School Newsletter Spring 2021
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Spring Term 2021 SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Diocesan Director of Education Deborah Smith I have been thinking about community and what does a sense of ‘community and living well’ mean to us. The Bible is very clear, we were made for community. In Genesis chapter 1 we are told of how the first humans communed with God in the garden of Eden. The sense of being together, of sharing our lives with each other and with God is at the center of our very being. ‘The conviction that we are created and sustained by God for living together in families and communities is at the root of our dedication to educating for life together.’ (CEEO, 2016:11) I wrote the first part of this letter following the government announcement regarding Tier 4 and further restrictions across the UK. Who knew then what the fullness of the first week of term would bring? We had already decided that this newsletter was to fo- cus on community as we recognize how important such a sense of community has been recently and continues to be. My prayers go out for all of you this week and in the weeks ahead. You have already achieved all that has been asked of you and more. We are here to support, advise and most of all listen if you want us to. I love the idea of sharing our lives together, of ‘living well’ together. This doesn’t mean we will all always agree or that we share all the same views on a myriad of topics but it does mean we are committed to working through difficult times and any differences that become apparent. It does mean we actively support one another, we share, we hold up, we encourage, we draw upon each other when the need arises. To educate for ‘community and living well’ means we acknowledge the importance of being ‘bound together in a covenant that commits us to love God and be good neighbours to all.’ (Ibid) When asked what was the greatest commandment Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself.” (Luke 10:27) I have heard amazing ways that our school communities show the love of God in the ways you love each other and Follow us on your neighbours and I want to thank you all for that. It is certainly needed even more than ever at this time. Twitter @DbeManchester As we look towards all that 2021 will bring my prayer is that we each individually and collectively obey Jesus’ commandment to love God and to demonstrate this in the tangible ways we love each other. That each school will continue to be ‘a hospitable community that seeks to embody an ethos of living well together.’ (CEEO, 2016:11) And Office: 0161 8281429 that they are places where children and adults flourish, despite all that is happening in our local area, our diocese and our world. Mobile: 07854 816639 Email: [email protected] Newsletter Highlights Annual Schools Conference 2021: Information about Peer Support Networks: New 2021 PSN sessions will our 2021 Conference including a ‘save the date’ can be continue via Zoom for both primary and secondary school found on p3. teams, please see p3. Governor Training: All information about new Governor Hellos and goodbyes: Fond farewells and new Training sessions can be found on p11. introductions can be found on p5 and p8. Putting our faith in Education 1 EVENTUPCOMING UPDATES EVENTS Thank you to everyone who has joined us online for the annual meetings so far. Zoom has proven to be an accessible meetings alternative and we will continue to use this form for our larger gatherings until it is safe to meet in person. Cathedral Events Heads and Chairs Y6 Leavers Services Coffee and 2021 Chat We are very excited to announce dates for the 2021 Y6 Leavers’ Services below, with further details to follow. Meetings We anticipate that bookings will open on Monday 01 March. Thank you for your patience at this time. Please do not Supportive coffee and chat meetings will be taking place ring or email to enquire until we have further in February 2021 for all Heads and Chairs, via Zoom. confirmation. Be reassured that we will be in touch. The Rt Revd Mark Davies, Bishop of Middleton, will lead short reflections at each one and both the DOE, Thursday 10 June 2021 Wednesday 16 June 2021 Deborah Smith and newly appointed Deputy Director, Liam Eaglestone will be in attendance. Friday 11 June 2021 Thursday 17 June 2021 The meetings replace the usual Heads and Chairs Monday 14 June 2021 Friday 18 June 2021 meetings which previously took place throughout the Tuesday 15 June 2021 Summer and Autumn terms, in each of the 11 Local Authority areas. These meetings are informal and supportive. All are welcome to attend either meeting, so grab a brew and a Retired Headteachers biscuit. Zoom invitations and links will be sent out a week Thanksgiving Service before by Ayanda Reiss. Dates are as follows; This service was cancelled due to COVID-19. We are happy to announce that a new date is now in place for Monday 01 February 13:30-15:00 2021. Please see below for details. Tuesday 09 February 10:00-11:30 A Thanksgiving Celebration for Retired Heads, with Evensong will now take place on Wednesday 16 June 2021,17:00. Invitations will be sent out in the Spring Term this year. NEW Headteacher and Acting Headteacher termly DISCLAIMER induction meetings All events are subject to change in light As part of Headteacher induction an informal meeting is taking place each term throughout this academic year for of any new updates and advisement any substantive/acting headteachers who are in their first from the government and Church of year of post. This term’s session is on Tuesday 02 March. England. Please register your interest An invitation via email will be sent out with the zoom links by Ayanda Reiss at end of February 2021, a week before in these events so that we can update the event. Reflections will be led by the Rt Revd Mark you accordingly. Davies, Bishop of Middleton. 2 DIOCESAN ANNUAL SCHOOL LEADERS CONFERENCE 2021 Stop Press: Change of date for Diocesan Annual School Leaders Conference. Save the date: Thursday 21 October 2021 Friday 30 April 2021 has now been cancelled. ‘Creation, Climate and Curriculum: In the beginning God created…’ Venue: Lion of Vienna Suite, Whites Hotel, A day to focus on our Bolton personal and collective 08:15 breakfast served, 09:00 conference start responsibilities towards creation and The Rt Revd Mark Davies, Bishop of Middleton and the Education Team are stewardship of our looking forward to welcoming Heads, senior leaders, governors and clergy to our environment from a conference, looking forward to net zero carbon by 2030. theological and Bookings will open on Monday 01 March 2021. The cost is £100pp SLA leadership perspective. membership, or £140pp non SLA membership. This will be our first paperless conference and we will be welcoming speakers based on our theme. There will also be workshops and online interactivity too. Peer Support Networks 2021 After the success of our previous Peer Support Networks in November 2020, which focussed on ‘Growing Faith’ and Dates for this term are as follows; ‘Wellbeing’ for school leaders, we are happy to announce this term’s sessions and dates. Growing Faith - facilitated by Emily Norman, CEFEL and Karen Beal, Diocesan Children’s Officer. During our last set of sessions groups enjoyed lively and interesting discussions as we looked at relevant research Tuesday 02 February, 10:30 and were challenged to think as leaders. Good news stories Tuesday 16 March, 10:30 were shared, challenges talked about and practical ideas exchanged. Tuesday 20 April, 10:30 Hannah Large, Head of School at West Didsbury CE Primary School writes ‘can I just say what a great Wellbeing - facilitated by Emily Norman, CEFEL and session the well-being zoom was on Tuesday. It was Ruth Houston, Educational Consultant. just what I needed to keep me sane...Please pass on my thanks to Emily too who was such an engaging Wednesday 03 February, 14:00 repeated Thursday 04 facilitator...The well-being made me re appreciate February, 10:30 what a great support network we have in the Diocese.” Tuesday 23 March, 14:00 repeated Wednesday 24 March, 10:30 Peer Support Networks aim to meet the needs of specific school communities, with the vision stemming from the Thursday 22 April, 14:00 repeated Friday 23 April, need to develop Called, Connected and Committed 10:30 leaders within both primary and secondary school settings. Please book a place at; Sessions can be accessed by all school leaders at any level, [email protected] from Headteacher to Middle Leader, Clergy to Governor. Even if you weren't able to make the last ones, feel free to join us this term. 3 MEET THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WITH PETER WRIGHT AND REVD KAREN OWEN We asked two of our lovely Revd Karen Owen is vicar at St Board of Education Mary’s Ellenbrook and members, Peter Wright and St Andrew’s Boothstown in the Revd Karen Owen, a series Worsley Team Ministry. of questions to help us get What do members of the BOE do? to know them better. They have passion for, interest in and prayerful duty towards the Christian education, values and spiritual Peter Wright is Headteacher at St development of children and young Peter’s CE Primary School, Swinton.