Questionnaire
My thanks to all of you
who responded to the School Vision and Aims
questionnaire. Overall, the responses were very positive.
I will be taking the issues that you have raised back to
staff and governors. A summary of your responses is set
out below:-
| |
Vision
Statement
To be
the best |
Aims
for
Learning |
Aims
for Achievement |
Aims
for the Community |
| Very
Happy |
55%
|
72% |
64% |
60%
|
| Generally
Happy |
39% |
27%
|
36% |
39% |
| Unhappy |
6% |
1% |
0% |
1% |
My thanks also to those Year 7 parents who
were able to join us for the Friends of
Therfield Wine and Cheese Evening. I think
that everyone there enjoyed the opportunity to meet
other parents of Year 7 students and to hear
presentations from Mr Geary on the Key
Stage 3 strategy and Mr Thomas on the
High Ashurst activity days. I am very grateful
to the Friends for all the time and effort they put into
organising the event.
I would welcome any ideas that parents might
have for topics for future events.
|
End
of Term School will
close at 1pm on Thursday, 20th December. Coach companies
have been told and students will be informed of any change
to times
|
| Therfield
School Trust Fund Mr
David Crutchley, chairman, writes:
'A very sincere thank you to all who have
already made a donation to the Fund this term. We are in
the process of researching projects we wish to support
this school year and will, of course, let parents know
the outcome.
Of course, in order to turn wishes into
reality we need funds and these can only come from the
donations of parents. If you have not yet responded this
term would you please do so as soon as possible. Giving
through the Government's Gift Aid Scheme adds
an extra 28p to every pound you donate.
We fund items and projects that cannot
possibly be bought out of the very tight school budget
and we know that these provide genuine added value to
the educational experience of all our students. We will
shortly report on the use being made of the items the
Fund purchased during the last school year'.
|
| Happy
Marketing A team of
Sixth Formers put their business and marketing skills to
the test when they took part in a competition organised by
Surrey Satro to promote a special facility at
Gatwick Airport.
Ten other schools took up the challenge
and Therfield's team of James Molyneux,
Antony Todino, Holly
Cunningham, Penny Alexander,
Neel Patel, Chris Langridge,
Kathna Manuel and Vicky
Walton came away with the shield and a
cheque of £100 for the school. They were given four
hours to prepare a presentation and impressed the judges
with their ideas on how facilities at Gatwick could be
improved for families.
|
Carols
for Christmas St.
George's Christian Centre in Barnett Wood Lane, Ashtead
will be the venue for this year's Carol Service on December
17th at 7.30 pm. This is a wonderful
opportunity to hear the choir and join in with many of the
traditional carols. Tickets are not required but please
come early, join in and stay for coffee afterwards.
|
| Maths
Challenge An impressive
number of volunteer mathematicians from the Sixth Form
took part in the Senior UK Maths Challenge. Mrs
Cox was delighted to have 37 students taking up the
challenge - and even more pleased with the results.
Therfield received two gold, four silver
and twelve bronze awards, representing a return of 49%
compared with the national average of 40.3%. Adam
Baxter with a startling 100 marks goes on to
represent Therfield in the next stage, the British
Maths Olympiad.
Howard Ebison also won
gold, with Sarah Waldman, Hannah
Poole, Alex Christie and Collins
Ekere gaining silver. Bronze certificates
went to Ed Austin, Adam
Harwood, Nick Reeves, Claire
Menni, Andrew Matkin, lan
Lyszyk, Geoff Cousins, Tom
Rippin, Nikhil Mehra, Andrew
Morris, Rachel Stamper and
Dan Richards. Missing out by only one
mark was Emily Parker who, because she
was going on a school visit, had only 50 minutes instead
of 90 to complete the paper.
The UK Maths Challenge attracts
entries from schools all over the country - state,
grammar and independent - and sets a very high standard
of mathematical thinking, reasoning and problem solving.
|
Good
work Thanks to the hard
work and dedication of a group of Year 10 students, a
donation of £500 has been sent to World Vision,
a Christian charitable foundation which gives aid to
unfortunate children in the Third World.
|
| On
stage Daniel
Bickerdike in Year 9 will be performing the
title role in a new play, Charlie Lavender at
the Southwark Playhouse during December and January.
Daniel has just completed playing the part of Jan in The
Silver Sword at the Polka Theatre, Wimbledon. This
is a new musical play, directed by Jeremy James-Taylor of
the National Youth Music Theatre.
Rachael Brazier (Year 10)
will be appearing in Peter Pan at the Secombe
Theatre, Sutton from 1st - 26th January 2002.
|
Arkwright
Award Collins
Ekere (Year 12) is our latest scholar for this
top award and received recognition at a ceremony held at
the Royal Aeronautical Society, London earlier this month.
Collins will receive funding to help his Advanced level
studies while in the Sixth Form and a similar amount is
donated to the Technology department.
more on Arkwright
Awards
|
| A
Lively Evening! A visit
to the Albert Hall to hear - and see Classical
Spectacular certainly lived up to its billing for Mrs
Gifford (Music) and nine Year 13 students. Mrs
Gifford writes:
'we were not too sure what awaited us as
we climbed to our seats in 'the Gods' complete with a
good supply of Union Jacks for Land of Hope and
Glory and Rule Britannia. We had a good
view and were well out of harm's ways for the finale -
musket fire, rockets and fireworks.'
'The programme featuring the Band of the
Welsh Guards, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and
Choir took us through many familiar pieces - The
Stars and Stripes, Nessum Dorma and Bolero,
building to the climax of the 1812 Overture
for which a special group of Russian Moscow Militia
provided a memorable finale. It was a memorable, happy,
noisy and enjoyable evening'.
|
School
Catering Assistants We
have had some response to our previous notice but help is
still needed. If you are interested in term time only
work, please contact the Catering Manager on 01372 375089.
|
Mock
Exams So as to give
students some realistic practice under examination
conditions, Year 11 students have their Mock GCSE exams
from 5th - 14th December. Parents should have received a
letter setting out study leave arrangements and exam
timetable. Most students also plan to shake off the
tensions of exams by attending the glamorous Year
11 Ball on Friday 14th December.
|
| Modern
Languages Students in
Years 9 and 10 have the opportunity to take part in German
and French Exchanges next year. The German Exchange is now
full but if 'pupil post' has failed and you are interested
in your son/daughter taking part in the French Exchange, Mrs
Collins would be pleased to hear from you
before the list is closed.
Grade Booster sessions and Conversation
Classes in readiness for GCSE are open to Year 11
language students. Again, details have been sent home.
|
Science
& Mysteries Mrs
Stephen has set up a new Science Club for Years
7 and 8. Inviting them to come along and 'Investigate the
Mysteries of the Universe', it takes place on Thursday
lunchtimes.
|
Drama
Evening Year 13 Drama
students performed two devised pieces to an audience of
ninety in the Drama Studio on November 8th. The pieces, Love
ls and The Misgiven Orange explored,
through physical theatre, ensemble work, music and
monologues, the issues of romance and communication. It
was an evening to make you think and also admire the
skills of the students.
|
My
Fair Lady The seventy
four GCSE Drama students who attended a performance of My
Fair Lady at Drury Lane on November 21st were the
envy of many back at school. With Jonathan Pryce as Henry
Higgins they saw a marvellous production which proved the
truth of the old saying that, very often, 'the old ones
are the best' - not least because this production showed
that musicals can also include good dialogue and raise
some interesting social issues. All those who attended
voted it a very enjoyable - and useful - visit.
|
Keep
collecting Thank you to
everyone who has sent in Nestlé box tops (found on the top
of cereal packets). Each one is worth 10p to the school.
If we send off those we have collected to date by 20th
December we get a bonus - so please send in now
any tops you have at home. Collection points
are in the Resource Centre or Learning Support Department.
|
Cartridges
wanted The ICT
department are still very keen to receive any empty inkjet
cartridges from printers. These can be sent away for
recycling and provide useful income for the school.
|
Mufti
Day Collections realised
£460 which will go to victims of September 11th and the
Afghan Refugees.
|
| Some
requests Please, please
see that all clothing, bags, property has a name on it -
this is the only way we can return items. We had a special
cupboard built to house lost property and it is already
full - we do not have the space to keep items for ever.
Also, money brought in to school needs to
be in a sealed envelope and clearly labelled as to its
destination.
Finally, forgotten books, lunches etc must
be collected from the Office, as it is not possible to
keep interrupting classes for such deliveries.
|
Talks
about teenagers Some
ideas on how to live happily with teenagers are being
offered at a series of meetings at Leatherhead Clinic in
January. Contact Kathy Pellatt (020 8394 1081) if you
would like to know more. The meetings run for six weeks
and start on 23rd January 2002, 7.30 - 9.30 pm
|
Concert
The première concert for
Kahuna featuring former pupil, Tim Boniface on
sax, will be held at St George's Christian Centre, Ashtead
on 14th December at 7.30 pm. More details from 01372
374092.
|
| Sports
round-up In Football
we have Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 teams through to the
last sixteen of the County Cup. The Year 10s are defending
the title they won last year.
The Junior Boys won their group in the
district Cross Country and we have ten
runners in the County trials.
Rugby is well supported
with about forty boys attending for coaching and some
tournaments to come.
Basketball started after
half term with some good early results in the League.
Gymnastics continues to
flourish with the U15s practising hard for a Floor and
Vault competition on 8th December.
An Inter Tutor Group Hockey
competition for Year 9s was won by 9JLN. Similar events
are planned for Years 7 and 8.
|
Reminder
Saturday 2 o'clock sees
the opening of the Friends' Christmas Bazaar
which is always a popular event in the December calendar.
Gift stalls, games and activities will be featured -
admission free for students.
|
Issue 93 30th November 2001