18 May 2012

Would you like to take part in The 'Race for Life', which is to be held on Wednesday 30th May.  Letters are still available from the female PE staff and it would be nice to have as many female participants taking part to support this worthy cause. Reply slips need to be brought in asap. We anticipate on starting the race at 3.45pm and parents/guardians are more than welcome to come and support. Participants can wear any item of pink in aid of the charity.

Thanks, PE department

16 May 2012

It was a new experience for most of the students and 2 of the staff. And when we arrived in the coach through heavy clouds and drizzle, they might have been wondering what they had let themselves in for. But after some lively ice- breakers and some time in groups, it was suddenly like we’d been there for weeks. In the following 3 days, we walked through some of the most amazing scenery in the Lakes, built shelters in the Castlerigg woods, acted and sang, and spent quality time in the peaceful chapel.

In the middle of the week, we had an emotional evening where students experienced the Sacrament of Reconciliation and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. We had a beautiful Mass for which students prepared prayers, drama and artwork, and profound moments of prayer and reflection. For all these, students behaved impeccably and perhaps rediscovered a deep need for ‘time out’.

We returned exhausted, though not too tired to sing a final ‘Castlerigg grace’ as we pulled into Killington services on the M6! As usual, there is a bit of a sense of ‘where next?’ and ‘what now?’ We hope that we will have a huge new intake for SVP (Wednesdays during registration) and that the recruitment is already beginning for next February’s trip.

In the meantime, heartfelt thanks to all the students who went – for their participation, their good humour and their lovely manners. And a special thanks to Mrs. Lavis, Mrs. Birchall and gaplain Christine who sacrificed time at home and quite a few hours of sleep(!) to ensure everyone had a safe and enjoyable time.

Mr. Stewart

08 May 2012

Thank you for the different development ideas submitted this year. Ideas were handed in by fifteen forms out of the possible twenty five who could have given in their ideas. I've collated the school's top three, submitted by each form.

1. By far and away the most frequent request was for the Grab'n'Go to open up or for vending machines (with healthy snacks/drinks in) and somewhere in addition to the canteen to eat (16 requests in total). A number of senior staff met last Friday with Catering Academy, the College's new catering contractor, who are going to prepare plans for the Grab'n'Go to open up by the 11th June 2012. They have told us that healthy snack vending machines are not really cost effective but they will look at vending machines providing healthy drinks. The biggest challenge will be to find additional spaces, outside of the canteen, for students to eat. The Flexible Learning Spaces can't be used as we need these for learning and can't risk them becoming untidy during the day. However, the very low level of litter is extremely encouraging - students are doing a fantastic job keeping the College litter free, thank you - may mean we can look at other areas around the College or outside for students to sit and eat in.
2. Interestingly enough the second idea was for more bins (4 requests). Mr Slack has been contacted by a local firm about using the new school buildings to photograph some of their bins in. He may seek support from them in allowing us to purchase a number of bins for along the street, in the new flexible learning areas and outside as more of the grounds become available to us. We hope to have this sorted within a month.
3. Equal second (4 requests) was for a change in design of some of the toilets. There was some confusion between Eric Wright and ourselves about the final design of the toilets. We are currently working with them on a new design which consists of "mini rooms" rather than cubicles to increase privacy for students. We hope to have the toilets redesigned and in place by the time we come back in September 2012.

A few other issues literally appeared once or twice so didn't make the school's top three. More toilets and exits from the school are on there way in the next phase. Please remember that whilst we have most of the new 11-16 part of the school there is another phase yet to be built. This will be ready by September 2013 and will contain the new dining room, a new hall and more student toilets (at the north end of the current street on the ground floor) and a Learning Resource Centre plus even more student toilets at the north end of the street on the first floor (a temporary LRC is available to students in St. Joseph's, room 103). There will also be new Sixth Form and staff accommodation. Some students have asked to keep lockers for more than a day. With many lockers still vacant and available for use we do not intend to remove padlocks from any lockers, at the moment, but will continue to monitor the situation.

23 April 2012

Congratulations to both the Year 9 and Year 10 boys football teams who both reached the Blackpool Schools Cup Finals at Fleetwood FC last Thursday. Both teams played St.George's with contrasting fortunes. The Year 9 game finished 0-0 after 70 minutes and so went into extra time. Unfortunately St.George's scored 3 quick goals in extra time to make the final score 3-0. The boys, however, were superb and never gave up.

The year 10 team won 4-0 with a dominant display. The boys played fantastic football and deserved to be comfortable winners.

Thanks,
Mr.Reidy