3 MB 30th Apr 2015 Newsletter Apr 2015
Transcription
3 MB 30th Apr 2015 Newsletter Apr 2015
Tring School Live to Learn Learn to Live Half Term Monday 25 May-Friday 29 May Term Finishes Friday 17 July Inset Day Wednesday 2 September Term starts for Years 7 & 13 Thursday 3 September Term starts all school Friday 4 September Tring School Mortimer Hill Tring Hertfordshire HP23 5JD Tel 01442 822 303 Inset Day Thursday 1 October Half Term Monday 26 October-Friday 30 October Occasional Day Friday 27 November Term Finishes Friday 18 December Term Dates Apr 2015 Issue No. 26 Headteacher’s Redeveloping Message Students have been skiing in the USA over the Easter holidays and whilst there were some eventful aspects, the students had a great time skiing and everyone returned safely. This week we have our annual Somme trip for Year 10s. This trip is increasingly harder to arrange due to the Centenary anniversaries last year and continue to occur over the next 3 years. Fortunately with such large numbers the trip companies want to work with us, so hopefully we can maintain this valuable experience for future year groups. Year 10s have also had an enhancement day with Theo Paphitis’ company where the students have been using their entrepreneurial skills. There were many original ideas and great team work was displayed. As election fever picks up, we have our own election here in school where all of the students will experience voting for their preferred party. We are one of the few schools that takes this democratic right seriously and we actively promote our students to make informed decisions. I’m sure you’re all having conversations at home about the ‘real’ election and so we hope that our school version will encourage further debate and respect for all concerned. For all our students that are revising and practicing past papers, keep up the good work and you’ll reap the rewards in August. Susanna Collings - The Sports Hall The Neville block The Sixth Form Centre The Hobson block The main school building It is the last one, the main school building, which creates the most significant debate. The first four buildings are stand alone and will be addressed in their entirety. For the main building we identified the need to redevelop D&T and art, the gym and changing rooms and the Fells block. However, there is a realistic possibility that this could be extended to include the science block and possibly even more. The downside of this is that we feel it would be completely irresponsible for us to proceed with phase 2 of the science refurbishment. This is a real shame for both pupils and staff as phase 1 has been incredibly well received but I’m sure everyone will understand why we have reached this decision. Please also note that at this point in time the swimming pool is not included in the planned redevelopment. The responsibility for this lies with Dacorum Borough Council and we are actively engaged with them to determine the best way forward. We do have a “masterplan” for the whole school site that shows a series of constructions, demolitions and refurbishments. The creation of this, in conjunction with an architect, has taken many months and we hope that the Government will use it when creating their final programme of works. What is certain is that it is going to be a huge project over several years and one of the challenges within this is to make sure that the education and outcomes for our students isn’t undermined in any way. We are enormously excited by our success and believe that it is fantastic news for both the school and the town. I will share developments and the final plans with you as soon as I can. Mr R Gibberd Business Director Tring School The summer term has just started and Year 7s are straight into exams. Shortly after they finish the Desborough Hall will be filled with Year 11s, 12s and 13s taking their external exams; we wish them all the very best. Right now revision sessions are taking place in lessons as well as additional ones at lunchtime and after school. Your child is encouraged to attend as many as they can. When the exams are over we have the May Ball for the Year 13s and The Prom for Year 11s. Both events are magnificent and I know the students are already planning outfits! My message right now is that they focus on their studies and there will have plenty of time afterwards for shopping and such like! You will hopefully have seen that the school has been successful with our application for funding to redevelop a significant number of our buildings. At the moment we don’t know which of them will be demolished and rebuilt and which will be refurbished. This will become known over the summer after the Government’s surveyors and architects have spent time with us and devised the best solution. We do know which buildings they have agreed need to be redeveloped though: Night Comedy Coming Up…. Summer Concert Calendar of Events Wed 6 May Year 9 Parents’ Evening, 4.00-7.00pm Mon 11 May Year 10 Work Experience Week, Ascott/Claydon Mon 18 May Year 10 Work Experience Week, Halton/Waddesdon Mon 1 Jun DoE Pre-Expedition Day, School field/classroom Sat 6 Jun Year 9 World Challenge Camping weekend, Phasels Wood Mon 8 Jun Second hand Uniform Shop, 3.00-4.00pm Thurs 25 Jun Year 11 School Prom, Shendish manor, 7.00pm-midnight Fri 26 Jun World Challenge Training (India & Zambia) Sat 27 Jun Tring Charter 700 Art Exhibition(all local primaries & Tring) Wed 1 July District Athletics Championships Fri 3 July Summer Music Concert & Rehearsals Mon 6 July World Challenge Zambia Parents’ Evening 6.00-7.30pm Mon 6 July Second hand Uniform Shop, 3.00-4.00pm Wed 8 July Sports Awards Evening Thurs 16 July Sports Day The school newsletters have been designed and created by Michelle Texeira Marketing & Communications Coordinator Free School Meals To apply go to: www.hertsdirect.org/freeschoolmeals This Newsletter can be viewed on our website: tring.herts.sch.uk/What’s On/News/Newsletter Disability Law If you are unable to access this Newsletter or any other correspondence from school, please contact the main school office so that we can arrange to provide you the information in a more appropriate form. School Attendance As a school we regard regular attendance as a priority and so we would like to share with you the attendance figures for this first half term. Our congratulations go to Mrs Baiden and the whole of Halton House for achieving 94.79% attendance. The Top Three forms in each house are listed below: Ascott 5 94.85% Ascott 14 94.58% Ascott 3 94.56% Claydon 15 95.35% Claydon 12 94.52% Claydon 2 94.51% Halton 10 96.03% Halton 14 95.53% Halton 4 95.36% Waddesdon 5 96.02% Waddesdon 3 95.59% Waddesdon 7 95.29% With regular attendance we can make these figures so much higher. Attendance Important reminder If a student is unwell or has a medical appointment, please contact the school BEFORE 9am EACH DAY, with the reason why the student is not in attendance. Text: 07624 880 120 Telephone: 01442 821 052 Voice mail: 08442 393 472 jstallworthy@tring.herts.sch.uk If a student needs to leave school for a medical appointment, interview or any personal reasons, a letter of request is needed to authorise the absence. This letter should be handed in to the Attendance Officer when signing out. The students who have achieved 100% attendance since September are listed below: Joseph Atkins Lizzie Payne Sebastian Coleman Samuel Beeson Emily Price Joe Cowan Elly Brown Mikey Quant Alex Crombie Natasha Carroll Olivia Sober-Nakar Jade Dalton Libby Fox Lilly Vine Hainzren Dizon Hannah Isdale Jasmine Watkins Finn Euston-Moore Edward Maisey Ethan Woods Polly Hall Rosie McIntosh Timothy Baldwin Theo Harries-Kendall Alfie McLeman Samuel Bojarski Ben Leaver Joshua Morfee Victoria Booth Phoebe Lemonde Ella Nathan Luke Cole Laura Lowe Issac McGee Thomas Monks Reece Watts Zoe Paske William Nicholls Tom Baldwin Joe Queralt Georgia Redmond Harriet Boon Jack Sears Ella Scutchings Connor Breen Thomas Selwyn Jake Thompson Adam Brown William Stevens Amy Tuff Jack Cox Hannah Williams Alana Voy Jack Considine Emily Bye James Burkhalter Sammy Evans Eloise Byrnes Miles Burney Sian Gill Ryian Cawdell Matthew Cowan Thomas Gray Jack Cranmer Thomas Dawson Amy Halliwell Ben Ferguson Magda De Melo Adam Kelly Ella Fordham Harry Fox Philip Marriott Benjamin Foskett Emily Leaver Naveen Mehta James George Nathaniel Openshaw Rebecca Nam Billy George Daniel Parker Connor Osborne Max Guest Daniel Smith Connor Richardson Emanuel Trimmingham Matthew Wake Henry Walsh Mrs J Stallworthy, Attendance Officer Achieving 100% attendance My thanks go to Ms Alder, Ms Monger and Ms Titchmarsh for giving up their weekends in preparation for the forthcoming World Challenge. Challengers World Several Year 11 and 12 challengers attended a pre-expedition weekend in Phasels Wood, Hemel Hempstead. This is the 3rd weekend away in preparation for this summer’s adventure and the students have always represented the school superbly. They took part in teamwork activities, planned walks to improve their fitness and further researched the wonderful India, where we will be going in the summer! Year 11 Clubs Science Welcomes The Science department was very pleased to welcome Jock Clear – the voice on the radio during the races behind many Formula 1 champions for over 21 years. He has had the distinction of performing the key role of race engineer to many F1 world champions, including Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Jenson Button, Michael Schumacher and most recently Lewis Hamilton – taking him and Mercedes to driver and constructor world champions in 2014. His role and ability is critical to the success of the drivers, and race engineers maintain a unique relationship with their drivers, based upon mutual trust and respect. As well as being an exceptionally gifted engineer, Jock has outstanding communication skills, empathy and a tremendous sense of humour all of which combine to allow him to build relationships with drivers and teams to ensure that all are working at their maximum capacity. He has to make critical and often split second decisions that are key, take full responsibility for the ultimate set up of the car and manage driver’s large egos, with some tough love as and when necessary. Jock has arguably enjoyed a successful career in F1, spanning over 25 years that compares favourably to any other engineer. In fact his success and role last year at Mercedes Benz, leading Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes to both driver and constructor championships breaking all previous records, has led to him being head hunted by Ferrari as Engineering Director for the entire Ferrari F1 racing team, one of the most coveted positions in the business. During his day at Tring Jock led a series of presentations/discussions with a range of students from Year 7 to Sixth Form. He described to students how engineers use their skills and knowledge of science to create ergonomically interesting and useful items for human use. He shared many stories from the racetrack and described how engineers have worked to make racing cars faster but also safer, with their having been no deaths on the track since the death of the racing legend Ayrton Senna. Jock spent lunchtime in the Sixth Form Centre, where as well engineering he discussed with students other roles in F1, including logistics management (moving an entire F1 team every 2 weeks during the season) through to hospitality, marketing and media. Jock brought in a number of items from Mercedes F1 cars and everyone enjoyed playing with Nico Rosbergs steering wheel and marvelling at the weight of the wing. As Jock is moving to Ferrari to run their engineering team, in the summer – he has less work to do at Mercedes and described how he is embarking on another engineering challenge – to make a copper dress. He has promised to return to Tring when the dress is made! Jock Clear F1 Race Engineer Resource Learning Read the Book Seen the Film Quiz C2 CONGRATULATIONS C2 C2 fought off tough competition to be crowned champions of The Fault in Our Stars Read the Book Seen the Film Quiz. Two students from each Tutor Group took part in this challenging and fun quiz during Tutor Time. Well done to those from Mr Wallington’s Tutor Group, who will receive participation points for taking part, as well as winning chocolates for everyone in their Form. PENRUNNERS Tring School’s KS3 Creative Writing Group took on the challenge to create the world’s largest digital diary – Generation Diary. Lauren’s contribution is below. For more details of how you can get involved visit www.annefrank.org.uk Dear Diary, Why do I find it so hard to fit in? I’m moderately pretty(ish) and I suppose I’m clever, just not a geek. Yet no-one really likes me for who I am. Whether at home orTime at school, I don’t fit in. Tutor Quiz Winners for Ascott Often, I feel so alone that I want to scream but someone would hear me and think I was even stranger than I actually am. There I go again. I’m ashamed of the way I act because I’m not like everyone else. I ask myself, what would the world be like if everyone was the same? It would be Tutor Time Quiz Winners Halton boring and the sameforand do you know what? I’m GLAD that I’m different because that’s who I am and no-one can change that – not my mum, not my dad, not the popular group at school, not anyone because THIS IS WHO I AM! You don’t like it, then you don’t like me. Tutor TTYL Time Diary! Quiz Winners for Waddesdon Lauren CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2015 SHORTLISTED BOOKS Tring School Shadowing Group 14+ We meet on Wednesday lunchtimes in the LRC Reading Snug to discuss the books and vote for our favourite titles. Centre Comprising of Tring School students and staff, the Carnegie Shadowing Group attempt to read as many of the Shortlisted books as possible between April and June, when the winner will be announced. Watch this space for information about how we’re getting on. 14+ 14+ Borrow any of these books from the LRC Mrs S Watkins, Learning Resource Centre, Manager New members always welcome If you would like to be part of the Shadowing Group, please ask the LRC staff for details Friday 22 May is a big day of celebration for our Year 13 students who will be leaving Tring School after, for most of them, seven years here. Students will be attending a fabulous assembly at 12.00 on that day with lots of nominations, awards, photos and memories. At the end of the assembly they will leave school to get themselves prepared for the evening events. At 6pm we hold a Champagne Reception in the Desborough Hall for the leavers, their parents and staff with all the students ‘glammed up’ for the May Ball. At 7.30pm the students leave for the May Ball at Hatfield House Riding School; it promises to be a fabulous event with all sorts of surprises awaiting the students. Golla Following half term, students will just be in for their exams and then results day on 13 August! The time has flown by! Year 12 Study Leave begins: Monday 11th May Year 13 last teaching day: Thursday 21st May Year 13 Leavers Assembly/Champagne Reception and May Ball: Friday 22nd May New Year 13 return to lessons: Monday 8th June Club Year 11 into 12 Induction day: Wednesday 24th June Since we returned to school after the Easter holidays, around 40 Year 12 and 13 students have been taking part in ‘Golla Club’. This is an intensive intervention group to help support students in the last push before the summer examination season. Some students are required to join the club but many opt in in order to take advantage of the extra support. Some students are also well aware that they are likely to get more work done in school, with a member of the Sixth Form Team keeping tabs on them than they would at home! By now, all Golla Club students should be well organised in their revision with a file for each subject, highlighted specifications, priority revision lists, all past papers and mark schemes as well as a revision timetable. They will also have tried out a variety of revision techniques including mind maps, revision cards and songs! Hopefully, all students will have found at least one method that works for them. As well as the revision tips and organisation, we’ve also tried to keep students motivated with our snack box and occasional games of ‘Killer’ out on the basketball courts. Hopefully, this year’s members will find, as pervious students have, that Golla Club is both useful and fun! Sixth Form Key Dates Leavers Day Senior Students Just before the Easter Holidays, the Heads of House interviewed students for the many House Captaincy positions. There were some excellent applications and interviews making the decisions that they had to make very difficult. Well done to all the Students who applied and congratulations to those appointed: Ascott Sports Captains Arts Captains Charity Captains Eco Captains House Captains Sports Captains Arts Captains Charity Captains Eco Captains Beth Ashley Roberts Archie Brooks Amy Moxon Max Murphy David Doyle Alexandria Jones Rosie Balcombe Ellie Highton Lottie Lashley Halton Laura Gascoyne Joe Mayers Joe Fitzgerald Betsy Heasman Lauren Renshaw Holly Potton Jordan Gray Fiona Elliot Helena Green House Captains Sports Captains Arts Captains Charity Captains Eco Captains Waddesdon House Captains Sports Captains Arts Captains Charity Captains Eco Captains Jazmin Brooks Charlotte Simmons Ben Hogan Emily Simmons Lydia Brehm Luke Parker Chloe Waight Olivia Dawson Ahmed Al-Maadanli Sixth Just a reminder to Year 11 students who have applied to join us in September 2015, and their parents, that our Sixth Form Induction Day will be held on Wednesday 24 June. The event will start with a short presentation from the Sixth Form Team at 9.00. This will be followed by taster classes in the subjects that the students have chosen with the hope that this will give students a real flavour of Sixth Form life and to ensure that they have chosen the right subjects for the next two years at Tring School. The Year 11 Leavers’ Assembly will follow the Induction Day after an early lunch break for the students. A letter about the Induction Day with the full programme will be sent out via parent mail before Half Term. Day House Captains Claydon Maddie Cox Cameron McIntosh Alex Darby Grace Elliot Georgia Kirkland Richard Cross Emily Neilsen Natalie Sidney Charlie Robinson Form Induction Year 12 Preparation for Higher Education Students and parents should be aware that many universities hold open days from now onwards and we would recommend that students begin to research options that are available through the UCAS website – www.ucas.co.uk. They can then ensure that they take full advantage of any relevant university open days. Unifrog is a tool that the school has purchased to support all Year 11, 12 and 13 students with future choices and is an excellent resource to research university courses and apprenticeships. We highly recommend that students take advantage of this tool as part of the research process. Berkhamsted School are holding their annual Higher Education, Gap Year and Careers Fair on Thursday 30 April from 7pm – 9pm at their Castle Campus, again we recommend that students attend the event as there will be organisations and institutions that the students can talk to which will help them formulate plans and ideas. We have been impressed with the number of students who have already begun to think about their futures and have attended conferences and courses. We receive much information from institutions and ensure it is published on the university and careers notice boards in the Sixth Form Centre. Any relevant emails that are sent to us are also forwarded on to students and put on our bulletin for students and parents. Universities had until 31 March to make offers so most students will have received offers from their chosen universities by now. However, there may be a few outstanding offers to be made still (if this is the case the reply date will be extended). If a student has received all their offers they have until 6 May to reply with their Firm and Insurance choice (though we would recommend that they aim for the end of April, so that they can begin the process of applying for accommodation). Students should take time to think about their offers, if needs be they can make another visit to the university to help them with the decision of their Firm and Insurance choices. The presentation that was delivered to students on this process is available on the Post 16 area of the school website. UCAS Extra: In February, UCAS Extra opened and the students have received details on how to use this facility but in essence, if an applicant has used all their five choices and been unsuccessful at all of them, or declined any offers received, Extra gives them the opportunity to have an additional choice through UCAS. Extra operates until the end of June. Student Finance: All students wishing to go to university must complete an online application to ensure that they receive the maximum student grant and loan available. We have delivered a COOL session on Student Finance to ensure our students have the information they need to complete their student finance application. All Year 13 students who have applied to university for 2015 entry should be aware that the application process for student finance is open at www. Direct.gov.uk/studentfinance. The deadline for submitting applications is 31 May 2015—students do not need a confirmed place at university to apply. To find out what funding is available to you, use the student finance calculator at www.direct.gov.uk/ studentfinancecalculator Bursaries:- Bursaries and grants are available to students. These do not have to be paid back by students once they have completed their Higher Education. Again, check individual university websites to see if you are eligible. Accommodation: We recommend that as soon as students have replied to their offers they begin to apply for accommodation. Details of this are available from the individual universities and we would advise that you refer to the university websites. Many institutions run days where students who have applied are invited back, so if you were unable to see accommodation on your first visit this is an ideal opportunity for your son/daughter to see where they may be living. Mrs N Hubble UCAS Coordinator Year 13 University and UCAS This term has been busy for the Year 12 students as they have started looking at Higher Education and other options at the end of Sixth Form. This was ‘kicked off’ by a Careers Day and followed up with a trip to the UCAS Higher Education Convention at Alexandra Palace where over 160 universities, gap year organisations and a large number of companies and organisations were exhibiting. The event inspired much discussion amongst the students who have been inspired by all the options available to them. The same week we held an evening presentation for parents and students detailing the process of university applications and UCAS along with the support that the students will receive throughout their journey from Tring School. This presentation can be found on the Post 16 area of the school website. French Conference Just before the Easter holidays, twenty motivated Year 11 students took part in a GCSE French conference in London. They spent the day at the Rock Tower in Tufnell Park, central London, along with another twenty schools who came from all around England to boost their French speaking, writing, reading and listening skills before the Summer French GCSE examinations. The day included phonetic sessions aiming at developing fluency and pronunciation, guidance and advice from top Senior Examiners and leading French experts, and interactive lectures designed to enhance students’ understanding of key themes and points for the reading and listening final exams. Students all enjoyed themselves as they took on this extra revision opportunity, which will hopefully increase their confidence and success in May. It must also be said that all students who took part were incredibly well mannered, and behaved as perfect role models and ambassadors for Tring School. Very well done to all and "bonne chance" for your GCSE exams! Mme McKenna & Mrs Davies Did you want to take part in the German exchange but didn't? Did you opt for German at GCSE and would like to practise your German speaking skills? Would you like to host a German student this summer? We are looking for a Tring School family to host one of our German student, Simon, 15, from Friday 12th June until Sunday 21s t June. This is a fantastic opportunity for a host family who would ideally have a boy of a similar age with an interest in the German language and culture. For more information about this, or for more details on what is expected of a host family, please contact Mrs McKenna: gmckenna@tring.herts.sch.uk, or Mrs Davies: kjdavies@tring.herts.sch.uk. BTEC We took part in an enterprise activity in which we designed and printed some mugs for Mr John Beesley from the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway in Yorkshire. Mr Beesley asked us if we could print personalised mugs for him to sell in the railway’s gift shop. We made a few samples to start with to show him what we could do. Mr Beesley took these to the railway and showed his colleagues who then placed an order. We made 36 mugs for Mr John Beesley. We sold each of these for £2.50 and it cost us £1.25 to make them so we made £1.25 profit. In total we made £90.00. This project was a very successful and enjoyable task! Will Chuanpreecha, Year 11 As part of their course for BTEC Work Skills, pupils are required to plan and successfully complete an enterprise activity. We were extremely pleased to be able to manufacture products that would be sold to the general public. The Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway is a volunteer-run, preserved Heritage Railway in the Yorkshire Dales, which attracts a large number of visitors every year. At the time of writing, the mugs were selling well and we are currently in talks with Mr Beesley regarding future projects. Hilary Knight, D&T Teacher http://www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk/ WORK SKILLS News Sports Yet another win for the Year 8 girls netball team this time beating Berkhamsted in the District cup final 20-17 Year 7 netball team at the District tournament narrowly losing to Hemel in the semi final What’s On Aldbury May Fair is a great day out for all the family, with plenty to see and do. From the traditional May Pole dancing, crowning of the May Queen and Morris Dancers to the excitement of the Laser Arena, Climbing Wall, Fairground Rides, there is something for everyone. There is also a vast array of fabulous stalls, an art exhibition and of course plenty of wonderful food on offer. So, where else would you rather be this May Bank Holiday Monday? Come and join us from 12 – 5pm Monday 4th May. For more details visit us on facebook.www.facebook.com/AldburyMayFair Where: Aldbury Village, Nr Tring, Hertfordshire, HP23 5RT When: Monday 4th May 12 – 5pm Contact: Claire Kennedy Clairekennedy75@hotmail.co.uk 07872 624 568 In and Provider Name: The Marmalade Cat Day Nursery, Tring Post: Nursery Assistant Hours: 40 hours per week Duties and Responsibilities We are looking for a dynamic, motivated and enthusiastic individual whose is able to use their own initiative working alongside our room leaders. You will be expected to take part in the daily routine as directed, including preparing snack, setting up and carrying out activities, liaising with parents. You will be a key worker for a small group of children and will keep up to date learning journals that reflect the children's progress. Experience and Skills Qualifications Required: Unqualified and willing to train GCSE English grade C or above or Key skills equivalent Benefits Opportunity to work 4 days a week. Contact Name: Lorna McElroy Email Address: manager@themarmaladecatdaynursery.com Contact Number: 01442 822255 Around Tring Aldbury May Fair Monday 4th May 2015 12 - 5pm Christian Union There are many groups and clubs that meet regularly at Tring School and we are very fortunate to have so many talented and interesting people, both students and staff. But not all the clubs are about improving or gaining a new skill. Choc ‘n Chat CU meets every Monday lunchtime in B2 and Choc ‘n Chat on Tuesdays in B1, and both are open to (almost) everyone. CU stands for Christian Union, although every now and then we talk about finding a more exciting name, shortly afterwards getting distracted by something more interesting. Which is why it is still called CU. It is open to everyone, and we spend our time talking, telling jokes, playing games, moaning, discussing our favourite films and music, and above all I hope we provide support for each other. It is run by the Youthworkers from Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church and the High Street Baptist Church, otherwise known as Dan and Dave, myself and Mrs Champness. Choc ‘n Chat meets on a Tuesday and is open to all from Year 9 upwards. Hot chocolate is provided by Adrian, the Youth worker from Northchurch Baptist church, and Dan, Dave and I attend this as well, and sometimes there is food as well! Again, it is a relaxed space where students can chat, read or let off steam, and I can be educated about modern music! One of the most important things about these groups is that we have no targets, no goals, and they are purely social and supportive. People can come regularly or drop in as they need to, and this seems vital in the very pressurised world in which we live. Feel free to drop in! Rev Jane Banister