Newsletter
October, 2004
Dear parents and friends,
You will see from this newsletter that we have had a very active and busy start to the new school year. It has been good to welcome our new Year 7 students. It is a real pleasure to see how quickly these youngsters adapt to the transition from primary to secondary school, and how much they relish the challenge and excitement of life at Theale Green.
I am also delighted to welcome record numbers into our sixth form. This year our sixth form students have been outstanding in their enthusiasm for becoming involved in the wider life of the school. They have taken our School Council by storm and have actively involved huge numbers of youngsters from all years. They have also volunteered for many responsibilities ranging from our litter clean up rota to supporting younger students in developing their reading and literacy skills.
Thank you very much for your support in the introduction of our new school uniform. The new jumpers look really smart and the common colour scheme gives a much stronger sense of school identity to all our students. The jumpers are now available from all our stockists, so please make sure that, if your child wears a jumper, it is either the new one or the old grey version. I am pleased that many boys and some girls have chosen to continue to wear the blazer and tie. Please help us in reinforce that we expect ties to be worn properly and shirts should be tucked in. I would also remind you that trainers, hoodies and jewellery should not be worn to school.
Our first public opportunity to use our new entrance area was Open Evening on 6th October. The school was packed with visitors, confirming our position as the most popular school in West Berkshire. They enjoyed a presentation in the hall in which senior students, our chair of governors and a parent representative joined me in talking about why we are so proud of the school. Visitors also toured the school meeting teachers and students who were very happy to explain their work. It gave an excellent sense of the huge range and variety of subjects we offer to our students. Thank you to all who were prepared to lend us your children for the evening. They were a real credit to the school.
We are increasingly trying to put information to parents on our website, so please keep in touch with us through www.thealegreen.org.uk.
Yours sincerely, Mrs Marshall
30TH Nov ACADEMIC MENTORING DAY
13th Dec - PRESENTATION EVENING
NEW SCHOOL FOYER AND RECEPTION
Parents visiting the school will note the significant improvements we have made to the entrance and Reception area. There is now a welcoming Reception desk, comfortable waiting area and much improved access to the hall. We have created a new spacious meeting room and our Adult Education Office is now much better positioned to receive the school's adult learners. As part of this project we have made best use of the old school library area to create an integrated pastoral support area for students, with larger House offices and a new Careers resource centre.
Congratulations go to George Mason for achieving one of the top five highest marks in GCSE Economics nationally. The school received a letter from the AQA Examining Board confirming George's outstanding result. George was also entered for AS Economics a year early and achieved an A grade. He is now completing Economics 'A' Level in Year 12
THE ART OF FIRE
Eight 'A1 level Photography students stand shoulder to shoulder, cameras poised, as fire, explosions and flying metal shoot around them. Not the average photo opportunity to be found in Reading some would say. The students would have agreed until they joined the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue team this week. West Berkshire Education and Business Partnership have teamed up with Theale Green photograph students, The Fire Service and Vodaphone to launch a nationwide project to reduce the amount of "Hoax Calls" to the 999 number.
The first of many visits to fire sites in and around Berkshire took place on Monday 11th Oct. The students were able to begin collecting visual material for this exciting project. The fire brigade were only too happy to help demonstrate some aspects of their day-to-day job. Practicing freeing injured motorists from car wrecks, training police for chemical incidents, demonstrations of gas explosions inside houses and many other opportunities were gratefully received by students. Their photos will hopefully end up on national posters used to educate young people about the dangers of hoax calling.
FUNDRAISING
Please keep an eye out for a new parent fundraising scheme we will be introducing straight after half term, when a letter giving details will be sent to all families. You will see that we are giving students ownership as to how this will develop and hope we can rely on the support of the vast majority of families.
DRAMA DEPARTMENT NEWS
SENIOR PRODUCTION -The Drama Department is proud to present on December 1st and 2nd, the senior school production of Lorcas' "Blood Wedding". This dark tale of love and loss is performed by a small ensemble cast in a beautiful translation of Lorcas' original Spanish tragedy.
WELCOME...
It is a pleasure to welcome two new members of staff: Mrs. Lucy Flux and Mr George Wilson, to the Drama Department.STOP PRESS....Congratulations to Chris Lambert who has been appointed as Head of Drama and will join us in January from Langley Grammar School.
COVERED AREA - SUMMER 2004 SPONSOR DAY
We are receiving quotations from suppliers to build a covered area outside one of our drama studios. It is likely that planning permission will be required, once obtained, we -will be using the money raised from last terms sponsor day, to build a canopy over the seating that has already been installed.
A NOTE FROM SCIENCE
Most Year 10 students have GCSE Science module exams on Thursday 18th November and should be using the half term to revise hard! Revision guides are available to buy from the Science Department at a cost of £3. Practice papers are also available to purchase for £2 each.
Year 11 who are re-sitting modules should also be revising hard over half term and be attending the revision sessions in school.
Benyon News - Ben-Gen
Well, we hope you've all got used to the new school timings and two-week timetable............
We also hope you've had time to look at the newly updated House website, our thanks to Michael Knott in Year 12 for that If you don't have access to the Internet, but have someone you know who does, you can get a copy of this years Tutor Group photos by letting Mr. Kennedy have an email address so that he can send it to you.
The PTA committee played the annual skittles match against Piper earlier this term but for the first time in several years they lost, thanks to an exceptional performance by Piper Head of House - Mr. Upton!
The Year 7 and new tutors evening went well although it did get very hot in the Brooks Centre. The new staff - Mr. Read, Miss Paske, Miss Graham, Mrs. Bingham and Mr. Wilson were very warmly welcomed.
The work to the foyer/hall meant that we had to cancel the Welcome disco but look forward to the Christmas disco on December 10th. It's not too soon to mention the House Evening in February next year; we are always after raffle prizes, refreshments and of course talent. If you would like to perform on your own or with your child/ children then please let us know.
Mr. Kennedy and Mrs.Lobley
Hunt House -
Welcome back to a new year at Theale Green. Not only would we like to extend a warm welcome to the new students in Hunt House, but also to our new tutors who have joined us over the summer. In year 7 Mrs. Crossley (7HA) and Mr. Moreton (7HB) are new to the school and Miss Butcher (7HC) transfers from Piper House. In Year 8 Miss Clarke takes over 8HC, in Year 9 Mr.Rwigamba becomes the tutor of 9HB and in the sixth form Mr.Markiewicz has a joint Hunt/Scott tutor group. The highlight of every winter term is undoubtedly the Hunt House Evening. This year's spectacular takes place on November 26th and the Hunt prefect team are looking for students to either perform or help back stage. If you would like to get involved, or simply attend a great evening of entertainment, please approach the prefects or us.
Mr. Carter and Mrs Walters
Piper House.- Enter The Dragon - All the news that is fit to print from Piper House
Staff:
With the start of the new school year we welcome new tutors to Piper House: Mr. Tranter 8PB, Ms.Lucena 9PA, Mr.Mann 9PB and Mrs.Flux 9PC. They have made a great start and we wish them well for the rest of the year. Mr.Shears has also started in new position as Piper House Deputy and he is settling in well, getting used to the ways of Spike!
Piper House PTA:
We have had two PTA meetings so far this term and the next meeting will be on Thursday 25th November. Come along if you are interested. If you would like to join the Piper House PTA, please contact Mr.Upton on 01189 308511. Piper PTA beat Benyon PTA at skittles in a close fought game earlier this term and a good time was had by all.
Senior Prefects/ Prefects:
A very big thank you to the new Piper prefects who have helped with a range of events and have been a credit to Piper House this term.
Trips:
We are going swimming to Coral Reef, with Years 7 and 8 on Wednesday 20th October.
Dougie Upton, Mark Shears & Spike the Dragon wish all our readers a very happy, relaxing half term!
SCOTTIE NEWS -
It has been a hectic half- term with all our students and staff having to adapt to changes in the school day. However our new students - mainly Year 7, have settled down brilliantly. Well done!
I was delighted to see so many new parents at our New Tutors Evening. We do appreciate your support.
Unfortunately, both our Year 7 Welcome Disco and our Year 7-9 discos have had to be postponed but we will be re-arranging these for later in the term.
At the moment our Prefects are doing a great job organising slots for the House Evening. This is our biggest event of the year, so please come along on FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19TH AT 7.30pm to support the students and Scott House.
Please do remember that you can ring about any concerns related to Scott students on 01189 308512. This number should also be used to report student absence, or to ask about second-hand uniform.