As it gets darker and colder we’ve actually got our Christmas trees! Our young people have, as usual, been writing red tags with hopeful and peaceful messages to go on it. They’ll look lovely when they’re done.
I’m sorry that we’ve had some problems with our heating this week. Some of it really doesn’t work at all well and, being a PFI building, we are at the mercy of others to sort it out. We campaign endlessly on the matter. I know that small fan heaters are not the answer, but they are what we’re given as an interim. We’ll keep you informed about our progress.
On a similar themes, we’ve been reviewing our ‘coats off in the building rule’. We do it for good reasons: the act of removing the coat seems to work as a small but significant way of focusing a young person on the job in hand. However, our lovely building is largely out of doors and the blockages at the doorways as coats are removed are problematical in cold weather. We are going to experiment with adjusting the rule to ‘coats off before you go into the classroom’ between now and Christmas, to see if that unblocks us. I’ll tell you how it goes!
Parent Forum is on Monday 12 December, 18:00-19:15ish. It will be led by the Amy Winehouse foundation this time, part of the wonderful work they’re doing with us on drugs and alcohol. Do come if you can. On a completely different matter, the Winter Concert Tallis in Wonderland is on Wednesday 14 December. Do come, it’ll be a treat.
Carolyn Roberts, Head
Don't forget that you can engage with us via email, on Facebook and Twitter and using the Contact page of the website.
Monday
Year 11 Mocks and CA (all week)
12:30 Year 7 A Christmas Carol Theatre trip
Year 12 Tate Modern trip
3:15 - 4:15 Debating Club (All Years) Room 1.3.34
Tuesday
Year 7 A Christmas Carol Theatre trip
Year 12 Mock Assessment trip
15:15 - 16:15 Years 10 -13 Mock Trail Team
Wednesday
16:30 Year 7 A Christmas Carol Theatre trip
Year 13 Unit 3 Performance
15:15 - 16:25 Ninja School - Tallis Students
Thursday
Student council elections
Friday
09:00 - 13:00 Year 9 Life Is Beautiful trip
For Community Day, the whole of Year 7 treked across Blackheath and into Greenwich Park. They had a great day exploring their local community: visiting the Market, the Foot Tunnel, the Observatory grounds, the Maritime Museum, the Cutty Sark, the Visitors Centre and the Park. I think they will all agree that the Mannequin Challenge went very well as did their teacher’s navigational skills (manoeuvring students around Greenwich).
It was an excellent day, with glorious weather and fantastic behaviour from all our Year 7 students. I was very proud of them and pleased that they had such an enjoyable day. My thanks go to all the staff who accompanied the trip and also to the parents who gave up a day and came along too. We are building a very strong Community.
Here are some photos of the day taken by Jeremi Armatys in 7HY.
This year’s winter show is called ‘Tallis in Wonderland’.
You are invited to come along on the 14 December 2016 in the main hall from 7.00 - 9.00pm, where students from key stage 3, 4 and 5 will be performing music, dance and drama.
Tickets available on the door:
Adults - £2.50.
Under 18 - £1.00
Under 11 – free
Family ticket - £5.00 (2 adults and 2 children).
On Tuesday 29 November, Year 12 participated in an annual debating competition against tutor groups as part of the Tallis Community Day. The day was comprised of tutor groups participating in a knock-out style debate on a variety of subjects that were based on current affairs. Pupils of 12HR realised the key to winning this competition was not about shouting the loudest or speaking the most movingly. It was, ultimately, all about working together as a team tutor group to construct evidence-based persuasive arguments with a winning mentality. They demonstrated this at all times throughout the competition.
The debating skills demonstrated during the day are essential skills for the future. Megan Snaith (12HR) who was part of the debate research team found that “debating not only offers the technical skills of constructing an eloquent argument, communicating confidently and team work, but also promotes the questioning of core beliefs and consideration of the beliefs of others. These transferable skills are vital to the construction of a compassionate society." Hafiz Rahman, Religious Studies
Tallis Drama Studio invites you to the Year 13 Unit 3 Exam Performance show on Wednesday 7 December, in the Main Hall from 6.00 - 8.30pm.
The Four shows - Life & Death, Disconnect, Nuclear Mind & Happy Families have been created by the performers for their Devising unit for their Drama & Theatre Studies A-Level, and these shows are the culmination of their practical learning over the 2 year course.
Please come along and support them! Everyone welcome!
For more details or information, please speak to Ms McAndrews or Ms Clubbe.
On Friday 25th November, 150 pupils watched a play in French. It was a comedy called, Le Café. Here is what Ali Tabaqchali of 8AC wrote about it.
“On 25th November, 2016, Year 8 were invited to a very special French theatre production in school’s main hall. After Madame Grindley, the organiser, had explained that this play was a great opportunity for all students doing French, the tickets went like wildfire. Some pupils were nervous as they thought that it would be a performance by a whole group of actors and actresses whilst others thought it was a treat due to the fact that it was mainly for Year 8 pupils. As we silently and excitedly waited for the play to begin we heard lot of murmuring from behind the stage. ‘Le Café’ was in French and the crowd got as excited as they would if they were watching Billy Elliot or The Lion King. Throughout 'Le Café’ the actors continually included people from the audience - they all played along as smoothly as a piece of cloth. The hall was filled with laughter and cheers as the two French actors managed to seamlessly change from one character to another (there were about 12 characters in all). After the play some of those who were regretting their decision to watch, were talking about it until the end of lunch!! This is a quote from Freddie Fullerton in 8TO, ‘Je pense que ‘Le Café’ c’est très, très, fantastique’. 9 out of 10 pupils recommended the play to other students of French. Those who did not get to watch the play (that is, those doing Spanish) were merely unfortunate!” Ali Tabaqchali, 8AC
Thank you to those parents and carers who supported this performance. It was a great success and we hope to do the same again next year.
Please encourage your son/daughter to come along and try one of our fantastic Performing Arts clubs this year. We cater for all abilities and interests across our departments. Getting involved in school clubs is a great way to strengthen the Tallis Habits and build Tallis Character. Plus it's a lot of fun!
Parents and Carers are invited to a presentation by the Amy Winehouse Foundationon 12th December 2016 6:00pm - 7:15pm.
This forum will help parents understand substance misuse and the support which is available.
