HEADTEACHER’S BLOG

Thursday 8th December It was good to see so many of you at the Winter Concert last week. The depth and range of performance was exceptional, as was the evident joy that the large numbers of our students who were involved drew from the part they played in the evening. There were an awful lot of rightly proud parents and grandparents that night, and I know that they would want to echo my thanks to the music teaching team of Mrs Thomson and Mr Raymond, and to the numbers of other staff who gave their time and support to allow our children to shine. The fact that we could hear them so clearly was down to our new sound system, to which we all owe the Thurstable PTFA a debt of gratitude for their fund raising. If you would like to contribute to the school in a very real way, and enjoy some fun and companionship along the way, you might consider joining them. Email Mrs Hultquist, Chair of the PTFA on hultquistc@thurstable.essex.sch.uk if you would like further details.

Christmas preparations are well underway, with Christmas Dinner tickets now on ParentPay - as usual for a bargain price. We want every one of our students who would like a Christmas Dinner with us to be able to have one, but we do need to know numbers in advance so that we can accommodate them. Get your tickets now.

The hot debate of the moment is whether or not we should have bingo at the Senior Citizen’s Christmas Lunch. Currently, it looks like we have so much to share with them in terms of student performance and service that there won’t be time. I’m sure they won’t mind – we are rank amateurs at bingo, but top of the tree when it comes to supporting young people to develop and share their talents.

MAS Bacon Head Teacher

Merit Roll of Honour

Yr 7 Harvey Murton Charlotte Polley

Yr 8 Betsy Garnett

Yr 9 Samuel Dover

Yr 10 Thomas Dalton

Yr 11 Victoria Culling Maisie Leavett Jessica Rayner

Achieve More Belong More Be More

Thurstable

SCHOOL

Newsletter

9 December 2016

Tutor Group Merit Table Week 13 & 14

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11

1st CGA TGO DYU KPR LCA

2nd JCS EBO EBR MBS/MBR KHU

3rd MWI FWA SCA/CUP STH KSE RTH

4th RST PLA RHE PBI JBE

Tutor Group Attendance Table Week 13 &14

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11

1st CGA EBO NWI LMA KSE

2nd AFR TGO KMC KPR CDO

3rd RCO FWA DYU MBS/MBR RTH/LWI

4th RST PLA SCA/CUP PBI LCA

Adult

Christmas

Hamper

THURSTABLE PTFA CHRISTMAS HAMPERS

If you would like the chance to win a Christmas hamper please use the links below for more information.

POLAND TRIP We arrived at school at 04:00, far too early in the morning to be awake, but we knew that it would be worth it once we arrived in Poland. The flight was easy and as soon as we arrived we were given a quick lunch before being whisked straight into the action. Our trip began with a tour of Krakow’s beautiful old town, including the magnificent Wawel Castle. Then we got a brief chance to go to the main square, which is the largest of its kind in Europe. The next day was the day of the visit to Auschwitz, but before that we took a trip into the depths below Krakow. The trip to the salt mines began with a trip down hundreds of steps - just to get to level one! Once inside the salt mines we got to feel a totally different climate with a cool breeze blowing around. The salt mines (aptly named!) had walls made of pure salt. Just to make sure the tour guide wasn’t lying I tested this out myself – it’s true they were extremely salty! After the mines we had some time to spare so headed off to a huge shopping centre back in Krakow where we were able to get some souvenirs and have lunch. Afterwards we started the journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau. We were not prepared for what we were about to go through. Our tour guide helped us to understand some of the horrors that went on in there and ultimately shaped history. Even after being there it is still hard to imagine the full extent of what went on. It was a day that we will never forget and an experience that will change the way we think about the world we live in forever. The night gave us time to reflect on our day and the emotions that went with it. Our final day was a chance to see the Jewish district of Krakow and we got to experience the beautiful

architecture and culture that the Jewish community brings to Krakow. The previous evening we had visited a Jewish restaurant to sample their cuisine; whilst we ate we were serenaded with various Jewish songs from all over Europe. On our tour we went to a market and then to a museum to hear a talk from a survivor

of the holocaust. She was a very interesting woman. She told us her story of how was saved by a wealthy family who adopted her, despite the family facing the risk of prosecution because she was Jewish. Our final visit whilst on our trip was to Schindler’s factory, the famous site where Oskar Schindler helped to save over a thousand Jewish people from the wrath of the Nazi regime. We just had time to visit the main square before it was time to leave – back to England. Overall the trip was a deep insight into the horror of humanity and equally its beauty and creativity. Frederick Hacker - Year 11LCA

Child

Christmas

Hamper

Subject Stars Graphics Stars Molly Logan Alice Munson Joe Beadle Charlotte Cater Lucas Chilvers Lola Delafuente

11RTH 11JBE 10PBI

10LMA 9DYU 9EST

All for excellent coursework.

MFL Stars Libby Parker Jessica Richards Paige Burton

Louise Crocker Joe Peachey Thomas Lyall

7SPA 7RST 8TGO

8PLA 8SDR 8ETU

For excellent revision and consistent hard work in German. For outstanding work in German. For excellent work during a Kahoot revision session in German.

All for excellent results in French assessment owing to hard work and effort.

RE Star Amy Swallow 8EBO For her RE homework.

Calendar Dates 2016-2017 term dates and proposed non pupil days can be found on our website

Wed 25 - Fri 27 Jan - Bugsy Malone School Production Thurs 2 Feb - Year 7 Parents Evening Thurs 9 Feb - Year 10 Parents Evening Fri 10 Feb - Last day of term Thurs 6 July 2017 - Year 11 Prom

Mon 5 - Fri 16 December - Year 11 PPE Exams Thurs 8 Dec - Careers Fair 5.30-7.30pm Tues 20 Dec - Student Christmas Lunch Wed 21 Dec - Last day of term - Early close 2.00pm Thurs 5 Jan 2017 - First day of term

Trips and visits now booking and about to depart 20 December - Big Bang Science Course Trip - Yr 9 13 January 2017 - English Trip - An Inspector Calls - Yr 10 20 January 2017 - English Trip - An Inspector Calls - Yr 11 11-18 February 2017 - Italy Ski Trip - All Years 23 February 2017 - The Iron Man Drama Trip London - Yr7 2 March 2017 - Bletchley Park Computer Trip - Yr 9

1 April 2017 - French Day Trip -Yr 7 10-14 April 2017 - Geography Wales Trip - Yrs 10/11 17-19 July 2017 - Kingswood Camp - Yr 7 18-21 July 2017 - Germany Eifel Trip - Yr 8

13 Dec Year 7 Netball vs. Mark Hall (A)

14 Dec U16B Netball vs. TLA (A) Year 8 Essex Cup Plate Rugby Tournament (A)

15 Dec Year 7 Netball vs. Notley High (H)

29 Nov U14 Girls Football EFL Cup tournament Came 3rd overall

30 Nov Year 11 Girls Basketball vs. PMS Lost

6 Dec Year 11 Football vs. PMS Won 3-0

7 Dec Year 7 Netball vs. Helena Romanas Lost 12-11

Sporting Results Sporting Fixtures

SIXTH FORM

TRIP

Our Sixth form girls

e n j o y e d t h e i r

shopping on our

annual tr ip to

Stratford. Ms Failey

THURSTABLE SEES ENGLAND CONTINUE WINNING RUN

40 students from Y8-11 were lucky enough to visit Twickenham for the latest of England's Autumn Rugby internationals. After the long bus journey, the walk down to Twickenham Stadium was very imposing given it's 85,000 capacity! After trips to the food van and shops, the boys were inside the stadium for the real business of England v Argentina. After the noise of the anthems the England team were able to beat Argentina 27-14 despite having a player sent off in the first five minutes. The atmosphere was electric and the students really enjoyed the experience and hope to return again next year. Mr T Evans

COLCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL OPEN TRIALS

Our Male and Female Football College programmes are now recruiting for the 2017-2018 academic year. We are holding Open Trials for our Female Football College programme on Monday 19th December 2016 and for our Male Football College programme on Tuesday 20th December 2016 at Thurstable School.

For further information on the programme and the trials please use the links below.

Female Football College Programme

Male Football College Programme

SITE TEAM

After 30yrs + at Thurstable

Sandra Ross has decided to

hang up her duster and retire

from Cleaning. Best wishes

and a fond farewell from all

the Team.