PARENTAL BULLETIN – 12 JANUARY 2024
MESSAGE FROM THE HEADTEACHER
Dear Parents/Carers,
Happy New Year!!!!
I hope all parents and carers had a wonderful break and you enjoyed your Christmas and New Year celebrations. Welcome to Spring term. This term is compressed into 5 weeks, but is very busy with traditional academic activity, such as examinations and classroom lessons, but also broadening horizons opportunities for all students, irrespective of their interests.
As I type the bulletin this week, the Spanish Flamenco dancing workshops are taking place. We have invited the flamenco artists into school for two years now to provide a culturally enriching experience for our students and this year we have extended the experience to a whole year group. We look forward to sharing the experience on social media. We have also had the Paris trip parents’ meeting this week, which helped to form a busy but exciting week for the MFL team.
As I mentioned above, this term is short and every lesson counts, so attendance this term really matters. Our 12 days of Christmas attendance challenge was very successful and supported our attendance in the last 12 days of term to be strong. However, now it is important that parents/carers support us to ensure that students are in school every day, unless absolutely necessary. Our attendance communications and posters will help you make informed judgements about whether to send your child into school if they’re unwell.
Please can I also remind parents/carers of the rules around immaculate uniform. Students may only wear a Trinity jumper, and this should be in addition to, and not replace, the compulsory item of the blazer. During the cold conditions students are more than welcome to wear a warm coat but no tracksuit tops or hoodies please.
Finally, this term, we are working on the theme of Respect within our behaviour curriculum and focus weeks. We are specifically reinforcing the concept that ‘manners cost nothing’ and we were hoping that parents/carers could support us by rehearsing at home the need for please and thank you during interactions with adults and each other. We would, as always, be very grateful for your support.
Please let us know if you need any support at any stage of this term. Our contact details are on the website and it is only with effective communication between parents/carers and school that we can hope to help your children fulfil their potential.
Have a good weekend and I look forward to writing to you next week. Best Regards,
Mr Ford Headteacher
WHAT CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW
What children and young people need to know about free speech vs hate speech. Please see attached.
SCHOOL CENTRED INITIAL TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMME
Applications are now open and we are currently interviewing for our School Centred Initial Teacher Training programme to start this September.
Are you in your final year of university or looking for a career change? Visit https://buff.ly/3Bqtqh9 and enter code 5F5 to view our subjects on offer and apply to train to teach with us. Primary
trainees based at Holyoakes Field First School and Secondary trainees at Trinity High School. Email teach@bmat.co.uk or follow us on social media Teach at BMAT for more information.
YOUTH BOARD VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
Please see the attached poster and screen saver.
STUDENT CAREERS INFORMATION
Year 11 Careers – students need to apply to colleges either as their main choice or as a back-up for apprenticeships. Mrs Laxton is available every break and lunch to help with this. Year 10 work experience – Mrs Laxton is available to help with the completion of CVs and letters in room 42 every lunch time next week. Parental consent forms and choices need to be completed and sent back as soon as possible.
SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD WITH GCSE MATHS – Free course for parents and carers
Family Learning at Worcestershire County Council have a FREE 9-week course for parents to help support children with GCSE Maths.
This course is being delivered online via TEAMS from 1.15pm – 2.30pm every Tuesday afternoon starting 16th January through to 19th March for parents and carers.
The link to book on directly is:
Supporting your Teenager with GCSE Maths (worcestershire.gov.uk)
SCHOOL TERM DATES
Please see the attached for school term dates and teacher education days, please be aware these can change throughout the academic year.
WASSAIL CELEBRATION
The wassail is a traditional celebration which happens every year. The main purpose is to wake up the fruit trees from their winter rest, in the hope they will bear lots of fruit in the summer. To do this we make a lot of noise with musical instruments and by banging pots and pans!
The wassail queen hangs toast in the trees as part of the ceremony – we are looking for a volunteer for this role. Please see Mrs Harvey if you are interested.
On Saturday 13th January there will be Morris dancers as well as warm apple juice (or cider for the adults) to toast the apple trees.
This all takes place on the Headless Cross Green Community Orchard. It’s a free family event which starts at 7pm. Please see the attached poster with artwork by Sophie Davies Year 11.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR TIMETABLE
Please find the latest version attached.
25 January | Year 9 Options Information Evening |
01 February | Year 9 Parents Evening |
08 February | Year 10 Parents Evening |
09 February | Break up for half term |
19 February | School starts at 8:45am |
22 March | Break up for Easter |
08 April | School starts at 8:45 |
26 April | Teacher Education Day |