1 Issue No 15/ 2015-2016

Thetford Grammar School

The small, friendly school that gets results for individuals.

15th January 2016

Dear Parents and Pupils,

Once again, it has certainly been a very active and exciting week. The highlight for most, perhaps, was the snow flurries yesterday morning and evening here at Thetford Grammar School. I would like to ask for extra caution when walking around the school sites as we do need to be careful not to slip and fall. Particularly apt was that we held our Ski Information Meeting yesterday in Williamson Hall. My thanks to Mrs Alison Alecock and Mrs Heather Pringle for providing a very useful talk on the Ski Trip to Pila, Italy from 19th March to 27th March, for the benefit of pupils and parents.

All of the Mock Examinations for Years 11, 12 and 13 have now concluded with results forthcoming over the following few days. I do hope that our pupils and students are considering ways to correct any errors and make improvements for the formal public examinations starting near the middle of May. Preparations should start now to ensure even greater success. Our Whole School Assembly had the theme ‘Success and Failure’ this morning. It is important for us all, in my view, to continually persevere against adversity, seek assistance when we feel things are too much and ultimately try to achieve what we can.

Later on today Preparatory School pupils and Sixth Form students will be participating in a Tree Dressing event near Fulmerston Hall. This is part of the Breaking New Ground project, organised with a number of other local schools here in Norfolk and Suffolk to extend our outdoor learning activities and celebrate the Breckland landscape. Mrs Nicki Peace, Head of Preparatory School and Mrs Tracy Granger, Head of Science, have been instrumental in ensuring our youngsters are learning more about biodiversity and helping them to engage with nature.

My thanks to you for your responses to the TGS Parent Survey that was sent out on Monday 11th January. I do strongly concur with you that we do have many, many things that we are rightly proud of here at our school. If you have not yet had the chance to reply, I shall appreciate your thoughts and ideas for any school improvement considerations in due course.

We are looking forward to receiving many prospective pupils tomorrow morning for their Entrance Examinations starting at 9.00am. These will be held in Old School and should conclude by 1.00pm.

My wishes to you all for a very warm and happy weekend break.

Mr Mark S. Bedford

Headmaster

2 Issue No 15/ 2015-2016

BREAKING NEW GROUND

Today, Y6 and Y12 pupils came together to take part in their second session with Mia Witham, who is a representative of the Breaking New Ground project.

The theme for this session was entitled 'If I was a Tree, what would I be? If I was a Tree, what would I see?’ The pupils found out about the importance of trees today and in the past. They talked about how long trees live for and then estimated how long the pine tree that they would be planting in the grounds may live and what it will see in its lifetime. Using specialist materials provided by Mia, the pupils made tree decorations which were inspired by the future, i.e. what the tree will see. Following on from this practical session, Y6 and Y12 were joined by the

rest of the Prep school to watch the planting of the pine tree which marks TGS involvement with the Breaking New Ground project. Both Mr Bedford and Mia Witham then gave short speeches to all staff and pupils about the importance of the project. Mrs N. Peace Head of Preparatory School PREPARATORY SCHOOL PE/ CLUBS/ SWIMMING LESSONS As the weather is becoming increasingly colder and wetter please can you ensure that all children bring into school each week their named jogging bottoms, school t-shirt and school sweatshirt/hoodie to wear before and after the above lessons. Coats should also be worn whilst travelling to and from the Breckland Leisure Centre for the swimming lessons. Also as the weather is turning particularly wintery please ensure that pupils wear a named coat to school each day and if necessary a named hat and gloves to wear during lunch and break times whilst enjoying outside playtime.

3 Issue No 15/ 2015-2016

BABY VISIT! On Tuesday 12th January, Preparatory School staff and pupils were delighted to welcome back Miss Travers with her baby Toby who is now two and a half months old. All of the children were very excited to meet Toby for the first time and had lots of questions to ask.

Mrs Nicki Peace Head of Preparatory School

PRE-PREPARATORY CHINESE DRAGONS MUSIC LESSON

Pre-Preparatory have had fun in Music, learning about Chinese dragons. We watched a video about the Chinese New Year, where a really colourful dragon danced round the streets in a Chinese city, chasing away the bad spirits and throwing little packets of money to people. The children then chose instruments to accompany the dragon dancing and also enjoyed pretending to be a Chinese dragon, dancing round the hall.

We all had a lot of fun, especially Miss Atkins and Mrs Foreman.

Mrs Julie Foreman

Class Teacher

SKI TRIP 2ND HAND CLOTHING Following the Ski Information evening we have had some items of ski wear sent into school for sale – if you would like to view any of it please contact Cathie in the office to arrange a time to come in. CAR SHARE We have a family in the Scarning area who are looking for another family to car share with on a daily basis. If anyone can help, please contact the office for further information.

4 Issue No 15/ 2015-2016

GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES Rehearsals have already resumed as we begin the final preparations for this year’s extravaganza! Mrs Boyce has been working furiously with her co-directors, Finn Humphris and Emily Bell and the performers are slowly bringing the stories to life. The programme and tickets are nearly completed which means that we are on target to begin selling them during the 2 weeks prior to the show. A letter will be going home in a week or so regarding the possibility of Sunday rehearsals. Just to confirm that the dates are: Tuesday 9th Feb Wednesday 10th Feb Ticket prices are £5 per adult and £2:50 for children and OAPs. SCHOOLBLAZER SALE

We have been advised by Schoolblazer that their January sale will finish at midnight on the 31st January 2016. As usual 20% will be taken off all in stock items. If you have already shopped with them they will email you directly.

LOST PROPERTY Sam White Black games sock

White PE sock Named Named

Rory White Coat Blue, Next Andrew Forbes Analogue watch Light blue strap John Jenkins Leicester Tigers scarf Green/Red – brand new Joseph Ramsbottom TGS Hoodie named Ben Mason Black PE joggers named Ethan Harris TGS black coat Named in the coat seam Joshua Kriehn-Morris School jumper unnamed Arlo Greenwood Wallet Red with black outline Hamish Russell PE top named Ben Jacob-Haigh Cake box Plastic with a green lid Freddie Bayne Blazer named Franzi Elders Pe sock Black, named Tomás Morgan PE shorts Named Owen Wortley Shoes Black School Shoes Joe Lawson Shoes Black School Shoes

5 Issue No 15/ 2015-2016

CONGRATULATIONS

Cecily White, Y11, who plays Rugby for Diss and the Eastern Counties Squad, has been selected to trial at divisional level on Sunday at the Saracens ground in London. Well done Cecily and good luck!

Congratulations to the following Prep-school pupils that received certificates from Mrs Peace in Monday morning’s assembly: Annabella Ellis Harry Lyes Tom Hayden Cassidy Goodwin Elliot Bedford Jiya Changela Sam Bercovici Ryan Bourne Nathan Murfitt Thomas Lyes Maia Foreman Matthew Kendall

MATCH RESULTS

Wednesday 13th January U13s v Eccles Hall Won 9 - 0 NEXT WEEK’S FIXTURES Tuesday 19th January 2pm – 5.45pm U15 Football v Finborough (A) U15 Netball v Finborough (A) Wednesday 20th January 3.45pm – 4.00pm U12 & U13 Netball League v Finborough (H) U13 Football v Finborough (H) Thursday 21st January 3.15pm – 5.30pm U16 Netball v Sacred Heart (A)

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Monday 18th January Y6 Internal Entrance Exams Y11 -13 Introduction to GCSE/A2/AS Art Exams Tuesday 19th January Pre-Prep - Y3 Road Safety with Bethany & Benjamin Bear Y6 Red/Light Green Light Road Safety with Mr Banham Wednesday 20th January Prep School Open Morning Y12/Y13 Parents’ Evening WH 6.00pm – 8.30pm Friday 22nd January Pre-Prep – Y6 Swimming Lessons at Breckland Leisure Centre Monday, 25th January Y7 Norwich Castle Trip Thursday, 28th January Y11 Parents’ Evening WH 6.00pm – 8.30pm Monday 1st February Breckland SSP Winter Games Cross Country Greshams School, Holt Friday 5th February Prep School House Swimming Gala at 2.00pm at Breckland Leisure

Centre ATTACHMENTS Y11 Parents’ Evening letter. Click here to view

FORTHCOMING LETTERS

Y2/3 Cookery Y11 Y13 Commonwealth Service Letter

If you would like a printed copy of this newsletter please contact the office.