Issue 153
24 Oct 2014
Principal’s Welcome
Hello everyone and welcome to the final communica on of the first half of Autumn
Term. We have had a great start back and have enjoyed ge ng to know our new
Year 7 intake, elec ng our Head Boy and Girl, presen ng our Principals’ Award. We
have had visits to Kew Gardens and Reading University. Our Open Evening and
morning, which demonstrated overwhelming interest in our provision by our
community had over 600 visitors. The Opening of our superb new sports facili es
by the Harlequins was an exci ng event and it is fantas c to see the community
taking up use of the facility a er 5pm. The Rega a victory of our newly formed
rowing team and their par cipa on in the Great River Race has developed great
ambi on and team skills in our students. Astounding wins in both boys and girls
football have made us very proud and of course the resounding win in the Rugby
tournament. The highest level of A*‐A results in our history and a strongly closing
gap in performance between groups of students. We had higher than na onal
average results in English and Science and a pleasing and improving picture in Maths.
Quite an amazing start to our first year together. I would like to thank the hardworking staﬀ for the
commitment to securing the best outcomes, your hardworking children who have given their best and are
developing ambi on to meet their challenging targets and of course yourselves who get them here on me each
day in the correct uniform and ready to learn. Thank you.
May I on behalf of us all here at Twickenham Academy, the Learning Schools Trust and our Academy Council
wish you a very safe and happy holiday. We look forward to your safe return.
Tracy Ward
CHANGE TO OPENING TIMES OF THE ACADEMY BUILDING FROM 3rd NOVEMBER 2014
8:15am – 3:30pm
We would like to advise all parents, carers and students of the changes to the opening mes of the Academy
building from Monday 3rd November 2014. The reason for these changes is to increase the security of the
building and the safety and wellbeing of all students and staﬀ of the Academy.
The Academy gates will be open to students in the morning from 8:15am onwards.
Please note that for students who are a ending pre‐arranged morning clubs, i.e. Breakfast Club, the Academy
will be open from 7:30am and entry to the Academy will be via the main school recep on. Students must sign in
and show their logbooks at recep on with permission evident from a member of staﬀ that they are a ending a
club. There will be no access to the building for students before 7.30am.
In the a ernoon the Academy gates will open at 3.00pm and close at 3:30pm. Students on site a er 3.30pm
must have permission from a member of staﬀ and be supervised at all mes. Exit from the building a er 3:30pm
will be via the main Academy recep on only and the Academy will close to all students at 5.00pm.
PRINCIPAL’S SURGERY
Every Tuesday 4pm ‐ 5pm
Star ng Tuesday 4th November 2014
Main Recep on
From Tuesday 4th November 2014, Tracy Ward will be oﬀering a Principal's Surgery every Tuesday a ernoon
from 4 ‐ 5pm in the main Academy recep on.
This will be a drop in session for parents and carers and no appointment will be necessary.
Please note there will be no Principal's surgery on Tuesday 18th November 2014. We apologise for any
inconvenience.
TWICKENHAM YEAR 8 BOYS WIN 2nd MATCH
On Monday 20th October, Twickenham Academy played away against St Richard Reynolds. A mixed team of Year
7 and 8 Twickenham boys played with a man down due but Twickenham started well, scoring 2 tries within the
first 10 minutes and conver ng 1. St Richard Reynolds managed to pull one back but Twickenham con nued
scoring with 7 other tries and 4 successful conversions. St Richard Reynolds managed to score another 2 tries
and 1 conversion but it wasn't enough to stop our winning streak. Twickenham showed tremendous
improvements since their first game of rugby and are linking well between forwards and backs. Tries were
scored by Luke Muraszko, Daniel Overton (2), Shay Connolly, Andre Raubenheimer, Oscar Jansen, Luke Parr and
Will Marsen. Conversions from Will Marsen (3) and Andre Raubenheimer (2). Twickenham won
50‐15 with man of the match going to Daniel Overton. Well done!
WIN FOR GIRLS FOOTBALL TEAM
On Wednesday 15th October the Twickenham Academy girls football team played their 2nd ever match against
Waldegrave School and won 5 – 3. The girls in the team were Tora, Hyfaa, Alice, Kaitlyn, Brooklyn and Isabelle.
Alice and Kaitlyn both scored twice and Waldegrave scored an own goal. Our player of the match went to
Kaitlyn and she definitely deserved it. We have never seen a match as intense as this one so thumbs up to those
that played. Our next match will be away against Orleans Park so let’s hope we win that match as well!
POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS
In the event of extreme weather condi ons we will always endeavour to keep the Academy open. Closure
would only be on Health and Safety grounds. This could be because we were unable to staﬀ the Academy at an
acceptable level or the playground and/or buildings became unsafe.
How to check whether the Academy is open:

Every eﬀort will be made to post a message on the Academy website. Please check the website for regular
updates www.twickenhamacademy.org.uk
 Please ensure the Academy has your correct email address on our system enabling us to send an email
message to you from the Academy ‐ [email protected].
 Check the OpenCheck website which gives informa on on all schools. This website can be accessed via a
link from the London Borough of Richmond website. www.richmond.gov.uk
 Every eﬀort will be made to leave a message on the school answer phone.
www.twickenhamacademy.org.uk
TERM DATES 2014/15
Autumn Term 2014
Thursday 4 September 2014‐ YEAR 7 ONLY
Friday 5 September 2014 ‐ YEARS 8—11
Half Term
Monday 27 October ‐ Friday 31 October 2014
End of Term
Thursday 18 December 2014
PARENTS FORUM
We would like to invite all Parents and Carers to
a end Twickenham Academy's Parents Forum
6:00—7:30pm
Wednesday 12 November 2014
Twickenham Academy Auditorium
Spring Term 2015
Tuesday 6 January 2015
Half Term
CASHLESS CATERING
Friday 27 March 2015
Please note that we do not carry change for the
cashless catering machines. Students need to have
the correct money as the machine does not give
change.
Summer Term 2015
PE CLOTHING
Monday 16 ‐ Friday 20 February 2015
End of Term
Monday 13 April 2015
Half Term
Monday 25 May ‐ Friday 29 May 2015
End of Term
Wednesday 22 July 2015
INSET DAYS
Tuesday 2 September 2014
Wednesday 3 September 2014
Monday 5 January 2015
Monday 23 February 2015
Friday 26 June 2015
N.B. INSET days are subject to change
Please may we ask parents and carers to label all PE kit
with the student’s name. Each day there are many
items of PE clothing le in the changing rooms and
whilst the PE department do their best to return the
clothing to the righ ul owner, having a name speeds
up this process. The PE department operate a
deten on system for students that arrive to PE lessons
without the full and correct kit.
1st me = 10 minutes deten on
2nd me = 20 minutes deten on
3rd me = 60 minutes faculty deten on Friday a er
School
Some useful links to companies that oﬀer labels
include
www.easytoname.com
www.mylabel.co.uk
MOBILE PHONES AND HIGH VALUE ITEMS
May I remind everyone that high value items should not be brought into the Academy. The loss, the or
damage o en causes distress. Anyone bringing such items into the Academy do so at their own risk and we
would advise parents to have these items insured. Please note mobile phones can be handed into the PE
department during PE lessons or locked safely away in the students locker.
SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM
Heathfield Team Whi on and Heathfield SNT
Queens House, 2 Holy Road
Twickenham TW1 4EG
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0208 161 9487
www.twickenhamacademy.org.uk
TWICKENHAM ACADEMY PLAYS HOST TO DRAMATIC EDGE WORKSHOP
The auditorium at Twickenham Academy was filled with 'toil and trouble' as Year 5 and 6 students from
Nelson Primary School explored the Witches scene from Macbeth using thinking skills.
Wearing diﬀerent ‘thinking hats’ for reasoning, crea vity, enquiry, processing and evalua on. The
students learnt iambic pentameter and the importance of punctua on in Performing Shakespeare
before the Year 13 BTEC performing arts students directed small groups in diﬀerent parts of the Witches
scene.
WOW! What amazing performances, one group performing their scene a er 15 minutes without the
script.
Mrs MacDonald the students teacher commented 'We hope to be able to develop these skills when we
return to Nelson. Yes please, we would love another workshop!.
TWICKENHAM TALK
The Twickenham Talk is emailed to parents weekly from [email protected]. We would be
grateful if you could please ensure the Academy has the correct and up to date email address.
We would also encourage parents to view the newsleƩer and key dates regularly via our website at
www.twickenhamacademy.org.uk.