Reverse Advent Calendar

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Please see the below message from the St Albans and District Foodbank:

Want to make someone’s Christmas special? Try taking part in our reverse advent calendar. All your donations will go to someone in your local area.

From 21st November, you can make daily donations of items attached. Make sure to pack and drop them off at your local warehouse by 15th December.

Many thanks to everyone who can donate – it means a lot to us and to the people who will be hungry this Christmas.

 

Textiles Trip to the V&A Museum

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On Monday 6th November, 45 Textiles students travelled by coach to the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington, London.

Students went in groups with a member of staff around the museum visiting the vast array of exhibits, from jewellery to photography and from paintings to sculpture.

The main purpose of our trip was to see the breathtaking displays of Coco Chanel’s work in the exclusive display. We were able to see how she became such a successful fashion designer during her lifetime, creating iconic hats, dresses, jewellery, suits, fabrics. Many students were inspired to create their own beautiful outfits.

Thank you to all the staff and students who came along, making it a successful day.

Remembrance and Wellbeing Cafe

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On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week, during lunchtime Helena from Step came in to run a remembrance and well-being cafe!

Each lunchtime session was filled with various activities, such as poppy making, reflective rainbow candles/prayers, well-being colouring and marble run activities.

Each day was filled with something new and interactive. Thank you Helena!

For more information about Step and their work within schools, please visit their website: https://www.stepschoolswork.org.uk

Attendance!

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Does your child struggle to attend school due to anxiety?

Hertfordshire have produced a parent’s guide to Emotionally Based School Avoidance and you can read it here. School staff use this guidance to support families and pupils where feeling anxious about attending school is causing low attendance.

Miss Gibbons
Assistant Headteacher

Important Information!

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REMINDER HALF TERM

The school will be closed for Half term on Monday 23rd October- Friday 27th October.
School will start again on Monday 30th October at 8:45am.

Townsend’s Book Machine!

If you have been into school recently, you may well have noticed our new book vending machine in the main foyer, we are very excited about it! This is a new reward scheme for our students, for those who have done something totally amazing, with schoolwork, enrichment, helping others or doing something for our school community. Any student who receives a golden book token can use this in the vending machine to choose a book to keep (it is tokens only; you cannot use cash in the machine). In order to keep the books topped up, for all our students to access, we have set up a wish list with Books on the Hill (independent bookshop in St Albans) so parents and member of our community can choose a book to donate to the school. If the vending machine is full, we will add the book to our library in the Discovery Centre for students to borrow.

If you would like to donate a book to Townsend for our students, please click on the link below which will take you to our wish list. You can then choose the book you would like to donate, pay for it online, and the bookshop will deliver it directly to us.If you click the tabs at the top of the wish list it takes you to the different collections we have chosen.
Link: https://www.books-on-the-hill.co.uk/townsend Password: Townsend

Thank you so much for your help and support of this venture if you are able to donate. We are really very grateful and excited to be able to offer such a lovely opportunity for our students.

Mrs Buckland
Assistant Headteacher

Flu Vaccine

Please find attached information about the Flu Vaccine that is taking place on Monday 30th October. https://eastanglia.schoolvaccination.uk/flu/2023/hertfordshire

Deloitte School Leavers Programme

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We have received the following information from Deloitte about their Early Careers Programme for school leavers:

Career Shapers

If your students are in year 10, 11 or 12, this is their chance to spend 2 or 3 days with us to discover more about life at Deloitte and see if we’re a good fit for your future career.

Entry Level Apprenticeship

Get ready to develop your research, administrative and project management skills alongside peers and senior partners.

Brightstart Apprenticeship

Solving client challenges while studying degree-level and professional.

Where can they join us? We have nationwide opportunities across our entire business, so whatever your student’s passion is, they’ll find something that’s right for them.

From Audit & Assurance to Tax Consulting and Enabling Functions to Technology, we’re delivering end-to-end programmes across the United Kingdom – turning complex challenges into opportunity and redesigning a more connected future. And your students could be part of it. Ready to discover what matters to your students?

Visit our careers site and encourage your students to apply now by visiting www2.deloitte.com and then clicking on the careers tab at the top of the page.

Mrs Davey
Assistant Headteacher

School PTA

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Dear Parent Carers,

I hope you are well, and by now your children have settled into the new school year.

Last week our new head Mr Flack sent out a parent mail to gauge interest from parent/carers who wished to join our PTA and help to develop its activities. Thank you for those who have responded so far. We could still do with a few people to help in various ways.

We are hoping in the near future to have anyone who volunteers and is available to help at our consultation evenings to serve refreshments and sell Festive Hamper Tombola tickets.

We are also running a Christmas Festive Stall on two lunchtimes in the last week of term selling seasonal items for students and teachers to buy as presents for family and friends.

We are also looking for help at our annual shows, displays and concerts. Any new ideas for fundraiser are also gratefully considered. If you wish to join our band of volunteers please contact the school at admin@townsend.herts.sch.uk or leave a message and we will be in touch.

You could also help supporting us by contributing to the Hamper Tombola and The Christmas Festive Shop. For the hampers we need festive food items, (in date please), vouchers, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, (Winning hampers will have to be collected by an adult) Christmas Crackers, chocolates and sweets, preserves and Christmas novelty items.

For the Christmas Festive Shop if any of you can supply through a company, a contact or your own goodwill any present type items will be gratefully received.

Lastly we are looking for sponsors of our annual Christmas tree and lights (some got storm damaged last year). Any contribution will help.

Please make cheques out to Townsend C of E School PTA.

Please remember that all monies raised benefits students.

Many Thanks

Ian Graham
Vice Chair PTA (Friends of Townsend)

Year 7

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Congratulations to the year 7 students for a fantastic first half term. I am delighted to share some wonderful news about our Year 7 students’ achievements during this first half of the academic year.

They have demonstrated remarkable dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work, and I wanted to take a moment to celebrate their accomplishments.

Throughout the past few months, our Year 7 students have not only settled into their new learning environment but have also shown significant progress in various aspects of their education. Here are some highlights of their achievements:

  • Academic Excellence: Our Year 7 students have consistently displayed a strong commitment to their studies and demonstrated some outstanding work within many subjects.
  • Positive Attitudes: It’s been heart-warming to see the enthusiasm and curiosity that our Year 7 students have brought to their classes. They are eager to learn.
  • Resilience: This year, our students have faced numerous challenges, including adapting to new routines and learning environments.
  • Co-Curricular Participation: Many Year 7 students have participated in Co-Curricular activities, showcasing their talents beyond the classroom. Whether it’s in sports, arts, or other clubs.
  • Positive Social Integration: Building friendships and strong peer relationships is an important aspect of their development. Our Year 7 students have shown great kindness and inclusivity, making everyone feel welcome and valued.

I believe that the first half of the academic year sets the tone for the rest of the year, and the progress our Year 7 students have made is truly inspiring. I am immensely proud of their achievements, and I look forward to supporting and guiding them as they continue to grow.

I would like to express my gratitude to you for your continued support and involvement in your child’s education. Your encouragement and engagement plays a vital role in their success.

Let’s continue to work together to ensure that the second half of the term is just as successful. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

We are here to support both you and your child on their educational journey.

Congratulations once again to our Year 7 students on their accomplishments. We are excited to see how they will continue to shine in the coming months.

Finally, a well done to all the students who were nominated for “Good News Friday” this half term:

– Isabelle C, Brecon G, Neveah M, Jenna W-T, Kai, L-W and Freya S.

Kind Regards,

Mr Brooks 
Head of Year 7

Year 11 Parent Consultation Evening

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Wednesday 8th November 5pm -8pm

The Year 11 Parent Consultation Evening is coming up on the second week back at school after half term, 8/11/23 from 5pm to 8pm. A letter with more details will be sent out shortly but please make a note of the date and time in your diary. Parents and pupils will have the opportunity to get feedback from individual subject teachers on next steps for the pupils. With the Trial Exams fast approaching it is vital that pupils are feeling supported.

If you have any further questions please contact me on: year11@townsend.herts.sch.uk

Have a great half term!

Mr Still
Head of Year 11

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

Term Dates News Policies Accessibility Statement Work With Us

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