Calder VI UCAS Parent Evening
A Parents Information Evening will be held on Tuesday 1st July to allow parents to gain an understanding of the University Application System. The aim of the evening is to inform parents about the process their son or daughter will be going through over the coming weeks and to explain how they can support at this important time. Presentations will be made by Amanda Johnson, who is responsible for the UCAS system in Calder VI, and a parent who has just experienced supporting their daughter through her application.

For further information about how the UCAS system is managed and supported in Calder VI, please contact Mrs A Johnson at ajohnson@calderhigh.calderdale.sch.uk or via the sixth form office on 01422 883213 ext 256.

Calder VI Students visit Leeds University
The annual UCAS conference held on Friday 27 June was visited by 50 Yr 12 students. The day presented students with the opportunity to speak first hand with representative and admissions tutors from 124 universities and 12 other organisations about applications to University. Students also attended seminars on Students Life, HE in general, Finance and Gap Years. The day was extremely beneficial for all who attended, allowing for the collection of prospectus’, fuzzy bugs and lots of free pens!!

Calder VI Destinations 2008

On Wednesday 25 June all Yr 12 students took part in a Destinations Day, held in the Calder VI block. The day aimed to allow students to gather information about Higher Educations and the world of work. Representatives from Huddersfield University ran workshops on issues related to Higher Education, whilst employees from Sweet and Maxwell and Connexions ran and took part in workshops about employment. The day was a huge success and enjoyed by all. We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to all colleagues and agencies involved.

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Year 13 Leavers' 2008
The event was held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds and was a great success! Everyone looked fantastic and the students (and staff) were a credit to the school. Below are a few photos taken on the night.

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Year 12 and 13 Study leave and exam arrangements
Letters have now been sent to parents/carers to advise on Year 12 and 13 study leave and exam arrangements. For more information please contact Mr M Howard, Director of Post-16 Studies. (Year 12 letter l Year 13 letter)

A2 Biology Fieldtrip: Photo gallery

This year's Biology Fieldtrip to Gibraltar Point at Skegness Nature Reserve took place from 14 to 17 April. Year 12 Biology students spent three days measuring, recording and analysing data on the salt marsh, the sand dunes, and the ponds.

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Alumni Achievement: Rosie Edwards

It has proved to be an excellent end to the cross country season for Mytholmroyd’s Rosie Edwards (and ex Calder High School student). Rosie competed in the senior women's category for the first time in the Inter Counties Championship in Nottingham as a member of the gold medal winning Yorkshire team.

Her performance in this race attracted the attention of UK Athletics resulting in her first international call up to run for England in the curtain raising home countries race at the World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park on Saturday.

Rosie’s team fielded 3 junior and 3 senior England runners. Battling through the winds on a tough cross country course which would see the biggest world class names the following day, the England girls brought home the gold medal with Rosie coming in as the first junior in the field. 

Rosie can now take a well earned rest after her best season yet, but not for long as she will now be training with coach Dennis Russell at the Don Valley Stadium in preparation for the 1500 and 3k events in the coming track season.

 

 

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Assisting Communities in Extreme Poverty

Fundraising events are now in full swing to send a group of Calder VI students accompanied by staff to Uganda in the last two weeks of July. £20,000 needs to be raised which will be used to pay for travel, accommodation and food. A substantial amount is then used as a loan to a community in Kampala as a micro-finance project.

The group will be working with AIDS orphans and helping them develop their skills and help them become more self-sufficient. They will discuss with the community the project that will be set up to help improve the conditions for the community. The loan will be paid back once the project is making a profit and it will then be used to initiate another project and so on. We, as a school, intend to return to Uganda each year with a new group of Calder VI students to continue the work we have started and to continue our relationship with the community. (See the students' leaflet for more information)


Thankyou to everyone who made a contribution towards the Great Generation Project on Non-Uniform Day on Friday 25 January. This was the first of many fundraising activities.

Update on Fundraising activities in March and April
On Wednesday 5 March, the students spent the afternoon braving the cold and washing teachers' cars. Over £150 was raised through this event. Students were so happy with the experience that they are doing the same event at Sweet and Maxwell's on Wednesday 2nd April.

On Tuesday 11 March, Mr Gregg's Year 9 Drama Group's performance of 'Say Goodbye to Satchwell Road' raised over £200 through donations from the audience and a raffle.

On Tuesday and Wednesday of that week, Mrs Todd sold slices of her exquisite family recipe chocolate cake and challenged tasters to discover the recipe. Over £100 was raised to support the trip.

On Friday, 4 April, Lucy Ratcliffe and Natalie Hudson crawled a mile on the front field running track and raised over £200. (It took them one and a half hours!).



May Fundraisers

Ready, Steady, Cook!...organised by Mr M Bellanfante took place on Thursday 1 May. Staff members volunteered to be chefs for the event and cooked their favourite dishes on a budget of £3.00. In a friendly atmosphere of competition and the mixed aromas of a variety of culinary delights, the eight contestants cooked, stirred, marinated, grilled, grated and all in just over an hour...to produce a fantastic array of dishes. The event was covered by the Courier and also Calder High's media club. Each chef was provided with a Calder High School Cookery Club Apron and black chef's hat (although Mrs Todd brought her own distinctively branded apron).

Click on this link to see the Halifax Courier's report and video.

Photo gallery and report

	And the winner was...Mr J Emberton with his Craggoise Salad! The judges were impressed with the flavours and the quality of his home grown and local produce. The judges, Mr M Bellanfante and Mrs G Kendall, said the judging was very difficult due to the high quality of all the entries. Mrs Todd came second with her Mozzarella Pasta Penne and joint third went to Mrs D Kershaw and Mrs L Helliwell. Mrs Kershaw's dish was created to help raise the profile of Coeliac Awareness Week which starts on 17 May. Mrs L Helliwell produced a flavourful chicken cooked in red wine with mushrooms, leeks and potatoes. Mrs J Helliwell created a very North African style meal with lamb kebabs, rice with roasted almonds, roast vegetables and pitta bread. She also had the distinction of setting fire to the grill which was promptly dealt with by Mr Bellanfante. However she recovered the situation well and still managed to finish her cooking in time. Mr Ball had caught his own fish and smoked it to make Smoked Trout Fishcakes. Mr Howard produced a very tasty Chicken and Chorizo Pasta and felt he should have been awarded extra points for finishing first. Mrs Clay's tasty desserts were a big hit with everyone, especially the Media club students. She had prepared a Lemon Cheesecake and Red Berry Crumble. Well done to all the chefs, the judges, and the spectators. Look out for the recipe book which will be on sale soon!

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Jump for Cash


Mr Howard successfully managed to convince his body to throw itself out of a plane 3 miles above the North Lincolnshire countryside on Saturday 3rd May. He then fell towards earth at 120 miles per hour for a minute before the relief of the parachute actually opening led to to a 4 minute more gentle descent to the safety of the ground. Whilst Mr Howard found the jump exhilarating and even better than anticipated, there is no chance of him ever doing it again. No one should go through the terror of the anticipation twice in a lifetime. Five  other friends, including Mrs Howard, also jumped and their combined total raised for The Great Generation is approximately £3,000. Thank you to all those who sponsored the jump.

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Fundraising Week
A grand fundraising week for the Great Generation project was staged in a final push to raise the money required. (Letter from Mr Howard) Reports on the Year 7 Disco, Family Quiz Night and Talent Show to follow.

Rowed to Africa:

	This fantastic event has allowed 450 pupils to work in teams to row the furthest. The enthusiasm, energy and team work form all year groups was outstanding. The staff and students have had great fun. Races were held as challenges in 2x20 minute races and then short fast challenges - 1 girl, 1 boy etc. Forms made banners and came along to support with very loud voices. This week was National School Sport Week and the event was to celebrate all our students efforts in sport and introduce them to something new! It also replaced the traditional sports day.

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Donations
Thank you to everyone for their continuing support and generosity.

If you would like to send any donations to support the trip please make cheques payable to 'Calder High School'. If you would like further information or have ideas on how to continue to raise the money please contact Mr M Howard, Assistant Headteacher and Director of Post 16 Studies.

The student group meets every Tuesday at 12.45 in CS5 to plan ideas and events.

Visit the website for more information about the charity that runs the project (see attached document).

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Year 11 into 12 Taster Day: Friday 1 February

Year 11 students are given the opportunity to be 'sixth formers' for a day. This is an annual event and the students follow a Year 12 timetable to help them make informed choices about further study.

On the day, they will be treated as 'sixth formers' and will not be required to wear their school uniform. They will come in for an Assembly in the Theatre and then choose up to five lessons to go to for the day.

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Senior Presentation Evening
The Senior Presentation Evening took place on Wednesday 19 December at the Hebden Bridge Picture House. Mr David Scott, former Headteacher was the guest speaker for the event. (List of Awards and Destinations)

Year 12 Geography Fieldtrip


On 30 October, our intrepid geographers set off for a week in the Lake District. The trip would enable them to carry out different types of geographical fieldwork in different parts of the Lake District in order to complete their AS coursework.

During the course of the week, the AS group climbed mountains, splashed around in rivers, got lost in sand dunes and shopped around a city. It enabled the group to experience geography first hand and pick up different skills that they would be able to use in the future.

Not only did they discover the wonderful world of geography but it also enabled them to bond as a group and get to know each other better. Over the course of the week, their confidence grew and they enjoyed the independence that they were given. It was a thoroughly enjoyable week which benefited everyone all round.

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Geology Trip to Arran (Please see the report and photos)
Year 13 Geology students visit Arran with Mrs Gibson and Mr Williams

 

 

 

 

 

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Travel and Tourism experience culture in Barcelona

On 4 November, 10 Year 12 Travel and Tourism students set off on their travels to the fabulous city of Barcelona in Spain. Their task was to experience the culture, sample the food and drink in the uniqueness of this European city, oh and of course study all the different tourist areas as part of their AS course.

While there, they visited all the different aspects of the city, such as the beautiful buildings that the inspiring artist Gaudi designed, experienced the luxurious coastline, attempted the Spanish food and discovered the different ways in which people can travel and the way that tourism is promoted and available.

The Year 12s had a fantastic time and discovered tourism first hand. They were able to see many different highlights of the city in a short space of time and although it was an intense and hectic three days it was a valuable experience which will enable them to produce a thorough and detailed piece of work in order for them to achieve highly.