Talk of counting down to Christmas is very premature – and the example being set by Year 11s in the hall every day is evidence.
While sitting exams brings its pressures, they are generating a feel good factor and adding to the positive learning environment.
Daily, our younger students are passing by the Atrium, where they see how to properly prepare for exams and what that looks like.
Each morning, over this two-week period, Year 11s are turning up for 8am, when we are providing breakfast and a hot drink.
Out come the revision notes and the highlighter pens, as informal sessions take place with staff before the exams start.
It is a brilliant atmosphere, in front of the other children arriving for lessons. They are seeing the investment of time and effort needed to be successful.
Year 11 have been fabulous and displayed a brilliant attitude to learning.
It is because of their impressive work ethic and how they have conducted themselves we have organised a trip to the Town’s Vue Cinema to see a film. It is a treat to Year 11 to say thank you.
We have done so because they deserve it; the morning will be a nice way to finish an exam period; and it’s great to work in partnership with our friends at The Vue.
A community partnership such as this benefits all parties.
The next significant date on the Year 11 calendar is Tuesday, 6th December, between 4pm and 6.30pm when the Academy hosts the annual Evening of Ingredients.
Each Year 11 receives their exam results in a sealed envelope and can meet, along with their parents / carers, every class teacher to discuss how they might do better in the summer.
Those discussions are in one half of the Academy. The other half is dedicated to what their next step might look like.
We are grateful to more than 25 organisations, partners and businesses who have already said they would be attending.
There will be careers advisers, colleges, advice teams and firms on hand to advise our Year 11s. It already looks like being a really successful event. Every Year 11 is urged to attend.
We have lots of events coming up and another I wanted to highlight was the dress down day for the BBC’s Children in Need Appeal on Friday, 18th November.
Contributions are being taken through Parent Pay to enable the children to participate. (No log on is required). We appreciate times are hard but please give what you can.
Students should dress sensibly please. It is not a fashion parade and that’s why we’ve called it dress down day.
A huge variety of activities will take place as we do our bit for the charity.
Elsewhere, we have a vacancy for a parent representative on our governing body. More information for anybody interested in standing is here.
Finally, we are working with North Lincolnshire Council, and in particular Wendy Holmes, to provide meals for families struggling at Christmas. We do understand the difficulties being faced.
Frozen chickens will be included and we will work alongside the authority to help in their distribution.
More details about our campaign will be released in due course but it is another reflection of how working together benefits all.
But it is not part of any countdown to Christmas. That can wait for a while yet!
