TAHS Weekly Newsletter.
Headteacher blog:
It was fantastic to meet Year 8 students on their induction days this week. They fitted quickly into our school, adapting to our expectations and showing that they have the potential to achieve well when they join us in Year 9. The Jenga towers they built in Design Technology lessons were a particular highlight! Thank you to all the student leaders who supported us on the day. We cannot believe how quickly Year 9 has passed. A particular thank you to our Year 9 speakers who shared their experiences with our new Year 8 students. We hope they have a wonderful last two weeks in their middle schools.
It has clearly struck many students in Year 10 on the return of their mock examination results, how soon they will be sitting their Year 11 GCSEs. They have already streamed over 16,000 podcasts as a year group from GCSEpod. The summer holiday is a fantastic time to take a break, spend time with family and friends, and take part in activities not possible in term time. Balancing this with a programme of revision will serve Year 10 students well. Mrs Johnson has offered support to any students who feel nervous about preparing a plan.
As you may have seen, the new build is well underway. We are thrilled that it will be complete for October when we will be able to open the new changing rooms, toilets, classrooms and gym.
Last night, a group of young people (not from Thomas Alleyne’s High School) trespassed on the school’s construction site. The police consequently attended the site. Please remind your sons and daughters that anyone who gains access is putting themselves and their friends at risk as well as committing a criminal act. If any current students access the building site, they will be excluded.
I would very much appreciate parental support in re-iterating this to your sons and daughters – particularly over the Summer holidays. Building sites can be notoriously dangerous for young people. In addition, any damage caused will mean there is less money to spend on the equipment we provide in the gym.
Finally, the Multi Academy Trust have held interviews this week for our new Chief Executive Officer. We will be able to share the outcome of these interviews with you next week and I am excited to introduce our new CEO to you.
Last week in Round Up I shared our vision for Year 12 Graduation. Today Mrs Dodd reiterated that in her assembly. She spoke clearly about being the best version of yourself that you can be. Strive to better, do better and be a positive influence for others.
On Monday, form tutors will be giving out mock results and these will be the basis for the Year 12 Graduation, which will be held in school on Tuesday 16Th July. The process of graduation may seem worrying but if they have worked all year, have had a positive attitude towards their subjects and are on or as close to their target grades as possible then their achievements need to be celebrated. For those that have not shown the same level of commitment to their learning, or been able to follow school policies successfully, then we will be putting a programme of study together to enable them to succeed in Year 13.
Each subject will be providing students with bridging work which must be completed over the 6 weeks break. Letters are being sent home that will explain this process in more detail. Once this has been received if you feel like you need further clarification then please contact the Sixth Form Team.
Date for diary:
Year 12 Future Intentions Parents Information Evening – Post 18 Options Wednesday 10th July 6.30pm in school theatre. Letters will be sent out next week
Year 8 Transition Days
Pastoral Team thanks go to all the year 9, 10, 11 and 12 students who gave such invaluable assistance to all of our Year 8 visitors and their families on our transition evening and transition days this week. They supported our new students through their time with us, and will have helped to make our year 8 students feel confident and prepared for their next move. Every one of our helpers was outstanding, and we’re hugely proud of them all.
News from PE
Sports Day will take place on Thursday 11th July.See Timetable attached.
Team lists will be confirmed on Tuesday.
County Cup Cricket Semi-Final
On Tue 9th July we host Perryfields in the U15 County Cup cricket semi-final 1.45 start.
U15 County Cup Cricket
Congratulations to our boys team who beat OSSMA by 30 runs. Top scorer was Charlie Allcock with 22, top performer with the ball Jamie Richardson with 5 wickets. Game changer Archie Cooper who removed their county batsman.
School Games – Trampoline
Our largest team travelled to Keele University to compete in the County Finals for trampoline.Selina, Leanne and Tia participated in the beginners category and held off nerves in their first ever competition to complete routines.Two teams were entered for the intermediate competition, Chloe, Evie, Eliya, Alicia, Evie S and Frankie all performing the routine strong. The A team finished 4th and the B team 6th out of 10 schools. Evie N’s score from the two routines saw her finish second individually and on the medal podium.Zoe, Megan and Jodie also won the silver medals in the team event for the elite category successfully completing a very difficult routine.
National Sports Week
I was really impressed by how many students embraced the week during curriculum and extra curricular time. Students took part in 2 of the following activities during lessons:
Danish Long ballFootball rounder’svolleyballTennis volleyballUltimate Frisbee
After school we had a mix of activities to maximise participation including:
Girls world cup footballRounder’sCricketRock climbing Self DefenceTennis
Due to the success of the week, the PE department are looking forward to running National Sports week in 2020!
Science News of the Week
This week our Year 12 Biology students visited Formby Beach, situated on Merseyside, as part of their A Level Biology course. The dramatic sand dunes provided the ideal opportunity to study the plants growing along the coastline.
The students investigated the growing conditions of marram grass found along the dunes. The grass is a pioneer plant with an extensive rhizome root system, which ultimately enables other plant species to colonise the harsh environmental conditions. The marram grass also stabilises the sand dunes helping to prevent coastal erosion.
The students also visited the adjacent pine forest; studying the effect of light intensity on lichen distribution and abundance. The students concluded that the most favourable growing conditions were on the north facing tree trunks away from direct sunlight.
The students were graced by the presence of a red squirrel; the first one many students had seen in the wild!
After spending a glorious summer’s day by the seaside, the students are now back in the lab analysing their data and presenting their findings!
This week’s Science Students of the Week selected by Mrs Pavey are:
Year 9
Tess Shelley – for her consistent effort in Physics.
Nathan Shipley – for his consistent effort in Physics.
Year 10
Sam Johnson – for always being ready to learn, having everything he needs and for achieving his target grade in his Mock.
Martha Murray – for always getting involved in activities and doing her best – consistently showing a positive attitude to her learning.
Well done!
House Music 2019
Meeting in room 67 at 1.20pm on Monday 8th July for pupils who wish to participate in the House Music Competition (Friday 12th July) and the Summer Music Concert (Wednesday 17th July). Pupils MUST be at the meeting in order to take part in the events. All pupils from across the school are invited to take part and do not have to study GCSE or A Level music in order to be involved. I would love to see Year 11 and Year 13 pupils as this may be your last opportunity to take part in a music event. I look forward to seeing you all at the meeting on MONDAY 8th July. Many thanks, Mrs Todd.
Mock Exam Results.
Year 10 and 12 students will receive their mock exam results on Monday morning in an envelope from form tutors.
Results will be available on Insight from Monday.
YEAR 12 LITERATURE VISIT: DRAGONS WORKSHOP AT ST.MARY’S C of E (A) FIRST SCHOOL
On Friday the 28th of June Mrs Baldwin accompanied 7 Year 12 English Literature students to St Mary’s C of E First School to tell the story of the Bamburgh Dragon. These students were Daniel Campion, Rob Bradley, Nicole Rankin, Erin Bedford, Chris Kitson, Patrick North and Euan Marshall. We were all tasked with dressing up as a character from the play, including a dragon and a toad!
As the year 3 children walked into the room we were shown how much they loved the story as they were all dressed in the best fancy dress costumes. To start the morning off the children were asked to act like various fantasy characters and walk around the classroom. We awarded prizes for the best costumes.
They were then split into small groups to work on their part of the play with a sixth former. They all threw themselves into the challenge and gave it all they had, which was reflected in the performances and how much they enjoyed the story.
Once we had completed the storytelling the students were tasked with colouring in and naming their own dragon, with students taking inspiration from sixth formers for names and colour schemes for their dragons. To finish off the session they were asked what they enjoyed most about the morning, with one student proclaiming the performance was amazing and another really enjoying the lollipops given out by the sixth formers and Mrs Baldwin.
Daniel Campion
Excellent Experience Day for BTEC students.
On Monday, 16 year 12 BTEC Health & Social Care students had the exciting opportunity to visit Staffordshire University’s Centre of Clinical Excellence. The day centred around practical challenges in Paramedic Science, Nursing, Midwifery and Operating Department Practice (OPD). Students saved lives by opening airways, checked the heartrate of an unborn baby and prepared for surgery by learning how to scrub up!
Aaliyah said, ‘I had only really thought about Midwifery, however, listening to the other talks and how passionate they were, it made me open my eyes and look further into Child Nursing and OPD.’
Tilly commented, ‘We got taught how to prepare for going into theatre. We were all provided with surgical gowns and gloves, then got the chance to put them on without contaminating ourselves. I found this helpful and fun; staff and students from the university were extremely kind and encouraging. I am now considering OPD as a future career.’
Megan said, ‘The day has made me want to become a paramedic because of what I can achieve. For example, being able to save people or help people who have a mental health problem and be able to adapt.’
Becky reflected, ‘I found the nursing talk really interesting, learning how to give someone CPR was informative and fun to do.’
Amberleigh enthused, ‘I found the Midwifery course session the best. The room was very interesting with lots of models including a talking, moving, pregnant woman model. We held model babies, felt a model pregnant abdomen and listened to a baby’s heartbeat. I am excited for a career in Midwifery.’
National Healthcare Weekend – external provider.
Doctors, dentists and vets will provide invaluable insight and network to our students.
Day 1: Making it Into Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary
An introduction into your future career. Network with current students and professionals, whilst gaining an in-depth understanding of topics including CV building, work experience and choosing the right university for you.
Day 2: Medical Masterclass
A full day of lectures covering the medical application process including personal statements, interview techniques, UCAT, BMAT and medical ethics led by our team of doctors and medical students.
Dates: London 6th – 7th July
Cardiff 13th – 14th July
Birmingham 20th – 21st July
Registration starts at £25. Students from low-income backgrounds can apply to attend for free. Please click on this link for the flyer: https://medicmentor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/NHW-Summer-2019.pdf
Students can register and find out more information here: https://medicmentor.co.uk/national-healthcare-weekend/
On-line safety advice for students and families
*The NSPCC are currently working closely together with O2 to provide the most up to date and effective advice.
*O2 have a helpline which parents can call to ask advice on all aspects of parental controls on devices. (The number can be found on the attached link)
*A parent can go into any O2 store and ask them to help them to set parental controls on their child’s device and they will gladly do this for free.
*Primary schools can ask for an O2 advisor to come into school to complete a workshop with parents where they can bring their devices into school and ensure that the parental controls have ben applied. O2 will do this for all types of devices not just phones including ipads and gaming machines such as playstations and Xboxes.
Please see the link below for further information.
Links
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Thomas Alleyne's high school 