15th April 2013

It is the beginning of another busy term in the College. Y11, 12 & 13 examinations will start shortly and there are many events happening this term.

It is very exciting that our Youth Speaks Senior team will be competing in the National Final of the Rotary (RIBI Youth Speaks) debating competition in Hull. They are a very accomplished team and have done well to reach the National Final. We wish them all the best.

May 1st sees the launch of our new Radio Station and you will hear more about this later.

As usual we will be fielding teams for the Ten Tors event in the middle of May. This is something that the students really value and enjoy and our thanks go to Andy Jerrett and John Collacott for their support for this fantastic event.

The Product of the Year competition takes place on Thursday 2 May, 5.00pm in the Hall.

Co-operative Trust Development – we will be talking to the local community about their involvement with our Co-operative Trust later this term. We welcome the participation and support of staff, students, parents and the wider community.

Helen Salmon
Principal

February 2013

You will be pleased to hear that the ski trip to Andorra went exceptionally well. The students were a credit to the College and had a very good time. Special thanks should go to Umberto Bergonzini and the team of staff who accompanied the visit.

Crispin Chambers one of our language staff is a finalist in the regional Pearson Teaching Awards. He is nominated in the category of Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School. This is already a tremendous achievement as Crispin is one of only four finalists from the region. This is a testament to his outstanding work as a teacher here and his commitment to developing Japanese in the College.

Some of you will have read that horsemeat has been found in school meat in some parts of the country. I am happy to be able to let you know that all our meat products are sourced from a local butcher rather than from a meat processing plant. The kitchen source much of their produce locally and this helps to keep a track on the quality of the meat and any other ingredients that are supplied to the College.

This is a very short half term due an early Easter. I would just like to remind parents that we will be breaking up on Wednesday 27 March. However, I hope that our Y11 students will attend the Easter Revision School which will run during the Easter holidays. A letter will be coming out shortly with further details.

Helen Salmon
Principal

Online Bullying

It has come to my attention that some of our students are using Facebook, and other social networking sites, to target individuals in a bullying manner. Aggressive and threatening statements posted on social media sites is cyber-bullying. This activity is not, and will not, be tolerated at Tavistock College.

We have held numerous assemblies and discussions at the College using teachers, researchers and the Police to help educate students about all kinds of bullying. It appears that the important messages shared at these events have been ignored by a small minority.

Please be aware that we will help anyone being bullied at Tavistock College by exposing and disciplining the bullies, and working with parents and the police to eradicate this behaviour from the school.

Helen Salmon
Principal

Cyber Bullying and Internet Misuse

Cyber bullying and internet misuse are issues of very serious concern for all organisations. As a College we take our responsibilities in this area very seriously indeed. We ensure that all students are taught about the destructive effects of cyber bullying. We have had a series of assemblies on this topic and we also cover this in ICT lessons. It is also discussed in Citizenship Lessons. We have a link with Plymouth University on this topic and Andrew Phippen, Professor of Social responsibility will be visiting the College shortly. A member of staff here is carrying out research on this topic. Her work will also help us to deal with this issue. We are always happy to discuss these issues directly with parents. Sadly this seems to be a very unpleasant feature of our wider society but we are doing all we can to combat the problem. All schools are dealing with this and facing the challenges that it poses. Our key work is to educate our young people so that they use social networking in a responsible way.

Helen Salmon
Principal

January 2013

Happy New Year. As this is the season of difficult weather can I remind you all to check the website when the weather is severe. Some buses do not operate from the villages when there is snow and ice. We will keep you informed about what is happening and also send out a Groupcall message. I am reluctant to close the College but may have to do so if conditions become dangerous. Sometimes staff who live in Cornwall or on Dartmoor also have difficulty getting in to the College.

Year 11, 12 and 13 exams will go ahead where possible and these will always be our priority.

Key Dates:

There are a number of things happening this half term including:

• Year 11 Progression interviews
• Wednesday 23rd January - Year 11 Parents Evening
• Thursday 24th January - Junior Youth Speaks (primary round)
• Wednesday 30th January - Intermediate and Senior Youth Speaks
• Tuesday 25th February - Year 7 and 8 Learning and Achievement Evening
• Also a very talented group of students in Year 10 have got through to the regional final of the Coca Cola Challenge Competition. They will represent the College in Bristol next year.

Yours sincerely
Helen Salmon

December 2012

Dear Parent / Carer

I am writing to thank you for your support this term. We are proud of the achievements of our students in so many ways. You will find a lot of information about recent student achievements in the latest edition of the College Newsletter.

End of term Arrangements

On Friday 21st December the College will have an earlier finish at 1.00pm with the College buses and taxis leaving the site at 1.15pm.

Public Service Buses

Having checked each of the public service bus timetables we recommend that students catching these services leave at the following times:

• TAV185 Bere Alston – Jacketts bus service – students will need to catch this bus from Tavistock Bus station, Plymouth Road. Timetable available at www.usethebus.net Students may leave the College at 12.45pm

• First Buses 83, 84, 86 to Plymouth - students will need to catch these buses from Tavistock Bus station on Plymouth Road. Timetable available at www.traveline.info Students may leave the College at 12.45pm

• TAV118 Okehampton/Lydford/Brentor/Mary Tavy – Beacon Bus - students will need to catch this bus from Tavistock Bus station on Plymouth Road. Timetable available at www.beaconbus.co.uk Students may leave the College at 1.00pm.

The Refectory will be providing a limited lunch service for students entitled to free school meals in addition to anyone else wishing to purchase food before leaving the site.

Carol Service

Parents and families would be very welcome to join us at our Carol Service at Tavistock Parish Church, St Eustachius on Wednesday, 19th December at 7.30pm. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served after the service.

Key Dates

I would like to take this opportunity to let you know of some key days next term. The Spring Term starts on Monday 7th January 2013

• Monday 7th January - First Day of Spring Term (Week B)
• Wednesday 9th January- Start of GCSE/GCE Public Exams
• Wednesday 9th January - Year 7 Parents Evening, 16:30 -19:30
• Monday 14th January -Year 11 Progression Interviews Begin, 17:00 - 19:00
• Monday 21st January - Parent Forum, Octagon 18:3
• Wednesday 23rd January - Year 11 Parents Evening, 16:30 - 19:30
• Friday 1st February - End of GCSE/GCE Public Exams
• Tuesday 12th February - Year 10/11 Effective Revision Techniques Parents’ Workshop
• Thursday 14th February - Year 12 /13 Progress Report Home
• Friday 15th February - Non Pupil Day
• Monday 18th February – Friday 22nd February - Half Term
• Tuesday 26th February - Year 7/8 Learning & Achievement Evening, 18:00 - 19:30
• Wednesday 13th March - Year 12 Parents Evening, 16:30 - 19:30
• Wednesday 20th March - Year 8 Parents Evening, 16:30 - 19:30
• Wednesday 27th March - Last Day of Term
• Thursday 28th March - Non Pupil Day

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy Christmas and to thank you for your support this term.

Yours sincerely
Helen Salmon

Principal

23rd November 2012

It continues to be a busy time at the College. Preparations for ‘Oh What a Lovely War!’ are in full swing. Please come along and support this brilliant production on 6th, 7th (7.30pm) & 8th December (5.30pm). As well as this we had a wonderful Performing Arts Showcase Evening. Year 5s from our primary schools came in and had an exciting Solar Powered Car Challenge in the ‘Dragon’s Den’. The Peninsular Medical School have been in talking to Y10 – Y12 students about careers in medicine. Clive Purchase the Astronomer was very impressed by the astute questions from Year 9. The College is looking to introduce an opportunity for a small group of students to study GCSE Astronomy. This will be for those students who have a particular interest in the subject. The PE Faculty are hosting their first Sports Personality of the Year Awards Evening on the 23 November.

The Inaugural meeting of the Tavistock Co-operative Learning Trust Board took place on the 5th November. This is the beginning of an exciting range of partnerships and opportunities for the College.

The term’s Parent Forum focussed on the learning environments. A team of parents braved the appalling weather to give their views. Minutes of the meeting will be published on the College website.

November 2012

The College is now entering the busy period in the run up to Christmas. There are lots of key things going on. This week will mark Remembrance Day where Year 9 students attend a Service at the Church. It is very important that the younger generation understand the importance of remembering the war dead.

The College will also be running an anti-litter drive in the next few weeks. This will involve students meeting with community leaders to look at solutions to the litter issue. This week students will be shown an anti-litter presentation during tutor time. It is important that students respect the environment.

The Trust Board meets for the first time this week. This is a very exciting time for the College and much can be achieved by the work of the Trust.

Next week we will be welcoming Gifted and Talented students from our feeder primary schools to participate in the Dragon’s Den events.

Finally we will be welcoming our Literacy Volunteers who will be in College to read with our Year 7 students.

College Uniform Clarification

Following the letter recently sent to parents detailing the new College jumper the following needed to be clarified:

• The wearing of a College jumper is optional (as it always has been)
• The new College jumper with embroidered logo will be available to purchase and to wear from September
• Where parents have already purchased a plain black v-neck jumper students will be permitted to wear this until Easter
• No other jumpers or cardigans will be permitted from September.

Thank you for your support.

July 2012

As another College year draws to a close, I would like to thank you for all the support you have given this year. The College has improved dramatically this year due to the efforts of many people but I don’t underestimate how crucial your support has been.

There have been many successes this year including much improved exam results. There is still a lot of work to do but college leaders and governors are very optimistic about the future.

There have been many student successes across a whole range of areas and our new style Newsletter contains many of them www.tavistockcollege.devon.sch.uk

End of Term Arrangements
On Friday, 20th July the College will have an earlier finish at 1.20pm with the College buses and taxis leaving the site at 1.30pm.

Public Service Buses
• Bere Alston 87A Service Bus (Tav 185). Students who use this service will be able to travel on TAV11. Plymouth Service Buses, 83, 84, 86 depart from Tavistock bus station every 15 minutes. Please check the Traveline website for detailed timetable information http://www.traveline.info
• Okehampton/Lydford/Brentor/Mary Tavy, Tav 118. Please note this service bus departs from Tavistock bus station at 1.30pm and does not come onto the College site. The students who travel on this bus will be allowed to leave the College at 1.15pm to enable them to walk to the bus station to catch this bus.
• Students who catch the Beacon public bus or Jacketts public bus will need to make their own way to Tavistock bus station.

The Refectory will be providing a limited lunch service for students entitled to free school meals in addition to anyone else wishing to purchase food before leaving the site.

Exam Results Days

• AS & A2 – Thursday 16 August
• GCSE & BTEC – Thursday 23 August

On both days, results will be available for collection between 09:00 and 12:00 from the Octagon. If you are away and would like to receive the results by post, please provide a stamped, addressed envelope and ask your son/ daughter to bring this to the Exams Office. All those collecting results should know their exam number or bring some form of identification with them to collect their results. If you would like someone other than your son/ daughter to collect exam results, please provide them with written authorisation in order to allow us to release your son/daughter’s results to them.

College Uniform
We have made some improvements to the wearing of College uniform, particularly in Year 7. However I remain concerned that a minority of students still seem to think that wearing their uniform correctly is optional. In September we will expect every student to look smart and be dressed appropriately. This will be checked every morning by tutors and by teaching staff in every lesson.

Also from September students will only be permitted to wear a College jumper – black V neck jumper with the College logo embroidered on it. No other jumpers or cardigans will be permitted. Wearing a jumper is still optional as the Blazer is compulsory but if a student wishes to wear a jumper it must be the College one only. These are available to purchase from Hazard in Tavistock or directly from the College in September at a slightly reduced rate. We want all Tavistock College students to wear their uniform with pride and to come to College every day to achieve their very best.

Key Dates for the Autumn Term

• Wednesday 5th September- First Day of Autumn Term for All Students (Week A)
• Tuesday 11th September - Year 12 Meet the Tutor Evening 18:30
• Thursday 13th September - Open Evening
• Tuesday 18th & Wednesday 19th - Open Mornings
• Wednesday 26th September - College photos – Years 7,10 & 12
•  Monday 1st October -  HPV immunisations for Year 8 girls
•  Wednesday 10th October - Goose Fair – Staff Training day
•  Wednesday 17th October - Year 7 Settling in Evening 18:30
•  Monday 15th October - Parent Forum 18:30 Octagon
•  Monday 29th October-Friday 2nd November - Half term holiday

I hope that you have a restful and enjoyable summer holiday. I look forward to welcoming your sons and daughters back in September.

Thank you for your support this year.

Yours sincerely
Helen Salmon