Thought for the Week
Assemblies w/b 11th December
All House assemblies will be led by their respective Head of House on the theme of ‘Celebration’
During these assemblies students will be reminded that on the last day of term (Tuesday 19th) it is an optional Christmas jumper day. Students who wear a jumper are asked to contribute £1. If wearing a Christmas jumper they will not be expected to wear a blazer. This will be split equally between a local foodbank and the funding of counselling for Thomas Alleyne’s students who are experiencing any emotional difficulties
Thought for the Week
‘The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate’
Dates for your diary
Headteacher blog:
This evening I will attend the final night of our school production of Woman in Black. The work of the staff and students has been truly inspiring. They have given us a wonderful, challenging and thoroughly professional piece of theatre.
When I look back at my own school years, I have precious memories of being part of the backstage crew in our school production of The Tempest, completing my Duke of Edinburgh Award and playing in school sports teams. I could not have done any of these without the staff who gave up their time and my parents who supported me.
I know that all of the young people who performed or supported tonight will remember this production as a highlight of their school life.
They have worked incredibly hard, formed bonds between each other which will last and have developed skills of teamwork, resilience and creativity.
Thank you to everyone involved but especially to Mrs Wheildon, Mrs Fletcher and Mrs Krausse.
It has been our privilege to be able to be your audience!
Could you have a hidden talent for cyber security?
Cyber Discovery, HM Government’s Cyber Schools Programme, is an extracurricular learning programme for students in years 10-13 across England. Its goal is to ensure that many more people enter the cyber security profession in the coming years.
If you are in year 10 – 13 and interested please click here:
https://www.joincyberdiscovery.com
Last Day of Term
School will close for students at 3.05pm on Tuesday 19th December. Students can wear Christmas jumpers on the last day. Please donate a £1 and all monies will be donated to a local food bank and YESS counselling services for TAHS students.
School will re-open for students on Thursday 4th January 2018.
Think You Know?
News from the Farm
Last week saw the arrival of our first batch of piglets. Our sow gave birth to 11 healthy piglets and despite the cold weather they are all doing very well. During vet skills on Wednesday, yr10 students watched as the vet showed them how to castrate the male piglets, a process which is necessary on small holdings where we keep all our pigs together. They then learnt how to check the other sow to see when she is due to farrow (give birth). They found it a fascinating, if not slightly unnerving, experience.
Year 10 Animal Care students have also been very busy preparing turkeys and wreaths ready for Christmas – there are still a few large turkeys for sale and wreaths can be made to order. Please email the farm manager on allenm@tahs.org.uk if you are interested.’
The Sixth Form are eagerly anticipating ‘Donut Day’, which is Friday 15th, these can be pre-ordered on ParentPay and a link has been set up for each student if you wish to purchase them. Why not get some bought home to share over a cup of tea, all money goes to Dougie Mac and another fund raising idea that the Senior Prefects are working hard on is the ‘Snow Ball’ which will be held on Tuesday 19th, all money raised from this event supports their Sixth Form Leavers events that they organise themselves. They are committed to making this event the best yet.
We have seen an abundance of UCAS forms being checked and sent this week, the enthusiasm among the students is increasing and we hope to get the majority completed by next Friday. Please ensure that all have made an appointment with the Form Tutor or Sixth Form Team member to ensure that suitable time is allocated to check through it and for it to be sent.
Those that have applied for competitive courses have been invited for interviews over this past week at Oxford and we have some interviews coming up next week for Cambridge, and an abundance of other prestigious universities offering conditional places to the 40 that have applied so far.
Remember that the 6th Form application deadline for Year 11’s is Friday 5th Jan 2018.
Busy in Music!
The Music Department Christmas Concert is this Wednesday 13th December at 7pm. Tickets are available from the online shop, or see Mrs Todd directly.
The pupils have been working incredibly hard as they always do! Please come along and enjoy the annual festive celebration.
A reminder about rehearsals tomorrow (Saturday 9th December)
Choir 10 until 12
String ensemble 12.15 to 12.45
Wind Band 1.30 to 2.30
Rehearsals are in room 67, the main music classroom.
Rehearsals are also taking place all day on Wednesday in the theatre;
Period 1 Wind Band
Period 2 String and Jazz Band
Period 3 and 4; solos, duets, small groups
Period 5 Choir
Snow information; Rehearsals on Saturday will go ahead unless it is unsafe to do so and we get more snow than currently expected. If for any reason there is a problem, I will put a notice on the School Facebook page.
Thank you to all the pupils and parents for their continued support. As always, I’m very excited about the concert and I’m looking forward to seeing you all there!
Safeguarding
Online Safety
The impact of social media can be amazing – the promotion of events, the re-connection with friends from times past and the sharing of memories – are all fantastic ways of communicating.
Unfortunately social media is not always used in such a positive way.
Advice regarding uploading pictures:
Only upload pictures that you’d be happy for a parent to see (the internet is a public place). Don’t post pictures of you or your friends wearing school uniform (this lets people know where you will be). Tick the “no pic forwarding” option on your settings page – this will stop people forwarding your pictures to anyone without your consent. Who are you communicating with? Do you know? Do you really know?? Have you met them? If you know someone… who knows someone… who knows someone….. it doesn’t make them your friend.
Advice for students:
What you put on social media sites is there forever. Consider the information you share – you don’t know who your friend’s friends are… or your friend’s friends’ friends… Be aware that information on your profile could potentially be viewed by anyone. Consider you photo – what info does it give about you? Understand the meaning of ‘joint enterprise’ Be aware that university admissions and employers WILL check your internet activity.
Students/Parents & carers please visit https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/ for further information
Reminder to parents
In the event of an emergency with your child, have you got a new phone number (especially mobile)? Have you moved? Has there been a change in your circumstances? Has there been a change regarding any medical information for your son or daughter?
If so, it is vital that you alert school so we can change the details on our system. Please contact school as soon as possible.
thanks
Hoodies/Sweatshirts
Now that the weather is turning colder can we please remind students and parents that hoodies and sweatshirts should not be worn in school as part of our uniform policy.
We would really appreciate your support with this.
Christmas Lunch
Our annual Christmas Lunch will be served in the canteen on Wednesday 13th December – now who will Santa’s little helpers be this year on the servery?
Science News
This week’s Science Students of the Week selected by Mr Beech are:
Year 9
Joshua Newbon and Mia Ashcroft for excellent work in chemistry
Year 10
Danielle Ashmore and Jemima Pope for excellent assessment scores in biology
Year 11
Wanicha Promrak and Alexander Hylton for consistent effort in science
This week’s BTEC Animal Care Students of the Week selected by Mr Gilson are:
Lorten for masterfully weighing the enormous turkeys that even the big lads couldn’t manage! Some weighed above 15kg! And for producing a lovely Christmas Wreath Harry for all round excellent practical skills
This week’s Environmental Land Based Science Students of the Week also selected by Mr Gilson are:
Jemma and Libby for wanting to finish their course work to the best of their abilities
Well done!
Teaching and Learning
On 11/12/17 Thomas Alleyne’s Staff will be meeting as Teaching and Learning Communities for the second time this year. Over the last two years, the school has been part of a prestigious national research project focusing on the effectiveness of Assessment for Learning. The project ended in July this year, but we have chosen to continue working in Teaching and Learning Communities in order to apply the skills we have developed to areas such as meeting the needs of the most able students.
Summer 2017 Exam Certificates
News from PE
Under 16 Netball
Girls Rugby
Careers
Don’t forget to check out the new careers page on tahsroundup.wordpress.com
UPDATED PAGE TO BE SENT OUT ON MONDAY
Links
Follow the links to; School Website, Facebook, Twitter & our Online Shop
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