Walker Technology College

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News from the Headteacher

Replacement Assembly Dome Grand Extravaganza (RADGE)

Newcastle University ‘Inspiring Minds' Mentoring Scheme

Hired or fired?

Dobson, Stephenson and Grainger Schools Christmas special

CONTENTS

Dear Parent/Carer

The year 2012 brought some great highlights, not least thefantastic Christmas celebrations you can enjoy in thephotographs seen in this newsletter. This was a year weofficially opened our Astro Pitch, celebrated our best ever maths GCSE resultsat 73%, had more memorable overseas trips to Kenya, America and Franceand ended with a very positive Ofsted inspection. Last year also saw a newpartner primary school open in Walker, Central Walker CE Primary.

We were also sad to say farewell to Mrs Boynton who took retirement atChristmas after over 35 years outstanding service to the College. Mrs Boyntonhad many roles during her career at Walker and completed her career in theLearning Support department where she was much loved and will be difficultto replace. Our thanks and best wishes go to her for a long and happyretirement.

In 2013 we are looking forward to more superb examination results and

expecting to be fully subscribed in Year 7. We also celebrate the 25th

anniversary of the annual exchange programme to our partner school inNew York State, America.

Finally, I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year and I would especially liketo pass on our very best wishes to all students taking examinations this year.

Yours sincerely

M CollierHeadteacher

Replacement Assembly DomeGrand Extravaganza (RADGE)I was heavy hearted when I learned of thebuilding work at the Dome which wouldprevent us from holding our traditionalChristmas assembly in 2012. That said, it wasan opportunity to prove that the calibre ofthe performance, rather than the grandeurof the occasion, matters most at the end ofa fantastic week of Christmas activities.

So, three times in a row, we tried to deliver aperformance that would encapsulate whatwe thought was important about Christmasin Walker. Not just in our College, but in ourcommunity. There was a metaphoricnarrative, of a child born in Walker to amother who had travelled from far away,accompanied by a father figure whosepaternity was ambiguous. This is not anunlikely tale, and is, in essence, the story ofthe nativity. Music was chosen to help carrythe narrative. The meaning in the songs wasas relevant to the story as the words so ex-pertly delivered by

Neverbefore inthe historyof ourbelovedWalkerCollegehasmusicbeenperformed with suchprofessionalism, precision, andpassion. Never before have we beenfortunate enough to hear musicians of thecalibre of

. Neverbefore have we known singing talent thatcan even approach the genius of

.Never have we had a so confidentand so sonorous, and never, ever, have wehad a man so naturally able to portray adrunk Irishman as

Miss Bryant and I cannot thank theperformers enough. It has been an absolutepleasure to rehearse and perform with all ofthe students involved, who are a credit tothemselves, their schools, and their families.The performances on the last College day of2012 made it my favourite Christmas ever.

Newcastle University ‘Inspiring Minds' Mentoring Scheme

Walker Technology College science studentswere invited to join in a mentoring schemewith Newcastle University.

This scheme is targeted  at young peoplewho may not have considered going on tostudy in some form of higher education. Theyaim to encourage school students to realisetheir potential, gain confidence andexperience team-building opportunities in anew environment supported by a currentuniversity undergraduate.

Jake Stewart, Ryan Charlton, Leisha Beakand Shannon Jones started the ball rollingwith their sleepover in the Great North

Museum! They have since regularly met withtheir university  undergraduate afterCollege, attended a day where they weremeasuring lung capacities and bloodpressures with up to date technology  andhave recently  joined other schools in  a'What's it like to be  a student' day  in thelearning centre at Newcastle University.

This year we have ten Year 9 students whowish to join the scheme and hopefully bothsets of students will enjoy this experience.

‘Getting a head start for student life?’

Ryan Charlton, Jake Stewart and Leisha Beak at Newcastle University

Hired or Fired?Once again Year 11 students were given aunique opportunity to further develop theiremployability and career managementskills when they took part in an InterviewDay here at the College onFriday, 30 November.

The purpose of the event was to givestudents an insight into the job application,selection and recruitment process and inthe weeks leading up to the event eachstudent had to select a job vacancy andcomplete an application form. Many ofthe students also provided the employerswith their curriculum vitae. They wouldthen be given a job interview by one ofthe employers.

Although the majority of students werenervous beforehand they all representedthemselves extremely well and were acredit to the College. The majority of stu-dents (had this been a real job interview)would definitely have been hired!

Every student who attended theirinterview will receive a certificatecelebrating their achievement onInterview Day 2012. They will alsoreceive comprehensive writtenfeedback from the employers on how toimprove their performance for realinterviews in the future.

Congratulations to all students who tookpart and many thanks to the followingemployers and partner organisations formaking this annual event such a success.

GRAINGER SCHOOL...............Wow, Christmas at Walker never fails to deliver and the Christmas of2012 was certainly no different. Grainger students had a fun filled weekranging from ice skating for the Lower School to Country Dancing forthe Upper School. The fancy dress outfits for Country Dancing weresuperb from both staff and students and a fantastic afternoon was hadby all. The Lower School ice skating trip was a huge success with thestudents.

The Carol Service was a wonderful celebration with impeccablebehaviour and the students sang their hearts out to hymns suchas Silent Night. I was extremely proud of all of the readers includingMiss Johnson on her debut reading at the church. The final event of theweek was the Grainger assembly which  included tears, laughs

and guest appearances from Michael Jackson and Santa to top the day off.

The term ended with the "New Dome" performance in the Main hall. A massive thank you must goto Mr Thornley, Miss Bryant and all the musicians and singers who put on an incredible show. It wasa fantastic way to end the week and finish the term off. It is simple really, no one does Christmasquite like Walker! Amazing.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and wish you all the very best for 2013.

GRAINGER SCHOOL...............

STEPHENSON SCHOOL............I would like to take this opportunity to thank all theStephenson staff and students for making the Christmasweek the most enjoyable ever! In my 15 years at WalkerTechnology College this week was definitely the best one.We began the week as guests at Walker Parish Church forour Carol Service. The behaviour of our students wasexceptional and it really was a wonderful start to the week’scelebrations. This was followed by the traditionalStephenson pantomime. This year the production was TheWizard of Oz and our pantomime involved over 20 membersof staff singing, dancing, acting and performing. A greattime was had by all, with the possible exception of myself,who had to sing three songs! Our final activity was ourCountry Dancing. Dozens of students took the time to wear

fancy dress, with some of the costumes being truly amazing! Our Lower School studentswent ice skating in Whitley Bay and all returned without any broken limbs and everyonehad an amazing time.

Huge thanks also must go to Mr Thornley, Miss Bryant and all the musicians, poets andsingers who produced an exceptional performance on the final day of term! Awonderful end to another amazing Christmas week at Walker Technology College.

STEPHENSON SCHOOL............

‘ Stand out from the crowd’

"I don't know how we get away with this" was a comment made byMr Thornley as he applied false tan to Mr Jackson's face, relativelysoon after he helped him squeeze into his wife's jeans! Mr Jackson, asRylan Clark, was just one of the many highlights of Dobson'sfamous/infamous Christmas week. Witnessing Mr Fluskey bounceacross the stage in full Irish dancing kit is also something that will giveme nightmares for the rest of my life. Essentially, if it wasn't for the madenthusiasm of the staff (there are too many to name) then Christmassimply wouldn't happen the way it does. As Head of Dobson, I owethem a debt of gratitude.

Who are the real stars though? The answer is quite simple, it is ouramazing students. The behaviour of the Lower School students on the ice rink was amazingand their singing and reading  in church was out of this world. The attendance at CountryDancing was at an all time high and students' fancy dress outfits were legendary.

The students participated in everything with measured amounts of respect, enthusiasm,humour and madness ...great!

A final thank you must go to Mr Thornley and Miss Bryant for their beautifully poignant R.A.D.G.E.All performers should be really proud of the spectacle they put on, it was absolutely wonderful.The icing on the Christmas cake was the way the Dobson students stood to applaud rapturous-ly at the end.

Thank you for making Christmas so special this year.

DOBSON SCHOOL........................

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