13 July 2020

Dear Parents/Carers

Well we are nearly at the end of a very different school year. Usually by this time of year, students would have enjoyed Sports Day, Music concerts, the Creative Arts Festival and celebration events as well as having participated in numerous extra-curricular trips and visits. We would have had the chance to say goodbye to the Year 11 and Year 13 students, who would have finished their exams. The new Year 7 students would have visited us, and we would have been able to welcome them into the Notley family. Covid-19 has meant that unfortunately none of this has taken place, which is sad. There has been much in the media about the potential impact of the pandemic on young people’s mental health, and in order to help us better understand the worries and concerns of our students, we are asking both parents/carers and students to complete a brief survey. It is confidential, but if you would prefer to discuss any concerns on the phone please can you indicate this.

Parent/Carer survey : https://bit.ly/2Zfq6oq

Student survey : https://bit.ly/3gJ0nL9

I would like to thank you all for the support you have given students with remote learning. As a parent of three school age children I am acutely aware of the challenges of balancing the demands of work whilst trying to help them in their learning.

Currently we are finalising the plans for September opening and we will send you further, more detailed information before the end of the week. We are intending on welcoming Years 7, 11 and 12 in school from Thursday 3 September, and Year 13 from Friday 4 September, with the rest of the school back in from Monday 7 September. We need to stagger the reopening of school to provide new students in Years 7 and 12 with the induction they would normally have had in the summer term. Work will be set for students in Years 8 - 10 to complete via Teams on Thursday 3 and Friday 4 September, which will be revisited in the next lessons. Students will be expected to be in full uniform and we will be following the normal timetable. Students will be taught in learning zones in order to create year group bubbles with Years 7 – 9 students based in the same classroom most of the day.

In response to the constantly evolving situation concerning COVID-19, we will be in touch with you during the summer too. Please can you check emails regularly over the summer holidays.

Finally, at this time of year, we always have to say goodbye to staff who are moving to new posts or retiring. I would like to take the opportunity to say goodbye to the following staff, who are leaving Notley High School & Braintree Sixth Form:

Mrs Mee, who has worked at the school since 2006 in various roles within the English & Media Faculty and now spends most of her time supporting trainee teachers;

Mr Vosper is retiring after over ten years at the school teaching and leading the Science Faculty;

Mrs Greybook, who has been here since 2008 in various roles, has accepted a post as a Maths teacher at another school;

Miss White, who started her career at the school in 2012, has been offered a well-deserved promotion;

Mrs Birt, who has worked in the Science Faculty since 2015, is leaving to work as a Science teacher at a school which is closer to her home and family.

On behalf of the wider Notley High School & Braintree Sixth Form community, I would like to thank them for all their hard work and dedication to the school and wish them well for the future; they will all be very missed.

Have a great summer and keep safe.

Kind regards

Dr C Cusick Head of School

Notley High School &Braintree Sixth Form

Term Dates 2019-2020

Autumn Term 2019Monday 2 September -

Friday 20 December Half Term

Monday 28 October -Friday 1 November

Spring Term 2020Monday 6 January -

Friday 3 AprilHalf Term

Monday 17 February -Friday 21 February

Summer Term 2020Monday 20 April - Monday 20 July

Half TermMonday 25 May -

Friday 29 MayMay Bank Holiday - Friday 8 May

Staff Training DaysMonday 2 September 2019

Wednesday 27 November 2019Friday 6 December 2019Friday 31 January 2020Tuesday 23 June 2020Monday 20 July 2020

Term Dates 2020-2021

Autumn Term 2020Wednesday 2 September -

Friday 18 December Half Term

Monday 26 October -Friday 30 October

Spring Term 2021Monday 4 January -

Friday 26 MarchHalf Term

Monday 15 February -Friday 19 February

Summer Term 2021Monday 12 April -

Wednesday 21 JulyHalf Term

Monday 31 May -Friday 4 June

May Bank Holiday - Monday 3 May

Staff Training Days Wednesday 2 September 2020

Friday 27 November 2020Monday 30 November 2020

Monday 4 January 2021Monday 28 June 2021

Academic & Welfare Review Meetings

We are inviting every student in Years 7, 8 & 9 to come into school for an Academic & Welfare Review meeting with their new tutor during the week of 13 July 2020.The letters sent home this week can be found here:

Year 7 click here

Year 8 click here

Year 9 click here

Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge

On Monday 6 July 2020, Saffron Hawkins took part in the digital final for the ‘Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge’. Students were asked to perform a three-minute speech that they had written themselves, on a topic of their own choosing.

Saffron’s speech, ‘Why lie?’ explored a whole range of lies from little white lies to random lies to those huge lies that have the potential to cause a lot of damage. She pointed out how confusing lies can be before advising us to steer clear of lies!

Saffron was chosen to represent the school after she completed the ‘Jack Petchey Speak Out Workshop’ at school in March 2020. Since then, as well as keeping up-to-date with remote learning, Saffron has completed further online training with ‘The Speaker’s Trust’, improved her speech and filmed it for the digital final.

In total, ten students made it to the final, from schools as far away as Hornchurch and Wimbledon. We were so proud of Saffron’s energy and passion and felt she was a worthy opponent in a field of strong public speakers.

Student Bulletin

Please click here to view last week’s Student Bulletin. Our students are still taking part in the various competitions being sent to them. We hope that the information we send in the Bulletin is useful. If you have any comments, please do send them in via enquiries@notleyhigh. com

Essex County Council Guidance: Home-School Transport for September

If your son/daughter travels to school via home-school transport you are asked to:• ensure your son/daughter has hand sanitiser and uses it before boarding and on

disembarking.• ensure children over 11 wear face coverings while travelling on public or school buses,

unless they are exempt.

Monday 13 July 2020

Colchester Institute Advice Days and Information Days

Please find attached to this bulletin, information from Colchester Institute regarding advice days scheduled to take place in August 2020.

Below, are proposed dates for information days that Colchester Institute hope to run during the Autumn term, whilst adhering to Government guidelines. Further details to follow.

• Colchester Campus - Thursday 17 September 2020• Braintree Campus - Tuesday 6 October 2020

Dates for Vaccinations during the Academic Year 2020 - 2021

Vaccine Dates Year GroupHPV 1 Year 8 Day 1: Wednesday 6 January 2021

Day 2: Thursday 7 January 2021

8 (Girls and Boys)

HPV 2 Year 9 (recovery from academic year 2019/2020)

Day 1: Wednesday 5 May 2021

Day 2: Tuesday 25 May 2021

9 (Girls and Boys)

HPV 2 Year 8 Day 1: Wednesday 7 July 2021

Day 2: Thursday 8 July 2021

8 (Girls and Boys)

Diphtheria, Tetanus & Polio and Meningitis ACWY

Day 1: Tuesday 23 February 2021

Day 2: Monday 15 March 2021

Monday 22 March 2021

9 (Girls and Boys)

9 (Girls and Boys)

Year 10 catch up

Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service (ECFWS) Please find attached, edition 14 of the ECFWS weekly bulletin, an interactive resource aimed to support schools and families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Information from our School Uniform Provider

Information from our school uniform provider, SWI, is attached to this bulletin.

Transition from Primary to Secondary School

A document providing tips for families supporting the transition from primary to secondary school are attached to this bulletin.

Letters Home to Parents/Carers from 6 July 2020 to 10 July 2020

https://www.notleyhigh.com/files/2020/A_Level_Results_Day_and_UCAS_Information_Letter_030720.pdf

https://www.notleyhigh.com/files/2020/Year_7_Academic__Welfare_Review_Meeting_Letter_080720.pdf

https://www.notleyhigh.com/files/2020/Year_8_Academic__Welfare_Review_Meeting_Letter_080720.pdf

https://www.notleyhigh.com/files/2020/Year_9_Academic__Welfare_Review_Meeting_Letter_080720.

Weekly Schools Bulletin- Personal, Social, Health, Economic (PSHE) Education

A resource to support schools and families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic Audience: Essex Schools Author: Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service Issue: 14 Date: 6 July 2020 Your ECFWS Healthy Schools and Public Health Team are coordinating family friendly activities, advice and guidance for teachers and parents covering themes outlined within national guidance on Personal Social Health and Economic (PSHE) education. We will be sharing these in the coming weeks on our Facebook pages, which can be found via our website. These resources are easily adaptable at home, school or in ‘virtual’ classrooms. Teachers and parents are encouraged to visit our COVID-19 Pandemic Resource Hub for support and guidance during this time. We urge you to share this bulletin with your whole school community. PSHE activities (Ideas to support emotional and physical health)

Title: Supporting transition and healthy relationships

Content: Katie, one of our School Nurses, has some helpful advice and guidance on managing transition from primary to secondary school – and the role healthy relationships plays in that. She also explains the role of the school nurse and how you can contact them.

Title: Spread the Happiness

Content: Spread the Happiness have launched their ’50 Things to do this Summer’ campaign, which aims to provide families with ideas about fun, free activities they can do together. Download your copy here.

Weekly Schools PSHE Challenge Each week we will be setting schools a challenge linked to themes within your PSHE programme to support wellbeing. Each challenge will be delivered as a question we want your pupils to consider and answer using a range of different ways eg. Podcast, poster, artwork, story, comic strip, newspaper report, mind map or power point presentation by school pupils. Teachers, parents, siblings and friends may provide support with this; alternatively the challenge can be completed independently. We are encouraging you to share with us the work being done so we can celebrate the amazing things you are doing to support pupil wellbeing at this time.

Topic Healthy Eating – As part of National Picnic Month

Question What can make a healthier picnic?

Activity Can you design a picnic party? Find out what foods are more healthy than others and the benefits of eating healthier food

Learning Objective

To learn why healthy eating is important

Learning Outcome

To identify the benefits of healthy eating

Resources Primary

Healthy Eating Sugar swaps

Dental Health

Resources Secondary

Healthy Eating Food and Mood

Did you know… ECFWS have developed a lesson plan resource to support those transitioning from primary to secondary school during the COVID Pandemic. If you haven’t received your copy please contact us. Nicola Stewart, an experienced mental health specialist and trainer, has written a blog on supporting school communities for reintegration and connection during COVID-19. She discusses the emotional impact the return to school may have on both pupils and staff and offers ideas to support this. Brook are running another of their excellent parent workshops on Thursday 9th July. These workshops cover the Relationship and Sex education changes coming into school next academic year, what this looks like for primary school children and how you can confidently carry on those conversations at home. To reserve a space book here. Do you need support regarding a particular child or young person? Your School Nurse is available to support you with the Health and Wellbeing needs of any child, young person or family you may have concerns about. Please contact your local team for further information: Mid Essex Tel: 0300 247 0014 North Essex Tel: 0300 247 0015 South Essex Tel: 0300 247 0013 West Essex Tel: 0300 247 0122 CHAT Health: Our texting service remains active and is well-resourced with highly skilled School Nurses. Young people have the opportunity to contact us directly. Checkout our website and search engine for services local to schools and your communities: www.essexfamilywellbeing.co.uk Follow our Essex Healthy Schools Twitter page @EssexHealthy

Commissioned by:

Healthy Relationships/Transition Year 6

Lesson ideas and suggestions

These ideas and activities should form part of the school’s PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) Programme and should be delivered, where possible, using the PSHE Association’s best practise guidance The video clip can be shown at any time during the session depending on the activities you have chosen to deliver.

Healthy Relationships and transition to secondary school

Learning objectives: To learn: • to recognise that relationships may change during the transition to secondary school • to recognise when a relationship is healthy/unhealthy

Learning outcomes: The learner will be able to: • recap what makes a healthy relationship • explain that everyone has the right to feel safe and happy within a relationship • suggest some signs that a relationship is not healthy • explain that unhealthy relationships can happen anywhere: in school, at work, at home, amongst family members and friends • give examples of where they can access help/support if they are worried or concerned about a relationship of their own or someone else

Introduction: Show the below Video clip – This Clip:

• Introduces the Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service

• Introduces the role of the school nurse

• Suggests how young people and their families may access the school nurse

• Highlights the importance of safe and healthy relationships

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upE2YU0fRO8&feature=youtu.be

Activity Example 1

Resources: Large piece of paper, photograph/relationship cards showing different type of relationship on it

Commissioned by:

eg child/parent, pupil/teacher, friendship, siblings, intimate relationship (boyfriend/girlfriend or same sex

couple).

Give each group a different photograph/ relationship card stuck in the middle of some paper (to allow pupils to annotate). Think about how they would communicate/speak to each other? What type of things would they do together? What type of rules would they have? How should the people behave to keep the relationship positive and healthy? Activity Example 2 Resources: Relationship statement cards such as:

• Spending time together

• Having lots in common

• Common interests can be what initially creates a connection with someone and

• Being open and honest

• Humour

• Never having an argument

Give each group a set of relationship statement cards and ask them to discuss if they are healthy or unhealthy behaviours. Ask the groups to feedback to the class. Activity Example 3

Write top tips for a healthy relationship. You could encourage the class to do this in creative ways such as writing a magazine column or writing a song about healthy relationships.

Supporting Links/ Resources:

BBC Bitesize – Healthy versus unhealthy relationships

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/rse-ks2-healthy-vs-unhealthy-relationships/z6s7rj6

Making Sense of Relationships - NSPCC

https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/schools/making-sense-

relationships?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxenn2fC_6QIVyYBQBh12jgGeEAAYASAAEgIPXfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Rise Above Resources – Transition to Secondary School

https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/schools/resources/transition-to-secondary-school-lesson-plan-pack

Risk Avert https://www.risk-avert.org/programme/

Commissioned by:

Tips for families supporting the transition from primary to secondary school

One of the most valuable things a family can do to support a young person within their home transitioning

from primary to secondary school is to talk to them about how they are feeling and to really listen

whenever; however, they express how they are feeling. For example:

Take the time to acknowledge that the upcoming change will inevitably trigger lots of different emotions

(worries, excitement, fear, loss) and that these can be expressed in many different ways. Identify

opportunities to ‘check in’ with your child about how they are feeling, and help them to name and

understand that feeling so they can feel connected, safe and validated at a time of potential anxiety.

Take time as a family to talk about the things you are all looking forward to as part of this upcoming

adventure. It may highlight positive aspects for everyone that hadn’t yet been considered. But also, talk

together about your worries. Knowing that they are not alone in any concerns they have, or indeed working

together to build some support structure around their fears will build resilience to change.

Finally, where possible and safe to do so, find an opportunity to connect with another young person or

family that are going through the same as you. It will help the first day at their new school feel less

daunting!

If you need any support regarding a young person who is worried or anxious about their transition

from primary to secondary school, please contact us.

Need some help and advice from career professionals?

Unsure of your next steps after your GCSEs?

Want to consider an exciting pathway into your chosen career?

Better Careers Begin Here

Due to COVID-19 safety guidelines we may not be able to run physical events this August. If face-to-face events aren’t possible then we’ll offer

support and guidance via our website, follow the link below for further details.

colchester.ac.uk/advice

We’re still accepting applications via colchester.ac.uk/apply-now. You’ll also be able to chat to our tutors and apply for one of our exciting courses

on the following days:

Colchester and Braintree Campus Thursday 20th August

Friday 21st AugustMonday 24th AugustTuesday 25th August

Parent School Uniform

Information

How to purchase your uniform

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2.

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Order early at swischoolwear.co.ukTo help our total capacity for back to school and ensure you’re well prepared in advance.

This is to help with our stock levels and to ensure we have enough sizes for all parents.

Get all our latest information, deals and offers.swischoolwear.co.uk/welcome

Don’t purchase multiple sizes of the same garment

Sign up to our updates

3 things we need you to do

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4.

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How we are staying Covid-19 secure

We know this time of uncertainty is having a huge impact on all our lives, and we want to let you know what we are doing to help you shop safely for your school uniform.

We have followed government guidance to ensure we are COVID-19 secure allowing you to shop online safely.

3.

We are undertaking daily deep cleaning throughout our business.

We are carrying out hourly cleaning of high touch areas

All returning garments are quarantined and steamed 72 hours before processing back into stock

Website Ordering - swischoolwear.co.ukWe know that shopping for school uniform, sportswear and accessories can be difficult and often stressful. Now that the all-important time has come to get organised for the new school year, we want to make sure that you’re prepared.

Here are our top tips to make this year’s uniform shop that little bit easier!

All of our operations have had a professional Covid-19 secure risk assessment completed

Shop early

One Stop Shop

Free returns

Online offers and deals

Head Office: Tel: 01928 752 610 | Email: customerservice@swi.co.uk | Web: swischoolwear.co.uk

ONLINE

To order online, visit swischoolwear.co.uk

PHONE

Call us on 01928 752 610 to place your uniform

and PE kit order today.

CUT OFF DATE

We recommend you place your ‘Back to School’ order on or before 03/08/2020.

Notley High School & Braintree Sixth Form School Term and Holiday Dates

Academic Year 2020-2021

= Schooldays & Weekends = School holidays = Bank holidays

= Staff Training Days (no students) Staff only in school

Students in Years 7, 11 and 12 return to school on Thursday 3 September 2020.

Students in Year 13 return to school on Friday 4 September 2020. Students in Years 8, 9 and 10 return to school on Monday 7 September 2020.

Dates for Staff Training Days (no students) are:-

Wednesday 2 September 2020 Friday 27 November 2020

Monday 30 November 2020 Monday 4 January 2021 Monday 28 June 2021

September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020

M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 26 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 28 29 30 31 30

January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021

M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 29 30 31 26 27 28 29 30

May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021

M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 26 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 30 31

Autumn Term:

Wednesday 2 September 2020 – Friday 18 December 2020 Half Term 26 October – 30 October

73 days

Spring Term: Monday 4 January 2021 – Friday 26 March 2021 Half Term 15 February - 19 February

55 days

Summer Term:

Monday 12 April 2021 – Wednesday 21 July 2021 Half Term 31 May – 4 June, and May Bank Holiday, 3 May

67 days _______ 195 days