Principal's Letter, 11 December 2020

 Friday 18th December

To avoid confusion, I am pleased to confirm that the last day of term remains Friday 18th December. You may have seen talk of an INSET day in the media, which has been somewhat misreported from the published DfE guidelines. As we have an INSET day already on 4th January, the academy will be open for learning as usual on Friday 18th December. We look forward to a blended day of learning and rewards and an exciting end to a long term. Please ensure that your child attends.

School fundraiser

A huge thank you to all of you who have purchased raffle tickets for next week’s draw. So far we have raised £600 which will benefit the maths and science departments. We’d love to raise even more so this is a final reminder that tickets are available on ParentPay at £1 each or £5 for a full strip until 3pm on Monday. The draw will take place on Tuesday 15th December and I will announce the winners in next week’s letters. Here are some of the prizes:

Supporting the Community

Reverse Advent Calendar: A big thank you for your support and donations for the Trussell Trust. It will be delivered on Wednesday next week so Monday is the last day for donations.

Bognor Regis Foodbank: The foodbank has asked me to share information with parents and carers. They run a voucher system to enable people to access their food. The only criterion is that people cannot afford food. A foodbank voucher allows someone to go to one of their sessions on one occasion and get a food parcel with food for the family for about 3 days. It is emergency food provision. Families can come 6 times in 6 months for support. At Christmas they also give out Christmas food, puddings, mince pies, biscuits, chocolate etc. If possible they will also give out a lunch bag for those families with children. They are currently running an appointment system to stop the need to queue. For further information, please contact Mandy Riley, Coordinator, Bognor Regis Foodbank on 01243 866952 or www.bognorregis.foodbank.org.uk.

Save the Children: A final reminder of the Christmas jumper and mufty day next Friday to raise funds for Save the Children. If you have not already done so, please pay the recommended £1 on Parent Pay for your child to take part.

We are doing a lot to support the community, but this also includes you. If you need financial or food support, please contact your child’s Director of Learning for advice.

Transport Survey

We have received notification of a survey which is now live for parents, carers and older students who travel independently to complete. It takes less than 10 minutes to complete and will help them to identify local and county-wide issues on the transport network.

A wide range of views will assist them in implementing a Travel Demand Management scheme in West Sussex which, following a successful initial bid for Government funding, will seek to mitigate Covid-related problems and make improvements to benefit road users.

The Transport Coordination Manager advises that they will have the opportunity to bid for further Government funding, which can be spent on capital improvement projects. So the more views they receive the stronger their case for further funding will be. Click https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/UOQXMV/ to complete the survey which closes on Friday, 18 December and can be accessed here.

Compliments

Earlier this week I received a compliment about our students from a local member of the public. She shared with me that she was walking along a nearby path this morning and stood to one side to let three groups of students pass. She was absolutely delighted when each group thanked her for letting them through and she wanted to share what an absolute credit to the academy these polite and smart students were. Your children are great ambassadors for Six Villages and I feel very proud to be the Principal of such courteous young people who have promising futures ahead of them.

I have also received a postcard to staff this week letting us know how much our ‘tenacity, dedication, flexibility and commitment is recognised and appreciated. School is the safest place for our children, well done for making this possible.’

Another Year 7 parent has sent a message this week thanking staff for making her son’s ‘first term at the academy a very happy and successful one. He joined… feeling unsure about what lay ahead for him at secondary school, feeling nervous and anxious. These feelings were soon overcome and he settled easily into the new routines and faced new challenges with resilience. [He] has grown in confidence, his self-belief and attitude to learning has been transformed…thanks to all staff for their continued hard work and making [his] start a positive and happy one’

We have gratefully received many more positive emails and cards this term from parents and carers and I would like to thank you for showing your appreciation of staff and for recognising their hard work. Your words of kindness and thanks mean a lot to all of us.

Reminders of Key Protective Measures

Whilst we are pleased that the overwhelming majority of students comply with all safety measures, all of the time, we would be grateful if you could remind your child of the following requirements.

• Wearing of face coverings is mandatory on school and public transport for the entirety of the journey. Whilst we carefully monitor compliance at the school gates, we rely on students adhering to these requirements whilst in transit. We will issue transport bans for any student found to be repeatedly and deliberately breaking these rules.
• Face coverings also must be worn in all communal indoor areas of the academy and whilst moving around the premises. We continue to staff the entrance gates to ensure every individual who attends has a face covering in their possession (or an exemption card). We do of course remind students who occasionally forget, to put these on.
• Regular hand washing and sanitisation is vital in preventing transmission and in killing the virus. We do have sanitiser stations around the academy and we encourage students and staff to use these frequently.
• In order to facilitate contact tracing it is vital that students sit in their designated seat for each lesson – and do not move (even if spare seats are available). This is particularly important in cover lessons or when the usual teacher is not present.

Thank you in advance for discussing these points with your child and for emphasising the importance of compliance with these requirements. No-one has the power to stop the virus, but working together to minimise risks and reduce opportunities for transmission has so far this term been very successful and it is my hope that this continues.

New Covid reporting email address – [email protected]

Please note that there is now a dedicated email address for reporting Covid symptoms, self-isolation and/or Covid test taking and subsequent results. Whilst we have had a very successful term, I am required to continue monitoring any symptoms that may arise among our stakeholders during the Christmas break. Having reflected on how best to do this, I have decided to make contact relating to Covid easier, so rather than contacting Mrs Renshaw on the general absence reporting email, please email [email protected]. This is with effect from Monday 14th December.

Mr P Slaughter, Principal