TAHS Weekly Newsletter.
Headteacher’s Blog
This weekend I am fortunate to be able to join Outward Bound, who offer our Year 9 a residential experience, at their outdoor centre in Eskdale. For a long time educators have been clear that adventure learning programmes can have a positive impact on academic outcomes, as well as other skills like resilience and motivation. We hope to continue to build our outdoor education provision into our offer at Thomas Alleyne’s High School by having a close working relationship with Outward Bound and by providing opportunities like Duke of Edinburgh and World Challenge.
On a different note, thank you to all parents who contacted us regarding the anxiety workshop we are offering to parents.
If you are interested, and have not replied, please email headfteacher@tahs.org.uk. For those parents who have expressed an interest you will be contacted by our office staff who will offer you dates for the sessions.
Anxiety Workshop
We all experience anxiety at certain times in our life, when it reaches high levels it can cause us physical and psychological distress. As an experienced counsellor and trainer, I have developed this 3 hour workshop to help you understand anxiety and learn how to feel more in control, not to fear it.
· Understand what anxiety is
· Why and how anxiety works, biologically and psychologically
· The effects of high levels of anxiety and panic attacks
· Effective coping techniques to reduce your level of anxiety
· How to feel more in control and achieve your goals
· Helpful for anxiety at work and in your personal life
· Students preparing for exams and parents supporting them
This workshop is aimed at everyone who would like to learn more about anxiety for themselves or others. It is useful for those experiencing life events which may cause increased levels of anxiety or anyone with longer term anxiety issues. It is a psychological educational workshop aimed at helping you to feel more in control of your life again. Come and join me in a relaxed atmosphere and increase your sense of wellbeing.
Thank you also to everyone who supported us on the Post 16 open evening this week. If you were unable to attend but are interested in studying with us please contact the sixth form team.
This week, as part of our process of school improvement. We are working with two secondary schools to share best practice. A review has taken place this week, which has been helpful in continuing to look at how we continue to introduce school improvement strategies.
We look forward to seeing Year 9 parents at the Year 9 induction evening on 23rd October. Appointments can be booked on Insight. Please also allow some time to join us for a presentation on GCSEpod and to meet with our gifted and talented co-ordinators. We hope to see you there.
Assemblies: 14th October
Assemblies: w/b 14th of October
Mr Cartwright will be leading assemblies this week on the theme of ‘ ‘Staying Safe Online’
Thought(s) for the Week
“The internet is insecure by default.”
― David Chiles
“The internet isn’t written in pencil, Mark. It’s written in ink” – The Social Network
I do a love a good Open Evening, and this year seemed to be the best yet. It was a great turn out by our Year 11 students and it was nice to see so many parents. One thing that Mrs Walton also comments on is the amount of external students that we talk to on these evenings, the reason we have so many each year is due to the positive ethos that we promote in and around our community.
I would like to personally thank all the Year 12 and 13 students who gave up their time to help, please remember to log the hours you volunteered so that you can start working towards your Lions certificate.
Thank you to the students who have taken the time to help keep the Sixth Form Common Room and clean and tidy space to work. All students need to remember that it is everyone’s responsibility to tidy up after themselves. The reason I mention this is because on Monday we had to close the Common Room and the Study Room due to the poor behaviour of a few students. The facilities they have at their disposal are a privilege and not a right. I hope I do not have to close this to students again this academic year.
As we draw close to half term, could I recommend that if students have not started preparing revision materials that they think of using the time to do so. Last week I purchased a pack of ten revision cards and a box to store them in for under £10 from a local shop, these were for my daughter who, although she may not have been as enthusiastic as I had hoped, will need them soon. So please encourage your child to start revising sooner rather than later.
French Exchange
The details about the French Staffordshire- Limousin Exchange have been given out to interested Y10 students this week . Reply slips need to be in by the 24th October. Please see Mrs Clemett In room 11 for more details.
Year 9 Tutor Evening
The year 9 tutor evening takes place on Wednesday 24th October between 4 & 6pm. This is your chance to come into school and meet with your child’s tutor to discuss how they have settled in at TAHS.
Appointments are made via the Parents Evening menu on your parental Insight login (not the child’s login). If you are having issues logging in please email insight@tajs.org.uk
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.
Tuesday 15th: 9UD, 9HB, 9HL
Wednesday 16th: 9HD, 9HA, 9HS
Thursday 17th: 9UA, 9UB, 9UL
Sports News
QEGS Ashbourne 1 – Thomas Alleyne’s 5
On Wednesday our First X1 travelled to neighbours QEGS in the first round of the schools FA cup. On a wet boggy pitch Alleyne’s wasted 3 good chances before opening the scoring from a corner with a well taken finish from centre back Alex Brain fresh from a successful loan spell.
The lead was doubled after good pressure led to Archie Mcnair bundling the ball into the net. A third shortly after was a precision free kick from Harry johnson which had the keeper rooted to the spot.
Great sportsman ship from captain Whitehead to hold his hands up for offside after missing a clear chance- this then put doubt in the linesmans mind and the skipper had a goal debatedly chalked off moments later.
A defensive mix up allowed QEGS back into the game via a free kick for a back pass.
The goal gave QEGS heart and the 2nd half was a more even contest until our greater class told through a great move which saw Joe Haywood place the ball into the bottom corner. A fith was added with a great pass from player’s player Alex Shaw to Lewis Dawson. The game still required some great defensive work from the younger Bussell brother Frankie who took the an of the match award.
Team- Rodgers, Brain, Shaw, Bosworth, Archer, Bussell, Dawson, Johnson, Whitehead, Mcnair, Haywood, Coates, Flanagan, Simon, Cope, Bednall
Year 9 Football
Well done to the year 9 football team who progressed through to the next round of the Burton and District Cup. Facing a strong and established John Taylor side, the year 9’s came from a goal down to deservedly win 3-2. Led by Sam Pick up the team played some nice football in difficult conditions but conceded a goal half way through the first half.
After a couple of tactical substitutions the team regrouped and drew the score level with a goal from Liam Archer. John Taylor from the restart gained a corner and scored. Not to be out done, Alleyne’s increased the pace of the game and improved their commitment. Two good goals from Ali Dawson sealed the contest. A good team performance with Bertie Ingram Man of the Match. Well done.
U15 Rugby
On Monday we play QMG from Walsall in a County and National Cup double header. 2.30 ko. Team-
Tim Hensman, Toby Minshall , Lewis Forrester, Ben Ogden, Connor Buxton, Josh Gascoigne, Oliver Gwynne, Leo Hemmings, Driss Chouhibi, Sonny Ward, Luke Watt, Will Gregory, Duncan Craven, Toby Patterson-Lycett, Hal Thornton, Aiden Moorfield, Ben Pagett, Billy Oakes, Tyler Edwards, Mark Hodgkinson, Daniel Forrester, Cole Moody, Blake Plant, Joe Wilson.
U16 Football
On Tue 15th Oct we entertain John Taylor High School in the 2nd round of the Burton & District Cup.
Science News
This week’s Science Students of the Week selected by Mrs Pavey are:
Year 9
Sylvia Stocks for always being ready to learn
Jimmy Kirkman for achieving highly in his assessment
Year 10
Martha Cope for showing resilience in lessons
Joseph Upson for a positive start to the year, paying off in assessment performance!
Year 11
Always persevering in lessons and having a positive attitude to the tasks:
Katie Gilbert
Katie Simister
Year 12
Taking responsibility for their learning and showing resilience:
Isaac Pattinson-Lycett
Rachel Agnew
Year 13
Will Taylor – for having a very conscientious attitude to his learning and a determination to master the topics!
Tom Bagnall – for exceeding his target grade in the recent assessment
Well done!
November 11th – 18th November is Samaritan’s Purse Operation.
Samaritan’s Purse Operation helps children around the world by collecting shoebox gifts and ensuring they get something for Christmas.
Fill your shoebox with a selection of fun toys, hygiene items, pens and pencils. Once you have filled your shoebox attach the appropriate label marking if your box is for a boy or girl and select what age category.
If anyone would like to get involved you can collect a leaflet and shoebox from Mrs Brown in the Main School Office.
Young Minds have an excellent website provding advice for parents and guardians on how to help your child with specific mental health conditions, and life events which might be negatively affecting their well being. They also show you where you can get help.
The link to this valuable resource can be found here:
YESS Drop in Sessions
Links
Thomas Alleyne's high school 