using their knowledge to create an inspiring menu which reflects the needs of the customers expected to eat there. There is an emphasis on using local ingredients and taking inspiration from shows such as ‘Great British Menu’ and ‘MasterChef’. Both groups will also be preparing and serving welcome drinks and biscuits for the upcoming annual pensioners party to be held at school. In January we look forward to the Aspens Head chef coming to work with us in a practical skills workshop which will hopefully be the first of many visits. Hospitality and Catering After a year when few of us can say we’ve not felt the pinch, it’s clear that festive budgets are stretched to the limit. A new piece of school uniform or kit desperately needed could well be the straw that breaks the donkey’s back at this time of year. How do you tell your child that Santa is leaving one less gift because they’ve grown out of their blazer and need a replacement? The simple answer - you don’t. Thornleigh’s Uniformd Project recycles and redistributes pre-loved and pre-worn items at a knock-down price to take the edge off those uniform bills. Energetically and efficiently managed by our Uniformd elves themselves - Ellie A, Beth T, Keira G, Jordan R and Tilly R - our Thornleigh College students have kindly volunteered their own enrichment time to provide this much needed service and are committed to providing you with cut-price, quality uniform alternatives. A Big Festive Shout Out for the ‘Uniformd Project’ 2023! They collect, sort and collate our much-needed donations to display on our school Uniformd page. All you need to do is check availability, pay online and your order will be made available for either you or your child to pickup within a couple of days. It’s an absolute privilege to see money gained from sales being ploughed back into our school- and, as our kit is so bespoke, where else could it do good? Certainly not being ploughed back into landfill. So - our final message: the Uniformd team would really like you to consider vintage before you head to the outfitters. And don’t forget your New Year clear outs! We’re always happy to take your donations.
426 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Within the first half term our Be Kind to My Mind Champions were invited to an event held by the Bolton Council on the subject of Mental Health within schools. Throughout the day the students were tasked with presenting what we do within school around mental health to questioning the panel of experts on their thoughts and feelings surrounding what has been done in the local area. The event has inspired our students to introduce new ideas into the school. Personal Statements Alessandro: In my opinion, having the chance of being there with lots of other schools and engaging and making friendships was great. Everybody there had the same goal but we all had different ways of reaching it. We had a chance to express our thoughts on mental health but the key thing was to listen what others had to say. We took home lots of ideas which we will use within our school and we hope that the people who need it most use these ways to give themselves a clear mind. From this campaign I personally learnt a lot. The event itself was great and we gathered lots of information not only from other schools but also mental health professionals. Iman: Personally I enjoyed meeting new people and sharing my own thoughts and opinions with others. To see so many people come together to become Be Kind To My Mind champions and create a positive impact on young people’s mental health has inspired me. During the event we showcased what we do at our own school to spread the message of Be Kind To My Mind by doing a presentation and we got to see what other schools do in their own communities. I had a lot of fun learning new techniques to cope with different issues such as anxiety. The event has made me more confident in being a Be Kind To My Mind Champion and I hope that I will be able to use the new knowledge I acquired from the event to help other young people with their mental health. Alfie: The whole conference was fantastic with helping young people to speak up and share their voices to the council. Overall the conference was really helpful in allowing us to share our thoughts on mental health in Bolton so that we as young people could feel like we have a safe space to talk to someone no matter what. The event made me more comfortable when talking about mental health and helped me to understand many different points of views on mental health. Bright Leaders At the beginning of the School Year, our Year 11s had the opportunity to follow the ‘Leader Within’ programme that is delivered by former Thorneligh student Chris Reddy’s ‘Bright Leaders’. The programme was greatly appreciated by the students and was extremely beneficial for everyone. ‘Leader Within’ lasted over 6 sessions which enabled our students to work together as a group. Here are some of the students thoughts: Amelia: “It helped me work on my confidence and knowing what my strengths are.” Hamza: “In my opinion, I believe this program has helped me to find courage this has enabled me to enhance my leadership abilities and public speaking skills” Liam: “It was an amazing experience. The last meeting was magical and precious and it allows you to get a chance to meet people and get to know people that you barely speak to. You learn how to be leader, but you also learn more about yourself and others.” Miriam: “If I had the choice to recommend it to people I would fully endorse it because it gets you out of your shell and speaking to new people!” Favour: “I would definitely recommend this course to anyone because, it really helped me come out of my comfort zone, it taught me how to lead and it really helped in regards of being more in-tune with my inner self and thoughts. I also got to know so many other amazing people, which is really nice.” Xander: “This programme enabled me to feel comfortable around the people I am with within school, it was really well delivered and I have learnt skills and have gained memories.” Alfie: “The whole experience was really moving to me. I was able to share my life’s missions and goals and being vulnerable whilst being in a safe space surrounded by people I knew wouldn’t judge me and I knew that Chris or Becky were there to help me and support me. I definitely recommend this course for other students as it helped you build your confidence and become the best leader you can be.” Be Kind to My Mind Event
275 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Safety Week 25th - 29th September Safety Week was a great success across school. As a school we looked at some of the issues arising that could impact upon our students and tailored the week accordingly to make them feel safe and supported. Susan Tinkler from Bolton Council and PC Dave Heald from the local police force, joined us for a day of presentations on road safety. They discussed the costs involved both emotionally and financially to those involved in road traffic accidents. They highlighted the need for all students to pay full attention to the dangers of the road when out walking and also issued a plea for all students to wear helmets while cycling. Susan Tinkler showed the year groups a model of a brain discussing how trauma injuries caused by falling from bikes without helmets can cause lifelong damage. Year 7 and 8 were given a presentation from the Air Ambulance Service, the presentation was really interesting, the children were fascinated by the LUCAS machine for the delivery of accurate CPR. We were especially pleased to welcome back former Thornleigh student Neil Mackay who is an air ambulance paramedic to deliver this session. The morning assemblies explored the theme of Mental Health First Aid, focusing on how students can actively protect their self-esteem and promote their own resilience. We also had a tutorial time assembly for Year 9 from MHST on mental health. On Friday, PC Flannery presented to Year 7 on safety in our local community. He spoke particularly about the dangers of knife crime, signposting where help is available. In the Curriculum for Life sessions during Safety Week, students completed a lesson on Rail Safety, using powerful materials from Living Switched On. We have more outside agencies coming in to talk to our students throughout the year. During this second half-term in Curriculum for Life we have been covering a wide range of topics across the year groups during tutorial sessions. Year 9 had an assembly delivered by Urban Outreach, which is a Christian charity providing food for households in crisis; and person-centred support for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable adults and young people in Bolton. They came to talk to us about what we can do as a school community in helping those around us. Year 10 and 11 had an assembly delivered by Dheeran, who is the Manchester University ambassador representing The Oddballs Foundation, which is a charity which aims to make a difference to male health around the world by raising awareness of testicular cancer. More information on signs, symptoms and how to check yourself can be found on their website: www.theoddballsfoundation.com Rachel from the organisation Kooth presented to Years 8 and 7 on how to use this service. Kooth is a website where children can find online support and counselling. As a follow-up to Safety Week, we held a Parental Guidance for the Health and Wellbeing of Children evening. The speakers included PC Flannery from Bolton Police Force who discussed the impact of vaping and other dangers to young people in the community. Mr Atkinson, a member of Thornleigh Salesian College’s senior leadership team, delivered information on how to check your child’s online safety settings and limit screen time. Rachel Richards from Kooth gave a talk on how Kooth can support mental health in both children and adults. And finally, one of our student leaders, Iman, presented information on the role in our school of Be Kind to My Mind, which is a campaign from Bolton Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Curriculum for Life
428 WINTER NEWSLETTER 2023 Computer Science With women only making up 17% of the Cyber Security workforce, the GCHQ competition is designed to encourage girls to consider a future career in Cyber Security. Four of our fantastic Year 8 girls have been participating in the competition which asks them to solve a range of different cyber puzzles including AI and logical puzzles, cryptography and networking challenges. Students are in competition with some of the brightest minds in the country. We will find out if the girls have been successful, however, they have all developed skills which will be useful in their future careers. CyberFirst Girls Competition 2023 Cyber Security All KS3 students this term have learnt about Cyber Security including a range of online threats and protection methods. At KS4 and KS5 Computer Science, the students learn in more depth about different types of cyber threats including social engineering, hacking and software threats. They are then challenged to propose solutions to these threats; considering protection and prevention methods. If you are interested in studying Computer Science at GCSE or A-Level then please speak to your Computer Science teacher. Computer Science Student of the Year! Congratulations to Moscow who received Computer Science student of the year! Moscow is a Year 13 Computer Science student with an exciting future in front of him. He is currently designing a computer game for his design project using a range of technologies including attempting to add elements of AI into the game. Moscow has helped out at Open Evening and Sixth Form open evening as well as supporting younger students with their GCSE revision. Giant Makey-Makey In Room 56 we recently created a giant Makey-Makey allowing students to see how we can control games using physical computing. If you would like to see the controller in action then please speak to your computer science teacher. Follow us @_Computing
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