Introduction
Still not feeling particularly well, I have done my best to “just get on with it”. I don’t suffer alone as it seems that the school seems to be in the grip of a nasty little virus which many children and staff are falling foul of. It seems that every other person you pass seems to be either coughing or looking, as my old Mum would say, “med up wi cowd”.
In some ways, we exist in somewhat challenging times. Turn on the news and the majority of it is focussing on international, European and UK financial difficulties, rising unemployment and unrest and predictions of continued fiscal stringency and zero growth for years to come. On Wednesday we had the first major national strike by public sector workers since early on in my career in the late seventies. And on a personal level, like many people of my age who were sold the “Endowment mortgage” package as a wonderful way to pay off our mortgages AND have a handsome retirement lump sum for good measure, I have received yet more letters telling me of the growing shortfall between the actual and target amounts of my policies.
It would be easy to get quite depressed about such things, as I am sure many people less fortunate than I am do. I suspect that throughout my lifetime, there were always issues of an international, national, local and personal level which kept me awake at nights. However, I have always felt that the teaching profession, by its very nature, is one that can protect you from wallowing in a slough of despair. Working with over a thousand young people on a daily basis is an excellent recipe for keeping your mind off national and international affairs, if only because these are not the issues that are their greatest concerns or the daily currency in which they trade. For them, and how can we not feel envious of them, their concerns are such things as the injustices of being kept behind after school for five minutes, not getting out in time to catch the first bus home and ensuring that their Facebook page is current and up to date. Where will they be going at the weekend, who will they be going with, what will they be wearing, how will they get there, how will they get back and, more importantly, at what time!
I am conscious that I do the younger generation an injustice by saying this as I rather fancy that growing up in the 21st century is a jolly sight more complex and challenging for young people than it was for my generation growing up in the “swinging sixties”. That aside, my point is that working with children ensures that you remain “young at heart”, and not to be so will ensure that children very quickly “find you out”! It is certainly so for me, how else would a 57 year old bloke like me be aware of, and indeed hold knowledgable conversations (!) on, current music, films, comedians, TV programmes and fashion. However, on fashion particularly, I still reserve the right to not quite “understand”. Try as I might, I still struggle to appreciate the sartorial logic of wearing trousers below the buttocks, displaying a plethora of underwear and rendering walking capable only by waddle. But well, I am approaching sixty!
I can’t claim that I never worry about political issues and current affairs but I can claim that I am eternally grateful to the young people who keep me firmly grounded in their world where it is often enough just to get a little bit of instant gratification, even if it’s getting dismissed by a teacher a fraction early at break time so they can get to the front of the restaurant queue and, hence, get served about 60 seconds quicker than everyone else! Wasn’t life great when things were that simple?!
Highlights of last week & Congratulations (and entered onto our Achievement wall)
- Last week I reported last week how a group of our science club students had been nominated for “Best chemistry video” in the NPL science film challenge. On Thursday we heard the excellent news that from a short list of three nominated films in this category that the Teddington entry had been selected as winner in the category. A trophy and a £75 cheque will be finding its way to school shortly. For more information about this event you can click here. So, more congratulations to Mr. Brown and his science film team of Ben Fleming (8BS) John Barman (8BW) George Osborne (8AY) and Max Chinnock (7BS).
- I was very pleased to be able to congratulate Katie Ramsden (9BS) who has been selected by students to be this month’s Jack Petchey Award winner. Katie was selected for her involvement in school activities, her contribution to her Tutor Group, her academic work, her involvement in school plays and her success in the recent speech competition.
- On Friday our cross-country runners were out in force:
Teddington entered a strong team for the largest Borough cross country event in Richmond Park on Friday with around 12 different school competing. All students ran extremely well with notable mention to Year 7’s Tom Barton Clapp 11th and Savannah Coomber 14th, Year 8/9 Cicely Fraser 25th and Tom Ashley 7th, Year 10/11 Ella Widdop Gray 6th and Jamie Millbank 10th. Despite the cold all squad members really worked hard on the muddy course and in some races there were over 140 competitors. We hope to again have some students selected for the Middlesex Championship after Christmas at Harrow. - Mr Murray reports:
To celebrate Dickens’ Bicentenary the school has once again invited the excellent ‘Globe Players’ to perform for some of our students. On Friday the 2nd of December the whole of Year 7 eagerly waited in the sports hall for a production of Dickens’ most famous seasonal story ’A Christmas Carol’. As usual the production was of a very high standard and our pupils were mesmerised by the actors. This traditional story has lost none of its charm over the years and it was a real pleasure to watch a new audience be engaged in the performance. This week the Year 8 classes will be able to see this talented group perform again and I’m certain that it will be another success. - Ms. Reynolds reports that Teddington had a really successful London Championships on Saturday. We entered four teams and secured a third, a second and a first place. Below are the names and positions of all our teams.
Under 13 Girls Elite Team: London Champions; 3rd – Rebekah Lumb; 7th – May Curtiss; 8th – Jemima Witt; 11th – Robin Wheeler.
Under 13 Boys Novice Team: 2nd Place; 4th – Oscar Rudkin; 6th – Daniel Robertshaw; 7th – Evan James; 8th – Sam Woods.
Under 15 Girls Elite Team: 3rd Place; 3rd – Phoebe Wallman; 6th – Maddie Edwards.We also entered Georgia Wood in the Under 19 Girls Elite Comeptition. Georgia competed exceptionally well as she is the youngest in this age group and was competing against some current British Champions. She performed two very strong routines, and can use the experience she gained today in future competitions.Following Saturday’s results, the following will be going through to the Southern Zonal competition in January:
U13 Girls Elite Team; U15 Boys Novice Team; Rebekah Lumb – U13 Girls Elite; Phoebe Wallman – U15 Girls NoviceCongratulations to all our competitors. I am sure that the results this weekend will motivate students to train with even more focus and enthuasiasm at the sessions run by Ms. Reynolds and Mr. Lumb so that this success can be built upon.
Results – last week
| Date | Year | Gender | Sport | Opponents | Venue | Competition | Result |
| Friday 2nd Dec | All Years | Boys | Cross-Country | Various | Richmond Park | Borough Championships | Tbc |
| Friday 2nd Dec | All Years | Girls | Cross-Country | Various | Richmond Park | Borough Championships | Tbc |
Fixtures – this week
| Date | Year | Gender | Sport | Opponents | Venue | Competition | Time |
| Tuesday 6th Dec | 9 | Girls | Netball | Various | Hampton Academy | Borough Championship | Leave: 3.15pm Approx return: 7.00pm |
| Wednesday 7th Dec | 9 | Boys | Basketball | Various | Home | Borough Championship semi-finals | 3.30pm |
| Thursday 8th Dec | 7 | Girls | Basketball | Winston Churchill | Away | Surrey Cup pool match | Leave: 3.15pm Approx return: 6.00pm |
What’s on this week (for those involved)
- Monday – Parents’ Evening for forthcoming ski trip – 6.30-7.30pm – Theatre
- Monday – PTA meeting – 8.00pm – Room 101
- Wednesday – yr7 Disco – 7.00-9.00pm – Theatre
- Thursday – yr10 Drama Showcase – 7.00-9.00pm
- Saturday – PTA Christmas tree sale – 9.00-1.00pm – entrance to school
Theme for the week – Student voice/School Council
This is an interesting weekly section. Both the Theme for the week and “In the news” can be accessed by the “Student News” link on the front page of the website.
Last week’s student vote topic and outcome – Curriculum Enhancement Days – are they a valuable part of school life?
Yes, but only in KS3: 161 votes; 31%
Yes for everyone: 259 votes; 50%
No: 42 votes; 8%
Not sure: 47 votes; 9%
This week’s student vote topic – ‘Food for Thought – Should school provide only healthy food in the restaurant?’
In the news – Selected this week by 10BS
General
Once again I apologise for the inconvenience that the industrial action last Wednesday may have caused you and I hope that you are able to accommodate the modifications to the year 10 and 11 parents evenings.
I am happy to report that our Movember fund raisers raised a healthy amount of money for a very worthy cause, and in some cases at least, it seemed only right that the razor commenced activity again!
What made me smile this week
As you might imagine, a Head Teachers in-tray is seldom over-flowing with letters of thanks and congratulations. What a pleasure it was for me then when I received a letter from a lady who was struggling to get off a bus full of Teddington children when two of our more senior students made sure that she got off safely and without incident. All too often young people are pilloried for being selfish, reckless and thoughtless. I know they are not because I work with them daily, but it’s always a pleasure when their true worth is recognised in this way.
For some time now I have been exploring funding opportunities in order to pay the fares of children from our link schools in Cape Town to come and visit us. Ever since I made my visit I have been determined to develop staff and student links, knowing that it would be a truly wonderful experience for those we can support.
Consequently, I was absolutely delighted to hear confirmation from the Hampton Wick United Charity that they have agreed to give us three thousand pounds. This wonderful donation, from a charity that has regularly supported the school in the eleven years that I have been the Head, will enable us to bring four very lucky students over next year. After securing government funding for a teacher from Hottentots Holland High School to visit, she will now be accompanied by four very, very excited students as well. Thank you very much HWUC!
Have a good week.
