| Mr
Reddin Having timed his
stay in hospital with the precision of a military
exercise, Mr Reddin found that medical matters defy
organisation. It was discovered that he had high blood
pressure and this had to be brought under control.
He has now had the operation on his hip
but these delays mean that his return to school will be
later than expected. We wish him a speedy recovery
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Beacon
Bid Therfield has again
been invited to become a Beacon School - we are the only
Surrey secondary school to be so asked.
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| Achievement
We have always been
pleased to note the improvement in our examination and
test results year by year, so it is particularly
gratifying to have this recognised by the DFEE. We have
been awarded a School Achievement Award for substantially
improving our results across the board between 1997 and
2000.
The certificate is accompanied by an award
for £33,620 and words of congratulation from the
Minister of State for Education, Estelle Morris. The
Governors will decide how the money is to be spent
within strict guidelines issued by the DfEE.
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|
More
Good Results An
anxious queue of Sixth Formers could be found outside
the Examinations Office last week as they awaited
results from module exams taken last term. Happily, most
went away smiling and we are delighted with the results
so far received These results go towards the final 'A'
level grades following the Summer exams for Year 13.
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Academic
Tutoring The next
Academic Tutoring Day is Wednesday, 25th April - two
days after we return from the Easter holidays.
Students should ensure that
their targets from the last day are signed off before
then. Times of appointments will be sent out the week
before the Easter holidays. Attending the interview is
compulsory for all students. School uniform should be
worn.
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| Trust
Fund The Trustees would
like to express their sincere thanks for the generous
contributions to the Fund. Further responses to our last
mailing have enabled us to proceed with the proposed major
project - the leasing of 30 laptop computers. These should
be in school by June and will provide a welcome
educational resource for all Therfield pupils.
We still have not received any reply from
a significant minority of parents and will be sending
out reminders early next term. If you could respond in
the meantime it would save mailing costs and a
considerable amount of voluntary time and effort.
We do appreciate that some parents may not
wish to, or be able to, contribute, but we still need to
hear from you. The Trustees are researching further
projects to support from the Fund and welcome ideas from
parents.
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|
Mobile
Phones It is
recommended that students do not bring mobile phones in
to school. Students should not need to use them during
the day. Phones that are brought in may be damaged, lost
or used inappropriately in lessons.
In some cases parents wish
their son or daughter to have the phone with them in
case of emergencies on the way to or from school. If
this is the case, then the following points should be
noted:
-
Phones must be switched
off and put safely away before students enter
lessons or tutor time
-
If a student's phone is
seen or heard, for any reason, during lesson time it
will be confiscated. It will then have to be
collected from Head of Year at the end of the day.
-
A second offence will
mean that the phone will have to be collected by a
parent.
I am sure you appreciate how
distracting and disruptive mobile phones can be if they
are not switched off in lessons. Please encourage your
son or daughter to use his/her phone sensibly.
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| Help
for Parents Since the
introduction of our School Counselling Service a year ago
(which is run by Helen Riseborough) we recognise that this
is invaluable in giving help and support to youngsters who
are unhappy and worried by family break up and separation.
We are, therefore, considering holding an evening at
school bringing together a number of agencies that offer
help and support to parents caught up in such situations.
A letter will be going home next month
asking if you are interested in attending. The proposed
date is Thursday, 10th May and attendance will be
limited to parents only.
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|
School
Closure Friday, 30th
March is an INSET Day when pupils are not in school.
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|
Prayer
Group Dates for the
next Prayer Group meetings for Parents are Mondays, 14th
May and 25th June at 8pm at the school. Anyone wanting
more information or who would like to request a prayer,
should contact 01932 865476.
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|
Spring
Concert 2001 Tickets
are now on sale for this year's Spring Concert to be
held in the Main Hall on Thursday, 5th April at 8.00 pm
(please note change of time).
All of the school's major
ensembles, including choirs, orchestras and jazz bands
will be performing and the programme will include some
exciting solos by the senior musicians.
Tickets cost £3 for adults
and £1 for students and can be obtained from the School
Office.
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| Drama
Night The Year 13
students provided plenty of interest and enjoyment for an
audience of parents and friends when they presented a
programme of their Drama 'A' level work.
It is the turn of Year 12 students on 5th
April when they perform Euripides' Bacchae before an
invited audience, including the Board Examiner.
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| Sixth
Form Rag Days Friday
30th March sees the sponsored 'Break Out' as teams of
Sixth Formers seek to travel as far as they can in a day
on £5. A full programme of events is being run in school
and all proceeds go to the chosen charities - MacMillan
Nurses and Tadworth Court Children's Hospital.
If you see collecting boxes being rattled
in Leatherhead and Epsom, please be generous - the
collectors will be our Sixth Formers.
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| Oxbridge
Conference A group of 18
students visited the Wembley Conference Centre to hear
numerous presentations and workshops from Oxford and
Cambridge University tutors and students. A range of
subjects were introduced, from Medicine to Law to English,
and the students were enthused by much of what they saw.
There was also advice on interview
technique and many employers such as the Police, the
Army and financial institutions gave information about
sponsoring gap years and career opportunities. A day
well spent!
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|
USA
Visit Students who
went to the USA at half term are able to look back on a
highly enjoyable time and plans are afoot to persuade Ms
Roberts to repeat the visit in February 2003!
As well as taking in the
traditional tourist stops in New York, Philadelphia and
Washington the students revelled in the 'Rocky'
experience on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum
and had the rare experience of seeing inside both the
House of Representatives and the Senate.
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|
Congratulations
! Once again the Food
Technology department has a Year 9 student through to
the final stages of the Creda Cookery Challenge
competition. Clare Smith will be in
Birmingham next term preparing her exotic kedgeree
served with corn filled dropped scones before a panel of
judges. We wish Clare every success. She has already won
prizes for herself and a new cooker for the school.
Not to be outdone, the Design
Technology have kept up our formidable reputation in the
Arkwright Scholarships - Andrew Morris
and Collins Ekere, both in Year 11,
have won through to the interview stage of this very
competitive award, at Wellington College.
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Charity
Day At the special
request of pupils we held a Mufti Day and raised £782 for
Comic Relief funds.
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|
Hosts
Needed Ms Landsmann
would like to hear from parents who would welcome a
Spanish student as a paying guest from 23rd June to 21st
July 2001. Payment is £320 for the 4 week stay. More
information from Ms Landsmann, Head of Modern Languages.
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Tools
for Self Reliance We
have been asked to see if parents have any tools they no
longer need which could be sent to Africa where they will
be used in community projects. Such items as carpentry and
joinery tools, shoemaking and leatherworking and sewing
machines are needed but not gardening tools. The
numbers to approach are 01372 278527 or 01372 274276.
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| Careerline
Surrey Careers Service
has set up a new pilot project to provide immediate
telephone access to careers advice via a freephone
helpline 0800 587 0888 and email service careerline@vtis.com
It will be open from 10 am to 9 pm Monday
to Friday. It is scheduled to run from 1st March to 31st
August but this could be extended if it is widely used.
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|
Tokens
& Vouchers All
types of tokens, coupons and vouchers are gratefully
received and we also need empty ink cartridges to send
away for new software. Many thanks to all those who
collect on our behalf. Books for Schools have already
totalled 5,000 crisp tokens!
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| Sporting
News Well done to our
team who retained the Schools Trophy in the Tough Guy
Challenge. As well as members of staff mentioned
previously, Sixth Formers who took part were Leigh
Castleman, Adam Churchill, Roger Matthews, Matthew
Thomas, Chris Thompson, Tom Valentine plus
ex-student Jeremy Weeks.
Both our Year 7 and Year 9 teams are
through to the semi-finals of the County Cup in
football. Our very promising Year 7 squad are unbeaten
in Cup, League and friendlies!
Our Year 7/8 Rugby team had an excellent
win 22-17 against Reeds 2nd XV, a strong rugby playing
school.
Individual sportsmen and sportswomen
continue to excel:
- Christopher Langridge
has again been picked to represent England in a youth
Badminton tournament
- Emily Parker
represented Great Britain in the triple jump in an
international in France
- Year 7 pupil Matthew Dries
took gold to win the Southern Counties Novice Diving
competition
- Stuart Brian, Year 11,
has made it to the National Roller Hockey squad and
will be competing in Florida in July.
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Second
hand cars ! If anyone
has unwanted Matchbox type cars at home, could you please
donate them to the Science department for experimental
purposes. Mrs Wingrove is the teacher to contact.
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|
Help
Wanted After Easter we
shall need someone to serve tea/coffee for three
mornings a week in the Staffroom - term time only. The
hours usually work out between 10.30 am - 12.00 and the
pay is £8 per session. Anyone interested, please contact
the School Office.
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Messages
So far this term we have
received 380 messages for pupils - please restrict your
calls to important messages and understand that we cannot
interrupt lessons unless it is absolutely vital.
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| Marathon
Appeal Former pupil Jeremy
Weeks and Sixth Former Peter Butler
have been putting in the training miles recently in
preparation for running in the London Marathon on Sunday,
22nd April.
Jeremy is running for the British Heart
Foundation and Peter for SENSE, a charity devoted to
children who are both deaf and blind. Both would be
pleased to hear from parents who would consider
sponsoring them for these good causes.
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| Pupil
Post Letters you should
have received in March include:
Uniform Sale,
Spring Concert details
Y7 Visit to Westhumble
Y8/9 Belgium trip
Rag Week
Yl1 History Revision Guides.
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Issue 86 28th March 2001