1 Issue No 18/2015-2016

Thetford Grammar School

The small, friendly school that gets results for individuals.

5th February 2016

Dear Parents and Pupils,

We have had another very positive and busy week here at Thetford Grammar School. I had

the great fortune to meet with Mr Frank Onians, an old boy of the school now in his eighties,

who started his schooling with us in 1937. I had a fascinating hour and a half with him and

his fond recollections of TGS and Thetford prior to and during the Second World War. Much

of the mischief he and his friends got up to is reminiscent of youngsters today. Frank’s

subsequent career in engineering, technology and science, particularly his involvement in

atomic weaponry and later on as an Executive of IBM in the USA and here in the UK, were

things that I feel current pupils and students (and staff) at TGS might be interested in at a

future date.

I was delighted to meet with parents at our scheduled Tea and Talk on Wednesday

afternoon from 3.30pm until approximately 5.00pm. Some of the very interesting topics that

we discussed were:

Christmas Lunch and Cross Country – timing issues for children

Work Experience and/or Careers Advice for younger children i.e. KS3

UCAS applications and interview practice particularly for Year 12 students

A request for more information to be sent home for parents e.g. transparency and

frequency of academic and/or pastoral information

Internal examination validity and the role of the Head of Department

Additional subjects on the curriculum

My appreciation is extended to Mr Mark Glassbrook, Miss Daniella Dunsmore and Mrs

Kathrin Elders for attending and providing some very useful additional perspectives for

parents.

I am looking forward to watching lots of happy and competitive children at our Preparatory

and Pre-Prep School’s Swimming Gala. This is taking place later on this afternoon at

Breckland Leisure Centre, coordinated by Mr Michael Hill and all Preparatory School staff. I

shall be delighted to see lots of parents cheering their children on in this House competition.

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

Mr Mark S. Bedford

Headmaster

2 Issue No 18/2015-2016

GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES

Rehearsals are in the final stages and the cast are polishing their

performance in readiness for opening night on Tuesday 9th

February.

There is a rehearsal scheduled for Sunday 7th February from

10.00am – 4.00pm in Williamson Hall.

Tickets are priced at £5.00 for adults and £2.50 for concessions and

are available from the school office.

Performance showings:

Tuesday 9th February 2016 at 7.00pm

Wednesday 10th February 2016 at 7.00pm

Mrs Juliet Boyce

Head of Drama

Y6 DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

In Design Technology this term Y6 pupils are making motorised

cars. Different types of vehicles were discussed first. The pupils

then had to design the type of car they wanted to make. The

planning stage incorporated a rough design of what they wanted to

make and the design criteria. The children then went over to the

Senior DT room where they started to

make the chassis for their car. They

really enjoyed the experience of

working in the Senior DT room.

Mrs Renate Dimminger

Year 4/5 Class Teacher

3 Issue No 18/2015-2016

Y12/13 PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS CONFERENCE

On Thursday 4th February myself and Mr

Hill took fourteen students from Y12 and

Y13 to an Ethics conference at the

Guildhall in Cambridge. The conference

was a day of university-style lectures led

by Dr Peter Vardy and Dr David Webster.

The subject matters of genetic engineering,

the right to a child, issues within sexual

ethics and Kantian ethics were delivered in

an engaging and thought-provoking,

informative way and students were able to

partake in an open debate: "This house

believes everyone should have the right to a child". Y13 student, Lauren Haylock, showed

courage and conviction in taking to the mic in the closing section of the debate. Excellent

attitudes from all.

Miss Daniella Dunsmore

Head of RS

PRE-PREPARATORY SCHOOL DINO TEETH

Continuing on with their dinosaur topic this half term, Pre-Preparatory have been looking at

teeth. After a discussion about which teeth we bite with and which teeth we chew with, the

children put it to the test by munching on some tasty apples! The children later made some

pointy teeth from clay and attached them to a piece of string which means they are now the

proud owners of their very own dinosaur tooth necklace.

“Sharp teeth look like triangles!” Holly said.

Miss Julie Blakemore

Pre-Preparatory Class Teacher

4 Issue No 18/2015-2016

WORLD BOOK DAY

Thursday 3rd March is World Book Day and we have a number of exciting events

organized for that week.

Monday 29th February Alex Scarrow – Author visit with Senior School pupils

‘A Pirate Adventure’ for Preparatory pupils

Tuesday 1st March Senior Library Book Quiz

Wednesday 2nd March Preparatory Library Book Quiz

Thursday 3rd March Preparatory School Book Character Day and the ‘Story of Mary

Anning’

Friday 4th March Tasty Book Competition – cakes/cupcakes with a book theme

Finally on Monday 22nd February we have the chance to take part in a Guinness World

Record Official Attempt – more details to follow.

Mrs Julie Settle

Librarian

YEAR 4/5 COOKERY

Each half-term a different class in the Preparatory School tries their hand at cookery over 5

weeks. Each class makes a starter, a salad, a main meal, cakes and sweets. This term it is the

turn of Year 4/5, who made butterfly cakes this week. The children have to read their

recipes, weigh out their ingredients, follow their recipes and mix it all together to produce

the finished article. Each week we have ‘Star Bakers’, who work carefully, listen to all

instructions, wash-up and tidy away all their things and finish their cookery in plenty of

time. Well done Oscar Foreman and Thomas Lyes for winning two weeks in a row. Yummy!

Mrs Julie Foreman

Class Teacher

5 Issue No 18/2015-2016

Y6 GIDEON BIBLES

Pupils in Y6 enjoyed a visit from former TGS teacher, Mr Dennis on Wednesday. Mr Dennis

spoke to them about the history and Biblical inspiration of the formation of the Gideons and

the sort of work they do today. Children had the opportunity to ask questions and to take

home a Gideon Bible if they wanted to. They were amazed at the number of different ways

the Bible could be presented depending on which group was receiving it. Excellent attitudes

from all - especially Tom Hayden and Sam Sidery who contributed enthusiastically

throughout.

Miss Daniella Dunsmore

Head of RS

BIG SCHOOLS BIRD WATCH

Children across Preparatory School have taken part in the

annual Big Schools Birdwatch this week. The children have

kept a tally of the birds that they have seen and these results

will be submitted to the RSPB. All of the children really

enjoyed taking part.

Mrs Nicki Peace

Head of Preparatory School

6 Issue No 18/2015-2016

CONGRATULATIONS

In our whole school assembly today certificates were presented to Augustus Altuccini,

Alexandra Ackerman and Ruby Robertson for their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award.

Sports Colours were awarded to Oliver Lingard.

Congratulations to the following pupils who received certificates from Mrs Peace in Monday

morning’s assembly.

Ben Mason Kit Beaven Joshua Kriehn-Morris Emily Bradfield

Maia Foreman Holly Mabbett Harry Lyes Max Ladell

Connie Foreman Fearn Bourne Thomas Lyes Oscar Foreman

Also, well done to the following pupils who represented the school at the Breckland Schools

Swimming Gala on 26th January 2016

Freestyle Maia Foreman Y6 = Heat winner Sam Bercovici Y5 = 2nd place

Tom Hayden Y6 = Heat winner Oscar Harris Y4 = 2nd place

Ryan Bourne Y6 = Heat winner Oscar Foreman Y4 = 3rd place

Backstroke Tom Hayden Y6 = Heat winner Maia Foreman Y6 = 2nd place

Oscar Foreman Y4 = Heat winner Sam Bercovici Y6 = 2nd place

Oscar Harris Y4 = Heat winner Fearn Bourne Y4 = 2nd place

Breaststroke Maia Foreman Y6 = Heat winner Tom Hayden Y6 = 2nd place

Ryan Bourne Y6 = Heat winner Sam Bercovici Y6 = 2nd place

Oscar Harris Y4 = Heat winner

Butterfly Ryan Bourne Y6 = Heat winner Tom Hayden Y6 = 2nd place

Sam Bercovici Y6 = Heat winner Maia Foreman Y6 = 4th place

Oscar Harris Y4 = Heat winner

The following four pupils represented the school in the Norfolk County Cross Country

competition on 1st February 2016 at Gresham’s School with over 80 runners. Well done to all

the boys!

Ryan Bourne Y6 35th place

Matthew Kendell Y6 55th place

Arlo Greenwood Y4 68th place

Thomas Hayden Y6 75th place

7 Issue No 18/2015-2016

YOUNG WRITERS’ COMPETITION

I would like to congratulate the following pupils Isabel Curley, Alana Wilson, Daisy

Simons, Zoe Kendall, Tom Bercovici and Samuel Jones whose entries for the Young

Writers’ Competition have been accepted for publication. Their task was to produce a spine-

chilling narrative of no more than 100 words. Well done to you all.

Mrs J. Bull

English Department

MATCH RESULTS

Tuesday 2nd February U14 Netball v Finborough

U14 Football v Finborough

Lost 7 - 34

Lost 2 - 1

NEXT WEEK’S FIXTURES

No Fixtures

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Sunday 7th February Grimm’s Tales Drama Rehearsals 10.00am – 4.00pm

Tuesday 9th February ABRSM Exams Old School all day

Y10 Maths Feast 4.00pm – 7.00pm St Benedict’s School

Grimm’s Tales School Production 7.00pm – 8.30pm WH

Wednesday 10th February Olly Day Road Safety Magic Show for EYFS - Y6

ABRSM Exams Old School am

Y10/11 Immunisations – am

Grimm’s Tales School Production 7.00pm – 8.30pm WH

Thursday 11th February Higher Education Evening 7.00pm – 8.30pm Old School

Endeavours’ Assembly at 9.00am in W9

Friday 12th February Prep School Fun Swim at 2.30pm at Breckland Leisure Centre

LAST DAY OF HALF TERM

Tuesday 23rd February Y10 Parents’ Evening in Williamson Hall

Wednesday 24th February PSA Meeting 4.15pm – 5.15pm H5. All welcome

Thursday 25th February Senior School Open Afternoon

8 Issue No 18/2015-2016

LIVING HISTORY – BBC 2

Families with children in Y6 and above are wanted for an ambitious new BBC 2 Living

History series which is filming Easter 2016. The series will be recreating the Victorian East

End of London and the BBC will populate it with families who have ancestral connections

with the slum areas of Victorian Britain’s industrial cities. If you are interested you can find

out more at casting@walltowall.co.uk or 0207 241 9228. Children of any of the families taking

part must be over 10 years old.

Mrs Cathie Reynolds

School Secretary

SAINSBURY’S ACTIVE KIDS VOUCHERS

Active Kids vouchers started again on Wednesday 27th

January, so please collect as many vouchers as you can from

any Sainsbury’s stores and place in the Preparatory School

foyer in the special box provided. Last year we received some

new sports equipment, games and cooking equipment for the

children to use during their break, lunchtimes and cookery lessons. Thank you for your

support in this venture.

Mrs Issy Cracknell

Preparatory School Secretary

BLAZERS

Could we please remind pupils that blazers must be worn into school every day under their

outdoor coats. Thank you.

Mrs Kathrin Elders

Deputy Head

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.

Mrs Cathie Reynolds

School Secretary

9 Issue No 18/2015-2016

MISSING BOOKS

Please could pupils check at home for school copies of Noughts & Crosses by Mallorie

Blackman and any Latin text books they are no longer using and return them to the school

office please.

Mrs Jane Bull

English Department

ATTACHMENTS

None

FORTHCOMING LETTERS

Pre-Prep – Y6 Curriculum Coverage

Y10 Parents’ Evening

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