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25 October 2024 - Letter to parents
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Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope that you have had a great week. I can’t believe we are at the half term break already! I hope you have a restful week.
Key Dates
Year 11 Exams Prep Information Evening – Wednesday 26th March 6.15 – 7.45pm
Parent Subject Consultation Evenings
The dates for these through the year are as follows:
Year 7 Parent Subject Consultation Evening – Thursday 3rd April 3.30 – 7pm
Year 8 Parent Subject Consultation Evening – Thursday 5th December 3.30 – 7pm
Year 9 Parent Subject Consultation Evening – Thursday 6th March 3.30 – 7pm
Year 10 Parent Subject Consultation Evening – Thursday 14th November 3.30 – 7pm
Year 11 Parent Subject Consultation Evening – Thursday 13th February 3.30 – 7pm
Please also note the following date:
Year 9 Options Evening – Thursday 27th February 5 – 7pm
To help parents and children decide together which options subjects/GCSEs they might choose to take over the next two years in school.
A reminder that Term 2 starts on Monday 4th November.
Attendance
Congratulations to the following tutor groups for having the best attendance in each year group this week!
7D2, 8W2, 9B2, 10W2, 11D2
Last Friday’s attendance winners were:
7W2, 8A2, 9A2, 10B1, 11D2,
Year 7 – Overall best attending year group
Butterfield- Overall best attending House
House points have been awarded to all students in the above Tutor Groups- keep up the good work, everyone!
Curriculum, Teaching and Learning
It’s been a fantastic term at Orchard. Lessons are calm and Year 11 and 10 in particular have really maturely adapted to GCSE study.
We have launched a half-term reading competition, the ‘One Book Wonder’ - a challenge to students to read a book over half term and log it: Orchard School - One Book Wonder! Half term reading competition
Every entry will win a prize!Next half-term we are continuing our focus on students completing independent work, and also how we – as teachers – check on the understanding of pupils.
For Year 11 parents, please see this helpful video on how to revise English Orchard School - Revision Support & be aware that Maths have given students past papers to take away and complete.
Safeguarding in the Holidays
The Safeguarding in Education team have produced the following resources which might be of interest to you.
The Shadow Safeguarding Board of the KBSP have produced a video for parents and carers to have conversations with their child about knife crime - Video: How to have conversations with your child about knife crime (bristolsafeguardingineducation.org)
The police have produced some guidance around keeping safe in your community this Halloween - Keep your community safe this Halloween | Avon and Somerset Police
They have modified their young person and parent/carer checklist to be more generalised for checking in with each other and planning for keeping safe in the community.
A reminder that the holiday break means that the Whisper Report will not be monitored. If you have immediate concerns about a child, please call 999 or 101 – do not contact the school in the first instance as this may not be picked up straight away. There is also the option to report through the First Response team here using this link.
Uniform Reminder
Our uniform code aims to:
Help students feel equal to others and not left out
Encourage students to wear their uniform with pride
Create a sense of belonging to the school community through a common dress code
Enable students to feel that they are a valued member of the school community irrespective of ethnicity, gender, religion or socio-economic background
Most of our students wear the correct uniform to school every day. There have been occasions recently though where students have come to school school wearing incorrect uniform such as leggings, nose piercings or white socks and without blazers. If these errors are not rectified after supportive discussion with the year teams, the school will follow the school behaviour policy. This will be a focus after half term, so please do ensure that you remind your child of the correct uniform for the first Monday back. Please remember that we have a Hardship Fund to support you with expensive items as necessary – contact your child’s Pastoral Manager if this is the case. Please also check with your child that they understand what correct uniform looks like here: Orchard School - Uniform (orchardschoolbristol.co.uk)
Monkhouse
Monkhouse are currently advertising 20% off everything in-store from 19th October until 2nd November 2024 (not available on the Monkhouse website). Our nearest store is Stoke Gifford, if you would like to stock on up uniform items ready for the new term.
Planned Lockdown Practice
Thank you for supporting your child in reminding them about our lockdown practice this week. These are important safety practices for our school community.
Community Events
See the Autumn and October Half Term Events Guide below for local half term ideas:
https://bristolfamilyblog.com/halloween-october-half-term-autumn-events-guide/
Your Family Guide to Halloween, October Half Term and Autumn in Bristol 2024 - Bristol Family Blog
The Vench in Lockleaze offers a programme of youth clubs and half-term sessions. Please see their website for further details.
With best wishes,
Mel Sweet, Headteacher