Please find below information about the range of activities that have taken place recently and are coming soon to support your child's progress and development.
If you do wish to contact staff or give us feedback at anytime we always welcome your messages. You can find out more about how to contact us at www.tgschool.net/communicate
German Partner School
Just before half term, students and staff from our partner school, the Von Müller Gymnasium (Regensburg, Germany) visited school for 3 days of activities. They had one day visiting lessons, one day working on projects about social media together with year 11 and 13 students, and then finished with a day in Cambridge with some of our year 10 students. We are looking forward to going over to Regensburg in the not-too-distant future to continue the partnership. You can find out more about the visit at sites.google.com/tgschool.net/vonmueller/home
The Big Ambition
The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, has launched The Big Ambition, a national survey of children and young people across England. The Big Ambition aims to hear from children across England on what they think is important. In the lead up to the next General Election, the Children’s Commissioner wants to take children’s thoughts, opinions and ideas to decision-makers, to make sure that the Government hears young people’s voices on what they think needs to be done to make children’s lives better in England.
We agree that this is a valuable opportunity for you to talk to your child about what they think is important, you can find out more at www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/the-big-ambition/ and they can complete the survey at www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/the_big_ambition/
Family & Carers Support
As well as recognising the value in every child having the opportunity to be supported and listened to, there are also groups available locally to support young people and families facing a range of challenges, or who just wish to meet others. Links to some of the groups available are on our website at tgschool.net/news/parent-carers-support-coffee-mornings-drop-ins and we have attached a flyer with more details.
Competitions & Charities
There are always new ways for students to get involved and support others at Thomas Gainsborough School. This week we have Sweet Pong to raise money for Spaniel Aid UK. This week students have also been learning about an ex-student Yibi Matthews who was part of our school until 2006. To remember him students have been decorating red ribbons and have the chance to purcahse their own red ribbon to wear to support the Terrence Higgins Trust. Ribbons can be purchased for a donation at lunchtimes from the piano.
There are also competitions still running for spooky and short story writing, Christmas tree decorations and for reviewing our book of the term. You and your children can keep up to date with these competitions from their tutor and on our website at, https://tgschool.net/house-competitions - these are a wonderful way to develop new skills, gain merits and build up eveindce for ribbons and Record of Achievements.
There is also a new competition to design a Reading Ruler to help students more easily track what they are reading. They can send their designs to Mrs Peacock, speacock@tgschool.net or take them to 213, by Friday 5 January 2024.
Drama Exam and Winter Showcase
Year 11 had their first GCSE practical drama exams this week and were excellent! They all performed a variety of devised work and created some moving pieces about the following issues: the refugee crisis, mental health of our NHS workers, and children of war, to name just a few. It was fantastic to see some students overcome their nerves and perform in front of a live audience of Year 9 and 10 drama students. Their second practical exam takes place in March. We are very proud of the way they approached their preparation, and the younger students who were their audience.
Our performing arts Winter Showcase is taking place in the Assembly Hall on the 6 December at 6pm. More information will be shared next week. There will be a range of musical, dance and drama performances and we’d love to see you all there.
Post 16 Evening and Next Steps
Thank you very much to the students who presented and supported our Sixth Form Open evening this week. It was an absolute pleasure meeting so many families. We have already received many applications from our students and those currently at other local schools.
The deadline to apply is Friday 22 December. This helps us plan the course blocks to provide as much choice as possible for students who apply early. All the information on how to apply online is at tgschool.net/sixth-form/sixth-form-admissions and if you have any questions, please email us at sixthform@tgschool.net
And finally
It has been wonderful to hear the final arrangements for our Sixth Form and Staff annual quiz in memory of Will Leonard. Will was wonderful role model to all of us, until he passed away having finished year 12 last August having battled ependymoma – a rare type of brain tumour. His memory and the fund raising that continues reminds us of the value of community and perserverance. Thank you to our current students & staff who continue to work so hard to help us remember him and exhibit his happiness and positivity.