Thetford Grammar SchoolThe small, friendly school that gets results for individuals.

13h November 2015

Dear Parents and Pupils,

This week has been particularly poignant for all members of the school with services and tributes paid to many former pupils and teaching members of staff who laid down their lives in the service of their country. My gratitude to all pupils and staff who made this TGS Remembrance Day service so moving and memorable; particular thanks are also extended to our visiting guests of honour Cllr Brenda Canham, Mrs Maureen Eade, Chair of Governors and Professor Scase, President of the Old Thetfordian Association.

My thanks and appreciation are extended to the many parents who came to the school on Monday 9th November at 3.30pm for our first TGS Tea and Talk. The atmosphere, I felt, was very convivial and productive. Many interesting ideas were propounded and a very productive discussion ensued. The topics included: partnerships with industry; the shooting range; healthier snacks and food, and the number of pupils in certain classes. The many members of school staff that were present found the session very useful and informative. Our next Tea and Talk will be in Term 2.

Over the course of this term Thetford Grammar School’s pupils and staff have, as always, been actively and positively involved in sports and athletic endeavours.

Pre-Prep SchoolSwimming lessons have started for our youngest pupils; all pupils in Pre-Prep and Prep School will be swimming after the Christmas Holiday.

Prep SchoolTag and Contact Rugby have featured prominently with lots of promise shown by many members of the squad. Well done to the fifteen pupils who took part in the recent Breckland cross country participants, four of whom have qualified for the Norfolk county race.

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Senior SchoolOur Netball and Hockey teams have been very busy this term with many matches played across all age groups. The U16 Netball team has won all but one game. Our U14 team is currently undefeated; they go on to play at county level tomorrow at the National School Tournament. Good luck. Equally, the boys have been involved in many rugby matches across the age ranges from many other schools. Our U15s have just been knocked out of the Natwest Trophy after coming up against tough opposition. Our U16s are currently playing in the County Plate Competition and are now waiting to see who they are playing in the next round.

I wish you a very happy and healthy weekend.

Mr Mark S. BedfordHeadmaster

AUTUMN MUSIC CONCERT On Tuesday 10th November, Prep School children participated in our Afternoon Music Concert. All of the children performed either in class groups, using recorders or voice and many of our children impressed the audience with their instrumental pieces on a wide range of instruments. We were also treated to performances from the Prep School choir and our new choir Forte. A big thank you to Mrs Foreman and all the music staff involved!

INVITATION TO PUPILS, PARENTS AND STAFF

‘Is there anything Special about Religious Language?’

On Wednesday, 25th November, Thetford Grammar School is proud to host Doctor Philip Wilson as an evening speaker in Old School from 17.30pm. Dr Wilson will be delivering a short talk on ‘is there anything special about religious language?’ All parents and pupils are welcome to attend. Please let the

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school office know if you wish to come along so that light refreshments can be organised.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

On the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Pre-Prep to Year 3 came together to remember the fallen soldiers. This was told through a delicately animated story, a beautiful and evocative video that sees war as experienced by animals in a WWI battlefield. All children helped to make a beautiful wreath which was then taken over to Old School to be laid.Lest We Forget.

Poppies video http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/watch/poppies

While the younger members of the school were having their Remembrance Service the older children from Y4-13 gathered in the Williamson Hall to pay their respects to all the men and women who have

served their country since the Great War of 1914-18. The service began with the choir’s rendition of ‘Falling Slowly’ accompanied by Mollie Carlyle on the piano. After an introduction by Mr Bedford, Liam Dargan and Will Pollard read ‘Sunset Vigil’ a poem for fallen soldiers, written by Andy Macfarlane.

Following the reading of the roll of Old Thetfordians who died and a poem ‘For the Fallen’ read by Andrew Forbes, The Last Post was superbly played by Elliott Sanders on the cornet.

A solemn two minute silence was observed, giving the pupils and staff a chance to reflect on their own thoughts and experiences of Remembrance. Vocalease sung ‘Fields of Gold’ and Ben Trowell read Praematuri by

Margaret Postgate Cole. Following prayers led by the Headmaster, the Head Boy, Robert Heighton and the Head Girl, Emily Bell took the Book of Remembrance and the Wreath to the Old School Memorial.

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CENOTAPH VISIT

Whilst the school was observing the 2 minute silence during their remembrance service, four of our Sixth Formers were bowing their heads in respect at the Cenotaph in London.

The Western Front Association (WFA) invites Thetford Grammar School to select representatives to attend this special ceremony on 11th November each year. The students joined other schoolchildren representing the youth of the nation and took part in the parade from King Charles’ Street, Whitehall, led by the Pipes and Drums band and other groups including the ‘Khaki Chums’ and the ‘Stars & Garters’.

Patrick Davis and Suzanna Hayden, Y13, followed the steward’s precise instructions to lay our wreath on the middle step of the Cenotaph. They were supported by Kirishoban Sanjeevvijay and Evie Hindle Y12. Following the wreath-laying from each of the groups represented, a lone piper encircled the Cenotaph while the Gurkhas guarding the monument stood to attention as he passed by. The ceremony lasted for 30 minutes, during which our students ‘stood to attention’ in full view of television cameras, media photographers, not to mention political and

military dignitaries.

Following the parade dismissal we walked over Westminster Bridge to enjoy a picnic lunch on the South Bank and then the students chose to visit the Natural History Museum for a couple of hours before heading home.

The students conducted themselves impeccably throughout the day and I was very proud to accompany them on this visit.

Ms L. PearsonHead of Careers and Business Studies

SAINSBURY’S ACTIVE KIDS SCHEME Children in the Prep School were delighted to hear that the items that were chosen by the School Council last year have arrived from the Sainsbury's Active Kids Scheme. The children have really enjoyed using the new playground equipment, including netballs, footballs, a basketball, hoops, croquet sets and ribbons to name a few! The children are also looking forward to using new cooking equipment in their cookery lessons. This equipment included a special set of utensils for Pre-Prep, baking trays, scales and bun tins.

Thank you to everyone for bringing in their vouchers which has helped us to supplement our existing equipment.

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JOHN INNES TRIP

On Thursday 11th November eight Y12 Biologists went to visit the John Innes Centre in Norwich for a tour of their microscopy department. We had an introductory lecture about the use of different types of microscopes before seeing them for ourselves. We were able to see the transmission and scanning electron microscopes as well as the laser confocal light microscope which had amazing images due to the use of fluorescence.

The visit really helped consolidate the work we have done in class about microscopes and also about cytoskeletons and mitosis. We now appreciate how much time and expertise is required to get those beautiful images for the covers of magazines and for use in textbooks.

Mrs T. GrangerHead of Science

GEOGRAPHY FIELD TRIP

Six extremely courageous Sixth Form students donned their wellies (and waders) and sploshed along 10km of the River Lark, around Bury St Edmunds, collecting river channel data.  Width, depth and velocity were measured and used to

calculate river discharge.  Luckily the weather stayed fine and the water levels were suitable to allow access to all the data collection

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sites.  Quite surprisingly no one fell in (although one or two gave it quite a good go!) and a good time was had by all.  The data will be analysed and used for their A2 skills examination.

Mr M. GlassbrookHead of Geography

SCHOOLS CHALLENGE QUIZ

On Wednesday 11th November a group of 4 TGS students took part in the first rounds of the Schools Challenge Quiz. This is an extremely challenging general knowledge quiz based on the University challenge format; in fact, many of the competitors on that show are prior achievers in this quiz.

In the first match, TGS excelled to beat Kind Edward VII’s team with a score of 400 points to their 300. We did not, however, fare so well in the second round match against the Perse school from Cambridge. As a result the Perse will move forward to the third round, for which we wish them the best of luck.

Congratulations go out to the TGS team of Robbie Heighton, Omar El-Oakley, Angus Russell and Brynmor Jenkins. Additional thanks are given to Holly Simpson who acted as timekeeper, to score-keeper Liam Vinton and to Mr. Roger Osborne from Hethersett Old Hall School, who acted as the visiting quizmaster. The Junior Schools Challenge Quiz for Y7 and 8 will take place next term, so hopefully we will be able to progress even further next time around.

SKI TRIP 2016

We have two spaces available on the ski trip to Aosta, Italy which departs on Saturday 19th March and returns on Sunday 27th. The cost is £830 – this is a fantastic trip and if you would like your child to take part please contact the school office for details.

SUGAR FOR SHELTER

We are collecting for 'Sugar for Shelter' again after the success of last year. This is a local charity to help support the homeless, hungry, families in crisis and those fleeing domestic violence in East Anglia. Please donate a bag of sugar, or more than one if you would like to, of any size or brand and deliver them to the Roger North room by December 9th. There is a poster attached for your information.

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CONGRATULATIONS!

IT’S A BOY!!Miss Francesca Travers has given birth to a bouncing baby boy called Toby George weighing 7lbs 8oz on Wednesday 4th November 2015.

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NON-UNIFORM DAY: SUPPORTING CHILDREN IN NEED IN ZAMBIA

We are holding a non-uniform day on Friday 20th

November to raise funds for the construction of Taonga School, Zambia. This is a fundraising idea delivered by Suzie Hayden, a Y13 student at TGS, as part of her Peter Large Scholarship application. Suzie presented her motivations and plans for this school to charity representatives from the Preparatory School, through to the Sixth Formers and this, in turn, is being shared with

tutor groups. Suzie has designed a poster to explain the plight of the school and this is attached to the newsletter.

Miss D. Dunsmore Charity Coordinator 

FRENCH EXCHANGE 2015-2016

Places available.

We are currently recruiting participants for our annual French exchange trip. Letters including all the details and a reply slip have been issued to students from years 9 and 10 and can also be found on our website.

Please remember to return your reply slip to the School Office as soon as possible so that we can start making arrangements with our French partner school in Compiègne (and get cheaper train deals!).

“I seriously recommend the Compiègne exchange trip. I wish I had done it earlier, and I would go back every weekend if I could! Actually, I would live there now if I could!”

Mr R. MaringueHead of French

RIFLE CLUB NEWS

There is still time to complete cards to be entered in the TGSRC Winter Air Rifle League, which closes on 25th November. After this date competitors in the Inter-House Turkey Shoot will have priority at the Range.

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Shooting takes place Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtimes and Wednesday after school.

Mr SpencerHead of Sixth Form

.177 Rifle 10m 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10

TOTAL

PLACE

1RAMSBOTTOM JOSEPH 93 93 94 92 96

92

97

98

95

88 938 1

2JACOB-HAIGH BEN 91 95 96 96

100

91

97

90

94

88 938 2

3 TROWELL CHARLIE 82 91 93 83 8284

94

85

80

85 859 3

4 JONES SAMUEL 81 70 78 81 8075

85

91

82

93 816 4

5 GRAHAM WILLIAM 78 75 83 74 7476

86

74

80

77 777 5

6 PRIORCHRISTOPH 76 67 52 78 86

61

79

74

56

79 708 6

7 PRIOR OSKAR 73 32 72 61 6466

48

63

68

71 618 7

8 MILLER EUAN 65 61 60 41 5761

57

61

66

76 605 8

9 PRIOR LUCA 53 59 76 60 4242

56

48

51

75 562 9

10 WHITE SAM 47 83 87 91 48

73 429 10

11

HUNTER-SHORT GABBY 96 94 98 97 385 11

12 TOD GRACE 71 52 71 52 246 1213 MURFITT ISABELLE 63 54 63 58 238 1314 HAYNES LEWIS 86 70 73 229 1415 PERRY ELLA 42 57 57 65 221 1516 OGILVIE

CHARLOTTE 47 80 44 171 16

17 LONG HATTIE 93 66 159 1718 CHRISTIAN ALICE 89 68 157 1819 KENDALL ZOE 81 75 156 1920 VINTON LIAM 76 71 147 2021 SMITH AMY 44 25 51 120 2122 PRINGLE ELEANOR 95 95 2223 TROWELL BEN 93 93 2324

SANJEEVVIJAY

KIRISHOBAN 90 90 24

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25 BEDFORD

EVANGELINE 53 28 81 25

26 HARTLEY WILLIAM 63 63 2827 HESLOP MICHAEL 37 21 58 29

TGS FAMILY CHRISTMAS

We are holding our Winter Fayre on Friday 4th

December at 3.00pm in the Williamson Hall. There will be lots to see and do including a visit to see Santa in his Sleigh, perusing the stalls for Christmas gifts, enjoying some delicious food from the BBQ and finishing it off with a well-deserved cup of tea or coffee.

Tutor groups will be running their own stalls too and there will be fun to be had in the Photo Booth as well as the eagerly anticipated Raffle – there are some delightful prizes up for grabs this year.

Envelopes will be coming home with pupils next week which will contain the raffle tickets to raise funds as well as bags for filling with small gifts and goodies such as sweets, small toys, stationary etc. There is a flyer in there too which will outline all the fun activities for the afternoon.

LOST PROPERTY

John Jenkins – Green/Red Leicester tigers scarf purchased on the Leicester Tigers trip on Sunday 1st November. This is a brand new scarf which was lost at some point on the return journey home. Could parents please check that their child has not picked it up by mistake.

Joseph Ramsbottom – TGS Hoodie – named. Lost during the Leicester Tigers trip.

Ben Mason in Year 6 - black PE joggers – they are named. Blazer - named

Ethan Harris - TGS black coat; it is named in the coat seam. Please can you check your child’s bags for this missing item.

Joshua Kriehn-Morris - school jumper; it is not named.

Arlo Greenwood - red wallet with black outline; it is named. Jack Hendrie - black and red water bottle which may not be named.

Hamish Russell has lost his black PE top it is clearly named

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Ben Jacob-Haigh – square, plastic cake box with a green lid.

Freddie Bayne - school blazer it is named.

Evangeline Bedford – PE Skort and PE Top – named.

Tom Bercovici – Nike black raincoat – it is named.

Franziska Elders – black PE sock; named.

CONGRATULATIONS

Well done to the following pupils that received awards in the Preparatory School’s assembly on Monday:

Elliot Bedford Fearn BourneMatthew Kendall Joe LawsonGabriel Galveias

Congratulations also to Gracie White in 6D for receiving her purple Blue Peter badge.

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MATCH RESULTS

Tuesday 10th November

U14 Netball v Sacred Heart Won 32 - 4

U15 Netball v Sacred Heart Lost 14 - 10Thursday 12th November

U16 Mixed Hockey v Eccles Hall Drew 1 - 1

NEXT WEEK’S FIXTURES

Saturday 14th November

7.45 depart U14 National Schools Tournament -Greshams

Tuesday 17th November

14.45 – 16.00

U15 Hockey v Eccles Hall (H)

Friday 20th November 14.00 – 16.00

U9/10 Tag Rugby Match v Downham Prep (A)

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Saturday 14th November

Sixth Form Scholarship Exams 09.00 – 12.00

Sunday 15th November MEP Berlin returns

Monday 16th November Y7-10 Internal ExamsTuesday 17th November Y7-10 Internal ExamsWednesday 18th November

Y7-10 Internal Exams

Friday 20th November Non-uniform day in aid of Taonga School, ZambiaPre-Prep – Y3 swimming lessons BLC 14.00

Tuesday 24th November Y6 Ancient Greek DayPre-Prep Festive Fun Morning at 10:15am

ATTACHMENTS

For a direct link to our website click here.

Sugar for Shelter PosterTaonga School PosterLetter for the French Exchange

FORTHCOMING LETTERS

Year 2 – 3 Visit to War Memorial in Thetford

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If you would like a printed copy of this newsletter please contact the office.

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