January 5th 2021

 

Dear Parents / Guardians

 

We are fully aware that last night’s announcements will present many of our families and students with real challenges, and we will do our very Best to ease these as far as we can over the coming weeks. We are committed to providing the highest possible quality of ‘remote learning’ that we possibly can and ask that parents support in ensuring their children maintain their school routines.

Our systems have run smoothly today in respect of Live Online lessons. However, if we should run into any difficulty students and parents should not worry, as students can just revert to completing the assignments set in Google Classroom.

We are assuming the few Public Examinations scheduled for this and next week will go ahead. And we, like you, await further information in respect of Free School Meals and arrangements to replace fully or partially the summer examinations. It is highly likely this will be released to the general public at the same time as to us - we will then plan and contact you as soon as we can thereafter.

However, it is clear that Centre Assessed Grades will contribute significantly to the final Grade awarded for A level and GCSE subjects to current Years 11 & 13 students. Given the relatively limited information we hold on students it is clear that part of the basis of any Centre Assessed Grade we submit will be determined by assessment of subject matter taught in the Live Online lessons over the coming weeks.

We have received a number of inquiries in respect of the loan of IT equipment. However, there are strict eligibility criteria attached to the loan of equipment we receive from the Department of Education.

To support students’ learning we are now running live online subject lessons during each period, as per your child’s timetable. This is in addition to the assignments set in Google Classroom.

The sessions will run for about 20 – 30 minutes with time given over at the end of each lesson for students to complete their classwork and submit it to their teacher. Students need to remember to do this at the end of each lesson, to avoid the work showing as undone in the weekly Guardian summary parents receive.

School uniform will not be obligatory for the online sessions, but students should be dressed appropriately and our normal ground rules will apply during the sessions. Students must be seated at a desk or table, activate their camera and show their full name for these live face-to-face sessions. At times during the lesson teacher microphones will be turned off and their screens will not be shared. At these times students should just be completing the work set for them. Where there is more than 1 child in your household and laptop facilities may be limited, please be aware it is entirely possible to access the Google Classroom and Live Online lessons via smartphone.

Lessons will start and end promptly at the times shown and the classroom will be locked on the dot at the start time to avoid the disruption of late arrivals.

We are also sending you 2 Guides again. Please download and save these for ease of reference. Of the few queries we received this morning in respect of joining Live Online lessons, all bar one could easily be resolved by consulting these 2 Guides.

1. How Students access a lesson through Webex
2. Google Meet – Checking the Account being used for Google Meet

Separately, Daily Tutor Time activities will be posted in the Google Classroom for students to do the following timetable and students should access these materials and submit their work at the end of the day.

Monday: Literacy
Tuesday: Digital Library
Wednesday:  Numeracy
Thursday: PSHE
Friday: Quiz

These are vital areas of students’ learning and we were able to send several hundred commendations to students last year for their excellent participation in these aspects of their learning during our extended period of Home School.                                                                                                                                                                 

We want all our students to remain safe by following all Guidance in respect of social distancing, hand washing and face coverings and to play their part in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.

 

Yours Sincerely,

Sonette Schwartz

Principal                             

                                           

Charles Joseph

Senior Vice Principal