Luton Sixth Form Taster
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School Newsletter | October 2016 | Student name:_______________ InIn thisthis issue….issue…. WelcomeWelcome toto OurOur NewNew YearYear 7s7s „CHESS‟„CHESS‟ Lealands‟Lealands‟ PresentationPresentation EveningEvening PlusPlus muchmuch more...more... AspireAspire BelieveBelieve AchieveAchieve InIn ThisThis Issue….Issue…. Content Page Introduction from Headteacher Mr Burridge 3-4 Dates for your Diary 5 Medical Information 6-7 New Website 8 School Improvement Priorities 9 International Award Success 10-11 Clubs & Extra-Curricular Activities 12-15 Outstanding Achievements 16 Welcome to our New Year 7 Students 17-19 Year 7 Trip To Dell Farm 20-21 Our Week At Summer School 22-23 Fun In The Sun 24 Summer Games 25 Charity Work 26 Book Review 27 Duke of Edinburgh Award 28-29 Sports Day 30-31 CHESS 32-33 Luton 6th Form Taster Day 33 London Rambert Trip 34 Lealands Celebrates At Annual Presentation Evening 35 2 Introduction from Headteacher Mr Burridge Dear parents and carers, We have had a fantastic start to the year and have really enjoyed welcoming all our new students – they have been delightful. This year has seen the largest growth in numbers in recent years and we have responded with a separate lunchtime for Year 7 students. This has, not only allowed Year 7s to settle in even better, but has meant that lunchtime queues have been very manageable and run efficiently in the time. The sheer number of students, in the school now, is very evident at the end of the day when they are all leaving at the same time. We are pleased that this growth has gone well and we are now full in most year groups. 2017 will be the final year of growth to our full capacity of 1050. Following consultation during the last academic year, the school converted to Foundation Status from Community Status on 12th September. On the whole, parents and students shouldn’t see any differences, but we now have greater control over our buildings and land as well as becoming our own employer. As well as welcoming many new students, we also have a significant number of new staff. Some of our new staff are from Canada, Ireland and the USA – they have brought an added dimension to the school which is further enhancing the opportunities and experience of our students. Others have joined us from across the UK including, York, Wales and Dunstable! We really are a truly international school! We have included our school improvement priorities for 2016-17 in this newsletter. We are really focusing our energies on further enhancing teaching and learning within our ambition to have as much outstanding teaching as possible. We also want to enhance our interventions so that all students make really good progress. This is in the context of an increasingly academic and challenging curriculum leading to significantly harder GCSEs. At the Year 9 Tutor Evening a few weeks ago, I know many parents were interested to hear about the complicated changes to GCSEs and grades from Mr Little, our Assistant Head responsible for curriculum. Information about this is available on our website along with much more. This year we have also further developed careers provision in the school with the appointment of Miss Griffiths to a new Careers Coordinator role. She will be further 3 Headteacher‟sHeadteacher‟s IntroductionIntroduction developing the many opportunities that students already have to explore the world of work and make important decisions about their futures. Miss Griffiths is now located in Learning Resource Centre so that students can see her whenever they need to. I hope you enjoy reading about the many interesting events and activities our students have been involved in and how they have demonstrated what it means to be a Lealands’ student throughout this newsletter. I am particularly pleased to see a number of the reports written by students which we hope to continue throughout the year. Mr J Burridge Headteacher ContactContact InformationInformation As we settle into the new academic year at Lealands, we would like to remind you that it is extremely important that we have up to date contact information for all students. If there are any changes to a student’s address, parental contact telephone numbers or email addresses, please can you inform Mrs Lawes in the Finance Office as soon as possible on 01582 611600 or email [email protected] Lots of information is sent home via these methods and if contact details are incorrect, unfortunately important information may not get passed on. 4 DatesDates ForFor YourYour DiaryDiary Year 7 Tutor Evening - Wednesday 19th October 2016 Year 11 Parents’ Evening - Wednesday 2nd November 2016 Blue Peris Trip - Tuesday 15th November—Saturday 19th November 2016 Year 8 Parents’ Evening - Wednesday 16th November 2016 Year 10 Parents’ Evening - Wednesday 30th November 2016 Christmas Concert - Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th December 2016 French Trip - Friday 9th December—Monday 12th December 2016 Term Dates Half Term: Monday 24th October - Friday 28th October 2016 Autumn Term Ends: Friday 16th December 2016 Spring Term Begins: Thursday 5th January 2017 Training Days Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th December 2016 Wednesday 4th January 2017 ££ ££ ££ OnlineOnline PaymentsPayments Don’t forget you can pay online using the ‘Parents’ Payment’ link which now appears as a £ sign on the slideshow of our website: www.lealands.luton.sch.uk. If you do not have your link code to login, please contact the school Finance Office on 01582 611600. The following is currently available for payment online: Voluntary Contributions Events, Trips and Visits Other Technology Years 7,8,9 Blue Peris Music Lessons Textiles Year 10 and 11 Duke of Edinburgh Resistant Materials Year 10 and 11 Food Contribution Year 11 The school also prefers for all school meals to be paid for online. This gives you the flexibility to top up your child’s account at home using a debit or credit card rather than having to use cash or cheque. Further details and an online payments instruction manual can be found on our website: www.lealands.luton.sch.uk under the ‘Parents’ Information’ section. 5 MedicalMedical InformationInformation GUIDELINES FOR VISITS TO THE MEDICAL ROOM Our trained Medical Officer can administer minor first aid and will contact parents/ medical services for more serious cases. All accidents and visits to the medical room are recorded and monitored. All visits should be made during break/lunch time, unless it is an emergency. Any student attending the medical room during lesson time without their learning diary being signed by a teacher will be sent back to class. If a student is causing a real concern or is in distress, a visit to the medical room is at the teacher’s discretion. It is very important to ensure that we do not dehydrate. Students should ensure they bring a bottle of water with them to school – this can be refilled at the water fountains. Students will not be permitted to leave lessons to visit the medical room to get a drink. Any fizzy drinks or energy drinks WILL BE CONFISCATED. Students should not be leaving lesson to use the toilet unless it is an emergency or they have been issued with a toilet pass due to a medical issue. Please speak to Matron if you have any concerns. MEDICINES IN SCHOOL Prescription medicines MUST be supplied to the Medical Room in a container labelled by the pharmacist. All other medicines must be provided in their original packaging. All medicines held and dispensed by the Medical Room must have a parent’s/carer’s written consent. Medication prescribed for 1 / 2 / 3 doses a day should not normally require administration during the school day, unless times are specifically stated by their GP. The medication should generally be taken at the following times:- 1) before school 2) on arrival home from school 3) before bedtime Asthma Inhalers Inhalers for the relief of asthma must be immediately available and should be carried in school by pupils who use them. Please ensure the child’s name is on the inhaler. A spare inhaler should be left in the Medical Room in case of emergency. 6 Paracetamol Paracetamol can only be given to students who have returned their permission slip. Tablets will only be given at break, lunch time and at change of lesson unless the school has been informed the student suffers with migraine or is on the Medical List. Students must not carry pain relief tablets. If students are caught carrying medication in school, the tablets will be confiscated and the Senior Leadership Team will be informed. 48 HOUR RULE Could I please remind you that any child who has had diarrhoea and / or vomiting should be kept at home for 48 hours from the LAST episode of diarrhoea or vomiting. This directive comes from the Health Protection Agency – Guidance of Infection Control in Schools and other Child Care Settings. MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS Whilst we realise that some of these are unavoidable, please try and book appointments before or after school and ensure proof is supplied to ensure a two hour appointment time is authorised. Students should not be taking the whole day off school to attend appointments. For longer appointments (ie London hospitals), please speak to Matron direct as a longer absence can be authorised in exceptional circumstances. Matron PricePrice IncreasesIncreases The price to purchase a replacement tie and learning diary from the School Office has increased. The price to purchase a replacement tie is now £5.50 and a replacement learning diary is £4.25. 7 NewNew AcademicAcademic Year,Year, NewNew WebsiteWebsite Lealands is very excited to announce the launch of our newly redesigned website.