1 Issue No 21/2015-2016

Thetford Grammar School

The small, friendly school that gets results for individuals.

4th March 2016

Dear Parents and Pupils,

We have had the great fortune of an exciting range of events and activities to celebrate

World Book Day this week. Alex Scarrow, celebrated children’s author, arrived at school on

Monday to provide a workshop with wonderful insights into the task of writing and

creating attention-grabbing stories for younger (and older) readers. Pupils, staff and parents

commented very highly on our visitor and how much they gained from his visit to TGS.

Most of our younger pupils dressed up to celebrate World Book Day in style on Thursday. It

was a delight to see the likes of Darth Vader, Lord Voldemort and Romeo roaming around

the school. Last but not least, The Tasty Book Competition is happening a little later on this

morning. This should prove a delectable finale to the week for all members of the school,

particularly the judges. Good luck to all the competitors. My thanks and appreciation to all

staff and governors who have helped to make these events successful, especially to Mrs Julie

Settle, TGS Librarian, as the overall coordinator, for our literary pleasure.

I do hope that the Regional Careers Fair in Colchester yesterday was a very positive

experience for our Year 10 pupils. Mrs Linda Pearson, as the Trip Leader, told me how

pleased she was with the trip with many positive comments about how well our pupils

conducted themselves outside of school.

Our Sixth Form talk, as part of their General Studies lessons, will take place in Old School

later on today, which is also open to parents and families, and is entitled ‘Terrorism and

Counter-Terrorism in the UK’. I do consider that this is a particularly topical information

session given our current political climate presented by Dr Lee Jarvis. My appreciation to Mr

Stephen Spencer and Mrs Linda Pearson for organising this presentation.

Another gentle reminder that our Parent Focus Group meeting for all current parents is on

Tuesday 8th March, starting at 8.30am. I, and other members of staff, shall be delighted to

welcome you to the school to talk about a number of current issues. As always, clear

communication and dialogue are important, so that we can consider any changes and

improvements for the benefit of all stakeholders.

I do wish you all a very happy and healthy weekend.

Mr Mark S. Bedford

Headmaster

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WORLD BOOK DAY

We are delighted to announce that World Book Day is now

officially a Guinness World Records title holder!

With your participation last week TGS helped to smash the

Guinness World Records title for the ‘Most people taking part

in simultaneous literary quizzes at multiple venues.’

A whopping 6,388 people took part in the World Book Day Bumper Book Quiz across the

country, including 111 of our own pupils - more than doubling the existing record.

Congratulations everybody!

Mrs Julie Settle

Librarian

SKI TRIP TRAVEL DETAILS

Please meet at 6.30pm on Saturday 19th March at the

car park on Bury Road by the Hungry Horse pub for a

6.45pm departure. If possible please park in the pub or

the side street as the coach will need to manoeuvre in

the car park and it may be a little tight for space.

Breakfast and lunch for the Sunday journey are provided; please remember to pack your ski

socks in your hand luggage as we have a boot fitting before we reach the hotel. Also don't

forget to bring your fancy dress costume!

Please bring your passports, EHIC, consent forms and euros into the office as soon as

possible for safekeeping.

Our estimated return time on Sunday 27th March is 11.30am to the same car park.

If you have any queries please contact the office or email Mrs Alecock on

aa@thetgram.norfolk.sch.uk

Mrs Alison Alecock

Trip Organiser

Y8 PARENTS’ EVENING

Thank you to all the parents and pupils who came to Y8 Parents’ Evening on Wednesday 2nd

March; it is always a pleasure to meet parents and to have the chance to discuss any issues

or concerns you may have.

Mrs Kathrin Elders

Deputy Head

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DT EASTER EGG RAFFLE

I am organising an Easter Egg Raffle starting on Monday 7th

March. There are 10 super Easter Eggs to be won! Raffle

tickets are 50p each and will be available from room F20, the

DT workshop. Also, some Y10 and Prep School pupils will

be selling tickets over the next few weeks at break and

lunchtimes. The winners will be announced in the final

school assembly of this term on Friday 18th March.

Thank you.

Mr Adrian Jenkinson

DT Technician

THEATRE TRIP TO THE GARAGE, NORWICH

On Monday 29th February the intrepid GCSE and A Level

Drama students went to The Garage in Norwich to see a version

of Shakespeare’s Macbeth entitled “The Devil Speaks True”.

The Garage is a studio space renowned for innovative performances and this was true of the

production we experienced. Sitting in the dark, we were all given headphones through

which sound and dialogue were transmitted whilst a solo performer combined movement

and mime with projected imagery. Different smells were pumped into the auditorium to

add to the sensory effect. It was a radical departure from conventional theatre and it gave us

a totally different perspective on the play. The Director’s interpretation was that Macbeth

and Banquo are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome. To this end, Shakespeare’s

text was interwoven with transcripts from interviews with ex-servicemen including a man

who had been held hostage in Iraq for three years. In an interesting twist, he was in the

audience on Monday and we had the privilege of talking to him before and after the

performance. It certainly was a night to remember and it will hopefully inspire some

creative devised work from the students.

Mrs Juliet Boyce

Head of Drama

PRE-PREP EASTER ‘EGGS’TRAVAGNZA OPEN MORNING

We are holding the above event on Wednesday 9th March in the

Goldcrest Classroom from 10.15am – 12.00 noon. If you have any

friends or family who have pre-school children all are welcome to

attend. Please see flier attached.

Mrs Nicki Peace

Head of Preparatory School

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PRE-PREP - YEAR 2 PIRATE ADVENTURE

Heave ho me hearties! On Monday 29th February Pre-Prep – Y2 pupils had the best pirate

adventure! The pupils followed the story of Red Beard solving clues on the way to find the

hidden treasure and they all had tremendous fun singing pirate songs and trying out

scientific experiments used in the story. A big thank you to Mandy Hartley for a super

scientific pirate experience.

Miss Julie Blakemore

Pre-Prep Teacher

ALEX SCARROW VISIT

Internationally respected author of teenage fiction Alex

Scarrow visited school Monday 29th February to work

with our Y7 and Y8 pupils.

Alex began the day with a talk outlining his

background and techniques before amazing the children by reading extracts from his

famous ‘Time Riders’ series of books. The basic premise of each story centres around the

events of three teens who, moments before death, have been ‘recruited by an agency that no

one knows exists, with only one purpose—to fix broken history.’ Each story then details how

these special agents intervene to control great events in history. The series begins with ‘Time

Riders’ while the latest book is entitled ‘The Infinity Cage.’

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Later in the day Alex spent time working with

the two year groups to show them how he

comes up with such innovative ideas. Within

minutes the pupils were brainstorming ideas

based around two small phrases: ‘What if…’

and ‘So what…?’ Soon the young writers were

coming up with ideas such as ‘What if humans

were pets?’ and ‘What if mirrors were portals to

another world?’ Later on the pupils were asked

to ‘pitch’ ideas to Alex, for his next book or film.

The day was organised by Mrs Settle as part of a wide range of activities for World Book

Day and everyone had a fantastic time.

Mr Bradley Young

Head of English

PRE-PREP – Y2 CHURCH FARM VISIT

On Wednesday 2nd March 2016, Pre-Prep pupils boarded the

minibus and travelled to Church Farm for a day of fun filled

learning, continuing their insight into the topic ‘Growth and

Change’ this half term. They were able to walk through the animal

trail talking about what different animals they could see and then

met the baby animals and had the opportunity to bottle feed the

lambs. Pupils were treated to a tractor ride around the farm and

were able to feed the famous and cheeky ‘Figgy the Piggy’. To

work up an appetite the children enjoyed exploring the indoor

straw barn.

After lunch, pupils took great pleasure in a well-deserved play on the adventure

playground, followed by a special meeting of two new born lambs which were just minutes

old.

A thoroughly enjoyable day all round.

Miss Franchesca Atkins

Teaching Assistant

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SPORTS RELIEF FRIDAY 11th MARCH

Pupils in the Prep and Pre-Prep School, as well as volunteer Senior

School pupils, are taking part in a sponsored Kilometre-Conga at lunch

time on Friday 11th March our Non-Uniform Day. This is to raise money

for Sports Relief on 18th March. We are aiming to raise as much money

through pupil sponsorship as we do through the £1 donation for non-

uniform. Pupils are being encouraged to wear at least one item of their House colour for the

conga event and we hope that pupils not partaking will offer lots of support on the side-

lines. The kilometre will be measured out around the field on the Fulmerston side of the

school and all sponsorship monies will be collected during the week beginning 14th March.

Photographs will follow!

Miss Daniella Dunsmore

Charities Co-ordinator

BAKE SALE

Following an assembly last week by Mrs Sallyanne Scott,

we held a Bake Sale at break time on Tuesday 1st March.

Through our pupils’ generosity we raised £146.94 in

support of fundraising efforts for Multiple Sclerosis. The

pupils and staff always enjoy a cake sale and this was no

exception – the hall was busy with the sound of coins

being exchanged for yummy buns.

Thank you to everyone who took time out to bake, buy

and sell cakes.

Miss Daniella Dunsmore Charities Co-ordinator

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STATEMENTS OF ENTRY

This week external examination candidates have been issued with their Statements of Entry

for the Summer 2016 series of exams.

These are important documents and should serve as the personal examination timetables

and should be brought to all examinations. Parents are asked to assist pupils in ensuring

that they are kept safely until the start of the examination session in May and June.

Any errors or omissions should be reported to me, the Examinations Officer, without delay.

Mr John Law

Examinations Officer

PREP SCHOOL - SPECIAL CARD MAKING

Pupils in Prep School have been very busy this week making special cards for their Mums.

Here are some of the cards made by Years 4 and 5. Happy Mother's Day to all Mums this

weekend!

Mrs Nicki Peace

Head of Preparatory School

SCHOOL LIFE AND CHOICES

In Y9 I made my GSCE choices, of Geography, Design

Technology, Music and Drama (obviously including

the compulsory subjects.) I made these choices based

on my enjoyments at the time, though I also considered

that I needed a mixture of subjects in order to leave a

wide range of options open for myself when I

approached A-Levels. Hence I chose a Humanity

subject, one Design subject, and two traditional Art

subjects. From this, I finally decided to choose Design

Technology, Philosophy and English at A Level. My

choice to continue DT was obvious to me throughout GSCE, as I continuously enjoyed the

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course, and thrived in the creative environment the Design department offered, and still

offers. Though I didn’t follow Geography through to my A-Levels, I do still believe the

subject would have been beneficial to me. Nevertheless, I have no regrets in choosing

English and Philosophy, as both have become increasingly more interesting as we follow

through the terms.

I began to create music in Y9, probably in some cases to deal with the personal turmoil of

moving school. My first musical influence mostly came from ‘soul’ and ‘alternative rock’,

which was continuously played to me as a child by my parents and two older brothers.

Bands such as the ‘Arctic Monkeys’ and singers like ‘Barry White’ are just some of my

influences. I admired the ability the artists had to convey an emotion or feeling through the

medium of lyricism or instrumental work, that couldn't perhaps be explained in a generic

way, which inspired me to learn the guitar. Once I finally believed I was at a stage where I

could really exercise my guitar work I also began to sing, which then led me to flutter

between bands, comprised of groups of friends who all held the same ambition to create

music. Although I enjoyed this time and still value it highly, I decided to follow my own

personal path of creating music.

Originally, the music I was creating on my own was mostly electric guitar work with vocals.

I recorded these tracks through an iPad microphone and then saved these songs to my

devices, so I could listen and write to my music while travelling to and from school; aiming

to stay productive. My music developed in doing so, and through being introduced to

influences like Gill-Scott Heron, Jamie XX, James Blake and others, I started to understand

what I believed to be an effective way of conveying emotion through music. This came with

changing my style to spoken word/rap, and delving into electronic production.

Once I recorded vocals and had finished creating the beats/production behind the vocals, I

decided to upload them to a site called ‘Soundcloud’ in the hope of some recognition and

opinion. Through doing this, I was approached by popular venues in Cambridge, such as

‘The Junction’, and rooms in Norwich such as ‘The Arts Centre’, and ‘OPEN’, to play their

venues. This was an important step for me, as I value live performance very highly and

wished to replicate the energy on my tracks, in front of a crowd. From playing these warm

up shows I was then invited to perform as a headline act on the ‘Spoken Word’ stage at

Cambridge Junction in August of last year, which was a very successful show. These gigs

gave me a greater exposure then what had I previously experienced, which lead to radio

play.

I was noticed by the ‘BBC Introducing’ team based in Norfolk, who began to play my songs

on their stations, and then interviewed me to gauge an understanding of what I was

prepared to release, and to get to know me as an artist. This can be found on the main site

here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0312z30

I was then acknowledged further by the station and also stations in Newcastle, and ‘Future

Radio’, and on various occasions ‘BBC Intro’ have made ‘Track of the week’, which has been

a truly humbling – one I hope to continue. However, I believe that the most prominent

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exposure I have received was from being played by ‘BBC Radio One’ presenter Huw

Stephens, on the BBCR1 late show in January; this was an achievement I will treasure, and

one which has encouraged me to create a full length EP, to be released soon, under the name

of ‘OUR CALM BURN.’ The EP will be a collection based on my personal experiences, and I

hope for it to be my most professional work as of yet.

I currently have updated my ‘studio’, or as my mum refers to it ‘the mess downstairs’, and

still produce and create songs under my full name of ‘Luke Peter Foster’. Although, I

encourage anyone with musical interest to use the equipment they currently have - just as I

started to - as this gives a good indication of whether they wish to pursue creating music.

I fully advocate the belief that having a hobby is extremely important when going through

school, regardless of your age, as long as you carry the mindset of ‘work hard, play hard’,

and acknowledge the importance of your school work. Having music allows me to briefly

remove myself from my work, and so relieves some of the pressure from my studies,

especially once exams were (and are) looming.

I usually use a quite basic approach when revising and allowing myself the luxury of

following a hobby. I tend to take breaks between 45 minutes to an hour of revision,

although I find difficulty in returning back to my revision after allowing myself a small

break. However, I now understand that by continuing my own revision schedule the

difficulty of returning to revision seems to diminish. The most important lesson I made

personally, through A-level revision, was to always keep a positive mindset when doing so;

although this seems obvious, this has been a really important tool for me. The moment I

begin to overly think about my revision is the moment I fall into the belief that my

revision is a burden though by seeing my revision as the process of gaining and ingraining

knowledge in myself makes the whole experience much more positive, and enjoyable.

What’s next?

I have applied for University, and have decided that my two choices are Northumbria

University and Loughbrough University, to study ‘Industrial Design’. While doing so, I will

continue creating my own music, while still prioritizing my studies.

I hope my future job will be based around industrial design, to be doing something creative

as a job is an achievement in itself for me; possibly something based on creating the

aesthetics for technological products. I’ve really enjoyed studying design movements

through my time taking ‘Design Technology’, and also applying them, so I believe this

would be a very self-rewarding process.

If the opportunity did ever arise for me to further develop my music into a career I would

like to take this opportunity, although this is extremely unpredictable, so I believe investing

my time into ‘Industrial Design’ will provide myself with a safe career option, by no means

does this mean I do not enjoy design though, as I value it very highly, and in some cases it

has informed my music.

Luke Foster Y13

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SAINSBURY’S ACTIVE KIDS VOUCHERS Just a reminder that if you have any Active Kids vouchers from any Sainsbury’s stores please bring them into the school office or place in the Prep School foyer in the special box provided. Last year we received some new sports equipment, games and cooking equipment for the children to use during their breaks, lunchtimes and cookery lessons. Thank you for your support in this venture. Mrs Issy Cracknell Prep School Secretary

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to the following pupils that received certificates from Mrs Peace in the Prep

School’s Monday morning assembly this week.

Amelia Worsley Elliot Bedford Emily Bradfield Joe Lawson

Alexis Goodwin Arthur Summers Ben Mason Fearn Bourne

Also, well done to the boys listed below who received certificates from Mr Hill in Tuesday

morning’s assembly after taking part in the U11’s Football Tournament at Finborough

School on Saturday 27th February.

Hamish Russell Matthew Kendall Kit Beaven Ethan Harris

Sam Sidery Ben Mason Ryan Bourne Joe Lawson

Tom Hayden Arthur Summers

On Wednesday 2nd March swimmers from TGS ranging from Y4 to Y9 took part in the

annual Norfolk County Swimming Gala at the University of East Anglia. Well done to the

pupils below who took part.

Oscar Harris Y4 4th in Breaststroke

7th in Butterfly

Oscar Foreman Y4 2nd in Backstroke

Sam Bercovici Y5 6th in Breaststroke

5th in Butterfly

Tom Hayden Y6 7th in Freestyle

8th in Backstroke

Ryan Bourne Y6 4th in Breaststroke

8th in Butterfly

Maddie Trussell Y7 8th in Freestyle

8th in Breaststroke

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Bethan-Eve Morgan Y7 8th in Backstroke

8th in Butterfly

Charlie Trowell Y7 6th in Butterfly

7th in Freestyle

Elizabeth Wright Y8 8th in Freestyle

8th in Backstroke

Minnie Molyneux Y8 5th in Butterfly

7th in Breaststroke

Ben Trowell Y9 4th in Freestyle

5th in Backstroke

MATCH RESULTS

Friday 26th February U11 Football v Downham Prep Won 5 - 3

Saturday 27th February U11 Football Tournament Lost on penalties in the Quarter

Finals

Tuesday 1st March U15 Football v Eccles

U18 Football v Finborough

Won 6 – 0

Lost 7 - 2

NEXT WEEK’S FIXTURES

Monday 7th March U13 Hockey v Old Buckenham High (H) 4.00pm. Pick up 5.15pm

Tuesday 8th March U16 Area Netball Semi Final v Wymondham College (A) 4.00pm.

Pick up 5.30pm

Wednesday 9th March U14 Netball Area Semi Final v Old Buckenham (A) 3.30pm. Pick up

5.15pm

Y11 GCSE PE group Hockey v Old Buckenham High (H) 4.00pm.

Pick up 5.15pm

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Monday 7th March Y7 Castle Hill, Thetford visit

Tuesday 8th March Parents’ Focus Group 8.30am – 9.30am.

Y12 visit to Nottingham University – depart 8.00am

Wednesday 9th March Y6 Crucial Crew visit at Letton Hall 8.45am

‘Eggstravaganza’ for Pre-Prep School

Thursday 10th March German Exchange Outbound

Mayor’s Assembly Y7 – Y9

Friday 11th March Non-Uniform Day in aid of Sport Relief

Sponsored Kilometre-Conga

Tuesday 15th March Prep School House Activities Morning

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Wednesday 16th March Prep School Project Sharing Assembly 9.00am WH

Friday 18th March Pre-Prep visit to United Reform Church 10.30am

LOST PROPERTY

A pair of JABRA Revos headphones have been lost in the music room – they are mostly grey

with some orange on them. If you come across them please hand them into the office.

Ben Mason Black PE Sweatshirt - named

Gabriel Galveias Black gloves – they have a ‘star wars’ picture on each one.

ATTACHMENTS

Pre-Prep ‘Eggs’travaganza flier. Click here to view

FORTHCOMING LETTERS

Y8-Y9 Ardèche letters

EYFS – Pre-Prep Easter ‘Eggs’travaganza

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