Co-Headteachers: Mr Oli de Botton Middle School NewsletterMessaging to students (16 March): - Students were spoken to in assembly this morning with a reminder about hand washing / sanitising and catching coughs and sneezes. Teachers will continue to do this throughout the day. - This Newsround Video is being shared by coaches to help answer questions students might have: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/51861089 We recommend watching this with your child. - Students were told they are welcome to carry hand sanitiser with them and if they have any additional sanitiser bottles they can donate to the school, these are greatly accepted. There is a sanitiser pump in the canteen. - That staying calm and being sensitive to the worry the pandemic is causing is important - that students can speak to any adult with any questions or worries they have. - School clubs are running as usual but may change at short notice. Please be aware of this and ready to action any communication that comes out regarding this. - Mr deBotton is in contact with the DfE throughout the day and will update with any changes as soon as possible. Key Dates **Please note that after school events (not including clubs) and events where parents are invited into school have been postponed.** *Due to Coronavirus/Covid 19 we have cancelled any planned parent events. Attendance Update 5 Matterhorn 98.1% Parking from Lessons - Update The Middle School team has been reflecting on the successes and next steps in the school’s development. A focus for this half of the year is on tightening our systems that support students in their classrooms, and help ensure they come ready to learn and are engaged and working hard in all their lessons. The Middle School’s system for supporting the culture and behaviour in lessons means that if a student is making choices which disrupt the learning there are clear steps to address and support them to correct this. These steps are a reminder, then a caution, then a ‘time out’ in the classroom for the student to 'reset' before they continue in the lesson. If at this point the disruption continues, a teacher may need to ‘park’ a student, meaning they will be given work to complete independently in a different classroom so that the learning can continue. Teachers do not make the decision to ‘park’ a student lightly, and work hard to support the correction to the behaviour through the first three steps of our system. Teachers use their initiative to keep the conversation at this level before needing to escalate. Parents will receive a text if their child is parked from lessons, as all students who miss their learning will need to attend an end of day reflection (3:15pm - 3:30pm in the first instance, longer if there is more than one instance) to discuss a plan to amend the behaviour for the next lesson. Please note, this system is used mostly with Year 7 and 8, and if this is a necessary next step for any child in Years 5 or 6, we will speak to parents/carers first. Year 5 and 6 students will still receive a text if parking is necessary, but will complete their reflection in break or lunch time. We thank you for your support on this matter. PLEASE NOTE, the Maths Quiz Night has been cancelled and will be rescheduled when and if the current advice regarding social distancing changes. You are welcome to sign up still as we will update you directly about when it will take place! British Science Week - Poster Competition This week it is national Science Week for 2020. School 21 will be holding a science week to celebrate this in July this year, however, the Middle School is calling for students to create posters matching this year's theme to enter into the official event's poster competition which is currently running. This year's theme is 'Our Diverse Planet' and poster topics can be on any interpretation of this - from the biological diversity on our planet (ecosystems, global issues, endangered species, etc) to the diversity of different careers and jobs out there in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, to the diversity of people in our world who have made a difference in these areas. Rules for the Competition: To see some past winners for inspiration, click here. Millionaire Reader's Club We did not have any new milestone winners this week, but keep reading and completing your quizzes to earn your badges! To become a word millionaire too, all you need to do is get reading, then log onto the Accelerated Reader program to answer some questions about what you've read! Ask your class teacher, coach or Ms Druce and Ms McLear if you need help accessing your account. Kooth Free Online Counselling A reminder that Kooth Online Counselling is available and promoted at School 21 to all of our young people. It is a portal through which free, anonymous counselling is offered by trained professionals. Click here to visit the website to learn more about and to access this offer. Latest Star Winners - Update! Congratulations to this weeks' additions to the Red Star winners list: We also welcome the newest winners of the prestigious Blues Stars! Congratulations to: Welcome also to the 4th level in our recognition milestones to the Silver Stars winners! Recognition Last Week Over 800 names added AGAIN last week! We are fast approaching a huge whole-school milestone of 20,000 names added over the year! Keep demonstrating our values and making our school #middlestrong! First Aid Notice If you son/daughter needs to take medication at school it has to be brought to school by an adult and a form needs to be signed. Please do not send medication in with your son/daughter as this is going against our school policy and the medication may not be administered. Your help and cooperation is greatly appreciated. Important Middle School Links: Information on ParentPay and School Lunches Payments - click here. Email Ms Nandra (rnandra@school21.org.uk) if you need any assistance. Walking Home Alone Permission - to register your permission for your child to walk home alone, please click here. See your child's teacher/coach with any questions or concerns. For access to the online Homework Google Classrooms please fill in your details through this link. See you child's coach/teacher for help if needed. Use this link to see all the homework set for your child. The Lunch Menu for This Week is Week 1!Calling all potential Girl Guides! Girlguiding UK have recently opened the only units in Stratford, based in the East Village, next to the Olympic Park. Girlguiding is more than 100 years old, but what we offer is up-to-date. Today our girls still camp and cook, but they also campaign, quad bike, challenge gender stereotypes, try science experiments, write plays, learn circus skills… the list goes on. Girlguiding can benefit School21. Our enhancing and developing small-group work, peer to peer support, and enquiry-based learning goes alongside the national curriculum. Our sessions boost confidence, and teach valuable life skills to complement what is taught in the classroom, such as independence, friendship, and self-evaluation. We give girls a space to explore, as well as exciting opportunities. Whether it’s
their first night away from home, the first time they’ve presented to a group, or the first time abroad, Girlguiding is all about embracing the new and extending horizons. |