St Peter the Apostle Handbook 2012 Page 1 St Peter the Apostle High S C H O O L H A N D B O O K St Peter the Apostle is a Roman Catholic High School that takes in the town of Clydebank and covers stages from S1-S6. The current roll is 1490 pupils. CONTACT INFORMATION Headteacher – Mr Michael Vassie St Peter the Apostle High School Kirkoswald Drive Clydebank G81 2DB Tel No – 0141 533 3100 Web - http://www.scottishschools.info/stpetertheapostle/ School Email - [email protected] Parent Council Web - www.stpetertheapostleparents.org.uk Email - [email protected] In all instances if a parent has a concern or complaint, they should contact the appropriate person through the school office. St Peter the Apostle High • Kirkoswald Drive • Clydebank • 0141 533 3100 St Peter the Apostle Handbook 2012 Page 2 A statement of the school’s culture, ethos and values, its aspirations for pupils and how it celebrates achievement. •Aim: we aim to help all students to achieve their full potential in each aspect of their development – academic, spiritual, physical, personal, social and emotional. • • Values: our values are placed firmly in the Gospel Values of our faith. The Catholic school is where children experience, live and enjoy their faith : the Catholic school loses its purpose without constant reference to the Gospels and a frequent encounter with Christ. We must provide pupils with a living relationship with Christ. Teachers must reveal the Christian method not only by word, but also by every gesture of their behaviour : the example we set in our behaviour should have the capacity Ryan Thomson S6 - to transform lives. Scottish Cross Country Champion • Vision: our vision is of a school that is a community of faith, learning and partnership comprehensive and inclusive ambitious and responsible accountable collegiate Achievement opportunities are offered to all pupils in a variety of ways: through sports, performing arts, external competitions, outward bound courses, community work, enterprise activities, work experience, college placements, charity work, participation in a wide range of clubs etc These wider achievements are recognised and celebrated through our whole school Award Ceremonies, Sports Awards, departmental reward systems, local press and year assemblies. The tannoy is often used to celebrate success across the school. Fionnula Boyle and Zoe Rocks. Senior Award Winners St Peter the Apostle High • Kirkoswald Drive • Clydebank • 0141 533 3100 St Peter the Apostle Handbook 2012 Page 3 The Schools Role in the Community Links with all local parishes are very strong. Our school chaplain is Parish Priest in St Eunan’s. Local clergy participate in the school’s Chaplaincy Team and are frequent visitors to the school. The school joins in fully and enthusiastically with Education Week and staff and pupils participate in masses in every parish. Every Lent pupils deliver a service on the Stations of the Cross in every church. Our school also plays a leading role in the national Caritas Award which encourages young people to engage in service to their school and parish communities. The Head Teacher is a member of the Catholic Head Teacher’s Association of Scotland. For the past 8 years our school has had a relationship with Olaleni Secondary school in Details of the school’s role in the community, Tanzania. The link was initially started by Ms partnerships with organisations, bodies and people who work in the school. Farren and this has developed into a very strong link between the two schools. The school has many links and partnerships with local organisations. Here is a list of some of them: Top Up and Reach programmes (links with universities) Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Mark Scott Leadership for Life programme Bankie Talk (the Diana Award) Eco Schools St Margaret’s Hospice Fire Reach programme Millennium Volunteer Awards CLAN partnership Y Sort-It Links to CHAS / Robin House The Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Tullochan Trust A popular qualification with pupils at the school Active Sports Beardmore Hotel (Hospitality) Youth Achievement Award Olaleni High School St Peter the Apostle High • Kirkoswald Drive • Clydebank • 0141 533 3100 St Peter the Apostle Handbook 2012 Page 4 Moving From Primary To Secondary Arrangements for parents offered or seeking a place for their child in the school, including arrangements for visiting the school. Important information on the school can be found in the school’s website:clubs, curriculum, policies, bulletins, focus for the week, uniform, parents’ handbook, supported study, calendar of events, information on departments, advice on study skills etc • if seeking a place in the school, parents can contact St Peter the Apostle the HT who would invite them up to the school for a visit or refer them on to WDC (if a placing request The first of the 12 apostles from another authority) “On this rock, I will build my church” • Any visit to the school would involve the HT and / or DHT and could include a tour of the school if requested The school takes its pupils from seven primary schools. These are: Our Lady of Loretto, Our Holy Redeemer , St Claire’s, St Eunan’s, St Mary’s, St Joseph’s, St Stephen’s Young People The move from primary to secondary is an important event. We at St Peter the Apostle wish to make this move as smooth as we can. Young people from our current S1 have been visiting schools along with senior management and pupil support teachers. In June our new S1 will come together as their First Year class, where they can meet some of their teachers, be given their timetables and a flavour of work in the secondary. St Peter the Apostle High • Kirkoswald Drive • Clydebank • 0141 533 3100 St Peter the Apostle Handbook 2012 Page 5 Parents Special parents’ meetings are organised to allow you to become familiar with the school building and the staff. Information sheets and newsletters are also issued through your son or daughter. Should you wish any extra information, please do not hesitate to contact the school at any time. Teachers Members of the school staff, including the Depute Head Teacher and Principal Teacher of Pupil Support responsible for the new intake, visit the school’s associated primary schools to make contact with Primary 7 pupils and their teachers and plan for their transition. The Principal Teacher Support for Learning (or representative) attends transition meetings in the primary school for P7 pupils, who have additional support needs. A transition plan is drawn up and put into operation. This is likely to include reciprocal visits between staff and establishments and visits to the secondary school for pupils and parents. Post placement reviews are held for these pupils in September/ October to ensure that they have settled in to secondary education and to address any difficulties. The design of the school incorporates features from the shipbuilding industry, hence the port holes and funnels on the roof. St Peter the Apostle High • Kirkoswald Drive • Clydebank • 0141 533 3100 St Peter the Apostle Handbook 2012 Page 6 The School Day Each school day has 6 periods spread as follows Registration 8.50 – 9.00 Period 1 9.00 – 9.50 Period 2 9.55 – 10.45 Interval 10.45 – 11.00 Period 3 11.00 – 11.55 Period 4 11.55 – 12.45 Lunch 12.45 – 1.30 Period 5 1.30 – 2.25 Period 6 2.25 – 3.20 Timekeeping Clubs There is a very strong link between attendance at school and academic success. Pupils should attempt to be on time and There are lots of activities that pupils can involve have a high level of attendance. themselves in at St Peter the Apostle. A sample of some are below - Netball Football, Table Tennis, Basketball, Drama – School Show, Choir, Band, Chess Club, Trampoline, Rugby, Dance, Badminton, Creative Writing, Science, Sign Language. The School Year We will publish a calendar of key dates on our school website and information about the academic year can be found on the council website Term Dates- http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/ education-and-learning/schools/schools-general- information/term,-holiday-and-closure-dates/ St Peter the Apostle High • Kirkoswald Drive • Clydebank • 0141 533 3100 St Peter the Apostle Handbook 2012 Page 7 Transition from S2 to S3 When pupils enter S1 the will study a broad range of subjects S1/2 Art, Science, Business Studies, French and Spanish, Maths, English, Computing, Music, Drama, Home Economics, Technical, PE, Social Subjects, Religious Education, Inter Disciplinary Learning At the end of S2 pupils will make 8 choices based on their strengths. An option choice form can be seen on the next page S3 (Additional Subjects) Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Business Management, Geography, History, Modern Studies, Dance, Design & Manufacture, Graphic Communication. Transition for S3 to the Senior Phase (S4-6) At the end of S3 pupils will choose 6 subjects to take into the senior phase of S4-6 S4/5/6 (Additional Subjects) Media Studies, Photography, Metalwork, Duke of Edinburgh, Leadership, Accounts and Finance, Travel & Tourism, Computer Games Development, Cake Decorating, Dance. St Peter the Apostle High • Kirkoswald Drive • Clydebank • 0141 533 3100 St Peter the Apostle Handbook 2012 Page 8 S2 Option Choice Sheet COLUMN COLUMN COLUMN COLUMN A B C D English Maths Spanish History Geography Modern Studies COLUMN COLUMN COLUMN COLUMN E F G H Biology Art & Design Administration Biology Chemistry Design & Computing Business Studies Manufacture Physics Home Economics Design & Chemistry Manufacture Music Craft & Design Computing PE Graphic Music Communication Child Care Hospitality Physics Craft & Design French St Peter the Apostle High • Kirkoswald Drive • Clydebank • 0141 533 3100 St Peter the Apostle Handbook 2012 Page 9 Post school transition arrangements The school identifies pupils, whose additional support needs are such that they require enhanced support for their transition to post-school services. All agencies relevant to the post-school transition are invited to the pupil’s S3 review and a plan will be drawn up to support the pupil through the transition process. Support for Pupils- Additional Support Needs In line with WDC policy, the school uses a 4 step process based on the Getting It Right for Every Child(GIRFEC) approach to assess additional needs. This helps us to decide when more targeted support is required. The 4 steps are: - Identifying concerns; deciding on the child’s needs; deciding on the appropriate stage of intervention; reviewing the plan. Further information can be obtained from the WDC website. www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/education-and-learning/schools/additional-support-needs/assessment The school has 12 Principal Teachers of Pupil Support, each with a responsibility for an identified client group. 4 of the Principal Teachers have an intensive support client group. These groups are significantly smaller than the rest and allow for targeted support to be offered to those young people, who have the greatest need. Young people who have already been identified in primary as having a significant additional support need will normally be placed in one of the intensive support client groups on entry to our school. The JAT( the school’s multi-agency support group) meets regularly and includes representatives from Psychological Services, Social Work and the School Nursing Service. Where a young person requires support from a number of agencies, permission is sought from the young person and their parent to discuss this at a JAT meeting. In this way, a multi agency support plan can be drawn up to address a range of needs. If you are concerned that your child has an additional support need or if you have any questions about your child’s progress in school, you should contact his/her Pupil Support teacher, who has an overview of your child’s school experience. Office staff will be able to identify the Pupil Support teacher for your child, if you are unsure who this is. Useful websites: - www.enquire.org.uk ( Scottish Advice Service for Additional Support for Learning) www.autism.org.uk www.educationscotland.gov.uk Health & Wellbeing/RE Curriculum Issues such as sexual relationships and parenthood will be covered in RE through the ‘Called to Love’ programme produced by the Scottish Catholic Education Service. They have also produced an information leaflet for parents, which will be issued prior to pupils beginning the course. The Health & Wellbeing Curriculum will address a range of issues, some of which may be of a sensitive nature. Details of the content of the HWB curriculum will be provided along with pupil reports. Any parent wishing more information on these matters should contact the Head of Year. St Peter the Apostle High • Kirkoswald Drive • Clydebank • 0141 533 3100 St Peter the Apostle Handbook 2012 Page 10 School Dress St Peter the Apostle actively encourages the wearing of school uniform, as does West Dunbartonshire Council with substantial parental and public support. School jumpers and ties can be purchased from the school. The Uniform is: White shirt or blouse School tie School sweater/cardigan/slipover Dark dress trousers; dark skirt or dress trousers for girls Black boots or shoes The PE Kit is White or purple polo shirt Dark P.E shorts or track suit bottoms Clean, non-marking training shoes Our Oratory - Built at the heart of the school Uniform We encourage the wearing of school uniform because: It indicates a sense of pride in the school and helps pupils form positive attitudes to their work It protects children from the harmful effects of social distinction and competitive dressing It promotes the school’s identity in the community, with our immediate neighbours, local business and industry It helps staff in supervising pupils and keeping unwelcome visitors out of the school St Peter the Apostle - School Uniform St Peter the Apostle High • Kirkoswald Drive • Clydebank • 0141 533 3100