Sanaa Khan, Ajxhensa Quosja and Merwah Attiah from Year 11 organised a Non-Uniform Day. A fantastic amount of £725.60 was raised for the School’s chosen charities.

William Hulme’s Grammar School Snowed under!

Happy New Year!

Firstly I would like to thank everyone for their tolerance of the recent weather conditions, especially staff and VI Form students who battled through the snow for their revision sessions. VI Formers are currently taking a number of module examinations and the GCSEs are now under way. I am delighted to report that Helen Creighton has been offered a place at Cambridge University and other VI Form students have had a number of good university offers. We are very keen this term that as many students as possible, take part in the large range of extra-curricular activities on offer. We expect all our students to be aiming for the very highest standards throughout the rest of the term.

Peter Mulholland Principal

‘At a Glance’ - Events from 25th January – 5th February

Monday 25th January • Y10 Visit Imperial War Museum Tuesday 26th January • Science Taster Course Wednesday 27th January • VI Form Discussion Evening Thursday 28th January • Science Taster Course Friday 29th January • Primary Phase Assembly Monday 1st February • Reception Class ‘Build A Bear’ Tuesday 2nd February • Yr 11 Parents’ Evening Wednesday 3rd February • 1st Hockey Team v Chester (H) Thursday 4th February • KS2 Bridgewater Hall - Halle Friday 5th February • Yr 10 Immunisations • Yr 3 Trip to Manchester Museum

Newsletter

Issue no. 3 Monday, 25th January 2010

Quote for the week: ‘Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises’ Demosthenes (384BC-322BC)

T A F A L TEACH A FRIEND A LANGUAGE

12.40 – 1.10pm Classroom Z16

Monday: Yoruba Tuesday: Arabic Wednesday: Urdu 1.10pm – 1.40pm Dutch Thursday: Mandarin

HAITI EARTHQUAKE APPEAL

On Friday, 22nd January, 2010 WHGS staff and students collected an outstanding

amount of £730 to be sent to support the victims of the

devastating earthquake in Haiti.

SUMMER SCHOOL 2010 Dates just announced!

Week 1: 26th - 30th July Week 2: 2nd - 6th August Week 3: 9th - 13th August Information on all courses will be available

from April 2010

GRADE ONE-A-THON

The following staff, students, peripatetics, parents and governors have all signed up to learn a new musical instrument and take their Grade One exam! Governors: Mrs Laing Clarinet Parent: Mr Laing Harp Peripatetics: Mr Matthews Saxophone Mr Mullen Piano Mr White Percussion Mr Burton Sousaphone Mr Sutton Tuba Students: Alex Iddin Trumpet Angus Newman Piano Hannah El Shobaki Piano Juliette Bowen Clarinet Kate Williamson Saxophone Rebecca Scannali Violin Stefan Fedeckzo Guitar Venice Fielding Violin Warren Moore Harp Will Blackley French Horn Zara Zaimache Clarinet Staff: Mrs Sexton Clarinet Mrs Brown Clarinet Miss Smith Saxophone Miss Roma Violin Mr Mulholland Harp Miss Pegum Violin

School Production of

OLIVER TWIST

18th, 19th & 20th March 2010

Main Hall

MATHS CHALLENGE

Cast List:

Oliver Twist: Kate Barrett Nancy: Sarah Stirling Fagin: Leo Thompson-Adams Artful Dodger: Matthew Grime Bill Sykes: Conor Gallagher Mr Bumble: Michael Tadd Widow Corney: Zara Zaimeche Noah Claypole: Michael Mann Mr Sowerberry: Joshua Chisambo Mrs Sowerberry:Merwah Attiah Charlotte: Miriam Midi Charles Bates: Angus Newman Bet: Merwah Attiah Old Sally: Maria James Old Lady: Charlotte Connell Mrs Bedwin: Catherine Braddock Mr Brownlow: David Connor Dr Grimwig: Michael Fuller Boy: Ben Ferris First Woman: Corinne Inman 2nd Woman: Ellen Baker Watchman: Niall Cullen 1st Bow Street Runner: Shaqueel Walton 2nd Bow Street Runner: Alex Neokli Charman: Caolen Sedman

YEAR 9 COOKING

CLUB

The Food Technology Department is running a Cooking Club on Wednesday evenings from 3.45pm – 5.15pm in D12 commencing on Wednesday, 10th February 2010. Pupils will provide their own ingredients and take the finished product home. For further information, please contact Mrs Thomas/Mrs Cowell or obtain a Consent Form from Reception.

Welcome to Alexander Ryan Wright

Born: 28th December 2009 Weight: 5lbs 2oz Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Wright!

VI FORM READING GROUP

The next meeting will be held on 4th February 2010. The book to be read is ‘Never Let Me Go’ by Kazuo Ishiguro. ‘What is the meaning of life for Kathy, Ruth & Tommy and all the children who grow up in the sheltered boarding school at Hailsham? What is the truth behind the mystery relationship between the donors and guardians?’ ‘Never Let Me Go’ was shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2005 and was nominated as TIME 100 Best English-language Novels 1923 to 2005.

SHROVE TUESDAY also known as

PANCAKE DAY!

Shrove Tuesday falls on the 16th February this year, so don’t forget the pancakes! But why do we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday? Well Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. So traditionally, people would eat rich food made with eggs, sugar and butter, as during the fasting period this is what they would usually give up for Lent.

WHGS has an active Parents’ Association whose main aim is to organise predominantly social events throughout the school year. These events provide an opportunity for parents and children to meet one another, and the school staff, in an informal setting. Any monies raised are entirely for the benefit of the school. All parents and carers are eligible as members of the PA and are welcome at our meetings, which are held in the evenings in the Donner Building at 7.30pm on the 2nd Tuesday of every month during the school year. Dates of forthcoming meetings are published in the School Calendar, which is available for download from the home page of the school website. Our next meetings will be on Tuesday 9th February and Tuesday 9th March. We have a page under the ‘Parents’ tab of the school web site, where details of our events, and minutes of our more recent meetings can be viewed. Our next social event will be a Summer Fair after school during May. We will publish further details about this nearer the time, so watch this space! Other dates to look out for include a Fathers’ Day “Picnic in the Park” in June and of course our ever-popular Quiz Night will make its re-appearance next October. Nearer to Easter we will be asking you for donations of second-hand uniform, to be offered for sale to new and existing pupils during the Summer Term. Another of our activities is the 300 Club, which is your chance to win £30 a month. For just £12 a year your number is put into a monthly draw, which is currently paying out £30 a month. This is a very practical and fun way to support your PA. The more members we have the bigger the pay-out we can achieve. If you are interested contact Stephen Evans at stephen_evans@talktalk.net and he will send you the standing order form. If you would like to get involved or would just like to know more about us and our activities please contact one of the committee via the school: Chairman Nigel Partington, Treasurer and 300 Club Secretary Stephen Evans or Secretary Jacqui McKnight. We can also be emailed at WHGSPAssoc@whgs-academy.org

WHGS Parents’ Association

Henry Francis Frankie Higgs Alexandra Ferguson Mikey Kelly Sarah Schilizzi Georgie Coulston Janneka Martinez Zohaib Zulfiqar

Ismail Yusuf Nairah Chaudury Zainab Waraich Ryan Clowes Sariah Nelson Hannah El-Shobaki Isobel Brierley

Young Writers 2009 Students were invited to write a Mini-Saga in 50 words. The students named and acclaimed above have had their work published in the new edition of Young Writers. Copies of the book can be ordered via their website www.youngwriters.co.uk

It was the school pantomime, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, on Wednesday 16th December, 2009 and we were all excited for it to begin. We walked down in our classes and when my class arrived we found that the hall already had some of the classes sitting down all talking and chatting. We went down one of the lines of seats and I was at the end of the line. We waited for all the other classes to come in and sit down and then it all went dark and silent. The stage had a light above so we could see it, there was a picture of a striped circus tent for the backdrop. Then a man dressed up as a clown came on, he was part of the circus. He told us how much he loved the manager of the circus, Goldilocks, and how much money she had. He decided he would save up his money and when he had enough he would ask Goldilocks to marry him. Then Goldilocks came on to the stage with some bad news. She said that Nelly the elephant had left the circus to go to Gerty Grump’s television channel, and without her then no-one would come to the circus because Nelly was their star. Gerty Grump didn’t like anybody and she wanted to close the circus down so she took Nelly and the circus didn’t get any money. Whenever Gerty Grump came on to the stage we all booed and hissed but when Goldilocks and the clown came on to the stage we all cheered. It was really fun all the way through and I really enjoyed it. Goldilocks got lost in the woods then she found the cottage where the bears lived. She ate the porridge on the table and then slept in Baby Bear’s bed. It was really funny because you could just see some plastic feet and you could hear some loud snoring. Then when the bears came back, Goldilocks found out that Baby Bear could sing and they had a sing-along while Baby Bear sang. Then Baby Bear went back with Goldilocks to the circus because he was to be the new star of the circus. Goldilocks and the clown took turns looking after Baby Bear and then Gerty Grump kidnapped him. Baby Bear escaped and brought Nelly back with him. After that at the end the clown asked Goldilocks to marry him and she said yes! When the story had finished we had a singing competition against the boys and it was a draw. After the pantomime we all got up and started chatting about the pantomime as it had been really good! By Cora Jundi-McKnight, Year 5

Fones4Schools is the UK's leading mobile phone recycling campaign for schools and groups. William Hulme's will receive £300 for every 200 phones collected. Please leave your old

phone at reception or with Ms Douglas in the Primary Phase.

ECO-WARRIORS MEET FORTNIGHTLY - WEDNESDAY 12.35PM IN S1

PRIMARY PHASE GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS

LRC NEWS

This term we would like to recommend a new set of books. Please see below a selection from the longlist books from the 2010 Carnegie Award.

Last year, our Carnegie reading group was a great success. Apart from the book discussion, our members also created the book trailers which can be found in the LRC - VLE area. We would like to invite you to join our 2010 Carnegie reading group. For more information, please come and talk to Mrs Evans & Mrs Doran.

YEAR 5 TRIP TO MACCLESFIELD SILK

MUSEUM

On Thursday, 17th December 2009, Year 5 went to Macclesfield Silk Museum. The visit began with the children dressing up as Victorian children and re-enacting a typical Victorian lesson with Ma’am. They were then allowed to play with the Victorian toys of the rich and the poor.. All the children preferred the Victorian toys of the rich! In the afternoon the children made Christmas crackers. Year 5 had a lovely day!

Mini carrot cakes

150g margarine * Top tip: When the mini-carrot cakes, 250g carrots are cool you may wish to make 200g sugar a cream cheese topping. 200g flour Combine 50g cream cheese 2 x 5ml cinnamon and 25g icing sugar together 2 x 5ml baking powder 2 large eggs 125g sultanas 50g nuts

Equipment Mixing bowl, chopping board, knife, peeler, grater, weighing scales, wooden spoon, sieve, small bowl, fork, muffin cases, muffin tin, 2 spoons Method 1. Preheat the oven to 200oC or gas mark 6. 2. Melt the margarine in the microwave. 3. Top and tail, and then peel and grate the carrots. 4. Combine the carrots, sugar and margarine in the mixing bowl. 5. Sift in the flour, cinnamon and baking powder. 6. Beat the eggs in a small bowl, and then add to the mixture. 7. Mix in the sultanas and nuts. 8. Divide the mixture equally between the muffin cases, using the two metal spoons. 9. Bake for 20 minutes.

FOOD TECHNOLOGIST OF THE

WEEK

CONGRATULATIONS TO YEAR 9 STUDENT JOSH TOMLINSON

…who produced these delicious

looking Mini Carrot Cakes!

'Play Club Activity Bags'

Yellow Group in the Nursery class are looking forward to taking home their 'Play Club Activity Bags' next week. All the children in yellow group will be able to play with the activities at home for a week with their parents and older siblings. There are 6 exciting bags to choose from and when they have taken all 6 home they will receive a certificate for their family!

INTER-HOUSE ACTIVITIES Autumn Term Results

INTERHOUSE RESULTS End of Autumn Term

TOTAL MERIT CARDS OVERALL TOTAL

BONNICK 600 153 753 HULME 545 214 759 JONES 770 209 979 ROBERTS 825 197 1022

RUGBY Years 10/11 JONES Seniors ROBERTS Overall Rugby House Winners ROBERTS Coaches Player of the Season: U 15’s Toby Laing 1st XV’s Remi Akinbode Rugby Colours Remi Akinbode Hassan Albayati Hadi Gaddah Edward Laing James Monks Jonathan Pena Patrick Reardon

HOCKEY Years 10/11 ROBERTS Seniors HULME

CROSS COUNTRY Seniors ROBERTS

5-A-SIDE FOOTBALL Girls Year 10/11 ROBERTS Seniors JONES Boys Year 10 ROBERTS Year 11 ROBERTS Seniors JONES

YEAR 7C - ROMAN ARMY!

Last term, 7C studied the Roman army as part of their History project. Here they are

bringing the Roman soldiers to life - the class wrote and performed a recruitment advert for the Roman army, which they then filmed and watched.

Reception ‘Changes’ Topic As part of our topic on 'Changes', we could not remember what it was like for us to be younger and as we couldn't go back in time (although we did try!!), we decided we needed to have some visitors to help us find out what it is like to be a baby and a toddler! Toddler – Daniel Baby Olivia (with Mrs Galbraith)

Year 9 Languages Event at Manchester University

On Tuesday 19th January, 25 Year 9 students, accompanied by Mr Crane and Miss Cunningham, attended a languages morning at Manchester University. The event, aimed at raising awareness of the benefits and opportunities that studying languages offers, was largely run by undergraduate linguists, who were able to relate first-hand experiences of what languages meant to them. The morning was divided into three sections. Firstly, our students were given a brief talk and quiz on where languages are spoken, numbers of speakers and employability of language graduates. They were then split into groups and prepared and practised a role-play activity with the University students, some in French and some in German. These were then filmed. After a short break, they were treated to a taster session in Mandarin Chinese, which proved very popular, judging by the enthusiasm shown. At the end of the morning, they were able to watch the filmed role-plays which were very impressive and which, of course, everyone enjoyed. It was pleasing to be told, on departure, that the WHGS group had been the most responsive of all the schools hosted so far and from talking to the students back at school, it is clear that they really appreciated their day out at the University.

‘ JUMP INTO LANGUAGES ‘

KEY 103’s WINTER

APPEAL

Students from HULME HOUSE

held a cake sale, Christmas raffle and performed a Michael

Jackson ‘Thriller’ dance to raise money for Key 103’s

Cash for Kids Winter Appeal.

They raised a magnificent

total of £272.19!

PARENT SUPPORT SERVICE

We are pleased to announce the launch of our Parent Support Service. Our advisor is Firzana Chaudury. Firzana can be contacted on 0161 226 2054 or e-mail firzana.chaudury@whgs-academy.org

We are pleased to announce the launch of our Parent Support Service in January 2010

Our Parent Support Adviser is Firzana Chaudury

SWEDISH VISITORS Four visitors from Sweden visited WHGS on Thursday, 26th November, 2009. They were on a 6 week course at Manchester Metropolitan University looking at how English is taught in England. They have now returned to Northern Sweden where they will continue to train to teach in a Sixth Form College.

TERM DATES 2010

Spring Term 2010 Half Term: Monday - Friday, 15th - 19th February Term Ends: Friday, 26th March, 12.10pm (approx)

Summer Term 2010 Term Starts for students: Tuesday, 13th April Half Term: Monday – Friday, 31st May – 4th June Terms Ends Friday, 9th July, 12.10pm (approx)

Autumn Term 2010 Year 7 & 12 Induction Day: Friday, 3rd September Term Starts for students: Monday, 6th September

KidS CoRneR

Joke of the Week ☺ When do astronauts eat? At launch time!

Puzzle of the Week – Missing letters

Some letters of the alphabet are missing from the circle. Can you use the missing letters to find something to play? Answer in the next Newsletter!

SPONSORED SILENCE!

On 25th November 2009, Aisha, Taram & Brandina from Form 8R took part in a Sponsored Silence! The students raised over £70 and have decided to send the money to the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.