News Archive
Head Boy and Head Girl 2011-12
It is hard to believe that it is that time of year again to say hello to our new Head Boy and Girl team for 2011-12. Before that, the Thomas Deacon Academy would like to thank the present team for all their hard work this year and wish them all the best for the future. Katie Elkins, James Colvin, Alix Gunn and Lucy Evans have set the bar high for the new team and have been a pleasure to have leading the student body at the Thomas Deacon Academy.
The new team for 2011-12 are:
Head Boy: Mikhail Devitt
Head Girl: Ratizdo Mundora
Deputy Head Boy: Matthew Porter
Deputy Head Girl: Francine Anderson
We wish them all the best for the year ahead and have no doubt that they will make an impact during their term of office.
Able, Gifted and Talented Courses at Villiers Park
Two of our current Year 12 students, Unnati Shah and Mikhail Devitt, have successfully gained places on the AGT courses for A Level students at Villiers Park, near Cambridge. All courses are residential and last for five days. Unnati is taking part in a course on Creative Writing whilst Mikhail is going to delve into the Economics of China. Both students will, no doubt, have a fantastic time and we look forward to a report on their experiences in the near future.
AS and A2 Drama Performances
'The Man Who' by Peter Brook, was performed by the Year 12 Drama and Theatre Studies students. The play explores the subject of mental health, examining a range of psychological disorders. the impact these can have on the individual and the treatment for each. The students' performance highlighted some of the misconceptions surrounding this delicate subject; emphasising the fine line between the 'sane' and 'insane'. Through a series of interviews the students played numerous characters, switching back and forth from patient to doctor; blurring the boundaries of who is treating who.
The Year 13 Drama and Theatre Studies students performed 'The Long Road' by Shelagh Stephenson. The play looks at how a fatal knife attack on a teenage boy has on the rest of his family and how they cope with the horrific loss. In the play the boy's mother comes face to face with the young girl who perpetrated the crime in a desperate bid to understand the reasons behind the murder. The thought provoking A2 performance was so hard hitting the students have been asked to do another three performances to various year groups at the Thomas Deacon Academy, highlighting the issues surrounding knife crime.
Year 13 Sponsored Bike Ride in Memory of Matt Ward
Eight Year 13 students are going to be biking 150 miles in three days to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation in memory of Matt Ward. Matt was a teacher at the Thomas Deacon Academy up to his untimely death in October 2010. He was a popular member of staff and students and staff have already been involved in a number of fundraising events to ensure that he is not forgotten.
Matt accompanied many of these students on Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and was fully involved in the scheme at the Thomas Deacon Academy. The students felt this was an appropriate way to remember Matt as well as doing something positive. They have set themselves a target of £500 to raise and we wish them the best with their challenge.
ADVANCE WARNING............
From September 2011 Miss White will be restarting the 6th form Book Club for staff and students. It will run on the 2nd Friday of each month at 2.45pm on a Friday and will last for approximately one hour. Coffee and cakes will be provided and the first meeting on 9th September 2011 is the "BEACH BOOK" - students and staff can bring along one or more books they have read over the summer to recommend and then THEY choose the book for next month.
Helping Hand from Sports Aid
Congratulations to Aidan Heron, one of our Yr 13 students, who received a grant cheque from Peterborough Sports Aid Foundation for £500 to help with travel expenses incurred as part of his rugby training.
Aidan is a keen rugby player having progressed through the mini and junior ranks of Peterborough Rugby Club to representing his county and he is now part of the Bedford Blues Development Squad.
Please see the link below for the Evening Telegraph Article recently published:
http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/helping_hand_from_sportsaid_1_2596444
Nuffield Summer Bursary
Congratulations to Year 12 student Kate Yeoman who has been awarded a Nuffield Bursary and will be spending four weeks in the summer at Guys and St Thomas Hospital London, researching molecular genetics and its impact on the diagnosis and management of many major blood conditions.
Nuffield Foundation Science Bursaries offer up to 1000 bursaries a year, for students to work alongside practising scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. Projects take place during the summer holidays, giving students an insight into the world of scientific research and development.
Kate initially contacted a haematologist at Guys and St Thomas who suggested applying for the bursary and put her in contact with a professor of genetics who was very keen to help Kate and will be her supervisor during the project.
Miss Renner, one of Kate’s Science teachers, has supported her with the application. Kate is hoping that this opportunity will really enhance her application to study Medicine at university next year.
More information on the Nuffield bursaries can be found at:
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/science-bursaries-schools-and-colleges