NTS
NEWSLETTER
Reflections on an Amazing Year!
AUTUMN
TERM
Mr Beechey
December 2014
Compiled by
Mrs C. Crone
School Librarian
KEEPING
YOU
INFORMED
AT
HOME
The Nelson
Thomlinson
School
High Street
Wigton
Cumbria
CA7 9PX
Tel. 016973 42160
Fax. 016973 49160
www.nts.cumbria.
sch.uk
Headmaster:
Mr D.S.
Northwood
We approach the end of our Tercentenary Year and what a year it was! We enjoyed a spectacular
Tercentenary concert and display with past students, friends and colleagues joining us for the
evening. In the summer we had our Tercentenary Day with students completing a range of
challenges and events on the theme of ‘Identity’. Over 100 guests joined us for a tour of the
school and our Tercentenary display. My greatest memory was Mrs Stowe, the daughter of
former Headmaster, Mr Ivan Stowe, who giddily danced around H block identifying her former
home. In the evening we welcomed past staff, governors, Lord Melvyn Bragg and three MBE
holders to celebrate the Tercentenary in style with a dinner hosted in the School Library.
Finally, towards the end of the year, we remembered the 100 th
Anniversary of the First World War with respectful and poignant
Remembrance Day celebrations. Members of our uniformed services
were fully represented on Remembrance Day along with Nelson
Thomlinson School students representing the School at the War
Memorial in Wigton Cemetery.
Despite the changes facing us in the form of new A Levels, new GCSE
grading, changing Sixth-Form funding and general elections, I hope we
will continue to see our Nelson Thomlinson traditions maintained for
the next 300 years!
Remembrance Day
This year’s shoe box appeal attracted an enthusiastic and
proactive group of Lower Sixth female volunteers who rose to
the challenge with the support of Lucy Hinks, who studies at
home.
Under the direction of Lucy and the highly organised Hayley
Walker, the team publicised and launched the appeal soon after
we returned to school. With boxes collected and wrapped for
tutor groups and items purchased to fill the boxes this helped
any tutor group who wanted to take up the challenge.
Our overall total this year was a fantastic 256 shoe boxes; a total
that again got our school an individual mention in the Keswick
Reminder as the best in the region. Each shoe box also required
£3 to cover costs. Therefore, a host of fundraising activities took
place to raise the £768 required. Our Poppy appeal donations
reached £400 meaning over £1100 has been raised for these two
charity efforts alone. Many thanks for the all donations and
kindness shown.
The Hallewell Competitions 2014
Two exciting competitions were run this year as part of the
annual Hallewell Competitions with big prize money up for
grabs!
The Hallewell Photographic Competition
Remembrance Day was a special one, with members of all our
uniformed services attending school in their uniforms (NTS has more
uniformed service students than any other North Cumbrian school).
On the day, students from Years 8 and 9 represented the School at a
moving Remembrance service at Wigton Cemetery. Brendan Szeremeta
confidently read whilst Josh Wright sounded the last post. At school,
all of our uniformed services assembled at lunchtime for a photograph
by the flag pole. As usual, throughout the week, Mr Northwood
delivered assemblies to all year groups and spoke at our special library
assembly on Remembrance Day. At 11am all students observed the
one minute silence in their lessons.
Shoe Box Appeal
Students across all years were set the challenge of taking a
photograph depicting life at Nelson Thomlinson. The winning
entry by Mark Bragg 13SW is featured on the front page. Mark
takes away a well-deserved £25 for his efforts. The following
also received cash prizes: Kirsty Martin & Gemma Harrison, £15
each and Adam Story & Luke Broster, £10 each. Well done to
them all!
The Hallewell History Competition
Mr Priddle
This competition focused on remembering the First World War.
Students had to make a multimedia presentation or video to
explore the topic of ‘Remembrance’. Joe Voisey (8KB) won the
competition with his video entitled, ‘Lest We Forget’. In the
video, Joe explores a local history of the First World War. He
visits Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life at Carlisle Castle and
interviews the curator, Stuart Eastwood, about Cumbria’s role in
the conflict. His video showed real dedication to the study of
History and has been placed on the School’s website to help
others learn about the conflict. Joe received first place for the
quality of his ideas, the professional standard of the video as well
as the extra dedication shown in visiting and interviewing a
leading expert. In recognition of his excellent work, Joe has won
£30 and a certificate. Second tier certificates and prizes of £10
were awarded to three other excellent pieces from Liam Harrison
(8MAH), Gabbi Harding (9NH) and Douglas Hodgson (9NH).
Third tier certificates and prizes of £5 were awarded to Eryka
Lamb (9NH) and Charlotte Donald (9JGC). We are extremely
proud of all the students who entered and congratulate them on
their fantastic work!
The Nelson Thomlinson Debating
Society
Accelerated Reader Programme
Miss Beattie
The Debating Society have had a busy term, welcoming our new
cohort of Lower Sixth students and prasticing the British
Parliamentary style structure used in competition. We have been
fortunate to have the addition of Mrs Puskar to the team and her
insights and support have proved invaluable in terms of our
preparation for difficult motions.
In December, members of the Sixth Form competed at the national
Debating Matters competition, held at Trinity School. Our teams had
to debate two complex motions: the first on the future of the public
library and the second arguing for Britain’s continued membership
within the E.U.
Emily Moscrop and Sam Fava debated for retaining public libraries
and were lucky enough to be questioned by a team of expert judges,
including the Head of Cumbria’s Library Service and the Editor of the
Cumberland News. James Green and Daniel Askew had the task of
campaigning for Britain’s continued membership in the E.U. which
required an understanding of some very complex economic and
political issues.
Unfortunately, we were pipped to the post by William Howard’s team
but the judges commented on how close the result was between the
teams, commending the students on their grasp of the issues and their
assured public speaking style.
We look forward an equally busy spring term, with debates planned
against Caldew School and a sequence of lunchtime debates on current
affairs open to lower school students.
(Katherine Blackledge, Mr Parker & Matthew Bates)
The current Year 7 pupils have been the first year group to try
out the Accelerated Reading programme within the School. This
programme will, hopefully, help to motivate students to read by
encouraging them to choose books that are of the right level
according to their scores in the Star Reading test which was taken
at the beginning of term. Once they have read a book students
are then expected to complete the quiz relating to that book
within 24 hours. They can gain points depending on how many
questions they answer correctly and how many words they have
read. All the points for this term have been added up and prizes
were presented by Dr Henley to the following during a special
assembly on Wednesday:
Inter-Form Challenge Trophy for the highest scoring Form: 7DP
Special book prizes for the highest scoring girl and boy and
selection packs for all top 10 scoring boys and girls:
GIRLS: Katherine Blackledge (top scorer), Hannah Barnes,
Lois Henderson, Phoebe Eve, Madeleine Jones, Kaitli Stanley,
Fay Batey, Katie French & Florence Prior.
BOYS: Matthew Bates (top scorer), Matthew Walker, Matthew
Jones, Benjamin Norman, Dylan Hamer, Daniel Scott, Louis
Latimer, Marcus Carlson & Joshua Farish.
Library News
Special prize for 8 randomly selected students:
Ella Bowe, Esme Hogg, Oliver Flucker, Rebecca Hetherington,
Jordan Ion, Jonathan Dodd, Isobel Ryder & Tom Carrick.
Anne Pierson Award for Cumbrian Young Writers
2015
Well done, to all Year 7 pupils for taking part in this programme
which will continue next term. Everyone will start again with zero
points for the purpose of the competitions.
The Anne Pierson Award for Cumbrian Young Writers is open to
students between 14–18 years of age. The theme this year is
‘JOURNEY’ and students can enter a short story, a piece of
descriptive prose or a monologue of not more than 1500 words, or a
poem of not more than 40 lines. Up to 15 entries will be shortlisted
and receive publication in the 2015 Cumbria Young Writers’
Anthology. The closing date for entries is Sunday 25th January 2015.
The Awards ceremony will take place on Saturday 7 th March at 11am
as part of the ‘Words on the Water’ Literature Festival at the Theatre
by the Lake, Keswick. The winner will receive £250 and two runnersup receive £125 each.
Bookbuzz Competition 2014
Mrs Crone
For more information about the Award you can contact Anne Pierson
via email: [email protected] or see Mrs Crone in the School
Library.
All Year 7 pupils received their free Bookbuzz books in October
and were then invited to take part in the ‘Design an alternative
Bookbuzz cover’ competition run by the Booktrust in December.
The 12 pupils with the best entries were able to choose another
free book form the Bookbuzz collection as their prize:
Mila Barnard 7ND, Alex Birkett 7JES, Anna Buckley 7RCT, Sean
Burns 7PAW, Toby Cass 7ND, Joseph Cowx 7AA, Bethany
Dockeray 7PAW, Harvey Harrison 7JES, Hannah Martin 7RCT,
Gabrielle Rothery 7AD, Molly Skinner 7PAW and Imy
Southward 7PAW.
Well done to them all! Their entries will now be forwarded to the
Booktrust to take part in the national competition.
Year 7 Halloween Cake Competition
Second – Toby Cass
Mrs Bryan, Mrs Cass and Mrs Johnston
Year 7 pupils have been busy in Food Technology lessons making
and icing themed cakes for Halloween. Two pupils from each of the
Technology groups were selected by independent judges to present
three buns for the competition displayed in T6 on Thursday 23 rd
October. Again, this was extremely challenging to judge and the
honour fell to Mrs Mayer, Mrs Foster and Dr Henley. The ideas of
using coloured sweets, fondant icing, ice-cream cones, butter icing
and glace icing were as fascinating as ever and equally clever. Pupils
raised the standard again with spiders’ webs, pumpkins and different
costume ideas.
The three finalists receiving prizes were:
First: Miriam Stobart 7JES
Third – Elizabeth Porter
Second: Toby Cass 7ND
Third: Elizabeth Porter 7PJC
All other competitors were highly commended and received small
gifts and certificates too. Their names are:
Caitlin Lloyd 7IL, Madeleine Jones 7DP, Jacob Fosker 7DP, Kate
Turnbull 7PAW, Alice Reid 7DP, Patrick Fava 7ND, Amber
Riddick 7PAW, Daniel Scott 7RCT, Hannah West 7AA, Katie
French 7RCT, Shannon Reid 7DP, Esme Hogg 7RCT, Jonathon
Dodd 7IL, Jodie Pape 7PJC, Matthew Scott 7RCT, Anna Osborne
7PAW, Oliver Iredale 7IL, Lois Henderson 7JES, Gabrielle Rothery
7AA, Philippa Hall 7AA, Evie Hoyles 7PJC and Megan Percival
7DP.
We extend our congratulations to those who took part and the
winners. Thanks again to all parents, carers and friends for their
continued support and encouragement.
Miriam Stobart’s winning entry
Year 12 Leisure Studies Trip
Mr Blackwell
This December, students of AS Leisure Studies visited the
North Lakes Hotel as part of their on-going studies into
customer service and care. We were met by Sue Gardham, who
is the Personnel Manager for the hotel. The students were given
a brief tour of the facilities and given an opportunity to
question Sue on the Hotel's approach to customer service. The
students gained a real insight into the complex operations
needed to ensure top quality customer service in the industry
and all agreed the experience had been an enlightening one. We
have thanked the North Lakes Hotel for the tremendous
hospitality and resources they provided, especially the tea and
biscuits!
Seasonal Cake Display in Food
Technology
Mrs Johnson
Christmas Lunch at NTS
Pupils in Years 10 and 11 Food Technology classes have again
produced a beautiful display of cakes for this season. Mrs
Bryan’s classes and Mrs Johnston’s group all carefully made
cakes, covered them with marzipan and white fondant icing as
a base for further decorations. There were many exciting and
beautiful designs. One cake was baked in a ring mould and
decorated as a Christmas wreath which added interest to the
typical designs. Team spirit, sharing of ideas and practical help
were lovely to see as the pupils worked, as well as the totally
independent artistic skills of these talented young people.
Pupils found that they did have the expertise to create polar
bears, penguins, Christmas features and characters.
As ever we are overcome by the enterprise and diligence of these
pupils who have all been generously supported by carers, relatives
and friends. Many congratulations to all pupils who took part in this
seasonal occasion and worked so hard to make it all so successful.
Thank you to our fantastic catering crew for putting
on a superb Christmas lunch for staff and students
on Friday 12th December!
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Photographs by Mr Beechey
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The Clothes Show Live 2014
Mrs Summerfield
Our annual Textiles trip to The Clothes Show Live at the NEC in
Birmingham was, again, a very successful and entertaining outing;
the partakers enjoyed the glamorous 45-minute display of attractive
clothes worn by energetic professional dancers and models on the
main stage in the Fashion Theatre.
Inter-Schools Show Jumping
Results
Miss Beattie
We also had the chance to see some of the innovative work done by
fashion students from Universities around the country; The Clothes
Show has become a launch pad for young designers and some of
these were showcased on the Designer Catwalk and through the
stands in the University & College Forum.
Shopping is always a significant part of the day too and this year was
no exception; most group members were able to spot some
Christmas present requirements or treats for themselves.
Another long, but memorable day out!
On Sunday 30th November, during a fiercely contested
competition at Blackdyke Equestrian Centre, our 75B
team gained third place (Ayla Moore, Georgina and
Elizabeth Porter and Katya Thomlinson) and our 90A
team won their class outright with four super double
clears (Ayesha and Emma Wise, Sadie Jackson and
Atlanta Vailionis) .
While it's lovely to win rosettes, what was most gratifying
was the NTS teams' sterling sense of school spirit and
team camaraderie.
We had a brilliant group of parents and students cheering
each round and the girls praised and supported one
another, regardless of whether poles had fallen or not.
Special mention must go to Elisha Wilson for helping to
organise the teams and Hannah Rumney, who couldn't
have looked happier after her round if I had given her a
winning lottery ticket! Congratulations and well done to
them all!
6th Form News
Boccia Tournament
Mr Walker
Boccia is a Paralympic sport for athletes with disabilities that
have a major impact on motor skills. It is a target ball sport
belonging to the same family as petanque and bowls. Ella
Cooper-Holmes, Liam Edgar and Abigail O’Regan were
entered into the County Boccia Tournament at Penrith
Leisure Centre on Wednesday 26th November.
Innovia Visit (Year 12 & 13):
On Wednesday 26th November, 29 Sixth-Form students accompanied
by Mr Walker and Dr Lovegrove visited Innovia. The students were
given guided tours of the R&D labs led by ex-NTS student, Liz
Tatlock, and OPP2 led by former NTS student, Colin Sessford, where
the ‘bubble’ process was explained. Following the tours, David
Oldham, Innovia’s HR Manager, spoke to the students about
opportunities with the company including Advanced Apprenticeships
and the university sponsorship scheme.
Co-Head Prefect’s Blog
After a slow start, and having to remind the organisers that
Nelson Thomlinson were in the tournament, Ella, as Team
Leader, Liam and Abigail played two ends with a team from
each school in the heats winning each game to make it
through to the quarter finals. The winning streak continued
in the quarter and semi-finals with Liam as Team Leader and
they breezed through to the finals 13-0.
Ella, Liam and Abigail then faced a very competitive Trinity
in the finals. They played a two end game with a very close
score of 3-2 and triumphed by 1 point to make it to the
regionals at Liverpool on 5th February.
Each member of the team played some blinding shots when
the pressure was on – we were so impressed and proud of
them!
My name is Samantha Bell and I am one of the Co-Head Prefects at
NTS. I currently study Maths, Business Studies, Geography and
General Studies at A Level. NTS Sixth Form has taught me how to be
more independent in my studies as well as the importance of time
management. My role as Co-Head Prefect has improved my ability to
work as a team, which will be important for my future career. I have
also had the opportunity to compete in an Accountancy Competition
called BASE. Next year, I am starting an Advanced Apprenticeship in
Accountancy at Dodd & Co. accountants working towards becoming
a Chartered Accountant.
FONTS NEWS
100 Club Winners
Mrs Hoskins
So, many congratulations to the team members on winning
the County Boccia Tournament and thanks to Mr J.
Richardson and Mrs Debbie Wills for escorting, supporting
and cheering the team to victory!
Careers Information, Advice and
Guidance
Mr G. Clark
Careers guidance is available to all NTS students from home
or at school:
1. From home, at: http://vle.nts.cumbria.sch.uk/. Please log
on to ‘Moodle’, select ‘Careers Guidance’, and follow
the blue links that interest you.
2. For personal help with finding out about Careers, or
making choices about your future, please contact the
Careers Education & Guidance Officer at NTS, Mr
Graham Clark.
3. ‘Drop-in’ Careers Guidance sessions are available to NTS
students on Monday and Friday lunchtimes, from
12.45. Please come to the Careers Education &
Guidance Services office.
4. Parents or carers: if you have any queries about your child’s
career options or choices, please feel free to contact
the NTS Careers Education & Guidance Officer at
Parents’ Evenings for Years 9-13, by phone (016973
42160,
extension
250),
or
email
at:
[email protected].
Junior Boys
Sports News
20th Matthew Sleightholme, 22nd Ethan Watters & 24th Morgan
Mrs Lee
Kasiera.
Year 7 Boys
Netball
9th Matthew Reid, 20th Tom Miller & 21st Cameron Sealby.
Inter. Girls
2nd Sarah Brookes, 8th Becky Robinson, 10th Lucy Dixey & 12th
Georgina Easton.
Inter. Boys
8th Jack Winter, 13th Steven Crake, 14th James Wiggins, 22nd
Simon Howlett & 25th Daniel Morton.
Football
Mr Rudd
The U14 and U18 netballers qualified in October for the county
tournaments held this half-term at Sedbergh School. The U14s
competed enthusiastically, winning their section convincingly against
Windermere, QEGS Penrith and Dallam. In the semi-finals they played
against Chetwynde, but after an end to end game, they lost. They
finished 3rd overall in Cumbria.
For the U18 squad, unfortunately, nothing seemed to go their way.
Lack of match play at this level and confidence to succeed meant they
finished 4th in the county.
Special mention should go to the following girls for their dedication to
netball at NTS: Emily Ostridge (captain), Holly Gordon, Vicki Deane,
Shakayla Okesene, Beth Gebbie and Tabby Graham. They will leave
this year but I hope they will continue to play and enjoy the game.
In the Copeland and Allerdale leagues, all teams continue to be
committed and reliable and any postponed matches have been
rearranged for the spring term.
Cross-Country
3rd
On Wednesday
December the six cross-country teams travelled to
Cockermouth to compete in the Allerdale trials. The following
positions were achieved by NTS athletes:
Year 7 Girls
1st
5th
Annie Bell,
Suzannah Brookes,
Brown & 9th Philippa Hall.
6th
Kate Southwell,
8th
Faith
Junior Girls
5th Molly Wren, 9th Lizzy Airey, 11th Charlotte Bewley, 12th Hannah
McGarr, 14th Rosie Hogg & 15th Sam Clarke .
The football teams at NTS are having a good season so far. The
Year 7 team has reached the last 64 in the country and will face
Maricourt High School from Liverpool before Christmas. They
reached this round after beating Dallam School 2-1, with goals
from Lewis Woodburn and Billy Paisley.
The Year 7 boys’ 5-a-side team was runner-up on goal difference
at the Allerdale Tournament, which is a great achievement. They
played 4 matches in total winning 2, drawing 2. However, the
greatest achievement for the squad that participated was that in
the 4 games played, they did not concede any goals!
REMINDER – Colour versions of the Newsletter
can be viewed from the School website!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Spring Term starts on
Tuesday 6th January 2015