As we approach the last week of half term, I am very proud of how all students and staff have approached our return to school since September.

The students have responded to the changes in expectations with maturity and understanding. Wearing masks in corridors and keeping their distance from adults seems to have become the ‘new normal’ and our students have risen to the high expectations we have demanded.  I am privileged to be able to spend time walking around school and visiting lessons, always observing our students engaging and enjoying their learning.

My colleagues' positive attitude and willingness to go the extra mile has been outstanding.  This has been a very challenging half term with lots of new routines and expectations to embed; the changes to the school days mean there is very little respite for classroom-based staff and the requirement for provision for students who are self-isolating has significantly added to workload.  In addition, higher than normal levels of staff absence have meant many colleagues helping to ‘plug the gaps’ and support each other.  We are all looking forward to a well-deserved half term!

 

Changes to Uniform Expectations

Due to the guidance in response to COVID-19 we need to ensure that rooms are well ventilated. As a result, classroom doors will remain pinned back and windows opened. Therefore we are adjusting our uniform expectations in response, to ensure our students can keep warm in the autumn and winter months as the weather becomes colder.

Students are encouraged to wear a number of layers to school. We would suggest a thermal layer or vest, long sleeve t-shirts, school polo shirts and non-school jumpers. The top layer should always bear the school logo. This should be either a school jumper or a school hoodie.

Therefore we will be extending the wearing of school hoodies to all students in Years 7 to 11. Students are not to wear coats or hats in the school building, as is normal, for safeguarding reasons.

 

Remote Learning Guidance

Early next week, your child will be given an information sheet about remote learning that contains important information about students continuing their learning from home.  Please can you complete the reply slip and remind your child to return it to their form tutor.

 

Sixth Form Online Open Evening

All Year 11 students and their families are invited to sign up to attend our Online Open Evening which takes place this coming Thursday evening, from 6pm to 7.30pm. You can sign up at: www.silverdale-chorustrust.org/joinoursixthform

On this page we will also be publishing videos about each subject you can study in Sixth Form. This all replaces the usual face to face open evening we would hold at this time of year. The deadline for Sixth Form applications isn't until January and we will of course be running sessions in school for our Year 11 students, so they can find out more. However, the Online Open Evening is likely to be the only event that parents and carers can take part in and ask questions - so I urge you to register to attend the event.

 

Best wishes,

Sarah Sims
Head of Silverdale School