Headteacher Update

Dear parents and carers,

As ever I hope that families have had a safe and restful weekend. Many thanks for all the positive feedback about the first two Bewerley Park trips, this is much appreciated. Also a big well done to all our Year 13 students currently sitting their mock exams and to Year 11 who are busily revising in lessons, in Period 6 and at home. On Friday Year 9 students brought home a letter about the three Cultural Experiences Trips they will be enjoying this year as part of their Silver Arts Award qualification. I am pleased to confirm that these trips are free of charge as they represent a key part of their qualification and also our Year 9 focus of the AHS Journey – Understanding Ourselves and Others.

Inappropriate use of Social Media
As a result of the way our school community works together I am fortunate that I almost never need to write home highlighting something negative. Unfortunately, today is one of these times. I’m sure families will have seen in the national press a number of stories about the current inappropriate use of TikTok (I have included links below to some of these from the BBC). Unfortunately over the last week we have seen similar examples of very poor use of social media directed at members of our school community by a small number of our students. As such we are asking for your support in checking your child’s use of social media. It would be helpful if you could do this as soon as possible and then on a regular basis to ensure they are not posting anything that is unkind or inappropriate. It is really important that young people are mature enough to use social media appropriately. ‘Liking’ posts that are unkind is not appropriate, rather than this we should be working together to report these posts to school and to the social media companies. All students should immediately unfollow those people committing these offences. We are proud of how we live out our school values and our response to inappropriate social media is an excellent way to show this. As you would expect the school will take appropriate action for any misuse of social media. Next week is also Anti-bullying week and it would be wonderful to see as many students as possible wearing ‘odd socks’ on Monday to show that we stand together against bullying and unkindness. As always, thank you in advance for your support.

• BBC News – TikTok school videos ‘causing real distress’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-59223959
• BBC News – TikTok abuse ‘is pushing teachers over the edge’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-59264238
• BBC News – TikTok: Pupils could be excluded for filming videos at school https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-59219230

Covid Vaccinations
Covid vaccinations will take place this Wednesday in school. The vaccinations are being administered by the childhood immunisation service and not Archbishop Holgate’s, it is therefore essential that you complete the consent form sent out last week if you would like your child to be vaccinated. If you have not received the consent form please contact school on Monday morning and it can be resent. We know many students will have already received their vaccinations at external centreas, if this applies please do not complete the consent form.

Wellbeing
As ever please find attached the latest copy of the Wellbeing Newsletter

Head of Year Awards
Please find the HOY Awards for this week below…

Head of Year Updates
Year 7 – Miss Kincell, Miss Powell and Miss Cooper
This week we have been learning about all of the ways people’s lives were lit up last week. We learned about the history of Bonfire Night and especially Guy Fawkes’ legacy in York and the Festival of Diwali. We hope all those in our community celebrating Diwali had a wonderful celebration. In assembly we discussed some of the traditions of Diwali and encouraged students to take part in the sharing, giving to those in need but also sharing their time with those in need. We have also commemorated Remembrance Day and will be having a special guest into assembly, one of our Governors, Martin Rowley on Tuesday to speak about Remembrance Day and its significance.

Some key events to note:
Teachers for Tea:
Students will be receiving letters inviting them to meet their Year 6 teachers from Primary School and tell them all about their Year 7 Experience. Please know, all primary schools were invited, however of course not all teachers were available. We are sorry for any disappointment this causes, if there are any additions we will let the corresponding children know.

The Christmas Party:
We are hosting a Christmas Party for Year 7 students on Thursday 16 December. This will take place during the school day (period 5), there will be no cost and all Year 7 students are invited. It will be a brilliant way to celebrate their hard work and a fantastic start to secondary school.

As part of our whole school Homework Policy, to be eligible for this event students must not have missed 5 or more homework tasks. This is being counted from the start of Half Term Two (Monday 1 November). Students have been notified in advance of this and it will be made very clear to those who are at risk of losing their place. However, we are hoping that all children will be able to join us. Those who are not able to attend will spend the lesson in a classroom.

Well done to our students of the week this week:

ANn: Carys Briggs – excellent enthusiasm and determination shown at Bewerley Park! Well Done!
ASu: Kaiyrah Holdsworth for always being a polite, smiley member of form.
Bl: Poppy George – always being organised and meeting deadlines.
Cy: Kaydee Roberts – for participating in the half term bright sparks challenge.
Gr: Leila Kondi, Thank you Leila for always being kind, thoughtful and considerate.
Hf: Scarlett Harrison – for joining a new club. Well Done!
Hv: Marcus Dear – For gaining the most merits last half term
MLn: Olive Edwards – For always being compassionate and kind to every one.
MPe: Sam Button – For living the school values every day
Mr: Leon Broadhead – for being helpful in form. Well done!
SMf: Simeon Dean – For his maturity, resilience and give-it-a-go approach in everything we do.

Well done to our Head of Year Awards this week:

Well done to Poppy Cooper (7Hv) , Winning 3 gymnastic medals at the weekend.
Well done to Jemima Drant – for her participation in a climate change march and engagement with COP 26, well done!

Library Newsletter:

Don’t forget we have been asked to take part in the first ever York Book Awards. All you have to do is let us know what you are reading. Hopefully this week your form tutor will have handed you a post-it note for you to write on your favourite book, and/or what you are currently reading and enjoying. We have about two weeks left for me to collate all the information, as the short list will be announced in December. We then vote on our favourites from the shortlist after Christmas. You can also pop into the library and let Ms Murphy know anything you’d like to nominate.

A big thankyou to those who took part in our Tongue Twister Day. Congratulations to all of you who had a go at writing one. We will never forget what alliteration means now! I thought the most difficult one was Betty Botter. I didn’t get through it without making a mistake, but a few of you were word perfect. Well done!

Betty Botter
Betty Botter bought a bit of butter.
“But,” she said, “this bit of butter’s bitter,
But a bit of better butter mixed with this butter might just make my bit of bitter butter better.”
So, Betty bought a bit of better butter to make her bitter butter better.

We will keep a couple of the worksheets out just in case any more of you would like to have a go next week. The best we could come up with as a joint effort was,

On a more serious note, we have also taken part in Remembrance Day events. We have seen some beautiful drawings, colourings of poppies, remembrance word searches and again, thought about which books we can read to give us more understanding about what it was like for children during those troubled times.

Carrie’s War – Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden (Quiz 201734. Level 5.3. Green)
Carrie and her little brother Nick, are evacuated to live in Whales with cross old Mr Evans and his timid as a mouse sister. Their friend Albert is luckier, living with strange My Johnny and Hepzibah Green, who tell wonderful stories. They start to settle in when Carrie does the worst thing she ever did in her life… You can read the first chapter by clicking on the link below. The book is also available from the library in the Historical Fiction section. https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Carrie_s_War/_uJzDQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover

Carrie’s War is also a film. You can watch the first twelve minutes (two chapters) by clicking on the following link for YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdMsoKrzvFY

Little Manfred
Little Manfred by Michael Morpurgo (Quiz 220182. Level 4.4. Colour Purple) was written after the author visited the Imperial War Museum and saw a wooden dog carved by a German prisoner of war. The prisoner had been working on a British farm after the war ended. Read the book to find out how he got there. It is available from the library. You can read a short excerpt by clicking on the link https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=7eWfF5G5HB4C&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&hl=en&source=newbks_fb&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

Please get in touch with the Year 7 team if there is anything you would like to discuss further or you have any questions or concerns.

Year 8 – Mrs Avey, Mrs Mennell and Mr Handley
Year 8 have had another good week and we are very pleased with how they have settled into this half term.

This week it has been Remembrance Week and as a school we had a one-minute silence on Thursday 11th to mark our respect. We are pleased to see that many of our Year 8s have been wearing poppies. On Friday we were privileged to have Councillor Martin Rowley, one of our School Governors and army veteran, deliver our year group act of collective worship. This was about the history of the poppy, how it first came about in London in 1921 thanks to a French woman called Anna Guerin and how it has become an annual event. It is remarkable that this has now been happening for 100 years. We also learned about the Royal British Legion and how it achieved its Royal status. We would also like to give a special mention and thanks to one of our Year 8 students, Tom Cain, who played the Last Post as part of our Remembrance service in school.

There is a lot going on for Year 8 next week in school. On Monday 15th it is school photograph day. Students will be having form group photos as well as individual photos during Period 2. We’d like to remind all students that they must be in their full and proper uniform, but this is important at all times and not just on Monday. Please do contact a member of the Year 8 team if you need any help or support here. Although students are permitted to wear their PE hoodies in lessons during Wintertime, they will need to be in their red jumpers for their photos.

Next week in school we will also be engaging in Anti-Bullying week. This is a national focus and one we take very seriously here at Archbishop Holgate’s. As part of this, on Monday it is National Odd Socks Day to show support for anti-bullying. Although it is Photo Day, we are also encouraging students to wear odd socks to show their support for anti-bullying. We will also be focusing on the issue of bullying in our form time and whole year group acts of collective worship this week. This coming week also brings our second PHSCE form session. This is an important opportunity for students to spend time in their form groups to discuss important issues. This week’s session is about growing up and puberty.

We’d also like to remind students that about the spaces they have during their social times. At break and lunch times Year 8s are allowed to use our Year 7/8 Library next to the school’s spiritual garden. This is a quiet space where students can come to read. Miss Murphy, our amazing librarian, always provides activities linked to Wellbeing and Mindfulness such as colouring and word searches as well as themed competitions. This week links to Remembrance and the focus is on two books that can help to give students more of an understanding about what it was like for children living during the war. These books are Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden and Little Manfred by Michael Morpurgo. Links to a short excerpt of these books can be found following the links below for any student interested in reading them.

https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Carrie_s_War/_uJzDQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=fr

https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Carrie_s_War/_uJzDQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=fr

Finally, there are boxes in each Year 8 form for donations to our annual Christmas Fayre. The Christmas Fayre is out together each year and all the proceeds go towards the schools Unity Fund which is used to help and support those within our school community that are experiencing hardship or are in need of basic necessities or vital education resources. It is an excellent cause and any donations are very appreciated. Suggested items are things like sweets, chocolate, second-hand books and unwanted gifts.

Thank you for your continued support. If you have any issues regarding your child in Year 8, please do contact school reception to get in touch with Mrs Avey (Head of Year 8), Mr Handley (Assistant Head of Year 8) or Mrs Mennell (Year 8 Pastoral Support Worker).

Year 9 – Mr Arthur, Mr Deamer and Mrs Deacon
I hope that the students and families of those in Year 9 are reading this email in good health and high spirits. I really feel that each weekend really helps to provide some respite at the end of each busy week, and this is something we should really all take advantage of. I have certainly found myself savouring the little things that I used to take for granted – especially with everything that has happened in the past 18 months. We have a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks and months as we approach the festive season. I really hope that students in Year 9 continue to enjoy their time being back in school as well as their down time – we really want students to live into being the words of John 10:10; “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”.

As I have done in this bulletin previously, I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the issue of attendance. 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.

As a school, we fully understand that there are appointments that cannot be moved, or emergencies that mean a child may have to take some time off school. However, wherever possible, please can non-emergency appointments be made outside of school time, or ensure that students return to school in the afternoon if their appointment is in the morning (or vice versa). With regards to illness, the message that has been given to students is that if they are feeling unwell, the question they should be asking themselves is not “Do I want to come into school?” Of course, if you’re feeling unwell the answer will be no! However, what they should be asking is, “Can I be in school?” In this instance, the answer is almost always “Yes”. We do have the Intervention Room for students that are feeling unwell, but we would very much appreciate your support in ensure your child is in school as much as possible to give them the best chance of success in the future.

Further to this, punctuality is also a key contributor to the success of students . It is important that students are sat in their form rooms ready to start the day before 8:45. This means that students must ensure they arrive on school site well before then – form rooms will be open from 8:30 for them to ‘drift in’ on a morning, and there are wellbeing resources available for when they arrive. This will also ensure that any important messages that are relayed to students during morning Tutor Time are given to all of the students. Furthermore, it is also vitally important that students arrive to lessons on time. Studies have shown that re-capping on old content through low-stakes testing is crucial to consolidating their learning. The first few minutes of a lesson is where most recaps take place. It is therefore vitally important that students arrive to lessons promptly and ready to learn to ensure they maximise the input that is given to them by teachers across all subjects.

This week is Anti-bullying week – first of all, tomorrow (Monday 15th November) is ‘Odd Socks Day’, and we are encouraging students to wear odd socks tomorrow to show their support and highlight key issues raised by anti-bullying week. Over several months, a lot of work has been done at AHS to raise awareness of issues associated with bullying. We have, as a school, a key definition of bullying which is “The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power.” Further to this, we have done a lot of work highlighting the ‘roles’ that people play within bullying. In order to stop bullying, it is not just as simple of not being a ‘ringleader’ or an ‘assistant’, but also to to be a ‘reinforcer’ – someone who may not be actively participating in the bullying, but laughing or standing idly by whilst bullying happens. We are actively encouraging students that the minimum expectation should be that we stand-up to instances of bullying by reporting it and allowing us as a school to deal with the situation before it develops. Thinks links nicely into the focus of the Collective Worship for Year 9 – “Should we all be anti-bullying ambassadors?” To be an anti-bullying ambassador, we have to be a HERO: they need to Help others and get involved, Empathise with the victim, Respond to the action by reporting it, and be Open to communication and talk to the victims. We also discuss the best ‘Do’s’ and ‘Don’ts’ of supporting someone who is being bullied. For instance, we have to actively help and support people who are bullied, and avoid saying phrases like “Just stand up for yourself!” We also, as a school, will never promote the use of violence to resolve issues when it comes to bullying – it is not just as simple as saying “just fight back!” Further to this, we also try to discourage the message of “Just avoid them” – as this is another way of condoning what the bully is doing by allowing them to continue and not reporting it. Instead, we must promote a message that people don’t deserve to be treated this way, and it must be reported so we can work together to do something about it. Ultimately, as a school, we wish to promote kindness to one another – the focus of anti-bullying week this year is “One Kind Word”, and we very much want students to live by the mantra as a starting point to spreading love and compassion around the school.

If your child or someone your child knows is a victim of bullying in school, please encourage them to tell somebody in school. They can tell their form tutor, a teacher or other member of staff, their Head of Year, or if they wish to they can use the ‘Report it’ digital form that they can get on their phones using the QR codes around school. Please also feel free to use the email addresses in school at the bottom of this bulletin to get in touch with someone from the Year 9 Team.

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

Thank you for taking the time to read this parent bulletin. If you have any issues regarding your child in Year 9, then please do get in touch by emailing aarthur@ahs.pmat.academy (head of Year), mdeacon@ahs.pmat.academy (Assistant Head of Year) and/or rdeamer@ahs.pmat.academy (Pastoral Support Worker); or alternatively, you can call Main School Reception and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Thank you.

Year 10 – Mr Avery, Miss Johstone and Miss Montagu
It has been another very positive week for Yr 10. In ACW this week students were welcomed with a chocolate bar in recognition of their hard work so far this school year! Many teachers have been saying how students are working hard, excelling in their studies and making a great start to their GCSE courses.

ACW gave us the opportunity to celebrate many positive achievements: Attendance, HOY awards and the Arts Award. Last year, in Y9, all students took part in the Arts Award. This was aimed at giving them a chance to enjoy again the creative subjects some of them left behind in Y8. Many worked hard at this in spite of lockdown restrictions and some amazing pieces of work were created. In fact, our students were the first year group in the whole country to have a go at this award.

There were many benefits: experiencing a range of creative subjects, learning new skills and developing old ones, making new friends, learning to be resilient and finally pleasure and pride in the end result. It was well worth celebrating.

We look forward to another purposeful and productive week. Should you have any queries, please feel free to contact either Mr Avery, myself or Mrs Johnstone (Pastoral Support Worker) and we will be happy to arrange a phone call or a face to face meeting in school.

Year 11 – Miss Turvey, Miss Reeder and Miss Chambers
It has been a busy week for our Year 11s as they dedicate themselves to mock revision, and they continue to do us proud in their lessons. We are particularly impressed with all those who have been attending Period 6 sessions, and well done to all those who have completed Language speaking exams this week. It has also been fantastic to see some new names rising to the forefront in our individual student shout-outs! A huge well done in the following areas:

RE – Imogen Mackender, Ruby Rhodes, Aiden Sadd, Georgina Nowell, Kayleigh Gledhill, Caitlin Calvert, Rafa Holland, Kyle Noddings, Amelia Goodliffe, Chloe Rouse, Adam Hodgson, Oliver Lynch, Gideon Ogbemudia, Lilli-Ella Curran
Media – Jack Farrow, Ben Kinder, Joe Taylor, Finley Saunders, Brodi Garett-Craig, Damyi Kim, Kimberley Ellis
German – Brooke Liddell, Maisie Midgley, Ben Austin, Liv Wong, Ruby Gilbertson, Katie Haigh
Geography – Ava Fowler, Ethan Clifford
English – George Edwards, Louie Mantovani, Izzy Reed, Lauren Taylor, Tom Wilson, Chloe Finch
Sociology – Ben Hawkworth, Josh Nicholson, Kayden Plaxton, Kelsie Gledhill

Looking ahead, revision will continue in earnest until the mock exam period starts on November 29th. Following an assembly on Revision delivered by Miss McDermott (Deputy Head), students have been given a Revision skills booklet, and all students should also now have had the opportunity to create a revision timetable with support from their form tutors. On Monday, all students will also receive a revision folder to use in form time moving forward; this includes materials for them to make flashcards and mind maps, as well as their own highlighters and knowledge organisers for core subjects. Period 6 attendance over the next three weeks is also strongly encouraged: this is a fantastic opportunity for students to access taught revision sessions from their teachers who are choosing to volunteer their time to deliver these. Mr Daly has endorsed these by suggested that attending one guided Period 6 hour could be worth three hours where students try to revise alone. We are recommending that students try to attend three Period 6 sessions each week.

Over the next two weeks, students will be attending careers meetings to discuss their interests and subject choices for Sixth Form and colleges, which will give them another opportunity to seek counsel on what they would like to do post-Y11.

To offset the pressure placed upon students in this period, students have been reminded of some of the extra-curricular opportunities in place for Year 11 only: in addition to the Y11 Boy’s Football, Boy’s Rugby and Girl’s Netball squads, Mr Mansfield runs Y11 Fitness in the Fitness Suite every Thursday lunch (13.15-13.40), Mrs Reeder is running Y11 Girl’s fitness and boxing in the Fitness Suite on Thursday after school and Miss Stocks runs KS4 Dance in the gym on Thursday after school. All of this provision is in place to help students get some much-needed exercise and de-stress after working hard in their lessons.

Since coming back this half term, we have celebrated Parliament Week to broaden the way we define and think about politics and progress, with this week’s Assembly being on Rights and Responsibilities. This links into our half termly focus on the British Value of ‘Democracy’ which has been useful to remind our students that their journey towards their Next Steps isn’t just all about exam results, a holistic education on what is desirable as individuals and in society is incredibly important too. As part of their wider education, students will be off timetable Period 1 on Tuesday for their second PSHCE instalment. This half term’s will ask students to engage in a dialogue about what good personal hygiene, dental health, and skincare looks like. If you have any further questions about this, please do get in touch.

This week is Anti-Bullying Week, an important week in our School Calendar whereby we ask all students and staff to stand up in solidarity against Bullying. As a school, we pride ourselves on the firm and comprehensive approach we take towards tackling bullying, and the first step is educating our young people about what constitutes bullying and equipping them with the skills and rhetoric to navigate scenarios in which they are witness or party to it. This Monday, please remind your child to attend school wearing odd socks. Odd Socks Day is a national event organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance and the act of wearing odd socks is a way of making a statement that we don’t condone bullying, instead we appreciate what makes everyone unique and different.

Students have also been informed that Monday 15th November is School Photo Day where students will have photographs taken both individually or in their form groups which parents may choose to purchase. Our expectations for school uniform will be as they always are, however you may also wish to ensure that your child is in their full uniform, with all non-compliance jewellery removed. Students must be wearing their blue AHS school jumpers; hoodies will be taken off for the photographs.

Thank you for your continued support. If you have any issues regarding your child in Year 11, please do contact school reception to get in touch with Miss Turvey (Head of Year 11), Miss Chambers (Assistant Head of Year 11) or Mrs Reeder (Year 11 Pastoral Support Worker).

Post 16 – Mrs De Lashley, Mrs Walton, Miss Balmer and Miss Cox
Y11 1-2-1 Pathway Meetings – Individual post-16 pathway meetings commence this week and will run up until the mock assessment window. Students will be issued their appointment on Monday morning. We thoroughly enjoy meeting with Y11 each year and it provides the perfect opportunity to identify their early progression plans and support them in making appropriate choices for Post-16. As ever, if you have any questions about the above, please do not hesitate to get in touch fde.lashley@ahs.pmat.academy.

Y13 A Level Mock Exams – Y13 were exemplary in their conduct last week during A Level mock week. Results will be issued on Monday 14th December followed by Parents Evening on Wednesday 16th December.

Y13 BTEC Mock Week – Our vocational students will have in-class assessments this week in preparation for the external assessments in January. Results will be issued promptly to inform intervention plans. Concerns will be raised with home if/when required.

New Student Leaders – We have 27 new student leaders that are yet to be adorned with their new green lanyards. This will take place this week with our current School Captains to initiate planning talks for the coming year. Those the wish to apply to be School Captain will be invited to apply this week.

Safeguarding – Please encourage your son/daughter to leave the house with their school lanyard. These are an important safeguarding measure to make them identifiable to the rest of school as a member of our school. Some students are forgetful in wearing them and it causes difficulty in keeping everyone safe.

Attendance – Please be reminded that a parent/guardian must call before the start of the school day to inform us of an absence. We understand that sometimes absence is unavoidable but in the most part we expect a full commitment to school and therefore a minimum of 96% attendance.

Collective Worship
This week our Form Tutor Collective Worship asks the question ‘Who do you want to be?’. It considers the virtues that we cultivate and display. We will ask what we’d like people to think about when they think of us and what virtues we would like to be known for? Our daily quotes are all about virtue as well.

Monday – “The greatest virtues are those which are most useful to other persons.” – Aristotle, Greek philosopher and scientist born in 367 BC
Tuesday – “If you plan to build a tall house of virtues, you must first lay deep foundations of humility.” – St Augustine, early Christian theologian and philosopher born 354 AD
Wednesday – “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” – Marcus Cicero; Roman philosopher, politician, lawyer. Born 106 BC
Thursday – “Courage is the ladder on which all the other virtues mount.” – Clare Boothe Luce,;20th C American author, politician, U.S. Ambassador
Friday – “Recommend to your children virtue; that alone can make them happy, not gold.” – Ludwig von Beethoven, German composer and pianist. Born 1770 Died 1827

The Wellbeing Newsletter Issue 32