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Teddington School Newsletter
Friday 28 June 2024
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Headteachers Message
Dear Families
Another busy week has flown by filled with lots of exciting events!
On Monday, it was wonderful to see so many of you at the art exhibition. The quality of the work on display was exceptionally high, showcasing the incredible talent of our students.
We were pleased to welcome over forty students from Matthew Arnold School for a Sixth Form taster morning on Tuesday. Next week, we look forward to welcoming students from Hampton High and Twickenham for similar events. On Tuesday evening we celebrated with Year 13 at their Graduation Ball. It was a really positive evening. Good luck Year 13 on your future endeavours!
On Wednesday, our Year 9 students headed off on the German exchange to Konstanz. Mr Hole has reported that everyone is having a fantastic time and the students have settled in with their exchange partners with lots of fun activities planned; please see Mr Hole’s update below. On Wednesday evening, we had the pleasure of meeting Year 6 parents. It was fantastic to have them join us, and we are excited to welcome all new Year 7 students on Monday for their transition day.
Yesterday, we held our High Flyers evening, showcasing students' project presentations. It was great to see so many parents supporting this programme, which provides academic focus and enrichment for our students.
Today, a small group of Year 7 students attended a sustainability conference in London, which was an inspiring experience for all involved. Looking ahead to tonight, we will be celebrating with Year 11 at their prom. It promises to be an evening of celebration, and one to create lasting memories of their time at Teddington.
As we enter the last few weeks of the academic year, I urge all students to continue attending school every day. Excitingly, work will begin soon on relaying our new astro turf, which we are all looking forward to.
Lastly, I kindly request that parents refrain from dropping students off on the roads directly opposite the school site, as we have been receiving complaints from local residents.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend.
Kind regards
Mr P Grills
Headteacher
Weekly Highlights
Some of our German Exchange students took a catamaran to Friedrichshafen on the other side of the lake to Konstanz, and then went onto the zeppelin museum.
It was wonderful to welcome almost 50 students from Matthew Arnold on Tuesday for our Sixth Form Taster Morning where they were able to attend three 30-minute lessons with our subject specialists! We hope they enjoyed their visit.
A fantastic hot day at Borough Sports was had this week! Well done to all our athletes who competed!
A big shout out to Joey in Year 8 for setting a new Borough high jump record! 👏
Students who regularly attend Science club competed in the NPL water rockets challenge on Wednesday 26 and had lots of fun whilst doing so!
Year 12 students being awarded for the Intermediate Biology Olympiad! 🤝
Some of our Year 9 students travelled to Richmond College on Wednesday to participate in a STEM competition! Kyra Tsang and Charlotte Irwin won an award for constructing a robotic car that travelled the fastest.
A huge well done to you both!
Tuesday night we celebrated Year 13 completing their A Level exams in style at the Wharf! A fantastic evening and perfect way to end this chapter at Teddington.
A selection of some books that have been purchased through the money raised for the school in book week! Together, over £150 was raised!
Our Mock Election is coming up on Thursday, 4 July! Students will have the chance to participate in a real voting experience at school.
Starting Friday, 28 June, students will learn about different political parties daily. Thanks to our Year 12 Politics students for their hard work in making this event accessible and informative!
Everyone's vote counts!
A selection of students attended an ISSP gifted and talented workshop with artist Darcy Turner!
Thank you to St Mary’s University for hosting our Year 12 sport students on a sports degree experience day. It gave them insight into two different sports degrees and a tour of the facilities!
On Friday 28 June, our Year 12 Politics students went to Hampton School to view the hustings for the 5 Political parties who have put themselves forward for election for the MP of Twickenham.
On Tuesday 25 June, Year 10 Drama students had their component 2 devised performance exam; the pieces were based on war. The students worked really hard on their pieces and did a really good job.
Congratulations to our star students of the week! ⭐
Weekly Head of Year Message
Dear Families
As we approach the end of the academic year, I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on the exciting activities and accomplishments from the last term.
Firstly, we are incredibly proud of our High Flyers students who have dedicated themselves to their projects with great enthusiasm. They have been working diligently to present their innovative ideas, and have now showcased these to families.
Additionally, a friendly reminder about the upcoming Hampton Pool trip. We kindly ask that all parents ensure payment is made and the permission form, which was previously sent, is completed and returned as soon as possible. This will ensure that all students can participate in this enjoyable and enriching experience.
We are also continuing our successful half term 'Heroes' initiative. Each week, teachers will be recognising students for various achievements, including:
- Demonstrating the most effort in class
- Maintaining consistently excellent uniform standards
- Being punctual to every lesson
We believe that acknowledging these positive behaviours helps to foster a supportive and motivating learning environment for all students.
Kind regards
Ms M Barrow
Head of Year 8
German Exchange Update 🔊
Update from Mr Hole, Head of Year 9
We're having a fantastic time out in Germany. Students were very excited and nervous about their first encounter with their partners, but they are all facing the challenges of an exchange very well and students have experienced a vast array of activities with their families.
Some students have been training with local German football teams, some have been cycling around the beautiful Bodensee Lake, and others have been swimming in the fresh water in the lake. On arrival we had a lovely welcome buffet with students and German families were many students tried delicious traditional German foods. On Thursday we took the catamaran to Friedrichshafen on the other side of the lake to Konstanz, and we went to the zeppelin museum. We then took the next boat onto the beautiful town of Meersburg where students had a chance to explore the town.
Students are excited for the numerous activities still to come on Friday as we travel down the river Rhein and cross into Switzerland.
All the best aus Deutschland!
Herr Hole
✨ Student Shoutout ✨
A message from Mr Knocker, Science Teacher
Edward Paterson in Year 12 recently sat the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge paper. This is a really difficult paper set by the University of Cambridge, taken by thousands of high ability Year 12 pupils across the country.
Edward scored 47/70 on the paper which is a truly phenomenal score. It places him within the top 2% nationally of students who took the exam.
We’re incredibly proud of the effort Edward puts into his learning, and his continued desire to embrace opportunities and challenges is an inspiration.
Well done from everyone at Teddington, Edward!
Staff Shoutout!
On 9 June in Nice (France), Mr Plowman represented Great Britain in the Hyrox Fitness Racing World Championships. He was in the 30 - 39 age group category with his doubles racing partner.
All the athletes at the world championships were within the top 2% fastest in the world. Of those athletes racing, Mr Plowman and his doubles partner came 40th out of the 362 in the doubles pro men division.
The sport of Hyrox is growing rapidly across the world. Mr Plowman is determined to introduce it within our school and Richmond Borough communities.
Amazing results from our very own Mr Plowman! A huge well done from us all at Teddington 👏
Year 10 Hyrox Fitness Races
A message from Mr Plowman, PE Teacher
The Hyrox Fitness race between Year 10 boys from Teddington School and Turing House was a thrilling event held under sunny and warm weather conditions yesterday. The race was complemented by great music, sparking enthusiasm and commitment among the participants. The challenging format included a 600m run, 15 Burpee Broad jumps, 60 standing lunges, another 600m run, 10 hand release press-ups, and 40 wall balls.
The energy was high as students from both schools showcased their dedication and athleticism. It was a fantastic event which demonstrated that fitness racing as a sport can be introduced within the school system. The students from both schools were excellent in showing commitment and energy to the race.
The race saw fierce competition, but ultimately, Turing House emerged victorious, clinching both the individual winning position and the overall team prize. The camaraderie and sportsmanship displayed by all participants were great to see, setting a high standard for future events.
We very much hope to expand this sport within the borough by making a Super Series across many more schools next academic year. This race not only highlighted the students' physical capabilities but also their spirit and determination, paving the way for fitness racing to become a potential staple in school sports programmes. The success of this event promises a bright future for inter-school fitness competitions, fostering a culture of health and fitness among young students.
Borough Athletics
A message from Mr Plowman, PE teacher
The Richmond School's Borough Athletics Competition 2024 took place on Wednesday 26 June under hot conditions, but that didn’t deter the enthusiasm and performance of the athletes. Over 50 Teddington students represented their school across a variety of events, including the 100m, 200m, 300m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m races, as well as the 4x100m relay. Field events featured javelin, shot put, long jump, and high jump.
Standout performances included Joey from Year 8, who won the high jump competition and excelled in the 200m race and 4x100m relay. His remarkable efforts were a highlight of the day. Peyton, also from Year 8, delivered an impressive performance, securing second place in the girls' 200m event and contributing significantly to the 4x100m relay team, which achieved a competitive time that narrowly missed a podium finish.
Despite the challenging weather, the Teddington students showcased outstanding athleticism and sportsmanship. The event was a great success, filled with memorable moments and achievements, reflecting the hard work and dedication of all the participants. Overall, it was a fantastic day of athletics for Teddington School, highlighting the talent and spirit of our young athletes.
📢 Call for volunteers 📢
A message from Ms Merson, Assistant Headteacher
We are excited to announce that our school will be relaunching the Rapid Reading programme in September 2024, aimed at enhancing our students' literacy skills. This innovative reading intervention programme has been designed to support children in developing their reading fluency, comprehension, and overall love for reading.
To ensure the success of this programme, we are seeking enthusiastic parent volunteers who are willing to dedicate a morning slot from 08:30 - 09:00 to help our young readers thrive. No prior experience is necessary as comprehensive training will be provided in September. An exact date and time to be confirmed.
If you are interested in making a positive impact on our students' reading journey, please complete this form by Friday 12 July 2024.
Thank you for your support and dedication to our school community.
If you have any questions regarding the programme, please contact me via mersonl@teddingtonschool.org.
Teddington School PTA
Uniform, Study Aids and Volunteers wanted! We welcome your uniform and study aid donations for the forth coming secondhand sale on 1 July. Please leave them in reception and we will collect them. Thank you in advance.
Upcoming dates:
1 July: Second-hand sale and café (14:00 – 15:30)
4 July: Performance and Music ensemble refreshment bar
9 July: Year 6 Disco and families welcome café
11 July: PTA end of year drinks
Please have a read of some fantastic events and opportunities happening locally by clicking on the 'Neighbourhood News' button below.
Upcoming Dates
1 July - Year 6 Transition Day
2 July - German Exchange Students Return
2 July - GCSE Art & Textiles Launch Day
3 July - Year 5 Taster Day
4 July - Careers Fair
4 July - Year 9 STEAM Enhancement Day
4 July - Performing Arts Evening
Broom Rd, Teddington TW11 9PJ