Thamesview School

THAMES VIEWS

Special points of interest:- Fashion Show

Olympic Sports Day

Enterprise Activities

Inside this Issue:

Headteacher’s letter 2

Barcelona Trip 3

Important Dates 3

Prom 4

Summer Term

May 2012

Business & Enterprise

Please contact the school office for tickets—this

promises to be a fantastic evening!

Whenever it comes to raising money for charity the staff and students at Thamesview never let us down, this year’s Sport Relief appeal was no different. On Friday 23rd March 2012 Staff and Students were given the chance to wear their own clothes at the cost of £1 provided they wore something red. Many members of staff made cakes at home for students to buy during break and lunch and as you would imagine they proved quite popular and every last crumb sold to help raise money. Year 7 took part in a sponsored challenge to raise money called the BIG BOUNCE! Taking part in different sporting activities that involved bouncing a

ball or themselves as a team or as individuals. Teams of students took part in a mini basketball competition, trampolining and table tennis pairs for an hour on Friday afternoon. Other students took it upon themselves to dress up in characters to help raise money or wearing their pyjama's while at school. Special thanks must go to Mr Franks, Miss Rogers and Mr Robinson who led the sporting tasks as well as the Year 7 teachers who supported the events for a fun packed afternoon. So far the students have managed to raise £720.00 with sponsorship money still coming in. If you have yet to get your sponsorship money in then don’t delay, get your raised sponsorship money to Mrs Farr in the main office as soon as you can. Finally a huge well done to all the students who took part. Mr Chapman

Year 11 Prom... A splendid night was had by all who attended the Prom, and it was fabulous to have so many parents join us beforehand for drinks, canapés and photos. The girls looked like Princesses and the boys looked like James Bonds.

Read more on page 4.

Teaching Award Winner! The Kent Teachers’ Awards took place on 16th May, where our very own Helen Goodwin, won the Dartford and Gravesham Teaching Assistant Award and flew the flag for Thamesview. Helen works with youngsters on the Young Apprentice and Alternative Curriculum programmes. Mrs Goodwin’s commitment to highly challenging students has been recognised as enabling them to gain qualifications and go on to further education, employment or training. The Awards were organised by The KM Charity Team in Partnership with the KM Group and people were asked to nominate the County’s top teachers. There were more than 200 nominations. Another outstand-ing member of our staff. Well done!

Page 2 Summer Term 5

Thamesview’s Olympic Sports Day

Graduate Fashion Show!

The PE department have decided to incorporate the school’s Sports Day with the London 2012 Olympics. The school have enjoyed some very successful sports days over the past few years with lots of activities, lots of participation and lots of successful students; this will continue, but with many different things happening throughout the day that will contribute to community points and raise student awareness of the Olympics. Every student will be encouraged to participate in sporting activities; all of these will be ones that are in the Olympic Games. Students will also be able to choose different lessons to attend during the day which will be led by the different

departments within the school, which will all be Olympic based and focus on fun activities as well as improving student understanding of the Games. Do come and join us for the final events on 18th July—parental support is always encouraged!

Mr S Franks

On Friday 11th May, Year 10 and 11 Creative Art students went to watch a fashion show in London at Christ Church, Spitalfields. The show was of the final degree work of students at the University for the Creative Arts. There were two parts to the show and many designers, whose work was shown on the catwalk with professional models. My favourite was the work of Sarah Reardon who designed colourful, retro, prom style dresses with torn lace and jagged hemlines. Some of the designs were very unusual and made from wire. The visit has inspired lots of Thamesview students to apply for the UCA fashion summer school.

Amy Rich – Year 10

This term we took our Enterprise programme to Shorne Primary School and spent the day with Year 5. We ran two workshops during the morning: Lego Challenge and Jewellery Jangle. Two Year 10 students, Libby Friend and Maisie Lukes came with us on the day to help out. Thamesview students supported the younger ones during the first part of the morning and then acted as Jewellery buyers for the second task. Both Libby and Maisie are studying Business, and Health and Social Care, so the experience will help them with both courses. This is the third year we have been able to work with Shorne Primary School and as usual the children were very interested, energetic and creative.

We look forward to them joining us in 2014! Nerys Sandy B & E Co-ordinator

Enterprise Outreach Programme

Parental Support!

I want to thank our Year 11 Parents for their loyal support over the last 5 years; it has been a real partnership, and we have got there! Our students are now taking their final exams and we look forward to you joining us in August for

their results! It has been a pleasure to work alongside you, and to have your sons and daughters as part of our Thamesview family! These are just a few of our lovely families who joined us on the night of the Prom, and they, like me and the rest of the staff, look so proud. We can’t wait to hear all about their future successes. Rhiannon Hughes

Dear Parents, Carers, Staff, Governors, Students and Friends, Another busy Term, but we decided to keep this Newsletter brief, so that the Summer edition could be a big bumper one full of news before the final Summer holiday and all the farewells. So what’s new... we have re-written the Anti-bullying Policy (please see our website to review a copy) and we have introduced a lesson time mobile phone and Blackberry ban. This ban has gone down really well in terms of students being far more focused in lessons and not trying to check their messages, and it has meant that teachers can just get on and teach and are not having to battle with removing phones. We have also introduced a Tutor Reading on Tuesday (TRoT) initiative, where the whole school (including staff), take time to read for the 20 minute morning slot. It is lovely to walk around the school and see so many different genres of books and magazines being devoured by everyone, and we would encourage parents to speak with their children about the material that they are currently reading; this helps in students’ comprehension skills. In the Summer Term we intend to introduce the first gift book scheme, where the students will have the opportunity to choose one book for themselves from a catalogue of books, which the school would be honoured to purchase for them. If we can keep this scheme going, it will mean that eventually, every student in the school will own at least one book. I was surprised to discover only last week, that a student in Year 10 does not own a single book; if you are ever unsure what to get a child for Christmas, Birthday, or a ‘just because’ present, please think of books. The ability to enjoy reading and develop reading skills will help a student access opportunities throughout life.

Charity shops and car boot sales often have books from 10p to £1, so they are not expensive and often offer so many adventures that the reader can become engrossed in. To think, this is my penultimate Newsletter before I hand over the baton of leadership here at Thamesview; a very sad thought, but at least now, I can feel confident that I know the baton is going to the capable hands of Mr Harry Ingham, who has been appointed as my successor. Mr Ingham is currently Deputy Head at the Community College Whitstable, and will be joining the school as the new Headteacher for September 2012. We will be using the Summer Term to help in the handover, so that everyone can be assured that Mr Ingham will be ready to hit the ground running for the September start. Mr Ingham has said he is absolutely delighted to have been appointed and is really looking forward to taking on the school for his first Headship from the next academic year. What fun we have to look forward to as our Jubilee Day is on Friday; red, white and blue will be everywhere, but then with the Olympics this year too, it is certainly a colour scheme we need for our wardrobe. Have a great half-term and enjoy any street parties you may be sharing and let’s hope for sunshine.

Best wishes, Rhiannon Hughes

Headteacher

Above: Mr Harry Ingham

Page 3 Summer Term 5

Key Events: Friday 1st June - Last day of Term 5 Monday 11th June - First day of Term 6 Friday 29th June - Staff Training Day (no school) Thursday 5th July - Yr 11 (new) Parents’ Evening Tuesday 17th July - Summer Concert at 7.00pm Wednesday 18th July - Sports Day Friday 20th July - Last day of Term 6 Staff Development Day:

Friday 29th June 2012 - School Closed

Term Dates 6 Monday 11th June to Friday 20th July

1 Tuesday 4th September to Friday 26th October

2 Monday 5th November to Friday 21st December

3 Monday 7th January 2013 to Friday 15th February

4 Monday 25th February to Thursday 28th March

5 Monday 15th April to Friday 24th May

6 Monday 3rd June to Wednesday 24th July

For 2012- 2013

Staff Training Days - Dates to be confirmed

Barcelona was the destination for this year’s Easter residential and what a beautiful city it is too. The students and staff enjoyed an amazing 4 days in the gorgeous seaside resort of Calafell on the East Coast of Spain. Situated on the beach, our hotel overlooked the golden beaches of Tarragona and the crisp Mediterranean Sea. While on our tour of Spain, we visited some stunning attractions including: the Sagrada Familia, the gothic Cathedral designed by Antoni Gaudi; the Camp Nou, home to Barcelona FC and Park Gaul which overlooks the city and boasts more of Gaudi’s buildings. The students also enjoyed some social time swimming, tobogganing and a day at Portaventura one of Spain’s largest theme parks. In 4 years of leading on these trips I have never been more impressed with the students and the way they conducted themselves. Their behaviour, enthusiasm, and enjoyment made this trip so successful. The staff equally deserve to be congratulated for their hard work and efforts in making Spain 2012 such a positive trip. I would personally like to thank staff, students and parents for making this trip so special. Mr B Chapman Trip Leader

“Our trip to Barcelona was excellent; I really enjoyed the theme park

and the water ride.” Mia Ovenden, Yr11

“The party on the last night was brilliant, we made up our own dance

and everyone joined in, it was really funny.”

Lee Harvey, Yr11

“The beach was beautiful. On our first day we walked along the

beach to explore the town and it was really hot.” Beth Springett, Yr11

“These trips are brilliant for improving relationships and

getting to know the students better.”

Mrs Darby,

Group Leader

Page 4 Summer Term 5

With the hair curled, tiaras gleaming, bodies tanned, suits bought, bow ties tied and dresses flowing, glamour hit Thamesview School. On Thursday 10th May, Year 11

students ended their day with the spectacular Thamesview Leavers Prom. Parents, family and friends were invited to a pre-dinner reception in the Heartspace, where pictures were taken by the first of our professional photographers. It was a spectacle to see the students walking down the red carpet with such maturity and pride. Students were then taken to their secret location for a celebratory evening of fine dining and disco dancing. As the students arrived, they were greeted with arrival drinks and the proud beaming smiles of Thamesview staff. Lots of pictures were taken as a lasting memory before our students go off to pastures new. At the venue, students sat down to a two course meal before the grand awards began. The main awards for the evening were eagerly anticipated as the announcements were made for Prom Prince and Princess and Prom King and Queen. The award went to Courtney King (Prom Princess) and Joshua Balne (Prom Prince). The final award going to Natasha Hollowell (Prom Queen) and Jared Colleer (Prom King); which was followed by wild applause from students and staff. As the sun went down, the lights dimmed and the music got louder; the party was in full swing. The sight of students and staff in posh attire taking part in ‘Saturday Night’ and ‘I’ve Had the Time of My Life’ was one to behold. A memorable night was had by all! I know the students will be forever thankful to Thamesview staff for arranging such a wonderful evening. Sending best wishes and ‘good luck for the future’ for all students in Year 11 from all at Thamesview School.

Miss L Howe Learning Stage Leader

Jared Colleer and Natasha Hollowell

were named Thamesview’s Prom King &

Queen 2012—a gorgeous couple!