Issue No.60 November 1998
Issue No.60 November 1998
| FROM THE HEADTEACHER
NEXT YEAR'S INTAKE - Judging by the interest shown and praise given following our Open Evening on the 11th and subsequent well-attended tours of the school, the numbers of pupils opting for Therfield as a secondary school should be high. Certainly the school 'buzzed' with enthusiasm and goodwill and the number of pupils who volunteered to take part in displays and demonstrations was very pleasing. Many of them found it useful as well as enjoyable - one Year 7 pupil commented -"I have told so many people how to do this Science experiment that I shall never ever forget it now!". SETTLING IN - We have recently
completed a survey of Year 7 pupils - those who joined us in
September - and it SETTING TARGETS - Distributed with this Newsletter is a leaflet from County setting out what Target Setting means. Therfield already operates such a system and our GCSE results in June show that 64% gained 5 A' - C passes. We will continue to aim high but this is better than the County target for 2002. NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR CYCLISTS - I remain concerned for the safety of some of our cyclists. To improve this, new rules come into effect from the beginning of the January term. In order to gain a permit to bring a bicycle onto the premises, all students, including those in the Sixth Form, must get a permit. Before they can get this they must agree to display a small number plate behind the saddle. These will be provided free of charge by the school with a simple fixing device. This will enable much easier identification of pupils cycling dangerously or without helmets. Any bicycle without a number plate will not be allowed onto school property and students will be required to take them home. WORK EXPERIENCE - You will be aware that we were very dis-satisfied with the quality of the service provided by Project Trident - the company contracted by Surrey TEC to organise the placements. They have not yet tried to submit their bill, and until they do and we complete negotiations over what part, if any, we are prepared to pay, I will not be in a position to organise any refunds. CHANGE IN SCHOOL TIMINGS - We plan a slight change in school timings. In the week when there is a Parents' Evening (always held on Wednesdays) the school will finish at 3 pm the previous day to make way for Academic Tutoring. These dates will be publicised on Parents' Newsletters but the Tuesdays affected for the coming term are - 19th, 26th Jan; 9th Feb.; 2nd and 16th March. Wednesday times remain the same. OFSTED - A summary of the final report has been sent to all parents. A copy of the full report, which runs to 48 pages, can be obtained from the School Office at a cost of £1. PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS - This was set up in 1994 by the LEA to help parents of children with special educational needs. It is based at Merstham (01737 646227) and early notice is given of a conference to be held at Guildford College on 20th March 1999 which will have as its theme the inclusion of children with special educational needs in Surrey schools. More details from the above number. FROM THE GOVERNORS - Following the school's first class OFSTED Inspection, Mr John Hickey, chairman, has written to all staff to congratulate them on a 'truly outstanding' report. He says "We, as Governors, feel extremely proud to be associated with a School with such dedicated staff, whose enthusiasm and genuine care for pupils produces the ethos that is Therfield". Mr Hickey is awaiting a reply from the Secretary of State for Education, Mr David Blunkett, after inviting him to visit Therfield. The chairman points out that Therfield is "a success without any frills or special treatment, just hard work" and could provide a counter-balance to stories of failing schools and poor educational standards. BUS SERVICE - Following a meeting with the bus company, the 862 bus service will be running as usual next term. LOYAL SERVICE - Next month, Mrs Newstead (Head of Art) and Miss Wood (Second in Dept., Science) will each receive an award at a ceremony at County Hall for 25 years of teaching at Surrey Schools. Miss Wood's association with Therfield goes back even further as she was a pupil here. Mrs Newstead taught in Hampshire for two years and in Merton for a year before coming to Therfield. They shared a friendly 'thank you' moment in the Staff room with Mr Dave Cox who has chalked-up up 100 terms in teaching - not all of them in Surrey. As a mark of his involvement in Staff sporting fixtures Mr Cox was presented with an autographed cricket bat. MUSICAL DATES - On Monday (30th) the Main Choir and Lower School Singers will be taking part in an important concert at the Albert Hall. This has involved a lot of extra rehearsal time but should prove a memorable experience for everyone. The school's traditional jazz group is much in demand - the Therfield Stompers will be playing at the Friends' Christmas Fair on Sunday, December 6th, and at the special request of the Chairman of Surrey County Council will be playing at an official reception at County Hall. The annual Carol Service will be held at SeeAbility on Monday, December 14th at 7.30 pm. The chapel only seats 310 so early arrival is advised. The previous afternoon at Therfield at 3 pm the school's singers and musicians will be taking part in Leatherhead Community Association's Carol Service in aid of Leatherhead Hospital. ART INITIATIVE - A first-ever Art department trip to Paris took place over half term when six A Level Art students returned bubbling with enthusiasm and brimming sketch books. Mrs Robin, assisted by Mr Horder, organised the visit and were equally enthusiastic about its success. Students were able to enjoy at first-hand the many famous paintings and works of art housed in Paris galleries, as well as get a taste of the city with visits to the more traditional tourist attractions. Mrs Robin commented, "The students found the works of art truly brilliant. It was an exhilarating visit and I hope the students will be able to capture some of the excitement felt when they work on their projects back at school". Another Art Department initiative was to welcome Louise Lambourn, Portsmouth University Lecturer, to talk to students in Years 8, 11 and 12 about work in Art College and to show them Portfolio examples of the work produced there. This proved invaluable information for those contemplating further study in Art as she also invited students from Year 11 and the Sixth Form to visit the university's Art department to work alongside other Art students for a day. CHARITY WORK - Sixth Form students have handed over a cheque for £1035.87 to a representative from the Motor Neurone Disease Association. This was as a result of last year's fund raising activities by Norbury House. This year's fund raising will be directed towards Tadworth Children's Trust and Macmillan Nurses Appeal. In the Summer 17 Sixth Formers boldly took part in a Parachute Jump. Much of the sponsorship money went to charity and for some it was a way of raising badly needed funds for projected aid work during a gap year before going on to university. Michael Traboulsi, senior student, plans to embark on a Project Trust placement in Africa for which he is seeking additional sponsorship. Jackie McLean, who plans to go to the UK Sailing Academy to obtain her Yacht Master Qualification, is facing a formidable challenge to raise the necessary finance and wonders if anyone has any boating books, clothing or equipment they no longer need that they could donate. She would also like to hear from anyone who has any likely contacts for sponsorship or sailing work! SKI CLOTHING - There will be a sale of second-hand ski clothing at the Ski Austria '99 Information Evening on 9th December. If you have any ski gear you wish to sell, please send it into school indicating the price you require for each item and a named envelope attached for the safe return of any monies, all marked for the attention of Mr Rolaston. SPORTS NEWS - Our cross country runners have excelled themselves yet again. The Intermediate Girls - Emily Parker, Vicky Thatcher, Gemma Adams, Nicky Bailey, Rachel Stamper and Jessica Crook - have qualified for the national finals of the TSB Cup next month. For many of the team this will be their second national final. We had three teams competing in the Southern TSB championships which was a considerable achievement. In the Manor House School races last Saturday our girls did well again, having the first runner home in Years 7, 8, 9, 10/11 age groups as well as a second and two thirds. In the boys district championships Therfield teams finished first in all three age groups. In the junior boys we had the first four runners home and Therfield took the first seven places in the senior boys competition. As a result, 19 boys have been selected to run for the district in the county championships. In Badminton, Chris Langridge, Philip Rippin, James Molyneux, David Urry and Andrew Morris, all from Year 9 have qualified for the National Finals of the English Schools' Badminton Championships at Luton in March. They beat all the other 5 teams, who were county winners, in their U15 group to qualify. Last year Therfield won the national U14 title with the same team. Chris Langridge has been selected to play for English Schools U15 team in an international tournament in Holland at the end of December. In Rugby the Year 8 team came third in a state schools rugby festival, winning two games, losing two and drawing two. If they need additional tips for success they could always ask Miss Collier, who joined our Modem Languages department in September - last Saturday she was a triallist for the England Women's Rugby XV. Therfield's footballers have three teams through to the quarter finals of the county cup and are doing well in the league. Many Saturdays we field as many as seven teams. Well done to Stuart Wallace, Year 9, who was picked last month for Surrey's U14 squad. MESSAGES & LABELS - So far this term the Office has had 472 messages from parents to deliver, ranging from forgotten dinner money to which car to look out for that evening. We cannot continue to interrupt lessons on this scale so if your son/daughter contacts you about forgotten books, kit or money please remind them that these must be collected from the Office. Also our Lost Property cupboard is getting full up again - if something is labelled we can return it, if not a lot of good quality clothing remains unclaimed. THOSE JUICY JACOBEANS - "I loved it - it was seriously weird" was perhaps the most apt comment following the Sixth Form's exciting Drama production last weekend. Following on research in London last term about the Jacobean period and the fact that students doing A Levels in English and Theatre Studies are currently studying three Jacobean plays it was decided that this unusual exercise in drama would not only help with learning but make for entertainment as well. The audience followed the players in this promenade performance and found much to admire in the acting, make-up, musical talents and confident presentation. Head of Drama, Ms Harris, was pleased with the production - though at one stage she wondered if the students love for the macabre might prove too much for the audience! MILLENNIUM DOME - A group of Sixth Formers had the privilege of seeing over the Millennium Dome site earlier this month. The site manager escorted them round and gave them an overview of the whole site. After looking at the model of the construction, some of the physics behind it was explained and a discussion on the social and economic advantages followed. Because of tight security they were unable to enter the dome but still managed a peek inside. The group were amazed at the amount of work going on and feel if the whole project is to be completed by January 1st 2000 a miracle will have taken place. VISIT TO THE BATTLEFIELDS - Fifty Year 9 pupils visited the World War I battlefields near Ypres in a crowded schedule over half term. They explored preserved trenches at Sanctuary Wood and compared the British and German cemeteries and all were astonished at the sheer numbers of immaculately kept graves on view. They visited the Menin Gate and Messine Ridge which the Queen visited on November 11th and were reminded of the special significance of their visit - this being the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice. SPECIAL REQUEST - Please don't drive into Dilston Road to collect or drop off your children. The road is very narrow and congested and becomes particularly dangerous with too much traffic. Try and fix a less congested spot to meet. DATES FOR DECEMBER New Term starts on Tuesday, 5th January 1999 |