PHYSICAL EDUCATION

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Success

A massive congratulations to our year 11 student Ryan for achieving Bronze medal in an international diving competition in Ireland last week. This is a fantastic feat, coming in the highest place out of any other national competitors in his category for his age group and 3^rd overall out of around 50 competitors from around the World!

Netball

Netball

Year 8 girls netball vs Beaumont – the girls had their best performance of the year so far against Beaumont. They are now working well as a team and taking into the games what has been learnt in practice, although they didn’t win, they matched Beaumont player for player down the court unfortunately injuries and missing players had an effect on the overall score. POM - Chiara

FRIENDS OF TOWNSEND

FRIENDS OF TOWNSEND

We are fast approaching ‘BLACK FRIDAY’ so do start thinking about how this big event could benefit the school! It really is easy to support the school just by doing your Christmas shopping.

Log into https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/fotownsend and start shopping! The school gets a percentage of everything you spend but it does not cost you any more. This year the school has already raised £1,500 but we could do so much more over the festive period if we all just Think Black Friday- Think Friends Of Townsend!’ Please consider using the easy fundraising page (Friends of Townsend) and start raising funds for your child now!

Rugby

Rugby

On Wednesday 16th November the year ten boys played against Bushey Academy at home. Starting of the game with a great kick from Luca the Townsend boys quickly felt comfortable playing against the well matched opposition. Tackles in the game resulting in lots of turnovers for Townsend resulted in the first try from Emmanuel who out paced all the Bushey team with ease, Oliver 'the kicker' went on to take the conversion but unfortunately missed his first kick, the Bushey boys then realised they had underestimated the Townsend Team and came back with a try, they too missed the conversion, Townsend played the ball to Nayeem and he ran past the whole team again...with ease it seemed the 'Bushey boys' could not cope with Townsends pace on the wings. Oliver scored the conversion leaving us seven points ahead. We gained possession again and with a long pass from Morgan (c) the ball once again was with Emmanuel who ran passed the whole team and scored. However the try was scored along the side line leaving a very 'tough kick' unfortunately we did not score.

Bushey Academy came back with a try and a conversion...

The score was tied at 17-17

Ref-Mr Still decided with not long to go we would kick to win, three kickers approached with Oliver first, the ball was sure to go through the H, it did indeed, the Bushey boys also scored. Luca and Morgan (C) also scored the 'kick to win' conversions.

It came to quick fire rounds Nayeem stepped up to take the kick and got it straight through. The Bushey boys scored also.

It came to our final player Gabor who unfortunately missed the kick which the Bushey Academy boys scored.

Well played to all the team and many thanks to the Bushey boys and a large thanks to Mr Still for setting up the match for us to play

Written by Captain - Morgan

YEAR 7 PARENT/CARER CONSULTATION EVENING

YEAR 7 PARENT/CARER CONSULTATION EVENING

This is taking place on Thursday December 7^th from 5pm-8pm. We look forward to seeing all our parents/carers at this event. Students can make appointments from next week once the arrangements and procedures have been explained to them.

ANTI - BULLYING WEEK 2017

ANTI - BULLYING WEEK 2017

Pupils from all years have taken part in a successful anti- bullying week where the theme of All Different All Equal has been addressed through various talks, activities and curriculum work.   Please do encourage your child to tell you about the activities they took part in.  We are also launching RAISE Ambassadors this year.  RAISE stands for respect, achieve, inspire, support and encourage. RAISE Ambassadors will continue to promote the wellbeing and equality of our pupils at Townsend. We have already had over 70 applications! Please do encourage your child to talk to Miss Scott to find out more.

WORSHIP AT TOWNSEND

Each month we have a different values focus for the school. For November our value focus is Peace ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God’  Matthew 5.9.  Our values for each month will be shared in daily worship sessions. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their meanings with a particular reference to how we lead our everyday lives.

Friday - Children in need and Anti Bullying week

Friday is a non uniform day (please bring in £1 to donate) with all money raised donated to Children in Need.  There is also a competition of "Would I lie to you" teachers vs students in the hall, pop along to see this too!

A big thank you to Miss Scott for all of her Anti Bullying activities this week, and to sixth form students for Children in need activities.

Anti Bullying activities - Thursday

Today visitors from the Special Olympics organisation visit year 7 to speak about their own experiences and about being a part of this special community.  We also have an anti bullying poster designing competition and friendship bracelet making taking place in the Discovery Centre for all years at lunchtime.

Anti Bullying week - Wednesday

Today author Sue Hampton is visiting Townsend to chat about her own experiences of bullying, with students also able to buy signed copies of her books which tell stories about her own experiences.

Today is also the launch of R.A.I.S.E - a network of students helping the school community, lunchtime in the Discovery Centre.

Finally after school today is a Cinema screening of Beauty and The Beast which explores themes of acceptance, individuality, friendship and non judgement.  Snack are also provided!

Anti bullying week activities - Tuesday

Today for Anti Bullying week, there is a sibling support group running during lunchtime in the Discovery Centre, for those who help other siblings with disabilities or learning needs to chat with others and share their experiences.  

Children in need activities

The sixth form students are running various Children in Need activities throughout this week, including:

Monday - House points quiz, lunch time in the Hall from 1.20pm, 50p to enter.

Thursday - Children in need bake sale, all cakes 50p

Friday - Would I lie to you staff vs. students, tickets cost £1

Anti Bullying week - various activities running all week

From Monday 13th November to Friday 17th November it is National Anti Bullying week, and to celebrate there are lots of activities being held each day at Townsend.

Today we have compliments cards being given to all students to give to someone who they would like to compliment.  We also have the launch of a pop-up peers support group with Sixth Form students helping to support younger students with concerns.

Also today we are launching an LGBT support group, with a visitor coming in to speak to students about their own experiences of supporting this community.

Check back with Miss Scott who is running the programme for the week for details of the next activities!

PE Results

Results

The year 7 netball team had their first game of the year against Beaumont on Thursday. It was definitely a learning curve for some who haven’t played competitive 7-a-side netball before, with some great improvements throughout the game and a development in understanding of the rules and tactics. Unfortunately we lost 8-4, but will go forwards in training knowing what has to be done to improve. Player of match – Megan

The year 9 netball team showed that training hard really does pay off with their first win of the year beating Nicholas Breakspear 5-2! It was a very closely fought match with strong players running through both teams. But Townsend managed to pull away in the 2^nd half by maintaining control and calmness. Player of  match – Skye

The year 7 boys football team played against Beaumont on Thursday evening in a very close match, which they battled hard right through until the end drawing 3-3! Goals from Kipp (2) and Godfrey. Player of match - Tyler

Christmas Concert - 13th December

Christmas Concert - 13th December

As Christmas approaches we are starting to prepare for our end-of-term concert. This year it is being organised by the Year 10 GCSE Music group, who are being assessed for their planning of the event and their performance. The Year 10s have organised a meeting at Monday lunchtime in MU3, for any interested students to sign up to perform. We would love to give as many people as possible the chance to perform, and would love this event to be really diverse, so whether you are a singer, instrumentalist, actor, dancer or poet we hope you can come along on Monday and find out more.

SASSMA concert - 20th November

SASSMA concert - 20th November

On Monday 20th November, the St Albans Secondary Schools Music Association will be putting on a concert at the Alban Arena. This will feature performances from nine schools, including Townsend. Participating students will be rehearsing at the Arena during the morning of the 20th, then performing in the evening. Students wishing to take part should come along to the next rehearsal on Tuesday lunchtime at 1:30. Tickets are on sale for £5 (plus £1 booking fee) from the Box Office on 01727 844488 or online at aaboxoffice@ilife.co.uk

Year 11 sixth form taster day and open evening

Year 11 sixth form taster day and open evening

On Thursday the year 11 students completed a day in the life of a sixth form student, attending various mini-lessons in A-Level and vocational subjects. This was followed by the sixth form open evening, which proved to be an informative and positive evening. We hope that students and parents found it useful and we thank you all for coming to the event to help make it a success. The Year 11 students were focused and engaged throughout the day and their feedback comments have been really brilliant. If anyone was unable to attend the open evening, please see us to collect the information pack and application form for the sixth form.

The application deadline for joining the sixth form in September 2018 is January 12th 2018.

Mrs Buckland and Miss Gibbons

Year 13 field trip - regeneration on in London

Year 13 field trip - regeneration on in London

On Monday and Tuesday of last week we completed another successful field trip - this time in London. Year 13 students were gathering data to assess the perceptions of people about whether the regeneration in Stratford has had a positive influence and led to improvement in the quality of life for people in the area since the 2012 Olympics. As always the students conducted themselves in an excellent manner, worked hard and achieved great results.

Mrs Buckland and Mrs Gates

Christmas fundraisers

Christmas fundraisers- once again we are holding our Annual Christmas Hamper Raffle. This is a good fundraiser and with our other initiatives makes money to purchase additional items and equipment for departments benefitting all students.

Your help would be greatly appreciated if any parent/carers can provide festive items for the hampers please send them in to the school office eg bottles of wine and sparkling wine, chocolates, novelty festive items, crackers, tinned and boxed foods etc.

Christmas and Sponge Puddings sale - this was very popular last year. We have attached an order form to Parentmail. Please do try to support this fundraiser- the products are really good quality

Thank you. 

Friends of Townsend

WORSHIP AT TOWNSEND

WORSHIP AT TOWNSEND 
Each month we have a different values focus for the school. For November our value focus is Peace ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God’  Matthew 5.9.  Our values for each month will be shared in daily worship sessions. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their meanings with a particular reference to how we lead our everyday lives.

A LEVEL BIOLOGY FIELD TRIP 2017

A LEVEL BIOLOGY FIELD TRIP 2017

Last week 15 A’ Level Biology students accompanied by 2 members of Townsend staff went on the annual field trip to Kirby Grindalythe, North Yorkshire.  The purpose of the trip was to carry out essential practical work under the expert eye of the Cranedale Centre’s tutors using a multitude of very expensive equipment that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to use.  The area provides unparalled access to the large variety of ecological areas that have to be studied at A level.  These ranged from freshwater streams to forests to the coast.  A typical day started at 8 for breakfast, something Mr Morgan particularly enjoyed!  At 9am students were either in their dedicated classroom studying practical and statistical techniques needed for the day ahead or off in the minibus to the morning’s location.

Some of the week’s activities included investigations into coastal ecosystems and the photosynthetic pigments contained in seaweeds , a study of sustainable lobster fishing at Bridlington harbour, dissection of owl pellets and a visit to a trout farm to look at how it fits in with the environmental requirements of the local water systems.  The main investigation was a comparison of two rivers to see the effects of the invasion of signal crayfish on the freshwater ecosystem.  This was finished off by a competition to find the largest crayfish of the day which was a very close run thing!

The students captured snails at night in the forest, set humane traps to examine small mammals and even went on a bat walk using sensitive detectors to locate and identify different species.

Evening meals were at 6 and again especially enjoyed by Mr Morgan!  Then it was back to the classroom or a night walk to end the day at 8.30.  The small amount of free time the students had was spent playing table tennis or bar football or just relaxing after a hard day.

Mr Morgan would like to thank all the students for their excellent attitude and behaviour during this intense but highly enjoyable week of study.  Our students are always complimented by the staff at Cranedale for their conduct both in lessons and during the small amount of leisure time they had.  Special thanks also goes to Mrs Sawyer who came on the trip despite it being her birthday while we were there.  The centre’s chief cook baked a cake and we all sang happy birthday which went some way to making up for her not being with family at this special time.

Mr Morgan

YEAR 11 GCSE PE TRIP TO MORFA BAY

YEAR 11 GCSE PE TRIP TO MORFA BAY

A fantastic time was had over 4 days when 21 GCSE PE students travelled down to South West Wales to stay at the Morfa Bay activity centre. Here the students tested themselves against the elements and each other by participating in a range of activities including; sea kayaking, coasteering, abseiling, rock climbing, assault course event, team challenges, zip wire and archery. The students were great ambassadors to the school which made the trip hugely successful and very enjoyable. Photos from the trip can be found on the school website. Thanks to Miss Pennifold & Mr Anderson who gave up their time to go on the trip.  Mr Still

WORSHIP AT TOWNSEND

WORSHIP AT TOWNSEND
Each month we have a different values focus for the school. For October our value focus is Unity “Have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind”  1 Peter 3:8.  Our values for each month will be shared in daily worship sessions. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their meanings with a particular reference to how we lead our everyday lives.