Weekly Roundup, Edition 3 – Autumn Term 2023

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Dear Parents and Carers,

I must start with a big thank you to all the students who helped out at Open Evening on Wednesday night. I was fortunate to receive lots of very positive feedback from parents / carers about how wonderful our students were. I am so proud of every one of them as they represented themselves and Townsend in the best possible way. I hope they have a relaxing weekend after an incredibly long day on Wednesday.

I am grateful to all the staff who have or are taking trips out this week. GCSE and A level Drama students were fortunate enough to be taken out this week. On Tuesday the A level students enjoyed a trip to see ‘The Pillowman’ at The Duke of York’s Theatre. Today, Year 11 GCSE History students have been to Whitechapel in East London as part of their unit on Crime and Punishment. Over the weekend, as Townsend hosts the annual MODELS THAT MOVE Show, Mr Armitage will be leading a group of Year 10 students into the wilderness as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award. Good luck to them and I hope the weather is fine.

I must complement all the students for their conduct during the Fire Alarm on Thursday. The alarm was triggered by a toaster used in one of the canteens. Their conduct was exemplary from start to finish even under the additional challenge of the alarm starting before all the students had arrived in school. Yet another reminder about how brilliant our students can be.

 

Two important dates for your dairy next week. On Wednesday 27th September we invite the parents / carers of students in Year 7 to an information evening which begins at 5.30pm. A final reminder that Thursday 28th September is our Annual Service of Dedication at St Albans Cathedral. Visitors should be seated by 1.45pm and students will be dismissed from the
Cathedral at 3.00pm.

There is a long list of Headteacher’s Commendations this week as each department nominated two students who they felt went above and beyond when representing us at Open Evening. Congratulations go to:

Year 7- Roman D ,Finley F, Brecon G, Zyan J, Esther T

Year 8- Jasmine M, Praise U, Lucine U

Year 9- Zahra A

Year 10- Alfie B, Summer F, Nasri M, Gracie S, Amelia W

Year 11- Jasmine C, Samir K, Jessica T

Year 12- Maysoon A, Lola B, Ellie D, Amelia H, Daniel J, Dylan J, Shaun J

Year 13- Millie A, Ellie C, Anna-Marie H, Isabel H, Harry K, Arnav K, Callum P, Roemello V, Phoebe W and Addison W.

Attendance & Punctuality

Last week I wrote to you about the importance of all children being in school on a regular basis and arriving on time every day. There has been a small improvement in the last week, so thank you to those of you who have encouraged your son / daughter out the door. This focus on attendance and punctuality will continue this week and for the rest of the academic year. Once good habits have been established, it is easier to maintain them. Thank you for you continued support with this.

Online Safety

Trying to keep young people safe online is a never ending task for us as a school and you as parents and carers. To support you in this task, every week we will share with you a Parents / Carers Guide to Online safety. Each week is a different theme with specific information I am sure you will find useful. This week’s edition is on WHATSAPP.

Have a pleasant weekend,

Mr Anthony Flack,
Headteacher

Safeguarding

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Any of our Team can be contacted through the school office – by telephone or by using email to safeguarding@townsend.herts.sch.uk

Please find the quick link below for reporting any incidents of bullying at the school

Bullying Report Form

There is a lot of information about safe practice with regards remote learning and use of the internet – please do access what you can so children remain safe while using laptops and PCs at home.

Two particular websites that support schools are CEOP and Think You Know

https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

Do have a look at both for tips and advice.

Do you know how to keep your children safe online? Take a look at the UJ Safer Internet Centre’s guides to parents and carers to ensure you children are safe online. https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/parents-and-carers

Can we remind all parent/carers the designated safeguarding leaders in the school are;

Mr M Armitage- Assistant Headteacher
Ms K Barron – Student and Family Wellbeing Lead
Mrs K Brooks – Assistant Headteacher
Miss L Gibbons – Assistant Headteacher
Miss E Gordon – Director of Learning for Year 8 and Head of Key Stage3
Mrs G Llewellyn – Deputy Headteacher
Miss A Philpott- SENDCO
Mr R Potter – English Teacher and Year 9 form tutor
Mr M Tominey- Director of Learning for Sixth Form

Wellbeing

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Please note that although we are very happy to pass on information these are not Townsend sponsored or organised events.

Here are some places you can get in touch with for help:

The Sandbox (https://sandbox.mindler.co.uk/) The Sandbox is an online NHS-funded service to support children and young people in South Staffordshire and Hertfordshire with their mental health and well-being.

Kooth.com (https://www.kooth.com/) provides free, online support Mon – Fri 12pm – 10pm
and Sat & Sunday 6pm – 10pm, 365 days a year.

Shout provides free confidential support via text 24/7, just text SHOUT to 85258. https://giveusashout.org/
Childline provides free 24hr counselling service call 0800 1111 or go to https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/1-2-1-counsellor-chat/

For Me App: https://www.childline.org.uk/toolbox/for-me/ A free app from Childline. It offers counselling, group message boards, and advice.
MeeTwo App: https://www.meetwo.co.uk/ A safe forum for teens including advice from experts on any topic that is difficult to talk about and built in signposting.

Next week is Youth Mental Health Day on 19th September. The theme this year is #BeBrave. Students will be learning more about it in their Personal Development session in form time. If you would like more information then please have a look at their website:

https://stem4.org.uk/youthmentalhealthday/

Attendance

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The government and NHS have put together some guidance for child illness and school as well as COVID-19.

Please read the new guidance and send your children to school to ensure good attendance.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/covid-19-symptoms-and-what-to-do/

Virtual careers events with Price Waterhouse Coopers

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Price Waterhouse Coopers offers business advisory services such as auditing, accounting, taxation, strategy management, and human resource consulting services.

The company is running a series of virtual events which are a great opportunity to learn about who PwC are, what they do, their opportunities and ask questions to their recent Flying Start and School and College Leaver joiners and recruiters.

The Virtual Classroom sessions are a series of events providing students, parents and teachers with an insight into PwC. The sessions are aimed at students in Years 10-13

Whether your child wants to pursue a career in technology, accounting or business on one of PwC’s Flying Start programmes, or join them full time as a school-leaver, you’ll have the opportunity to gain top tips as well as hear from current and past students and apprentices, and get your questions answered. They will also be running a session for parents, carers and teachers to support you in guiding your students in their career choices. Sign up for the Virtual Classroom events listed below by clicking on the following link: https://jobs.pwc.co.uk/school/uk/en/events?category=Virtual%20Classroom&date=ALL_DATES

Looking ahead to your career options: Apprenticeships – Wednesday 27 September 4:30-5:30pm

Exploring your young person’s options at PwC: Parent and teacher insight session – Tuesday 3 October 5:30-6:30pm

Discover Technology at PwC – Thursday 12 October 4:30-5:30pm

Looking ahead to your career options: Degree programme – Thursday 19 October 4:30-5:30pm

Looking ahead to your career options: Apprenticeships – Wednesday 8 November 4:30-5:30pm

Looking ahead to your career options: Degree programme – Thursday 16 November 4:30-5:30pm

Subject Spotlight History

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Year 7:

This half term Year 7 will be focussing on exploring and developing their understanding of different historical skills. Some of the skills they will look at include chronology, inference and extracting evidence from sources. This half term Year 7s will also study life in Anglo-Saxon England and understand how this compares to life in England today.

Year 8:

Year 8 will be studying the development of the British Empire this half term. They have already developed an understanding of why Britain wanted an empire and this week have begun to research the different explorers responsible for forging the empire. They will then move on to look at the development of the early colonies within the empire and the issues colonists faced.

Year 9:

This half term Year 9 students will be completing an introduction unit focussed on the history of Migration in Britain from c800 to present day. Students will be examining cases studies on different migrant groups that have immigrated to Britain, the treatment they received and the impact they’ve had on British society. Throughout this unit, students will focus on the key historical skills of inference, causation, change and continuity. After half term, students will begin their first GCSE unit on Crime and Punishment in Britain, c1000 to present day.

Year 10:

Year 10 History students have made an excellent start to the second unit of their GCSEs focussed on Early Elizabethan England from 1558-1588. Students will be studying the problems faced by Elizabeth when she became Queen and how she managed to overcome these. In particular, students will focus on the issue of religion and the implementation of Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement.

Year 11:

This half term Year 11 students have been finishing the third unit of their History GCSE focussed on the American West from 1835-1895. Students have been studying the development in the infrastructure of the West and the impact this had on Native Americans. Within lessons, students have been improving their exam technique and focussing on the skill of writing an analytical narrative account. In the next few weeks students will be starting their final GCSE unit on Weimar and Nazi Germany from 1918-1939. Next week Year 11 History students will be visiting Whitechapel in London to take part in a walking tour connected to the historical environment study in paper 1. This will be an excellent opportunity for students to visit the sites studied in lessons, interact with primary sources and revise and apply their knowledge of 19th century crime and policing in the Whitechapel area.

Year 13:

Year 13 students have started the researching phase of their coursework this week and so far have demonstrated an excellent level of enthusiasm and attitude to learning. They will also begin studying the third paper of their A Level this half term which is titled Poverty, public health and the state in Britain c1780 – 1939.

Mrs Smith,
Head of Humanities

Year Group Notices Year 7

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Year 7 have continued showing outstanding effort and attitude to learning here at Townsend School.

This week students have had their form and individual photos taken. They were all looked very smart and behaved impeccably. They also had the opportunity to attend the new launch of the Discovery Centre where they could socialise with other students, play board games, read, do arts and craft and many more fun activities.

Over the past two weeks year 7 have been going for lunch at 1pm whilst they settle into secondary school life. This has now finished and they will be going for lunch at the same time as the rest of the school 1:15pm.

Finally, it was very pleasing to see many Year 7 students attend the Cross Country event on Tuesday and Thursday where they performed fantastically well and did themselves and the school very proud.

Dates for your diary:

  • 18th September – Football Trials (kick off at 3:50pm and finish at 4:45pm)
  • 20th September – Early finish (12:30) due to Open Evening
  • 25th September – Boys friendly Football match versus Nicolas Breakspear at Townsend
    School. (Kick off at 4pm)
  • 27th September – Year 7 Information Evening – 17:00 – 18:30 (more detailed information
    to follow)
  • 28th September – Dedication Cathedral Service – 14:00 – 15:00. Students need to be
    picked up from the cathedral at 15:00.

Thank you,

Mr Brooks
(Head of Year 7)

Year Group Spotlight: Year 11

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Well done to the Year 11’s who have made a really positive start on their return from their Summer holidays.

Pupils have been working well in their lessons and I have been impressed by the numbers of pupils working independently at lunchtimes and at home. We are looking forward to supporting them throughout the course of the year to enable them to achieve their potential and fulfil their Post 16 ambitions.
As well as supporting pupils in class there will be a number of enrichment opportunities whereby pupils can attend lunchtime and after school support sessions run by staff, we are also running a bespoke mentoring programme, and are looking at ways in which sixth form students can support Year 11s with specific subjects and topics in school.

Important Dates for you diary:

  • Year 11 ‘Parents Consultation Evening’ 5pm – 8pm on 8th November
  • Year 11 ‘Into the 6th Form Evening’ at 7pm on 23rd of November.
  • Year 11 ‘Trial Exams’ in all subjects 27th November to 8th December

In the meantime if there are any issues or concerns please contact your child’s subject teacher or form teacher via the admin@townsend.herts.sch.uk email address, or myself on year11@townsend.herts.sch.uk

Have a good weekend,

Mr Still
Head of Year 11

Weekly Roundup, Edition 2 – Autumn Term 2023

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Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been another wonderful week at Townsend with much to celebrate and be proud of. This week’s collective worship assemblies have been based on our Bible-based vision of ‘Love Your Neighbour ‘(Luke 10 25 – 37). We have evolved the concept of Love Your Neighbour, treating others as we wish to be treated ourselves, to that of ‘Love Your Neighbour, Love Yourself and Love the Journey’. ‘Love Yourself’ is a reminder to all of us that we need to look after our own mental and physical wellbeing. We need to have a support network we can use in times of need and take time to make sure we are looking after ourselves. ‘Love the Journey’, emphasises that life is a journey and particularly during a young person’s time at Townsend, they are on a journey with us. Their journeys will not all be the same and they will have different high points and times of need. During their journeys we will do everything we can to support them, allowing them to flourish and be the best versions of themselves they can be.

Mrs Line used German artist Jan Vormann’s work using Lego to rebuild crumbling walls as an example of how each brick a young person adds to their wall during their journey with us, the more opportunities they will have to move into the world with the skills to make a positive contribution to it. An article about Jan’s work can be found here.

Jan Vormann Invites Playful Interaction by Patching Crumbling Walls with LEGO Bricks

I was honoured this week with opening the Discovery Centre following a restructure in the summer, and starting the first race of the District Cross-Country race we hosted at Townsend last night. Photos of both these events can been seen on our social media posts.

Attendance and Punctuality

I would like to stress the importance of your child attending school on a regular basis. There is much research to say that student progress and outcomes are explicitly linked to attendance. Not only is it best for your child to attend school regularly, it is also parents / guardian’s legal duty to ensure their child has good attendance at school. I would like to draw your attention to our updated Attendance Policy which can be found in the ‘About Us’ section of our website, under the Policies & Guidance section. We have noted that a number of students are late to school in the morning and many of these have no good reason not to be here on time. The school day begins at 8.45am and students should be here for this time. From Monday onwards, those who arrive late in the morning, without a valid reason will face a sanction.

I have been asked by the NHS to share the following information with parents / carers with regard to school attendance.

It is usually appropriate for parents and carers to send their children to school with mild respiratory illnesses. This would include general cold symptoms: a minor cough, runny nose or sore throat. However, children should not be sent to school if they have a temperature of 38°C or above. Information and advice can be found on this link ‘Is my child too ill for school?’

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

If you would like advice from the school about your son / daughter’s attendance, please contact their Head of Year in the first instance via admin@townsend.herts.sch.uk

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded a Headteacher’s commendation this week:

Ellie C 13C

Isabel H 13Y

Joshua B 8C

Khayal A 8N

Hayley F 11E

Key Dates:

  • Open Evening – Wednesday 20th September 5.30 – 8.30pm (Schools closes as 12.30pm)
  • Abbey Service – Thursday 28th September 2.00pm start (Parent / Carers to be seated by
    1.45pm)

Best wishes,

Mr Anthony Flack,
Headteacher

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High Oaks, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 6DR | Tel: 01727 853047 | Email: admin@townsend.herts.sch.uk