Issue No.43 April 1997
Issue No.43 April 1997
| FROM THE HEADTEACHER
The Future of Education - The result of this election on May 1st is going to have a big effect on secondary education and Therfield. It will either confirm that selection and grammar schools are going to be with us, with all the repercussions that will have on schools such as Therfield or it will ensure that there will be little opportunity for any extension of selection and Surrey's comprehensive system will remain largely intact. Please do talk to those seeking your vote about these important issues. Help wanted - The Science Faculty are hoping to run a Science Fayre in June for all KS3 pupils. It will include a planetarium, pyrotechnics lecture, visit from a famous scientist and a Chemistry is Fun evening but sponsorship from companies is needed if it is to go ahead. The cost is likely to be £1000 so if you know of any company who would be willing to play a part in this venture, please contact me or Mrs Cox, Head of Science Faculty. Examination Time - Study leave for Year 11 pupils taking GCSE starts Tuesday 13th May. Mindful that many subject exams do not take place until well into June, staff are offering an extensive study leave timetable - from 14th May-18th June - to help pupils with revision. Full information will be sent home but contact the school if you do not receive details. Last day for Year 13 pupils taking `A' levels is Friday, 16th May and the following week 19th-23rd May, staff will be available for revision consultation. The Sixth Form Leavers' May Ball is on the 16th at Reigate Manor Hotel. Leavers' Tea at the school is on June 20th. Year 10 have internal exams all next week and will follow a normal timetable when not sitting exams. Year 12 internal exams take place from 12th - 20th May with study leave during that time. Political Forum - five of the candidates for Mole Valley in the General Election attended a Political Forum at the school on the 16th to face a range of questions from Sixth Formers. Most people found it stimulating and quite a few would have liked more time - "we were just getting difficult" was one comment. Candidates in the school's Mock Election Matthew Coburn (Conservative), Amy Kerbel (Labour), Adam Ratliff (Liberal/Democrat) and Lisa Roberts (Referendum) - have been holding meetings and talking to Assemblies ready for the vote on May 1st. An opinion poll taken this week suggests that intensive canvassing in the next few days could make a big impression - the 'don't knows' registered 21 % with Lib Dems 28%, Labour 22%, Conservative 12% and Referendum Party 10%. 6% said they would not vote. Parking problems - please try and avoid parking in Dilston Road or Waterfields when setting down or picking up your children - local residents complain strongly about the traffic congestion. The Easter break was not all holiday fun for Year 11 pupils Zoe Robson and Douglas Inge - they spent a busy two days at Wellington College in Berkshire sitting an examination, taking part in practical projects and being interviewed by distinguished panellists for the Arkwright Scholarships. Over 400 candidates from 140 schools took part in the initial applications and Zoe and Douglas were among 45 who won through to the final stages. They now await the verdict from the Panel which is headed by Professor Heinz Wolff. The scholarships, which help with funding during 'A' level studies were set up to promote the cause of Design Technology and encourage able students to continue with technology and engineering in higher education. Therfield had a successful scholar in 1994 - Douglas's brother, James. Sixth Former James Straker was overjoyed to hear that he was one of the successful applicants for sponsorship by Ford Motor Company during his time at university. James was one of 600 applicants and heard during the Easter holidays that Ford will provide him with £600 a year while he reads Mechanical Engineering plus 10 months work experience. James takes his `A' levels this Summer and for his Design Technology project is designing and producing a racing car steering wheel - a direct follow up to his work experience in Year 11 with Tyrrell Racing. Sailing - the Sail Training Week in the Isle of Wight once again combined an enjoyable time with plenty of practical experience and theoretical knowledge. 11 pupils, with a good mix of boys and girls, passed stages 1 & 2 of their RYA certificates, 8 passed stage 3, with 4 securing the Red badge, 7 the white and 6 the blue. Mark Crysell, Chris Early and James Hardwick successfully passed to be RYA Instructors. At the Papercourt Regatta, Richard Guy and David Richardson won the Carshalton Trophy in the Enterprise Class and the school also won four second places and one third. Music - On Wednesday, 16th, the parents of GCSE music students were invited to a recital of the pieces to be played in the forthcoming practical exams. The heard a wide range of solos and ensembles, many of them played on the school's beautiful Bluthner grand piano. The standard was extremely high and augurs well for the students' final grades. The next meeting for the Parents' School Prayer Group will be on May 12th at the school at 8 pm. Further details about this group from Jill Poole (01932 865476) Requests -The Learning Support department is trying to encourage wider reading for all children. Could you please donate any magazines of any sort to encourage the reluctant reader. Mrs Kirton would especially like to receive football/sports magazines, Teen papers, Young Neighbour etc. The PE department is collecting vouchers from Sainsburys to buy sports equipment. Also a reminder that Miss Jefford would be most grateful for any used tennis balls. The IT department is anxious to receive the Tesco 'Computers for Schools' vouchers and the Bursar would like your old plastic supermarket bags! Shakespeare - Year 9 pupils who are studying Romeo and Juliet for their National Curriculum tests were pleased to attend a performance of the play by Shakespearean Young Peoples' Theatre Company. As well as being entertaining, the experience provided a useful revision aid in readiness for the forthcoming tests. The Tempest - auditions for the production which takes place on 11th and 12th July have now been held. Tim Stanley will play Prospero, Rebecca Dear Miranda, Alex Harber Antonio, Jake Hetherington Caliban, Ben Freedman Ferdinand and Laura Gale is Ariel. Practical Maths - 47 Year 8 students visited Seaton in Devon to study practical aspects of Mathematics for 3 days. Activities included investigating angles in snooker, comparing performance in bowling, estimating the height of the cliffs, finding the average speed of students down the flume in the swimming pool! On the way there they visited Stonehenge and again their mathematical skills were put to good use. Geography - examination of coastal environments and settlement studies near Swanage by 48 GCSE pupils was helped by the weather being warm and sunny for a residential weekend stay. Coastal processes and the formation of 'Old Harry and his Wife' were studied, plus management of sand dunes at Studland on the Saturday, while Sunday was spent at Corfe Castle investigating whether this popular tourist venue needs a by-pass. Evening activities were more tight-hearted and included a treasure hunt and basketball match. Holiday snaps by Mrs Jones and her fellow cruisers have created a great deal of interest as they show Therfield pupils floating in the Dead Sea, posing on camels near the Pyramids, touring the ancient sites of Ephesus and Knossos and visiting Jerusalem as well as taking an enthusiastic part in the on-ship cabaret evening! "The holiday of a lifetime" is how one lucky cruiser described it. Mark Levy, who taught History at Therfield until last Summer, met the group in Israel where he is now studying and joined them on some of their trips. Mrs. Jones is now organising Cruise 1998 which takes in Greece, Egypt, Israel and Turkey. German Exchange - 42 Year 9 and Year 10 pupils had a happy time in Bergisch Gladbach staying with partners from the Nicolaus Cusanus Gymnasium. As well as having a full programme of sight seeing they spent time in school and everyone got on really well - so much so that a number of Summer holiday visits have been planned already. The German school pays a return visit here in June. Dyslexia - a meeting on Speech and Language Difficulties will be held at Bletchingley Adult Education Centre at 8 pm on May 22nd. More information from 01737 556173. Sport - Christopher Langridge in Year 7 reached the last 16 of the national junior Badminton finals, being beaten by the ultimate winner. He was a finalist in the doubles. Earlier he played number one for Surrey in the team championships in which they came third. Cricket - we are pleased that a coach from Surrey CC is here once a week helping with the Year 10s. A heartfelt plea from the Office staff - please put names in ALL school clothing, particularly blazers, sweaters and sports kit. Our 'lost property' cupboard is bulging with unclaimed clothing which could have been returned if it had been named! DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: |