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: 22 July 2016

No: 40

Congratulations to all the students who have been nominated this year.

Student of the Week will return in

September.

Congratulations to Dan Hopper who represented

Hertfordshire at the English Schools Athletics Championship at

Gateshead last weekend. Competing against the very top

athletes in the country he excelled himself finishing 3rd in the country in the long jump with a distance of

6.46m and earned himself a bronze medal. Well done Dan – we are all

proud of you!

Music Tour to Germany Summer 2017

The music tour for next summer is now completely full. If you would

like your child to be on the reserve list please email Mrs Wilson on twilson@ashlyns.herts.sch.uk, stating the student’s name and

which instrument they play. The trip is only open to the current Year

9 and above.

18 Aug AS/A Level Results Day from 9am for Y13 and 9.30am for Y12 25 Aug GCSE Results Day from 9am for Y11 and 10am for Y10

First week back after Summer Holidays - Week 1

5 September School Re-opens for Years 7 and 12 only 6 September School Re-opens for Years 8-11 and Year 13 8 September Y12 Information Evening - 7-8pm in the Chapel

This Week’s News

Ashlyns School – Official Opening of the Sports Hall and Pump Track

and it is testament to the tenacity and vision of the school community and its

supporters that such an outstanding complex has been established for the school

and the town”.

Mr Shapland commented: “I am delighted that we provide first class sporting

facilities, both for Ashlyns students and the wider community. I’d like to thank all

those who have worked tirelessly to deliver on this series of projects. This facility

highlights the strength and commitment of the Ashlyns community to continue to

deliver the very best for out students and the town.”

We were thrilled to mark the opening of

our multi-sport complex on Monday with a

celebratory evening extended to the

entire Berkhamsted community. Our

state of the art Sports Hall was not the

only pull to the crowds; displays on the

new Pump Track wowed guests who

were impressed to have such a unique

cycling facility on their doorstep, adjacent

to the already award winning BerkoAstro.

The 3G floodlit all-weather club officially

unveiled its “Pitch with a View” stand,

providing comfort for spectators whatever

the weather.

The sporting hub also encompasses a

new Dojo where keen junior judo

enthusiasts toughed their stuff under the

supervision of Rushjudo, who now have

a permanent base to offer recreational,

special needs and competitive training.

Cllr Tom Ritchie, Mayor of

Berkhamsted, performed the opening

ceremonies and reminded the crowds of

the achievement that the event

represented: “Ashlyns students have

deserved this Sports Hall for years,

After a heart-racing pro-display on the Pump Track

by Phil Atwill, world ranked downhill cyclist, as well

as elated Ashlyns cyclists, Tejesh Mistry of UK

Cycling commented that the legacy of the Olympics

was still beating strong at Ashlyns; “Great things

will be achieved here but the most important thing

is that everyone will have a lot of fun!”.

Heritage Open Days - Tours of Ashlyns School

As part of the heritage open days, former foundlings will be giving guided tours of

Ashlyns School on Sunday 11 September at 1.30pm and 3.30pm. If you would like to

find out more about the rich history of Ashlyns School, please book a place using the

following link:

https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/ashlyns-school

Learning Ambassadors

Kidscape Peer Mentoring

Training 49 trainee Year 10 prefects and

Year 7 ‘buddies’ enjoyed

intensive training from Kidscape,

a national anti-bullying charity, in

preparation for the launch of our

peer mentoring scheme in

September. Students explored

definitions, causes and

responses to bullying, as well as

how peer mentors can support

students who feel targeted; and

the Year 10s engaged in a range

of scenario-based role

plays. Everyone who

participated will receive a

certificate from Kidscape and

form part of next year’s

team. Well done!

Music Tuition lessons Notice to cancel music lessons at October half term must be

received by the Finance Office by Wednesday 27 July at the latest. This must be in writing,

either by email to twilson@ashlyns.herts.sch.uk or

in a letter - this can be posted but must be addressed to 'Mrs Wilson Finance Office' at the Ashlyns school address and

received by 27 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

5, 6, 8, and 12

And the question was:

I am thinking of four numbers. The sum of all the numbers is 31. One number is odd. The

range is seven. If you subtract the middle two numbers, it equals two. There are no

duplicate numbers.

What are the four numbers?

Year 7 History Project In History, Year 7 have recently completed a project to build their own model of a castle, as part of their work on Medieval England. The History Department have been astounded by the quality of the models pupils have made and the amount of time and effort that pupils have put in. We especially enjoyed trying the cake castles! Overall, it was impossible to judge which castle was the most impressive as there were so many! We would like to thank all pupils who took part and hope that next year we have the same standard and enthusiasm. Mr Church, Head of History

Drug Awareness Workshop for Parents/Carers

The deadline for parents to book place(s) on the Drugs Awareness Workshop has been extended to Friday 2 September. The workshop will take place on Tuesday 6 September from 6.00pm until 7.30pm in the main school hall and will include practical, up-to-date information about drugs and the associated risks of substance misuse. It will also give hints and tips on how to talk about this subject at home and where to go for additional information and support. To book place(s) at the workshop please email Fiona Thompson at fthompson@ashlyns.herts.sch.uk with your child's name and form and the number of places you wish to book.

Last Thursday a group of Learning Ambassadors visited Greenway School to teach an English lesson to Year 4. They had prepared their lessons themselves, including all resources and planning, and taught a descriptive writing lesson to two very enthusiastic and hard working Year 4 classes. It was a lovely experience for all: the primary school children enjoyed having older students in to work with them, and the Learning Ambassadors were very impressed by the work the classes produced. We are very proud of all of them.

Sixth Form Trip to Madrid

As part of our itinerary we visited the largest monastery in Spain, as well as the

medieval tri-religious city of Toledo, previously centre of the Catholic, Jewish and

Islamic cultures that co-existed in Spain in the middle ages. We also spent some time

in the city sampling the typical Spanish food, and doing a fair bit of shopping!

Throughout the trip, the students were encouraged to speak in Spanish with the local

people, including ordering food in restaurants, and the teachers were incredibly

impressed with the students’ efforts in this department.

Overall, a fun time was had by all and the students thoroughly enjoyed having the

opportunity to soak up all of the Madrid culture and put their linguistic skills to good

use.

We liked having some freedom to experience small areas of the city and take in the

local culture independently in small groups.

Kate Saunders, Issy Frankel and Holly Crosher – Year 12

On Monday 4 July, Miss Shaw and

Miss Milton met ten A Level Spanish

students at Luton Airport to begin a four

day study visit to the wonderful Spanish

capital city of Madrid. Everyone was

incredibly excited to do some

sightseeing and to learn about the

historical aspects of the city – as well

as to experience the local culture first

hand in 30 degree heat, no less!

ASA Round up

A huge thank you to all the parents who have supported the ASA this year by buying

a raffle ticket, coming to an event or bidding on the auction. Also a big thank you to

those of you who have volunteered your time helping to run the events and a huge

thank you to the ASA committee for making my second year as Chair so much fun,

including our now annual ASA committee social a couple of weeks ago!

All this support by parents, staff and local businesses and friends of the school has

raised over £22,000 this year and that has been spent as follows:

£10,000 towards the refurbishment of the main hall

£1,852 for metallophones and xylophones for the music department

£700 for screen printing equipment for the art department

£1,000 for the French and Spanish library of books, comics and DVDs

Plus we have started to raise funds for the refurbishment of the LRC.

Next year we would love to see new people join the committee and help us come up

with new fundraising ideas. I hope you all have a relaxing summer break and that

the sun shines wherever you are.

Anna French, Chair of the ASA

Spare Buttons Required

If anyone has any spare

buttons, our Textiles

Department would be very

grateful for these. Thank you.

Sports Fixtures Letters sent out this week

End of term letter from

Mr Shapland

New Year Y12 Sixth

Form Information

Evening

Dates to watch out for

11 September Heritage Open Day (see details on page 2 of this week’s bulletin) 14 September Y10 and Y12 Photographs

Sports results

Y7 Friendly Cricket v Cottesloe School Lost

Thank you to everyone who has represented or supported us

in a sporting event this year. We look forward to another

successful sporting calendar from September.

NHS Advice to Parents for minor injuries

Local NHS advises parents to be prepared for minor injuries and illnesses this

summer. As the summer holidays are approaching, a bit of planning can help you to

be prepared for summer fun and the inevitable knocks, scrapes, stings and grazes

that adventurous play brings. Most minor injuries can be treated at home with a first

aid kit, so now is a good time to check you have everything you need. Ask your local

pharmacy for advice if you’re unsure. Pharmacists can give you advice about the

types of low-cost, over the counter treatments that are right for your child. To find out

what a typical first aid kit should include, search the NHS Choices website:

www.nhs.uk. You can also find advice online about how to treat bites, stings, bumps,

bruises and common childhood health complaints in the NHS Childhood Illness

booklet, approved by Hertfordshire GPs at: www.enhertsccg.nhs.uk/childhood-

illnesses.

If you need further medical help or advice, but it’s not a 999 emergency, it’s now

really easy to find the help you need in England or Scotland, even if you’re away from

home. The NHS 111 free telephone service is staffed by local teams of fully trained

advisors, supported by experienced clinicians. They will ask questions to assess your

symptoms, then direct you to the local service that you need. That could include

making you an emergency doctor’s appointment, finding the nearest urgent care

centre, minor injuries unit, late-opening pharmacy, despatching an ambulance in an

emergency or sending you to A&E. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a

week across England and Scotland. Calls are free from mobiles and landlines. If

you’re visiting Wales, call 0845 46 47.