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- NEWSLETTER - 11 MARCH
NEWSLETTER - 11 MARCH
THIS WEEK
HIGHLIGHT(S)
This week saw yet another face to face Parents Evening with Year 9 families coming to School to discuss subject progress in preparation for deciding on GCSE options. It was wonderful, as always, to see parents back in School having conversations about their children.
We also had news of how well our students had done in the Scholars Cup held at Gordon's School last week. They have qualified for the next round, which goes international! Well done to all who took part in this challenging competition which involved debating, general knowledge, working in groups and a talent show!
NEWS ROUND-UP
Read our news stories this week by clicking the links below.
CLIFF ROE SPORTS VISITS SIXTH FORM
HOUSE NEWS
QUIZ NIGHT
Thank you to everyone who took part in the Charity Quiz which was kindly written and hosted by former teacher John Walker. As ever, it was a fantastic and fun filled evening with nearly £900 raised for the House Charities. After a two-year enforced break, it was great to have so many staff and parents back in the Main Hall socialising and tackling a range of questions, as well as battling for the 'on the spot prizes'! Well done to ‘How hard can it be’ who retain the highly coveted Winner's Trophy!
WORLD BOOK DAY LIBRARY QUIZ
The answers to the World Book Day Quiz that was hosted in The Library can be found here.
NOTICES
ATTENDANCE EMAILS/TEXT
On Monday, we will be reporting to you your child's attendance as a percentage over the two weeks 28 February to 11 March. This will now happen every two weeks. It is important that parents/carers understand the impact of the odd day off school over the school year. In last week's newsletter, we included a table that highlighted the effect this can have on learning.
We do appreciate that young people become ill, and circumstances mean they can't attend school occasionally. However, I hope you can understand that we must highlight this because it is so essential.
If you require any support regarding your child's attendance, please get in touch with their Head of Year.
Attendance in school is so important to individuals' development. Evidence shows that poor attendance leads to suppressed GCSE outcomes and longer-term impacts that can affect work patterns. So building positive attendance patterns is very important.
It is also vital that you inform us of any illness on the day of absence via our reporting systems. These must be received as soon as possible and at the very latest by 9.00 am on each day of absence.
We are reviewing our procedures around attendance and will keep you informed of these once they have been finalised.
CATERING
We have been advised that Cucina are facing unprecedented cost increases on some supplies. The price of some of their most popular products, such as chicken has increased by 25% and whilst much of this cost has been absorbed, an incremental approach to the current challenges is needed. As a result, there has been a targeted price increase on some items, this will be taken into account when the September price increase is discussed in the summer term. Tariff and menus are available on the Catering page of the school website.
The school will continue to work with Cucina to ensure they offer affordable meal deals and to ensure healthy options remain ringfenced.
SPRING MUSIC CONCERT
Next week, we once again will be holding the Charters School Spring Concert on Wednesday 16 March, starting at 7.00pm in the Main Hall. This concert has not happened for the past two years, so it has been a real delight seeing the students getting involved again with the preparations and also hearing their progress during rehearsals.
The concert will feature musicians and ensembles from across the school. Tickets are available on ParentPay and will also be available on the door. If you have not already bought one, please do come and support our performers who have worked so hard and shown real commitment over the past term, developing some challenging repertoire to create very high standard performances. We look forward to welcoming you to this event.
SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD
We will be continuing to deliver 20–30-minute free online sessions to support you during your child’s time with us at Charters. The presentations have been created based on parental feedback and cover a range of topics including the online world, revision at KS5 and the importance of attendance. Please see our list of sessions for next half term on the school website here. Book onto any session up to up to 48 hours before to receive a secure Zoom link.
COVID-19 WELCOMING CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL
Email negative test results to attendance@chartersschool.org.uk before a student comes back into school
A reminder that evidence of two negative tests taken 24 hours apart should be emailed to attendance@chartersschool.org.uk BEFORE a child who has had Covid-19 returns to school. Testing for negative results can start on Day 5, counting the day symptoms begin or the test was taken as Day 0.
A student who returns without prior evidence of the negative results will be asked to wait in the isolation room until we can confirm they are no longer testing positive for Covid-19.
Thank you for your continued support for the health of all our community as we move into the next phase of managing Covid-19.
COVER ADMINISTRATOR VACANCY
We are seeking a Cover Administrator who will be responsible for the management of pre-planned and daily cover for absent staff. To view this job and all other current vacancies, please visit the Vacancies page.
TSH BERKSHIRE MARCH NEWSLETTER
Please click here for the March issue of the Teaching School Hub Berkshire newsletter.
COMMUNITY
GIRLS' RUGBY AT WINDSOR RFC
Windsor RFC are holding an open training session on Sunday 13 March 10 am to 12 noon to promote Girls' Rugby at Windsor Rugby Club for females in the local community.
The session is free to attend and is a taster of their weekly training sessions, where they focus on rugby skills, fitness and fun.
Often friendships through rugby are friendships through life. The community aims to focus on the mental health and wellbeing of all of our young people. Sport is a great way of doing this.
All sessions are held at Windsor RFC, Home Park, Datchet Road, Windsor, Berks, SL4 6HX. No experience required - New players always warmly welcomed.
Please click here for their flyer.
THAMES VALLEY POLICE NOTICES
Thames Valley Police is raising awareness of exploitation and county lines. County Lines is a term used to describe organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more areas within the UK, using dedicated mobile phone ‘lines’. A process of grooming is used to entice a child into acts of criminality. This may include promises of something the child needs or wants, such as money, expensive clothes and shoes, power and status or a sense of belonging. Exploited young people do not always look or act vulnerable and we are asking that everyone looks closer for signs, some of which could be the following:
- Truancy
- Anxious, frightened, angry or displaying other behaviours that are out of character
- In possession of more than one phone
- Having unexplained money or belongings, or buying new things
- Taking drugs or abusing alcohol
- Unexplained injuries and refusing to talk about it
- Hanging around with older people
- Going missing from home, staying out late or travelling for unexplained reasons
- Spending more time on phone and being secretive about who they are calling or texting
If you spot any of these signs, speak to your child and let them know that help is available. If you are concerned about a child and think it’s an emergency please dial 999, otherwise please dial 101. If you would rather remain anonymous, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online or call 0800 555 111. More information can be found at childrenssociety.org.uk/lookcloser
NEW STREETSAFE REPORTING TOOL
Did you know you can now report areas where you feel unsafe to the Community Safety Partnership?
The new StreetSafe tool allows you to flag areas on a map where you feel unsafe and tell us why you feel unsafe there. This could be due to poor street lighting, behaviour you have experienced from a group or an individual, or something else.
You can make a report about somewhere in the Thames Valley, or somewhere you have visited in the UK. Reports are sent to the local police force for that area. All reports are anonymous and we review all of them with our local partners to identify areas that need improvement as they are causing concern to our local communities.
Make your report online at https://www.police.uk/streetsafe
SUNNINGHILL WHEELBARROW RACE
This annual charity event is organised by both the local community of Sunninghill and surrounding areas plus the Rotary Club of Ascot.
The main beneficiary of the event will once again be the Ascot District Day Centre which provides a vital service to the elderly in the area who need a little bit of extra help and social company to enjoy their lives.
It really is a great community fun day for everyone. Please click here for information and highlights of the various trophies to be won on the day.
PARENT CURRICULUM INFORMATION
Disclaimer: Any websites or apps mentioned in the Weekly Newsletter are not endorsed by the School and are used at your own discretion. Any views or opinions expressed within the website or app are not necessarily those of Charters School.
