Issue No.151, February 2007
Issue No.151, February 2007
| FROM THE HEADTEACHER Mrs
Susan Willman Many thanks to those of you who have contacted me with your congratulations and thoughts about school issues, I do welcome your views. This term we have been settling into our new building which provides suited accommodation for the mathematics and music departments. Staff and students are all enjoying the excellent facilities it offers. We are planning a formal opening ceremony and also a more informal occasion where parents and guests can see the facilities in action. Arrangements for these events will be advertised later this term. We have interviewed for the Leadership Team vacancies and I am delighted to inform you that Steve Hill, currently acting Deputy Headteacher, and Kate Carriet, currently Assistant Headteacher, at Therfield have been appointed as our Deputy Headteachers from Easter. Many of you will know Steve and Kate and therefore be aware of the considerable strengths they bring to our team. We have also appointed Leigh Adams to the Assistant Headteacher vacancy. Leigh is currently Assistant Headteacher in a Cambridgeshire school and will be joining us from September. Our new Premises Manager Nicola Kennard joins us in April and has some excellent ideas about ways in which we can improve our working environment. The students have been playing their part in this and we are beginning to see the benefits of the litter picks they are doing. Generally working with the students I have found that they are keen to take action to improve the environment for the school and the wider community. A group of students is leading a project to reduce the carbon footprint of the school by promoting initiatives such as greater energy efficiency and recycling. The project is in its early days yet but they have some excellent ideas and you will be hearing more about it from them. It was marvellous to see so many of our students achieving awards at the recent Duke of Edinburgh award ceremony. I understand that Therfield’s Duke of Edinburgh unit is now one of the largest in Surrey. Finally, following the publication of the secondary school contextual value added scores, Key Stage 2-4, it was very pleasing to see that Therfield was amongst the highest scores for secondary schools in Surrey. This is a reflection of the hard work that students, staff and parents put in to making sure that students achieve their potential. BIG SCHOOLS BIRDWATCH “Is that a blackbird?” was one of the cries heard this week as year 8 members of Therfield School’s Science Club took part in the RSPB Big Schools Birdwatch. To make sure they had birds to count, the children had previously made seedcake to entice the birds. Once hung in a hedge, it certainly worked as it proved a hard job to identify all the birds that came flying in for a free lunch. Even the squirrels couldn’t resist having a go! The nationwide results will soon be available on www.rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch . INTERMEDIATE UK MATHEMATICS CHALLENGE 7 year 10
students and 1 year 9 achieved gold MATHEMATICS TEXTBOOK AMNESTY You know what it’s
like – it’s a new year, and you’ve got a new book and that easier
one you had last year is kicking around the bedroom. It would be
too heavy to take two books in so I will just leave it another
day. The problem is, there are students who may not have their own
book. YEAR 10 + 11 GIFTED AND TALENTED CONFERENCE We discovered that, often, the curriculum restricts the mind and we were encouraged to make links between subjects and broaden our horizons. We found the lectures extremely enjoyable and stimulating, perhaps because the format was unexpected or because the lecturers were impassioned by their subjects and spoke in a very charismatic way. It is safe to say that everyone gained something from the day. Mickie Green and Henry McMorrow STUDENTS TRAVELLING BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT Just a reminder that students travelling by bus should be given a ticket by the driver as proof of payment. UK MATHEMATICS TEAM CHALLENGE On Wednesday 7 February 16 mixed teams of year 8 and 9 students competed with enthusiasm to win a place at the Regional Final in Croydon on 22 March. They worked together to solve some posers as a group, then had a relay where the aim was to decide on a strategy – stick with a wrong answer and move on, or try to get it right. The winning team worked together well, although the results were close. Luke Skilton and Toby Barnes from 8NLU and Jesse Lloyd and Chris Knight from 9LEA will be representing the school. All participants are still waiting for their chocolate! Thank you to Mrs Moghul, Mrs Foley and both their sixth form groups for running an exciting event. If you are interested in a similar event for your year group see Mrs Foley. EARLY CLOSURES YEAR 7 PARENTS EVENING Please note there is a
misprint on the letter. Replies need to be returned by 14th March
2007. CONTACTING THE SCHOOL REGARDING YOUR SON/DAUGHTER’S
ABSENCE When contacting Therfield about your child’s
absence please do so using the following: SCHOOL MEALS WEB LINK PARENTS PRAYER GROUP The group meets twice a term at the school. The next meeting is on Monday 5th March at 8.00 pm. A warm welcome is extended to all, especially to any new parents who might like to join us. For more information please call J Poole on: 01932 865476. THERFIELD SCHOOL TRUST NEWS We are delighted to announce that the Trust, thanks to your valuable donations, has donated the final £10,000 to the school in order to complete the final phase of the new Music building, the recording studio. The Trust has been a major sponsor of the project together with three other charitable trusts. We hope that it will be completed by the summer term. We are pleased to welcome Mrs Katie Cork as our new Treasurer, who takes over from Robin Eddleston. We are now looking for a Secretary to join us to attend the monthly Trust meeting and deal with agendas, minutes and administration concerning the Trust constitution. Of course we would also welcome your ideas for future fundraising initiatives. If you are interested please contact Robin Eddleston on 01372 818123 extension 366 ORDERING SCHOOL UNIFORM Lester Bowden, the school uniform supplier, is now able to accept orders online. By logging on to their website www.lesterbowden.co.uk and clicking on to the schoolwear page, there is now a link to the ordering facility. This is a secure ordering site. They aim to dispatch the same day, via first class post, which should then be delivered the next day. You can also log onto www.therfield.surrey.sch.uk and follow the link found there. SECOND HAND UNIFORM We have a large selection of second hand school uniform including blazers and jumpers available at very good prices. If you require any items please come into school on any Monday, Wednesday or Friday. PRIZE WINNER Congratulations to Mrs J Homer who has won the £20 voucher sponsored by Eden Florists. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
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