September 2009
Autumn Term Newsletter 2009
Dear Parent / Carer,
I would like to welcome you and the pupils to the new term after what has been a very successful summer for Year 11 2008/9. This year’s GCSE results were our best ever at 68.4% for the number of pupils achieving 5 or more A*-C grades including English and Maths, which is now the Government’s key standards measure. These fantastic results are a credit to all the pupils in Year 11, the staff here at Hall Mead and the parents and carers who gave so much support to both the School and the youngsters. Our performance for A*/A grades has also risen significantly this year and we had two pupils who secured AS/A Level qualifications.
The summer also saw successful trips to the Med for the watersports holiday and to Kenya with ‘Kids Alive’. Look out for features about these visits in the next edition of ‘Hallmeadia’.
I am certainly looking forward to this year and being able to tell you about more of the achievements of the Hall Mead School community.
Outlined below is some useful information that may be of interest.
Yours sincerely,
Simon London
Headteacher
Kirkland Rowell Survey
Pupils and parents who were here in the Summer Term were kind enough to complete a survey about the School’s academic and wider performance. The number of returns was amazing as usual so thank you to everyone who completed a questionnaire. The results are very positive with a very high satisfaction rating and no ratings below ‘Good’ in any aspect of the School’s work. However, the areas which have been highlighted as in need of development are further enhancement of the facilities, careers education and consistency of homework. The School’s standards, approach to discipline, quality of teaching and caring ethos come out as significant strengths. We will use the findings and the comments on the questionnaires to inform our next School Improvement Plan which will begin after Half-Term.
Facilities Development
Over the holidays, both the ICT and Site teams have been very busy improving the School environment. There has been lots of re-decoration, painting and repair work but the most exciting new developments are the Media Studies suite in English, the new PSHE room and our 21 st Century Language Laboratory which is about to open. We have also created a Construction Centre for our new BTEC course thanks to volunteer work from Ford and the Eco Team have prepared the ground for the Eco Garden. Again, we will keep you and the pupils updated as developments follow.
Swine Flu
In line with national guidelines, we will no longer inform you of suspected cases as the situation is ongoing. We will continue to promote good hygiene amongst the pupils and provide anti-bacterial wipes. It is helpful for you to keep us informed of any absence cases that may be swine flu and to ensure no pupil is sent back to school until symptoms have completely passed. We will of course let you know if guidelines change as the term progresses.
Term Dates
Attached to this letter is this term’s Parents’ Calendar. The year’s term dates and non-pupil days are outlined on the same document. The full calendar is available on the School’s website (www.hallmeadschool.co.uk) but is of course subject to change on occasions.
Hall Mead Friends Association (HMFA)
All parents are automatically enrolled as members of the HMFA and this year’s welcome meeting for any parents who would like to take an active role with the committee or support in some way is on Tuesday 22 nd September at 7.30pm in the Alan Wunderly Centre. Please come along and find out more about how you could help. The HMFA is always keen to welcome new members with fresh ideas. I would be grateful if you could return the reply-slip below if you plan to attend this meeting.
Pupil Absence
This year we will continue to telephone parents when we have an unexplained pupil absence. Please telephone the School Office (01708-225684 / 01708-229655) during the first day of an unexpected absence. Please confirm the reason for absence in writing upon your child’s return to School.
Lunchtime Arrangements
Our new menus and service system seem to have proved popular with pupils and staff. I should like to remind parents that pupils in years 7, 8, 9 and 10 are expected to remain on-site at lunchtime. The only pupils in those year groups who may leave the site are those for whom we have received a written request from you asking for him/her to be allowed to go home for lunch.
Prospective Parents Evening: Thursday 24 th September
On Thursday 24 th September we will be holding our Open Evening for parents of prospective pupils seeking entry into the School in September 2009. In order to prepare for this important evening, there will be no afternoon school on that day – pupils will be dismissed at 12.25. Lunches will be provided for those requiring them. Heads of Department will notify you in writing if your child has been asked to help either during the afternoon or evening. I am very grateful to pupils for their support of the School on this occasion. On Friday 25 th September the School will open at 10 a.m. for registration with lessons beginning with period 2 so as to allow for clearing up and reorganisation from the night before.
Staff In-Service Training
Please note that the two remaining staff training days in this academic year will be:
- Wednesday 11 th November 2009 – Year 11 mock examinations will run on this day.
- Tuesday 27th April 2010.
Pupil Record Books
Please check and sign your child’s record book on a weekly basis. This is the best way to ensure your child gets into good homework habits from the start of term. Your child’s Form Tutor will check and sign the record book on a regular basis. If you have any concerns, about homework in particular, please telephone the appropriate Senior House Tutor rather than writing in the record book. Homework timetables should have been copied into Pupil Record Books and posted on the Website.
Pupils’ Property
Please will you ensure that your child’s clothing is labelled. It will help us to return lost items to their owners. I must remind you that pupils’ property is not covered by either the Council’s or the School’s insurance. You may wish to investigate the possibility of cover especially for expensive items, under your household insurance policy. Items such as mobile telephones and I-pods are not allowed in school. Should you require your son/daughter to have a phone it should be handed in at the School Office and collected at the end of the day. Mobile phones will be confiscated if pupils are found to have them and parents / carers asked to collect them.
Bikes
Pupils must obtain a Bike Permit from their Senior House Tutor before bringing a bike to school. Pupils must supply their own padlock. A safety helmet must be worn. This is the responsibility of the parent / guardian.
PE Department Issues
(i) We strongly recommend that when pupils are taking part in certain sports during PE lessons and extra curricular activities, they wear protective equipment as follows:
Hockey: Shinpads and Gumsheilds
Rugby: Gumshields
Soccer: Shinpads
Cricket: Helmets for batting (provided by the School)
Pupils taking part in inter-school matches need to be especially vigilant in ensuring that they use the equipment. In all cases it is the pupil’s and parents’ responsibility to ensure that protective equipment is available and worn.
(ii) We would like to remind parents that, during the Autumn Term all pupils take part in cross-country running as part of the PE programme. Please be aware that, as has been the case for many years, at least part of the course is through local streets. Pupils are, of course, supervised throughout.
(iii) In addition, I would like to point out that for their own safety pupils are not allowed to wear any jewellery during PE lessons.
Parking
We are trying to ensure that levels of traffic in the vicinity of the School are kept to an absolute minimum. Please do not park your car in Marlborough Gardens if you have to deliver or collect your child. Please arrange a dropping / collecting point some way from the School. If you have no alternative but to stop in Marlborough Gardens, please do not park across neighbours’ driveways. I thank you for your co-operation.
Uniform
We seek your support to maintain our high standards, by asking you to ensure that your child conforms to the School’s Uniform Regulations and to the School Rules. We would also like to bring to your attention that “nail extensions / false nails” are not allowed. Pupils must also wear proper shoes and not trainers, canvas shoes or similar.
‘Motivation’ – Our new Fitness Gym
We have now opened our newly equipped ‘Fitness Gym’ to the public. It is equipped with treadmills, rowing machines, cross-trainers, cycles, presses and a full range of weights. To the first 100 members we are offering membership for £15.00 per month, plus a joining fee of £15. You are welcome to view the facilities any weekday evening until half term. Your joining fee will include an assessment by a qualified Fitness Instructor. Please come along, even if is just to look, you will be made most welcome.
ParentMail
In our efforts to improve Home/School communication we have subscribed to ParentMail in order to enable emails and text messages for fast and environmentally friendly information updates. Mr. Cotier has gathered a number of parents’ contact details but the response has been a little disappointing. Therefore, we will shortly mail all parents for a final update of the best email addresses and mobile phone numbers to use and assume a willingness to use the service unless instructed otherwise. The letter will be with you shortly and we are grateful for taking the time to complete the details, particularly if you already have done so last term.
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To: Mrs S Croker - Hall Mead School.
* I /We will / will not be able to attend the HMFA meeting on Tuesday 22 nd
September 2009.
Name……………………………………………… Child’s Form……………………………
( * Please delete as appropriate.)
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