Leading Parent Partnership Award Presentation Following the announcement of our success in achieving the LPPA it was fitting that I was able to hold a presentation ceremony last week and invited members of the Parent Forum Janet Keatley, Lisa Jameson and Tan Roberts to receive the award from Helen Lennon who acted as our LPPA advisor and who is Headteacher of St Oswald’s Catholic Primary School in Warrington. Also pictured with me are Mr Gill and Mr Beard who have been key in bringing together the Parent Forum and achieving the award.

MND charity week Head Boy & Head Girl Richie Redmond and Amy Pinkney are coordinating efforts to raise money for their chosen charity Motor Neurone Disease. The events will take place during the final week of term, 25

th March – 28

th March

and include: stocks, treasure hunt, dodge ball, coffee mornings, mile run, speed stacking and a raffle for a chocolate hamper just in time for Easter!

Fairtrade As mentioned in my last newsletter, Mrs Hughes and Mrs Simpson organised sampling sessions during Fairtrade Fortnight which clearly went down well with our students! Enough food for everyone if… Thanks to Mrs Simpson who had this really good idea, Year 8 got involved in the national ‘Enough food for everyone if…’ campaign. The campaign raises awareness of food shortages and widespread hunger throughout the world and aims to remind the government that it has promised to act on this issue. As part of the day the pupils participated in a number of sessions which highlighted the main reasons for the widespread hunger and also looked at the reasons Christians get involved in campaigns like this. Sessions were led by the Rev Docherty from St Andrew’s Church, Luke Wilkinson from Young Life Runcorn, and John Griffiths from Christian Aid, as well as teaching staff. All pupils engaged with and enjoyed the different activities. ‘I have learnt so much and have been really shocked at why some people in poor countries don’t get enough food. It’s so unfair,’ said one year 8 pupil. At the end of the day, the pupils wrote messages to David Cameron on paper plates explaining why they think it is so important and asking him to act. They all wrote passionate messages which we will send to him and hope that they will make a difference.

The Monthly Newsletter for Parents and Carers from the Head of School, Mr B. Carney. March 2013 Issue

The Monthly Newsletter for Parents and Carers from the Head of School, Mr B. Carney. March 2013 Issue

Grange Factor The inaugural Grange Factor consisting of a number of events loosely based upon Television’s ‘The Krypton Factor’ in which Runcorn Primary schools have been competing for the first time this year. The Krypton Factor was a game show which ran on ITV from 1977 to 1995 and was revived for a two series stint in 2009. The show tested both the mental and physical abilities of the contestants through a series of tough challenges. Each school was asked to select four year five pupils to represent them in The Grange Factor which pitted the contestants against each other in both physical and mental challenge similar to those featured on ‘The Krypton Factor’. Amongst the challenges were; a general knowledge quiz, a speed stacking race, an observation round and a puzzle round mimicking the style of the original Krypton Factor show. The competition has been extremely close over the four heats with all schools managing to win at least one of the four events. The school team with the most points in each of the four heats was presented with an engraved glass trophy to keep and certificates for all contestants. The final will be contested by the Four Heat winners, where a school will be crowned as The Grange Factor Champions for 2013 and will be expected to return next year to defend their crown as champions. The victorious team will win a large engraved glass trophy which will be presented after engraving to the winning team in their own school, a £100 of vouchers and individual winners’ certificates

The schools who have participated in the heats are: * The Grange, * Daresbury * Gorsewood, * Astmoor * Moore, * Weston * The Brow, * Halton Lodge * Runcorn All Saints, * Woodside * Holy Spirit,

The final will be contested by:

Moore Runcorn All Saints Weston The Grange

And will be held in the new purpose designed Grange School building on Wednesday 1

st May 2013.

Heat 1

Heat 3

Heat 2

Heat 4

New Building Like everyone else I have watched the development of the building from the outside and I have been impressed with the look and the quality of the emerging school and the surrounding grounds. On Monday 11

th March I

went inside the new building for the first time. I spent over three hours examining every room, office, stairway and corridor and I must confess to feeling assured that we have a new school building that is of the highest quality. I was very impressed with the space, the amount of natural light, the clever technology to keep the building at the correct temperature and the energy saving devices that will conserve resources and save money. A lot of the furniture was stored in the school hall waiting to be moved into classrooms. Some of the classrooms have already been furnished but the transparent, protective wrappers remain in place for the meantime. I also went behind the scenes and looked at the impressive kitchen that will cater for all the students, staff and visitors at break and lunchtime. My final visit was to the energy centre that housed the boilers and the massive water cylinders and all the heating and ventilation controls. Overall, it is without any doubt a very impressive endeavour and I am really looking forward to moving in at the start of next term. During the course of my tour I bumped into two former students of the Grange and spent a short while catching up. It seems that there are quite a few former Grange students who have found employment on the site which seems rather fitting.

This old building of ours has served many generations so well and no doubt will remain a special memory for so many of us who have had any association with it. I know that for some the thought of losing this old building is difficult but I can assure you that once our new school is complete and you get to see inside and all the wonderful facilities it has, most of us will wonder how on earth we coped with the old building. Information about the move and how that will impact upon students and parents/carers will be made available to you before the Easter holiday.

The Monthly Newsletter for Parents and Carers from the Head of School, Mr B. Carney. March 2013 Issue

The Monthly Newsletter for Parents and Carers from the Head of School, Mr B. Carney. March 2013 Issue

House activities So far this term the house system has seen a competitive humanities quiz where year 11 and 10 historians played against each other testing their knowledge of Britain, landmarks, celebrity historians and staff qualifications. The atmosphere was energised as every point counted. The final result saw Bridgewater claiming victory with Priory a close second, Brindley ranked in third and Castle came fourth. Comic Relief fund raising efforts ran last week with each of the house captains and staff members from each house pitching themselves against each other for comic benefit. Students voted for the teachers they wanted to see compete against each other in events such as single wicket challenge, press ups, speed stacking, space hopper, stare offs and shuttle runs. Finally this half term, on the 27

th March sees the annual House Swimming

Gala. With it set to being the biggest and best so far with the most competitors and varied races. Family spectators are more than welcome to make their way to Kingsway in Widnes from 1-3pm to lend their support and cheer on the competitors.

Important dates for your diary

Wednesday 27th March 2013: Inter House Swimming Gala

Thursday 28th March 2013: Finish for Easter Break

Tuesday 16th April 2013: Pupils return to school

Tuesday 23rd April: Y11 Photographs

Monday 6th May: Bank Holiday

Friday 24th May: Break for Half Term

Monday 3rd June: Return to School

Important Notices

Please note that on Tuesday 16th April when we return after the Easter

Break, all pupils are to return to the old school building as usual and will

then be escorted over to the new school in their form groups.

Year 11 Exam period begins week commencing Monday 13th May. All

pupils have been given their own individual exam timetable. Should you

require another copy then please do not hesitate to contact the school

office.