Dear Parents and Carers,

It’s hard to believe that it’s the end of another year, but it’s even harder to believe how much our students

and staff have achieved in the last 12 months. We’re expecting a strong set of results this summer, but it’s

not just that – the school is such a great place to learn and teach and grow up in thanks to their efforts, and

to your support for your children as learners.

As I write 20 Year 11s are completing an intensive course to gain an additional qualification in ICT that is

entirely above and beyond what they or the ICT team of teachers had to do – but it will help those students

gain extra opportunities, and so staff and students are working together to make it happen. Our wonderful

Choir have just been filmed by Anglia TV as they prepare for their part in the Rugby World Cup in

September; they won’t gain any qualifications from that, but they will gain confidence and pride and an

understanding of what a great team can accomplish together. Donovan Blake thought they were an

exceptional group of young people – as do I. Year 11 graduation day was just as emotional and fun this year

as in the past – and as last year not a single person was worried or upset, because the celebrations were so

well managed by staff, and the Year 11 students were kind and considerate as they said their farewells

through foam cannons, bouncy castles, a fantastic leaver’s assembly, a Prom reception that was an event in

its own right, and a truly magical Prom. Next week we have a raft of trips , activities and visits planned,

primed and ready to go, and Year 10 get to sample the world of work. The great majority of them have

arranged extended work experience over part of the summer, learning self-reliance and resilience along the

way. Thanks so much to Mrs Swan and the Year 10 Pastoral Team for helping them get this sorted.

Truly, this has been a great year for Thurstable and all the individuals that make it the School that it is.

Thank you for your part in that, and have a wonderful summer.

Best Wishes MAS Bacon Head Teacher

Thurstable SCHOOL

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TOUCHLINE July 2015

SUPER CHEF

Yet again another huge thank you to all the students who entered Super Chef year after year the students amaze us with their culinary skills. This year was no different and the array of different ingredients used and dishes produced was quite astounding.

Students entered Super Chef with a two course menu that was designed to impress…and impress they did! After four heats we managed to choose Mitchell Barber, Joely David, Ethan Griffiths, Tabitha Hall, Kelisse Spooner and Charlie Warner to go through to the final on 14th July, on this day students made their two course meals for a panel of judges.

What a fantastic final! The atmosphere was electric, energy flowed, and students produced stunning impressive courses. As always it was hard to make the final decisions, but after much deliberation the judges decided on:

1st place Mitchell Barber 2nd place Ethan Griffiths 3rd place Charlie Warner Miss Hoddy & Mrs Doe

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Achieve More Belong More Be More

DISABILITY

NATIONAL

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Darcey Monaghan took part

in the Disability National

Championships in Coventry

this weekend. She won

Gold in the 100m, Gold in

the Grip Ball and Silver in

the 4x100m Relay! Well

done Darcey!

The Sixth Form celebrated the end of a busy year with a party at Trotters in Colchester. Thank

you to Ben Tape for organising the music. We enjoyed a Hog roast and said farewell to Year 13

with our best wishes for the future as they get ready for university or to start work.

SAILING SUCCESS

Over the last couple of years

Chloe has progressed with

her sailing at Tollesbury

Sailing Club, passing her

second wave with flying

colours and competing in

races. She is looking forward

to another busy summer on

the water and hoping to add

to her medal collection. Well

done Chloe!

YEAR 7 ROUNDERS CHAMPIONS!

Congratulations to the Year 7 Rounders Team on winning the central venue competition. The team competed against other schools in Colchester and progressed through to the top play off pool with CCHS and Philip Morant. The final (played last week) ended with no result as all three teams drew with each other and incredibly had scored the same amount of Rounders. A rematch was scheduled, and in the first game Thurstable faced CCHS, which resulted in a 4-4 draw (AGAIN). The second match against Philip Morant Thurstable won 10 1/2 to 4. Although we had won, Thurstable had a nervous wait to see the result from the final game, CCHS beat Philip Morant by 6 1/2 Rounders. Thurstable were crowned champions! The team has been fantastic all season and have trained hard. Team members are: Molly Kemp, Frankie Acerbis, Holly Cox, Chloe Mainwood, Fran Mann, Lauren Ahern, Olivia Evans, F r ey a Wa l ton , Gracie Walton, Gracie Clarke and N a t a l i e B o n d . Rounders club for all years is on Tuesday afterschool . Well Done girls; you were fantastic.

Achieve More Belong More Be More

SIXTH FORM AWARDS 2015

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YEAR 11 PROM 2015

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CHARITIES DAY

Friday 26 June was a non uniform day for each year group to raise funds for their chosen charity or charities.

Mr Servantes, Head of Year 9 volunteered to be sponged by the students to also raise money for their

chosen charity. The total amounts raised are below:

HEALTH CAREERS EVENT

On Friday 26th June, we hosted a Health Careers Event in School for Year 12’s who are currently studying BTEC Diploma in Health & Social Care, and also invited Year 11’s who have applied to study this subject from September in Thurstable 6th Form. The invitation was also extended to Year 12’s from Phillip Morant, Harwich School and Clacton County High School. We were very privileged to have inspiring exhibitors attending the event from Princess Alexandra Hospital, Anglia Ruskin University Midwifery faculty, Tiptree SCOPE, KTM Care, Colchester Institute, University of Essex and St Helena’s Hospice. The Midwives from Anglia Ruskin University held a very interesting and interactive workshop for the students to help them gain an understanding of progression from Health & Social Care into studying Midwifery at Degree Level and what would be involved on the course.

The Pathologist from Princess Alexandra Hospital brought along her Microscope for students to look at which also attracted Year 12 A Level Science students to be inspired and talk to her about her profession.

Colchester Institute talked to students about Apprenticeships courses in Dental Nursing, Mental Health and Counselling courses and to raise awareness of their HE Open Event at the weekend as a possible progression route.

Staff from the University of Essex promoted their Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy courses as another route for Health & Social Care students.

Year 12 Students from Philip Morant and Clacton County High School arrived on minibuses throughout the morning and were also able talk to the exhibitors about possible careers paths from Health & Social Care. It was a very interesting and inspiring event for all the students involved and the exhibitors gave positive feedback about the great questions and discussions they were able to have with them. Mrs Swan

HE SUPERFAIR

On Wednesday 1st July we offered all Year 12 students the opportunity to visit the Higher Education SuperFair at the Anglia Ruskin University. They were able to collect information about Universities, Colleges and Higher Education courses with over 100 stands there providing advice and prospectuses. In addition throughout the day the students were able to visit talks on various subjects and topics, e.g. Modular Degrees, Admissions to Cambridge and Oxford, Law and Media Studies. Each student who attended had to pre-register in advance to enable UCAS to send them some useful information to help them make the most of their time at the convention. It was a very informative and useful event on one of the hottest days of the year! Mrs Cowling & Mrs Swan

Year 7 MIND £198.15

Year 8 Childhood Eye Cancer Trust

and FACE Animal Charity

£158.44

Year 9 MacMillan £190.01

Year 10 Action Aid £184.84

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SPORTS AWARDS

The major award winners were:

Contribution to Sport winners- Sarah Pascall

and George Pendrigh

Out of school achievement Runner up- Richard Crisp

and Darcey Monaghan

Out of School Winner- Louis Dunne

Sports Leader Runner Ups - Amy Rosamond, Ellie Rosamond

and Daisy Thompson

Sports Leader Winner - Beth Morrell

Superteam of the Year - Yr 11 Boys Football Team

Sports Personality Runner up - Euan Chess

Sports Personality Winner - Beth Morrell

CHESSINGTON WORLD OF ADVENTURES

Early on a Saturday morning Mrs Jacobs, Mr Kaufman, Miss Wolff and I found ourselves awaiting the arrival of 49 Year 8 students ready for a fun packed day at Chessington World of Adventures. Students and staff had a fantastic day, being very lucky with the weather. The staff were very impressed with the behaviour of the students and the coach driver remarked on what a nice group they were. Mr Walters & Mrs Jacobs

WHITE WATER RAFTING

On Wednesday 8th July, 8 pupils were invited to go to Lee Valley to the Olympic White Water Centre to participate in some white water rafting. These pupils were selected to celebrate the pupils contribution to the school’s PE department. On arrival to the centre, pupils were able to participate in some mini tennis, where they took advantage of the opportunity to hit with a coach and then play some mini games. Pupils then participated in white water rafting, where the pupils had the chance to negotiate the course 3 times. This provided much entertainment. After this the pupils then participated in some kayaking before going home. Mr Servantes

Save £££’s on a day out & avoid

the queues!!

Adventure Island - Save up to £10.80

on Big Adventure (height over 1.2m) &

£9.05 on Junior Adventure (height 1m –

1.2m)

Colchester Zoo – Save up to £4 per

adult & £3 per child

Sea life Adventure – Save up to £4 per

adult & £1.95 per child

Discounted entry tickets have a long

‘valid until’ date & are available from

Maldon Tourist Information Centre,

Wenlock Way, Maldon, CM9 5AD. Tel:

01621 856503.

Open 10:00-16:00 on Mon, Tues,

Thurs, Fri, Sat & Summer Bank

Holidays.

THURSTABLE SCHOOL P T F A

Group Details Days / Events / Times Contact Names Contact Numbers

Zumba Classes Wed 7.30pm - 8.30pm Lisa Francis 07870584245

The Laura Rampton Dance School Monday 6pm - 7pm Laura Rampton 07876702369

Starlight Dancing Saturday 8am - 11am (2nd Saturday every month) Lorraine Burrell 01621 860447

KYDS Youth Drama Society Annual Show Mrs Ann Morton 07789163398

Tiptree & District Flower Club Annual Flower Demonstration Mrs P Sandy 01621 815748

The British Fuchsia Society Annual Show Mr H Reed 01394 270429

Tollesbury Dance School Annual Dance Show

Tiptree Garden Club & Horticultural Society March/Sept Shows David Mansfield 01621 813040

Tiptree PTA Consortium of Primary Schools Primary School Prom in July

Jenny Hill School of Dance Annual Show- Ballet/Modern Theatre/Tap Jenny Hill 01206 734701

Jenny Hill School of Dance Friday 4.15 - 7.00pm (Starts 10th January 2014) Jenny Hill 01206 734701

REGULAR BOOKINGS

IMPORTANT DATES

Mon 20th July - Year 6 Induction Day Mon 20th July to Wed 22nd July - Activities Week Mon 20th July to Wed 22nd July - Work Experience Year 10’s Wed 22nd July - Last day of term - Early Close 2pm Wed 29th July - Anglia Sports & Schoolwear Sale 11am - 3pm Thurs 13th Aug - ‘A’ Level Results Day Thurs 20th Aug - GCSE Results Day Thurs 27th Aug - Year 12 Induction Day Fri 28th Aug - Year 13 Induction Day Thurs 3rd & Fri 4th September - Non Pupil Days Mon 7th Sept - First day of term Fri 11th Sept - Student Photos Tues 29th Sept - Open Evening Years 7-11

Wed 30th Sept & Thurs 1st Oct - School Tours

Tues 20th Oct - Sixth Form Open Evening and Colchester United Trials

Thurs 22nd Oct - Last day of term

Thurs 22nd Oct - Battlefields Parents Information Evening 6pm

Fri 23rd Oct - Non Pupil Day

Mon 26th Oct - Fri 30th Oct - Half Term

Mon 2nd Nov - First day of term

Achieve More Belong More Be More

Thurstable PTFA July 2015

This school year has been a successful year for the PTFA. We started in November with our Annual Firework Display which we share with the Tiptree Scouts team. In December we had our wonderful ‘Christmas at Thurstable’ Big Band Night. Then started the New Year with the 25th Anniversary of our Annual Quiz night where we said goodbye to our Quiz Master for the past 25 years Mr Larry Hartley who has now retired. Our last event was in May when we teamed up with Jobserve Social Committee to run one of our best ever Race Night events. This was a sell out and great success, we will be joining up with Jobserve again next year.

In between these events we also ran a Christmas Hamper draw, an Easter Hamper draw and finally our Grand Summer Draw with twenty five prizes. The total amount of funding raised by the PTFA was over £3000, most of this money has already been used to fund projects throughout the school. Of course none of this would come to fruition without the support of the parents whose children attend Thurstable school and the primary schools in Tiptree and surrounding areas. So a big thank you to you all and to the fantastic Thurstable PTFA team.

If you would like to see how our funding was spent this school year OR when our next event is, please visit the PTFA Webpage on the school website.

Carol Hultquist - Chair Thurstable School PTFA