Introduction
Phew – two days to go!
I was really impressed with our students last week, particularly the older ones. I had to go into assemblies to talk about a questionnaire that students in yrs 9/10/11 will be asked to complete at the beginning of next term. Whilst I was talking to them about this I took the opportunity to mention that both staff and students were feeling quite tired at the end of a long term with many either at the beginning of, the middle of or the end of illnesses, hence I said that we all needed their support to remain calm and supportive and to challenge the younger ones if they saw them being over boisterous or similar low level misbehaviour.
This they have done and our final full week of term has been much calmer than the one before it. We all enjoyed Chef Andy (dressed in the full Santa regalia) and his excellent catering team (dressed up variously as elves, Christmas trees and even as a Christmas present!) who provided two days of excellent Christmas lunches, complete with Christmas music, crackers and hats, and served inside Santa’s grotto, skilfully erected by the premises team! The video below of one of the days is worth looking at as it captures, not just the very nice food that was served, but the lovely atmosphere that was evident in the restaurant.
Other forms of entertainment for our students came in the form of a performance of “A Christmas Carol” for yr8 on Thursday afternoon, some students took part in a performance of Macbeth in the Grand Hall of Hampton Court, over a hundred students watched a performance of “The Snow Queen” at the Rose Theatre in Kingston, over 100 students took part in our Christmas Concert on Thursday Evening and a staff versus students netball match. Quite a creative week I would say! All are reported on below.
In addition, Mr. Sheldrake informs me that some year 11s enjoyed a Christmas round of Crazy Golf in New Malden. He reports some excellent hole in ones and the winner, with a breathtaking round of 38, was Will Strange. Well done Will, and it sounded like lots of fun!
All that is left of this term now is Teddington’s very own Xmas Factor which is something of an annual tradition. I have no doubt that all the “performances”, regardless of the ability and expertise of the performers, will be enjoyed with equal gusto by an appreciative audience before being “assessed” by the panel of judges (of which, I am very proud to say, I am one!) I think all the judges, unlike the less than adequate TV version, will be very kind to the performers! Students have the added bonus this year of a couple of special singing performances from two of our extremely talented staff members (Ms Murugan and Mr White, and a somewhat “mixed ability” staff dancing troupe! I don’t doubt there will be some photographic and video footage available for you to see in the new year!
On Tuesday morning we will gather together again in the Sports Hall, but this occasion will be more formal, taking time out to remember the importance and the meanings of Christmas, where we will hear some readings and enjoy some Christmas music from our very successful school singing group before we all depart for a well deserved holiday with family and friends.
As ever at the end of a term, we have to say farewell to colleagues who, in some cases have become friends. I am sure that staff, students and parents will wish the very best of luck to the following staff who leave us on Tuesday;- Mrs. McAteer (Head of Geography) is taking a one term sabbatical to undertake a programme of study at the University of London on developing teaching and learning skills in Geography, we wish her a fulfilling term and look forward to her return after Easter and the application of the knowledge and skills she will have gained.
In a similar vein, Ms. Sillis leaves after a term in the Modern Languages Department as she was covering for Mr. Garrett who has had a term in Spain developing the language in order that he can teach it to our students in the future.
We also say farewell to Mr. Jacob (Humanities) who is moving back to the North for personal reasons. Mr. Jacob has proved to be a hugely popular teacher and his teaching abilities are, using Ofsted criteria, “Outstanding”. Equally popular with staff, Mike will be missed by us all, but equally, we all wish him every success in his future career.
After over four years, Ms. Walton will be leaving us. Ms. Walton has played a large part in the development of the “Pastoral Manager” role and latterly has developed this role to incorporate specific support for children who are finding aspects of school very challenging. Ms. Walton, after helping scores of children whist at Teddington, now takes on a similar but wider Local Authority role and we wish her every success in the future.
Highlights of last week
- On Wednesday St Johns’ School Drama club and some of our year seven students who used to go to St John’s performed Macbeth in the grand hall at Hampton Court Palace. Mrs Cooper and the Performing Arts prefects watched the high quality performance and thoroughly enjoyed it. The students from year seven who performed were: Euan Ritchie, Matthew Steans, Ellen Evans, Daisy Bell, Alex Capon, Alma Sandifer, Alice Griffiths, Callum Emms, Jack Fendley, Lucy Choules, Izzy D’Netto, Tabitha Phillips.
- Also on Wednesday 110 year 7 and 8 students watched ‘The Snow Queen’ at The Rose Theatre in Kingston accompanied by Miss Clarke, Miss Watson, Mr Thompson, Miss Downes, Mrs Gill, Mr Brown, Mrs Watts and Mrs Cooper. The students behaved very well and the play got everyone into a Christmassy mood.
- On Thursday over 100 students performed in the “Christmas Cracker”. This event showcased Mr Cragg’s excellent singing groups. There are now singers from every year group in the school in the singing groups and they all sounded fabulous. Ms Bowman led the orchestra in some Christmas tunes such as ‘Winter Wonderland’ and ‘Let it Snow.’ The members of the KS3 Drama club performed 4 short scenes showing the excitement of Christmas Eve, the business of shopping and the joy of being surrounded by family and friends at this time of year. I had the good fortune to be at this event and was accompanied by two special guests, Jack Savoury, a local resident, well into his nineties, who has been a long time supporter of the school and always appreciates me collecting him and taking him to this event, which he thoroughly enjoys, and my youngest daughter! I felt supremely proud of the young people and teaching staff whose enthusiasm, energy, efforts and expertise combined to produce such a special evening. Here is a just a little flavour of the evening.
- Ms. Yarker has provided the following report of the performance of “A Christmas Carol”;-
On 15th December, the Globe Players visited the school to perform “A Christmas Carol” for year 8. The performance was lively and told an abridged but entertaining version of the novella and gave year 8 an insight into the world of Charles Dickens, whose bicentenary falls next year. The students responded positively and were an excellent audience throughout. Students were asked to consider how in these recessionary times, the story may have many lessons for our society today.
Christmas Carol
- On Friday lunchtime, for the princely sum of fifty pence, spectators in the sports hall enjoyed a fine array of talents on display in the annual staff v students netball match. Everyone had lots of fun and it was clear that the staff performed far better than they looked as they secured a comfortable victory over the students. Better luck next time girls!
Congratulations (and entered onto our Achievement wall)
On Friday and Saturday Katie Ramsden, Danny Sykes, Alasdair Sheldon, Gracie Moss and Talor Hanson performed in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ at Hampton Hill playhouse. Mrs Cooper and Mrs Watts watched the performance on Saturday night. It was of an exceptional quality – a very talented cast. Well done to them all.
Congratulations to our yr9 football team who won the Borough tournament after beating Orleans Park School in a thrilling “golden goal” extra time. Earlier, our yr8 team were runners-up in their tournament. Congratulations to them all.
It is not only the likes of “Strictly come Dancing” champion Harry Judd who demonstrates their expertise in the Blackpool Ballroom. Our very own dancing star is Harry Parker of 10BW who also performed there recently and came first in the ISTD National Championships. What a fantastic achievement and just reward for his many hours of practice. If you are interested, here is a short video of Harry performing a Viennese Waltz in the semi-final of this tournament.
What’s on this week (for those involved)
- Monday – p3/4 and 5/6 – “Xmas Factor ” – Sports Hall
- Tuesday – yrs10/11 Final Assembly – 11.05 then dismissal (approx 11.45)
- Tuesday – yrs 7/8/9 Final Assembly – 11.55 then dismissal
- Wednesday – 4th January – Staff Inset Day
- Thursday – 5th January 8.40 into building – normal start for everyone
Theme for the week – None for this week
Last week’s student vote topic and outcome – “Has Christmas become too commercialised?” -
No – presents are the best thing 80 votes, 17% No – its only once a year 268 votes, 58% Yes – its far too expensive 38 votes, 8% Yes – we’ve lost sight of original Christmas spirit 75 votes, 16%So most of you think Christmas is not too commercial.
In the news – Selected this week by 10BW
General
It is often the case that some standards tend or slip towards the end of a long term. January is always a very good time to ensure that our standards and expectations are back to where they should be. Therefore, I seek your support in ensuring that children arrive to school on time, in their full school uniform (including the appropriate footwear) and appropriate hairstyles.
I should also like to remind parents that we have adopted a very reasonable approach to the use of mobile phones/devices. I do not think that it is unreasonable, however, that if these a seen and heard in lesson time they will be confiscated until a discussion with home has taken place. If we did not take these measures there would be a likely negative impact on the standards of teaching and learning taking place. We are often not helped in our efforts, however, when the children argue with us that it was their parents either texting or calling them. It is essential for the good operation of the school that such home/school communications should take place via the school office. Your support would be much appreciated.
What made me smile this week
This last WMMS of the year is courtesy of a parent who sent it to me last week. I am grateful to her as it is a lovely story!
Her yr7 son came home from school one day last week and reported on a “disaster” which had happened in his Humanities class. Mum then articulated a number of assumed “disasters” such as;- someone fainted in the classroom, he had a detention for homework, a fight broke out etc. and to each one her son simply said “no, worse than that”. After her suggestion list had been exhausted Mum gave in and said, “go on then, you will have to tell me”. His reply, spoken in very sad terms, was “Mr. Jacob is leaving”!
A lovely story and, indeed, a every fitting tribute to Mr. Jacob as I know that this is a sentiment shared by all the students who have had the good fortune to have been taught by him.
I hope that you all have a very happy, healthy and trouble free Christmas break. I look forward to welcoming all our young people back in to the school on January 5th for what I hope will be a successful and fulfilling 2012 for them all.
Enjoy!
