TAHS Weekly Newsletter.
I do feel that we have embraced the ‘new normal’ and that all new systems that we have implemented are being adhered to. I would like to reiterate that students in Year 12 and 13 have been provided with study areas within school to allow them to complete school work when they do not have a taught lesson. We have been asked by the community to politely remind students that if they do leave school during the day to go home that they do maintain social distancing and follow government guidance on the use of face coverings etc.
All Sixth Form students that from Monday 21st September in order to sign in and out all students must scan the QR code and complete the online form with name, date and time of signing in and/or out.
Images of the QR code to scan will be situated upstairs in the Sixth Form area.
All students must use this system if they are leaving school and when returning into school if it is on the same day. This is in order for us to ensure the safety of our students and to adhere to safeguarding and fire safety regulations.
I have sent all Year 13 students notices to inform them that they must update the class teachers on Unifrog to enable them to complete their academic references. I have been informed that a number of students have not done this. Please could you check that they have done this. Unifrog is an amazing tool that we have purchased for the school and it really helps support our Sixth Form students in their how to preapre for their next steps Post 18.
A few days ago I messaged all Year 12 students and explained that unless they do not have a lesson on Tuesday, that they must be in school for period 3 to have their photo taken for their lanyard. This is part of our safeguarding policy and it is also part of their school uniform to wear their lanyard every day. Year 13 students were issued with their photographic ID last year and the Sixth Form Team will be taking photographs in the theatre. A schedule has been sent to all students via Insight. If Year 13 have lost their ID then please ask them to let me know younge@tahs.net and I will arrange a time for their photo to be taken.
Mrs Bell has sent the folowing message:
6TH FORM SKILLS
Skills sessions for Week 4 are as follows. Information and workbooks are available on Teams and Insight.
Y12: immunisation and vaccinations; healthy eating habits
Y13: stress and stress management including tips for better sleep
Eco-School is an opportunity for our school to be awarded a Green Flag status. We have a team of students in Year 13, led by Okii, who last year worked with Mrs Rudge to ensure that all buses and minibuses that were dropping of and collecting students from TAHS turned their engines off while students were embarking and disembarking, they spoke about how they would like more bike sheds so students could be encouraged to travel to school by bike and be able to securely lock them up. Mrs Rudge has since provided 2 further bike sheds on the school site. We have also been able to secure an area of land on the school site that we can use to plane trees on. This is only the start of our journey. I will be working with Okii and his team in Year 12 and 13 to see what else we can achieve this year. We are also going to ask for representatives from Years 9-11 to join our team and to help make a difference.
Wellbeing Sessions
PE Update
We are commencing with practical PE lessons from 28th September. The activities delivered will be based on the government’s guidance. Please ensure all students in Years 9, 10 and 11 have all items of PE kit and that they fit correctly.
PE kit / Uniform List
- Black TAHS polo shirt
- Reversible TAHS rugby shirt ( This is for all outdoor lessons not just rugby)
- Black Shorts
- Black Football socks
- Black Swimming shorts / Swimming costume
- Shin Pads (Must be worn for Football and Hockey)
- Gum Shield (Must be worn for Hockey and Rugby)
- Football Boots
- Indoor Trainers
Optional – Black Skort, Black TAHS fleece, Plain Black leggings, Plain Black Tracksuit bottomsCoats can be worn outside in inclement weather for PE.
Students will be informed of the activities they are doing on Insight next week. Due to the nature of the timetable and the changing government advice it is important students check this before each PE lesson for any changes.
Year 9 Photographs
Year 9 school Photographs will this year take place on Tuesday 22nd September during their Period 3 lesson. Students are asked on this day to ensure that they are wearing smart and correct uniforms including a white shirt, their house tie and if they would like, their blazer. We ask that students remove their black jumpers for these photos if they are wearing them.
News from Science
Call for Club members!
Staffordshire University is offering our Year 10 students the opportunity to join a free ‘Virtual Club’, which will be a mixture of webinars and demonstration videos taking place over 10 weeks on Saturdays from October to December 2020. The club will appeal to students interested in Science and Engineering.
Club members will receive free materials at the start of the club to enable them to fully participate in the webinar sessions.
The University are also offering a ‘Virtual and Live Club’ which will initially be virtual, but it is hoped that in January club members can be invited onto the campus, in line with Government Guidance.
For more information and an online application form please click on the link below:
This term we are continuing with our Science Students of the Week award. Students will be selected from all year groups who have excelled in their science studies and will receive an electronic certificate. We will also be continuing with our fortnightly award for students who have performed exceptionally well in their Animal Care studies.
This week’s Science Students of the Week:
Year 9
Maddy and Joshua have been selected by Mrs Gwynne for an excellent start to Biology.
Charles has been selected by Miss Thorley for great scientific knowledge in class discussions.
Alfie has been selected by Mrs Dykes for his excellent knowledge in Chemistry.
Year 10
Charlie has been selected by Mrs Dykes, who remarked that ‘Charlie was on fire with is photosynthesis this week in biology!’
Chloe has been selected by Miss Thorley for working hard to master ionic formulae.
Alex has been selected by Mrs North for excellent attitude in Biology, both class work and homework.
Year 11
Tyler and Madison have been selected by Mr Mitchell for a really positive start to lessons in Physics and good understanding of topics taught so far.
Harley has been selected by Miss Thorley for fantastic contributions to lessons and a brilliant positive start to the year.
Year 12
Jess has been selected by Miss Thorley for her efforts in starting BTEC Applied Science.
Eleanor has been selected by Mrs North for fantastic engagement in Forensic Science.
Year 13
George has been selected by Mrs North for excellent work on Applied Science coursework.
Isobel has been selected by Mrs Gwynne for a promising start to Year 13 Biology.
This week’s Animal Care Students of the Week selected by Mrs North are:
Year 11
Amber, Ollie and Jacob for excellent contributions in class.
Well done!
History Year 11
Just a reminder that all Year 11 have an exam on Year 10 work (Medicine through Time) before the end of September. Homework is revision for this exam.
Torrance News
Another busy week this week. I feel the 3rd week back has really demonstrated how well the students are adapting to the new school routine and systems in place. It is great to see so many achievement points being awarded. A special mention has to go to Mr Pollitt’s form group (9T1) who have all picked up multiple achievement points and not a single behaviour point – what a fantastic start to the academic year!
Next week the students will have another skills session with their form tutors where they will continue to focus on mental health and wellbeing topics. These sessions are crucial to ensuring that our students can identify mental health concerns and develop strategies to enable them to deal with potential challenges to their wellbeing.
As there wasn’t chance at the end of the last academic year, I would like to let all Year 10 Torrance students know that applications are now open for House Captain. Please send your applications to keeling@tahs.net by Monday 28th September, I look forward to reading them!
Orme News
As we all approach the end of the first month returning to school I am as always surprised and impressed at how well you all adapt to anything life throws at you. It has been described to me as the “new normal”, though I wouldn’t like to see this phrase used myself. When we use a word like normal we forget that the current situation requires a response, it is a challenge that needs us to gather ourselves as a school community and coordinate our efforts in keeping the school a safe and welcoming environment despite the challenges. It has given me great pleasure to see Orme students responding to this challenge by realising more is expected, that we must do better to ensure that we can also achieve what we did before as part of normal school life.
Orme students have shown this willingness to be resilient and rise to the challenge by returning to lessons and showing some excellent work and effort. I would like to give a special mention to a few of our year 9 students this week who have managed to accumulate double figures in achievement points already, this is more challenging with fewer lessons each day meaning less opportunities to impress. Sophie and Harry from 901, Luke Jordan and Isabelle from 902. I am immensely impressed by the start you have made, showing that despite our days being far from normal, you can still work hard, achieve, and enjoy success as we always have done here at Thomas Alleyne’s. Well done!
Year 10 Orme students, we are looking for House Captains. If you think you have the qualities we need; leadership, positivity, resilience and empathy then please write a letter of application and send it to me at Brassington@tahs.net This should be no more than a single page so try to be clear and concise.
This coming week Mrs Major will deliver an assembly on resilience during our recovery session on Tuesday, hopefully we can all take something from this as we continue to face Everyday challenges. This week’s quote is on that theme of adversity, challenge and resilience
“In the face of adversity, we have a choice. We can be bitter, or we can be better.” Caryn Sullivan
Mr Brassington
Contact us on Brassington@tahs.net or Moore@tahs.net
Quite a few of our students will be starting to think about their options for the future and making decisions about which subjects to choose, or what career and educational pathways to take once they have completed their time with us. The Future Intentions team thought it would be useful to have a regular section in the round up to introduce you to a range of different careers and also to inform you of any upcoming events which may support you with your choices.
We would like to say a huge thank you to Lorna who recently completed her A Levels at TAHS for designing us our logo. Lorna inspired us for our first ‘Career of the week’ section!
Career of the week
| Job title: Illustrator | Illustrators produce drawings, paintings or diagrams for use in products like books and greetings cards, or on packaging. |
| Entry requirements: | You can get into this job through: a university course an apprenticeshipapplying directly University Course: Entry requirements You’ll need a higher national diploma or degree in illustration or a related subject like fine art or graphic design. You’ll usually need: between 1 and 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national diploma or degree Apprenticeship – Entry requirements You could do an advanced apprenticeship in graphic design, then with experience and further training, move into illustration work. You’ll usually need: 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship |
| What you’ll earn: | £14000 – £40,000 a year depending on the hours you work |
| Working hours, patterns and environment: | Your day-to-day tasks may include: discussing requirements, or ‘briefs’, with authors, editors or designers negotiating prices and timescales deciding on the right style for illustrations creating illustrations using hand drawing, painting or computer design packagesYou could work in a creative studio, from home or at a client’s business. You may work for an organisation or be self-employed and work from home. |
| Career path and progression: | With experience and graphic design skills you could work for a design agency, publishing company or magazine. You could also move into specialist work, for example architectural or archaeological illustration For further information, have a look – this is a really great insight into the career path of an illustrator and talks about her love of her profession https://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/learning/craft-careers/craft-careers-how-leigh-hodgkinson-became-illustrator |
If you have any suggestions for a career you would like to know more about then please email us at futureintentions@tahs.org.uk
Upcoming events
UK University & Apprenticeship Search Virtual Fair on Wednesday 21 October from 12:00-18:00. The event is free, it will feature over 80 universities, colleges and apprenticeship providers, and it’s open to students in Year 13, 12 and 11.
For more information and to register for the event click on the link below https://ukunisearch-west.vfairs.com/
The event will also include 10 webinars which will provide information on topics such as Choosing a course, Student finance, Personal statements, Employability and Apprenticeships
Once registered you will be able to access the virtual fair any time until Wednesday 4th November, but you will only be able to live chat with representatives and view the webinars on the day itself.
For help with registration or more information then please see Mrs Featherstone in the Careers office – room 74.
Links
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