Thought for the Week
Assemblies w/b 18th September
Theme: Peace: (Links with 21st being international day of peace)
Assemblies will be led by Mr Brunt
Thought for the Week
“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dates for your diary
7.00pm 18th Sept PTA
18th-21st Sept House Cross Country
22nd Sept Bring a Pound Day
28th Sept Year 10 English information evening for parents
4th October 6.30pm Year 9 Open Evening TAHS
10th October Year 12 Open Evening TAHS
17th October Year 5 Open Evening Ryecroft Middle School
18th October Year 5 Open Evening Windsor Park Middle School
19th October Year 5 Open Evening Oldfields Middle School
19th October TAHS SEN parents evening
Head Teacher’s Blog
Incredible talent in our midst:
At the weekend I love to go cycling in the Peak District and can completely understand why the sport has become so popular after the performance of our British cycling team in the Olympics. I cycle however purely as a hobby.
It is only over the last couple of months that I have become aware of the incredible talent that Josie and Lucy Nelson have in the sport of cycling.
On the 9th September Josie and Lucy both came 2nd in their age groups in the Welsh National Circuit Championships. Josie also came 2nd in the British National Cross County Mountain Biking Championship in July. Lucy has been undeterred by a knee injury and after 18 months off her bike returned to competition this Summer and was placed in the top 10 in the UK for her age group.
What is most inspiring about both Lucy and Josie is that they appear to balance their lives so well. Despite gruelling training schedules Josie managed 100% attendance last year and both girls continue to do well in their studies at school.
They are an inspiration.
Similarly in Derby this week you may have seen that 3 of our sixth form students performed in West Side Story at Derby Theatre.
Head boy Ryan, who is currently studying ICT, Drama and English, took the lead as Tony.
The review below gives us an indication of how special the performance was.
”This is the first full theatre production that I’ve seen for well over a month, due to the theatre season pause, and this company re awakened my love for this wonderful, and very energetic musical. It actually left me quite drained of emotion because of the emotion these actors put into their performances.
Tony is played by Ryan Wiggins, a young actor I’ve seen on several occasions. He fits this role so well; he’s good looking and has that “boy next door” attitude which is just what Tony should be. He also has the most wonderful voice with such range. I’ve seen Ryan’s Raoul, and that that was good; this performance bettered that. His control, especially in his falsetto, was spine tinglingly magical.
Tony’s “Juliet” is Maria, sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks, and played by the lovely Mia Mitchell. Having met Mia a few weeks ago, I knew what a gorgeously talented teenager she is. What I hadn’t been aware of was what a beautiful voice she owns. Crystal clear and those notes just flow effortlessly from her mouth. These two, Ryan and Mia, are a theatrical match made in heaven.”
Like Josie and Lucy, Ryan manages to balance his commitments outside school, his academic studies with his work as our Head boy. He is clear about his ambitions and we wish him all the best in achieving these.
We know that we do not have the chance to celebrate all of our students’ achievements outside school as sometimes we are simply not aware of their success. If your son or daughter has been successful on the track, field, in dance, poetry, drama or music please let us know.
Equally if they are one of those very special young people who are young carers or who volunteer for charity work we would love to recognise the contributions they make to our community.
Lucy will race again at the end of September in Holland and will complete against the World Champion Kirsten Wilde whilst Josie will be competing in the British inter regional championships at the end of the month. We wish them all the best for their races.
This week Mrs Wheildon has been auditioning for Woman in Black which I know will be a wonderful treat for us all just before Christmas. To be honest I can’t wait to see their version of this ghost story.
Ryan in West Side Story
A round of applause for BTEC Health & Social Care Students
MFL Revision
Year 11 are starting their revision in earnest. Revision sessions are already underway in many subjects. The times for revision sessions in languages are below.
French and German vocabulary and grammar revision will be held in room 25 at 1.20 on Tuesday lunchtimes
French and German speaking and writing support will be on Friday at 3.10 in room 10 or room 23 starting week beginning 18th September.
Finally
Look out for the European day of Language competition -“j’ai un rêve” coming next week.
MFL department
From your pastoral team:
Attendance update – holidays in term time
On 6 April 2017, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously against the father who had won an earlier legal battle in relation to a fine imposed following a term-time holiday taken without permission.
The Magistrates’ Court and the High Court had previously decided that the father had no case to answer because his daughter had attended school regularly, in that her attendance was over 90% for the academic year to date as at the end of the period of unauthorised absence.
The Supreme Court however disagreed, stating that ‘regularly’ did not mean ‘evenly spaced’ or ‘sufficiently often’ but instead ‘in accordance with attendance rules’. A leave of absence may only be granted by the school in exceptional circumstances (Education Regulations 2006.)
The most common response to an unauthorised leave of absence is a fixed penalty notice, which is issued in Staffordshire by the local authority, depending on the local code of conduct, and which has a £60/£120 limit ( per parent / per child), depending on when the fine is paid. If the fine is paid then no further action is necessary. The Staffordshire Code of Conduct for issuing a penalty notice can be found at: https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/education/welfareservice/ Attendance/home.aspx
Please do not hesitate to contact bus in school with any enquiries.
Our school attendance policy is also available for all parents and carers on our website, http://www.thomasalleynes.uk
Sexual Health Week 11-17th September
Should a young person require advice about sexual health the school nurse team had advised Staffordshire schools on the website http://www.fpa.org.uk/SHW17
Sixth form update
The assembly this week is about change from Year 11 and GCSE to Year 12 and A Levels and how to deal with the pressures that this may bring. Mr Wright explained that it is useful to find an outlet and that a positive attitude and acceptance of change will allow each person to deal with the transitions. It is also advised that if your son or daughter is finding the change from GCSE’s to A Level’s difficult then they should speak to their subject teachers sooner rather than later.
Please can we remind parents that all visitors must sign it at reception if they need to speak to a member of the Sixth Form Team. This will allow the correct person of contact to be notified and allow us to deal with your query more efficiently.
Reminder parking: Students are encouraged to park in the B&Q carpark as we are not able to have student cars on site during the school day.
Engineering apprenticeship opportunity
We have been given notice of an exciting event which allows all budding engineers to see first-hand what an Apprenticeship in Engineering would be like.
Insight Parental Logins
A reminder that you as parents have access to the Insight website, thomasalleynes.org where staff set homework for your child. You also have access to a multitude of other information regarding school, timetables, reports, parents evening books to name but a few.
Emails regarding logging in will be sent to all year 9 parents for whom the school holds a valid email address requesting you to access your account. This is also available as an app on The App Store and Google Play Store. Simply search TASC Insight.
Any issues please email insight@tahs.org.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Whole School Charity Event – Friday 22nd September – Dougie Mac Hospice Bring a Pound Day.
During registration on the morning of the 22nd September the 6th Form Charity respresentatives will be visiting the form groups to collect the £1’s. £570 was raised in just 20 minutes during registration time last year. We are looking to top that amount this year.
Please be advised that this is NOT a non uniform day, simply bring £1.
RE Key Words
Don’t miss the new key word display in RE.
Science News
This week Mr Gilson’s Year 11 Biology groups have been exploring how the characteristics of offspring are inherited from their parents. The students constructed ‘Reebop’ models; which are imagined animals, made from marshmallows, pipe cleaners, pins and cocktail sticks.
Reebobs have 16 chromosomes (in 8 homologous pairs) in their body cells. The practical is intended to illustrate meiosis – the two stage process of cell division that reduces the chromosome number of daughter cells thereby forming the gametes or sex cells.
Students work in pairs – one student has a set of ‘mum’s chromosomes’ and another student a set of ‘dad’s chromosomes’; the genetic make-up of the ‘New’ offspring is randomly selected.
Once the genotype (genetic make-up) of the offspring has been determined, the students build their offspring to achieve the phenotype (what the offspring actually looks like).
Students then place their ‘baby Reebop’ into the crèche and discuss the differences between each of the Reebop offspring and the differences with their Reebop parents.
The lesson illustrates the way in which meiosis is responsible for the tremendous variation in offspring in any species.
This week’s Science Students of the Week selected by Mr Milward are:
Year 9
Isobel Watts and Martha Murray
Year 10
Tara Wilkins and Anton Davidson
Year 11
Chloe Clayton and Elliot Jones
All students have been selected for their good start to the academic year and continued hard work
This week’s Environmental Land Based Science Students of the Week selected by Mrs North are:
Tom Cooper and Heather Cockeram for extra work on their course work
This week’s Animal Care Students of the Week selected by Mrs North are:
Rosie Howe, Tara Wilkins and Courtney Bogacki for an excellent start to Animal Care on stock duties
Well done!
PTA AGM
Our PTA will be holding their AGM on 18th September at 7.00pm. They would welcome new members. If you could join them please come to school reception at 7.00pm. The annual quiz is to be held on the 6th October. We always have a great night and hope you can join us.
Year 12 Enrichment
Some pictures of year 12 Enrichment presenting their ideas on how Enrichment lessons can contribute towards their learning and development through the 6th form.
They can follow many routes including EPQ (Extended Project Qualification),
completing a series of MOOC’s (Massive Open Online Courses) and even use the time to develop a Learning Passport.
Click on the link below to find out more about EPQ!
School Gateway App
Have you downloaded the school gateway App yet?
This is free app that is linked to our school communications system and has many benefits:
- The school can send you text messages for free via the app. You still get a notification on your phone.
- You can reply for free!
So download it now and save both of us money!
You will simply need your email and mobile phone number as held by the school to register on the app & it then sends you an access code. If you have issues logging in please email schoolcomms@tahs.org.uk stating:
- Your name & relationship to the child
- Child’s name
- Child’s tutor group
- Child’s DOB
- The email address and mobile number you wish to use
We will then update our records and the app will work.
PE News
Old Art/Photo work collection date
Old year 13 Fine Art/Photography/Applied Art and year 11 GCSE work can be collected on Wednesday 11th October 2017 between 3:30-5:30pm as previously noted. Mr Robinson and Mrs Derby will be around to help
However, Old Y11 Art GCSE work can now ALSO be collected on TUEDAY 17th October 2017 3:30-5:30pm Mrs Cornell will be available.
If you cannot come in person to collect your work, please send a note with a family member or friend to collect on your behalf.
Please note that some work will be retained by the Art Department for the impressive displays in the art rooms and around school. Also the AQA exam board may have requested examples too.
Any work NOT collected or on display will be disposed of- Don’t miss out!
Careers
Don’t forget to check out the new careers page on tahsroundup.wordpress.com
New this week a link to a fantastic website all about the apprenticeship program.
Reminder to parents
In case of an emergency with your child, especially for our new school year
Links
Follow the links to; School Website, Facebook, Twitter & our Online Shop
Thomas Alleyne's high school 