Parental Bulletin - 28th September 2018

Parental Bulletin
28th September 2018

The Knights Templar School
Headteacher:
Mr T. Litchfield, G.G.S.M.
Park Street
Baldock
Herts SG7 6DZ
Email: admin@ktemplar.herts.sch.uk Tel: 01462 620700
Dear Parents and Carers
PARENTAL WEEKLY UPDATE – 28th September 2018
(available on our website)
We are re-launching the House System at KTS. This is being led by our extremely passionate senior prefect team
and the House Captains. Over the last two weeks, the House Captains have led assemblies, introducing themselves
to the different houses and explaining about some of the events that are coming up. The first of these is this morning,
with the Macmillan Coffee Morning. House points will be awarded to some of the best cakes as well as to the
houses with the largest numbers of cakes on their table. We will have a House Drama event in November/
December as well as a House Christmas Card Competition.
Thank you to all year 10 parents who attended the year 10 information evening on Wednesday evening. This was a
remodelled evening which focussed on the sharing of information and content for each subject and the opportunity
to hear how you can help your child at home. I received some excellent feedback on the evening, but would still
welcome any further thoughts or comments at this stage.
Every four years we take a photograph of the whole school and this
Wednesday was that day! The photograph contains over 1500 people.
It was also an opportunity to take individual photographs for the
students and a splendid photo of the sixth form. Photos will be available
for you to purchase if you wish very soon.
I had the privilege of meeting the new students on our BTEC Musical
Theatre Course at Emil Dale Academy (EDA) last Friday. It was an
opportunity for me to welcome students to the course. EDA run the
Musical Theatre two year programme which attracts students from
all around the country and has a great reputation for progression into
the main performing arts schools in the UK. If you get a chance to go
and see any of their performances, I would highly recommend it
(http://factoryplayhouse.com/whats-on.php).
We look forward to welcoming year 6 students to the school next
Thursday and Friday to our Open Mornings.
Kind regards,
Tim Litchfield
Headteacher

Dates for your Diary
Saturday 29 September 2018
29 September—02 October
Student & Parent Trip to Saracens vs Bath
Yr11 Silver Qualifying Expedition 2 to Peak District
Monday 01 October 2018 Yr10 & 11 War Horse Theatre Trip
Yr7 & Yr8 Disadvantaged - Artist in Residence
Tuesday 02 October 2018 Yr7 Boys Rugby Match
Follow Up Yr11 Standards Evening
Wednesday 03 October 2018 Yr11 Media Harry Potter Trip
Thursday 04 October 2018 Yr6 Open Morning
Friday 05 October 2018 Yr6 Open Morning
Drama News
On Friday of last week we took fifty Drama and Performing Arts students from year 11 and 13 to see Shakespeare’s Othello at
The Globe Theatre in London. We opted to experience the play as groundlings and were ushered in, shoulder to shoulder, to
find a space in the theatre. The performance was well received and students were particularly impressed with the portrayal of
Emilia and Iago played by Sheila Atim and Mark Rylance. There were some very dramatic moments in the performance and
students spoke excitedly about the swift murder of Roderigo and the climactic final scene that saw our young thespians tiptoeing
to get a better view.
The evening was rounded off with a minute silence to honour World Peace Day before we headed back to the coach to rest our
weary legs…..

Senior XV Rugby- Friendly
Knights Templar 35 – 34 Freman College
Knights Templar Senior XV Rugby Team got their season under way with a hard fought victory against a strong running
Freman College.
The boys have prepared for the opening game of the season with 2 well attended training sessions in which Mr
Smith and Mr Matthews were encouraged by the squad depth and attitude.
There were many year 11 boys making their debut for the senior team and special mentions must go to Guy
Mckenzie, who’s hard work and contact throughout the game was impressive. Dom Merrell scored a try on his
debut after good hands from Jack Petre. Jesse Poku was ever dangerous on the wing and scored two tries after being
set up by Dom Merrell and Captain Josh Parkhouse.
Josh continued his impressive form from last season by scoring two tries and converting a last minute penalty to
win the game for KTS with the final kick of the game.
The boys next fixtures will be on the 17 th October against Sam Whit and 24 th October against Sandringham. Both
games are at home and kick off at 2:30pm.
Year 9/10 Girls Rugby 45 - 25 Nobel
The girls rugby team started their season in impressive action with a convincing win over local rivals Nobel.
Player of the match was given to Berri Clarke for her constant dangerous speed and footwork. Philippa Dawes was
playing in her first ever game of full contact rugby, however, you would not know it. Her performance was outstanding
and Nobel were not able to deal with her ability to compete at rucks and aggressive contact throughout
the game. Philippa Dawes and Kashi Williamson both scored 4 tries each and their 100metre ability from athletics
season is going to be dangerous to any opposition.

Music News
County Wind Sinfonia
The County Wind Sinfonia meets three times a year and is open to players of Wind, Brass and Percussion instruments
who are aged 11-21 and play at a grade 5 level or above. Playing with the Wind Sinfonia presents an opportunity
to develop on the experience of playing in school bands and orchestras, meeting other passionate and inspired
musicians from around the county. The group is conducted by Mark Heron, professor at the Royal Northern
College of Music, and takes on exciting repertoire such as Bernstein’s Slava! and Luis Alarcon’s Duende under his
direction. This year, in addition to this term’s workshop, the Wind Sinfonia will collaborate with the band of the
Royal Air Force at RAF Northolt, as well as taking part in a joint residential and festival concert with the County
Youth Choir, Cantate Youth Choir and County Youth Brass during the summer holidays.
If you would like to play with CWS at their upcoming workshop day, you can sign up here: https://
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/county-wind-sinfonia-autumn-workshop-2018-tickets-50535349591. The workshop will
take place 9.30am-5.30pm at Mid Herts Centre for Music and Arts in Hatfield, AL10 0PS, on Sunday 21 st October.
The fee for the workshop day is £25; please ask us about bursaries if the cost is of any concern. You can contact us
at countymusicenquires@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

Media News
At long last the Warner Bros. Studio The Making of Harry Potter trip is finally upon us!
Since it has been so long since letters were sent out, here are some reminders about the
trip.
The trip is on Wednesday 3 rd October. Students are to register in forms and then head
over to the coach park. They will be out for the duration of the school day. Estimated
return time is 3.20pm, but should we be delayed for any reason, please consider arrangements
for your child to get home if they rely on a bus etc. (although this shouldn’t be the case!) Students must be
dressed in school uniform; but are welcome to use phones to take photos/videos on the day, where permitted.
Should you have any questions- please do get in touch.
We are thoroughly looking forward to the trip!
Miss Baker & Mr Mottershead
Media Dept
LIBRARY NEWS THIS WEEK…..
Book Buzz is coming to Year 7s this Autumn at KTS. In order to
encourage reading for pleasure, we are delighted to announce
that the Library is offering all new Year 7 pupils and free book of
their choice. There are more than 12 titles to choose from. Look
out for more details via your English teacher very soon. In the
meantime, here’s the link to the Book Buzz website if you would a
sneak peak at the titles available this year :
Students are recommended to bring a packed lunch as there is a canteen
area available to eat these, alternatively please ensure they have some
money to buy something to eat (although it can be a little pricey!) There
is a gift shop and opportunities to buy photos playing quidditch etc.
so they can bring some additional money too- but nothing excessive.
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/programmes-andcampaigns/bookbuzz/.
There are lots of other resources on the Book Trust website including recommended reads for all age groups, levels and interests.
NEXT WEEK on Thursday 4 th October we are celebrating National Poetry Day at Knights Templar. The theme for this year is
“change”. Perhaps you have written a poem, or you have a family favourite poem to share with us? If so, the Library will be
displaying favourite poems from staff and pupils and families in the Library. Remember to bring your poems to the Library by
Wednesday 3 rd October. Poems can be decorated with illustrations and why this poem is special to you. We encourage all
families to enjoy, discover and share poems on this special day.
Mrs Evans , School Librarian

Year 13 Student Profile- Rachel Grant
Rachel is a year 13 student who is currently studying for A Levels in Media, English Literature and Art Photography.
Rachel has a genuine enthusiasm for the media industry and hopes to study Media Production at university, upon
completing her A Levels at KTS. As part of her journey to working in the media industry, Rachel has secured work
experience with the Sky Studios Academy where she worked as part of a team to film, produce and edit a news report.
In addition, Rachel has successfully completed the National Citizenship Service (NCS) initiative which required her
to complete residential visits, work experience challenges and volunteer a lot of her time to local causes.
Most recently, Rachel completed a charity project with her Scout group that took her to Swaziland. Rachel and a
team of volunteers helped to paint and decorate a building that provided kitchen facilities, a library and computer
centre for the underprivileged locals living in the township.
Rachel has made a good start to her year 13 A Level study and we are of course very impressed by her proactive
approach to community initiatives and charitable causes. We wish her the best of luck in fulfilling her ambition to
study Media Production at university!

Senior Football Update
The senior boys’ football team got their season off to a winning start with
a convincing 7-1 win over St Christopher’s School.
The squad is in a year of transition having lost a number of strong players
who have now gone onto university and the starting 11 was very
different to that of last season. However, the boys slotted into their new
roles well and proved to be far too talented for their opponents, from the
very first minute.
Sean Blyth and Aaron Oyston controlled things well in midfield with Elliot
Harley and Brett Sullivan providing secure defensive performances to
minimise any threat from the Letchworth school.
Kim Onslow proved to be a constant threat, making excellent runs into the channels and his hard work paid off
with a very well-taken hat-trick of goals. Alex Haskins also chipped in with 3 goals, one of which was an absolute
screamer of a volley from 20-yards.
Harvey Foster also managed to get his name on the score sheet with a single well-taken goal and despite a very
dubious penalty awarded to and converted by St Christopher’s in the latter stages of the game, KTS proved
utterly dominant throughout.

Cheetahs
Year 11 students Jack Byrne, Sonny Hack and Ewan
Macdonald had an incredible first season with their
American Football team, The Hertfordshire Cheetahs and
qualified for The BritBowl at The University of Derby in
August. This is the national final event for the best teams
in the country following the end of the regular season
games which took place throughout the summer. The boys
team ended gaining 7th in the UK. The Cheetahs are based
at St Albans Rugby Club and train on Sunday afternoons
throughout the autumn and winter. Rookie Days are
coming up on September 16th and 30th and the team are
recruiting boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 16 to
play next season. No experience is required and there are
also “flag” teams that play too.