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Annual Awards Evening 2011

Guest Speaker – Mr Ronnie Irani, former England, Essex & Lancashire cricketer & former Smithills pupil, now Talk Sport Radio, Daily Breakfast Show Presenter in London & Sky TV cricket pundit

On Thursday 17 November, the school staged its annual awards presentation evening at the Victoria Hall in Bolton for the eighth consecutive year. Previous guest speakers have included former pupil Amir Khan, the World Champion boxer, but this year it was once again the turn of former pupil Ronnie Irani, the former Lancashire, Essex and England cricketer-turned radio and television broadcaster.

Our World Champion Senior Brass Band began the evening by performing under its conductor, Assistant Headteacher Mr Wormald and then Headteacher Mr Cottrill gave an address and introduced Mr Irani, who spoke about his five, very happy years at Smithills and how the pupils should always work hard, strive to be the best they can be and achieve as much as they possibly can.

Following the two speeches, the awards evening was compered once again this year by Mr Wormald. The presentations were divided into three sections and in between each of these, a short performance was made by the Performing Arts Department. As every year, awards were presented for examination and individual subject success, excellent attendance, outstanding effort and special categories.

The evening concluded with a special presentation made to Mr Irani and a closing thanks given by Mr Cottrill, who thanked Chairman of Governors Mr Ian Carter and former Headteacher Mr Chris Roberts and his wife, all of whom were able to accept invitations to attend this year's presentations.

Photographs of the evening

Posted: 22.11.11

School Closure in Severe Weather

As winter approaches, I need to plan for the possibility of severe weather conditions. 

In extreme conditions I may need to close the school.  The school is well stocked with grit and I am confident that we can quickly make footpaths and steps safe should the weather turn to snow.

If it is necessary for me to close the school I will contact four local radio stations and also update the school’s website of this decision.

You can find out if the school is closed by:

• Visiting the School Websitewww.smithillsschool.net
• A school closure notice will be clearly displayed if the school is closed.
• Tune your radio to 105.4 Real Radio, Smooth Radio 100.4/Tower FM 107.4 or 95.1 BBC GMR where the presenters will announce school closures.

Visit the websites:

realradio.co.uk

bbc.co.uk/radiomanchester

smoothreadionorthwest.co.uk

towerfm.co.uk

Where an up to date list of school closures will be displayed.

A.Cottrill

Headteacher

posted: 17.10.11

Senior Brass Band To Play For Bolton Olympic Torch Event

Although approached by Bolton Council last month, only now can our Senior Brass Band and its conductor Mr Wormald reveal publicly that they have accepted a highly prestigious invitation to feature at the Bolton Olympic Torch Event in Queen's Park on the evening of Thursday May 31st next year.

Organised by Bolton Town Hall and Bolton Council a number of weeks ago, now that the official route of the Olympic torch has been made public nationally, our Senior Brass Band is able to confirm that it will play a number of items at the huge Bolton event in the town's largest open park next Spring.

posted: 09.11.1

Senior Brass Band Town Centre Shop Opens!

On Saturday November 5th, our Senior Brass Band Fundraising Shop in Bolton town centre, the idea of parent governors Mrs Tremayne, Mrs Diggle and Mrs Hurst, opened for the very first time!

Situated in the heart of St Andrew's Court, opposite HMV, the shop received many customers and visits by many curious shoppers who had seen the six photograph, double page colour feature in The Bolton News earlier in the week and wanted to see the shop for themselves.

On sale are the band's three CD recordings of 2011, all made with Doyen Recordings/SP&S/World of Sound, the 2011-2012 colour band brochures, the band's 2012 calendar, Christmas puddings, artwork and paintings, books, celebration cups, pens, mugs, key rings, items of knitting and concert tickets for the band's next performance at the Victoria Hall in Bolton on Saturday November 26th at 7.30pm. The shop is open throughout November, December and into January.

More Pictures

posted: 08.11.11

Senior Brass Band Fundraises At Morrisons

Fresh from a late night concert raising money for the RNLI in Farnworth just the night before, members of our Senior Brass Band spent five hours of their Sunday on October 16th bag-packing at Morrison's supermarket on Chorley Old Road, from 11am through to 4pm, as they continue to raise the huge target of £60,000 needed to pay for their forthcoming tour to America in July.

Organised by school governors Mrs Sue Diggle and Mrs Patricia Tremayne, as always, our young musicians were an absolute credit to the band, to the school, to their families and to themselves as they happily bag-packed shopping, talked with shoppers and attended throughout in full band uniform.

more pictures

posted: 17.10.11

Senior Brass Band Fundraising For America - First Car Wash Sunday!

Having rehearsed its all-new programme of material every Sunday morning in September, our Senior Brass Band and its conductor Mr Wormald were once again practising in school on Sunday 9th October, only this time their three hour morning rehearsal was immediately followed by an afternoon of fundraising for the band's 2012 America tour – washing cars!

In spite of lashing rain and generally horrendous weather (just days after temperatures of 29C!), which resulted in band members being soaked just as much as the cars themselves, approximately 90 vehicles were washed and almost £300 was raised for the tour fund. Some motorists bought the new 2011 Senior Brass Band CD recordings too!

Next weekend sees the band give its annual, sell-out, RNLI Charity concert on Saturday evening (October 15th) at Trinity Church in Farnworth and on Sunday, band members are bag packing at Morrisons on Chorley Old Road, Bolton, from 11am through to 5pm. At least any bad weather outside should not be a problem!

More Photos

posted: 10.10.11

Pupils Raise £754 for Jeans for Genes

Smithills pupils maintained their excellent fund-raising record on Friday 7th October by raising £754 for the Jeans for Genes charity.

Staff and students at the school donated money to wear their jeans for the day to raise money for this worthwhile national charity. Jeans for Genes raises money for children with genetic disorders, to fund the care they need now and the research which could change their futures.  In the UK, one baby in every 25 is born with a genetic disorder.  Although individually these disorders can be extremely rare, together they are the biggest killer of children aged 14 and under.  This year is the charity’s 15th anniversary and to date it has raised £35 million to help change the lives of children with genetic disorders.

Pupils at Smithills were so excited to be taking part. A Year 7 pupil said: “I think it’s a great way to raise money – everyone loves a change every now and again, so swapping school uniform for jeans is the perfect way to get people donating! It makes you realize how lucky you are, and also how easy it is to make a difference to someone’s life just by donating £1.”

posted: 10.10.11

Move of a School Training Day

Monday 28th November to Monday 7th November 2011

I have asked the Governors to move one of the scheduled training days from Monday 28th November to Monday 7th November.   This was fully supported at the Full Governor Meeting held on Monday 3rd October. 

I wish to inform you that school will be closed on Monday 7th November.  The training day scheduled for Friday 25th November is not affected.

If this affects a holiday booking you have already made then please contact me at school.

A summary of the changes follows:

Monday 7th November – School Closed to students.
Friday 25th November – School Closed to students.
Monday 28th November – School Open as normal.

Yours sincerely

A Cottrill
Headteacher

For older news items please see our Archive News Section

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