AUTUMN TERM 2007

Dear Parents/Guardians

I would like to begin by thanking all the members of staff for their hard work this term.  The Autumn Term is always very busy and a visit from Ofsted added to everyone’s workload.

This term we are saying goodbye to Mr Roberts, the Head of Year 10, who has been with us for two and half years.  He has given his year group an enormous amount of support and I am sure they will miss his care and concern.  I would also like to thank him for his contribution to extra curricular activities, such as the PGL holidays, the exchange to Arnsberg and Holocaust Studies.
We are also saying goodbye to Mrs Cronin who has been with us for this term and is moving to teach at Plumstead Manor.  Miss Tolkaciova one of the Science technicians is leaving to take up a post in the laboratories at Greenwich University.  I would like to thank all the staff who are leaving and I wish them well for the future.

We have an excellent record of attendance at Townley.  However, I would like to remind parents that a telephone call on each day of absence should be followed up by a letter on the return to school.
In the coming term we need to improve punctuality.  Some girls in the upper school I believe are spending too much time en route at the Broadway or at the Park in Bexley.  I would be grateful if you could remind them that they should be coming straight to school.  There is plenty of time after 3.35pm for socialising!

I have attached a copy of the parents’ evenings and when reports are issued. 
The Year 11 mock examinations results will be posted home in the holidays.  This will enable parents and pupils to have time to consider these results before the new term begins.  Additional support will be given to pupils, whose progress has slipped.  Many of Year 12 and Year 13 have got A/S and A2 module examinations, which begin on the 8th January.

Planners are checked regularly in school and I would be grateful if you could continue to be vigilant in ensuring that they are kept up to date.  Pupils in Years 7-9 should be doing six hours homework per week and twelve hours a week in Years 10 and 11.  Years 12 and 13 should be doing five hours homework for each subject per week.

As you can imagine support staff work very hard to maintain an accurate records of all monies received for school visits and journeys.  It would be very helpful if payment could be made by cheque payable to Townley Grammar School for Girls by the published dates and in a sealed envelope.  Thank you very much for your consideration in this matter.

We have had some superb performances this term.  The Christmas Concert in school displayed the talent of instrumentalists and the Carol Service last night showed the quality of the choral work in school.  I would like to thank the Music Department for all their hard work rehearsing musicians for these occasions especially Mr Suryani and Miss Jones

The three performances of the Greek Tragedy Electra were a great success.  Mr Giles, the Director, Mr Gilchrist the technical manager and the back stage crew did a superb job as did the cast.  All of them should be congratulated on an excellent production, which gave us all an insight into Greek drama.  I would particularly like to mention Victoria Odd for her stunning performance as Electra

Adverse weather conditions always lead to speculation about the possible closure of the school.  It would be very unusual for us to close as Townley Road is a main road and would be cleared of snow.  Time FM broadcast Bexley School closures on 106.8FM.  If the school’s name is not mentioned then we will be open.

The new term begins on the 8th January 2008 and all pupils should be in school at the usual time.

End of Term
Friday is a non uniform day and students who wish to participate have been asked to bring a £1 to school. As of today the 19th December £1,102 has been raised by collecting non uniform money.   The collections at the concert and the carol service raised £503.73.  I would like to thank you and the pupils for being so generous
The proceeds will be given to the three nominated school charities this Christmas; Crisis, The Woodland Trust and Vidya.

The Woodland Trust is the United Kingdom’s woodland conservation charity.  Crisis works all year round across the United Kingdom helping solitary homeless people to fulfil their potential and transform their lives.  Vidya is a community based charity in Delhi.  It provides schools for children who live in the slums and a basic education for their mothers.  Vidya is visited by our students when they are in Delhi.

Terms ends after lunch on the 21st December at 1pm.

I hope you all have a very happy Christmas, an enjoyable holiday and a Happy New Year. Thank you for your support this term.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L Hutchinson
Head Teacher