We had hoped to have seen the last of changes at late notice to the Academy environment because of COVID.
But, on Sunday, the new variant brought with it new Government guidelines, with face masks compulsory again in communal areas.
I would like to thank parents / carers for responding to the late notice, ensuring their children acted on the update.
They have just got on with it, and I am grateful to them too.
We all hope more stringent changes will not be necessary because face masks in the classroom earlier this year did make for a poor teaching and learning experience.
At the moment, we are able to teach as normal and have no plans, at this time, to curtail our busy calendar of events.
We are focused on getting through to the last day of term, which is Thursday, 16th December. Please note we will be finishing at 1.15pm.
Lunch will be available for students at break time on that day.
We are restoring the tradition of taking year groups to St Lawrence Church for a Christmas service.
The dates are:
Year 8 Thursday, 9th December 1.45 to 2.45pm
Year 10 Monday, 13th 1.45 to 2.45pm
Year 9 Tuesday, 14th 1.45 to 2.45pm
Year 7 Wednesday 15th 1.45 to 2.45pm.
Year 11 Thursday, 16th 12.15 to 1.15pm.
I will be sending out an end of term letter confirming these dates, making some points about uniform, and highlighting events next term. This should arrive with you next week.
Friday, 10th December, will be busy. It is our Christmas jumper day when we will be raising money for the Health Tree Foundation and their latest project at Scunthorpe General Hospital. For those who wish to wear one, contributions can be made via Parent Pay (to be confirmed and shared).
On the same day, it is our rewards trip to the cinema for Years 9, 10, and 11. All students meeting the standards expected of them will be invited and I expect it to be as successful as the recent one for Years 7 and 8.
Today (Wednesday), our Community Café will be up and running between 3.15 and 4.15pm. It is open to anybody. They will be served refreshments and entertained by the students.
And on Monday, the evening of ingredients will take place for Year 11. All have said they are coming with their parents / carer, which is fantastic. More than 300 will be present that night which is brilliant.
We had similar levels of engagement at the Year 8 Parents’ Evening a week ago.
At that event, I enjoyed the challenge that came from parents.
They have unwavering levels of aspiration for their children. They wanted to know how much progress their child was making and how they could support them to do even better.
The partnership between home and school is so important and those comments are music to the ears of the staff team and myself.
Please, do not hesitate to contact the school or your child’s teacher direct by email – they are listed here – and we will always respond to questions about progress.
It is what we are all about.
