| Dear Parents
On behalf of all the staff and
students at Therfield I wish you a very happy and peaceful
Christmas.
The period since my last newsletter
has been as hectic as ever and some of the major items of news
are included here.
STAFF CHANGES
The school has appointed a new Deputy Headteacher to replace Mr
Everington who retired in the summer. Our new Deputy Head is Mr
Robert Geary, presently Senior Teacher at Heathside School. We
look forward to his taking up his post at Easter.
Mrs Helen Banham, Head of Lower
School Science, has left to start a family and her place will be
taken by Kiss T Smith, currently on the Science staff at
Ashcombe School. We shall very such miss Mrs Banham's superb
contribution to the school. Also leaving at Christmas will be Kr
Greenaway.
Joining us in January will be Mrs D
Kirton who takes up her post as Head of the Department which
caters for those students who have special learning needs.
TERM'S EVENTS
Since last writing to you we have had pupils visiting
Flanders, the Spitting Image and Bodytalk Exhibitions,
and
all Year 8 pupils have attended a performance of A
Christmas Carol at the Thorndike Theatre.
Many of you will have seen our major
drama production, The Insect Play which was received
with much acclaim both by the audiences and also the Press.
Certainly it had some of the best acting I have seen in a school
production.
Our musicians have been working with
the London Sinfonietta Orchestra, culminating in a performance
at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Our Sixth Formers have just run a
party for over a hundred local senior citizens, all of whom went
home loaded with presents.
The Friends have run a very
successful Old Time Music Hall and Christmas Fair.
CYCLE HELMETS
I as very grateful to all those of you who responded to
my questionnaire on the issue of whether cycle helmets should be
compulsory for students cycling to and from school. 156 parents
agreed that they should be compulsory. 28 disagreed. Following a
similar vote in the School Council, it is my intention to sate
helmets compulsory from the February half-term.
Ideally I would want helmets worn
from Christmas but I recognise that in these times of recession,
the money is not always immediately available. Even so, if this
rule does still present a financial problem, please contact me
by letter and I will try to arrange a loan.
Whilst on the issue of cycles, I have
to report to you three expressions of concern by motorists who
have narrowly missed accidents with Therfield cyclists who had
no rear lights. Parents should ensure that students who cycle
can be clearly seen on these gloomy evenings.
PROSPECTIVE PARENTS' EVENING
Once again we were inundated with parents looking for
the appropriate place for their children's secondary education.
It seems that parents are coming even further away, with many
from Epsom, Tadworth, Hinchley Wood and even Molesey. If you
know of parents still undecided or recently moved into the area,
please refer them to us here at Therfield.
GERMAN EXCHANGE
For the first time we are taking Year 9 and 10 pupils
on an Exchange trip to Bergisch-Gladbach in June 1992. We will
be visiting Cologne and Bonn as well as going up the Drachenfels
that overlooks the Rhine. The German pupils will come to
Leatherhead in September of next year.
Such an exchange visit is an
invaluable experience and gives our pupils far greater
confidence in their ability to communicate in German. We hope
that no-one misses this opportunity. Any student who seriously
wants to get a good grade at GCSE should be involved in the
Exchange. If you want your son/daughter to take part but are
worried about finance, or receiving a German student into your
home, please contact re at the school.
MUSIC AT THERFIELD
The Music department receives a great deal of help and
support from parents during the year. Mr Pratt would like to
hear from any parent who would be interested in forming a small
committee to advance the cause of musical performance within the
school and the groups that undertake it. Likely tasks would be
organising and helping with the "front of house" activities for
concerts; organising and running Music specific fund-raising
activities when necessary; providing valuable feedback to the
teachers on the concerns and ambitions of the many young
musicians within the school.
THE CAROL SERVICE
Each year the school organises a service of lessons and
carols at St George's Church, Ashtead. This year's event will
take place on Monday 16th December at 7.30 pm. Everyone will be
most welcome to attend. You are advised to arrive early as, of
course, one cannot book "the good seats" in a church. We expect
that it will be over by 8.45 pm, so please come and bring "all
the younger brothers and sisters"!
END OF TERM ARRANGEMENTS
As is traditional, school will close at 1.00 on
Thursday 19th December, following a morning of Assemblies and
Staff Pantomime.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
8 Jan. : First day of new term for students.
8 Jan. : Presentation Eveninq with Mr Roqer Uttley OBE, former
England rugby player, and coach of the World Cup team.
29 Jan. : Parents' Evening for Year 11 (Fifth Form) pupils to
discuss the options available to students who wish to continue
their studies.
5 Feb. : Parents' Evening for lower Sixth CPVE students and
Upper Sixth A Level students.
17-21 Feb inclusive : Half Term,
26 Feb : Year 9 (Third Form) Parents' Evening to brief parents
about subject option choices.
2/3 Mar : Parents' Evenings for Year 9 parents to discuss
options with tutors.
18 Mar : Year 10 (Fourth Form) Parents' Evening.
9 Apr : Last day of Spring Term for students.
28 Apr : Summer Term starts.
Yours sincerely,
TJ Reddin
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