THERFIELD SCHOOL
HEADMASTER'S NEWSLETTER
Christmas 1989

On behalf of the staff at Therfield I am writing to wish you a very happy Christmas and also to bring you up to date with news from the school. The pace of life certainly seems to get faster and this last term has been no exception. Some of the major events of the term include our exchange visit with pupils in Denmark, the Third Year trip to the World War One Battlefields; all Fifth Form pupils have completed a week out of school on work experience, and large amounts of money have been raised for charity. We have had the benefit of a professional writer working with some of our younger pupils and more recently a very successful Fifth Form Ball and a splendid evening of music, art, drama and gymnastics organised by the Creative Arts Faculty.

I think we are now all looking forward to the Christmas holiday.

STAFF CHANGES
We are very sorry to be losing five of our staff.
Mrs. D. Coppard (Head of Faculty of Science & Technology) has been promoted to Head of Sixth Form at St. Andrew's School. Mrs. Coppard has been at Therfield for ten years.
Miss J. Hodgkinson (Head of Drama) moves to a promotion at Hayes Manor School. Miss Hodgkinson has made an enormous impact on school Drama and will be remembered by many parents for productions like The Matchgirls, Genesis Roadshow and Guys and Dolls.
Mrs. A. Hunt (Head of Geography) is moving to Suffolk where she takes up a post in Educational Administration.
Miss K. Addis is moving to be teacher of French at Hipperholme Grammar School, near Halifax.
Miss J. Woodcock after a period of illness has sadly had to resign.

To each of them we wish every success and happiness for the future.

New appointments to the staff from the beginning of January:
Mrs. B. Axten (Head of Drama)
Ms. B. Phelps (Drama and Art)
Mrs. M. Gale (Home Economics)
Mrs. L. Bryant (Geography)
Mrs. J. McKenzie (French and German)
Mrs. C. Thomas (French)
Mrs. E. Landen (French)

We have also appointed Mrs. M. Laker as Bursar for the school. Mrs. Laker will be responsible for the administration of the school's budget of £1.6 million which we take responsibility for in April.

BUILDING DEVELOPMENTS
The new Library Resource Centre is now scheduled for building from February. Our flat roofs are currently being repaired, (yet again!) and we have been notified that significant improvements to the school's woefully inadequate administration accommodation will be carried out some time after April.

ROAD SAFETY
I would like to draw your attention to a problem which causes me great anxiety at this time of year. It has been brought to my attention that many pupils have no lights on their bicycles. This was especially dangerous during the recent severe fogs and also during the very dull weather and early winter sunset.

Permission to ride to school is conditional on pupils having roadworthy and safe cycles. The law requires a rear reflector at all times and working front and rear lights after lighting-up times. It is also advised for cyclists to wear reflective bands.

I have spoken with the local police about this, as I am very worried that we may soon have a serious, possibly fatal accident. Checks will be mounted in the new year and parents informed if cycles do not meet minimum standards. Failure to rectify the situation will mean that permission to cycle to school will be withdrawn. I do hope that you will support me on this matter.

PRESENTATION EVENING
We had planned our Presentation Evening for just after Christmas and Sir Brian Rix was to have been our Guest of Honour. Unfortunately he has had to withdraw and this has meant our evening will now take place just before Easter.

REQUESTS FOR HELP
The Staffroom Association is looking for someone to prepare and serve morning coffee and tea to staff twice a week. Hours: approx. 10.20 - 11.30 a.m. Fay: t5.00 per session. Days: negotiable.Please contact the school office.

Secondhand BBC Computers The Science Department urgently needs two more of these. Please let Mr. Pitt know if you have one available - price to be negotiated.

Laboratory Technician (temporary) One of our technicians will be on sick leave for several months from early in the New Year. If you would be willing to take up a part-time appointment and would like further details of what is involved please contact the school office or Mr. Pitt.

Design & Technology As we develop the Design and Technology department (especially at GCSE and A Level) there are several areas where we would appreciate your help:

1. We are establishing within the department a "mini museum" of good and bad design of any small(ish), very possibly domestic, items for which you have no further use at work or home. These items will be used by us to demonstrate progression in Design Technology and/or failings in earlier designs. The internal mechanisms may well have ceased to work. By way of example: Wolf electric drills (heavy with metal casings), early bakelite transistor radios, toasters where the "doors" opened downwards (exposing the elements), hairdryers (often dull in colour) etc. etc.

2. Examples of past or current technological industrial practice, for example: components fashioned through spark erosion, dies for plastic or metal, items which have failed in use through design or material failure etc.

3. We are always looking for surplus or redundant consumables which we otherwise have to buy with our limited funds. These include: circuit boards, reed switches, relays, solenoids, transistors, resistors, Ldrs, capacitors, diodes + light emitting, switches, dc motors, nuts, bolts (metric), glasspaper etc., etc.

Please contact Mr. de Little.

I am very grateful for the many ways parents have helped and supported the school this term. All of us on the teaching staff are encouraged by this as we seek to provide the best possible service to our young people.

Happy Christmas!

Yours sincerely,
TJ Reddin

attachment : Personal & Social Education