Issue No.63 February 1999
Issue No.63 February 1999
| FROM THE HEADTEACHER
Trips - My thanks to all those staff who gave up half-term to accompany trips. These occasions are good fun, but nonetheless a significant responsibility to be in charge of young people in a foreign country. As reported later in this Newsletter all such visits were voted a great success. Mobile Phones - Many students seem to have received these for Christmas. We would much prefer that such phones are not brought to school, and certainly we can accept no responsibility for them whilst on school premises. We are currently reviewing the legal situation, but would want to advise parents that if such phones disturb assemblies, lessons etc. we will need to confiscate. Early Closures - I am sorry that there was some confusion about the early closures that happen on Tuesdays - when the school has a full parents' consultation evening on the following Wednesday. The early closures normal on a Wednesday are to allow tutors to agree and monitor individual learning targets. When there is a parents' evening, we move the monitoring forward a day. Tuesday timings will therefore be: Study Skills Seminar - This has become a well-established event at half term and the growing support from Year 11 pupils and parents reflects the respect in which it is held. The programme included tips on memorising techniques, time management, summarising and revision aids. Over 70 pupils attended and without exception their evaluation responses were positive -comments ranged from "really worth while because I learnt many new techniques", "I thought it would be dull and repetitive but it was surprisingly fun and useful", "I am all set to start making plans and lists for my revision" to "this has really made me think. It would also be of benefit to our teachers!". In the evening 40 parents attended a session designed to help them cope with sons and daughters during GCSE time. This too was seen as valuable Career guidance - A lively way of looking at post 16 choices was presented to Year 11 pupils by the CragRats, a theatre company based in Huddersfield which specialises in presenting themes of interest to young people in 'an unstuffy way'. Sponsored by Surrey TEC the team of four young actors used their skills in drama and presentation to remind those who are about to come to the end of compulsory education what choices lay ahead - would it be a job at 16, an apprenticeship or stay on for GNVQ or A Levels? Thinking about Violence - The Riding Lights Theatre group from York also gave pupils plenty to think about when they presented a theatrical event on \/iolence entitled Losing It. The drama was linked to an incident in the USA last year when two boys, one aged 11 and the other 13, got hold of guns and went on to shoot and kill many of their school feIlows. The incident was linked to violence in general and how to combat it. Year 9 and Year 10 pupils were enthralled by the enactment and were quick to join in the discussion that followed. As with the CragRats, the group comprises young actors who are able to relate to pupils and so bring home a message in dramatic fashion. The Riding Lights group are touring Surrey schools and came to Therfield at the behest of the Secondary Heads Christian Association. Drug Awareness Meeting - Ashtead Rotary Club is running a parents only meeting on Drug Awareness on Tuesday, 23rd March at 8.00 pm at Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall. Invites have gone out to parents of pupils at Therfield, City of London Freemen's, Parsons Mead and St. Andrew's. Admission is free but you do need a ticket - obtainable from the school office by March 1st please. Forms giving greater detail went out with last month's Newsletter. Partnership with Parents - A county conference concerning the inclusion of children with special educational needs in Surrey schools is to be held at Guildford College on Sat. 20th March. The meeting is free and is specifically for parents of children with special needs and will run from 9.30 am - 4 pm. A crêche and programme of events to keep older children happy will be set up. More details from 01737 646227. Dyslexia Study - 'How to boost self-esteem in dyslexic children at primary school' is the topic for a talk by Mrs Manon Thomas at St Andrew's School, Cobham on 16th March at 8 pm. It is organised by the SE Surrey Dyslexia Association - more details from 01737 556 173. Parentline - Surrey - operates a Helpline from Monday to Saturday 10 am to 4 pm on 0345 567 800. Trained volunteers, who are all parents, listen and support callers in a variety of difficult situations. The Helpline has become so popular that more volunteers are needed. Full training is provided -if you would like to know more call 01372 362743. School will close early on Tuesdays 2nd and 16th March to accommodate Academic Tutoring as Year 9 and Year 7 Parents' Evening will be held on the 3rd and 17th respectively. (see earlier note re timings). Music News - Therfield's Spring Concert will take place on Wednesday, March 24th. This will include a guest appearance by members of the South East Surrey Area Youth Orchestra as well as our usual mixture of choral and instrumental items. Further details about ticket prices etc. will be coming home via Pupil Post shortly. Congratulations to Tara Watkins, Year 8, who successfully auditioned for a part in the National Youth Music Theatre's 1999 'Creation' project. 2,500 young hopefuls from all over the country were seen before the final selection was made. Tara attended the first rehearsals over half term and will be attending other residential workshops during holiday periods until the first public performance in October. Vouchers - Please continue to send in the computer vouchers from Tesco and the crisp and newspaper tokens for books - we are still busily collecting them. Artistic - Rosie Manby, also in Year 8, has been presented with a Certificate of Excellence by the Guild of British Tie Makers for her design in a competition sponsored by the Guild. Great days - The USA visit undertaken by 51 Sixth Formers and 5 staff provided so many highlights that students found it difficult to select the most memorable. A visit to the White House comes near the top of the list as does seeing a show on Broadway, and negotiating journeys on the New York subway proved a definite learning experience. However, the group were also privileged to be taken on a tour of the FBI building where they were shown over the forensic section and then witnessed an example of sharp-shooting and to their rather horrified fascination saw a demonstration of the effective use of a sub-machine gun when fighting crime. All agreed that this was a highly successful trip - the next one will be in 2001 so Years 10 and 11 should start saving now! Cross Country - Emma Firth, intermediate, and Emily Nelson, seniors, have been picked to run for Surrey in the national cross country finals. In the junior boys race of the District Championships, Therfield supplied the full team of 8 runners. Badminton - Our boys' U14 badminton team have started well in the defence of their national title - they had a close match and a win against Glyn and then beat Tiffin School 9 - 0. Whitgift School also gifted them three points by failing to fulfil their fixture. For Sale - The school has a Kodak DC 210 Digital Zoom Camera for sale - a bargain at £300. Please contact Mrs Jenny Good in the Finance Office if you are interested. Football - Congratulations to Christopher Hall, Year 11, on being selected to represent Surrey. Well done too to the Year 7 team who made the last eight of the English Schools Area Final at Woking before losing 1-0 in a very close game. This was an excellent achievement as competition came from Kent, Surrey and Sussex schools and was watched by national selectors. Champion - Ex-Therfield pupil Tracey Bloomfield has been selected to represent Great Britain as a pole vaulter in a match against France. At school, Tracey was a keen gymnast and high jumper and took up the pole vault in her final year. She took the South of England title with a jump of 3.60 metres and then gained the silver medal with 3.70 metres at the AAA national championships. Prayer Group - The next Prayer Group meeting for parents will be held at the school on Monday, 15th March at 8 pm. All are welcome to attend. Great skiing - Masses of excellent quality snow provided superb conditions for the 63 pupils from Years 8, 9 & 10 plus nine adults who went to Achenkirch in Austria over half term. Beginners and experienced skiers all progressed well and some had a try at snowboarding, picking up several bumps and bruises but voting it a great activity. All agreed that the hotel was friendly and comfortable with excellent food. Skating on an outdoor rink proved a popular evening activity and a testament to the fitness of Therfield pupils! Mrs Wingrove is now starting to organise next year's trip which will be to St Johann in Tirol - the present Years 7, 8 & 9 will be eligible and letters will be going home in the next few days. More great skiing - Heavy snowfalls meant a nightmare journey to Badgastein for the 43 students and six staff who went on the senior ski trip but this was compensated for by some excellent ski conditions. Thanks to those earlier dry ski lessons, beginners progressed well and, together with more experienced skiers, were able to enjoy some exhilarating and, occasionally, hair-raising runs. Mr Hill plans to take a group to France in February 2000. Mufti Day - Friday, March 12th will be a Mufti Day where pupils can pay 50p not to wear school uniform and staff can 'dress down' accordingly. This is also Red Nose Day and proceeds will go to Year charities. Students who plan to take part in Expedition Venezuela will be presenting a Main Hall event to help raise funds for this project. Soccer Skills - Year 7 pupils will have details of a soccer school being held at Therfield on Friday evenings, starting on March 19. Organised by the Steve Wood Premier Soccer School and costing £39.99 per course of 10 sessions, the coaches are all FA approved. If the leaflet doesn't reach home, further information from 01252 350066 Silent Auction - This 'Event with a Difference' organised by the Friends takes place on Saturday, 13th March. Well over 100 articles have been collected already and Pat Hunt (01372 842480) or Liz Reynaud (01372 843777) would be pleased to receive any more items which will go towards providing a wide range of 'lots' to auction. Bids can begin at 50p and everything from pin cushions to theatre tickets will be up for sale. Admission by ticket £4 (to include fish or chicken & chips) - available from the school office. Tough Guys - All four Sixth Formers - Chris and Michael Rippin, Stephen Parker, Jeremy Weeks - plus Tim Weeks and Mr Marshallsay completed the gruelling Tough Guy Challenge over a 16 mile cross country assault course near Wolverhampton. Although the weather was not as icy as last year it was still very cold and wet and presented a strong personal challenge to all taking part. Jeremy's verdict - "It was horrible but I would definitely do it again". This was the first year for Jeremy and Chris - the others competed last year. Challenge Match - The challenge to a football match made by Senior Student, Michael Traboulsi, at Prizegiving last October to Halliburton, Brown & Root's Operations Manager, Dr Dick Harris, was taken up on Wednesday. A team from the Sixth Form took on our neighbours and the result was 6 - 3 to Therfield. Diary Dates for March Friends' R&B NIGHT - tomorrow, SAT 27 Feb - promises to be very successful, with well over 100 tickets already sold. Last minute requests to Julie Ebison - 272887- will secure you tickets on the door. |