Winter 2020 ACADEMY - Montgomery High School
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ACADEMY Winter 2020
When I am writing my introduction to
the Christmas newsletter I always read
the one from the previous year. Twelve
months ago, the newsletter celebrated
our 60th Anniversary event. Well I
think that 2020 will go down as one
of the most challenging the school
has faced in its history. Who would
have known, a year down the line, that
students and staff just being in school
would be an achievement in itself?
Principal: Mr S. Careless
The global population has faced enormous challenges since March, which will forever
be etched in our memories. With the first doses of the vaccine being given to the most
vulnerable this week, we sincerely hope that this is the beginning of a return to more
normal life. When I look back at 2020, my first thought is absolute pride in how the
Montgomery Family has faced down challenges and supported each other.
Most of all, we should be As I write, four days of the The transition of Year 7 students
immensely proud of our mock exams have been to secondary school was equally
students, who have developed completed and the year group’s affected by Covid and again
new levels of resilience. Most conduct and application in the they have risen to the challenge.
were out of school for almost exams so far has been flawless. They have adapted amazingly
six months, yet returned in a They are still the same students well to a completely new
positive frame of mind and that we sent home in March as environment and new ways of
quickly adapted to wearing Year 10, but the experience they learning. Whenever the school
face masks in communal faced has meant that many has been struggling to stay open
areas, being taught in separate have come back more mature this term, a quick walk round to
blocks, smaller outside and focused. This bodes well see the great learning going on
spaces for their breaks and a for next year and I am confident has given me the boost needed
staggered school day. Last that they will persevere and to find solutions to the problems
year’s Year 11 had it tough adapt to whatever happens we have faced.
when their exams were regarding their exams next
The students are fortunate to
cancelled followed by the summer. Seeing them sat in
have a special staff working
fiasco of the summer exam the Hall taking their exams
at their school. Staff who are
grading, yet the current Year 11 incredibly seriously has been
vulnerable themselves, or have
have had it hardest of all. inspiring to us all.
extremely clinically vulnerable
family in their household, have We thank you for trusting in us
kept coming in to school day and continuing to send in your
after day, even when we have child when we have had positive
positive cases. They continue to cases in school.
have a smile on their face whilst
I have had to have some difficult
working under intense pressure,
conversations with parents
caused by Covid restrictions
regarding positive cases and
and covering for absent staff.
children being identified as close
The school slogan of ‘Inspiring
contacts. I thank you for your
Excellence Together’ has never
civility and understanding that
been more fitting. The spirit
this has happened in the majority
and resilience of our staff should
of secondary schools up and
never be questioned.
down the country.
I would like to use this forum to
As we approach the Christmas
thank two staff who are retiring
break, all of us at Montgomery
at the end of this term. Mrs
wish you a very safe and Merry
Watson has taught life skills from
Christmas and hope you get the
within the pastoral team for over
chance to relax and recover at the
23 years and Mr Elvin has been
end of an exhausting year. Even
an integral member of our site
though restrictions have been
supervisor team for over 12 years.
lifted for a 5-day period over
They will be sorely missed by
Christmas, please continue to be
their colleagues and the students
cautious when mixing with others.
and we wish them happy
retirements, thanking them both I am sure that the New Year will
for the significant impact they bring further hurdles to overcome,
have made here. but I have no doubt that by
supporting each other we will
Parents have also been tested to
endure and eventually prosper
the limit over the last 9 months
again.
and we thank you for working
with us to support your child to
continue to learn when they are
not in school. Many skills have Mr Careless
been learnt in a short space
of time in this pandemic and
for many parents supporting
remote learning has meant much
upskilling overnight.
As many of you will know, Mr Bullen ended his
role as Executive Headteacher at Montgomery
at the end of August to take up a senior
role within FCAT. In September of this year I
began working at the academy for two days
a week as the new Executive Headteacher. I
also have a similar role at Garstang Academy
and Ribblesdale High School in Clitheroe.
Universally, I have had a warm welcome
from students and staff alike and have been
impressed by what I have seen so far at the
school. The response of the academy to the
current crisis has been incredible but of course
Executive Headteacher: it has given us all many challenges. The way in
Mr Stephen Cox which most students have adapted to a very
difficult situation is a tribute to their families,
the staff here at Montgomery and indeed
themselves.
One of the things I have noticed this year on
the many miles I clock up around Lancashire
is the abundance of Christmas lights. We all
need a little more brightness at the moment!
Of course, Christians believe that candles and
lights on the approach to Christmas represent
the light of the birth of Jesus and hope. With
the roll out of the vaccines for Covid there is
indeed light and hope for next year and we
can look forward to a return to normality both
in school and elsewhere. When this happens,
I look forward to meeting many of you at
school events. I wish you all a safe and relaxing
Christmas and a wonderful 2021.
Stephen Cox
Executive Headteacher
Team Science
Autumn Awesomeness
in 2020-2021
mery
a rt m e n t at Montgo
e de p
The Scienc y e d a very pos
itive
has e n jo
Academy ic year.
rt to th is academ
and vibran
t s ta e have
n t in m a ny ways, w
differe vation
Although re ati v ity and inno ar group b
ubbles
m e n s e c e re nt y e nd
shown im e to li fe in the d
iff
e e n to motivate a
sc ie n c y s b
in bringing has alwa build an
s c h o o l s ite. The aim io n fo r S c ience and
across the to share o
ur pass e believe
tu d e n ts a c u lture that w
inspire ou
r s m e nt; as not
e th o s in the depart p o te n ti al and this h
inclusive te
am eir full safely in
stu d en ts to reach th th a t h as continued
ou r b of
will allow a s Y e ar 8 STEAM Clu s w ith th e Institute
As well aboratio n
changed. c o n ti n u ed our coll ty of Chem
istry.
w e h a v e oy a l S o c ie
E-block, and the R f Seneca
s, th e O g den Trust in g te rm in terms o
Physic rd-break dent and
av e a lso had a reco u s b u il d more confi
We h is helping
ga g e m e n t and this v e ry year gro
up.
en nti sts in e
eable scie
knowledg
the Force be with you!
s – May
Year 7s and 8
This term our Year 7s ha
ve loved studying the top
Our Year 8s have starte ics of forces and particles
d with topics that they in M-block.
March and have enjoyed mi ssed during the school
studying ecology, inheri lock down in
in E-block. The overlap tance and variation and
in the force’s topic within then forces over
with us teaching outside our Year 7 and 8 curriculu
S-block has meant we ha ms combined
in our teaching. Highlig ve had to be innovative
hts have included mode and creative
investigating Hooke’s La lling resultant forces usi
w and calculating our ow ng ‘Just Dance’,
also had a lot of fun ma n speed using distance
king whole class particle and time. We
water around whilst inv mo dels outside in the quad
estigating density. All in and splashing
Science across Year 7 an all, it has been a fantastic
d 8 and we cannot wait first term in KS3
and Reproduction in Ye to get going again in Jan
ar 7 and Waves in Year uary with Cells
8. Bring it on!
lock
Year 10s in S-b
Throughout this term, ou
r Year 10s have been for
our brand-new science lab tunate to study within
s in S-block. This has me
chemistry and physics the ant that across biology,
y have been able to study
alongside exciting practi scientific content
cal investigations and thi
some much-needed norm s in turn has brought
ality back to our science
of our brilliant science tec cu rriculum. With the help
hnicians who have uphe
standards, our students ld the highest covid safety
have explored photosyn
and endothermic reaction thesis practically, exothe
s and built a variety of ser rmic
whilst studying electricit ies and parallel circuits
y. Each practical is set up
trays, safety googles are for small groups in individ
cleaned after each use an ual
is used to ensure Bunse d alcohol-free sanitiser
n burners can be deployed
are needed. Next term, we safely as and when they
will continue to offer as
as possible as our Year 10s ma ny practical activities
study infection and respo
chemistry unit and atomi nse , our quantitative
c structure and radiation
.
assroom
Seneca in Science & Google Cl
Initially pioneere
d by Mr Bradshaw
Science learning , we have furthe
programme calle r embedded an
Google Classroo d Seneca alongs exciting and inno
m. Seneca is an id e a collaborative vative online
to build knowledg intelligent learni social cloud for
e, boost confide ng programme that us learning in form
chunks and tailo nce and reduce es multiple choi of
red to each user ex am st re ss . Co ce micro-quizzes
where they need as the platform ntent is broken
to focus more to works out what down into bite-s
package is now achieve outstand students know an ize
being used by al ing results. This d more importan
l year groups an revolutionary on tly
d their amazing line learning
current progress
Y is shown below:
ear Group
Sessions Co
mpleted Questions A
7 nswered Stu
11, 920 dy Duratio n
136, 388
8 820 hrs 50
15, 234 mins
178, 488
9 1066 hrs 28
31, 044 mins
367, 442
10 1894 hrs 50
64, 922 m ins
836, 816
11 3598 hrs 1 m
84, 634 in
1, 088, 510
4579 hrs 33
mins
Our students deserve great praise for completing these Seneca learning
sessions. It is clearly having a massively positive impact on student progress
in Science and so we look forward to its continued usage and success in 2021.
Philip Harris Lego
Competition
In November, Cath
Bach who leads ou
Harris Science Su r Space Club ente
pplies. In describ red a competitio
an alien planet, w ing how our Spac n run by Philip
e were chosen as e club set off on
winners of a mag a m iss ion to explore
worth £350. In ou nificent Lego Min
r application, we ds to rm s V3 Robot
UV light and mad le t ou r students describ
e and tested spac e how they had in
collected from th e su its and egg lander ve stigated
e unknown planet s. They then wen
achievement for and purify Tim Pe t on to test soil
a fantastic club an ake’s urine. This w
enthusiasm alread d the new robotic in is a fantastic
y by our space cl kit has been met
more when we re ub students. We with bundles of
turn in the spring lo ok forward to usin
term. g the robot a lot
Community
mary Science Club in the
Pri
When the pandemic allows this academic
year, the Montgomery Science team, Institute of Physics
led by Miss Healey will continue offering & Ogden Trust –
Building better
their popular Science club to Year 5 and
6 students at some of the local primary
schools in our community. In the summer Physicists.
term 2020, we expanded the programme
to include Westminster and Gateway
and we now look forward to re-visiting
Bispham Endowed and Kincraig primaries
as well as bringing Westcliffe on board as
soon as the pandemic allows. Students
can look forward to making lava lamps,
rainbow skittle diffusion plates, magic
milk and slime. To keep our primaries in 5-year
We are delighted to announce that our
our thoughts, Miss Healey has produced of Phys ics and its
collaboration with the Institute
a gigantic Elementree to celebrate the inue d remotely
stimulating physics network has cont
Christmas season and we have sent d the Future
pictures of this to our local primaries to let this year. Mr Woodruff has now complete
g to drive the
them know that we will be back in 2021! Physics Leaders Program and is continuin
as our Lead Phys icist, well
science department forward
t, we have also
done indeed! Through the Ogden Trus
Matt hew Tosh’s
been able to take advantage this term of
where he
guest appearance at Blackpool Sixth Form
ce care ers and different
was running sessions on scien
in the science
pathways that can lead to a career with
KS4 learn ers
sector. This was shown remotely to our
lmingly
and evaluation of this session was overwhe
scien tists wea r a white coat
positive. It is true that not all
ce further is
and inspiring our students to study scien
t.
something we are greatly passionate abou
rld,
t h e wo y
ill in untr
e st w h e co eir
t h e b
u n d t
r u n th
h o to
Wit ll ar led
h o ols a strugg r
sc eally d ou
e r s , a n
hav lub
g u lar u l u mC
re rri c t.
a-cu differen ide
extr no prov
i s to wo
SSC a g ed n n i ng t up
v e man n by ru e a r gro t
h a s i o r y en
We
d p rovi i n thei q u ipm
te s e
limi club parate nt.
v i d ual s e t ude
d i i t h s he
i n
b l e s’ w 7 and 8
f u l for t
‘Bub ear rate of
e a ch y m e ly g e m ent ar
for tre urag eam, Ye
a re ex e n c o T ce
We r t and e rshi
p
S cien
o d ou r
sup
p Lea ays,
e nior l w
our
S a s a ou!
d s and h a nk y
T
Hea tment.
p a r
De
Steam
Dunkirk
Evacuation
We followed the Science! We
looked at the evacuation by
constructing straw boats and
calculating how many toy
soldiers they could transport.
More importantly could
the craft actually float in a
sink full of water in the Art
Department?
ADE… Divers
P T E M B E R WE HAVE M L ava L a m p s * Cartesian
E *
RNING IN S * Mandrakes
SINCE RETU W o rk in g L ighthouses ig ration * Bird
feeders
la n d e rs * ri ti sh B ird M
* Egg riscopes * B
Air Rockets P u mpkins & Pe
cu ati o n *
Dunkirk Eva
Pumpkins &
Trench
Periscopes
fe e d b ack forrs/
Student an Diiv e
r te s i :
our CLamp sess n
a o
Lava was rea
lly fun!’
1 0/10. ‘It
Trinity: g
terestin
/ 1 0 . ‘I t was in d y es
Sam: 10 sed
I h a v e never u
because
before!’ first
. ‘T h is was my
10/10 ill come
Logan: and I w
C lu b it and
STEAM s e I enjoyed
again b
ec a u I never
o u t d y es that
ab
learned
a b out.’
knew use
e ly 1 0 / 10 beca
efinit g
Drew: ‘D e makin
la m p s were lik
a
the Lav ipe!’
c a Cola rec
a Co ly
definite
a : 8 / 1 0 . ‘It was s a n d
Joshu dye
g t h e various
fun usin h Drew.’
o w o r king wit
als
va lamp
e e in g the La tions
Josh : ‘S
n d a ll the reac
up a t! 10/10
’
bubble u rite par
fa v o
was my colours
ix ing the
Liam: 10
/ 1 0 . ‘M atterns
n d m aking p
ye s a aking
of the d - it w a s like m
good
was so
se!!!’
a univer
Birdfeeder
s! Made wit
butter, lard h Bird seed
, pumpkin , peanut,
suet pellets se eds, corn, fl
with mealw a kes, and
orm
Club Members: Sam. Elouise. Liam. Brandon.
Joshua. Trinity. Drew. Josh. Haiden. Josh N .
Reece. Lily. Erin. Logan. Imogen. Lilly. Heaven.
Oscar. Szymon. Dillon. Sam. Aidan. Chloe.Crisp Donation
Helping the homeless
people in Blackpool...
Following a request seen online, students
have been donating their empty crisp
packets to help homeless people in
Blackpool. Over a three week period
students have donated hundreds of
empty crisp packets. It takes around
150 packets of crisps to make a full
waterproof blanket which would cover
their sleeping bags during the colder
months, once washed the packets of
crisps are cut open and then ironed
together to make the blanket. The
donation boxes were overflowing with
donations we think is about 400 crisp
packets. Many thanks to everyone who
Photo Credit
donated their bags, especially the hous
e Ben, James, Harry, Sam, Szymon, Liam & Jacob
captains who encouraged others to
donate the crisp packets!
WELL
DONE!
th
fr o m th e S SC during the mon
Mr Haye s ay to
em b er c yc led and ran everyd ise
of Nov to ra
dista n c e o f 22 0 miles helping
the Brian House.
ov er £ 50 0 .0 0 tontg om er y
M o TI O N
ED UCA
Lego programme
Sessions consist of a maximum of three students.
Each week different roles are allocated to them.
ngineer
The E
The Enginee
r gives the
instructions
to the Supp
and also to lier
the Builder.
PPLIER
U
The S
e
h e S u p p li er finds th
T ibed
e g o b r ic k s as descr
L gives
ineer and
by the Eng
e Builder.
them to th
The BUILDER
The Builder
follows the v
instructions erbal
given by the
and puts the Engineer
bricks togeth
er!Obviously, anything involving Lego will automatically
include fun and a range of practical activities!
Starter
task:
Aidan, Oliver and
Riley use Lego
Picturika cards to
encourage memory
retention.
Underpinning all of this is the belief that sessions are about
developing communication and interaction, cognition and
learning, and developing positive relationships with peers.
Using Lego in any educational setting also helps utilise any
sensory and/or physical need.
‘Thank you very much!’ also goes out
A BIG thank you to to the Morton family who have given
us some brilliant sets from the Lego
THANK YOU! ‘Friends’ range. These are extremely
To all staff who gave us their Lego popular with our students from all
cards from Sainsburys. We really year groups.
appreciate it. We completed two Also to our ‘Internet’ friends – Tim
albums, used spare cards for our own Gough, Ruth Hayes and Emma
version of Picturika! And also at break, Kennedy from ‘Relax with Bricks’ who
play a game that they can be used for. have also given us lovely Lego sets!N G M AT
AT MONTGOMERY ACADEMY
R EA D I T E RS
Here at Montgomery
Academy, Reading
Matters!
In these uncertain times, reading is the perfect
pastime to not only escape the stresses, strains
and sometimes scary media coverage of COVID
READ
19 but also from a more positive perspective we
With the increased usage of global delivery services,
have been given the gift of time.
from Amazon to Dominoes, Morrisons to JD, our
Time we can spend with our families and time Library and Literacy team decided to set up our
we can all spend reading. delivery service with ‘Did Somebody Say Just Read?’
This delivery service works in the same way as our
As the nights draw early and the weather more famous companies in that students can select
becomes colder, reading can provide a refuge for their favourite books just like they select a Pizza or
readers by supporting children’s mental health trainers. Once they have made their on-line books,
well-being as they plan for their futures through our team will then deliver them directly to their
the medium of books. classroom. The students can then read their chosen
books at their leisure before logging onto the school
Here at Montgomery Academy, Reading Matters!
website and completing their Accelerated Reading
This academic year has seen a very different Quiz which is all done at home.
library and reading service because NO virus will
So far, this academic year our students have read
stop us supporting our students with improving
12,806,766 words, successfully completed 370
their reading. Already we have seen record
on line quizzes and we have 2 word millionaires,
numbers of words being read by our students but
Libby and Myles. Well done! However, despite
there is, as always. room for more.
these current successes the data this year is
Our Library and Literacy team have dedicated disappointing if we compare the data to last year’s.
their time and efforts working tirelessly to ensure As a school, we understand that these unsettling
that all students have been given books which and uncertain times have had a negative impact,
have been carefully selected based on individual we will continue to work hard to increase our
reading abilities. This information was provided student reading engagement. Which is where we
by our Accelerated Reading Star Tests, which need your support and encouragement to ‘Get
were completed in the first half term by all Key our students reading at home’ and at the same
Stage 3 Students. time increase their chances of future successes
particularly in their future GCSEs and chosen career
paths.
We hope you have a peaceful, safe and healthy
Christmas and look forward to supporting
your children with their reading in 2021, From
Montgomery Academy Library and Literacy Team.LITERARY
CANON
FIRES MAGNIFICENTLY
IN TERM ONE
So, we come to the end of the first
term of the Montgomery Literary
Canon…and, despite a number of
COVID related challenges we have
YEAR YEAR
reached Christmas having successfully
7 8
read an additional book to every child
in year 7,8,9 and 10!
Whether this has been at the start,
or the end of the day, it has been
fantastic to see whole classes of
children reading with their teachers.
• The Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins • The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4
We must not underestimate the
• Nineteen Eighty-Four– George Orwell - Sue Townsend
• The
impact of this exposure to new stories, • Robinson Crusoe – Daniel Defoe Perks of being a Wallflower- Stephen Chbosky
• Flowers for Algernon- Daniel Keyes
new contexts and new styles will • Wonder- R.J. Palacio
have on the education of these young
people.
We are hopeful that many of these
students will now be inspired to
read some similar books and further YEAR YEAR
improve their reading skills and 9 10
cultural capital.
A big thank you to everyone who has
played a part in this; I know that we
will go from strength to strength and
look forward to seeing our canon fire
it’s second, even better shot, in term
too.
• Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller • The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood
• The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath • The Power, by Naomi Alderman
Suggested additional reading is
• The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger • The Bees, by Laline Paull
detailed below. • Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck • Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier
• Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte
• 1984, by George Orwell
• The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel HawthornePoetry
Together
is simple,
open to
everyone,
and free.
You may remember that we joined this annual
poetry project last November. We found it so
inspiring that we’ve just kept going every week
(Even during ‘Lockdown!’) by forming our own
SSC ‘Poetry Together’ Club!
For this year’s project,
we teamed up again with
Merwood Retirement Home
our regular ‘Partners in
Rhyme’.
https://youtu.be/
dxswn0bAmGMDue to
Covid19, we obviously needed
to find another way to work
together! We decided to
record all the verses of
‘The Lion and Albert’
separately.
e/dxswn0bAmGMDue
https://youtu.b‘The video is just fab! What a great poetry choice, and its lovely how students, staff, and care home residents are all participating. Well done for the effort and getting it done in time!! We will celebrate your recital in the coming days on social media, so watch out for it!’ OLIVE SPYTH POETRY TOGETHER TEAM ‘Amazing - nearly crying! Leo did really well, as did everyone else. What a lovely thing for him to be part of. Thank you so much.’ LEO’S MUM ‘Residents and families have watched the video. The way you have put the clips together is wonderful! We are very grateful for the opportunity to interact in this way. Some residents have Dementia, and often don’t interact – we have seen the most moving transformation in our residents – heart-warming. The poetry we have been doing since your introduction – WOW, WOW WOW!!!’ JACKIE MERWOOD MANAGER
GCSE PHOTOGRAPHY
GCSE
Photography
Students Get
Snapping!
Year 10 and year 11 photography
students have returned to school have
been busy with their photography!
Year 10’s
Year 10’s have been practicing shutter speeds and after
initially photographing the movement of each other through
a range of shutter speeds shutter speeds. Students have
since developed their photos to practising a technique
called panning and then using much longer shutter speeds
on Blackpool Promenade to capture some fantastic shots of
Blackpool Tower. This has tested their technical capabilities
but has resulted in a fabulous collection of photographs!
Year 11’s
Year 11’s have started their work on their ‘Britishness’
photography topic, initially using photos they had taken
during lockdown students have developed their photos
through editing, using the British born Pop-Art movement
as a starting point and then using street photography as
their focus. Year 11 students have also met with local street
photographer Jill Reidy who talked students through her
career and her focus on street photography, she shared her
love for seaside towns and talked students through some of
the photos from her exhibit ‘Seaside towns out of season’,
before giving some top tips to help them out when out
and about in Blackpool. Since the streets of Blackpool are
very quiet at the minute students used their opportunity
of being out of school and in Blackpool to create ‘joiners’,
a photo collage technique created by English artist and
photographer David Hockney.MONTGOMERY MATHS
HOME LEARNING AWARDS
HEGARTY HEROS
WHOLE SCHOOL
Since September 2020 there have been a whopping:
228,785 questions attempted
179,510 questions answered correctly 4203 spent doing
maths on the website 459 hours of help videos watched
Here are some of our Hearty Heroes:
A R 7
YE nt Award
Top Stude s in total and
2 h o u r
1–1
Xander 7A a n s w e re d correctly
ions
450 quest eos watche
d
M os t v id of
a n 7 A 1 – 3.7 hours
Aid tched
videos wa
ster
MemRi Ma
61 MemRi
Evie 7B1 – tly
n s a n sw e red correc
questio
YE AR 8 YEAR 9
d
Top Student Award A war total tly
nt in ec
Jack 8B3 – 18 hours in total S tude hours d corr
and 631 questions answered correctly Top – 25.8 swere ed tche
d
A1 a n c h a
ie 9 ons wat os w
Most videos watched Kat questi ideos f vide
o
Blake 8A4– 2.6 hours of d 556 ost v hours ueen tions
videos watched an M 4.8 ion Q 4 ques
2 – st 5
Question king iela 9A Que A1 – 14 rectly
Dan 9 cor
Jack 8A1 – 644 questions
na vive ered
answered correctly Jen answR 10
YEA Top Student Award
Matthew 10B1 – 27.2 hours in total and 4095
questions answered correctly
Most videos watched
Harriet 10A2– 2.9 hours of videos watched
MemRi Master
Lilia 10A1 – 140 MemRi questions answered
R 11
YEA
nt Award
Top Stude ours in total
– 31.7 h
Chloe 11B3 a ns w ere d correctly
uestions
and 1122 q os watche
d
Most vide f
r 11B 4 – 4.9 hours o
Taylo tched
videos wa
ster
MemRi Ma emRi
– 96 M
Yulan 11B1 e d correctly
an sw er
questions
2020 will be remembered for many things, but the “new
normal” still included a memorable video piece to serve as our
Remembrance Event 2020.
With moving readings from our Head boy and girl and an amazing
rendition of “Bring Him Home”, the theme this year focussing on
the amazing work of our NHS heroes. This is as well as other super
heroes like teachers, delivery drivers,taxi drivers, mums and dads
that turned into amazing maths teachers – that “pulling together”
under the Covid cloud and looking out for each other during
these “never seen before times”. As ever our thoughts during an
impeccable period of silence on 11th November here in school also
turned to the bravery of out Armed forces past and present
NOVEMBER 2020 has been many things, it’s been very much business as usual
in terms of Remembrance here at Montgomery.
REMEMBRaNcE Day We will Never forget.This years Christmas card competition has some extra meaning
Cards for
behind it this year as the winning images will be used to spread
kindness of our students across the Fylde coast, and be used on
our own Christmas cards to reduce the amount of people in care
homes who don’t receive any cards over the Christmas period.
Age UK have reported figures that show 60 per cent of people
living in care homes get no visitors at all.
Cards for Kindness is an initiative originally set up by Lancashire County Council in
2018 and this year’s event commencing will start on December 1, in a bid to reduce
loneliness by encouraging members of the community to send a card to a local care
home. Every tutor group in school have completed a group card which will be sent to
care homes across the Fylde Coast to try and spread some kindness this Christmas!
Attached are the designs of cards which have been sent to local care homes.Year 7
You’ve had to master different ways of
learning and engaging too this year.
Google Classroom, Hegarty Maths,
Classcharts and of course SENECA. I’m
sure I have your logins and passwords
firmly etched in my brain and I know
some of your surnames better than you!!
On a serious note, I think you have coped
otten and
th at w il l never be forg remarkably well with the online learning
2020. A ye ar ngest,
h is to ry b oo ks as the stra that some of you have had to do and there
e
will go into th ere’s a couple
of
es t an d ‘q ui etest’. Yes, th k th er e is always plenty of work turned in. It’s
weird thin
es th er e b ut really, I don’t , yo u fantastic that since September, 22,298
superlativ r 6s
w or d s to d es cribe it. As Yea ambition points have been earned by
are enough yo u
in a way that
h ed yo ur p ri mary school h sc hool you too. Honestly, we have high hopes
finis hig
am ed of an d then started for you guys. I do also think your parents
never d re t ‘thin ’g
n ev er d re amed of. Tha deserve some recognition too as trying to
in a way yo u taken
en h ea rd of in March, had balance work, family and home learning
we’d never ev t we were
y as we knew it. Bu is no easy feat! Let’s hope that next year,
over n or m al it r reasons: the
re m em b er 2020 for bette some sense or normality resumes.
going to ery.
ted Montgom
year you star I’m glad that you have settled in so well
ropped off
w h en you were all d and that I have had the opportunity to
That fi rs t d ay ly imagine
e b ik e sh ed gates, I can on teach many of you too. I can already
outside th s
tened, anxiou
t yo u w er e feeling: frigh en t an d see that you are a wonderful group of
wha tem
ra n g e, ye t m ixed with exci of students. Myself and Mr Higgs obviously
and st ext journey
starting the n talk about you every day and we count
enthusiasm of w ere soon to b
e met by
l li fe . Y ou of Year ourselves as lucky as having met some
your schoo ro te ct ive enforcers
s, th e p delightful young people. We are looking
Holden&Higg tect and uphol
d you and
e, p ro
7; there to se rv ock. I must forward to the new year and watching
an d cl as srooms of M Bl you grow and mature even more. We
the corrid or s the fire
st ra n g e m ee ting you all on often say that even on the gloomiest,
admit, it was mbly
in th e co m fort of the asse
an e help of all wettest, coldest days (there are those
lines, rather th n’t do. With th
in g w e ca superlatives again), meeting you in
hall, som et h u into your
to rs , w e quickly got yo
your group tu you still the morning on the gates, we are often
ou g h ev en now some of
th greeted with lots of good mornings,
right lines, al you know
w or k on yo ur alphabet so infectious smiles and laughter. What
need to e fire lines!!!
standing in th more could we want???
where you’re
d in fairly
fa ir to say, you settle A great start to Year 7 guys. ‘Holden and
I thin k it ’s ew systems
yo u ad apted to the n Higgs’ wish you and your families the
quickly an d I think I
ls th at w er e put in place. happiest and safest of holidays. We’ll see
and protoco arly to
ce an d Sp ac e’ quite regul
say ‘Hands, Fa g each other you in the new year looking refreshed,
u of th e ef forts of keepin dapper (with your face masks) and
remind yo ood. I’m
th e w h ol e, you’re very g ready to learn even more. Let’s make
safe and on 7
masks in year
re I g iv e ou t the least face ou g h t of 2021 an even better year and remember
su it the th
u’ re so or g anised…or is re ak ??? something I say daily to you all: “It costs
as yo e at b
g ev en m or e time with m nothing to be kind.”
spendin
HHmmmm. Best wishes, Miss Holden and
Mr HiggsThe highlights for me as a Progress
r 8
Manager this term have to be the
e a
amount of ambition points the year 8s
Y
have received as a year group, totalling
over 22,000! WOW! The reading canon
sessions are also a highlight of mine
as it has been incredible to go around
each form and see how engaged the
students were while reading the book
“The Curious Incident of the Dog in
w e c a n fi n ally say we the Night-time’’. We look forward to
Well… y c ompleted
c c e s s fu ll start “The Diary of Ann Frank” after
have su 20
ol term of 20
Christmas. Furthermore, Mr Byrne and
the fi rst s c h o d,
ps in the roa
Mrs Bach’s STEAM and Poetry club has
h a fe w b u m
wit also been a highlight for me, seeing all
so to speak.
the remarkable work that our students
ous staff
times, numer ous produce in their own time after school!
pils off at vari
We’ve had pu an d many phon
e calls in WELL DONE! Lastly, I must mention my
ng to is ol at e
members havi google classr
oom year 8A1 P.E. class! The amount of effort,
gg in g in to the year 8
relation to lo been a hard
er , w e ha ve done it! It has determination, sweat, blood and tears
– DOH! Howev every
I am proud of I see each lesson is phenomenal! The
t w e ha ve su cceeded, and
slog bu lesson on the mini trampolines being one
t in year 8.
single studen of my favourite (see picture), even though
changes and
tu al ly th in ki ng about the I could not walk for the next three days!
When ac ercome it is
ac le s ea ch student has ov and
ob st have adapted So that’s all there is to it! A fabulous start
ow in g to see how they
mind- bl wns, remote to year 8 and still two more terms to go
ha ve ha d na tional lockdo
grown. We this), the anxi
ety when we return after the New Year. Enjoy
(b ei ng m otivated to do
learni ng face mas , ks
g to sc ho ol , wearing their the Christmas break and make sure you
of returnin many bouts of all relax, spend time with loved ones
to th e sc hool day and
chan ge s of my favourite and stay safe. Don’t forget my favourite
n. Th is le ads me to one
self-isolat io , “Obstacles
Ic on th at is Michael Jordan saying, “kindness spreads kindness”
quotes by the to a wall, don’
t
to st op yo u. If you run in Mrs Gilderdale
don’t ha ve w to clim it,
b
d gi ve up . Figure out ho
turn around an and this is ex
actly
h it, or w ork around it”
go thro ug So well done
ve do ne as a year group!
what we ha
year 8.
pleting all
e ye ar 8s ha ve been com
This term, th e, this has be
en
le ar ni ng in E block. To m
of thei r r ow n
e have had ou
has felt like w
fabulous as it est school in Blackpool.
in si de th e bi gg
“mini school” ssons (wande
ring)
sr up tio ns , fe wer late to le
Fewer di d learning. M
rs
t of al l, more focuse ly
an d, m os been constant
r M cM ul len and I have
Chapman , M the corr ors
id
ep co un t up to ensure that
getting our st ch classroom
has a
r be tw ee n lessons and ea
are clea environment.
ttl ed an d fo cused learning
se9
Zero Behaviour Points
e a r
The Year 9’s clearly know how to impress
their
Y
teachers as over 16,000 total ambition point
s have
been awarded to the year group since Septe
mber.
What is even more impressive is that over
120
students in Year 9 have received zero beha
viour
points in their lessons, consistently demo
nstrating
perfect behaviour! Each of these students
will
receive a well deserved letter of excellenc
e sent
home. Well done to those students!
e ti ng s fro m Mr Heyes Curriculum Achievement
Gre
9 P ro g re s s Manager) This year, the year 9’s have been working
hard to
(Yea r maintain their learning even when self isolat
ing at
has been for is home. The efforts made by the students
nging term th mean that we
ng, yet challe my first full te
rm
What a rewardi ar in g th e en d of currently hold several records:
at I am ne gr at eful
us all! Now th I can honestly sa
y that I am
For Science, Year 9 have completed the
M an ag er e rig ht following
as Progress e students in th
nity to guide th udents have
work on an online resource called Seneca:
for the opportu im po rta nt year. All the st
ry ve
direction in th
is ve changes we ha
nt as tic al ly de spite the vast 23,051 sessions completed
responded fa 270,684 questions answered
ptember.
faced since Se
ing about all of 1469 hours and 13 minutes completed
of ye ar I would be writ a
Normally at th
is tim e ademy’s Dram
en ts that M ontgomery Ac is ve ry For Maths, the amount of questions answ
ered
ev
the upcoming t obviously th
is year correctly by the year group on Hegarty Math
due to host bu cially excited s is over
department is I am es pe 26,000! This is an incredible figure which
to othe rs an d so instead, en ts we have is being led
different tic achievem by Miss Mudge’s tutor who has answered
gh light so m e of the fantas th es e challenging questions correctly alone!
a total 4,509
to hi ar group despite
in the ye
already seen
We also hold the record for the most login
times. all s on
ic year, we will Classcharts which is used by the parents
ov e fo rw ar d into the academ in ev er ythi ng to see what homework has been set, what
and students
As we m st we can be ambition
inue to st riv e to be the be in ou r less on s, we points have been given and to track their
behaviour.
cont e attitude
have a positiv and we will
we do. We will ec t fo r th ose around us
on st ra te re sp he rs proud.
will dem elves and ot
in a w ay th at makes ours
behave
full of cheer!
rful Christmas
Have a wonde
WELL
p e t i t i o n s DONE!
Tutor Com a l f term
each
t u
iffer
t or g
ent
roup This ac
one for
year in
ademic
the Yea
year is
r 9 stud
a very
exciting
r y h
the 3 d nce’, which th ents as
it is the
Eve i n e nda subjects ey choo
pete
s tA t t ast . Althou se their
com o f ‘Bes ’ a n d ‘Le and da
tes are
gh the G
key info CSE
es ts e
gori Poin m th importa yet to b rmation
cate m b ition L a s t ter least be
nt to en
courag
e confirm
ed, it is
tA . ere
‘Mos ints’ rds w
gin to th e stude
nts to a
i o u r Po a w a ink abo
ut their t
v e
Beha thes and
Mrs As you
will be
choices
n e rs of A 4 Wel
l subjects studyin .
win g e’s 9
g ro up. for a 2-y g your
GCSE
Mu d or importa ear per
Miss 3 tut nt cons iod it is
o n ’ s 9B ents
! ider:
Harr
is
s e stud What s
th o ubjects
e to in? are you
don perform
ing we
ll
What s
ubjects
do you
enjoy?
What d
o you w
ant to d
o as a c
What q areer?
ualifica
your fu tions do
ture pla you ne
ns? ed forScience
We have had a similar experience
Year 10
in Science, with the Seneca
homework directive leaping
from strength to strength. Even
students who are reluctant to
complete their work, eventually
do so and usually quicker than
expected. It is very encouraging
to see so many pupils getting their
homework done and realising the
rm for importance that it carries.
n a d if fi cu lt start to the te
It’s bee at various
Year 1 0 . W e ’v
e o
e
p
h
le
ad pupils off
st ru g gling to get lo
gged English
times and p ealt
e . M r B e n so n and I have d Students have been studying A
on at hom ew
e r o n e h u n d red and fifty n Christmas Carol in English and, I
with ov dents and
w o rd re q u e sts, talked stu can only speak for my own classes
pass to Google
n ts th ro u g h logging on of course, seem to be engaging
pa re rking
m a n d h av e also been wo very well with the text and the
Classroo aff morale
a rd to k e e p student and st symbolic meanings therein. Pupils
very h
ssible. seem to be taking in the main
as high as po
moral of the book; to treat people
Maths lls into
with respect and be kind and
generous when you can. I think
li k e M a rm it e, it usually fa
A little now there that is especially important during
o v e ’ o r ‘h a te ’ category. I k
the ‘l gled with these trying times.
d e n ts w ho have strug
are st u ite the
n g m a th s w o rk online, desp Personally, I think the new year
completi s. Luckily,
l v id e o s o n Hegarty Math will bring with it a new sense of
helpfu ment are
o n tg o m e ry Maths Depart hope that the darkest points of the
the M e started a
ll o f h e lp fu l ideas and hav year are past us and that we can
fu sually well
ub which is u move on to the last half of Year 10
homework cl , the
e d . I h av e se en, first hand with a new optimism, a refreshed
attend doesn’t get
o f a st u d e n t who “totally will to work and the success that
face who “finally
in to th e face of one the students deserve.
it ” tu rn e. Not
d s” a n d it ’s brilliant to se
understa n h up with All that is left to say is a very
o e s it h e lp st udents to catc
only d ork, but it happy Christmas (“ya filthy
id e n ta ll y ’ m issed homew
‘acc ose who are animals!”) and all the best for the
il d s th e co nfidence of th
b u topics. new year. Stay safe and we’ll see
to g e t a g ra sp of certain
striving you in 2021.Y e a r 1 1
Year 11 have starte
d their final year in
new O/T block bub High School, in a
ble. I have been ve
the level of maturity ry impressed with
in which they have
business. Year 11 is gone about their
always a stressful
times and this year year in the best of
in particular is pro
beyond that. It's th ving to be a step
e unknown that is th
alas we have to sold e sticking point...
ier on knowing that
time we have done come June/July
the best we possibly
can.
At the time of writin
g this (02/12/2020)
we have spent 8 full government guidel
weeks in ines and to date
school out of a poss that is, exams ARE go
ible 10, so we ing to happen -
haven't done too ba a little later than usua
d. There are many l (3 week delay)
schools throughout but, they are maintai
the country who ning that they
have much more sp will commence in Ju
oradic attendance ne 2021.
than us. It is so very
important that we We have a busy two
continue to do our ab weeks before the
solute best to get Christmas holidays
into school as much with our mocks,
as possible and however when the
when we are in scho holidays arrive,
ol to always give try to enjoy some re
our best. st time with the
family, keep safe an
d always know that
The uncertainty of ex if there is anything at
ams is always all we can help
with us, will we? w with just give us a sh
on't we? how is it out.
fair? Are they really
going to happen?
What is Boris playin Take care and God
g at? - just some of Bless
the questions that I Mr McArdle and Miss
have fielded over Sharpe
the past few weeks.
The only answer
I can give is that we
have to follow theGood Lu
Year 12
Monda
y 7th D
c
Everyonek
!
start of ecembe
Year 12 ra
student Certific fter school saw
s return at the
one las ing bac e week. Forme
t ti k to Mo r
certific me to collect t ntgome
ry for
ates. No heir GC
big eve rmally SE and
nt – par we wou BTEC
the CO ents, en ld have
VID situ tertainm put on a
diminis a ti e nt etc b
h the ap on has seen to ut sadly
student preciat that. It
s, who w ion and didn’t
Montgo ill all re smiles
mery w membe from th
ith lots r their t e
of happ ime at
y times
.
Christmas M E R R Y
WISHING ALL OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO THE EXCITING YEAR AHEAD IN 2021.You can also read
