Dates for your diary
03/10/18 – Y9 Open evening
11/10/2018 – Post 16 Open Evening
16/10/2018 – Y11 Core Subjects Revision Evening
24/10/2018 – Y9 Tutor Evening
w/c 29/10/18 – Half term
05/11/2018 – Inset day
09/11/2018 – PTA Quiz night details below
20/11/2018 – Y13 Parents Evening
29/11/2018 – Y11 Parents Evening
20/12/2018 – Last day of term
21/12/2018 – Inset Day
Headteacher blog:
This week, our staff have hosted our first revision session to support parents as Year 11 enter their final GCSE year. Whilst the turn out for the session was not as high as we would have hoped, the feedback was very positive. We will make sure we advertise these evenings better for parents in future.
Our next event, for Year 11 students and parents, is on the 16th October when we will be sharing revision tips for our core subjects. Every year, parents feedback to us how useful they have found the evening. I do hope you are able to join us, when we share, what your sons and daughters will be working on over the next few months. Parents of any other year group are welcome to attend as much of the information will be relevant to all year groups.
In addition to the revision session, thank you to all the parents who came to our Year 12 induction session. It was excellent to see so many people present on the evening.
Year 12 have settled in well to the sixth form, and chatting with them today, it was excellent to hear how much they are enjoying the opportunity to focus their study on their 3 or 4 chosen A levels or BTEC qualifications. Many of them are in well established habits, already utilising their study periods to read widely around their subjects, so that they can attain the higher grades.
I am very much looking forward to our open evening next week and to meeting Year 8 students from our middle schools. Following that, on 11th October, we have our Year 12 open evening when our year 11 students can start thinking about which subjects they wish to study post 16.
Finally my thanks to Mr Wright who organised staff coffee and cake at break time today to raise money for MacMillan.
On Thursday evening many parents of Year 12 students joined myself and Mrs Dodd for an informal guide to the Sixth Form. Mrs Dodd explained about expectation, enrichment, EPQ’s, charity work and much more. We would like to reiterate some of the point raised last night to parents of Year 12 and Year 13 students.
- The school day starts at 8.40 and finishes at 3.05. All students are expected to be in school all day, they are allowed to sign out to ‘pop’ into town but they are expected to return. Students should not be signing out and going home before 3.05, if they do not have a lesson then they should be using the time in school to complete super-curricular activities, homework or just wider reading. All students have on their timetable enrichment time, this is where they can complete MOOC’s or an EPQ, EPQ is worth half an A Level.
- All Female students have been reminded about their Sixth Form uniform. It must be a suit, so trousers and a jacket, skirt and jacket or dress and jacket. Skirts must be of an appropriate length, we have had to remind some female students that wearing a micro-mini skirt of any material is not acceptable; we ask that you reiterate this message to them. Students who continue to wear the wrong style of skirts to school may be asked to go home and change.
We have started to ask Year 12 and 13 students to volunteer for events within school, we like to see our Sixth Formers give a little something back to the school. It is very nice to see the helping out at open evenings for new Year 9 intake. Dates have been given to students. If they would like to be considered for a role on the Senior Prefect Team in Year 13 then these sort of events are a great way to be noticed.
Power Hour!
Thanks to all the students who took part in a revision workshop with our visiting expert Lucy Parsons. Even though we are four weeks into the term we, want to support Year 11 and Year 13 students to prepare for the mock exams that will be sat in December and it is not that far away!
Some students noted that it was really helpful to see that revision can be added to daily, from; even if only 5-10 minutes. Understanding specification content and making plans to plug gaps in knowledge is also really important. The key message of the day is to start now, even if in smaller bursts. Build in time for exercise and relaxation but make a plan.
Lucy introduced students to the ‘Power Hour’ explained in the diagram below – which we will refer to again at our Revision Evening in October.
Please see the link to Lucy’s website for further details.
See the presentation here
Vet Skills Sessions Autumn Term 2018-2019
|
Date
|
Year 10 |
| 02/10/17 |
Handling, sexing and care of rabbits and guinea pigs |
| 16/10/17 |
Condition scoring of sheep ready for tupping |
| 06/11/17 |
Reproductive systems and AI |
| 20/11/17 |
Care of poultry including checking turkeys ready for Christmas
|
We are very lucky to have a vet from Glenthorne’s practice coming into school on a fortnightly basis to work with our students and livestock. All sessions will take place on Tuesday from 3.10-4.00pm and are open to yr10 students who are taking Animal Care as an option subject. These sessions can be used to achieve the ‘skill’ section of the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. If you require any more information about these sessions please contact Mrs North
Internet Safety Advice
This site is suitable for parents/carers, take a look and see what help and advise it can give you
Business Education
Local Business owners needed please!
Year 12 and 13 will be completing some investigations into Small Local Businesses to help them with their Unit 1 paper at A Level.
If there are any local businesses owners who would be happy to help them with their studies then please contact Mrs Featherstone on the school contact details. We would love to hear from you.
Experience in Change Management?
Year 13 are currently looking at Change Management and would love to hear real life case studies of change within large organisations to help them with their Unit 2 and 3 papers. If anyone has any experience with this part of the syllabus we would also welcome your help!
PTA Meeting
Monday 19th November, 7pm in the staffroom.
Elevate Visit
On Wednesday this week we had Elevate visit to work with a group of 35 students looking at revision techniques and strategies to support them in their upcoming exams. Study Sensei was the first of three sessions and introduced students to key revsions tips such as making a note-taking planner, using exam board specifications and practise questions from past exam papers.
There will be two more sessions for these students later in the year as follows:
Friday 9th November – Time Management
Monday 21st January – Ace your exams
Please have a look at the student portal on the elevate website where you can download resources to support your child with their study. The website link and password is as follows:
Password – rondo
Science
This week’s Science Students of the Week selected by Mr Beech are:
Year 9
Charlie Hallam and Abbi Hewlett for an excellent start to their GCSE Science courses.
Year 10
Caitlin Beardsley and Melanie Birch for continued hard work in GCSE Science.
Year 11
Tobias King and Rachel Spence for working hard on preparing for GCSEs in Science.
This week’s Animal Care Students of the Week selected by Mr Gilson are:
Year 10
Alex Pope and Felicity Burgess for both making a positive start to the course.
Year 11
Oliver Davies and Rachel Spence for working hard to complete their course work.
Well done!
PE
U16 Football – Staffordshire Moorlands League
Cheadle 1 – Thomas Alleynes 7
On Thursday Alleyne’s travelled to Cheadle in the 2nd league fixture of the season. After the apocalyptic weather of last week the sun shone and Alleynes enjoyed the conditions to put in a dominant display.
An early goal from Charlie Martin put us in charge but with many chances wasted Alleynes began to become frustrated eventually further goals came with the introduction of Charlie Land (2), and captain Frankie Bussell found the bottom corner with a drive. Second half playing into the wind Alleynes didnt have the same dominace but scored further goals through Max Hunt and 2 from Harvey Belcher late on.
next week see’s 3 games –
Tue Home v Blessed William Howard (County Cup)
Wed Away v Deferrers (Burton & District Cup)
Thu Home v Painsley (League)
Team- Dreher, Shaw, Ball, Ford, Bosworth, Bussell, Belcher, Hunt, Martin, Topliss, Bowyer, Archer, McNair, Simon, Land
Josie Nelson Cycling Update
Josie Nelson is combining her international cycling ambitions with studying BTEC sport at Thomas Alleyne’s sixth form.
In August Josie competed in the European championships at Valle D’Aosta in the Italian Alps. The course was 6000ft above sea level and was Josie’s first experience of competing at high altitude. Riding for team “Ride for Charlie” Josie was 5th in the time trial and 15th in the XC race against the best riders in Europe!.
Last week, closer to home, Josie was selected to ride for the West Midlands in the inter regional’s at Hadley on the Olympic course. The West Midlands came 2nd overall. The competition was a 3 day team event with teams consisting of 4 boys and 4 girls, with skills events, relay race, Hill Climb which Josie won and XC race which Josie came 4th in.
Next up is the cyclo-cross season beginning on the 7th October in Derby as part of the national cyclo cross series.
Arts Society 6th form Visit to Birmingham
Our Year 12 Art and Photography students were privileged to go to visit the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery,drawing and Photographing artifacts and paintings, and went on to view the stunning architecture of the New Library and visit the Sealife center after the generous support of the local branch of the Art Society facilitated travel arrangements for the group on Wednesday.
Staff commented on the exceptional effort and fantastic attitude of all those involved. It was a pleasure to see our students fully engaged and absorbed with soaking up the prestigious collections of the museum and gallery; drawing in their sketchbooks or taking reference photography. There is no comparison to see artworks up close and ‘in real life’ compared to the internet. Our aspiring Artists now have a rich source of reference materials to work from as they return back to TAHS and progress with their A Levels.
Outside students made use of the locality where massive amounts of regeneration funding has enabled the library to now be housed in an award winning building with distinctive exterior circular features. This suited the Photography students in particular who were able to compose images within the city and its architecture. This work will be developed further when back in school.
Finally after an already full day, students were able to spend a couple of hours in the Sealife Center and try to capture drawing creatures such as jellyfish from life. Although a tricky task, its working from direct observation will enhance the students skills.
A huge thank you from the staff and students to the Arts Society for their generous funding. More details of their organisation can be found https://theartssociety.org/
Thomas Alleyne’s High School Merchandise Shop
This is an online shop where you can purchase the following school items:
uniform – school ties, school badges
stationary sets
maths sets
scientific calculators
overalls and boots for Animal care
folders and sketch books for Art
revision guides for various subjects
Please add items into your basket and then proceed to payment. Please then print off a receipt – students will need to bring this into school to collect their item(s)
Please note – there is always a link to the online shop at the bottom of this newsletter
European Day of Languages
MFL students worked hard on the European day of languages completing work looking at different languages and designing Une recette du bonheur – a recipe for happiness which will be on display at open evening.
Vocab express should be working again now – apologies. Please continue to support and monitor your child’s progress.
History
Year 12
Year 12 have received their first A level essay questions. You can support the completion of these essays by asking students to explain to you the argument they are making in their writing and asking them what facts they are including to prove their argument is correct.
Year 11
Exam dates have been set for an end of unit test on the American West, 1835 – 1895. You can support revision by asking to see the American West quiz question sheets, which students should have written the answers on, and then use them to test subject knowledge.
Get ahead! Our new GCSE unit will be on Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918 – 1939. Students can always listen to GCSEpods relating to the start of the Weimar Republic before this unit starts to help their understanding in class.
Vacancies
We have vacancies available within our support staff, please see our school website linked below for further details.
Links
Follow the links to; School Website, Facebook, Twitter & our Online Shop
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. If there are any changes you would like to see please let us know.
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