February 2003
February 2003
| FROM THE HEAD TEACHER
Planning Ahead - There is a strong likelihood that the school will benefit from a major building project in the very near future. I am currently in negotiation with the LEA and a private development company discussing the various options but the signs are good that within the next eighteen months we will have a significant upgrade in accommodation in a number of key curriculum areas. I will continue to update parents as these plans take shape. An Important Investment - I am delighted to report that the school has received Investors in People accreditation. This Award recognises that Therfield is seen as meeting the national standard for effective investment in people and demonstrates that we believe in and realise the value of all staff and their contribution to the success of the school. Learning About Ourselves - Recently a number of students took part in the Keele Pupil Attitudinal Survey. This will provide us with information on student satisfaction with school, commitment to work and attitudes to teachers and fellow students. The questions were thorough, searching and to the point and we await the returns with interest. Cards not Cash - In June we will
be introducing a cashless system into the school canteen. In
essence, this will mean that students will use a card to pay for
their food, the amount having been credited to the card,
normally by cheque, at the start of the month or week. The
advantages of the system will be : Looking Smart - It is very important for students to look smart both in and out of school. Coats are not to be worn in school and we would particularly discourage the wearing of 'hoodies' and sweatshirts at any time. If students have these as outer garments they are tempted to wear them in school. Persistent offenders run the risk of having them confiscated and returned at a later date. Bad Tie Day - The wearing of loud and unsuitable ties last Friday clearly appealed more to staff than students. However, £98 was raised and will go to Mole Valley Youth Council who are seeking funds to finance some of their enterprises for young people in the area. Surgery Date - My next surgery for parents who have concerns or issues they wish to discuss will be on 26th March from 5-8 pm. Please phone my PA, Mrs Sharkey on 814432 to arrange a time. Trust Fund - Your contributions to this Fund provide many much-needed 'extras' to the general wellbeing of the school. The refurbishment of the Resource Centre is now complete and parents are very welcome to come in and see for themselves the 'lift' that has been given to the whole area. The next major investment will be in a new sound system for the Main Hall and the provision of more lap-top computers. If parents have suggestions for areas where provision could be improved, the Trustees will be pleased to hear from them. What can be done depends very much on the money received. Mr David Crutchley, who is chair of Governors as well as the Trustees, urges anyone who has not sent a contribution this year or this term to please do so, or at least reply to letters sent home so that constant reminders are not sent out. Money that comes in is used for the benefit of all students and is very necessary if we are to continue to enhance the education and environment for everyone at Therfield. Dates to Remember - On 5th March, Year 10 students sit the second of their Science Module tests. Year 9 Parents' Evening is also on the 5th and Year 7 on the 26th March. On both days school will close at 3.15 pm. Monday, 31st March is an INSET Day when students are not in school. Music News - On Thursday, March 6th the GCSE Music Ensemble Concert will be held at 7.00 pm. This concert gives all students in the Year 10 and 11 GCSE music classes the opportunity to perform their ensemble assessment in front of an audience, so all parents and friends are invited to attend. This year's Spring Concert will be held in the Main Hall on Thursday, 27th March and will involve most school ensembles and several soloists. More details, including ticketing information, will be given closer to the event. However, you can look forward to hearing the Main Orchestra, Main Choir, Lower School, Singers, Year Seven Band, Swing Band, Advanced Singers and Symphonic Band in a very full programme. Opinions Valued - Fourteen GCSE Food Technology students were praised for their input after attending a New Products Development Forum at Leatherhead Food International offices last week. They spent time testing and evaluating food products not yet marketed and reported their findings to a conference of Nutritionists, Food Technologists and Food Industrialists. Our students were commended on their perceptive comments and the quality of their presentations. The whole enterprise provided valuable experience for the students and gave them a good idea of the wide variety of jobs and openings in the Food Industry and also in advertising. Prayer Group - Monday, 24th March at 8.00 pm is the date for the next Parents' Prayer Group meeting at the school. All are welcome to attend and Mrs Jill Poole will be happy to give more information. (01932 865476). Duke of Edinburgh Award - Following on the success last year with the Bronze Award, we now have six students from Year 10 following the Silver Award and 45 Year 9s starting the Bronze Award. Miss Kendrick and her team have a full programme planned which includes a day walk and practice expedition on the North Downs and qualifying expedition on the South Downs for the Bronze Award. Activities further afield have been arranged for the Silver Award - Aberystwyth for four days in April will be followed by the full expedition in Dorset in June. Thinking of Revision - Over ninety of our Year 11 students availed themselves of the opportunity to brush up on examination technique and revision skills by attending a seminar in school during INSET day last month. The workshop was devised specially with GCSE students in mind and packed a tremendous amount of information into its five hours of study. We have run similar seminars in previous years and yet again the evaluation response was very positive. Knowledge Tested - Emily Parker, Michael Bond and Collins Ekere, all Year 13 students, took part in the British Biology Olympiad, which was a two hour written exam on all aspects of Biology. They will get their results at the end of March. The top 15 scores in the country battle it out in a practical session to decide the top six to have the honour of representing the UK in the International Biology Olympiad in Belarus later in the year. A Memorable Macbeth - Year 9 students were treated to a highly original and stimulating performance of Macbeth when the Box Clever Theatre Company brought their touring show to Therfield as part of an initiative to prepare students for the National Curriculum Tests in May. This production took a fresh and exciting approach and was judged by students as being 'absolutely brilliant'. Using a pyramid strung with rope to represent Macbeth's troubled mind and the web of deceit about him, the actors tumbled their way through a two hour performance of the text integrated with modem day English and very successfully brought the drama of the events to life. DNA Workshop - Some of the mysteries of 'DNA and Genetic Engineering' were unravelled for Advanced Level Biologists when scientist John Schollar from the National Centre for Biotechnology Education came to Therfield. The one-day workshop consisted of two practical activities where students used techniques at the forefront of modern Biotechnology and were able to use equipment not normally available in a school laboratory. Acting out a Battle - Year 8 students have been studying the English Civil War. One of the most decisive battles took place on 2nd July 1644 on Marston Moor and this was re-enacted by 8N1 (Parliamentarians) and 8N3 (Royalists) on Therfield tennis courts on 5th February 2003. Students studied the events in the classroom and examined the different tactics and weapons used. They then dressed up as musketeers, cavalrymen or pikemen and were put under the command of one of the army leaders. They marched around the battlefield in formation, listening for instructions from Miss Cranshaw and Miss Jackson. After this practical experience they settled down to write their diaries about their time as soldiers during one of the most divisive periods in English history. Talks on Mathematics - Dr Dik Morling from the University of Westminster visited Therfield to talk to students about the importance and relevance of mathematics today. He spoke to Year 12s about 'Maths in Electronics and Communications', opening their eyes to the kind of Maths they would be doing at degree level. He chose a wider topic for top sets in Year 11 and spoke on 'What use is Maths?' as he encouraged them to continue to study the subject at Advanced level and beyond. Biology Opportunity - Sixth Formers Michael Bond and Toby Hodges attended two molecular Biology practicals with second year students at Surrey University. This was organised by Dr Peter Sanders, who is director of Undergraduate Studies for Biological Sciences at Surrey. They each joined up with university students to do experiments using modem genetic engineering techniques to analyse DNA. Both thought it was excellent experience. Champion performance - Well done to the Year 8 and Year 9 Basketball teams who are the District Champions for their respective age groups. Promise of future success comes with the Year 7 Boys Hockey squad who reached the finals of the District Tournament. Sailing Success - Richard Guy, a former student at Therfield, was a member of the Great Britain team who have just won the Silver Medal at the International World Team Sailing Championships at Auckland, New Zealand. The team, having beaten teams from nine other nations including world champions New Zealand, were second to USA2 in the final. Richard learnt to sail at Therfield and sends his thanks to Mr Stewart and Mrs Wingrove for introducing him to the sport. In Celebration of Books - The Resource Centre plans a week of book-related activities from 6th-14th March. Starting with World Book Day on the 6th, the programme will include a Consequences, Write a Story session, a Treasure Hunt Book Quiz and finish with a flourish with a Book Fair on the 14th. All students will have a £1 book token as a starter to spend on the many books on display and parents are encouraged to visit and buy! Book stocks have risen considerably recently and the Librarian, Mrs Solomon, still wants more! She is also seeking voluntary help in processing new books, so if anyone has a few hours to spare please contact her. Please Save - Once again we are collecting the Tesco Computers for Schools tokens. The ICT department has some ambitious plans on how to spend the tokens but these will depend on the number received. Theatre Visit - For those taking GCSE Drama it is beneficial to experience live theatre and to see and contrast a variety of shows. As part of the course, 76 Year 10 and Year 11 Drama students enjoyed a visit to see Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre recently. DATES FOR THE DIARY |