Harlington Upper School

Headteacher Goswell End Road, Harlington, Beds LU5 6NX Helen Harris Tel: 01525 755100

HARLINGTON UPPER SCHOOL WEEKLY UPDATE – 23 October 2020 New information is presented in blue font.

WHOLE SCHOOL INFORMATION

Dear Parents and Carers

We are coming to the end of a first half term like no other, and despite the many challenges faced, we have had a focused and productive time where excellent progress has been made. Our students have adapted wonderfully, and our staff have been nothing short of incredible in coping with the significantly increased pressures that are unavoidable to make the school safe.

We review our Covid arrangements weekly and have been adapting as we go, as we learn more about what works well and where there are things we can improve. No system will ever be perfect, but we remain confident that we have the balance right between enabling the school to function and keeping everyone safe.

So many students have impressed us over the last few weeks that teachers have had a difficult job selecting those that deserve a particular mention. I am delighted to award this half term’s Headteacher Commendations to the following students who have really impressed their teachers with their work and their work ethic:

Headteacher Commendations

Year 9 Year 10 Year 11

Louie Alexandrou (Food and Ben Annetts (Economics), Dominic Alex Barrett (Spanish), Harriet Science), Farhaan Ali (English Berral-Pluda (Science), Leah Collins (RS), Emily Dentu Language), Lily Barker (French), Boost (Spanish), Abigail Butcher (Computer Science), Isla Fleming Ben Cohen (ICT), Francis (Maths and DT), Molly Cleaver (PE), Millie Harris (Geography), Edubatey (Textiles), Luke Fildes (Dance), Jorja Cuthbert (Textiles), Cara Newbold (DT and Textiles), (PE), Samuel Hillyard (Drama), Jess Eversden (BTEC Media), Ruby Nolan (Media), Alero Freya Mullen (Geography), James Arthur Fletcher (English Omishore (Maths), Jasica Patel Nicol (Spanish), Leo Vazquez Literature), Maizi Holloway (BTEC ICT), Isabella Porzio (Music, DT and English Literature), (Business studies), Olivia Iddon (Drama), Chloe Prior (Business Jamari Wangaa (Maths), Lottie (Food), Ewan McCormick studies), Tamara Rose (Food), Young (RS). (Computer Science), Frankie Lyra Smith (Music and English McMahon (RS). Literature), Taylor Spedding (Economics), Ilsa Tahir (French), Ruby Walker (Science).

Year 12 Year 13

Sophie Bunyan (Psychology and Maths), Callum Harriet Ball (Geography, RS and PE), Sophie Bishop Butters (DT), Michelle Danga (Geography), Cristina (Media), Jack Clayburn, (Drama), Samuel Eagles Dolghier (Business Studies), Adam Holmes (BTEC (Chemistry), Nagush Harriharan (DT), Taylor Jackson ICT), Matthew Holmes (Chemistry), Conall Islip (BTEC ICT), Emma Kindred (English Language), (Physics), Olivia Jephson (Media), Mia Kenny Cristina Masala (English Literature), Ellie Matthews (English Language), Joshua Kirby (Applied Science), (PE), Naomi Musto (Biology), Giancarlo Nannetti Jake Little (Economics), Alfie Mumford (PE), John (Business Studies and Maths), Vincenzo Nannetti Munns (Biology), Nathan Muwowo (Drama), Georgina (Physics), Bobby Scott (Economics), Ben Smart Piercey (English Literature), Kiera Shorten (Music), (Sport), Aden Spyrou (Psychology) Olivia Tough (RS and PE)

website: www.harlington.org

Part of The Pyramid Schools Trust, a company limited by guarantee, registered in and Wales, company number 7668955. Registered office Harlington Upper School, Goswell End Road, Harlington, , LU5 6NX

As we begin to look forwards to the next half term I would like to remind parents and students that after half term we will expect all students to be in perfect uniform; including natural hair colour only; no clear ear or nose studs and PE outer wear from ‘Prestige’ only. Students who wear non uniform items will have them confiscated and we will retain them in the school safe until the end of term. Students out of uniform will not be allowed to attend their lessons. We have been delighted with the significant improvements students have made with their uniform; it is fantastic to seeing them looking and feeling smart and ready to learn and we look forward to the last few anomalies being ironed out before next half term.

On a personal note, I would like to thank the parent body for your kind welcome and support. I am delighted to be the Head of such a fantastic school and am really looking forward to working more closely with you in the months to come.

The whole staff body would like to wish you all a safe, peaceful and very happy half term.

Helen Harris Headteacher

Polite Reminder: PE Kit - As forewarned in earlier newsletters, the correct Harlington PE Kit is to be worn from Monday 2 November. To clarify, only the Harlington PE Kit from our suppliers Prestige (Falcon Manufacturers) will be accepted. We have been informed that all items are now available. The PE Kit includes the Harlington polo top, shorts, tracksuit bottoms, fleece top, rugby top (boys) and the optional sports rain jacket. Ongoing, there is no reason for incorrect PE kit as a flexible 7 week period to order/purchase items has been given. Please be clear, that school jumpers and coats are not to be worn in PE lessons.

Thank you, in advance for your support in keeping our students in appropriate and safe kit during their PE lessons. Mrs S Wareing, Head of PE [email protected]

Bronze DofE - If your son or daughter would like to do Bronze DofE please send me an email and I will send you back all of the information required to get this started. My email is [email protected]. For more information about the DofE and why you should get involved please see https://www.dofe.org/do/why/. Miss N Cross [email protected]

Calling all aspiring Jazz musicians - Please see poster attached to the end of this bulletin.

COVID-19 Communication - Please see a new COVID-19 Communication letter from the Director of Public Health to all parents ahead of the half term break.

Art Competition – Open to all years – please see end of bulletin for more information. Closing date 6/11/20

Applications for the 2021 National Youth Concert Band and National Children’s Concert Band are open! - After the disappointment of cancelling only our second course at Easter this year, we are delighted to announce that the National Youth Concert Band will be returning in April 2021 and will be performing the postponed world premiere of “Now You Can Believe” by Anne Chmelewsky (composer, “Where Hands Touch” motion picture, Ricky Gervais’ “Derek” (TV)). The NYCB will be joined on their course by the new National Children’s Concert Band. The NCCB is open to 11-14 year old young musicians of Grade 4-5 standard and will be conducted by Jane Conway (winner of multiple NCBF Platinum Awards).

The course will be held at Old Swinford Hospital School, Stourbridge, from 3-10 April 2021 with a final concert in the stunning Elgar Concert Hall in the Bramall Centre at Birmingham University. Applications for both bands are online and can be completed on our website - www.nycb.co.uk/join- us. Auditions will also be online. Further information is available on Facebook, Twitter (@NYCBGB) and on our website and videos from the 2019 course as well as NYCB’s lockdown performance of “Happy” can be found on the National Youth Concert Band’s YouTube channel. Jonathan Parkes, Musical Director, National Youth Concert Band CIC

Bedfordshire Festival 2021 - We are pleased to announce that a special, scaled-down version of the Festival is still planned for March 2021.

Due to the continued uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 virus and the anticipated restrictions, it will unfortunately not be possible to hold the Festival in its entirety in March.

Instead, the Festival will be reduced to 3-4 days of solo performances only, with restricted numbers of performers and audience per session, taking place between 8-12 March 2021. The last six months have been extremely challenging for those in the performing arts industry. As a result, the Committee feels it is so important for musicians and artists to have the opportunity to give a live performance, if at all possible, within a safe, compliant environment, which so many performers have missed in recent months. We will be constantly monitoring the progress of the pandemic. Whilst we want to be able to deliver a live performance opportunity, if this does not prove possible, we have contingency plans to move online instead so performers would still have the opportunity to perform and receive feedback. A decision on this will be taken nearer the time if this does prove necessary but we will let performers know in good time.

A special edition electronic version of the Syllabus has been published for this year only and can be found on the following link: https://www.bedfordshirefestival.org.uk/Home/Syllabus

Please do read the syllabus carefully before making an entry as there is a lot of new information to be noted.

The closing date for entries is 31st December 2020. Entry payments won’t be taken until 1st February 2021.

You will see that there are only options for generic classes for each discipline (e.g. “string solo”) If you wish to perform in a class for one of the specific disciplines available, please enter this class and we will work on splitting the entries into separate classes when the performance situation is clearer. We will only be offering solo classes. Alix Smith, Festival Secretary, Tel: 07824 829097, Website: https://bedfordshirefestival.org.uk, Facebook: www.facebook.com/bedfordshirefestival, Twitter: www.twitter.com/bedsfestival

YEAR 13

Year 13 Virtual Curriculum Parents Evening - The Year 13 Curriculum Parents Evening will be held on Thursday 5th November between 3.30pm and 7.30pm. The online booking system will open on Friday 30th October at 6pm and will close on Wednesday 4th November at 11pm. Letters and instructions can be found on the school website under letters and forms http://www.harlington.org/letters-and-forms. Appointments can be booked through the website http://harlingtonupper.parentseveningsystem.co.uk. [email protected]

OTHER INFORMATION

We currently have the following vacancy:

• Information Systems Manager (Data Manager) More information can be found on the school website at https://www.harlington.org/our- school/vacancies

The newly formed Pyramid Schools Trust is looking to appoint a Trust Administration Manager and PA, to work with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as part of the central team, based at Harlington Upper School. The role is to co-ordinate governance functions across the Trust, develop Trust policies and ensure compliance across the five schools in the Trust, to be the Data Protection Officer for the Trust, Clerk to the Trust Board and provide administrative support to the Chief Executive Officer. You will also be responsible for maintaining the Trust website and social media accounts. This is an exciting new role in a new Multi- Trust, and we expect the role to develop as the Trust grows. The successful candidate should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and be able to work collaboratively with a range of colleagues including senior stakeholders. You should have experience of providing administrative support, and be a self-starter, able to work with minimal supervision. The position is for 15 hours per week, term-time only, NJC payscale points 30-33 (actual salary £11,872 - £12,975). For more information and a job description/person specification see www.mynewterm.com. Closing date for applications is 12 November.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Monday 26th October 2020 Half Term Monday 2nd November 2020 Training Day Thursday 5 November 2020 Y13 Virtual Parents’ Evening Thursday 12 November 2020 Y9 Virtual Tutor Parent’s Evening

Jazz Hang at Trinity Laban with

Tomorrow's Warriors

1 November | 29 November | 6 December

Trinity Laban and Tomorrow’s Warriors are joining forces on an exciting new project for 11-16 year old musicians from a variety of backgrounds who are curious about jazz. The Jazz Hang starts with a series of free taster sessions this autumn, leading into regular sessions of informal and practical jazz learning in 2021.

Delivered by respected talent development organisation Tomorrow’s Warriors’ incredible music leaders, the sessions start in November and will take place across different locations in South East London, including at TL's historic King Charles Court campus. The half-day workshops will provide a practical and informal taste of jazz learning, and the opportunity to experience some great live jazz and meet other like-minded young musicians. No audition needed to join.

We particularly welcome interest from Black and female young musicians and are prioritising those who are at an early stage of their musical development and engagement with jazz. You should be at Grade 3 or equivalent on your instrument, and curious to find out more about jazz - we are looking for potential in addition to musical ability!

These taster sessions are part of exciting plans to support a diverse range of emerging jazz musicians across 2021 and beyond. Keep an eye on our website for further announcements coming later in the year.

To apply for a place on one of the taster session dates fill in our online form:

Taster Session 1 Taster Session 2 Taster Session 3

SUN 01 NOV 14:00-17:00 SUN 29 NOV 14:00-17:00 SUN 06 DEC 14:00-17:00

Trinity Laban Plumcroft School Lewisham - details TBC Conservatoire of Music & Vincent Road Dance, Woolwich Old Royal Naval College London London SE18 6RG SE10 9JF

Please contact us with any question: [email protected]

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