12 Days of Christmas
Not even the weather could stop our 12 days of Christmas celebrations. Everyone entered the festive spirit, throwing themselves into each of the daily challenges! A huge well done to all that have taken part.
The Winners:
- Best Decorated form rooms – 3D – Miss Deane and 8D Miss Doughty
- Best form photo – 6R – Mrs Riley and 8K – Mrs King
- Guess the sprouts in the jar – 121 – Axel (Year 7)
- Best Dressed Festive Teachers – PP&LS – Mrs Gibson UM – Miss Doughty and Admin/Maintenance Team – Mr Barr & Co
- Best Dressed Festive Pupils – Jack (Year 7), Isabelle (Year 8) and Aarham (Year 3)
- Christmas Bake Off Trophy was Zack (Year 5)
School Trips
We welcomed our new Year 7s with an exciting September residential trip to Willersley Castle. The children overcame their fears and forged lasting friendships. The GCSE Geographers went to the Lake District for their GCSE Fieldwork. Year 7 visited the Albert Dock Maritime Museum with Mr Jack. 90 pupils across our Middle and Upper School experienced London and all it had to offer with a Theatreland visit to see The Lion King in the West End. We enjoyed the magical world of Harry Potter, visits to the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum and an open-top bus tour of all the London sites ready for the festive season. There were trips to the cinema and skiing at the ChillFactore. At the same time, our younger pupils visited Underwater Street, The Chill Factore, had baking workshops, and a Christmas disco and still managed to rehearse and perform magnificent Nativity performances.
Next, we have trips planned to the theatre, Skipton Castle, and various museums and art galleries. The Italian ski trip is already in place.
Charity Ambassadors
Our Charity Ambassadors have dramatically increased from an initial eight pupils to almost 30 pupils working together from Year 5 to Year 11 to raise funds and promote charities throughout the school and the wider community. This term, they have raised over a thousand pounds with a very successful Macmillan Coffee morning. They were brilliant in organising the Poppy Appeal and ensuring that generously donated food parcels made it to the St Helens food bank.
Fundraising has also started to enable us to purchase food for families and supplies for the Kenyan school when we visit in October 2023.
If any pupil would like to take part in the trip to Kenya in October 2023, please get in touch with Ms Gregory at msgregory@towercollege.com for further information on what is involved (Years 7-10).
Scarlet Fever and A streptococcal
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reports that Scarlet Fever cases are higher than typically seen at this time of year. Scarlet fever is usually a mild illness that is easily treated with antibiotics. Still, in rare occasions and if left untreated, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause an illness called invasive Group A strep (iGAS). Parents are advised to seek medical help if they think their child is showing signs of Scarlet Fever or iGAS. Symptoms to look out for include:
- a rash with a sandpapery feel,
- sore throat,
- flushed cheeks,
- a swollen tongue,
- muscle ache,
- and high fever.
If you’re worried about your child’s health, always trust your judgement and contact a pharmacist or your GP or call 111 to seek medical advice. We can all reduce the risk of picking up or spreading infections by teaching our children to wash their hands properly with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, using a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes, and keeping away from others when feeling unwell. For further information about Scarlet Fever and invasive Group A Strep (iGAS), please visit:
2023 Here We Come …
New Year, New Menu! – Introducing Thomas Franks
We are excited to welcome our new catering company ‘Thomas Franks’ who have recently been visiting the school to prepare for the new menu launch in January. We look forward to meeting their team of nutritionists in school the first week back in January, running pupil workshops and educating us on how we are fuelling our bodies. This will include workshops from Bluebird to Year 11. There will be a focus on rainbow foods and hidden sugars and educating our older pupils on how food affects cognitive function.
Thomas Franks works with many of the most prestigious UK and European schools. They understand that food is at the heart of school life and are experts in ensuring an outstanding experience for the whole school community. Nourishing pupils is paramount to everything they do. They ensure that our pupils will always enjoy freshly prepared, tasty, and nutritious food, which supports their development and enriches their school experience.
The nutrition workshop will be part of a ‘’Wellness Week’’ for our Pre-Prep and Lower School Pupils, who will participate in Yoga sessions and workshops focusing on resilience, positivity, kindness, and emotional intelligence. A ParentMail with further information regarding Wellness Week will follow shortly.
Assessments – In January, the Year 6-10 assessments and the Year 11 Mock GCSE series will start. Ms Gregory will run a series of ‘Drop-in sessions’ to allow pupils to call in and discuss any concerns or anxieties.
Have a lovely Christmas and a happy New Year.
Ms Gregory