Congratulations

Congratulations to Rachel McMath and Philip Crookes, form reps. Who else should I be congratulating in the other forms?

Paired Reading

Prefects interested in volunteering for paired reading with younger students should see Ivor Anderson.

Duty Sheets

All of the students who have been presented with their badges will find a duty sheet in the registration folder this week. Get going on your duties. If you have bother getting started or working out what to do, or knowing whom to contact, talk to Joanne Poland, Ellen McVea or your form teacher.

Prefect Opportunity

Prefects are needed to meet and greet and serve the tea and coffee at the induction evening for the new year 8s and their families on TUESDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER. You would need to be there for 7.15, and we hope to be finished by 8.30. If you can do this one, please see Ellen McVea

Congratulations to all our prefects

Congratulations to all our prefects. On Monday each of you will receive a sheet with the duties you have taken on. Your contribution is very much appreciated. Information about how to get started, about training opportunities etc. will go onto this blog and onto the Prefect section of the notice board. Good luck.

Overwhelming Response

There really was an overwhelmingly positive response to the sessions today. I'll copy up the feedback responses anonymously and attach them so you will have a memento. Queens tomorrow and then full timetable on Friday and you can all start putting it into practice.

Great Stuff

We got some glowing reports among the feedback from the interview skills day, and some really useful advice for you in general. We also got some suggestions for individual students about more courses to check out. Well done everyone. Some of you have a deadline now of 15th October, and all of you will want to get your UCAS forms in as soon as possible so that you will start receiving replies. Get the balance right between careful research and decision making and early submission. Well done.

Some Inspiration for You

This is a new careers link with stories of the famous and not quite so famous and how they got to where they are. Have a look at icould

The Lengths Alicia will go

There is no limit to the lengths Alicia will go to inspire you all! She has just achieved her Bachelor of Arts from Queens Universty and GRADUATES next week! Alicia completed all her study part-time, working away in the evenings, while keeping you lot's noses to the grindstone during the day. We only employ geniuses on our staff, and Alicia now has her proof of status. Hugely well done. We are all very proud of you. Don't get hives from the strawberries.

you go further

Year 13s - Get onto www.yougofurther.co.uk , and meet people in the same boat as yourself.  Become online friends with UCAS and the colleges and universities themselves in order to get the facts about applying to college or university.  It's a UCAS site with access to accurate information.

Good Luck Good Luck Good Luck

Good luck to all our wonderful Year 14s, who headed off, full of fry up, to chill out and to gear up for the start of the written examinations on Monday.  Drama performances, film screenings, coursework and art exhibitions all behind them, they head into the final furlong.  Great sweatshirts - a really good idea, and please leave me the web address!  The first hand prints went up on the common room wall - colours it up a bit at last.  Year 13 are already choosing their spot.  Be your very best!

Year 13 Arrangements

On Friday 8th May, Year 13 students transfer from normal timetable to their Forward Planner.  Taught classes in each subject continue until your examination in each subject.  It is understood that you will need to negotiate with your teachers when you will be out of class for an examination in another subject or for home revision immediately before an examination in another subject.  You need to be ruthlessly honest with yourself, and be at every class you agree with your teacher.  Never sacrifice one subject to another.  

Once your exams are over in a particular subject you should see your teacher to fill in your summer contract and sign you off.  The other commitment you need to fulfil is to complete your end of year review interview with your form teacher.  Once you have the signatures of all your subject teachers and your form teacher, you are free to enjoy your summer.  

If you get stuck, get help.  Don't be mixed up.  Personal organisation at this time of year is essential to your success.

More Congratulations

More congratulations are due, this time to Grace Sargent and Conor Poland, who have both won Dr Gallagher Bursary Awards for students aim for study in a medical related field.  Both awards are well deserved, and we wish both students success in their future studies.

Andreas' Chemistry Success

We have just heard that Andreas Bitter has just won a place at the Sutton Trust Summer School in Oxford to study chemistry. Well done, you. You'll have a great time, and the experience will help decide what you want to do next.

Year 13 Review

This week students in year 13 will be receiving their review documents.  The review document is designed to help you think through your experience of year 13 and to plan ahead for year 14 and beyond.  You will have time to work on your own review before your interview with your form teacher.  It's a really useful process.  Make the most of it.

Listen Out

Listen out at Monday's assembly for details of your forward planner and your summer contract.  Once past 8th May, everyone will be on their own examination timetable, extra classes and revision sessions.  The forward planner is the document to use to negotiate with your teachers when you will be in exams, at home revising or in class or revision sessions.  Once your last exam is over, you can use your summer contract to sign yourself off with your teachers and head off for an early break.  Don't forget that the exam timetable is on the college website.  Your personal copy will come to you nearer the time when the exact times have been confirmed.

Three Weeks to go

There are three weeks left of full timetable, and our good luck breakfast for year 14 is on Friday 8th May.  A levels begin very early this year, and it is essential that everyone is in every class.  Essential learning happens in those three weeks.  Remember also: classes will continue after that date, and all students will have a study/class/exam diary to fill in with their teachers so that everyone can plan ahead to organise the perfect mix.  Student examination timetables differ wildly, depending on the subjects and boards you take, so make sure your diary is customised for yourself.  Aim high - make the most of your time!  It's a big investment which will win you the widest range of choices for the rest of your life. 

Offers

Lots of you are now holding the offer you want, with a good back up.  Some of you are still facing a wait.  Some of you who didn't feel ready to make an application by the end of January will want to put in a late application.  Whatever your situation, don't make a move without checking with Alicia.  Not that you don't know your own mind, but UCAS processes are always changing and it would be a sin to give yourself hassle when you need to be concentrating on other things.  Plan like stepping stones - don't reject anything until you have a confirmation in your hand of something you want to do more.  The few of you who really want to keep your options wide open, keep your focus and aim high.  Getting the very best grades will be your best route to opportunities when you decide what you want to do.  If you are heading off to try your fortune, set out knowing you've a great set of grades in your pocket.

Well Done Josephites

Well done in particular to all the 6th form Josephites.  You proved a professional lot in the face of the very random difficulties and turned in excellent performance.  Several of our Board of Governors who were in the audience have emailed in to pass on their congratulations.  Make really good use of the next week and a day to ensure that you have caught up with everything so that you end up with great reviews AND wonderful A levels.

Shoplifting

This sheet about shoplifting may be of interest. The main message is don't do it to yourself!

Congratulations Gareth and Justin

Congratulations Gareth and Justin on being offered places on he Youth Trust Sport course over Easter at the University of Ulster.  Do yourselves proud, and make sure you keep your grades up so that you can progress next year and make good use of the opportunity.  Commiserations to three others who had applied - a maximum of two students from any one school are ever offered places apparently.  We'll keep looking out for other opportunities.

Ask

Opportunities are coming in for trips to Oxford, to Cambridge, to Sutton Trust Summer Schools etc.  Make the most of any opportunities you get.  However, the opportunities we have received so far won't suit everyone.  If there is something else you want the chance to try - a different work experience in June or over the summer? - make sure you ask.  

Great Results

The January module results came up with a great crop of grades.  Very well done to all those who fulfilled their potential.  Kevin got to send out a set of congratulations cards to a record number of students scoring 100% on a module.  If you dipped in something, that's what January is for - get stuck in and sort out your learning for May/June.  Talk to staff, do extra, re-visit your study timetable.  Get the very most out of your course.

Access to Theatre Trips

Click here for information about three shows coming up this month which you can get to through the PAS (Pupil Access Scheme): Puckoon; Oh What a Lovely War; Submarine Man. Get yourself there!

Door Colours?

Has anyone got views to share on the colour for the new doors?  Following popular outcry, the frames of the doors and windows will keep their natural wood finish.  However, the actual doors apparently need to be painted, so the colour choice is up for discussion.  Let us know!

Reminder re Contract

Please remind yourself that sixth form may sign out between 12.30 and 2.00 when they are not in timetabled class.  Frees at other times are spent in school.  If you wish to change any of your frees so that they fall within the signing out period, please negotiate directly with Alicia.  Please re-read your contract.  A copy is always available from the college office.

UCAS Fair for Year 13

This year's UCAS Fair is coming up on 11th March.  It's a great time to refocus your goals.  Every university in the British Isles will be there.  You can either go with an open mind and hoover up prospectuses.  Even now that you have done a good bit of research, you will find plenty of courses you had never heard of in subjects and in places that you had never considered.  If you already have a good idea of where you would like to go, or what you would like to do, use the opportunity to spend some time at the stall and get to talk to the admissions staff.  It can be really useful to ask them about what they like to see on a UCAS form.  You still have time to pick up experience before you start on your UCAS form in September.

Look After Your Locks

Staff have had to spend time they shouldn't have had to on mending the locks of the common room doors.  Don't let that happen again.  No doubt there is only one idiot doing it, but the rest of you need to report them.  Cleaning and caretaking staff need out support.  Nobody's job should involve mending deliberate damage.  This year's 6th form groups have done a good job on maintaining their cleaning rota, and lots of people have chipped in for a bit of extra cleaning when it has been needed.  The effort could do with being a bit more even.  Do your bit.  Don't be a dirty clart, especially with food.  Remember you live in a basement and rats will not be far away.

Welcome Back

Welcome back from work experience and from half term.  Upwards and onwards.  Clear the decks for coursework deadlines, so that you never, ever miss a class taking time to complete coursework.  Always, always meet the draftwork deadline so that you benefit from the marker's comments.  Think ahead to dates for orals, practicals, performances, exhibitions etc. and plan your work to meet the requirements of your own subjects.  The timetable for written examinations will be published on the website soon.

Year 14 Inspiration and Dark Days

Year 14 are armed with their mock results and are getting their personal action plans into gear. At this time of year your progress towards your dream may seem very long drawn out. Pace yourself. Investment in thorough and unhurried work at this stage will get the best value out of a bit of panic nearer the exams. This is also the time to take stock of your commitments outside your academic work. Definitely don't cut off your friends, give up the social life and the part time job, but make good decisions with your long term aim in view. Pull back on your hours of part time work if you don't want to stop completely. Think of the next few months as a failsafe investment. If you put in the work now, you will really look forward to mid June - it's not that far away - when you will be free of pressure, happily chilling out on holiday with your best work under your belt. If the prospect of the next few months fills you with panic, DON'T. Come and talk - all the usual suspects will have you as their top priority between now and June. Don't be afraid to ask for a piece of our time.

A Good Experience

Lots more work experience on the horizon. Some are heading off to Spain, and lots of interesting destinations more locally. A few have taken the decision to go at Easter when they can get themselves a more worthwhile placement. The main thing is to pace yourself and make sure that between now and May/June you organise yourself the right mix of academic work towards great grades, a worthwhile work experience, and some rest and relaxation. Aim high, and do the best for yourself.

French Inspiration

Terrific reports have come back about the students performance on their work experience in France. Leah, who went with them, could hear the accents sharpen up noticeably. She also found all the students a pleasure to travel with, full of enthusiasm and eagerness to make the most of the trip. Have a look at the French blog if you want to read more about how they got on.

Urgent bebo.MySpace check

There have been recent warnings in the press that both universities and employers now check the bebo/MySpace etc. sites of applicants, and have covered the stories of prospective students or employees who have been rejected on the basis of material on their site. When you were young, you probably thought social networking sites were private, and you probably thought that a bit of shock was just normal. It is essential that you check not only your current sites, but any that you had in the past where you may have put something daft which could be taken as offensive. During the years you have been growing up, the law has become progressively stronger in terms of projection for people bullied or humiliated online. Be particularly careful of stuff on your site which may have been meant as a spoof. You won't have a chance to explain if you simply aren't offered a place or offered a job. Take the chance for a spring clean.

New Careers Magazine

Have a look at the new careers magazine on this link http://www.videomags.net/magazines/xcel42 and visit the website http://www.xcel.uk.net/ Both offer access to articles on a wide range of courses, universities and careers.

Open Day Volunteers

Some of you have already volunteered to take part in Open Day within your subject department, and we are very grateful. Beautifully turned out sixth form students are the very best advert for our school and we appreciate your contribution. If anyone not already involved in work in a department, and would be willing to do prefect duty guiding the P7s and parents, please see Ellen McVea. The date is Saturday 31st January and the requirements would be your presence from 1.30pm-4.00pm and perfect uniform. The wages are tea and buns! volunteers to help with display would also be very welcome on the Friday afternoon - wages, the price of your lunch!

Boring Coats

Thanks to everyone who sorted out their Shimna coat. The last few - do it please. You must be really bored with it and I certainly am. We be up front about the uniform in the contract precisely so that we DON'T all have to be bored with coats all year.

Happy New Year 14

Congratulations to all those of you who have received UCAS offers or interviews. Good luck with the interviews. The UCAS final deadline is just about a week away. Supporting those students still working on their application will be Alicia's main priority. Don't waste time worrying or talking yourself out of applying, come and talk about it. Remember that it is important to get your personal statement to your main reference writer, even if it's just a draft. You will get valuable feedback and your reference will be all the better. Remember too that your reference writer needs a couple of days to complete the reference and get it attached to your application. Don't, whatever you do, leave it until the last minute. If you are running into a clash between the UCAS deadline and revision for your module exams, come and talk about it. Putting in the application doesn't mean you can't change your mind later, but missing the deadline leaves you without some of the opportunities you are entitled to.

Happy New Year 13

Anyone who has not yet organised their work experience needs to get on the ball. Talk to Joanne Poland and to Alicia for ideas and contacts. Don't be afraid to split your time if you have two good ideas. It's worth travelling to get to a really good placement. Talk to us if you have travel problems which would get in the way. Don't forget to organise your insurance paperwork well in advance. Don't even think about going somewhere just to put the time in. Work experience is hugely valuable. As well as the experience itself, you may find out what you definitely want to do, or definitely don't want to do. You will also have a really valuable experience to include in your personal statement for UCAS or a job application. Act now!

Happy New Year

Lots of you have started term already, with chemistry practicals, biology mocks, some musical composition and some maths revision all got done on Monday 5th January. Most of you will hit the ground running on Tuesday. Good luck to those of you with modules, which start on Wednesday. January can be a difficult month, when you have to juggle revision time for modules without missing new work or letting ongoing work get behind. As for help if you are stuck.