Dear Parents/Carers
I hope this letter finds you and your families well. A Friday update for you, as always with a number of exciting events and important updates to share with you this week:
I would like to begin with, what I deem to be, a very important point. As families are aware, we are committed to fostering a positive and respectful school community where concerns are addressed constructively and in partnership with families. We value open communication and encourage parents to bring any issues directly to the school, where we can work together to support our students and staff effectively.
Recently, it has come to our attention that discussions about specific lessons and teachers have been taking place on large parent WhatsApp and social media groups. While we appreciate that parents naturally wish to support their children and share experiences, we kindly request that any concerns be raised directly with the school rather than through informal online discussions. Conversations in such forums can sometimes unintentionally lead to misinformation or an unbalanced view of events, which can be unfairly damaging to staff and unsettling for students.
We ask for your support in ensuring that our school remains a place of mutual respect and understanding. If you have any concerns about your child’s experience, please do not hesitate to contact us so that we can address them appropriately. Your partnership is invaluable in creating a positive learning environment for all. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation in this matter.
A new initiative this year has been the introduction of Neurodiversity Ambassadors; there are 2 in each year group and their aim is to empower students to have a voice, raise awareness, propose ideas and promote understanding of neurodivergence in our school community. This week, saw our ambassadors lead year group assemblies - no mean feat when presenting to your peers - to enhance students’ understanding of neurodiversity and the experience of neurodiverse individuals. We can look forward to more from these fine ambassadors as this important program develops.
On Monday, we will be welcoming the next round of Chinese students to our school. They will be buddied up with Kelmscott students, offering an exciting opportunity for cultural exchange and building global connections. We are looking forward to seeing the engagement this brings and the perspectives our students will gain.
Celebrate the Year of the Snake by taking part in an exciting Chinese New Year competition. The Global School Alliance is inviting students to record themselves reciting Chinese New Year greetings, with fantastic prizes up for grabs for the best entries. To participate, simply learn and record a greeting such as Happy New Year or Happy Year of the Snake using the audio clips provided here. Once you have recorded your entry, please email it to Mr Eley so it can be uploaded to the GSA platform. 好运 (Hǎo yùn) – Good luck.
This week, Year 11 students participated in a workshop aimed at helping them prepare for their upcoming exams. This workshop comes at a critical time, with their next round of exams beginning on February 10th. It is vital that students take the time to revise thoroughly as these exams serve as the last formal practice before the GCSE exams in the summer.
A group of Year 9 and 10 students visited the British Museum on Thursday to explore its renowned galleries and come face-to-face with fascinating artefacts from the Ancient World, many of which they have been studying in their Ancient History lessons. This immersive experience provided a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of historical civilisations, seeing firsthand the objects that have shaped our knowledge of the past. The visit is a valuable aid in their studies, enriching their learning as they progress through the course.
Sports now and the interform basketball tournament kicked off this week with the Year 8 competition, run by Mr Howell. An incredible fifty nine students took part, showcasing fantastic enthusiasm for co-curricular activities. The tournament featured some outstanding basketball, with forms M, C, T, and L advancing to the semi-finals. Congratulations to M for emerging victorious. Next week we have the Year 9 and Year 10 competitions, I shall look forward to sharing the results here next week.
Waltham Forest will be undergoing their Ofsted SEND inspection this week and next. We have shared details about how families can have their voices heard as part of this process, you can also access the surveys here.
Next Thursday 6th February, we will be holding the Year 7 Progress Evening. This is a vital opportunity to meet with teachers and hear about how your child is progressing in each of their subjects. We look forward to seeing many of you there. Please ensure students attend in full uniform.
We are pleased to share that there are exciting apprenticeship opportunities available in banking, finance, and technology. Full details about these opportunities can be found here. We also have information about solicitor apprenticeships, which can be found here.
The Hive is offering an exciting morning for our younger naturalists during half term on Friday 21st February from 10am to 12pm to explore the world of owls. For more information please see here. Please note that this is not a free event.
Space4All is Waltham Forest’s activity program for young people aged 11-25, offering a diverse range of opportunities across the borough. With opportunities to be active, learn a new skill like podcasting, or simply unwind in a welcoming space. For more information please see here.
A reminder that smartwatches are not allowed at school, as they contravene JCQ guidance among other reasons. We kindly ask for your support in ensuring that students do not bring them to school.
A huge congratulations to the reward points winners from last week, with special recognition to Vlera Podvorica (10C) for accumulating an impressive 29 points. Well done.
Year 7, Reuben Allon in 7L and Edie Cambridge Brown in 7K both with 25 points
Year 8, Zara Noor Akhtar in 8K with 22 points
Year 9, Kira Apanasovic in 9T with 19 points
Year 10, Vlera Podvorica in 10C with 29 points.
Year 11, Esmond Poku Junior in 11O with 18 points
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to a productive and exciting week ahead.
Mr Sam Jones
Headteacher
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