www.tolworthgirlsschool.co.uk // email: [email protected]// Tel: 020 8397 3854 // Fax: 020 8974 2600 March 2018 Newsletter – Issue 15 School Production of ‘Oliver!’ Taking place at Tolworth Girls’ School on 6 - 9 March 2018, Oliver! was a joint musical production celebrating the talent of Tolworth Girls’ School and Southborough High School. It showcased over seventy Tolworth and Southborough actors, musicians and technicians. Oliver! is based on Charles Dicken’s 1837 Novel ‘Oliver Twist’, telling the story of an orphaned boy who falls in with a group of street-urchin pickpockets, led by the Artful Dodger and masterminded by the criminal Mr Fagin. When Oliver's intended mark, Mr Brownlow, takes pity on the lad and offers him a home, Fagin's henchman Bill Sykes plots to kidnap the boy to keep him from talking. Inspired casting and deft and energetic direction by Helen Wilson (Head of Drama at Tolworth Girls’ School) and Chloe Parsons (Drama teacher at Southborough High School) ensured that for one week only Tolworth’s Main Hall was transformed into the seamy London underworld of the Victorian era. Performances from students were deemed ‘outstanding’ by audience members and their passion and drive for the arts subjects shone brightly. Performances from Teddy Kitch (Year 10) and Angelica Gayle (Year 11), who played the antagonist criminal mastermind Fagin, cleverly portrayed the villainous old man with flare. The quiet, shy and rather naïve protagonist character of Oliver was played by Kitty Green (Year 9) and Jack Bartlett (Year 8), who soulfully portrayed a heart-wrenching version of the song ‘Where is Love’. Both Faith Chandler (Year 8) and Phoebe Wilton (Year 9) belted out the famous love ballad ‘As Long As He Needs Me’ leaving not a dry eye in the room. The mischievous Artful Dodger was portrayed convincingly by Mya Adkin (Year 8) and Pearl Adams (Year 9). All other cast members and choruses of actors and dancers performed with dedication and drive, making the production the success it was. In this issue: Letter from the Headteacher 2 Year 7 4 Year 8 7 Year 9 10 Year 10 14 Year 11 16 Year 12 and Year 13 18 Events for all Year Groups 20 Library News 25 PTA News 27 General Information 28 Dates for your Diary 30 For further information photos, please see Page 22
Taking place at Tolworth Girls’ School on 6 - 9 March 2018, Oliver! was a joint musical production celebrating the talent of Tolworth Girls’ School and Southborough High School. It showcased over seventy Tolworth and Southborough actors, musicians and technicians. Oliver! is based on Charles Dicken’s 1837 Novel ‘Oliver Twist’, telling the story of an orphaned boy who falls in with a group of street-urchin pickpockets, led by the Artful Dodger and masterminded by the criminal Mr Fagin. When Oliver's intended mark, Mr Brownlow, takes pity on the lad and offers him a home, Fagin's henchman Bill Sykes plots to kidnap the boy to keep him from talking. Inspired casting and deft and energetic direction by Helen Wilson (Head of Drama at Tolworth Girls’ School) and Chloe Parsons (Drama teacher at Southborough High School) ensured that for one week only Tolworth’s Main Hall was transformed into the seamy London underworld of the Victorian era. Performances from students were deemed ‘outstanding’ by audience members and their passion and drive for the arts subjects shone brightly. Performances from Teddy Kitch (Year 10) and Angelica Gayle (Year 11), who played the antagonist criminal mastermind Fagin, cleverly portrayed the villainous old man with flare. The quiet, shy and rather naïve protagonist character of Oliver was played by Kitty Green (Year 9) and Jack Bartlett (Year 8), who soulfully portrayed a heart-wrenching version of the song ‘Where is Love’. Both Faith Chandler (Year 8) and Phoebe Wilton (Year 9) belted out the famous love ballad ‘As Long As He Needs Me’ leaving not a dry eye in the room. The mischievous Artful Dodger was portrayed convincingly by Mya Adkin (Year 8) and Pearl Adams (Year 9). All other cast members and choruses of actors and dancers performed with dedication and drive, making the production the success it was.
In this issue:
Letter from the Headteacher 2
Year 7 4
Year 8 7
Year 9 10
Year 10 14
Year 11 16
Year 12 and Year 13 18
Events for all Year Groups 20
Library News 25
PTA News 27
General Information 28
Dates for your Diary 30
For further information photos, please see Page 22
As always, this half term has been really busy and whilst the majority of the population believe that teachers have such long holidays a great number of our staff will still be working next week and beyond. They are offering revision classes to both our A Level and GCSE students. A massive thank you to all of the staff who are involved in these sessions! We celebrated Prize Giving and were delighted that our Guest Speaker, the CEO of Chessington World of Adventures , Mr Tim Harrison-Knox was able to bring some animals to accompany him on his visit. He spoke about the need for hard work, self-sacrifice if you want to achieve and his delight in seeing individuals develop and grow. I asked each department to reflect on one event that they have been most proud of this year and as you can imagine it was quite difficult to choose. I have selected some of their highlights: Art Our students selected to exhibit their art work at the Royal Academy Student Online Exhibition, National Students Art Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London and the Kingston Artist Open Studios. Music Oliver- the voices and the confidence to perform. Design and Technology Our work with our Primary Schools and our students working with Bedelsford. PE Our success in trampolining - we were the overall champions in Kingston. Our Wimbledon Gall Girls with more and more students involved. IT Our BIMA project, a marketing project for our budding technologists. Business Studies Our Young Enterprise work, the development of a company and designing a product. Religious Studies Exceptional outcomes at GCSE and A Level, our links with our local communities, our synagogues, mosques, churches, gurdwaras. History All of the many trips that take place. Our Holocaust work and the Holocaust lessons from the Auschwitz programme in the Sixth Form. English Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge, BBC School Report, our school newspaper ‘The Windmill’ and the Debating Club. Drama Oliver and our joint collaboration with Southborough High School - a great success.
Geography Collaborative work with colleagues in local schools and our fieldtrips. Modern Foreign Languages Our trips to Madrid and Lyon, our new Mandarin Club and the fact that our students are in the final of the Spelling Bee Competition. Science Year 10 participation in the Royal Society of Chemistry Biology Competition, Science Week, Get into Medicine activity day, Science Clubs and Women in Science Day. Maths In Maths we would like to celebrate the first year of our joint project with Art for the Year 9 Whole School Curriculum Day and also our outcomes at GCSE. As you can see there is so much that we are proud of at this Outstanding school. I do need to remind you that one of the most pressing issues for all schools at the moment is finances, I am sure that you have seen the recent reports on the financial issues facing all schools nationally. Whilst we are incredibly careful with our money, times are incredibly hard and we do need help. I will be sending out a letter after Easter asking for all parents to contribute to our school fund - it is needed now more than ever. Uniform
Thank you to the majority of parents who are supporting our endeavours to keep our students smart. If a student does arrive wearing the wrong skirt, earrings, nose studs, facial piercings, shoes or jumper then they will be asked to go home and change. Mobile Telephone
These are not allowed on the school site and we will confiscate them if they are seen. Can I respectfully remind you that if your daughter feels unwell whilst at school there is a system in place. A few students have been phoning their parents without letting us know, the parent has arrived to pick them up, again without us knowing and some of our parents have demanded that their daughters are allowed home. We are very lucky in that we have our very own school First Aider who can deal with any issues that our students are likely to have. Please discourage your daughter from phoning you directly, allow us to make contact if you are needed. I do hope that you have a restful Easter, that the sun shines and all of Years 11,12 and 13 use this time wisely to revise and recharge their batteries. If you do have any comments or concerns, then I am available on [email protected]. Happy Easter
Year 7 News From the Academic and Pastoral Leaders, Mrs Powling and Mr Pollard
The Spring Term has been another busy time for Year 7 students with many taking part enthusiastically with extra-curricular activities, trips and charity fundraising. On Thursday 8 March the Year group visited the Natural History Museum and from arriving onto the coaches to returning to school, their behaviour and manners were exemplary; they were a credit to themselves and the school. At the end of February, students warmly welcomed Anna Ansted from the Leprosy charity ‘Lepra’, who led an informative but emotive assembly on the effect that Leprosy has on some of the world’s poorest communities. It was fantastic to see the enthusiastic fund raising taking place with bake sales, quizzes and car washes to name but a few. This all culminated with Year 7’s sponsored Zumba workout on 12 March, which was certainly an energetic way to end a Monday! We were impressed with both the students’ enthusiasm and rhythm and the charity are so thankful for all of the money the students were able to raise. We would also like to congratulate our Year 7 Quiz Lit Champions who played an important role in securing the school team’s place in the final and say thank you to all the Year 7 students who came dressed in imaginative and creative costumes on World Book Day. There was an array of activities planned and Year 7 certainly made the most of the competitions on offer; well done to 7S and 7P on their winning classroom doors – very impressive artistic skills were displayed. Continuing with the literary theme, we also had a number of Year 7 students taking part in the BBC Schools Report and it was fantastic to have some of the youngest members of the school taking a leading role – well done. Year 7 are currently exploring the theme of ‘Taking Care of Me’ in their tutorial sessions and are responding in a sensible and mature way to the topics covered. This will continue after the Easter Holidays before they embark on a unit exploring Careers. We hope Year 7 have a fun but restful Easter Holiday and look forward to welcoming them back for their final term as Year 7 students!
Key Stage 3 have had the opportunity to represent their form in Football (Year 7) and Netball (Years 8 and 9) this academic year. All the students should be proud of themselves and they showed great sportsmanship on the day! Congratulations to all those involved. Thank you also to the Year 12s, who are undertaking the Level 2 Award in Community Sports Leadership, for all their help and support in being Team Managers and Referees – you did a great job!
Year 7 Interhouse Football Competition – 20 November 2017
Congratulations to all those who were involved in their first Interhouse competition at Tolworth Girls' School. For Year 7 it was 5-a-side Football. The girls played really well and the support for each other was fantastic to see.
1st Place = 7P
2nd Place = 7S 3rd Place = 7A
4th Place = 7G 5th Place = 7J 6th Place = 7O 7th Place = 7T
Religious Studies - Year 7 Inter-House Model Mosque Competition 2018
Having spent several weeks studying a unit of work on Islam, Year 7 students enjoyed the opportunity to be creative in their Religious Studies lessons. Their task was to create an accurate model of a typical mosque, showing both the internal and external features of the Muslim place of worship. Students worked in small groups and created some fantastic models. Each Tutor Group then voted for their best two model mosques which were entered into the ‘Grand Final’. Mr Pollard then had a very difficult time judging the sixteen entries as the standard was so high.
It has been lovely to see the enthusiasm of all Year 7 students as they continue to learn new skills. They have recently visited the Natural History Museum in London, learning about everything from dinosaurs and insects to earthquakes and gemstones. Students were gathering research for the Science and Technology Enterprise Project, which will see them working in teams to design and make products that would be suitable for the museum’s gift shop.
As part of this project, they will also do some work in Science to carry out further research related to the theme of their product. They will be able to incorporate this into their work in Design and Technology.
A highlight to look forward to at the end of this project will be a craft fair in the School Hall where the students will be able to sell the products that they have made. Parents and carers will be invited and the date for this will be confirmed soon.
It was a pleasure to be with Year 7 for the day and they were really interested in all of the exhibits that they saw.
“On Thursday 8 March 2018, the Tolworth Girls’ School Year 7s embarked on an adventurous trip to the Natural History Museum in London. The Year 7s dared to face dinosaurs; rumbled and tumbled on the earthquake simulator; learnt about the human body; met mammals one thousand plus times their own weight. Their skin crawled in the creepy crawly section and they dug into the earth’s treasures.
One of the best parts was in the Earth’s Treasury because of finding out where the elegant gems come from. I found a 150 million year old fossilised shrimp!”
Jorja Viney-Lee (7P)
“On Thursday 8 March 2018, the Year 7 students went on a trip to the Natural History Museum in London for an educational experience. The areas we visited included the dinosaur area, the human body area, the mammal area, the insect area and the earth’s treasury.
My personal favourite area would simply have to be the earth’s treasury, for I found it incredibly interesting learning about all of the different stones and crystals. Whoever would have guessed that certain stones and crystals are formed by dry, cooled lava and magma.
Another interesting fact that I learnt was that the bright colour of yellow that a wasp wears upon its back can be seen as a sign of danger, which is why we should be careful to avoid them.
I asked Phoebe Medcalf and she said that she enjoyed it and thought it was very fascinating.”
Year 8 News From the Academic and Pastoral Leader, Mr Otermin and the Deputy Academic and Pastoral Leader, Miss Clark
Author Visit - Tuesday 24 April 2018
We’re excited to let you know that children’s author, Abi Elphinstone, is visiting Tolworth Girls’ School on Tuesday 24 April, 12 noon -1.30pm. Abi’s latest book, ‘Sky Song’, was Waterstones Book of the Month in January and is currently one of the bestselling children’s books in the UK. All Year 7 students will be in the audience alongside guests from other schools. Abi has travelled world wide to research her books, so it is sure to be an exciting presentation. We are sure that many students will wish to get signed copies of her books; therefore books will be available after Easter from the Library. If you wish to get a copy of ‘Sky Song’ ahead of her visit, please bring your £6.00 in cash to Finance or the Library. We are not using ParentPay on this occasion.
Year 8 students have had a very active half term. They visited Kingston Liberal Synagogue where they were told real life stories about the Holocaust. They have also taken part in a Netball competition in which, after a very hard match, 8 Garnet took the trophy. During tutor time, they have been working on ‘Careers’. They are now able to identify and make the most of their personal networks to access the impartial advice and guidance that they need. Students have been able to reflect on their strengths and preferences and have learnt to manage their budget.
During the Whole School Curriculum Day, we looked at personal finance. We received a the visit from MyBnk who facilitated very interactive sessions which the students enjoyed very much. The ones who were not lucky enough to watch Oliver!, our Year 8 members of the cast and technical teams were fantastic!
Year 8 Design and Technology Day for Hampton Partnership Schools
The Design and Technology department hosted this annual event. Maha, Eva, Sania, Chloe, Hannah and Ruby from Year 8, worked with students from Lady Eleanor Holles, Hampton School, Hampton High and Orleans Park. The students worked in mixed teams to tackle a range of challenges throughout out the day that required them to show their creativity and to be innovative problems solvers. The day began with a food challenge, where each team had to design and make a shaped savoury bread product for an identified target market. They had a variety of ingredients to choose from and they produced a fantastic range of breads, making judging a difficult task.
They then completed the Temporary Housing Challenge. This challenge focused on engineering and each team was required to design and produce a prototype for temporary housing that could be used in a natural disaster. They produced a great range of ideas.
Throughout the day they also worked on an ergonomics challenge in which they had to produce an innovative design for a toothbrush. Each team presented their idea to their peers at the end of the day. Throughout the day all teams managed to solve the problems and I am sure they all developed significant skills through working in unfamiliar teams. Their feedback at the end of the day was really positive, with them all really enjoying the opportunity to work with students from other schools, as well as being able to work on challenges that they found both fun and interesting.
Key Stage 3 have had the opportunity to represent their form in Football (Year 7) and Netball (Years 8 and 9) this academic year. All the students should be proud of themselves and they showed great sportsmanship on the day! Congratulations to all those involved. Thank you also to the Year 12s, who are undertaking the Level 2 Award in Community Sports Leadership, for all their help and support in being Team Managers and Referees – you did a great job!
Year 8 Interhouse Netball Competition – Monday 19 March 2018
3rd Place = 8E 1st Place = 8G 2nd Place = 8A
4th Place = 8O 5th Place = 8J 6th Place = 8S 7th Place = 8T 8th Place = 8P
Year 8 Trip to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
Forty-five lucky Year 8 students had the exciting opportunity to see the play they have been studying for the last ten weeks, Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing', at none other than The Globe! Students were treated to a one-off, condensed performance of the play that had been set in the 21st Century - there were (much to the surprise of the students!) mobile phones, army officers, and even superheroes! Students looked on in amazement as they saw the characters they have been studying in class come alive right before their eyes, as well as being able to appreciate the theatrical element of a Shakespearean play. This involved confetti canons, live music, fighting, kissing, military drums, a fake death and a trap stage door. There were also some rouge pigeons flying overhead to top it all off! The students were fantastic and their behaviour was impeccable - they were a real credit to both their year group and the school.
Year 9 News From the Academic and Pastoral Leader, Mrs Chiddy-Gosling and the Deputy Academic and Pastoral Leader, Mr Flood
Year 9 have enjoyed three Whole School Curriculum days this half term - a trip to the Imperial War Museum with the History department, Maths and Art sessions, and a day of Careers and Enterprise. During this day, students had an hour to create their own product, with an appropriate design and slogan – we were VERY impressed with what they came up with! We also had visitors from Kingston University to discuss what can be expected from the university experience and where a degree can take you. The final session of this day was an opportunity to interview representatives of a range of career paths and roles. Overall, we think this day will have given students a clearer idea of their post-GCSE options, and the opportunity to work on a range of transferable skills. We got some great snaps of them creating, presenting, and interviewing – take a look!
Year 8 Religious Studies Synagogue Trip - Holocaust Memorial Day
On Monday 29 January 2018, Year 8 visited Kingston Liberal Synagogue. At the synagogue we were lucky enough to be given the opportunity to listen to Suzy Abrahams speak. She told the amazing story of her mother, Sybille Frieder, who in 1943, at the age of eight, went into hiding with her family in Amsterdam. Sybille’s family were hidden on the same street as Anne Frank, by a Christian couple, Mr and Mrs De Visscher. They managed to survive in appalling conditions for over two years. They were constantly hungry, had no heating or washing facilities, were infested with fleas and head lice and fearful of a raid by the Nazis. Fortunately, Sybille’s story had a much happier ending than that of Anne Frank and her family – all the Frieder family who had been in hiding, survived. After listening to Suzy, we split up into small groups and completed activities around this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day theme of: ‘The Power of Words’ – the idea that words can make a difference, both for good and for evil. This was a strong message to us as we understand the importance of acting this out in our own personal lives and developing good habits in ourselves for the future. After this, we all lit a candle in a closing ceremony to remember the people who had sadly lost their lives in the Holocaust. It was a very moving trip and really made us think about how lucky we are today. The volunteers at the synagogue were very kind to us, leading and supporting us through every activity.
(Taken from a variety of Year 8J extracts)
Here are some quotes from students who attended the trip:
“It was an emotional and unforgettable day. It made me realise how lucky we are today.” “It was an amazing trip and I will never forget it.” “I found the story of Sybille Frieder inspiring. She was immensely brave and dealt with the tragic death of her brother Sallo.” “It showed me how lucky we are and how grateful we should be for not being in that situation today.” “It was a very emotional day and I am very grateful for all the time and thought that Suzy put into her speech.”
In February, several Year 9 students were invited to the Hampton School Genocide Awareness Day event. The students were taken through a workshop on the Holocaust, developing displays that were to be distributed around local libraries. In the evening, they were able to hear from a Holocaust survivor, Bea Green, who came to England on the Kindertransport in 1939. The Kindertransport involved 10,000 children being taken from Nazi Germany to safety in England. The speech was inspiring, hearing about the transport itself and Bea’s life in England as a refugee. Two students, Grace (9P) and Gemma (9E) were even interviewed by the BBC and featured on the BBC National Website for Holocaust Memorial Day. Well done to all the students involved, you were a real credit to the school.
Students in Year 9 have been studying the Holocaust in their History lessons to coincide with Holocaust Memorial Day that was on 27 January 2018. As part of their studies, the whole of Year 9 went to the Imperial War Museum where some of them had the opportunity to visit the exhibition there which is dedicated to the Holocaust. Students’ behaviour across the three days has been exemplary and we have received very positive feedback from teaching staff and the Museum staff. Here, some of our students reflect on the day:
“On Wednesday 7 March we went to visit the Imperial War Museum in London. To begin with, we looked at the war exhibition which consisted of lots of different artefacts from the war (for example a ship that was used in Dunkirk). After lunch we were lucky enough to have a brief talk on the Holocaust before going around the Museum’s Holocaust Exhibition. We were each given a set of headphones and an audio guide to take us around it. It gave us an in depth view of what happened during the Holocaust and they had many artefacts from during World War II, such as hospital beds, uniforms and items from the death/concentration camps. The exhibition also had ways of making you feel like you were there; the corridor they made into a train, like the ones that carried the Jews to their death/concentration camps and a realistic model of a bird’s eye view of Auschwitz. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the trip and felt very well informed and that they had learnt lots about the Holocaust and wars. We thought it was really great to learn in a way we wouldn’t be able to in the classroom. Anybody who gets to go on this trip in the future is very lucky as it is an incredible and astonishing experience.”
This term a new group of Tolworth Mental Health Ambassadors attended the Kingston Borough Mental Health Conference hosted by Coombe Girls’ School. The Mental Health Ambassadors are a group of Years 9 and 10 students who have a keen interest in mental health and a passion to promote school-wide awareness. This particular conference is hosted annually by secondary schools within the Borough, and is aimed at instilling education and awareness around mental health. At this year's conference, the students listened to a number of speakers who provided training on different areas of mental health. They listened and took part in discussions and activities around depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm and other important topics. They heard from last year's ambassadors about the strategies that have already been implemented in schools around the Borough. Finally, they took all their training and ideas and put together an action plan, full of exciting new initiatives that are going to take place at Tolworth Girls’ School in the very near future. Since attending the conference, the Mental Health Ambassadors have developed their action plan to be put in place this term. The ambassadors are hoping to introduce a compliment minute, host activities throughout Mental Health Awareness Week which is on 14 -18 May, and write articles for the Windmill Newsletter. Stay tuned for all their amazing work around the school!
Year 9 Get into Medicine Day
Several of our Year 9 students were joined by students from other local schools to take part in the 'Get into Medicine' taster day which was specifically aimed at students who are considering a career in a medical or healthcare related field. During the course of the day, students discussed the history of medicine and the role of medical professionals, as well as considering some of the skills they may need to develop before applying for their chosen courses. In the afternoon, students completed an investigative group work session on Problem-Based Learning (PBL). This is similar to the way that many universities now choose to deliver their courses, and feedback from the students was very positive about this session in particular.
Interhouse PE Competitions
Key Stage 3 have had the opportunity to represent their form in Football (Year 7) and Netball (Years 8 and 9) this academic year. All the students should be proud of themselves and they showed great sportsmanship on the day! Congratulations to all those involved. Thank you also to the Year 12s, who are undertaking the Level 2 Award in Community Sports Leadership, for all their help and support in being Team Managers and Referees – you did a great job!
Year 10 News From the Academic and Pastoral Leader, Miss Kelly
Year 9 Interhouse Netball Competition – 29 January 2018 3rd Place = 9O 1st Place = 9J 2nd Place = 9E
4th Place = 9P 5th Place = 9S 6th Place = 9G 7th Place = 9T 8th Place = 9A
White Water Writers
A selected group of Year 9 students spent a week working on a novel, soon to be published on Amazon! White Water Writers spent the week with them planning, writing and editing. The girls showed fantastic teamwork and communication skills, diligence and maturity over the course of the week, and were clearly proud of their achievement come Friday! The students have voted for any proceeds from their novels to go to charity.
Year 10 are entering a very busy period with their internal mock GCSE examinations just around the corner. The mock exam period begins on Monday 23 April for two weeks, finishing on Friday 4 May. Students are expected to attend in full school uniform, smart and punctual for their exams. In tutorial, students have been focusing on revision techniques and coping with/managing exam stress. I wish all the students the very best of luck – remember that “failing to prepare is preparing to fail!” so study hard and check Show My Homework regularly for extra resources being passed on by teachers. Attendance is a continuing key focus. It is vital that students are in school, attending lessons, learning and completing independent homework tasks to the highest of standards. Good attendance is inextricably linked with good progress and outcomes at GCSE. I am grateful to all parents for their support in ensuring their daughters attend school on time every day.
Huge congratulations to the Year 10 Netball team for their recent achievement… Kingston Borough Netball League WINNERS 2017-2018! They have trained extremely hard this year and their commitment and determination as a team has been second to none. Well done to Lucy (Captain), Paige (Vice Captain), Caylee (Vice Captain), Harley, Charlotte, Maddy, Skye, Hannah, Mariya, Eve and Emma. Further congratulations to the students for their performance in the Kingston Borough Netball Tournament on Wednesday 21 February. They had a successful day, against tough competition and had some very hard fought matches. They were unbeaten on the day against Tiffin, Coombe and Kingston Grammar School, losing only to Surbiton and Holy Cross. They finished in third place overall.
Whole School Curriculum Day for Year 10 this term was hugely informative with visitors from MyBnk and the Teenage Cancer Trust. Next term, the Whole School Curriculum Day for Year 10 will allow students to have an A Level Sixth Form taster day where they can explore subjects and experience what it is like to be an A Level student. This will link closely with their tutorial focus for the Summer Term which is Careers, and will hopefully inspire students to make considered choices about their future studies and aspirations.
Jack Petchey Speak Out Awards
On Monday 19 March, Tolworth Girls' School and Sixth Form had the privilege of hosting the 2018 Kingston Borough’s Regional Final of the ‘Jack Petchey Speak Out Awards’. Two students from ten different local schools came together to compete for a place in the Grand Final in July. The evening started for the students with a workshop, where they were able to practise their speeches in front of sympathetic ears, gain further skills and make new friends. At 6.00pm the doors opened to an eager and excited audience, including: previous regional winners, local MP Edward Davey and Kingston’s Mayor, Julie Pickering. They were treated to a plethora of tempting edible treats that were enjoyed and praised by all. The competition began at 6.30pm, with an introduction from Mrs Lowe in which she admired and congratulated the confidence that the speakers were about to exhibit. The competition itself was indeed a triumph! Speeches ranged from humorous consideration of ‘Toilet Etiquette’ to impassioned discussions about make-up, making excuses and race. Tolworth Girls’ School offered two exceptional speakers: Rojean Salehi, with ‘6 million’, and Aliyah Sulaman with ‘Represent Asian’. They spoke eloquently and sincerely about two important topics that clearly resonated with the audience. Their determination, resilience and confidence was truly inspiring and we couldn’t be prouder of their efforts.
The evening showcased the talent and creativity of Year 10 students from around the Borough and we were proud to have everyone compete in our school. We are already anticipating next year’s events! The winning speech was entitled ‘Freedom’ delivered by Hammid from Southborough High School. Please check it out on YouTube. Everyone hopes he will go on to win at the National Final in July.
Watch our News Summary from the school website here - https://tolworth.fluencycms.co.uk/Student-News-Blog
Year 11 News From the Academic and Pastoral Leader, Mr Mirshemirani and the Deputy Academic and Pastoral Leader, Miss Hall
The Summer Term is upon us and external examination is very much the prevalent theme. Whilst work has begun on the Graduation Video and the £10 Challenge for Prom is very much in action, it is important that we are all focused on the main objective: to ensure that we are all ready for the exam season. For students this means taking part in active revision, reviewing course content, finishing off coursework and continuing to secure their learning. For us as teachers, we must ensure that we are identifying opportunities to stretch and support students even at this late stage. For you as parents and carers, whilst you undoubtedly will be ensuring the girls are focused on their studies, it is also important to make sure that they are taking care of themselves both physically and mentally. Students have now entered Practical Week, and as well as the numerous coursework and practical elements which will be focused on this week, most departments are putting on extra interventions for the remaining subjects. In the few weeks we have left, there are a range of subject interventions happening. As part of the Passport to Prom initiative, all students are required to attend at least five interventions across at least three subjects. It is recommended, however, that students make the most of these teacher-led interventions.
In tutorial, as well as preparing for the Graduation Video and the Yearbook, students have been looking at revision timetables. At this stage it is really important for students to be engaging in a rigorous ,yet sensible, study routine. The work they do over the next two months will be significant in helping to secure the grades they need and deserve. Whilst the coming months can seem daunting, I am sure that we are in for a tremendously positive summer. I look forward to Thursday 23 August where all the hard work pays off and the Year 11s can finally celebrate the reward for their hard work and dedication over the last five years. Thank you for your continued support.
Trips and Activities - Year 11
Year 11 Netball Team
Huge congratulations to the Year 11 Netball team for their performance in the Kingston Borough Netball League, finishing in third place overall. Congratulations to Jenna, Tharshana, Hannah, Alicia, Emily (Captain), Jenna (Vice Captain), Ellie, Shardai, Rianne, Georgia and Andie. Further congratulations to the students for their performance in the Kingston Borough Netball Tournament on Wednesday 21 February. For many of them it will have been their last time playing together. A memorable and enjoyable day for them all.
Year 11 Drama - Practical Week
The week commencing 19 March 2018 was Practical Week for Year 11 students. Drama was a large part of this week with fifty-four students undertaking the Component 3 Texts in a Practice exam and performing to the visiting examiner. Students performed two extracts each, either as a group, duo or a monologue. All extracts were well rehearsed and students did the school and themselves proud. Fingers crossed for the Summer Term when we get the results.
Years 12 and 13 News From the Assistant Director of Sixth Form, Mr Boyce
Year 12
Year 12 have had yet another busy half term and with only a few weeks left until study leave begins, the pressure is on. As usual, our students never fail to pleasantly surprise us and it is to their credit that despite the pressure, they remain good humoured and supportive of each other. In recent weeks they have completed mock exams and should now have a really good sense of what their strengths and weaknesses are and what to revise and work on in the remaining weeks. Year 12s are also organising their work experience with the help of Miss Hewitt. This will prove to be invaluable whether they are applying to university, an apprenticeship or entering employment at the end of Year 13. Students are also applying to become Officials for next year and some will be applying to be Head Girls and Boys. We wish them the very best of luck with these applications.
Year 13
Year 13 students have also had a tremendously busy time with their second round of mocks being completed. Those who have applied to university have now received a wide array of offers and must now make the big choices between them for their firm and insurance choices. Although the demands have been high, students have still managed to do remarkable things. Congratulations to Mary Horner who managed to raise £1,200 for the British Heart Foundation and to all those who helped during Rag Week to raise over £1,200 for a local charity and the Year 13 Prom. Special thanks to the Head Girls and a few key supporters who made the week such a success. Thanks also to the teachers who took part in a range of activities including having soaking sponges thrown at them on a particularly cold day and those that fought in bubble wrap for the teachers' sumo challenge.
Year 11 Theatre Trip to see Romeo and Juliet
Forty-five fortunate Year 11 students had the thrilling opportunity to watch their GCSE set text come to life in a live, professional production of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond. Set in-the-round, students were thrown into a modernised Verona. In this reimagining, the Capulets ran a Building company and the Montagues owned a Green-grocers; billboards advertised this across the space, creating an immersive atmosphere. Whilst this adaptation of the play was abridged and condensed, this only enhanced the overall quality of the performance, bringing the most pertinent moments to the fore. Students and teachers alike were transfixed with the ability of the actors to multi-role effortlessly; Tybalt transformed into Juliet before our very eyes, presenting a jarring blend of love and conflict, romance and violence. The company did not shy away from these central themes, utilising physical theatre and music to transform an otherwise simple set. The synchronised dance breaks at the masked ball, coupled with a fantastic performance of the nurse provided a lighter, comic relief which nearly counter-balanced the inevitable tragic end of the play. The students thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the experience. Their teachers commended them on their impeccable behaviour - they were true ambassadors of both their year group and Tolworth Girls' School and Sixth Form.
On Friday 12 January, all Year 13 A Level Biology and Level 3 BTEC in Applied Science students went to Kingston University to carry out forensic science experiments using DNA to identify who had committed the mock crime. These experiments either make up part of their coursework (BTEC) or are asked about in their final exams in Biology. The first technique they mastered was Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) which is used by forensic scientists to make millions of copies of the DNA from a sample of just one copy of the DNA from a crime scene. This involved using micropipettes (which is not easy) to add the correct volume of the DNA sample, enzyme and some DNA nucleotides (to make the copies of the DNA). The students then placed their mixture into the PCR machine which costs about £15,000. The second technique Year 13 scientists then mastered was electrophoresis which is a process used to separate DNA pieces based on their size. They had to make their own gel which once set, they then loaded DNA samples from four suspects and from the crime scene (which they had then amplified by PCR) into five separate incredibly small wells using micropipettes. The prize for the best micropipetting of the day was Hashir, who could add 0.000001ml of DNA into a tiny well better than some PhD students can. A small amount of electricity is then run across the gel and the DNA pieces separate with the biggest pieces barely moving and the smallest pieces moving very quickly down the gel. All of the groups correctly identified the perpetrator by comparing the DNA samples from four suspects with the DNA sample from the crime scene on their electrophoresis gel. Miss Davidson and Miss Saber were extremely proud of how all students mastered extremely difficult techniques, that even university students struggle with, they will make wonderful future scientists.
Year 12 Science Day 2018 at the Science Museum
“During our day in the Science Museum we heard from three Israeli scientists. Firstly, Dr Dan Kaganovich who was born in Estonia but grew up and was educated in the USA. His talk was about how people age, and how his research might be able to reduce, or even prevent, some of the health problems associated with growing older. Then we heard from Professor Mouna Maroun, an inspiring neuroscientist who was named as one of ‘50 women in Israel with the most influence’ for her work on promoting education amongst girls in the Arab community. Her research looks at emotions and fear, and how this relates to human development. Finally, Dr Igal Horowitz who is director of the Israeli Wildlife Hospital. His talk was about the impact of the Hospital and the wide range of injuries and illnesses which they have treated over the past thirteen years, as well as the return of injured animals to the wild. My favorite session was when Professor Maroun spoke about the hippocampus which is the area of your brain which processes your memories and emotions.”
You may have seen this group of intrepid Sixth Formers selling their products in the foyer and you may have wondered where they came from, and how they ended up in the foyer selling their products. Well, since the beginning of October, each Monday after school, this group of budding entrepreneurs have been meeting to develop their entrepreneurial ideas. Team Ignkight’s journey was not a solo one, they were aided by two enthusiastic and knowledgeable Business Advisors, Jim and Hester, who gave up their own time to help the team on their way. Thanousha, Lauren, Changel, Nethmi, Zoe, Shalet, Akki, Noor, Osho and Tharshana make up Team Ignkight and they are participating in the Young Enterprise competition. Young Enterprise sees groups of students all over the country compete against each other to win the prestigious prize of ‘Best Company’. Each team has to come up with their own business idea, fund it, design it, make it, package it and sell it! Team Igknight have had the opportunity to sell their products at trade fairs organised by Young Enterprise. The first was in Spitalfields Market in London where they got to meet two of the stars from the BBC’s ‘The Apprentice’ and the second was in Kingston on 24 February.
The final sale was on 17 March in Kingston’s’ Market Place and schools from all over Kingston and Richmond
participated. On 27 April 2018 the team will be presenting their final reports to a panel of judges!
BBC School Report – An Amazing Day of Broadcasts!
On Thursday 15 March, a team of Key Stage 3 reporters had a day off timetable to work with Miss Kemp and Mrs Marillat on an exciting opportunity – to write and present the news on the BBC’s official News Day! Having been recruited earlier this term, the students got to work on researching articles. They worked on fact-checking, sourcing and creating images, and writing in a formal style. Our fantastic Sixth Form Literacy Champions were on-hand to support them in the run up and on the day, sharing their top tips for writing news articles and helping with drafting, photography and general editing.
This month, nine students from our TGS Rock ensemble 'It got Band' took part in Wimbledon High School's Battle of the Bands competition. They played a brilliant rendition of 'Go Your Own Way' by Fleetwood Mac. The theme for the night was music from films; 'Go your Own Way' features in the running scene in the 1994 box office smash 'Forrest Gump'. It was a wonderful evening of entertainment, with nine school bands competing for the title, from roaring renditions of Jimi Hendrix's 'All along the Watchtower', crowd pleasing Abba songs, an intimate rendition of 'Say Something' by Christine Aguilera and even guest appearance from a teachers' band! Over £1,500 was raised for FGM charity 'Forward UK' with a delegate attending the event and praising the support of the students. Well done to the following students: Sian, Isabella, Millie, Niamh, Clare, Jessica, Eloise, Leila and Madelena.
The students produced a fantastic range of stories, from in-school interviews on mental health and the power of mindfulness, to topical pieces on student protests. These are all available to read on our BBC website – do check them out! In the afternoon, the students worked with Mr Farnon to film their own news show from the sofas in the Library! This was a fantastic opportunity for them to gain confidence in public speaking, as well as working to a strict deadline and behaving with professionalism as part of a team. The team were an absolute credit to themselves throughout the day, and showed great engagement with the job at hand. We were extremely proud of them all. A huge thank you to Mrs Marillat for her hard work on the way, and to the brilliant IT team who supported us in uploading the articles. Special thanks to Mr Farnon for giving up his free time to make the day even bigger and better. We look forward to running the BBC School Report again next year. For now, any budding journalists are advised to come along to The Windmill Magazine Club on Thursdays, 3.30-4.15pm.
School Production of ‘Oliver!’ - Continued from Page 1
The curtain came down on the Friday night with a standing ovation, showing the success of the collaboration. A special thank you goes to both Siobhán Lowe, Head of Tolworth Girls’ School, and Niall Smith, Head of Southborough High School, for entrusting and supporting the Drama and Music departments at both schools, in order for such a successful production to take place. This marks the start of many more successful collaborative productions, so make sure you look out for the next musical in 2019.
Four students from Key Stage 4 were chosen to take part in this year’s ‘Top of the Bench’ Chemistry competition run by the Royal Society of Chemistry. Our heat took place at Rodborough School on the other side of Guildford after school in January. Henna I (Year 11), Emma H (Year 10) and Mia G and Aijani M (Year 9) joined participants from their year group from six other schools and undertook previously unseen practical tasks. A break for some sandwiches and tea was then followed by some tough multiple choice questions. The students behaved impeccably and held their own against some tough competition. Well done to all four!
Whole School - Science Week – 12-16 March 2018
We once again had a very successful celebration of British Science Week, with events and competitions running for all year groups. The Year 7 students were particularly enthusiastic about their Twitter challenge, and we look forward to seeing the response when their tweets go live. Year 9 had a fantastic Urban Farm experience, and it was lovely to watch the students overcoming their fears of snakes, spiders and lizards, as well as asking excellent questions about their biology, handling and care. Key Stage 3 students have also been involved in the City of Tomorrow project, designing a futuristic home to help make the world ‘safer, smarter and kinder’ – the winners will be selected over Easter, and will then compete against other local schools. Key Stage 4 students have been finding out more about influential female scientists throughout history, with lots of students keen to tell the Science department about their personal science trailblazers. Whizz-Bang Demo Day was a great success, with around sixty students popping along to the Science department to see staff perform their favourite demonstrations. We showcased whoosh bottles, elephant’s toothpaste, explosions (safely controlled of course) and topped it off with everyone’s favourite - screaming jelly babies.
Congratulations to all the students who were involved in the Borough Trampolining Competition on Wednesday 7 March. We are so incredibly proud of them all!
Our Year 7 team said:- Emma O 7G The KLQ was fun and a good experience . Holly 7GThe KLQ was fun and enjoyable. I
most enjoyed the second round – on Ceta-
ceans, which we won with 10/10.
Melita 7G The KLQ was really fun but some questions
were challenging!
Imani 7G The KLQ was extremely enjoyable
and fun, especially when we won some
books. Plus Vanessa & Mrs Marillat each
won a book voucher - Go Librarians!
Year 8 did really well too:-
Isabella T 8E The quiz was very exciting from being first for
1 minute and we fought for every point to
come 27th out of 42.
Emma H 8T I loved revising for the quiz. It gives you the
opportunity to learn more but also realise
what you already knew.
Alice 8T A very fun experience which gets your brain
working.
Lein 8T I wish I had gone last year!
Eleanna 8A Overall, I really enjoyed my time
at the Kids’ Lit Quiz, because of all the new
knowledge I gained and the new books I
hope to read.
Library News
Kingston Schools’ Literary Quiz - Thursday 8 February 2018 by Imani Francis (7G) and Barira Haroon (10A)
Today we travelled by minibus to Tiffin Boys’ School for the 1st round of the Kingston Schools’ Literary Quiz which was organised by Royal Borough of Kingston Libraries. We were determined to win and get through to the Final. After all, our students had been preparing pre-Christmas by competing in quizzes, brushing up on general literary knowledge and of course reading the 10 set books. All of this showed our commitment to win.
The room was filled with determination and on the big chairs at the front sat the Judges, one of whom we recognised as Vanessa, who comes to TGS Book Munch on Wednesdays. The eight teams were quizzed on individual books, interspersed with questions to the audience to win book prizes. The interactive rounds were most competitive as the sounds of the buzzers filled the room. We were 4th and will be in the Final in March. The Seniors swapped over and the tension mounted. From my viewpoint they looked and sounded so confident, so it was no surprise when they came 2nd overall.
Both teams were in the March Final on Thursday 8 March 2018. Well done to all our literary gurus.
All of us were pleased to make it to the Final of the Lit Quiz, against Hampton and Kingston Schools. We knew there would be a lot of teamwork involved to beat these grammar and independent schools and we had to reread three books each. However, Kingston Grammar won the Lit Cup with 139/150 Tolworth Senior Team - overall 2nd Place in the Final - scored 135/150 Tolworth Junior Team - overall 4th Place in the Final - scored 97/130
Senior Team Selection:
‘Moonrise’ by Sarah Crossan (Capital Punishment on Death Row).
‘Turtles All the Way Down’ by John Green (contemporary problems, mental wellness and friendship issues).
‘Book of Dust - La Belle Sauvage’ by Philip Pullman is an epic fantasy.
‘Piglettes’ by Clementine Beauvais, a humorous teen tableaux, translated from French.
‘The Red Ribbon’ by Lucy Adlington, contains historical truths of the Holocaust.
The five books for the Junior Team included:
‘The Explorer’ by Katherine Rundell, the Costa Prize winner 2018
‘Sweet Freak’, a cyber thriller by Sophie McKenzie.
Both these authors had visited TGS and we had lunch with Sophie McKenzie!
‘A Skinful of Shadows’, a gothic treat by Frances Hardinge.
‘Dragon’s Green’ by Scarlet Thomas, a fantastical quest.
‘The Murderer’s Ape’ by Jacob Wegelius, an intriguing detective tale translated from the Swedish.
Congratulations! Most Students were in Fancy Dress
Year Group Winners:
7 Opal 8 Sapphire 9 Garnet
Staff winner: Miss Asprey (aka Cruella deVil!)
#GetCaughtReading Winner: Scarlett
World book day
2018
Miss Kemp, our Literacy Coordinator, has been busy awarding prizes, house points and certificates across the school; despite the ‘Beast from the East’ we marked this national celebration of reading with quizzes and crafts, story themed decors and literary fancy dress.
The photos illustrate some of the fun and events of World Book Day 2018 at Tolworth Girls’ School. Students were given their World Book Day Tokens and encouraged to use them with our online Book Club.
http://schools.scholastic.co.uk/ tolworth-girls.
WINNERS
YEAR 7 Joint Winners YEAR 8 Year 9 year 10
Alice in Wonderland /Wonder Narnia Cat in the hat harry potter
Year 11 organised the Easter Egg Tombola, which was hugely popular, despite it being Practical Exam Week. Many parents had been baking and being creative with making lots of yummy goodies. This event helps raise funds for the Year 11 Prom this summer.
Tolworth Girls’ School PTA First Silent Online Auction
As part of the Easter celebrations, the PTA organised the first Online Auction for one week only which opened on Friday 16 March and closed at midnight on Friday 23 March 2018. This will go to print before announcing the winners but they will be informed. This event is proving to be very successful. The funds raised are going towards the new Performing Arts Studio equipment. The PTA have had great fun monitoring the bids and there has been lots of “silent” competition! Thank you to everyone that have donated prizes: Thank you also to parents and friends that have given donations. The PTA plan to organise another silent auction at Christmas, so keep your eyes peeled for suitable prizes!
Family Quiz Night – Friday 11 May to start at 7.30pm
£5.00 per person on the night, students £2.00 Bring your own nibbles and drinks. Raffle on the night. Parents and students - we need to beat the teachers! WANTED – NEW SECRETARY TO START IN SEPTEMBER 2018 Role includes: to attend meetings, about six a year, take minutes and circulate. If you want further information please message [email protected]
Please can parents inform the school immediately of any changes in your daughter’s/son’s contact details.
These are very important and must be kept up to date
in case of student illness or a school emergency.
ParentPay Reminder
Please can we remind Parents/Carers to use ParentPay or PayPoint if you do not have a computer to pay for trips or other items the school requests money for. We will continue to send out activation letters to those who send in cash or cheques. Paying by ParentPay is a much more secure way of paying, also it is very convenient for parents who can pay at any time. We thank you for your cooperation.
The Finance Team
Health and Safety reminder from the Science Department
All students in the laboratory must wear safety goggles. This includes when a student across the lab is still working on their practical task and you have finished your experiment for the day. This simple precaution can eliminate the danger of eye injury caused by you or your neighbour spattering chemicals or breaking glass. Another important protection for your eyes is to avoid rubbing your fingers in or near your eyes. Chemicals can easily be transferred from your hands to your eyes in this way. All students are required to wear a lab coat at all times when anyone is working with chemicals in the lab. A lab coat is more than a uniform identifying you as a scientist; it affords you some protection from spills of hot or corrosive materials as well as protecting your school uniform.
Have you any items of unwanted or outgrown TGS PE kits?
Should there be any unwanted items of PE kit which are now redundant please could you bring them into Reception, marked for the attention of the PE department. They will be met with open arms! Unwanted kit is always in great demand and used to support those who have lost or forgotten their kit for lessons, so that students can still be taught and integrated. If your daughter is in Year 11 and will sadly be leaving Tolworth Girls’ School, we would be more than happy to receive her kit! Track bottoms, t-shirts, trainers and yellow socks would be very welcome and put to good use. Thank you.
Parents are reminded to inform the school if there are changes to the following:
Emergency contact details.
Medical conditions that can emerge as students mature.
Changes to medication.
We request that all parents whose child suffers from Severe Asthma or Severe Allergies provide the school with a named up-to-date Inhaler or Epipen.
If the medicine becomes out of date, you will be informed and you must replace the medicine immediately; we as a school will take no responsibility if you fail to provide a replacement.
Did you know that whenever you buy anything online you could be raising a free donation for Tolworth Girls’ School?
There are nearly 3,000 retailers on board ready to make a donation, including Amazon, John Lewis, Aviva, and Sainsbury's - it doesn't cost you a penny extra!
It's really simple, all you have to do is: 1. Join - Head to Tolworth Girls’ School PTA – Surbiton (TGS PTA) and sign up for free. 2. Shop - Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising.org.uk first, pick the retailer you want and start shopping. 3. Raise - After you've checked out, that retailer will make a donation to your good cause for no extra cost whatsoever! There are no catches or hidden charges and Tolworth Girls’ School will be really grateful for your donations. Thank you for your support.
Childcare - AfC Childminder Agency, Leap Ahead
The AfC Childminder Agency, Leap Ahead is registered and inspected by Ofsted. Childminders can choose to join the Agency and be registered and inspected by Leap Ahead rather than Ofsted. In addition to registration, those who join our agency will receive individual support and guidance, meetings, training and an annual graded visit. The childminder’s report is published on the website where parents can search for childminders in their area. http://www.leapahead.org.uk/
