JULY PRESS RELEASE
HELPING PARENTS
A selection of books on parenting teenagers has been donated to Poynton Library By the High School, as part of a grant from the Arts College fund. The idea of donating books to the public library came from an earlier donation to Maureen Wilkinson, one of the leaders of the “How to Drug Proof Your Kids” Parents Course. She said, “We found that most parents don’t have the time to browse around bookshops looking for books specifically about teenagers. By having our own library of books, over the 6 week course, parents are able to borrow and ‘test drive’ the books before purchasing their own copies – they are very well used!”
The books were presented by Claire Kennedy, Director of the Performing Arts College, to Maggie Goodman, Library Manager, and they are now available for any parent in the Macclesfield area to borrow. A full list of these books and others relating to various parenting issues are available from the Library Service, and will be available on the Poynton High School website and Performing Arts College website.
WORK EXPERIENCE EXCITEMENT AT POYNTON HIGH SCHOOL
The Year 10 Drama and Performing Arts Work Experience at the High School for 2008 looks to be an exciting one. Every year students opt for a two week work experience placement that gives them the experience of working with a professional artistic team to produce a show in two weeks. Students can take on the challenge of performance or they can explore the world of design or technical theatre.
Under the direction of Laura Ainscow, 26 Year 10 students will work together to produce Bertolt Brecht’s ‘The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui’. The play focuses on the mobster Ui’s attempt to control the cauliflower racket of Chicago by destroying and disposing of his opposition, a rise that parallels the ascent of Hitler in Nazi Germany. The performers will use a range of innovative theatrical techniques as well as learning the skills and challenges of working in a professional environment. Previous projects that have played to packed audiences include Orpheus, Jocasta and Euridices Women.
Performances take place at the Poynton Players on Thursday 10th July and Friday 11th July at 4.30pm and 7.30pm on both days. Tickets will be available from the High School Performing Arts Office on 01625871811 ext 234. Prices are £4.00 for adults, £3.00 students and OAP’s. We hope you have a very entertaining and exciting evening.
FAREWELL SUCCESS
The High School’s Year 13 basketball team ended their school career on a high. They reached the final 16 of the National Schools’ Open Cup competition. To reach this stage of the competition they recorded victories over Lymm H.S. 47 – 37, Deyes School (Liverpool) 67 – 15, St Aiden’s School (Manchester) 65 – 60, before travelling to Burleigh Community College (Loughborough) were they were defeated 49 – 53. This was the second time the squad had reached this stage of the competition as they did the same when they were Year 11. That time they lost by one point, 54 – 55 to a school from Bristol.
The majority of the squad had represented the school since Year 8 and had successfully won the Macclesfield and District School’s Basketball League every year from Year 8 to Year 11.
YOUNG LEADERS AWARD
The High School , as part of the Macclesfield School Sport Partnership have just completed a trial of a new Young Leaders Award aimed at 11–13 year olds. A group of Year 7 students were the first to achieve the Young Leaders Award, which was run by School Sports Coordinator Diane Clee, assisted by Community Police Officer, Rob Massey. The award is designed to develop communication, leadership, organisational and problem solving skills. Amongst other things the students were given different equipment and asked to make up or modify a game and then teach it to each other. Following on from this the Young Leaders will now have the opportunity to be involved with a new project called ‘Poynton Play Sport’, which is aimed at High School students. The scheme will be run by Rob Massey, the two new MBC Play Officers and PCSO Chris Howard from Poynton Community Action Team. Its aim is to further develop the Young Leader Award, teaching leadership responsibilities working alongside the officers involved and it also gives the young people who will attend the club something new and enjoyable to do. It will take place at Poynton Leisure Centre on a weekday evening (dates still to be confirmed but probably a Thursday or Friday) for the majority of the summer and hopefully beyond. Activities involved will include circuit training, team games, fitness advice and there will also be food provided. The pilot for the scheme was run on Tuesday 27th May and was well attended.
