I hope this letter finds you and your families well; a Friday update for you as always.
I have deliberately avoided beginning my letters this year with a Covid-19 update, in the vain hope it would continue to be lower profile. Given the new variant and increased infection rates locally and nationally though, it feels prudent to begin with a pandemic update, regrettably.
We have had seven positive Covid-19 cases reported this week in school. As a result of the Omicron variant and the potential disruption it might cause, we have reviewed our safety measures and tightened up on a number of things, including increased cleaning of equipment between lessons e.g. keyboards in ICT/computing lessons, and cancelling assemblies in the hall for the remainder of the term. We hope that these new measures, coupled with our existing measures, will keep us as safe as possible in the run up to the holidays.
International travel is set to be more challenging for us all as a result of the new measures nationally; I hope this doesn’t disrupt your travel plans for the holiday season. A reminder that students start back on Wednesday 5th January, as the Tuesday is an Inset Day. We have been instructed to test all consenting students, once, at the start of the new school year. It is likely that we will test some of the students during the Inset Day and the remaining students on Wednesday 5th. We will talk the logistics of this through, next week, and confirm details with families before the holidays, so that you are all clear.
On Tuesday 7th December next week, the vaccinations team are in to vaccinate consenting students against flu; hopefully you are all aware of the opportunity and consenting families have taken advantage of this.
As a reward for a fantastic start, in all aspects, to their secondary education, a selection of Year 7 students joined me in decorating the school Christmas tree, this afternoon. Our canteen, where it proudly stands, now looks very festive indeed. Congratulations and thank you to the Year 7s involved.
Congratulations to the Year 9 boys’ basketball team who won again this week, making it two wins from two. They comfortably beat Norlington School 50-32 in an impressive display, well done to all involved.
Congratulations too, to Lucas Gasper De Bona Sartor in 9S who amassed the most rewards points last week with twenty points – keep up the good work.
Please get in touch if we can be of any assistance regarding your child’s education at Kelmscott.
Stay well one and all, until next week.
Yours sincerely
Mr Sam Jones
Headteacher