Welcome to Ashlyns’ e-Bulletin. School life is always busy, so here are a few reminders about events that have happened and events to come.

Date: 14 July 2017 No: 39

Lockers Please can we ask parents to remind students to empty their lockers before the end of term. The locker company will be in school during the holidays and will empty all the lockers and remove any items that have

been left behind. We really appreciate your help

with this. Keys can be returned to student

reception.

School Computer Network The school network is being

upgraded during the first 2

weeks of the summer holiday

and so there will by NO access

to the Portal until Monday 7

August.

Exam Results Day

Collection of A Level Results will be

on the 17th August between 9am

and 12pm. The Assistant Exam

Officer, Mrs Smith, will be available

between 9am and 12pm to assist

with any A Level Result queries.

Collection of GCSE Results will be

on the 24th August from 10am.

A gentle reminder that prior written

authorisation from the student is

required if somebody else is

collecting your results. If you would

prefer your statement of results to

be posted to you please ensure the

Exams Office are provided with

a stamped self addressed

envelope.

Next Week - Week 1

14 & 16 July World Challenge Trips depart

15 July Year 9 DofE Training Day

17 July Y8 PGL Trip departs

17 July Y12 Work Experience Week

19 July Music Tour departs

19/20 July Activity Days

21 July Last Day of Term - School Closes at 12.30pm

This Week’s News

Y11 Prom

This year the Enchanted Forest Year 11 Prom took place on Thursday 6th July. For the students, the months of planning, dress fittings, tans, shoe shopping and suit hiring finally came to an end in spectacular fashion. We had a record breaking number of students this year with over 176 in attendance. There was a tremendous amount of support from Ashlyns' staff and a special thank you to Ms Izamis and the Prom Committee who arranged everything from start to finish. Every student looked amazing, males and females, and I was very proud to see the wonderful young adults that our students have turned into. On arrival at the venue they were treated to a red carpet experience, and there was an amazing array of transportation from tractors to Ferrari's, and even a unicycle. The students were a credit to themselves and a great night was had by both staff and students.

Sports Leaders - White Water Rafting

Nine Year 10 Sports Leaders were chosen to go on a White Water Rafting Festival day

at the Lee Valley Rafting Centre, the home of the 2012 Olympics canoe and slalom

competitions. The students were chosen because of their outstanding commitment and

achievements towards the new Sports Leadership programme since they have been at

Ashlyns School. The students were given an overview of the course and how to raft,

before “setting sail” on the course. It was a huge success and lots of fun. Well done to

all those students who attended.

Music Lessons Notice to cancel music lessons at October half term must be received by the Finance Office by 12 noon, Thursday 20 July at the latest. This must be in writing, either by email to rmarzec@ashlyns.herts.sch.uk or in a letter - this can be posted but must be addressed to 'Miss Marzec - Finance Office' at the Ashlyns school address and received by 20 July. Applications for remission of music fees need to be made to Hertfordshire County

Council now. Anyone currently entitled to a 50% remission needs to contact HCC to

renew their application. Thank you.

Answer to Maths Question of the Week

We lose track of the ‘missing’ pound when we conceptualise the riddle because, in

reality, the customers have not paid £27 between them, the bill was actually £25, whilst

the extra £2 went to the waiter.

Therefore, of the £30 which changed hands, £25 has gone to the restaurant. This

leaves the £2 which the waiter nabbed and then the £3 in refunds split between the

three customers, which all adds up to £30.

It all makes much more sense if you do the maths the other way round:

£30=£1 +£1+£1+£2+£25

Next time you are overcharged for your dinner, it may be less of a head-scratching

hassle to just let the waiter keep the change.

Safeguarding - nitrous oxide - facts and the law There is an increasing concern nationally that young people are abusing nitrous oxide canisters , which can legitimately be bought for catering purposes. Inhaling the gas can be fatal due to the lack of oxygen which can result from inhalation. This risk is likely to be even greater if the gas is consumed in an enclosed space or if a substantial amount is rapidly used. Nitrous Oxide is classed as a Psychoactive Substance -meaning it is illegal to possess for supply or offer to supply - carrying a potential sentence of 12 months imprisonment. The website Talk to Frank has more information: http//www.talktofrank.com/drug/nitrous-oxide

Congratulations

Well done to the following music

students for their recent

achievements:

Piano

Rafael Precht, passed Grade 1

piano exam with Distinction

Classical Guitar Results

Emily Chrispin passed Grade 3

Jack Boylan passed Grade 3 with Merit

Ben Welshman passed Grade 4

Reece Welshman passed Grade 4

Ajay Pryor

passed grade 4

Douglas McAulay passed Grade 4

Amelie Collins passed

Grade 4 with Merit

Henry Spiers passed Grade 4 with Merit

Max Ansell passed Grade 8 with Merit

Good Luck

Good luck to Jess Millson and

Lara Gray, both Year

10 students, who head up to

Stratford-Upon-Avon this Sunday

to perform in "The Tempest".

Jess will be playing Prospero and

Lara will be playing Ariel.

.

Senior Citizens’ Tea - Wednesday 12 July

Ashlyns Students take to the Stage Some extremely talented Ashlyns’ Music and Drama students, both past and present, will be rocking out in TFC's Youth Production of Spring Awakening at The Court Theatre at Pendley Tring from 5-9 September. Based on Frank Wedekind's groundbreaking and controversial play studied at A-Level, Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's brilliant rock score and searingly emotional book take the story of sexual awakening, youth revolt, and self-discovery into a new century. It's 1891, and the grown-ups hold all the cards. Tickets are available now from https://courttheatre.co.uk/whats_on/moreinfo.php?event=TFC17005 This production contains language and scenes that some may find disturbing or

offensive and therefore the minimum recommended age for viewing is 16.

ASA News

Easyfundraising breaks records Our Easyfundraisers are still raising record

amounts, £300 in the last three months! Biggest donations recently were from ASOS,

My Nametag, House of Fraser, John Lewis and Marks & Spencer. Sixth Form parents,

please do consider booking train tickets and hotels through Easyfundraising for those

university open days. The link, as ever, is www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/Ashlyns

A plea from the English

Department to

Year 10’s and 11’s

Please could you check for any stray copies of Lord of the Flies, An Inspector Calls, A Christmas Carol and Macbeth and return them to the school office, if they have been borrowed from school.

Lost Property Lost Property will be on display in the KS4 dining room until Thursday 20 July. Parents are welcome to pop in after school to check for any missing items. Please sign in at Reception.

Eighty senior citizens joined us on Wednesday for a wonderful afternoon tea with entertainment from our talented music students. Everyone had a really enjoyable afternoon and there was much talk on the way home about how wonderful the event was and how amazing the food and entertainment were.

Huge thanks to the many people who made the afternoon possible: Mr Nicholson, and the wonderful catering team including Callum Ginn, Eliot Wortley-Taylor, Sam Collins, Amy Redding, Grace Horn and Emily Stelfox, plus all our fantastic ASA bakers; Mr Hutchinson and the music students who were outstanding as usual; the Sixth Form Executive, who set up the hall and welcomed the guests; our lovely Sports Leaders who served plentiful cups of tea throughout the afternoon and finally our volunteer drivers, who collected guests from their homes and transported them to and from the event. Thank you so much to everyone for making it a wonderful afternoon.

LRC News

Author Visit It has been a busy week for visitors in the LRC. On Tuesday award winning

author, Bali Rai, came to conduct a series of talks and creative writing sessions

to students ranging from Yr7 to Yr12. Bali has written a range of novels, often

with hard-hitting or uncomfortable themes, as well as stories for the younger

market with his Soccer Squad series and others. As he says his aim ‘has

always been to write the sort of books he and his mates (many of whom didn't

read) would have loved at school.’ He was very well received by students,

taking the time to chat and sign books for them.

Visit by Michael Duberry, ex-Premiership footballer

On Thursday Year 7 Skills Academy students were treated to a visit by ex-

premiership footballer Michael Duberry. Michael has had a football career

spanning 20 years playing for clubs such as Chelsea and Leeds Utd. During

his visit Michael gave an inspiring talk to the students about the 3 Ds of

success: dedication, determination and discipline. Lots of questions were asked

and Michael was kind enough to sign footballs which many of the students had

brought in.

Report below by Georgia Gibbs, 7C2

Today we met Michael Duberry in the LRC. He is a professional footballer who played for Chelsea, Leeds United, Stoke City and many more teams. He told us about the 3Ds: Determination, Discipline and Dedication. He also told some stories. They were very funny and exciting to listen to. The experience of meeting Michael was awesome and I really enjoyed it!

World Challenge Cambodia and Laos

19 students and 2 teams set off for a month long adventure leaving today and

on Sunday respectively. After two years of careful planning and saving up, all

are looking forward to an adventure of a lifetime. They will be spending a week

working in a remote community, a week trekking in the jungle sleeping in

hammocks and then have the opportunity to explore the unique history and

breath taking sights, whilst fully immerging themselves in the amazing culture.

It truly will be a summer to remember!

Sports Fixtures Letters sent out this week

Corrections to District Sports Day Results Year 7 Girls 100m Bonnie Brooks came 3rd for Ashlyns Year 9 High Jump Jasper Crosland, 2nd place for Ashlyns

Dates to watch out for:

Thursday 17 August - A Level Results Day

Thursday 24 August - GCSE Results Day

Friday 1 September - INSET Day - Students do not attend

Monday 4 September - School starts for students in Y7 and Y12 only

Tuesday 5 September - School starts for all other year groups

Music Tour Information Y8 PGL Information and

Behaviour Contract Maximising Success at

GCSE: Effective Learning and RevisionWorkshops for Year 11 Parents and Students (to current Y10)

Multi Academy Trust -

Feedback from Parent Q&A

Dacorum Family

Services Newsletter (attached)

Y9 DofE Bronze Training

Day Parenting Course

Information & booking form (attached)

Kit Amnesty

If your son / daughter has taken part in any athletics this term, and has a bib or piece of equipment hiding in their room, please ensure it is returned as

soon as possible.

Thank you!

Sports results

Y10 Boys Cricket v Cottesloe School Won by 57 runs

Y10 Boys Cricket v JFK School Cancelled due to rain