TAHS Weekly Newsletter.
Headteacher’s Blog
Thank you to all students who supported us during our open evening this week. A particular mention to our student speakers, Thomas, Ella, Kieron and Emilia, and to Corey and Reuben who organised the lighting. We had some wonderful feedback on how helpful all our student leaders were. Student leadership is important to us at Thomas Alleyne’s.
This week, I was urged by one of our Year 12 students to re-watch Greta Thunberg’s speech at the United Nations Climate Conference. I appreciate his commitment, clear thinking and strategic approach to trying to respond to her speech and reduce the school’s carbon footprint.
Over the next few months, I will be working with him to address the priorities he has raised.
This year, we would like to trial a workshop for parents on supporting children with anxiety or with their mental health.The workshop will be led by an accredited member of BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy). We are planning to cover the cost of the workshop for all attendees. There are 10 places available on the first workshop. If you are interested in the course, please email headteacher@tahs.org.uk and put Mental Health Workshop in the email subject. The dates and times will be confirmed once we have our first group of participants.
It’s never too late to learn to swim!
Lane 1 swim school, who operate in our school pool during the evenings, have just opened bookings for adult swimming lessons on Friday evenings. They have a number of classes ranging from adult swim classes for non-swimmers to a masters class. As someone who learned to swim at the age of 23 and has enjoyed swimming ever since, I think this is a fantastic opportunity for people in our community.
If you are interested please see https://www.facebook.com/pg/lane1coaching/posts/
Finally, if your child is in year 11, please don’t miss out on our Post 16 open evening on Tuesday (details below). Thank you to everyone who has supported us by sharing the details of the evening in the community. The larger our sixth form, the broader the offer for our young people.
Assemblies: 7th October
Assemblies will be lead by Miss Jones on the theme of Mental Health, out though for the week is as follows:
People assume you aren’t sick
unless they see the sickness on your skin
like scars forming a map of all the ways you’re hurting.
My heart is a prison of Have you trieds?
Have you tried exercising? Have you tried eating better?
Have you tried not being sad, not being sick?
Have you tried being more like me?
Have you tried shutting up?
Yes, I have tried. Yes, I am still trying,
and yes, I am still sick.
Sometimes monsters are invisible, and
sometimes demons attack you from the inside.
Just because you cannot see the claws and the teeth
does not mean they aren’t ripping through me.
Pain does not need to be seen to be felt.
Telling me there is no problem
won’t solve the problem.
This is not how miracles are born.
This is not how sickness works.”
― Emm Roy, The First Step
On Tuesday it is our Sixth Form Opening evening where we encourage all students in Year 11 at Thomas Alleyne’s High School and students from other schools to come and see the Sixth Form Team and meet the Sixth Form teachers. Taster sessions will be running all evening as well as an introduction to the application process from Mrs Dodd as well. Mrs Walton will be on hand with our Senior Prefects and other Sixth Form students to answer any questions you may have and to help guide external applicants to and from classrooms. It is always a lively and busy event so please come along and see what we have on offer. The evening is a s follows:
• 6.30-7.00pm – First Information session in the school theatre
• 7.10-7.20pm – Subject talk One
• 7.30-7.40pm – Subject talk Two
• 7.50-8.00pm – Subject talk Thee
• 8.10-8.20pm – Subject talk Four
• 8.30-8.40pm – Subject talk Five
• 8.45-9.15pm – Subject questions and answers OR
• 8.45-9.15pm – Second Information session in the school theatre
I would like to say a big thank you to those students who helped us on Wednesday at the Year 9 Open Evening, many parents stated how helpful the students had been at showing them around and sharing such valuable information. It is these small gestures from your children, our students, that make our Sixth Form so special.
Thank you to all the parents that have signed up on Unifrog, remember the information was sent via Insight so is still available for you to access. Year 12 students will be receiving this soon, and the Lanyards will be distributed to Year 12 students at the beginning on next week. Once issue these have to be worn all day whilst on the school site. The school day starts at 8.40 and finishes at 3.05. Students should all be on school site between these hours, the only exceptions are where they leave the school site at break or lunch. If leaving the school site then students should ensure that they have signed out in the correct way. When these lanyards have been issued then the students will have a gate card, both Year 12 and Year 13 students must not be entering or exciting the school via reception or using the fire exit near the history stairs.
Students that drive to school have been given permission to park their car on the rear car park of Bradley House. It is £1 per day to park here and they must see Mrs Walton if they plan to do this. Parking must be paid in advance, most pay for a week at a time. A card must be displayed in the car window at all times. Students may park for free at Tesco’s but must park near the recycling centre if they wish do this. If students are see parking their cars elsewhere on the car park then Tesco’s will revoke this privilege. Alternatively, students can park their cars on the Maltings car park and pay the daily charge.
Are you a Cyber Expert?
Photography Trip
The Year 12 Art and Photography Trip to Birmingham City Gallery and Library went really well this Thursday, the weather held off and our students were able to get some brilliant images and drawings to develop in the next stage of their coursework- A big thanks from Mr. Robinson-White, Mrs. Cornell and Ms. Edge- who thought the students were exemplary in their spirit and attitude.
Year 9 Talk the Talk
On 15th – 17th October, students at Thomas Alleyne’s High School will work with expert trainers from the education charity Talk The Talk.
Talk The Talk’s mission is to improve students’ communication skills to enable positive interaction in all life situations.
Talk The Talk has trained over 25,000 students in the past twelve months in England and Wales and nearly 80,000 since we first started – using a programme developed over the past six years.
Talk About Communication is an exciting and engaging master-class in essential speaking and listening skills within a creative classroom environment teaches students how to use persuasive language techniques to get ‘their message’ across. The day highlights and nurtures employability skills, interview techniques and key presentation skills. Via numerous speaking opportunities, students are coached and supported throughout the day to deliver a structured two-minute presentation, on a topic for which they have a genuine passion, to their peers.
There is no doubt that grades open the door to opportunity for our students. But when they walk through that door – it is a completely different set of skills. We are striving to ensure that all young people are suitably equipped with the essential tools and skills to communicate confidently in a variety of situations – both within school and in their lives beyond.
Sports News
Netball
The Year 9’s played their first fixtures for Thomas Alleyne’s on Wednesday, participating in the Moorland tournament. They came away with three comprehensive victories from three fixtures and not conceding a goal, against Moorside, Painsley & Cheadle. Amelia, Chloe and Evie all successfully scored when playing the GA and GS positions. Lucy. Evie and Harriet were heroic in the defensive positions to limit the opposition to very few shots, intercepting the ball before it could reach the D. Kiera, Lucy and Molly were creative and composed across the centre court to allow TAHS to play some controlled netball.
The Year 11 team also played against Moorside, Cheadle and Painsley and they left the competition with one defeat and two victories. Ella, Eve and Holly made up the defensive unit, Anna, Feya and Jess rotated around the shooting positions and Frankie running the show at centre. As always the team played some excellent netball but lacked some height in the defensive circle against Painsley. Many thanks to Andrea Adams who umpired and was team manager.
Clubs & Fixtures for Next Week
Monday – Lifesaving 3:05-4:15
Tuesday – Girls Football 3:05-4:15, U14 football V John Taylor (H)
Wednesday – Girls Rugby 3:05-4:30, U18 football Vs Quegs (A)
Thursday – Climbing club 3:05-4:15, U14 netball match @Cheadle 3:05-5:30
Friday Badminton Club 3:05-4:15
Year 10 Football Victorious
Congratulations to the year 10 football team who beat Kingsmead on Tuesday night in the first round of the County Cup 2 – 0. On a very squally evening Alleynes travelled to Cannock to take on Kingsmead. Playing with a strong wind behind them Alleynes made a good start scoring early on. Throughout the first half Alleynes played the better football through George Arnold and Leighton Thomas with Charlie Ratcliffe leading from the front. In the second half with the wind in their faces and playing up hill Alleynes defended well and kept Kingsmead out, winning the game.
As were the Under 16s……
Great start to the county cup for our Yr11 boys with a 5-2 win over St Peters.
A hat trick from Jed Brunt, and goals from Callum Stockbridge and Reuben Kenny. Great defensive performance from Owen Evans first half and a Bryan Robson esque performance from Ethan Clarkson in midfield.
Team- Whitehead, Wildridge, Van Hoek, Evans, Clarkson, Kenny, Hocking, Brunt, Stockbridge, Hooker-Myles, Lynn, Hall, Beech, Mangon,
Science News
This week’s Science Students of the Week selected by Mrs Hughes are:
Year 9
Jed Fry and Amy Jones for making an excellent start in Chemistry.
Year 11
Jess Banner and Felicity Burgess for making an excellent start to Year 11.
Year 13
Emily Barton and Emily Whieldon for commitment to Chemistry.
This week’s Animal Care Students of the Week selected by Mrs North are:
Year 11
Scarlett Simister for an excellent attitude towards her Animal Care studies so far this year.
Finlea Boot for all the work she has done with Johnnie, our new bearded dragon.
Year 10
Megan Brown
Louisa Page
Jessie Johnson
Blake Plant
Bailey Redshaw
Jessie Johnson
Bethany Hoskins
For their enthusiasm and commitment to the department during Open Evening.
Well done!
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