Newsletter Easter 2019
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Tadcaster Grammar school ‘A Culture of Excellence’ NEWSLETTER April 2019 have such experiences as skiing in Italy eventually join the Tadcaster Grammar From the Head over February half term; weekends away School ‘family’ properly in September! beginning the Bronze and Silver Duke of I do know that the Easter Break will be a Edinburgh award and Football challenging time for our Year 11 and 13 Dear Parents and Students, experiences at Newcastle and Ipswich. I students, but I do wish to reassure them Welcome to the final newsletter of the Spring wish staff and Year 11 students well as that hard work really does pay off. Term. I really cannot believe how quickly this they begin their visit to Iceland with our Parents, please continue to encourage term has passed. As ever, life at Tadcaster Geography team and Year 10 students and support our students - the Grammar School has been very busy and as we experiencing skiing in Canada during the examinations do begin very soon after rapidly approach the Easter Break, I would now Easter break. the Easter Break this year. like to share with you my reflections of the term. In February, we were very proud to host I very much look forward to working This term has had many evening events, the official opening of Field View Learning with you during the Summer Term and including five out of the seven Parents’ Evenings Hub and know how beneficial this will be hope you all have a very happy and for the year and our Year 9 into 10 Options to many of our students. I have been enjoyable Easter break. Evening. I am very grateful to parents for the delighted to see our community working tremendous turnout to all these Evenings this together under the guidance of our Wendy Wilson term as they are so important for our young Eco-Schools Group to be part of the ‘Great Head of School people to support them for their future. We British Clean Up’. This was a huge under- also hosted the ‘Shape the Future’ Careers taking by a very committed group of Evening which was overwhelmingly popular this students and staff. year. As I write this, I am also very much looking I have also been incredibly grateful to our forward to our ever-popular Spring Festival on Equality and Diversity group, who began Wednesday night. the long journey towards our new Gender During the school day, Year 9 had a very rare Neutral Uniform, which is being launched opportunity to meet and listen to an actual to our new Year 7 students in September. survivor of the Holocaust; Year 11 have all had a Diary Dates Without the dedication of this amazing second Post 16 meeting; some Year 10 and 12 group, (for over two years), we would not Mon 29 April School Re-opens students have had talks about Oxbridge; some be in this strong position. I would like to Mon 29 April MFL Oral Examinations Begin Year 10 students have had inspirational talks by thank them all for the time, care and David Wiseman and students in various years Mon 6 May Bank holiday (School closed) dedication they have displayed. have undertaken the Mathematics Challenges. Talking of our new Year 7 students, I was Tue 7 May Year 12 & 13 Art Exam Students have been taken out of school for a delighted to be informed last month of the Wed 8 May Year 12 & 13 Art Exam variety of practical learning experiences, Drama students who will be transferring from Thurs 9 May Year 11 Art Exam visits and workshops, Careers events and subject primary school to Tadcaster Grammar specific examination preparation events . In Thurs 9 May KS3 Drama Performance 6pm School in the next academic year. I am terms of sporting opportunities, Year 7 have Fri 10 May Year 11 Art Exam absolutely delighted in the continuing been involved in the Area Netball and Hockey desire shown by parents to ensure their Mon 13 May A Level & GCSE Examinations begin competitions and Year 8 in the Area Netball children join our community. I am really Tues 21 May UCAS 2020 Goes Live Tournament. You will read about many other looking forward to welcoming the next sporting successes within this newsletter. Fri 24 May School Closes for half-term generation of students when we meet I continue to be very grateful to our staff for them for transition events and when they ….read more>> giving of their personal time, to ensure students Great Big School Clean A Voice From Tadcaster To help us on our journey to UK Youth Parliament provides opportunities for 11-18 year olds to use their elected Green Flag status (and beyond) voice to bring about social change through meaningful representation and campaigning. as an Eco-School, we took part Year 10 student Molly Richardson has been elected as the Central Yorkshire in the ‘Great Big School Clean’. It was part representative, covering Hambleton, Richmondshire and Selby district in the National of Keep Britain Tidy’s annual Great British Youth Parliament. Spring Clean – the largest mass litter pick During Molly's two-year term of office, she will meet MPs and local councillors, organise in the country. events, run campaigns, make speeches, hold debates and ensure the views of young We recorded our litter pick and reported people are listened to by decision makers. back to Keep Britain Tidy on the following: Speaking about her election, Molly said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be given such an How many people took part incredible opportunity and want to truly represent the real voice of today’s youth and How many minutes they picked up litter my own generation. I can’t wait to put all the hard work in to get an end result that How many bags of litter were collected benefits everybody.” What type of litter was collected (plastic MYPs are politically neutral. They will help to set the agenda for the annual Make Your bottles, aluminium cans or general waste). Mark vote, which will start in August with the final votes We asked our #LitterHeroes in each form being cast in October. In 2018, more than 1.1 million to separate the items they collected into young people took part in the national vote. three bags so that as much as possible can During March, Molly attended a conference organised be recycled: by the Youth Voice Executive for North Yorkshire - a Plastic bottles (GREEN BAGS) group that gives the opportunity for 11-18 year olds a Aluminium cans (WHITE BAGS) chance to speak their minds. This group works closely General waste. (BLACK BAGS) with the youth parliament and decides the major issues Of course, we also love a bit of that the groups will focus on each year. Following an Mrs Wilson Congratulates Molly competition...so we competed in Houses. extensive vote with all the young people involved, this year’s focus for the Youth The House that collected the most rubbish Executive is bullying. Whether that’s mental, physical, verbal or cyber bullying, the won treats for each form! young people in North Yorkshire want to put a stop to it. Volunteers a Credit to School Top tips for parents to help your child Four Year 9 students volunteered at the LTA LD Tennis Tournament at the David Lloyd discover the magic of reading. Club in York over a weekend in February and were described as “a credit to the school and, most importantly, themselves.” Ask for Recommendations Ask your child’s teacher or librarian for LD Tennis is played by people with learning disabilities leading to an IQ of less than 95. recommendations of books that will get Most players have additional diagnoses affecting either their cognitive or physical your child excited about reading. function e.g. autism / epilepsy. The main role of the volunteers was to support the players whilst they were on court Make sure your children see you reading by acting as ball girls/boys. The volunteers also assist the players to stand in the You are a reading role model for your correct place, serve in the correct order etc. The volunteers were also involved in child, show them that books are an helping to set up the spectator areas, courts (inside and out), get players to and from important part of life. the correct courts at the correct times etc. The students were an integral part in the organisation and delivery of well over 100 Comics, graphic novels and magazines all tennis matches in what was a hugely busy tournament. At all times they showed a count. wide variety of skills necessary So go with what your children like. in the organisation of an event like this; organisation, initiative, Make reading together achievable and patience, communication, enjoyable. empathy to name a few. The If it’s stressful, no one is going to want to students were a credit to do it! Start off small, by reading together. themselves and the organisers Don’t force your child into finishing a would not hesitate in book they don’t like. recommending their suitability Follow your child’s interests - there really for involvement in similar events is a book for everyone. Revision Apps can help! Gojimo Revision is the free app that helps you pass examinations. It is the UK’s most popular revision app used by 1 in 3 GCSE and A Level students! We are aware that students sometimes add Forest Stay focused, be present. Forest is a popular productivity app that extensions to their google accounts.