F R I D A Y 1 0 T H F E B R U A R Y I S S U E 1

KEY DATES:

Mon 20th February:

Academy re-opens

Tues 21st February:

Shrove Tuesday

Oliver Performance, 7pm

Wed 22nd February:

Ash Wednesday

Oliver Performance, 7pm

Thurs 23rd February:

Oliver Performance, 7pm

Wed 29th February:

Year 8 Parents Evening,

3pm

Fri 30th March:

Academy Closes

GCSE

EXAM DATES:

Thurs 1st March:

AQA Biology (AM)

AQA Chemistry (AM)

AQA Physics (AM)

Fri 2nd March:

Edexcel Maths (PM)

Mon 5th March:

Edexcel Maths (PM)

Wed 7th March:

AQA Maths (AM)

Thurs 15th March:

Religious Studies (PM)

The Year 12 Level 3 BTEC Public

Services pupils had a very

important day to look forward to

as they were given the opportunity

to meet the MP of St Helen‟s

North, Dave Watts. The pupils,

along with Miss Fordham worked

hard to invite, arrange, plan and

then host our constituency MP,

and put forward all the pressing

political matters. What is being

done to tackle above average

crime rates? How do European Parliament decisions

affect the UK? Why isn‟t there a fast food restaurant or free cash machine in Newton-

le-Willows? The local MP demonstrated that young people really do have a voice, as he is

now in the process of contacting banks to look into providing a free cash machine

service on the High Street. His reaction to their questions made a big impact on the

pupils who feel strongly about providing useful services in their local area. Year 12 pupils

who took part in this fantastic opportunity would like to thank MP Dave Watts for his

time and for listening and responding to the issues they feel are important in Newton.

Last weekend a group of thirty students from Year 9 to Year 13 travelled to the

Conway Centre to take part in a Drama and Photography residential weekend. They

were accompanied by Ms Walsh, Miss Villiers, Mr Kelly and Ms Shinkfield. This is the

fifth time that this residential has taken place, although the first time for our

photography students. The drama students were involved in a wide range of workshops

led by three practitioners from „Off The Ground Theatre Company‟. These ranged

from physical theatre work to voice classes to a full scale stage fighting session on

Saturday evening! Site Specific performances included performances in Science labs

and “Macbeth” in a stairwell! The most important aspect of this weekend was the way

the pupils worked so cooperatively together despite their age differences, sharing

experiences and skills. Whilst

all this was going on Mr Kelly

and the photography students

were on beaches, in the

grounds of the centre and at

one point in a burial chamber!!

Again gaining valuable

experience and developing

their skills, although at times

getting a little wet!! The

students did Hope Academy

proud with their fantastic

attitude and behaviour

throughout the weekend.

Tuesday 21st February

Wednesday 22nd February

Thursday 23rd February

Tickets available from Reception and

from the LRC at Break times.

P A G E 2

The Saturday Performing Arts

workshops are now reaching full

capacity. There are only ten places left

in the 11+ age group and the under 7‟s

so sign up quick if you would like a

place!

“Street Dance” workshops will be

starting on Saturday 25th

February.

Ages 6-11 9am-10am.

Ages 11-19 1pm-2pm.

For more information contact

(01744) 671930

A Level Photography students weathered the storm on their visit to exciting venues in

Liverpool in search of photo

opportunities. The day was part

of a series of six trips where

students have the opportunity

to undertake a range of photo

shoots which will form part of

their portfolio of photographic

work. Somehow the students all

missed getting a shot of Mr

Kelly covered head to foot in

mud, but couldn't pass up the

chance of getting this shot of

Billy Fury strutting his stuff at

a windswept Albert Dock.

Next stop Manchester!

H O P E A C A D E M Y

The Year 11 Badminton team are Top of the Town - after winning the

St Helens stage of the competition. The team consisting of Dan Tyas,

Jonathon Healy, Danny Carine and Drew Darbyshire will now represent

the Town at the Merseyside Finals day.

P A G E 3 I S S U E 1

On July 27th the greatest sporting show on earth will begin in London. At Hope Academy we are marking this

momentous occasion in a number of ways. Currently we are working on producing an Academy Olympic banner

and during lunchtimes over the next few weeks we are asking pupils and staff to contribute. We are also

organising a one mile charity run for Sports Relief which will take place on Wednesday, March 21st and again

both staff and pupils will be invited to participate. We would like as many staff and pupils as possible to

participate in this event, regardless of their fitness levels and we hope that by charging a small amount to

enter the event we will be able to raise money for charities. Lastly for now, Rachel Winstanley is the Hope

Academy Young Ambassador for sport and she is working very hard on the above events but also on creating

an Olympic Games display which will be put up on the PE corridor. We will use the display area to advertise

any other events we are running as part of the Olympic year.

Watch this space!

Congratulations to the Year 9 7 a-side Football squad who took on

the schools of St Helens on Wednesday night and emerged

victorious. They played 6 games and won 5 and drawing one taking

a points total 16 out of a possible 18. The squad members were:

Luke Forber, Kaine Mulligan, Leon Wood, Rob Bourne, Liam

Richardson, Tom Cunliffe, Mike Duxbury, Liam Pojunas, Cameron

Thompson, Aaron Bale, Rob Deardon, Neil Blackhall. Player of

the tournament Rob Borne was a solid rock throughout

providing the creative spark when needed in the middle of

midfield.

P.E. CLUBS On Wednesday afternoons we have football, rugby, netball

and hockey clubs. There is also free swimming sessions at

Selwyn Jones Sports Centre. On Tuesday from 3.05pm

there is a KS4 and 5 badminton club and on Thursday from

3.05pm there is a basketball club. As the facilities become

available we will be able to put on more clubs and anyone

who is interested in attending should see the PE staff or the PE notice boards.

The Year 10 team continue to make great strides in this

competition and have reached the North West Semi

Final stage, where they will take on St Peter's RC from

Wigan. Good Luck to all the team.

Congratulations to

the Year 10 Football 7-a side squad who

won the St Helens Schools Central Venue

Tournament held at Hope on Wednesday

25th January 2012. They played a total

of 8 games won 7 and drew 1. They

only conceded 2 goals in the whole

tournament. The squad members were:

James Smith, Dominic Reid, Sam Wells,

Jake Swift, Luke Skeech, James Wells,

Brad Woods, Khalid Seleh, Louis

Pickering.

Ashton Road, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 0AQ Tel: 01744 671930 Fax: 01744 671931 www.hopeacademy.org.uk

“A community of learners of all ages from the local area committed to mutual service where each person can flourish, be his/her best and work for the

common good to the glory of God and his creation.”

Confirmations at The Parishes of SS Mary & John and St David's, Newton-le-Willows will be held on

the following dates:

March 14th for Year 7

March 21st for Year 8

March 28th Years 9 and 10.

If you wish your child to be confirmed at these churches and your child hasn't put their names

Forward, please contact Father Fedigan.

There are number of staff at Hope Academy who are embarking on a 100km trek through

the beautiful Yorkshire Dales to raise money for Oxfam. The walk must be completed

within 30 hours (yes that means walking through the night!) and will most certainly be a

challenge! All the details can be found at www.oxfam.org.uk/trailtrekker . If you would like

to sponsor the staff there will be opportunities to do so. All contributions are most

welcome! Thank you.

Hello everyone! After February half term there are lots of different fundraising activities for staff, students and

parents to take part in. Here are a few dates for your diary:

Wednesday 22nd February Beginning of Lent and the „Give it up‟ campaign

Wednesday 21st March Sports Relief run

26th and 27th May Oxfam walk Hope Academy is proud to

be supporting the Sport

Relief campaign and will be

encouraging staff and

students to run a mile

together on the 21st March.

Further information will be

available about this

exciting opportunity after

half term so please keep an

eye out for that.

Lent is soon upon us and it is a time in the Christian Calendar where

people remember the time Jesus fasted in the desert and is a test

of self-discipline. Lent provides an opportunity to give something

up, to take up new things and to make a difference in our world. Are

there things that you could give up for Lent? What about things you could

take up? During Lent, Hope Academy is supporting the „Give it up‟

campaign run by the organisation CAFOD. The campaign encourages

people to give something up for Lent and get sponsored to do it. All the

money raised will go towards providing clean water and sanitation for

some of the world‟s poorest communities. Why not get involved in the

challenge yourself? For further information please visit

www.cafod.org.uk. There will be lots of fundraising happening

in school throughout Lent so keep an eye out for those. One

will include me wearing a very

interesting fancy dress costume… Photos to follow!