Headteacher's Update
It has been a pleasure to welcome everyone back to school this week, including our new students in Year 7 and 12 and new teaching and support staff. I have spoken with Years 7-11 in assemblies this week and look forward to assemblies with the Sixth Form next week.
In the Year 11 assembly, I shared some of the key dates and milestones for this term. Parent/carers may find this information helpful (more information will of course be provided by Mr Fletcher).
Key Dates
- Geography Field Trip: 12/13 September
- Colchester Institute Assembly: 20 September
- End of September: Mini Assessment in CORE
- Vocational Information Evening: 3 October
- Braintree Sixth Form: 4 October
- Careers Fair: Great Leighs Race Course: 25 September
- First Report Haome: 18 October
- First Parent'/Carers' Evening: 24 October
- First set of mocks: 11 November
Heart Points
Having launched our new positive rewards system (HEART points), I am delighted to report that 3152 HEART points have already been awarded:
Year 11: 465
Year 10: 420
Year 9: 332
Year 8: 995
Year 7: 940
Well done to Year 8 for leading the way!
Every time your child is awarded a HEART point, you will receive a message via Arbor.
As Mrs Townsend and Mrs Howells outlined in their message to you on Monday, we have had a delay in the summer works in the kitchen which has affected this week’s menu. I am grateful to Mr Secker and his fantastic team for their support this week and to the students for their patience. Given the works that were completed last night, I have been advised that we will be able to offer our full menu again from Wednesday next week at the latest. In the unlikely event that this changes, I will of course write to you. On a related note, the opening of the separate Year 7 canteen space has been a success.
Finally, I look forward to meeting more of you this academic year; and please remember that the Friday 9am parent/carer drop-in is available to all of you. I have also included online safety guidance for parents in this week’s bulletin as well as the Sixth Form bulletin.
With best wishes for the weekend.
Mr M Barrow, Headteacher
