It is the last blog of this term and my Easter message is this:
As our Muslim brothers and sisters mark Ramadan, we are drawing to the end of the Christian season of Lent.
Both are times of fasting, prayer and giving to charity.
With the ending of Lent, we are celebrating Easter in our Academy church services and Easter assemblies during which we have reflected on the times we have washed our hands of something, just like Pontius Pilate did with Jesus.
We have thought about how much Jesus’ life, death and resurrection means and what new hope it can bring to our lives.
And as we see the signs of promise and new life all around us, we hope you have a happy, peaceful and blessed Easter.
After the holidays, we start the last term of the year, always the best and my favourite.
Year 11 will be taking their exams and leaving us after their five-year journey. But we will also be looking ahead, welcoming children starting in September at our Year 6 transitional events.
So the third term is a period of reflection, reward and recognition, with a whole series of events to look forward to.
To help plan, here is a list of key Academy events/dates in the summer term:
- Inset Day / EID – Friday 21st April
- Year 9 Options Evening – Thursday 27th April 4pm to 7pm
- Year 11 Valediction – Wednesday 3rd May (approx 6pm time tbc)
- Year 10 Prefect ceremony – Thursday 11th May (approx 5pm time tbc)
- CCF formation parade – Friday 12th May 1.30pm
- Year 10 Work Experience – 5.6.23 – 9.6.23
- Sports day at Quibell Park – Monday 19th June (reserve date 26th June)
- Year 11 Leavers’ Event at the Academy – Friday 23rd June – (time tbc)
- Year 10 North Lindsey College taster day – Wednesday 28th June
- Year 6 Induction days – Thursday 29th June and Friday 30th June
- Year 6 Induction Evening – Thursday 29th June (approx 5pm – time tbc)
- CCF Central Camp – 3.7.23 – 7.7.23
- God & The Big Bang Conference (10 students) at Southwell Cathedral – Tuesday 4th July
- North Lincolnshire Athletics Championships – Tuesday 4th July
- RAD 3 and Year 10 John Leggott College taster day – Wednesday 5th July
- Celebration Evenings at the Baths Hall – Wed 12th July (approx 6pm time tbc)
- Summer Fayre – Thursday 13th July – (approx 4.30pm time tbc)
- Year 7 camp at Sunflower Park – 17.7.23 – 20.7.23
- Academy closes for Summer – Friday 21st July
- GCSE Results day – Thursday 24th August – (approx 9am – time tbc)
Changes have been made to the building structure over the past 12 months. We have improved classrooms, added a new library and created alternative provision accommodation.
We have invested in internal doors with improved locks and, next term, a tannoy system will be installed, meaning messages can be relayed across the site quickly and effectively.
While the latest mass school shooting in America has happened in a different culture where guns are readily available, it does serve as a reminder about the importance of safety and security in all schools.
Parents / carers, students and staff can be reassured about the improvements we have made and full details about our procedures will be explained to the children.
We have also been looking at creating a robustness and greater efficiency around ordering food.
Far too many children forget or lose their swipe card and, inevitably, this creates queues.
We will be going out to contract with regards to food supplies in the coming weeks.
The Academy is moving to a biometrics system, with a child using their fingerprint to order food, rather than the card. We are working with a biometrics company and what it means for the children and how it will work will be explained.
This Friday after school, the cloakroom will be cleared of any remaining coats in readiness for the summer term.
Students are asked to take home any left in there before then please.
After Easter, with the rise in temperatures, we will be moving back to the system where jackets, hoodies, jumpers and coats are not to be worn inside school and in any area. This will include the central atrium and during lunch inside.
A reminder the Academy will be closed to students on Friday, 21st April, for a staff duty day. This is the last teacher training inset day of the academic year.
The first day back after holidays, Monday, 17th April, marks the start of two weeks of exams for Year 10.
Finally, you may have noted we have moved the Year 9 Options Evening because of a clash. It will now take place on Thursday, 27th April from 4pm.
It is an important event, helping students choose GCSEs to study in Years 10 and 11. I’d encourage as many parents/ carers to attend with their children as possible.
For those sitting exams next term, your hard work during the holidays will pay off. To everybody else, please enjoy the break.
