Issue No.47 September 1997
Issue No.47 September 1997
| FROM THE HEADTEACHER
Exam results - Both A level and GCSE results in the Summer were pleasing with some outstanding individual successes. Average A level points score for pupils following 3 A levels was 21.5 which will place us among the top few schools in the County and very high in the national tables. Richard Guy achieved As in all four of his Advanced level subjects plus an A in A/S General Studies, Elizabeth Daniels and Heather Gentry gained As in 3 subjects plus the top grade in General Studies. 20 of our students registered over 25 points and overall the percentage pass rate A-E was 94.1 % with 60.9% at A-C. At GCSE 55.6% Year 11 pupils achieved 5 or more A*-C passes with Adrienne Mickey gaining 6A* and 4A passes. Richard Lock also achieved 6A* and Richard Lawrence 5A* passes. Open Evening on November 12th - this is one of the most important dates in our School Calendar. If you know of anyone whose child is due to start secondary school in September 1998 please recommend Therfield and suggest they come and visit us. Dates and times of guided tours and talks can be obtained from the school office. Prizegiving on October 15th - we will be celebrating the achievements of our younger pupils on this date. Prizes will be presented by Dr Paul Gray, Director of Education. This will be the first major event to be held in the newly refurbished Main Hall for which we thank the Friends for all the time, money and energy spent. Governors - parents are invited to the Governors Annual meeting on 27th November. If any parent has any subject they want to raise, please contact any of the Parent Governors c/o the school. The Parent Governors are - Mrs Yvonne Marshall, Mrs Lynn Pendlebury, Mrs P M Williams, Mr Arnold Rosen and Mr Eric Skyte or contact the chairman, Mr John Hickey. New Staff - the school is fully staffed for the coming year and in addition to our new Head of Sixth, Ms Fearon, and our new Head of Year 8, Mrs Marshall, mentioned in July's Newsletter, we also welcome on the staff Ms Allen (History), Mrs Cox (Maths), Mrs Hook (Food and Technology), Mr Oliver (English), Ms Pyle (Maths) and Mr Puzey (English/History). Mr Andrews (Modern Foreign Languages) and Ms Wooding (Geography) who were with us last year as cover teachers have now joined the permanent staff. School Photos - Year 7, Year 10 and Year 12 will have their photographs taken on October 10th. Information - Pupil post is not always completely reliable but this term pupils in Years 7-11 should have taken home for you to study the revised Guide to the Code of Conduct and School Rules. This gives a clear explanation of our system of rewards and sanctions and what we expect from pupils and what, in return, the school will do for them. The issuing and implementation of these guidelines already seems to have had a positive effect with pupils seeing them as "fair". If you did not receive a copy of this important document - please contact the School Office. School Leaving Age - There is now a single date when pupils who reach the age of 16 during the school year can legally leave school and take a full time job. That date is the last Friday in June - in 1998 it will be Friday, 26th June. Introducing Key Stage 4 - On Wednesday, October 1st a meeting will be held at the school especially for parents whose children have just moved into Year 10, thus beginning two very important years which can determine the shape of their future lives. The meeting will explain how we prepare pupils for public examinations, how their progress is monitored and what is expected in each subject. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm and will last about an hour. Staff have produced a 'Parent's Guide to Key Stage 4' which is designed to help parents support pupils in the run-up to GCSE. Toilets - the boys and girls toilets in the Language Corridor have been refurbished and now look smart, clean and modern. We hope to update all the school toilets in time, but it is a costly business. Astro turf - the building is coming along nicely and is up to schedule. Salad Days - the production has now been cast starring Ben Freedman and Becky Dear in the lead roles of Jane and Timothy, supported by a brilliant cast of 55 and a Lower School Chorus. Performances will be on 20, 21, 22nd of November. Tickets will be available at the end of October. Hot Air Balloon - Year 8 enjoyed a lecture and practical demonstration on hot air ballooning, courtesy of Lloyds Bank's Up, Up and Away programme. Pics, we hope, in the Leatherhead Advertiser. Text Book Amnesty - please help us by looking through your shelves/cupboards and returning any old Therfield text books or library books. Books cost a tremendous amount to replace and are often just forgotten at home - we promise no questions will be asked !! Harvest Appeal - this year, in conjunction with Children's Aid Direct, we are supporting Education Aid for Albania. It is said that an Albanian student needs 3 pens, 3 pencils, 6 exercise books, 1 eraser, 1 ruler, a sharpener, 1 packet of colour pens to last a year so please encourage pupils to bring in donations of unused products or money to buy them - all will be gratefully received. Parking - please do not park in Dilston Road when collecting or leaving your children at school. We do try and live in harmony with our neighbours and it is exasperating for them when they cannot leave their homes because of traffic congestion. ASK - this is the help group run by Sixth Formers which is open every lunch time in C block to all pupils who might need help, advice or just a chance to chat to someone. If necessary, a member of staff can become involved but the initial approach is to Sixth Formers most of whom have come through the school and can see things from a pupil perspective! On the same theme, the School Nurse is in school on Thursday lunchtimes for a 'drop in' session if any pupil wishes to chat to her informally. She can be found in the new Pupil Welfare Office. Therfield Visa Card - the Friends have joined the Co-op Bank's School Visa Card scheme. For everyone who applies for a Therfield Card - which has no annual fee - the school receives a donation of £5 with an additional 25p for every £100 spent using the card. For more information please contact Ann Jenner (01372 275172). Request - the Bursar would like any surplus plastic carrier bags you may have - they are very useful and economical when it comes to 'litter picks'. Gardening Club - the School Garden was officially inaugurated this month and is now open to all students and staff. It forms part of the on-going effort to improve the school's environment for which Therfield was commended in the Mole Valley in Bloom competition. The garden is maintained by a group of students under the helpful supervision of members of Leatherhead Horticultural Society which also donated many plants and a tree, as did the Chessington Garden Centre. The first vegetable harvest has taken place - any students wishing to join the Gardening Club should see Mr Boucry. Sailing Club - this is one of our most successful and popular clubs and a full programme for the Autumn term has been arranged with regular visits to Thames Young Mariners plus the Littleton Regatta on October 18th when we hope to do well as usual. Questionnaire - many thanks to the parent of pupils in Years 9 and 10 who returned our questionnaires concerning Reports. The results were very interesting indeed and will we hope, enable us to develop reports which meet your needs more closely. Bridging the Gap - a Grammar Club for German will be run by Mrs Hrouda on alternate Wednesdays after school from 3.15 - 4.00 pm. Although aimed primarily at those pupils in Year 10 who will be taking both French and German in Key Stage 4, Mrs Hrouda will be happy to supply information to any keen student. Prayer Group - the next meeting for the Prayer Group for parents and friends of the school will be held at the school at 8 pm on Monday, 6th October. A meeting will be held at the school at 8 pm on 8th October to explore the possibility of setting up a Christian Relational Youth Workers group in local secondary schools. Anyone interested will be very welcome. Names please - please make sure that all items of clothing and equipment are clearly named so that lost property can be more easily returned. Going out with this Newsletter is a Calendar of School Events and a list of Clubs & Societies held at lunchtime and after school, which we hope you will encourage your son/daughter to join. A reminder of the Friends' CRAFT FAIR on Saturday 1st November, 10am - 4.30 pm. Several new exhibitors will be joining many of those who were here last year to give you an opportunity to start your Christmas shopping from a superb selection of original and unusual gifts. Admission 50p, children free. Refreshments will be available all day. Enquiries to Barbara Sharkey in the school office. Extra curricular activities
flourish with many clubs taking place at lunchtimes - Sport will, as usual, be running teams for rugby, football, netball, hockey, badminton and cross country. It is not unusual to have as many as 7 teams out for football and 3 for hockey on a Saturday From time to time the PE staff do need help with transport so if anyone feels they could help on occasion let Mr Hill know. Congratulations to Vicki Cannons (Year 12) on winning a major trophy for her contribution to Surrey Youth Dance. Part of her award is an extended visit to London Studio Centre where she will be able to experience some of the dance studies done there. In the recent auditions for Surrey Youth Dance, Hannah Leech, Sarah Ramsey (Year 11) and Michelle Gibbs (Year 10) were successful and will be joining this lively and successful company. Swimming - Sarah McMahon from our Sixth Form has been selected to represent Division 11 in the English Schools' Championships to be held in Crystal Palace on 24th & 25th October. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: Oct Nov |