Therfield Newsletter April 2009 (163)

Newsletter April 2009 (163)
This version is provided for continuity of searchable newsletters on the Therfield Alumni website
for the full pdf version search for April 2009 in the News > Newsletters section of the school's website

As we reach the end of the Spring term, students and staff are looking forward to a good rest over the Easter holidays. Several of the exciting events which have taken place this term are reported in the newsletter, such as the wonderful production of Oliver and the amazing Mr Lewney, a doctor in guitar acoustics who entertained and informed the physics classes.

There were many more events including visitors from Bletchley Park who worked with Therfield students and visitors from Oakfield Junior School and St John’s school on an action packed code breaking day, the new Sports Prize Giving evening and the Spring Cabaret.

Students facing exams in the summer term will need to rest and to ensure that they are adequately prepared for the exams so that they do their best. I wish you and your families a happy and restful holiday.
Susan Willman
Headteacher

Over 50 students have been involved in the annual musical Oliver! since July last year. All their efforts culminated in a week of astounding performances in February, despite rehearsals and opening night being hampered by snowfall. The students worked incredibly hard to ensure all went smoothly, and the show wouldn’t have been possible at all without the support of parents and the staff team who helped put the show together. Many thanks to all involved, and to our fantastic audiences who were treated to a real display of talent. We are already looking forward to the next show….whatever that may be! Watch this space for details of auditions later this year.
Miss Lewis.

The show was well received and parents have taken the time to comment on the performance. Please find below just some of the feedback we have received.

“Just wanted to send a thank you to all involved in the Oliver production. I came along with my son, in year 8 and my daughter to see Oliver on Friday evening. I wasn't sure what to expect but it was fantastic. We particularly loved the performance of Mr Bumble, his girlfriend (not sure of her name), Nancy and The Artful Dodger. Wow they were really good. Oh and not forgetting Sykes! He was truly brilliant and made for the part. The whole evening was very well run. Well done to everyone and thanks for a lovely evening.” Year 8 Parent
“Fabulous opening night, well done with all your hard work. What fantastic vocal talent the pupils have. Hope you all have fun on Friday and Saturday. Can’t wait for Saturday when I can see it again!” Year 8, 10 & 11 Parent
	“We came to see Oliver on Saturday. What a wonderful Show. It was uplifting and joyous. The Staff and school showed such dedication in putting it on. I spoke to a lady in Ashtead on Saturday afternoon, told her we were going to see Oliver. She said you were lucky to get tickets! It is booked for months! I realised we were at cross purposes! I feel that London would be hard pushed to beat the Oliver we saw. Thank you to every one involved for a wonderful experience."

Gifted and Talented Conference Review
Mahatma Gandhi once said ‘those who know how to think need no teachers.’ The Gifted and Talented Conference in London was not about learning, but about challenging us to think, debate and question and along the way equip us with skills for when there are no teachers guiding us.

On Friday 16th January 2009, 50 pupils from Yr 10 and 11 were treated to day off school in order to attend a highly regarded conference in London that would give us the opportunity to hear lectures from well esteemed individuals and discuss a variety of controversial and contemporary topics.

Once seated and with anticipation brimming, the first lecture began. Today’s subjects weren’t Science, Maths and English, but Truth, Art Philosophy, Life After Death, Sex, Genetic Engineering and a final debate on Animal Rights. Phew! We questioned basic knowledge such as how many colours there are in a rainbow, as well as complicated possibilities that we may encounter in the future such as somatic engineering and the development of genome detecting chemical weapons. The day culminated in an animal rights debate that allowed us to share opinions and hear others thoughts.

Our expectations for the conference had been high and they had not been disappointed. It was a memorable and enriching day. Thank you to Ms Ensum for organising the event and to Mrs. Barrow, Miss.Gelder and Mr. Williams for their supervision.
By Nicole Davis.

Business
Wed 6th May period 5 BM 10C/BS1
Wed 6th May period 5 BN 10C/BS2
Thur 7th May period 1 TY 10B/BS1
Catering
Thur 7th May period 3
Child Development
Tues 5th May period 4 BI/GA
Wed 6th May period 5 GI
Dance
Fri 1st May period 5
English
Tues 5th May period 2 (N) period 5 (J)
Thurs 7th May period 1 (N) period 4 (J)
Geography
Mon 27th April period 4 JH class 10A/Gg1
Mon 27th April period 5 SM class 10C/Gg1
Tues 28th April period 4 SM class 10C/Gg1
Wed 29th April period 3 JH class 10A/Gg1
Wed 29th April period 1 OB class 10B/Gg1
Thur 30th April period 4 OB class 10B/Gg1
History
Wed 22nd April period 3 10A1 & 10A2
Wed 22nd April period 1 10B1
Wed 22nd April period 5 10C1
PE
Tuesday 5th May period 1 10G (10E Science) PE 1-4
Tuesday 5th May period 3 10F (10D Science) PE 1-4
RS
Tues 21st April 10j1
Wed 22nd April 10n4
Thur 23rd April 10jRS2
Thur 23rd April 10n2
Mon 27th April 10n1
Mon 27th April 10n3
Tues 28th April 10j4
Wed 29th April 10jRS3
Textiles
Thur 7th May period 3

For Yr11 GCSE exams times please refer to the examination information on the website. This can be found under Curriculum / Exams

MFL TRIP TO ARSENAL
On the 3rd of March 28 Year 10 pupils went to Arsenal FC’s Emirates Stadium to complete their French and German Double Cup Project.

The initiative began last year when the pupils gained places on a joint football training and foreign languages course. Arsenal provided football coaches who visited Therfield during the Summer Term and gave the pupils a six week football training course with expert advice and tips on improving their skills on the field. At the same time the pupils took part in a fun languages course based on football language in either French or German and learning more about the Arsenal team and history in the target language.

The trip to the Emirates Stadium was a great day for all involved and included a full stadium tour which took us to the directors’ box complete with leather armchairs and down to pitch side to take in the view that Arsène Wenger sees on match days. We visited the interactive museum and picked up a few souvenirs in the shop. There was of course some work to do and we spent some time working on our French and German with the sports coaches who took us through some football-based foreign language activities. There was a presentation for the hardest working linguists in the group with certificates being presented as well as t-shirts and free footballs.

At the moment Year 9 pupils are working hard in class to gain their places on this year’s football coaching sessions in May and June as well as another unforgettable trip to the Emirates Stadium.
Mr Cooney

Please make sure that students are equipped properly for School as this has an effect on the class. To have the correct stationary and uniform enables classes to run smoothly and ensures that they are ‘ready to learn’ as they enter the class room. Thank you for your support in this matter.

Number of Students with 100% Attendance
Juniper 27
Polesden 25
Leith 19
Norbury 18

Top Tutor Group Percentage Attendance for:
Norbury 7NRA ~ 96.2%
Polesden 7PGE ~ 96.2%
Leith 8LJA ~ 96%
Juniper 10JLS ~ 95.5%

School of Rock causes Big Bang at Therfield
Liverpool’s equivalent of Jack Black took to the stage to explain how rock guitar might help to answer big questions about the Big Bang and the nature of the universe. Dr. Mark Lewney, a doctor in guitar acoustics from Crosby explained to 14-18 year olds at Therfield how string vibrations might form the basis of everything in the universe.

“If you understand guitar string vibrations, you can appreciate music with your head as well as your heart” says Dr Lewney, who works at the UK Intellectual Property Office in Newport, South Wales. “And understanding the fundamentals of the universe is a heck of a bonus!” Mark also introduced the audience to the biggest experiment ever built, the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, which opened in May and will soon begin sending data to Liverpool’s Department of Physics. “Everyone should be excited to live at a time when this experiment is so new and we’re entering such unknown territory” said Mark. “People in future will say, 'Wow! Imagine living back then'. It might even find the ‘hidden dimensions’ of String Theory, but there's plenty to be excited about even if it doesn’t.”

Lewney has spent years researching guitar physics at Cardiff University and, in 2005, his innovative approach to science teaching and his love of rock music won him the first FameLab competition to find scientists and engineers who can bring science alive to the public in innovative ways, and perhaps encourage a new generation of schoolchildren to study the subjects at university. He has since presented his heavy metal message on TV and radio, with Children’s BBC introducing him as “the Rock Doctor: a cross between Einstein and Jimi Hendrix”.

Dr. Tara Shears, from the High Energy Physics research group at the University of Liverpool, said “The Large Hadron Collider is the most amazing journey into the unknown we’ve ever taken, and Liverpool is one of the expedition leaders. It's fantastic that Mark's going to talk about it – come and let him show you that science rocks!”

Uniform ‘For Sale’
If you have uniform that you would like to donate to the school's second hand uniform sale please hand the items to the Finance Office. Alternatively, you may wish to advertise your items on our website. Email ksmith@lhead.therfield.surrey.sch.uk with a description of your items including their size, price and your contact number/email address and we will add it to the list.

SCHOOL MEALS WEB LINK
www.therfield.surrey.sch.uk
Visit the area of our website to see how you can pay online via a secure link with Surrey County Council. Details of the three week menu can be viewed together with other important information regarding the catering facilities offered to the students. Please also remember to bring in your lunch cards next term, there will not be enough time during the lunch break for the canteen staff to manually input card numbers as this holds up service. If you require a replacement card this can be ordered through the Finance office and will cost £5.00. Mrs. C. Stedman, Catering Manager Email: cstedman@lhead.therfield.surrey.sch.uk 01372 375089

Raise Funds for Therfield School, Leatherhead When You Shop Online
easyfundraising is a shopping directory listing some of your favourite online stores, including Argos, Next, Amazon, Debenhams, John Lewis, Toys R Us, HMV and over 600 other top name stores. Whenever you shop with any one of them using the links provided on the easyfundraising site, you'll generate a free donation for us of up to 15% of the purchase price every time! It really is that simple! It's completely FREE to register and you won't pay a penny more for your shopping when you use the easyfundraising site. In fact you can even SAVE MONEY as many retailers give discounts, special offers and even 'e-vouchers' exclusive to easyfundraising.

You can shop for holidays, flights, electronics, mobile phones, computing equipment, food, wine, pet supplies, finance, insurance and much more - and every purchase you make will raise funds for us at absolutely no cost to you! All you need to do is register for free at http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/therfieldleatherhead and use easyfundraising every time you shop online. Please Support the school…...

Check out the Free Funds tab and enter competitions to win prizes, free trials or just receive newsletters from companies and they will donate money to the school.

LOST PROPERTY
The Lost Property cupboard is full to overflowing, mainly with mufti clothing! Items not reclaimed by the end of term will be recycled a week after the Easter holiday. Please make sure all property is named!

Ashtead and Leatherhead Confederation
After the Easter break an Extended Services Questionnaire will be available on the School Website and emailed home. The Confederation is looking into offering a wide range of activities across the schools, for example breakfast clubs, homework clubs, study support and parenting advice. Please take time to look at this and return the questionnaire by 1st May 2009. Once all the information has been received the Confederation will be able to look at the services they can provide.
Many thanks

Friends of West Ashtead Primary School
The charity Friends of West Ashtead Primary School are asking for donations of good quality Second Hand Books for the school's classroom libraries, suitable for children aged 4 to 11. Given children at Therfield may well have finished with books for this age group we thought you might help us by donating books to this good cause.

Any books not used in the libraries will go on in to a: Second Hand Book Sale on Friday 24th April at 3.15pm in the West Ashtead School Hall The proceeds will be used to buy new books to further boost the classroom libraries. Please drop off any donations, fiction and non-fiction, to the West Ashtead School reception during the week of 20th April.
Friends of West Ashtead Primary School

3 April	1 Fri	End of term - School finishes at 1.10pm
5 April	Sun	Easter Break begins
20 April	2 Mon	INSET DAY
21 April	2 Mon	RETURN TO SCHOOL
27 April	1 Mon	A Level PE Mod
28 April	1 Tue	Y7 Parents Evening German Exch Arrive
29 April	1 Wed	A Level Music recital (D1) Higher Education Eve 7pm
30 April	1 Thu	Junior Maths Challenge
4 May	2 Mon	BANK HOLIDAY
5 May	2 Tue	Interhouse Rounder’s week Y12 Study leave starts Y9 NCTs
6 May	2 Wed	Y9 NCTs
7 May	2 Thu	Y9 NCTs
8 May	2 Fri	Y9 NCTs Silver D Of E Practice Exp
9 May	Sat	Silver D Of E Practice Exp
10 May	Sun	Silver D Of E Practice Exp
11 May	1 Mon	GCSE & AS Exams start Y10 Practical Catering exam Y13 WEX BTEC Sport Y11 Study leave begins
12 May	1 Tue	Y10 Practical Catering exam Y13 WEX BTEC Sport Art G & T Day
13 May	1 Wed	Y10 Practical Catering exam Y13 WEX BTEC Sport Art G & T Day
14 May	1 Thu	Y10 Practical Catering exam Y13 WEX BTEC Sport District Athletics
15 May	1 Fri	Y8 Camp Yng Mariner Herts Y13 WEX BTEC Sport
16 May	Sat	Y8 Camp Yng Mariner Herts
17 May	Sun	Y8 Camp Yng Mariner Herts
18 May	2 Mon	Y13 WEX BTEC Sport
19 May	2 Tue	Y13 WEX BTEC Sport
20 May	2 Wed	Y13 WEX BTEC Sport Sport G & T music day
21 May	2 Thu	Y13 WEX BTEC Sport
22 May	2 Fri	Y9 TA levels grid issued Y13 WEX BTEC Sport Y13 leavers assembly and start of study leave
23 May	Sat	Half Term begins
31 May	Sun	Half Term ends
2 June	1 Tue	Art G&T Day
3 June	1 Wed	Art G&T Day Y8 Parents Evening
		4 June 1 Thu PE G & T Day
5 June	1 Fri	AS Exams finish Silver D of E Qualifying
		6 June Sat Silver D of E Qualifying
7 June	Sun	Silver D of E Qualifying
8 June	2 Mon	A2 Exams start Y10 Child Dev WEX Y10 H & Catering WEX