Issue No.22 May 1995
Issue No.22 May 1995
| FROM THE HEADTEACHER
OFSTED REPORTS - We were very happy with the Inspectors' report. Did you receive the summary which was sent home by all pupils? If not, please contact the school. We made the news with last week's fire in the early hours of Thursday morning - the cause was accidental not arson. The Friends lost a lot of equipment which had been stored in their hut and would be particularly grateful if anyone can donate Christmas decorations, particularly artificial trees. Negotiations over our promised new buildings are continuing and are now looking 'promising'. The Governors will not accept buildings which do not meet our Health and Safety requirements - more news next time. A view of school - Therfield is taking part in a survey being conducted by Professor Michael Barber and Keele University into pupils' and parents' attitudes to school. Over 200 families have taken part and if any parent has not yet returned the pink booklet, we would ask you to do so as soon as possible. Please send it to the School Office so that it can be forwarded to Keele University. We do appreciate your help. The survey is part of work being targeted this year to keep the motivation of children as high as possible so that pupils' aspirations and hopes as they enter Therfield can be matched by their achievements when they leave. We will report back to you with any interesting results which come from this survey. GENERAL NEWS A number of complimentary comments came from shoppers and traders in Leatherhead following the playing of our Jazz Band in the Swan Centre one Friday lunchtime as part of Leatherhead's VE celebrations. The Sailing Club's sponsored Sail & Bar-B-Q takes place on 23rd. Sailing 5.30; Food 7.00. Adventure Mr. Boucry and the French Exchange seem to go together! Last year he had to negotiate the 'safe passage' of our coach through a student demonstration and this year managed to supply a 'police escort' complete with flashing lights when our coach having got lost en route from EuroDisney arrived at Nantes at 2 am! His talent for diplomacy was also called upon when one of our pupils lost a battery from his camera in a marine wildlife tank in the Ocearium at Le Croisic and a diver had to be summoned to fish it out! In contrast the French visit here seemed quite tame. The students, by choice, spent a lot of time in London and a joint trip to Canterbury was enjoyed. On the lighter side our students organised a disco, trip to Chessington World of Adventures and ice skating. SPORTS ROUND-UP Cricket - all teams are doing well, with Year 9 being particularly successful, winning a first round County Cup game by 3 runs against St. Joseph's and this week winning the next round against Howard of Effingham by 20 runs. Think how well we could do if our facilities were better! Tennis - this year for the first time we are competing in the National Midland Bank competition and got off to an excellent start with wins over Eastfields and Dulwich College. Sterner opposition came later however and we lost to St. Paul's of Hammersmith and St. George's College. Athletics - In the TSB Cup which is a team event, our Inter Boys came first and now go through to the Southern Final, the Junior Boys were third and the Junior and Inter Girls fourth. Mark Leyshon, 1st in the junior boys 800m and Emily Nelson, 1st in the junior girls 1500m won trophies at the District Sports, and Tracey Bloomfield equalled the district record in winning the Inter girls high jump. 15 of our athletes will be competing for Central Surrey in the County Championships on June 8th and 10th. Volleyball - the 1st team played at the Epsom College tournament and were placed 3rd out of 6 teams. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - We have just purchased - at a cost of £20,000 - an additional Pentium 90 server and 8 486 PCs for our school computer network. The new server will enable us to run the most modem Windows software available. The new workstations will help us equip a third fully networked IT room. The school has had access to the INTERNET now for about 3 weeks. The Resource Centre has access through EDUWEB and the IT Centre has access through Research Machines, Internet for Learning (IFL). Restrictions apply so that pupils cannot gain access to some of the less favourable pictures and information on this valuable resource. Already our pupils have accessed computers in KOBE, Japan (to look at the latest earthquake pictures) and NASA, USA (pictures of Jupiter after the comet impact). In the near future Therfield will have its own pages on the World Wide Web. Research Machines are making IFL available for parents and pupils at home. If you require more information please contact Nigel Lacey in the IT Centre as he has some pertinent leaflets. Obviously you will need at least a 486 computer and a modem. Grateful thanks to Canon UK who have donated a £3000 laser [printer] to the department. Please collect your TESCO 'Computers for Schools' vouchers. We would like to be able to collect enough vouchers for at least a couple of 'Pocket Book' computers. A collection bin can be found in the IT centre. Environment Seminar - Last Friday, Miss Wood, Edward Drewitt and Steven Hannon attended the Environment Seminar at Leatherhead Leisure Centre. The format was to discuss ideas on how young people would like to see environmental issues improved in Mole Valley. Therfield was one of 5 schools taking part and we discussed the ideas put forward and finally presented them to the councillors. Hopefully, things will improve - as a first step Mole Valley plans to appoint a private contractor who will come round to houses and collect paper, cans etc. on a regular basis. (Report by Edward Drewitt) HELP - If you have any unwanted information books - the 'Observer's Book Of ...' series or 'I Spy' are good examples - the Design Technology department would like them. Such books help pupils with research and illustration - Miss Smith will be pleased to receive them. A group of Christian parents meet twice a term to pray for the school. If you are interested in joining them or would like to receive information, contact Sue Cross (tel). KISS ME KATE on July 13, 14, 15 with dress rehearsal on 12th. Mrs. Gale is in charge of costumes and would be grateful for gifts of any rich bright fabrics, braid, fur or velvet (especially velvet jackets) which could be used for the medieval costumes and any circular skirts or large flower prints suitable for the 1950s costumes. We hope too that every effort will be made to sell the raffle tickets sent home - proceeds from this major fund raising event by the Friends will pay for the new sound system in the school - hopefully in time for the show. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 4/7 & 5/7 New Year 7 Induction; Parents Meeting on 4th |