Holy Cross College is very proud to have achieved Best Companies One Star Accredited Status, one of 72 organisations in the North West to be recognised as a ‘first class employer’ by Best Companies in 2010. The accreditation scheme follows a Michelin star system which recognises organisations by awarding them one, two or three star status.

 

Principal David Frost commented “One of the most important signs of a good organisation is its willingness to ask its staff their views. I am delighted our staff enjoy working at Holy Cross - they are a superb team and we are lucky to have them”.

Holy Cross College is proud to present a production of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’.  The show will be staged over three days: Tuesday 2^nd, Wednesday 3^rd and Thursday 4^th March and will include two matinees and three evening performances.  The evening shows start at 7.30 p.m. and tickets, available from the library at college, are priced at £8.

Our interview season has now started and we will be continuing with this process through to the middle of March on seven more evenings, the dates of which are given below.  We write to students approximately one week in advance of the night so please do not be concerned if you have not received an invitation as yet.  Our policy is not to make offers until all interviews are complete.  At the present time it is intended to send offers shortly after the Easter break.  If at anytime you have a query please do not hesitate to contact our Admissions Department on 0161 762 4510.

Wednesday 27^th January,

Monday 1^st February,

Thursday 11^th February,

Wednesday 24^th February,

Monday 1^st March,

Thursday 11^th March,

Tuesday 16^th March.

 

Details of the Deputy Principal vacancy at the college are now available on the job vacancies page.

Important notice: a reminder that the deadline for applications for places in September 2010 is Friday 4^th December 2009.  Applications can be made on-line via the link on the college website.

Following the publication of A level results in 2009, the Salters Horners Advanced Physics (Edexcel) course identified it’s highest achieving students in two categories:

 

·         Those achieving the highest grade overall;

·         Those achieving the highest grade on the coursework – a stand alone project.

 

Both prizes were awarded to A level students at Holy Cross: Jenny Green for scoring 600 out of a possible 600 marks, an exceptional performance, and Emma Greenall for her project relating to the effect of cross winds on bridges.  Both Jenny and Emma were invited to an awards ceremony with their parents in London to receive their prizes from the Salters and Horners Companies who sponsor and promote (among many other activities) the Physics course in conjunction Edexcel and York University.

 

Jenny is now studying Natural Sciences at Cambridge University and Emma is at Nottingham University studying Civil Engineering.  We wish them every succes in the future.  (Pictured are Jenny and Emma with their proud parents at the awards ceremony.)

Students at Holy Cross recently spent two days at Manchester University working with staff, looking at the work of Charles Darwin and its impact on religious belief then and now.

The day was marketed towards Theology and Philosophy, Critical Thinking and General Studies Students and individuals across all these departments attended. In lower sixth in Philosophy, students study the relationship between Science and Religion and look at the life and work of Charles Darwin; the first session of the day looked at the difference between theory and Scientific theory. Students were able to handle artefacts, consider possible theories for their uses and then had to try and convince the rest of the group of these.

Another session was spent with a natural scientist from the University who challenged concepts of theory and made the point that evolution is a scientific fact, but exactly how and why it happens is theoretic (very good for Critical Thinking students). Later, students were involved in playing a game called ‘Clippy Island’ where they ‘observed’ the process of natural selection in action. This was both highly enjoyable and very competitive, with students pretending to be a species of birds vying for resources to survive and reproduce on imaginary islands.

The final activity was spent with a social anthropologist from Manchester University who spoke about how Darwinism was used to underpin apartheid and Nazism. A report of the day’s events can be found on the University’s learning blog at; www.learningmanchester.wordpress.com under the heading, “Most fun study day – EVER.”

An excellent visit and one which will certainly be repeated in the future.

Following the National Championships held earlier this term in Loughborough, seventeen year old Steven Williams became the Great Britain Individual Trampolining Champion.  Not content with this, shortly afterwards, with his partner, he also won the Great Britain Synchronised Men’s Pairs Championship.  Steven travels to Russia this month to compete with the Great Britain team in the World Championships against the best in the world.  We wish him every success.  (Photograph courteousy of The Bury Times.)

At a recent charity event at Old Trafford Football Club, dancers from Holy Cross College were involved in raising money for breast cancer care. The dancers opened the fashion show, modelling corset style fashion items and jewellery.  This stunning picture reflects a great start to the event and the impact the students achieved.  (Picture couteousy of The Bury Times.)

Nominations are sought for the position of Parent Governor to serve for 2 years from 1st November 2009.

In accordance with the College's Instrument and Articles of Government the Governing Body is seeking to appoint a person as Parent Governor for a period of 2 years with effect from 1st November 2009. Parents of full-time students at the College are eligible to be nominated.

The current Parent Governor, Mrs Marie Holmes, still has a child at College and is willing to stand for another period of office. However, appointment to the position is by ballot and if anyone else is nominated then an election will be arranged.

The closing date for nominations is 12.00 noon on Monday 12 October 2009, and further information and nomination forms can be obtained from the Clerk to Governors, Mr John Barton (Tel. 0161 762 4513), or email: jb@holycross.ac.uk.

Further information on the work of the Governing Body can be found on the College website under the Governance section.