Latest News

The after-school service to Chesham is being reinstated Arriva Letter

We have now received a letter form Buckinghamshire County Council,  Passenger Transport Office who have informed us that the revised timetable for service 62 (formerly service 353) WILL include the 0745 departure from Amersham to Berkhamsted.  This journey will operate to a slightly revised route in the Amersham area but will at least provide a service for the students attending schools in Berkhamsted. 

Further information of the revised service is availabe on Traveline at www.traveline.info or from Arriva's customer services at customerservice@arriva-shires.com.

Ashlyns Music department is happy to confirm the second in our season of concerts entitled 'Chill'. There will be one every term in the week before half term. The concerts will be short and informal and the  music can be in any style as long as it is chilled out and relaxing.

So if you are feeling stressed after your first half term and need to relax, come along to the Chapel on Tuesday February 9th at 7:30pm for Winter Chill. There will be no advance booking. Entry £2.50 on the door.

As we return to our more ‘normal’ cycle of winter weather, I’d like to thank you all for your support during the recent snowy weather - with all the challenges and disruption that this brought to our area! I’m sure we are all thankful that the adverse weather appears to be behind us and we can settle to a busy term of hard work.

This term is crucial for our students preparing for examinations in the summer. Parental support in ensuring your children stay focused and on schedule is much appreciated. It is essential that coursework is completed fully and on time to allow teachers to focus on exam preparation and skills. Recent trial exams have provided a taste of the ‘real thing’ and students should take note of identified key areas they need to work on and improve before the summer.

As well as our usual schoolwork, this is a busy term with many other events and activities for our community. This term sees the production of our school show ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet.’ Rehearsals are well under way and I’d like to thank all students and staff involved for all the extra hours they are putting in to provide us with ‘West-End’ entertainment.

On 21 March, the Arsenal Charity team comes to Ashlyns. We are looking for players (of all abilities!) to be sponsored to play against celebrities and ex Arsenal players to raise funds for the all weather pitch at Ashlyns. More details and forms are available from our website DoYouWantToPlay.pdf. Kick off for the main match is at 3 pm and entry will be free so please come and support us even if your football boots do not want to come out of the cupboard.

For those who prefer a more sedate form of entertainment, the ASA quiz on Saturday 30 January promises to be no less competitive. I look forward to seeing many of you there.

James Shapland

Read more Ashlyns Matters: January

As our visit to the Château de la Baudonnière is approaching, we would like to hold a parents information evening to discuss the details of the visit and outline expectations. 

Download letter about meeting

Medical information and consent form

Contract of good behaviour form

Itinerary

The Hertfordshire Schools' Battle of the Bands will be running again this year on the
27th February 2010.

This year the event will be run on a Saturday night so that parents, family and friends of performers may attend and cheer on their favourite school rock band.

The competition will begin at 7pm and will run through to 11pm when one band will emerge as the best school rock band in Hertfordshire!!

Download more information

Entry Form

As we approach the end of the longest term in the academic year, the return to school in September seems a distant memory.

As always in the life of the school community, when we look back, it is amazing how much has been packed into one term alongside everyday lessons.

Last Sunday our Christmas Carol concert in the chapel put us all in the festive mood and provided another opportunity for Ashlyns students to showcase their talents. There were some incredible individual performances as well as beautifully executed ensemble pieces. As ever, I would like to extend my thanks to the commitment, energy and hard work of the music department and Mr Hutchinson in particular.

Whilst, big events are a particular strength of Ashlyns, it is important to remember that staff and students are working hard every day in and out of lessons to ensure that students make good progress towards their academic goals and have the best chance of success in external examinations. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their commitment and wish them a well deserved break over the Christmas period.

I would also like to take this opportunity to echo the congratulations to Year 11 students for the way in which they conducted themselves with maturity and purpose during the trial exams. As we look towards the spring term, we wish Year 12 and 13 students the best of luck with their module exams early in the New Year.

Of course whilst we expect our students to work hard, we appreciate they need the opportunity to have fun too. The Sixth Form dinner dance with its Casino theme was a resounding success; the splendour of the heavily decorated main hall matched only by the outfits of the guests.

I was very proud that many students gave up their Saturday to support last weekend’s bag packing at Waitrose. This event helped to raise further funds towards the Astro project. I was delighted to hear so many positive comments from members of the public about how polite and helpful our students were and just how well they conducted themselves. A very big thank you and well done to all those involved.

This is also, sadly, the time to say goodbye to staff who are leaving us. We wish Miss Bridgeman the very best of luck as she leaves us to take up a new post in the Primary sector. I am however, pleased to report that Mr Preston from PE, will be taking over Miss Bridgeman’s tutor group and that Miss Fensome, who many of the students already know, will be taking over her teaching role. We also send our best wishes to Miss Ramirez as she goes on maternity leave.

May I remind you of the early finish on Friday 18 December at 1pm. We look forward to welcoming back the students in the New Year on 4 January at the usual start time. Finally, I would like to wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas holiday.

James Shapland

Read more Ashlyns Matters: December

Recent former pupil Lisa Harbron won first prize in the 16-20 category of the Berkhamsted Writers' competition last month. It's a personal story very much from the writer's own experience.

The ghost

You can spot her from a mile away. And it's not just the fact that she's razor thin, so thin that every limb looks fragile enough to snap in half with just a touch, it's her whole aura which depicts her from the crowd. There is no life between those large, dark eyes, as though the fire has been extinguished. Those eyes are permanently glazed over, allowing nothing or nobody in and nothing out, everything locked inside her; secrets and malevolent thoughts she is ashamed of. Every slight movement is painful to watch, draining every last morsel of strength, and with every step you wonder how long she will carry on for.

There is nothing anybody can do to get through to her. You want to shake her, shout at her until she listens, but it falls on empty ears. No matter what, she will continue to spent her time listlessly walking, going nowhere really, but covering everywhere with her steps. She seems locked inside the rhythm of her feet hitting the ground, her waning heart pounding in her chest, struggling to keep up.

That is what starvation does to you. It consumes your entire body, and moulds you into someone else. Someone else that you do not like or recognise but are completely powerless to. It makes you empty.

Nothing matters to her anymore, apart from seeing the digits on the scale diminish, as though this is what defines her life. She is just skin and bones. Taut skin pulled tight over hollow eye sockets, and sharp, jutting angles poking through papery skin.

She feels invisible. As though nobody notices her. As though nobody would really care. But she is oblivious to the stares of shock and concern that follow her everywhere she goes.

Every day you wonder if this is her last. And every day she grows that bit weaker, that bit nearer to self-destruction. Until one day, you stop seeing her. She has disappeared.   You hope that they have taken her away to care for her, to nourish her back to health. This is her escape, this is the pattern her life is falling into. In and out of hospital. That sad little ghost.

Lisa Harbron

The Christmas Carol Service will be held on Sunday 13 December at 3pm in the School Chapel.

Everyone is welcome for our traditional carol service with readings, congregational carols and also contemporary and traditional musical items. No tickets - just come along - our lovely chapel will be decorated and lit with candles. It will last no more than one hour and the ASA will be serving warm minced pies and mulled wine after the concert and the draw will take place for the Christmas raffle.

This edition of Ashlyns Matters is packed with so much news from our school community and shows that whatever the skills and talents of our students, Ashlyns has something on offer for everyone throughout the school year.

We are entering a busy examination period as Years 11, 12 and 13 prepare for trial and modular examinations. We wish all students luck as they prepare for these important exams and ask parents and carers to do all they can to ensure that students are well prepared so that they do their very best.

I am also pleased to note that our new prefects have settled into their roles at school and are doing an excellent job, as well as providing excellent role models for younger students.

As well as getting on with day-to-day school work our social diaries have been full with exciting events that have showcased the talents of our students. The Autumn Chill concert was a treat for all music fans – whatever your preferred style, whilst our ‘Model for Sustainability’ evening showed that our students have the knowledge and understanding to engage in debate with key leaders from the world of politics and industry.

We also noted the talents of some of our staff and parents as they displayed their own special moves and rhythm on our ‘Strictly Prancing’ evening. My role as a judge for the evening was made even more enjoyable by some memorable individual performances!

However, our focus has now turned to our student performers as the casting for our school show ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’ has been completed and the first rehearsals are already underway. Even at these early stages I can see that we are in for another fantastic show in the spring term. I look forward to updating you on this and all our other school news in the near future.

James Shapland

Read more Ashlyns Matters: November

Tuesday 24 November 4.30 - 7pm

All students in year 9 should make appointments in their study diaries with their teachers and attend on this evening with their parents or carers.

On Tuesday November 17th at 6.30pm Ashylns School will be hosting a summit on Global Sustainability. The event will be chaired by Professor Steven Bishop from UCL Department of Mathematics.

Invited 6th Formers from Ashlyns, Tring and Berkhamsted Schools will take part in a question time forum seeking ideas and information on global issues related to sustainability. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and debate key issues together with Dr Sarah Bell ( UCL Environment Institute) and Professor Brian Collins who has been Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department of Transport since 2006.

The event will run 6.30-8.30 in Ashlyns.

Two Ashlyns School sixth formers are undertaking the organization of a School Fashion Show, involving students from right across the school.  

It is going to be a great event to see. All the proceeds will be going straight towards the costs of a new Water Tank to support a town called Wamba, in Kenya - This charitable link is from the local Swan Youth worker Clare Muir.

The Fashion Show is £10 per ticket, which includes one raffle ticket, one drink and one seat at the event, please come and support the student body by watching this evening of entertainment.

The tickets are available from Ashlyns School front office, or you can send off for them via e-mail katekitsbury@hotmail.com.'

Download the Poster

We have a meeting arranged for Monday 30 November, starting at 7pm in the school hall. This meeting is for everybody involved in the trip.

At the meeting we will have a presentation from ‘Halsbury Travel’ our ski company, a short presentation from ‘Trailside Schools’ a ski clothing hire company and a question and answer session at the end.

Please feel free to e-mail any questions beforehand on tcrosland@ashlyns.herts.sch.uk if you feel as though your question may need some research for an appropriate response.

The pick up and drop off times have come through for the trip, they are as follows: -

• Pick up: Friday 12 February 2010 15.15
• Drop off: Saturday 20 February 2010 15.30

You should bring the Medical Form, your child’s passport and two passport sized photographs with you to the meeting.

We need an: eye-catching, instantly recognisable Mascot that is cheeky and fun that everyone will love it and take to their hearts. Enter the Mascot competition and have your design used to represent BerkoAstro in all its promotional material plus see your design
come to life.

Download an Entry form and get creating NOW.

Competition closes 30th November 2009

A selection of entries will appear on the Berkhamsted and Tring Gazette and BerkoAstro web-sites, as well as being displayed in Castles Estate Agents window in Berkhamsted High Street as part of our project display.

Guidelines and Useful Hints for Entrants:

When thinking of a design please consider the following factors:

• Keep it simple
• Make it fun
• It should be easily recognisable both close-up and from a distance
• It will be used both in colour or black and white

When designing your Mascot, remember how and where your design may be used:

• How?
• Printed on leaflets, letters, flyers and stickers etc.
• Made into a life size Mascot
• Animated for use on web-sites
• Where?                                                                                                                      
• Shop windows
• T-shirts - Stickers – Badges – promotional material etc
• As a life size Mascot
• Web-sites

You and your son / daughter are invited to a large careers fair - the Dacorum Careers Fair - that will take place locally at the South Hill Centre, Cemetery Hill, Central Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1JF, on Tuesday 24 November between 6.00pm and 8.30pm. 

We would very much urge you to attend with your son / daughter as it will provide an excellent opportunity to talk through their options for the future with employers and training providers.  It will also give you the chance to talk through their future ambitions and aspirations with them after the event.  

At the Dacorum Careers Fair there will be around 35 representatives from a wide variety of employers and training organisations, including Sir Robert McAlpine, Costco, Hertfordshire County Council, DSGI International, the University of Hertfordshire, local colleges and the armed forces.  During the event students and parents will also be able to attend talks on ‘Choosing a Course & Choosing a University’ and ‘Apprenticeships’. 

Presentations and 6.30pm and 7.15pm! 

Please put “Dacorum Careers Fair”, 6.00pm-8.30pm Tuesday 24 November, in your diary.

For more information e-mail Carolyn Ashby, our Careers Co-ordinator, at Carolyn.ashby@hcs.co.uk.

Download the Careers Fair flyer

It’s been another busy half-term at Ashlyns with a lot going on, from a range of activities marking the European Day of Languages to the development of a new prefect system.

The celebration of our students’ achievements at our annual prize giving event was a fantastic evening, showing just what a talented set of students and staff we have. Whilst we are sad about saying farewell to these students as they move on to University or the world of work, we were delighted to throw open our doors to the community for our Open Evening, to show everyone what a special place Ashlyns is and to meet our future Ashlyns’ students.

The work on the new boiler system has meant a certain degree of disruption for everyday routines and I’d like to thank all students and staff for their fantastic and sensible attitudes as we have all had to navigate around the work. However, the promise of a much warmer school site for the future in the cold winter months is keeping us all going!

I hope you enjoy reading the updates in this newsletter and as the half term approaches, I’d like to wish everyone a restful and safe half term holiday.

James Shapland

Read more Ashlyns Matters: October

Students start back after half term on Tuesday 3rd November.

Ashlyns Music department is happy to announce a new season of concerts entitled 'Chill'. there will be one every term in the week before half term. The concerts will be short and informal and the  music can be in any style as long as it is chilled out and relaxing.

So if you are feeling stressed after your first half term and need to relax, come along to the Chapel on Thursday October 22nd at 7:30pm for Autumn Chill. There will be no advance booking. Entry £2.50 on the door

Autumn Chill Poster

Gardening club is starting Thursday 8th October and will run every Thursday week 2.

Meet outside the Biology block at 3.30pm! Bring old clothes and suitable shoes. We are looking for diggers as well as pupils who may wish to help us design a web page for the club.

growingthefuture@ashlyns >

My thanks and congratulations to all those involved in our annual presentation evening on Thursday 17th September.  It was a wonderful evening and, as many parents said to me following the presentations, it provided a fantastic showcase of so much of what is good about Ashlyns.

The awards are made in recognition of outstanding effort, progress and achievement and the standards required to receive one, are very, very high. Our guest speaker, Mr George Seago, has also written to me to say how much he had enjoyed meeting so many people from our school community and what a credit the students are to our school.

A big well done!

James Shapland

A body has been found in the Chapel of Ashlyns School? Who is it? What has happened?

In the course of the morning students will have the opportunity to explore how a police investigation is carried out by taking part in a simulation of a murder case.

In groups of 4/5 students will take on the roles of Detective Inspector, Detective Sergeant or Scene of the Crime Officer and take part in briefings, questioning of suspects, learn about forensic information and criminal justice, as well as examining the crime scene in order to collar the murderer. At the end of the morning the suspects will re-enact what happened on that fateful day and the murderer will be revealed.

This interactive and exciting event builds on the skills they have been studying at KS3 and they will develop at GCSE. Not only does it encourage group work, discussion and questioning skills necessary for speaking and listening assessments it also helps students' reading skills and writing skills such as producing a written report.

The year 9 Murder Mystery Day, will take place on Tuesday 6th October 2009, during periods 1-4, for all year 9 students. They will attend period 5 as normal and should come to school with any equipment or resources required.  During the morning we will be taking photographs of the students for display purposes.  If you do not wish your child to be photographed please contact us in writing.

As a part of our new Crime scheme of work, the event will encourage and enable students to:

• identify questions to answer and problems to resolve
• plan and carry out research, appreciating the consequences of decisions
• analyse and evaluate information, judging its relevance and value
• support conclusions, using reasoned arguments and evidence
• collaborate with others to work towards common goals
• organise time and resources, prioritising actions

This will be the second year that the English Department has run this event, and we are very excited following the success and enjoyment of last year's year 9 students. We look forward to your son / daughter's involvement in the day, and hope that it will be a great success!

E Davis
English & Sociology Faculty

Dear parents and carers,

Please have a look through the list of roles below and see if any take your fancy.   Some of them can easily be fitted into a few hours here and there in your own time, some of them involve more time at certain times of the year.   Please do volunteer if you can – the ASA needs you.  We have a whole host of things to fund this year for the benefit of the students and the School.

If you are interested, just email us on this address  asa@ashlyns.herts.sch.uk with your name and tel no, or give your details to the School Office, and then one of us will contact you. 

Prize draw club administrator

The prize draw takes about 3 hours’ work per month. This includes the monthly draw itself when you draw the 3 prize winners and notify them – all the systems are set up for you on easy spreadsheets. You also need to keep the database of members up-to-date which includes adding new members and renewing membership when it is due. The prize draw has been going for years and raises a good sum of money specifically for the Sports Hall fund.  Parents and staff become members of the club (£28.00 to join each year), and are then entered into the draw each month to win a cash prize.  Organising publicity for the draw is also part of the role – up to you how best to promote it to parents via a variety of possible channels. Overall, this is a very productive fund raiser for the School and can be handled completely in your own time, as best suits you.

Supermarket voucher administrator

The supermarket voucher scheme takes about 5 hours’ work per month. All the systems are set up for you on easy spreadsheets.  Ashlyns is responsible for ordering the vouchers for all the schools in the town (each school sends you their orders once per month and you place the orders with the individual supermarkets). Parents gain the benefit of reduced shopping bills and schools benefit by the discounts – the vouchers can be collected from school by parents or taken home by the students.  Organising publicity for the voucher scheme is also part of the role – up to you how best to promote it to parents via a variety of possible channels – plus keeping the database of voucher users up-to-date and spreadsheets of annual orders. Overall, this is a good fundraiser for the ASA and can be handled completely in your own time, as best suits you. (NB you will need to sort and collate the vouchers which are left in the School Office for parents and pupils to collect during school hours)

Advertising co-ordinator for craft fair programme

We have a list of our c10  regular advertisers who are all local high street businesses – just email or phone them to confirm their ad size this year, any new copy, and payment.  A small job for September/October (as it goes to print early November), but the money raised is vital as it covers the printing cost and makes us a bit of profit.  You could share it with your son/daughter (if doing business studies/economics etc) so they see how it all works – just an idea!

Secretary to the ASA

We urgently seek someone to take our minutes and fill this official role on the Committee.  Are you good at taking accurate notes?  Can you come to our regular evening meetings?  Would you like to share this role with a friend? – two of us did that last year as an effective way to cover the meetings.  We need you to start at the AGM on October 7th.

Craft fair administrator

The craft fair is an annual event, taking place in mid November.  There is therefore a lot of activity around that time, and then throughout the year you will have the occasional phone call, email, or letter to deal with.  The main part of this role is being the official contact point with the stallholders, processing their booking forms and cheques and planning the layout of the stalls.  All the systems, spreadsheets, standard letters etc are set up.  It needs good attention to detail and could be shared by a couple of people.  This year the craft fair is on Sunday November 15th and it would be ideal if you could help out on the day in order to meet stallholders/see how to run the event.

And finally:

• Can you/your employer donate any nice raffle prizes for our Christmas raffle?
• or would your company like to advertise in our craft fair programme? 
• or does your employer match any fundraising you do? 

If yes to any of these, please let us know asap via our new email address asa@ashlyns.herts.sch.uk

And please come along to our short AGM on Wednesday 7th October.

Many thanks indeed
the ASA

Open Evening Thursday, 1 October, 7pm to 9pm.

Address by the Headteacher in the Chapel at 7pm and 8pm followed by guided tours of the school by current students.

All welcome

Read our prospectus >

There is a real buzz and sense of purpose around Ashlyns at the start of this academic year. Following the excitement of examination results, the term is well under way now and students and teachers have settled down for a year of hard work.

I am happy to report that the new Year 9 have settled in very well and are already playing a full and vibrant role in our school community...

Read more Ashlyns Matters: September

Here at Ashlyns, we are thrilled with our best ever GCSE results. We broke the 70% barrier for 5 A*-C grades for the first time, in addition to the 60% barrier for 5 A*-C including English and Maths, achieving 65%. The core subjects of English, Maths and Science, that all students are expected to take, all achieved in excess of 70% grade C and above with many of the option subjects surpassing these excellent results.

Outstanding individual achievements include Alexandra Clifton, Ashley Dukes, Bruce Guest, Eleanor Hattersley, Josie Male, Robert Patterson, James Redburn, Becky Scott and James Whitley all of who achieved ten or more A / A*.

At A level we held onto the excellent gains made last year with a 97% pass rate by entry overall and 43% awarded at A/B grade.

Six students achieved 3+ straight A grades, Helen Beaumont, Kelly Hamilton, Rebecca Harding, Beatrice Limbert, Harry Rugg-Easey and Charlotte Tubbritt.

• GCSE Results 2009
• A Level Results 2009

We have arranged with Waterstones, Marlowes Centre, Hemel Hempstead, to have all the forthcoming AS and A2 English Literature texts in stock for Year 12 and 13 to purchase.

Miss Davis' A2 (year 13) students also need to buy and bring in September 'Serjeant Musgrave's Dance' by John Arden - preferably the Methuen edition as it has the best notes

A2 English Literature, new Year 13 students should obtain:

• The Collected Poems of Wilfred Owen (not the non existent Selected Poems, which they had been advised to get)
• Any full edition of Mrs Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf.

Student start back on Thursday 3rd September.  The start times are as follows:

• 8.30AM: Year 9 - report to the Chapel
• 9.35AM: Years 10,11,12 & 13 - report straight to Registration

The School Office and switchboard will be closed on the 2nd September for INSET. If anyone has any queries about uniform, please contact the school on Tuesday 1st September before 11:00 AM.

Starting from September 2009, Ashlyns are planning to run a gardening project based around allotments and a garden area near to the biology block.

Wanted! Donations of anything from seeds, small fruit trees, tools or topsoil to help us get the project started. If you would like to make a small donation please send a cheque payable to Ashlyns School with a covering note giving your name so that we can add you to our thank you list! (Please specify that the donation is towards the allotment/garden)

growingthefuture@ashlyns >

The Year 9 Challenge Day was designed by Year 10 students in their Personal Development Lessons; each activity was based on the Personal, Learning & Thinking Skills Framework (PLTs).  Throughout the day Year 9 students participated in a series of challenges based on three very well know games; Monopoly, the Crystal Maze and ‘It’s a Knockout’.

View our Challenge Day Photo Gallery >

Enrolment is from 7pm - 8pm on Wednesday 9th September.

Adult Courses start week commencing 28/09/09 to week commencing 7/12/09. Evening classes are from 7pm - 9pm. The cost is £90 per course (£80 concessions).

Our Adult Classes page has more information and an application form.

We have a new page so you can keep up to date with the World Challenge teams' progress.

World Challenge 2009 >

One hundred students from Ashlyns School took part in a 24-hour bounce to raise money for the BerkoAstro appeal and raised more that £1000.

The bounce was organised by the PE department, Miss Crosland said:
"The students have really got behind the bounce to raise money for the new all weather pitch and we are so proud of them all. They showed real stamina and determination to keep going for 24 hours, especially during the graveyard period when tiredness started to take over about 5am."

View the article from the Gazette

The Year 11 Prom on Tuesday 30th June, started with a Champagne Reception for parents from 6.30pm - 7.30pm, followed by the prom itself from 7.30pm - 11.00pm.

View our Prom Photo Gallery of students arriving for the prom.

Link to official prom photos on Kim Thorn Photography

The annual summer concert is a showcase event. We encourage performers of all musical styles to participate. The only proviso is that the standard is good. We use a multi stage format to ensure a smooth transition between orchestra, choir, rock bands and solo items. The concert is very informal. The audience sit at tables and are encouraged to bring picnics.

In 2009 we presented a total of 46 items over 2 nights. We have a different line up for both nights so you can come on the Friday and Saturday and not see the same show twice!

View our Concert Photo Gallery >

The Berkhamsted Gazette has helped us to launch our major fundraising campaign within the local community as we need more funding in the form of donations, matched funding or equipment and that is not just for sport, we will need computers and all the fixtures and fittings that go with a state of the art changing pavilion with teaching facilities.

Ashlyns student Oli Meacher, belonging to Raiders Football Club, was honoured at the Herts FA County Awards with the Herts Under 18 Volunteer of the Year award.

Barry Goulding, Chair of Raiders said
"Oli has virtually single-handedly run the Under 18 team this season whilst obtaining his coaching qualification and bringing these skills to assist those youngsters who are just starting off on their footballing careers. Congratulations Oli."

View the 2009 art:

• Gallery: GCSE Art >
• Gallery: AS / A2 Art >

Carnegie Book Group
The LRC has a new Carnegie Book Group with 7 year 9 students and 3 members of staff. We are meeting once a week to discuss the books which have been nominated for the 2009 Carnegie Medal – for further information see our home page.

Times Books for Schools
We are still collecting the Times book tokens – please send them in to the LRC by the end of June.

Head of English Martin Roper spent half term week during February 2009 in Valencia, Spain, initiating a new Language College link with Cullera Institute, a secondary school with extensive additional vocational course provision for mature students, a short distance outside the city, on the Mediterranean coast.  Mr Roper is pictured with three of the Institute`s  English teaching staff, (from left) Elisa Carrillo and Angelines Ubeda (who will both accompany a party of 16 students on a one week visit to Berkhamsted, next month) and Maite Xavandeira (right).

Mr Roper took out supporting materials for Culler`s English curriculum, and discussed reciprocal teaching material which Cullera will be able to provide for Spanish GCSE and ASA2 courses at Ashlyns.  Next month`s full student visit here will initiate formal learning co operation and long term student communication in Spanish and English, with a teacher exchange and return study visit by Ashlyns' Spanish students being planned for the Autumn.

Last Wednesday more than one hundred students from ten schools across Dacorum arrived at Ashlyns School in Berkhamsted to take part in the annual Rotary Technology Tournament organized by the four Rotary Clubs of Dacorum.

This Tournament is a one-day event for teams of 4 students who undertake an unseen challenge against the clock to design, build and test a table-top engineering project using only components from a supplied kit of materials. Materials this year included sheets of card, rubber bands, wooden dowels, tissue paper, a reel of thread and a small plastic sphere! A design portfolio is submitted and judges observe progress throughout the day.

Under the watchful eyes of a judging team comprising young professional engineers and scientists from Ford Motor Company, RES and University College of London, the students were tasked to construct and demonstrate a rocket to launch a small “package of meterological instruments” vertically to a height of 3 metres and then deploy a parachute to bring it back safely to earth.

Jamie Scurlock, a Turbine Engineer with local wind power firm RES, said that he and fellow judges had really enjoyed talking to the contestants and were most impressed by their problem solving abilities. The highlight of the day was the testing session when each team demonstrated its own device in front of the other teams and the Mayors from Dacorum, Berkhamsted & Tring.

Bridgewater School were victors in the Basic Category; Cavendish School took the Intermediate award and Ashlyns School took the Advanced Award. Each member of the three winning teams received a book token for £25 which had been generously donated by RES of Kings Langley.

Rotarian David Brown, Tournament Organiser, thanked the staff of Ashlyns School for their help and support in staging the event and congratulated all the students who had taken part.