Lourdes Pilgrimage

Y10 and Year 12 students went on pilgrimage to Lourdes from 5th –13th July. All pupils were assigned to a sick member of the adult pilgrimage. Some of these pilgrims were terminally ill. Their responsibility was to transport these people to the many pilgrimage events in Lourdes and to be a support for partners or companions of these sick people. The pupils were deeply touched by the experience. Talking, listening, caring for the sick and giving practical, physical support affected them emotionally and spiritually. They could see the value of working with those less fortunate than themselves. Some of their future career choices would be ultimately affected by this profound experience.

Mr Aitchison, Miss Rylands and Miss Couttie were very proud of the way each and every student responded to every task and responsibility they were given. Mr Aitchison said “We are privileged to witness the attention and affection the students gave to the person(s) they were looking after. The pilgrimage is tiring work. After travelling 27 hours to arrive in Lourdes, the pupils were set to work straight away. They often worked from 7.30am to 10.30pm. To see these young people enjoying the experience and leading them in various events and liturgies which had an affect on them spiritually was a humbling experience. You build a very trusting and loving relationship with the students and there are moments when staff are sought after to offer spiritual guidance, support and a listening ear”.

James Aitchison

JUMP INTO HEALTHY EATING!

September is the start of our new in-house catering provision using the first phase of our refurbished kitchens. Jump into Healthy Eating is our new logo (designed by Elizabeth Atkinson in Year 8) and our new ethos. Our new service provision is in the capable hands of Babs Askham, our catering manager and her wonderful team who have been with us for many years.

If I asked you what the phrase “being healthy” meant to you, what would you say? Eating five fruit and vegetables a day? Exercising daily? Looking after yourself? Being healthy to me and our school means being equipped to make the right choices to ensure we are healthy. It is having a balanced approach to living and learning. This involves body, mind and soul, physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

As you know the government has introduced new food-based standards for lunchtimes and we have set up our service with these in mind. Our baguette bar in the tuck shop area along with a new vending bank, offers healthy and nutritious drinks – and also a food vender for fresh sandwiches, fruit and yoghurts is available when all other services are closed, especially for after school activities. We are introducing a new Pasta Bar in the main hall, with our new main meal menus being delivered from the “some like it hot” serving station along with baked potatoes and soup. In the sixth form the deli station will be extended; a new fridge cabinet for all-day snacks, baguettes and sandwiches will be available, a pasta bar and a help-yourself salad bar, jacket potatoes and a free-trade coffee machine will also be available.

Under government regulations confectionery is not available in school, as you know they are high in sugar and some are high in fat and do not make a valuable contribution to a child’s nutrient intake. We want to encourage everyone to eat a balanced meal. If you do provide a packed lunch please make it a healthy one !

Please follow these links for suggestions/ideas for healthier packed lunches.

http://www.foodfitness.org.uk/

http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/content.asp?ContentId=295

http://www.nutrition.org.uk/upload/Healthy%20Eating%20for%20School-aged%20Children.pdf

http://www.nutrition.org.uk/home.asp?siteId=43§ionId=1381&subSectionId=1123&parentSection=303&which=6

Battlefields Trip

The Year 9 and Year 10 History students enjoyed a fascinating trip to the World War One battlefields of northern France and Belgium. During the trip the pupils visited several graveyards and war memorials, which helped to illustrate the sheer scale of the human loss during the Great War.

The students were also able to visit many of the trenches and battlefields that became a major part of war on the Western Front, highlighting the terrible conditions suffered by thousands of soldiers at the time.

They were accompanied by Mrs Keddie, Miss Moseley, Mr Fitzpatrick, Mr Mellor and Miss Beevers.

Matt Fitzpatrick