Headteacher Update

I hope families have had a safe and enjoyable weekend. As I write this update it’s 6pm on Sunday so I have no idea about the outcome of the football. By the time you receive this I hope we have positive news!

We are all aware that the Prime Minister has announced an end to the majority of restrictions from the 19th July, some of which apply to schools. After much consideration members of YSAB (York Schools and Academies Board) in partnership with Public Health York have decided that for the final week of term schools in York will not implement these changes, instead choosing to retain current arrangements such as face coverings in corridors. We think it prudent given the high case numbers across the city to retain this cautious approach. We can also reassure parents that from July 19th we won’t be isolating groups of students unless advised to do so by Public Health, the only students required to isolate will be those who test positive for Covid-19. We are also looking forward to the new school term in September when we will further ease the in school restrictions whilst retaining other key control measures.

Please find below the usual link to the Wellbeing Newsletter:

WB. 12th July Wellbeing Newsletter 21

Head of Year Awards

Head of Year updates (Miss Kincell is currently poorly so apologies for the lack of a Year 7 update)

Year 8 – Mr Arthur
I hope this bulletin finds you safe and well, and that you’re all as excited as I am for the first final of a major tournament that England have been involved in for 55 years! Wherever you’re watching it, I very much hope everyone enjoys the occasion surrounded by loved ones (which we can do now!), and that next week for the final bulletin item of the school year, I can write to you with football finally having ‘come home’!

In this week’s Act of Collective Worship, Year 8 had their SEND assembly where we focussed on Autism. Our scripture came from Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” At AHS, we want to create an inclusive school community where anyone can thrive through our support of one another. This inclusivity stems from staff and students understanding conditions like autism so that we might show compassion to every member of our school community, and that they may receive justice in the form of equal access to an enjoyable school experience. We began by looking at the definition of Autism from the National Autistic Society, and then considered the difficulties people on the autistic spectrum face every single day. Finally, we considered how someone can support a friend or someone they know with autism (e.g. giving people with autism space to process information, or warn a friend if a certain routine is about to change). Hopefully, conversations like this surrounding SEND will go some way to creating an inclusive experience for every student that attends Archbishop Holgate’s School, and live into being the words of John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”

Congratulations to the winners of the Head of Year Award this week – they are…

Mirela Lordache (8MLn) – For always being so positive, kind and compassionate to everyone within the school community. Well done!
Alisha Barker (8Di) – For her incredible work in English this term. Well done!
Well done – a £5 Amazon Gift Card will be on its way as soon as possible!

Thank You for taking the time to read this bulletin. If you have any issues regarding your child in Year 8, please contact me on aarthur.ahs.pmat.academy, or Mr Deamer (PSW For Year 8) on rdeamer@ahs.pmat.academy. Best wishes, Mr Arthur and Mr Deamer

Mr Avery and Year 9
It has been lovely to see Y9 nearly back to full capacity this week, and the students have once again worked very hard to create a positive end to the year. I explained to Year 9 this week that I feel they are ready to make the step up into year 10, and their recent work ethic and positive attitude gives me the confidence that they will make the transition successfully. Euro’s fever has once again gripped the year group, with many excited Year 9 students around school on Thursday morning. I know many of them will be looking forward to watching the final on Sunday night, and I hope you get to enjoy it together as a family. I keep trying to explain to Year 9 that some of us have been waiting 40 years (and more!) for this, but there doesn’t seem to be much compassion for me!

In the Act of collective worship this week, the focus was on the idea of ‘failure’ and how we perceive this word. I wanted to have Year 9 reflect on this, as it is so often the cause of anxiety and stress among the students in the year group. We talked about how this word is often perceived as negative, and how we need to realise that in many cases success is ‘part of the journey’ that we take toward achievement. To support this view, we looked at some key figures such as JK Rowling and Richard Branson, both of whom experienced their fair share of failure until they reached their goals. I hope this resonated with the students in our year group, as it’s important we continue to build their resilience and positivity as we approach a really important time in their education. 

As we approach the final weeks of summer, I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the issue of attendance, as we reflect on the past year.  Attendance at school is crucial to the success of students. Recent studies have shown that absence from school has a significant impact on the success of students, and can have a long-term impact through to their GCSEs. In one of these studies, it has shown that of those students that have 100% attendance, 79% of them achieve 5+ good GCSEs. At 95%, this figure falls to 69%. At 90%, this falls even further to 53%, and by 85% attendance, this figure for success becomes 36%. When considering that 5% attendance is around 7 days absence, it really is crucial that students are in school every single day. To put this into further context, if your child has lower than 95% attendance, this means that they are attending school less than the average child across the country. In the first few weeks of Year 10 I will be making this a big part of our weekly assemblies, and I will be asking students to reflect on their attendance in Year 9.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. If there are any concerns or questions please do not hesitate to contact me on navery@ahs.pmat.academy.

Miss Turvey and Year 10
We are looking forward to welcoming all Y10 students back from their contact isolation at various stages over the next week, but please do remember to continue doing your lateral flow tests every Monday and Thursday and especially if you do have any symptoms.. Hopefully, having watched England beat Italy one nil with a Harry Kane goal in the final minute of extra time, the last ten days of Year 10 will be equally euphoric, energetic and focussed. As you can probably tell, this is being written before the match, but whether you watched it or not, school starts at 8.43am on Monday morning. Please be on time.

North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership will be in school during the final week of term to deliver Careers advice and encourage your young people to think about their future post GCSEs; be it apprenticeship. employment, college or sixth form. It doesn’t matter if your children have no idea what they want to do in the future, as they will be able to explore ideas and opportunities which were not afforded to you, as they did not exist. How many of you at your careers interview when you were at school asked how to become a social influencer? Or become a vlogger? We also have the final Sports Day on Thursday 22nd July, hopefully bathed in sunshine.

On Wednesday 14th the school kitchens will be providing a taster menu for Y10 students in the Y10 area, where they can sample what is normally on offer to Y11 students. So if your child does not normally eat a lunch in school then Wednesday would be a good day to start. As ever any problems or issues then please contact school: 01904 411341, 

Miss De Lashley and Post 16
Year 12 Enrichment Week wc 19^th July
Next week is our Enrichment in School. Y12 have a packed week full of progression support. We’re really looking forward to it.

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Thursday 22^nd July – Sports Day
Friday 23^rd July (finish at 12:30) – Wellbeing Workshops

Y12 Mock Results
Please be reminded that results will be sent home wc Monday 19^th July and discussed in your scheduled meeting in August. If you are unable to make your appointment and have not yet rescheduled, please do so. swalton@ahs.pmat.academy

Y10 Introduction to Sixth Form
If you have not yet watched the presentation on Post-16 options at AHS, please do so. You should have received an email last week containing a link to the presentation and an information leaflet. Please get in touch should you have any questions fde.lashley@ahs.pmat.academy 

Collective Worship
This is our last session in which we will watch some reflection videos from the Christian charities Thy Kingdom Come and the Archbishop of York’s Youth Trust. Each week we have watched two short videos from young influential Christians across different spheres of influence. This week we hear from Andi & Izzi, who work for Christian charity YoYo, speak about Adoration and young Christian, Phil, speak about Celebrating.

“You can’t celebrate gifts without celebrating the giver of all gifts, so I want to celebrate Jesus.” – Lecrae – American Christian hip hop recording artist

“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” – Audre Lorde – American writer, feminist and civil rights activist.

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” –  Oprah Winfrey – American talk show host, television producer, actress, author and philanthropist

“Celebrate what you’ve accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed.” – Mia Hamm – American professional soccer player, two-time Olympic gold medalist

“Remember to celebrate milestones as you prepare for the road ahead.” – Nelson Mandela – first democratically elected President of South Africa