Headteacher's Bulletin
27/09/24 - Edition 38
Highlights of the week
Dear Parents, Carers, and Students,
We’ve had another fantastic week at Twickenham School, filled with energy and enthusiasm both inside and outside the classroom. Our corridors are alive with the sounds of rehearsals for the school musical, The Addams Family. Students and staff alike are working incredibly hard to bring this production to life, and we can’t wait to share it with you later in the term.
Our newly refurbished library is beginning to take shape as the new furniture arrives. With more comfortable seating areas and even an indoor tree to sit beneath, it is becoming an even more popular space for students to relax and immerse themselves in a good book amongst other activities. We hope the new library environment will further inspire a love of reading and become a hub for learning and creativity.
As we move into October, we are delighted to begin celebrating Black History Month under the theme of Reclaiming Narratives. This year, we are focusing on exploring the stories and voices of Black Caribbean, and African communities that have often been overlooked or misrepresented. Our aim is to highlight the positive influence these communities have had on the UK and celebrate their rich cultural heritage and resilience. We will also use this time to encourage our students to reflect on their own identities, experiences, and the diverse stories that make up our school community. Throughout the month, there will be assemblies, workshops, and classroom activities to ensure all students feel seen, valued, and included.
In the coming weeks, we are excited to re-launch our House system. Students will have the opportunity to nominate new House names inspired by individuals who embody our school values of Perseverance, Responsibility, Integrity, Dedication, and Empathy. This re-launch aims to promote a sense of belonging, camaraderie, and friendly competition within the school.
Notice on Mobile Phones:
We have recently seen an increase in incidents involving mobile phones, particularly in Year 8 and Year 9. These include social media issues which can causing disruption during the school day and, in one case, a student was caught filming a teacher while they were supporting individual students in a classroom. I am sure you will agree that this is completely unacceptable. therefore, in order to safeguard all students and staff, we have decided to extend our phone collection policy to Year 8 and Year 9 from after the half-term break. This policy, which has been successfully implemented in Year 7, will involve students handing in their phones at the start of the day, where they will be stored securely and returned in the last 10 minutes before school ends during PM registration
We understand this is a significant change, and we will provide more details in the coming weeks.
Thank you for your support and understanding as we implement this policy to ensure a safe and focused learning environment for all students.
