Issue No.37 October 1996
Issue No.37 October 1996
| FROM THE HEADTEACHER
The school had a visit from an HMI earlier this month. He spent two days looking at Science & Technology teaching in Years 10 and 11 and came away very impressed. Some of his comments were - "in the top 10% of all schools", "high achieving school, even in Surrey terms", "the quality of learning is good or very good", "there is no sense of complacency", "this is a good school with outstanding features". These comments give extra poignancy to the news that the Secretary of State for Education has agreed that Rosebery School will be able to admit 30% of its intake on the basis of ability with a further 10 places for Music. Parents will know that I consider this to be a retrograde step which endangers other schools such as Therfield. I shall be continuing to campaign on this issue and the even greater implications of White Paper proposals which are being debated now. Therfield's Open Evening for parents of pupils , starting secondary school in Sept. 1997 will be held on November 13th, commencing 6.30 pm, Please recommend the school to your friends. The new school opening in Epsom could mean that it will be easier to get places at Therfield for those living further away. If your children are involved in helping that evening please remember the huge traffic and parking problems locally and use Cleeve Road entrance to drop off and collect. Please Note: School will close at 2.30 on the 13th to allow displays to be set up. On Thursday, 14th, pupils will be expected to register at 10.00am this will enable displays to be removed. Many thanks to those parents who contributed to the planting around the school - we are planning a major effort to improve the school grounds and there is still time to contribute if you wish. A group of Christian parents meets to pray for the school at the school twice a term. You would be most welcome to join them. The next meeting is on Monday, 18th November. For more information, ring Jill Poole (01932 865476) For over a year we have been rewarding pupils who achieve their second Gold Merit Award by offering them a Book or John Menzies token. This Christmas we have taken a further step and agreed with the Leatherhead Branch of John Menzies that they will open on Thursday, 5th December from 6.15pm to 8.15pm expressly for Therfield pupils and their parents. In addition, any pupil who presents a Gold, Silver or Bronze Award at the checkout will be entitled to a 15% discount on John Menzies stock (excluding vouchers and lottery tickets). We hope this helps the Christmas shopping!? Staff and Sixth Formers have combined to launch an initiative to help youngsters settle at school and to provide a 'drop in' centre where pupils can consult and talk about their problems. Called the ASK Group, Tuesday and Friday lunchtimes have been set aside for consultation but pupils are welcome to approach members - who wear red badges - at any time and talk about any problem from bullying to organising that homework load! The Environment Club would like some tips and possible loan of suitable equipment about filming wild animals at night. Anyone who can help - contact Miss Wood or Edward Drewitt at school. The Craft Fair takes place on Saturday and I do hope you will come and support what promises to be one of the Friends most interesting and enjoyable events. With 50 quality craftsworkers displaying their wares there will be something for everyone! Doors open at 10am and close at 4.30, admission is 50p, children free, and refreshments will be available all day. 106 Friends enjoyed a splendid evening at the Black and White Ball. The Hall looked stunning completely decorated to a black and white theme, the food was delicious and the music - live and disco - was excellent. The Friends look forward to similar support at future social occasions. It was a particularly memorable work experience for Tom Godwin. When helping the warden and other National Trust staff clear out Brinner Pond on Headley Heath a number of Second World War smoke mortars were discovered. That area of the heath was closed to the public until the mortars were taken away by a bomb disposal unit. Such a tale added a certain glamour to Tom's de-briefing session! He was one of 214 Year 11 students to find work experience placements, thanks to Mrs Kinloch and the Careers Service. It is good to report that feedback has been positive - from pupils and employers. If money has to be brought into school for pupils please put it is in a sealed, named envelope. Also labels on clothes etc. does help us to return lost property. Lessons can be interrupted for urgent messages only. Sport: Congratulations to Christopher Langridge in Year 7 who recently won the Surrey Schools U12 singles and doubles badminton championships. He is a regular member of the Surrey squad. The Sailing Club came away with two first prizes, seven seconds and seven thirds at the Littleton Regatta. The Club is holding an Open Evening at school on November 15th at 7.30pm. On Monday, 11th November from 3.45-5.00pm a special coaching clinic far Y10 & 11 Girls Rugby has been arranged. All are welcome - even those who have never played Rugby before. The event is sponsored by Lloyds Bank. As well as having 14 contributions published in the Poetry Anthology - "Voice of Surrey" - four of our Sixth Formers read poems to an invited audience at the book launch at County Hall to mark Surrey Literacy Week. Poems published in the book are all original works by Surrey people. The Faculty of Modern Languages is organising two Exchanges (one to France and one to Germany). These Exchanges take place at different dates so that students from Y9 and Y10 can take part in both. Students have been given letters to take home (search that bag!!) giving additional information. Interested parents may get in touch with Mr. Boucry (French Exchange) or Mrs Hrouda (German Exchange) if they want to know more about this opportunity. This has been a busy time for visits. Year 7 had an active and enjoyable time at High Ashurst. 120 Y9 pupils went to the Imperial War Museum where they tasted the Blitz Experience, the Trench Experience and generally voted it a worthwhile all round experience. Several are now working on a voluntary project as a piece of extension work to compare the First and Second World Wars. 45 Sixth Formers went to the House of Commons as part of the General Studies programme. They had a tour of the building and met and talked with Don Foster, MP for Bath, Lib. Dem. spokesman for Education. 12 'A' level students went to the National Gallery to view the landscape paintings of Rubens and to hear a lecture on techniques by the distinguished Art historian Frances Borzello. Students will complete a landscape project based on their findings. The visit was sponsored by Esso Petroleum. 60 GCSE painting and drawing students enjoyed a visit to the Victoria & Albert Museum and were able to observe and draw artefacts at first hand. On the theme of 'Nature in Art' , students researched items as diverse as Devonshire Hunting tapestries and Japanese Armour. The art work of William Morris was examined in the Print Room and the sketch books of John Constable when he was a boy. The students filled 4/5 pages of their sketchbooks and will complete an extensive project back in school. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: |