Weekly Information - Friday 31st March 2023

We have recently reinforced the importance of attendance and punctuality through an assembly shown to all students in years 7 to 11. It highlights the potential impact of low attendance using research conducted by the Department for Education.The basic slides used can be seen on the link below:

Year 7 – 11 = 94.2%

Year 7 = 95.1%                                             

Year 8 = 94.7%                                             

Year 9 = 93.8%

Year 10 = 93.5%

Year 11 = 93.8%

Sixth form = 92.5%

Year 12 = 94.7%

Year 13 = 90.1%

We would encourage you to check Go4Schools in order to see up to date attendance data for your child and thank you in advance for supporting their attendance at school. If you are not sure how to access Go4Schools please see the links below:

How to access Go4Schools

NEW Leave of Absence request form

If you do need to apply for a leave of absence then we have a new form which must be completed, ideally at least 2 weeks before the absence in question. This is part of new MAT guidance in response to national updates and as such, these requests cannot be considered unless this form is used:

Year 7 – 11 Leave of Absence request form.

Sixth form Leave of Absence request form.

Absences from school

Should your child be absent from school, we request that the absence line – 01283 247853 is contacted each day to give a reason for your child’s absence. For instances of prolonged absences of over 5 days, it is the MAT policy to request further medical documentation to support the ongoing need for absence from school.

Lateness

Please could we remind all our parents about the importance of students arriving to school on time. We ask that all our students are on school site be 8.55am for registration which begins at 9am. Remember – ‘be on time, its 5 to 9.’

At any point, should you wish to discuss your child’s attendance or punctuality at school, please feel free to contact their form tutor or our Attendance Intervention Manager.

Between the 10^th and 12^th of February 2023, s group of students from Year 9 embarked on a 3-day WWI History tour of Flanders. Students visited the city of Ypres the site of three major battles during the war and stayed at the Peace Village in the tiny Belgium city of Messines which was also the site of the famous football match that took place during the Christmas truce of 1914. Students visited real German trenches which were once the brief home to Adolf Hitler and British dugouts which played an important role in the Battle of Passchendaele. Students also visited a farm that was owned by a family that had worked the land before and after the war and now houses a private collection of war memorabilia including a full-size WWI British tank which students got to sit in. Students visited a number of other sites such as British and German cemeteries and the world-famous Menin Gate where in the evening three students took part in the Last Post Ceremony presenting wreaths on behalf of the school commemorating the fallen from the village of Barton Under Needwood and surrounding areas.

Below are the thoughts and memories of two students who took part in the trip

Holly Budge:

On Friday 10^th February at 02:30am we left school on the coach to Ypres, Belgium. At around 3pm we arrived in Ypres and one of our first adventures involved visiting a real German trench in a place called Bayernwald. It was incredibly emotive experience to be walking in the footsteps of those soldiers who stood there before us. I really enjoyed visiting here as you could begin to feel what the soldiers might have felt during the war.

We began the second day by visiting Essex Farm, which commemorated around 1,500 people who died there. We also saw where the soldiers would prepare food and be treated for their wounds. This was also the site where John McCrae wrote the famous In Flanders Field Poem. After visiting Essex Farm, we arrived at a German cemetery which contained the remains of over 40,000 German soldiers. We noticed that the appearance of the gravestones and structures in the cemetery was more sombre than those of the CWG sites. Later that day, we visited the memorial museum in Zonnebeke which commemorates the Battle of Passchendaele. I was especially interested to see the uniform soldiers would have to wear and some of the remaining equipment from the war. At the end of the museum tour, we went down into a bunker complex which was 10 meters below ground and then British trenches which had been recreated on the site where they once stood. This brought home the horror of war and showed us how little defence soldiers really had. Later, we visited Tyne Cot, a British war cemetery which, all together, commemorates 11,961 graves. This was a breath taking experience to see how many people lost their lives fighting for their county in one cemetery. Later that evening, we visited Menin Gate – the Last Post Ceremony. This is a ceremony that has taken place every night since 1929, apert from during the Second World War. The citizens of Ypres gather to express their gratitude towards those who had given their lives for Belgium's freedom. This was an extremely momentous experience to be a part of commemorating the fallen. I was very honoured to be a part of laying a wreath as you could feel the significance of all the places we had visited and seen.

During the last day, we visited Talbot House which was a rest house for Allied soldiers during the war. The House provided a warm and friendly environment, where all soldiers – regardless of rank – could come and forget about the war around them, even if only for a short time. For this reason, it earned the nickname the 'Every Man's Club'. It was a place that soldiers could go and be safe for an amount of time during the war. After leaving Talbot House, we headed home with tired feet and heads but able to say what a wonderful and enjoyable experience we had.

Chloe Pick:

During this trip, we visited several areas of importance in World War 1. We went to both German and Commonwealth grave sites. Seeing all of these graves and names showed the sheer destruction that this war caused. We also explored the story of some soldiers and saw how much of the war still affects the people in the area. We visited a private collection of a farmer who had collected lots of items of shrapnel and had a bunker that we were able to go in. My personal highlight was when we got to visit Ypres to walk around ourselves and when we returned for the Last Post ceremony. 

The U13 girl's became County Indoor Cricket Champions after an outstanding performance at the County Finals at Aldersley Leisure Complex on Tuesday 21st March. The girl's only lost one game throughout the whole tournament and that was by one run! After going to count back we were named County Champions, progressing on to the Regional Finals. 

The Regional Finals are to be held at Edgbaston on Thursday 20th April where the JTHS girls will represent Staffordshire. The girl's showed expectional skill, perserverance and unbelievable personal excellence throughout the qualifying tournament and the County Finals. We are very much looking forward to representing Staffordshire against the other counties. 

The team was: 

Laura, Beth, Bella, Isobelle, Isla, Emily, Esme, Violet and Isabel. 

Awesome achievement, well done girls!

Two sporting Young Ambassadors delivered a variety of goodies to the local residents in Palmers Close Barton Under Needwood this week.

Easter cards with a packet of flower seeds and Easter eggs and chocolate were delivered to each home in the close. 

The Co-Op in Branston kindly donated £50.00 worth of Easter eggs and chocolates to be delivered to the residents. The Young Ambassadors were able to send good wishes and have a  chat to the residents who were really grateful for their Cards and gifts. One thing that was noticed by the pupils was that all the bungalows had their Happy Stones outside the property which had been made for them in previous years.

Thanks go to all who helped with this delivery, the Ambassadors are already planning ahead to think what they can deliver during the Summer term.

This event sums up our John Taylor values of One Community.  

On Tuesday 14th March 28 retired folk from the local Community of Barton Under Needwood attended an afternoon of refreshments and entertainment organised by the sporting Young Ambassadors.

Cakes had been donated by the pupils and also by John Taylor staff who generously made a variety of different items to be enjoyed with a cup of tea and coffee. Staff helped to organise the refreshments along with some Yr 12 Health and Social students.

Mrs Forden's Art group had made a decoration for each of the guests during their lunch time art club, and Tescos in Burton donated a lovely parcel made up of daffodils, cakes, tea and biscuits which was raffled later in the afternoon in the afternoon.

Whilst listening to music being played on the piano, the guests also played table tennis with the sporting Young Ambassadors and also some Year 6 pupils from Thomas Russell Junior school who helped to make it a truly Community event.

It was so nice to hear the lovely comments from the visitors, and a Display board has been put up near the gym to showcase all that went on in that afternoon.

Thanks go out to all who helped make this event such a success.  

Dear Parents, carers and students,

As you may have heard, Mrs Sharpe is leaving Thomas Russell Junior school after 19 years. The current governors thought it would be nice to gather stories and letters from as many parents and pupils who she has taught and influenced over these years. They have set up an email [email protected] so any stories/photos/letters could be sent there with an idea to make a book for her.

Many thanks.

Do you want to join JTHS as a member of support staff?  We have the following vacancies:

Exam Invigilators - click here for more info Exam-Invigilators-2022.pdf (jtmat.co.uk)

Inclusion Support Assistants   - click here for more info Inclusion-Support-Assistant-Advert.pdf (jtmat.co.uk)