Today like many schools throughout the country we will be observing the National Day of Reflection, showing our support for all those who have been bereaved or impacted during the pandemic. It has been a challenging year and the focus on Reflecting, Supporting and being Hopeful are extremely important at this time.
Social distancing before and after school
We politely ask that all parents remind their children that they should be socially distancing before and after school. We must all continue to comply with the governments lockdown rules. From the 29th March, we are ‘allowed to meet outside, either with one other household or within the “rule of six”, including in private gardens’
This week we are highlighting to our students the importance of consideration and care for those around us, including our local community. We will highlight that to many people, groups of teenagers can be intimidating and that whilst we all have the right to enjoy ourselves, we should always think of others first and how our actions might affect them. Any student in school uniform who does not live the school values into being outside of school and does not pay due regard to our local community will be disciplined within school and the police contacted if appropriate. We are fully aware that the majority of our students are excellent ambassadors for their parents and the school and would ask that no-one accepts or condones inappropriate or inconsiderate behaviour.
Bike security
Please can parents/carers ensure if there child cycles to school, that they are using a suitable bike lock when at school. Unfortunately the school cannot accept liability for any loss or damage, but we do, do everything we can to keep them safe and secure. On Friday 19th March, we had 4 bikes stolen from the school site. This was a targeted theft where the thief’s climbing over the fences during the middle of lessons. We are currently working with the police to support them in their investigation.
Start and end of the school day
Please can parents/carers not drive onto to school between the following times:
– 8.25 to 9.00am
– 2.50 to 3.35pm
This is a highly effective system that we have had in place for some time and which allows for the safe entrance and exit of our students.
Testing
Many thanks for the ongoing support in terms of testing. As we approach the Easter holidays I would draw families attention to the key information below which I hope they find helpful:
- Additional test kits will be sent home this week
- Students should continue to test on Monday and Thursday morning over the Easter holidays
- Only children who have attended an assisted test centre can have test kits issued, if you would like to have your child tested in school please contact the office
- If your child tests positive contact school for further guidance
- It is really important that results of the test are reported online straight away, even if your child’s result is negative or void. It’s easy to do at www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result.
- Please could I remind parents that over the first week of the holidays you still need to inform school of a positive test result. This can be done in the same way as in other holidays.
Switch to Gmail
As part of our commitment to the best possible ICT provision we are integrating our digital platforms into a single system. Part of this integration is moving our email system to Google Workspace (a system pupils have been using during lockdown and for completing homework). From the Easter holidays students will find the mail icon available when signed into Google, using the same login details they use for Google Classroom.
This will help students with homework on Google classroom. Students will find the “mail” button is now enabled so they can contact teachers directly from their online classroom. If you child needs any support accessing Gmail please contact itsupport@archbishopholgates.org
For those who need to isolate
Those families in receipt of free school meals who have children isolating and need to take time off work to support them may be able to claim a £500 payment to support them. Details are below:
To apply:
https://www.york.gov.uk/selfisolate
Collective Worship
Throughout Lent we have explored our Pilgrim Pathways theme in Form Tutor Collective Worship. The final item needed on our pilgrimage is food and nourishment. In both tutor time and our daily quotes we are reflecting on the theme of serving others.
Tuesday – “The measure of a men’s greatness is not the number of servants he has, but the number of people he serves.” – John Hagee; American pastor
Wednesday – “You can always give without loving, but you can never love without giving.” – Amy Carmichael; Christian missionary in India, established orphanages
Thursday – “Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day.” – Sally Koch; American author
Friday – “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” – Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr; Civil rights campaigner