January Dear Parents & Carers

Transcription

1 January 2015 Dear Parents & Carers The New Year brings a new energy to our school. The long autumn term often leaves students, staff and parents exhausted and longing for the two weeks of the Christmas holiday, but January, whatever the weather, always seems to bring a fresh perspective. Many of us will have made New Year s resolutions and some of us will still be keeping to them. Here at Park High students in all year groups are working hard, getting ready for some big next steps. In particular, Year 11, 12 and 13 students are all within the last 60 teaching days before their public examinations so their focus is very much on preparing to be the best possible versions of themselves in examinations that begin early in May and continue until late June. And this year, for the first time, both Year 8 and Year 9 students will be making choices regarding the subjects they intend to study for BTEC and GCSE. It has long been the case that Year 9 students make these choices, but for the school year beginning September 2015, for the first time, we are enabling our current Year 8 students to also make those choices so that Year 9 becomes their GCSE preparation year. This is an exciting time for us and there are many opportunities for parents and students to ensure that they are making well-informed choices about the future. Information on school closure in the event of snow Whilst it is not anticipated that the school will close in the event of a small amount of snow, there are very occasional circumstances in severe weather events where we have to do so. I thought it would be useful to remind you of the many ways we have of contacting parents with messages regarding whether or not the school is open during periods of adverse weather: The school website, front page, will have a red banner which is updated daily when conditions are bad; For urgent messages we can send SMS messages via Parentmail2; The School Opencheck website is also updated early morning during periods of inclement weather ( Vacancies for Instrumental Lessons from January Would your child be interested in learning a musical instrument or singing? Did you know learning a musical instrument can earn you UCAS points for university? We currently have vacancies for individual music lessons, starting in January, in the following instruments: flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, French horn, violin, viola, cello, double bass, vocals (male/female), dhol and tabla. Further information is available from Mrs Harris, Head of Music, and she is available for your child to speak to in P1 at lunchtime.

2 We believe that every student, who wishes to do so, should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument or have singing lessons. We subsidise all our instrumental/vocal lessons to make them more affordable for families; further subsidies are available for siblings and GCSE music students. If you receive Free School Meals we will support you and subsidise the whole fee. We guarantee a minimum of 30 lessons a year, approximately 10 per term. Lessons are provided on an individual basis and last 20 minutes. Lessons are on a weekly rotation to avoid students missing the same lessons each week. Where possible, music lessons are scheduled outside of subject lessons for GCSE and A level students. If you would like your child to take instrumental lessons you will need to purchase or hire your own instrument. There are many websites and shops locally where these can be sourced. The government and education providers promote the learning of musical instruments to help a child s development. Staff Development Day Wednesday 28 January Just to remind you that our next Staff Development Day is on Wednesday 28 January. Students will not be in school on this day. Student Review Day 2 Tuesday 10 February On our first Student Review Day in November, at our meetings with students and parents, we set targets and objectives for the year ahead. Our second Student Review Day is Tuesday 10 February 2015 when we will have a mid-year review of progress towards those targets. As on the previous Review Day, normal school lessons are suspended and students only come into school for their booked appointments with their tutors. If your child is on the SEN Register you are entitled to come and talk to your child s tutor and to have access to the Learning Development Department. If you wish to see someone in the Learning Development Department please let us know before the day. Important Dates Attached to this letter is a list of important dates for the Spring and Summer Terms. With best wishes for a Happy New Year. Yours sincerely Mr Emlyn Lumley Headteacher

3 PARK HIGH SCHOOL DATES FOR 2015 SPRING TERM 2015 SUMMER TERM 2015 First day of term Jan 5 First day of term Apr 13 Y13 Parent Teacher Consultations Jan 15 Young Musician of Park Evening Apr 15 Y11 Parent Teacher Consultations Jan 21 Teaching group A Progress checks for Y7-11 available online April 21 Staff Development Day Jan 28 Y11 Graduation Evening Apr 29 Y11 Parent Teacher Consultations Jan 29 Teaching group B May Day holiday May 4 Year 9 Preferences Evening Feb 9 Summer GCE/GCSE May 11 examinations begin Student Review Day 2 Feb 10 Y7 Parent Teacher Consultations May 13 Teaching Group a - e Progress checks for Y12 & 13 available online Feb 10 Y7 Parent Teacher Consultations May 21 Teaching Group f i & Governors meeting Governors meeting Feb 12 Half term break May Progress checks for Y7-11 Feb 17 Year 13 study leave begins June 1 available online Half term break Feb Progress checks for Y7-11 June 9 available online Year 9 Parent Consultations Feb 25 Teaching group a - e Year 10 Geography Swanage Field Trip June Staff Development Day Mar 2 Book Week June 15 Year 9 Parent Consultations Mar 5 Teaching group f - j Year 10 Celebration Assembly June 17 Year 8 Preferences Evening Mar 11 Year 10 exams June 22 June 29 Year 9 Preferences Deadline Mar 13 Year 12 Work Experience June 22 July 3 Non-uniform day (Red theme) Mar 13 for Red Nose Day Year 8 Parent Teacher Consultations Mar 19 Teaching group a - e Year 7 9 Activity Days June 23 June 26 New students day & July 1 New parents evening for new Year 7 BBC School Report Mar 19 Student Review Day 3 for Years 7 10 July 2 Progress checks for Y12 & 13 available online Mar 24 Year 8 Parent Teacher Consultations Mar 24 Teaching group f - i & Governors meeting Year 9 Celebration Assembly July 3 Year 10 Work Experience July 6 17 Last day of term Mar 27 Year 8 Celebration Assembly July 7 Full Governors Meeting July 9 Year 7 Celebration Assembly July 10 Last day of term for students July 17 AS & A2 results day Aug 13 GCSE results day Aug 20

4

5