Dear ALS Community,
Though this is a short half-term, there’s plenty packed in to it. We’ve had our ‘new Sixth Form’ pupils begin their transition (our Year 11 have now rolled up and began taster sessions in A Level and BTECs), Year 10 have sat a full round of formal mock examinations and will receive their results in formal fashion next Thursday. Over the next few weeks, we have the weekly forest school excursions for Reception and Year 1 where they will learn how to lay a fire and toast marshmallows to enjoy, the Folly Farm Trip for Years 4&5, the Rockley Trip for Year 6 and up, an Alton Towers Trip, Transition Days for Year 7 next year, the Year 11 Prom, Sports Day & BBQ and then the end of term. It’s certainly a calendar full of activity!
For next week, our mantra is from Amicus: Be grateful for the kindness of others. Clearly, this is a mantra that we encourage a great deal. With this in mind, over the weekend, I’d like to challenge the school community to say thank you to someone who has been kind to you during the past 18 months (or more recently!). A simple thank you goes an awful long way.
In the near future, we’ll be sending out a survey (as we do from time to time) for Senior School parents to feedback on a few aspects of our provision that we are reviewing for September 2021 (including our cycle for written reports and parents’ evenings). Whilst there is much that is exciting about the return to ‘normal’, I think we must also acknowledge that there are aspects of the way that coronavirus has forced us to adapt that we may wish to keep as part of our normal practice. I’d welcome your feedback on this when the survey opens to help shape what we do in the future.
On the topic of returning to normal, it’s worth noting that the 21st June date is clearly under review. If it is that there is a delay to the ‘re-opening’, then we will have to review plans for Sports Day / BBQ. I am very much looking forward to having our whole school community together properly and to be able to celebrate the school year at the BBQ. However, current guidance would not permit us to host this. Though I know you’ll be disappointed if we have to step away from the event, I’m sure you’ll understand that our hands are tied by the regulations and Government guidance. Fingers crossed for the 21st!
Keeping to a theme, I’m conscious that if from September 2021 we have something akin to normal service, parents and pupils will, quite rightly, want to understand the trips and visits that are in place. You may recall that in February 2020 we undertook a full review of trips…that was badly timed! I’ve begun a review of the review and will look to release an outline of the annual residential trips that are planned for Years 4 and up to around 2025 so you can see the types of opportunities your child will have as they move through the rest of their school careers. Whilst some of our ‘usual’ trips are in there (cultural language trips to Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia as well as a Battlefields Trip), we are also looking to introduce skiing trips, water sports, a trip to CERN, Geography trips to Iceland, New York and Washington. Once the updated document is complete, I’ll share it in a weekly email. Exciting!
You’ll have seen from my previous weekly email that we’re currently recruiting for our new Head Prefect. Candidates have now applied for the post and the successful four pupils who have made the shortlist are invited to a series of interviews on Friday 18th June. Alongside two panel interviews from SLT, the Head Prefect candidates will also have a 2 minute speech to give to the whole staff (we have a weekly whole staff briefing at 8am on a Friday). After this, there will be a series of votes to help select the new Head Prefect and Deputy Head Prefect. To the fantastic four that will be preparing for the interviews next week - good luck! I know that each
On Tuesday & Wednesday our school videographer will be coming on site to capture some footage for some exciting new videos we have planned. In that vein, our marketing team have a plea that all uniform is clean and smart on those days.
As we run up to trips week and the Summer BBQ, for those that get the bus home from school on both these dates the busses will depart at 17:00 from school. For more information please do get in touch with Chris Michael on [email protected].
For those going to Wonder of the Grimm this evening in Jephson Gardens to see Sin de Fella, Kaspar’s play brought to life on stage, enjoy it, I am sure it will be a wonderful evening.
Best wishes,
David Preston | Headteacher
June 11th 2021
