Newsletters

Weekly Bulletin - Issue 32 - Friday 28 May 2021

Issue 32 - Friday 28 May 2021

Dear Families, 

May I first wish you a very well deserved break for this half term.

Covid

Thankfully, we have had no further confirmed cases of Covid-19 in our community. This brings the total number of confirmed cases during this half term to one.

Please continue to encourage your child to take two weekly lateral flow tests and to report the results online (as this informs our resupply of test kits).

Should your child be tested positive up to Wednesday 2nd June, please notify the school by emailing jrigby@meadowhighschool.org or texting 07851 254 246.  

Please include:

  • your child’s name

  • the date when symptoms first appeared

  • the date of the confirmed COVID-19 test result

  • their last day in school.  

We will inform other parents by email if their child has been a ‘close contact’ and is required to self-isolate.  

For clarity, if your child tests positive for COVID-19, having developed symptoms more than 48 hours since being in school, the school should not be contacted in this case.  Please follow contact tracing instructions provided by NHS Test and Trace.

Build 

Unfortunately, I was informed this week that the new building is slightly delayed. Despite heroic efforts to make up for time lost to wet weather and Covid and Brexit supply chain issues the team will not have the building ready for us to move into in September.

This means that we have had to alter our calendar for next year and pupils are now expected to return to school on Thursday 2nd September.  I am aware that some of you may have already booked holiday for this time.  If this is the case for you, we will need evidence that a holiday is booked and when the booking was made to enable us to authorise the absence.  Please direct your queries and information regarding this to Berni Gamble, Attendance Officer              bgamble@meadowhighschool.org 

We are currently negotiating with the Local Authority and DfE for a 4th school closure day to allow more packing time and unpacking time for staff.  Packing at the end of an academic year is much easier than in the middle of a term when most resources are in use all the time. 

At present, we will have a training day on Friday 22nd October and three school closure days on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 1st, 2nd, 3rd November. Should an additional day be granted I will notify you of this as soon as possible.  An updated list of Term Times is attached here:  Term Times 2021/2022 (updated)

I will be writing to you early next half-term to give you further detail and to outline support we can offer during the school closures.

Again, apologies for this change and many thanks in anticipation of your understanding in this matter.

Assembly

This week we learned about London History Day which is held annually on the 31st May.  Although arrangements to celebrate the day are somewhat different this year, we took the opportunity to look at places of interest or historical significance in London, as well as the virtual tours that are available.  I'm hoping that the assembly will encourage some pupils to learn more about London and to explore the wonderful city either virtually or in person. We also explored books about London and listened to Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker Street', Ralph McTell's 'Streets of London' and The Clash's 'London Calling'. 

Timetable

After half-term, as part of our gradual easing back into 'normal' working, pupils will no longer be class based, but will move around the school to different rooms. Form tutors have been preparing pupils for this and have made sure that they know where they need to go and how to navigate the one way system to get there. Please be assured that we will continue to encourage social distancing and the Hands, Face, Space message as well as maintaining zoned playgrounds, tutor room lunchtimes, virtual assemblies and our hygiene and cleaning regime. 

Very best wishes to you and your loved ones.

Mrs J Rigby
Headteacher


Dear Parents,
 
As part of our ongoing Covid support package, if your child is unable to attend school (because they are shielding, or have tested positive for Covid19), but are feeling well, they should be attending lessons via Google Classroom from their second day of absence.  Invites to lessons are sent to the pupils' school Gmail account.  (Apologies, but we are unable to provide work in other formats).
 
Pupils who are shielding or asymptomatic must attend lessons remotely.  Pupils who cannot attend school for these reasons are not having a 'day off' and attendance concerns for those who fail to attend online lessons after 2 days will be followed up.  Schools are required to provide online learning and keep a record of attendance.
 
If you need help accessing the email account or need a device please contact the school and let us know.  Pupils, where possible, will be invited to the start of the lesson and have tasks set for them to complete using Google Classroom.  This is not possible for every lesson, eg PE but classroom based lessons should have a link provided.  If you have any difficulties or have not received an invite via your child's email account please let the relevant Assistant Head Teacher know ie Mr Rainsbury, Ms Richards or Ms Taylor.
 
Pupils in Pathway 1 have slightly different arrangements but again if work is not received please let Ms Willis know. 
 
Ms C Caddell 
Deputy Headteacher
 

Next Week is Half Term
Monday 31 May - Friday 4 June 2021

Back to School on Monday 7 June 2021


Annual Review Day 
Wednesday 16 June 2021

School is CLOSED to pupils

Some pupils will be having their Annual Review Meetings on this day.   Appointment letters  are being sent home this week for those pupils who are having their Review at this time.


School Packed Lunches Survey
for Parents & Carers 

The Local Authority are aiming to improve healthy eating for children across Hillingdon and would like parents/carers to complete a School Lunchbox Survey, They are keen to find out more about your views on healthy eating when children have packed lunches, as this will help them better understand how to support parents when preparing packed lunches, to ensure they are healthy and nutritious lunches.  Parents & carers can access the survey via the following link: School Lunchbox Survey

The deadline for completing the survey is Friday 18th June.



Amazon Smile

Want to help make a difference while you shop in the Amazon app, at no extra cost to you? Simply follow the instructions below to select Friends Of Meadow High School (Hillingdon) as your charity and activate AmazonSmile in the app. Amazon will donate a portion of your eligible mobile app purchases to us.

How it works:
1. Open the Amazon app on your phone
2. Select the main menu (=) & tap on "AmazonSmile" within Programmes & Features
3. Select Friends Of Meadow High School (Hillingdon) as your charity
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to activate AmazonSmile in the mobile app


Calendar, School Lunches and Letters Home

UPCOMING EVENTS

SUMMER TERM:

Monday 31 May 2021 - Friday 4 June 2021 - HALF TERM HOLIDAY

Wednesday 16 June 2021 - ANNUAL REVIEW DAY - School is CLOSED to pupils

Thursday 24 June 2021 - VIRTUAL Parents Evening (more information to follow)

Tuesday 6 July 2021 - Transition Day

Friday 23 July 2021 - Term ends (2pm finish)

To view the school calendar visit the website NEWS/CALENDAR

Please find below the updated Term Dates for next school year (September 2021 - August 2022).  These include the changes indicated in Mrs Rigby's letter above.

Term Dates 2021-2022 (updated)

LETTERS HOME

Letter to Year 13 & 14 (except Pathway 1) re Work Experience

SCHOOL LUNCHES

Week - Monday 7 June - Friday 11 June 2021

Week 1 - Spring Summer Menu 2021

Here is a printable PDF of the new Spring / Summer Menu 2021


E-Safety


News and Events in the Community

Dear Parent/Carers

If you would like your child to join any of the activities listed below over the half term, you can self-refer.  If you  would like help to do this, I am available until the end of the day on Friday afternoon and would be happy to support you with completing a referral.

Please contact the school office on 01895 443310 and ask for Debby Gleed-Young

Hillingdon  Half Term Offer this June 2021.
 
 
Tuesday
1st June 2021
Wednesday
2nd June 2021 
Thursday
3rd June 2021 
Friday
5th June 2021
10:00-12:00
IRL* ??
for school year 4+
Get Back Out There at Ruislip Lido,
Ruislip
Get Back Out There at Ruislip Lido,
Ruislip
Get Back Out There at  Yiewsley Rec, Yiewsley
Get Back Out There at  Yiewsley Rec, Yiewsley
13:00-15:00
IRL* ??
for school year 4+
Get Back Out There at Fassnidge Park, Uxbridge
Get Back Out There at Fassnidge Park, Uxbridge
Get Back Out There at Barra Hall Park,
Hayes
Get Back Out There at Barra Hall Park,
Hayes
13:00-14:00
Online** ??
for school years 4-6
 
Eat Well, Keep Well - online cooking and wellness 3 day workshop
14:15-15:15
Online** ??
for school years 7+
 
Eat Well, Keep Well - online cooking and wellness 3 day workshop
 
A little more information about our targeted programmes with half term
*Get Back Out There: Get back out there with ADS outdoors. A fun filled sport and team game session, where being socially distant won't get in the way of having a good time. Groups divided into sy4-6 and sy7+.
 
**Eat Well, Keep Well: FREE FOOD - Now we have your attention! Sign up to 'Eat Well, Keep Well'? Three online interactive cooking workshops that show you how to create three triple threat dishes, that look good, taste good and are good for you.  
 

Visit rebrand.ly/targetedprogrammes to make a referral to Adolescent Development Services


Rise in “Royal Mail” delivery scams - be alert

Dear Watch Member,

The Metropolitan Police Cyber Crime Unit has seen a sharp rise in “Royal Mail” delivery scams over the last week or two.

Victims are receiving texts or emails purporting to be from Royal Mail claiming a package requires a small payment to be delivered. (along with other similar narratives)

Clicking on the link and providing your details leads to your money and/or identity being stolen.

Scammers send hundreds of thousands of these messages every day.  Someone, somewhere, will receive one of these on the very day that they were expecting a parcel.  The chances of a hit by the scammers is therefore extremely high.  One moment of dropping your guard and clicking on a link is enough to make their day.

If you do click through accidentally then as well as compromising your device, the website may ask you for e.g. your date of birth to verify who you are before proceeding – having given up that piece of information to them they are then one step closer to your full identity.

There is a list of examples of some very convincing scam messages on the Royal Mail website - please make yourself familiar with these:

https://www.royalmail.com/help/scam-examples

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: hillingdonnhw@gmail.com

Regards,
Dave Ludlow
Community Coordinator
Email: hillingdonnhw@gmail.com


Children and young people’s health and wellbeing in North West London, What matters?

Connecting Care for Children (CC4C) is a paediatric integrated care model which has been used to implement whole system change and to improve the way children’s care is commissioned, delivered and experienced across north west London.

Workshops were held where the views of parents, grandparents, community support and healthcare professionals were sought.    Below is the report from those workshops.

Report:  Health & Wellbeing for Chldren & Young People - What Matters


Hillingdon Autistic Care
& Support (HACS)

Forthcoming Courses:

Dear Parents, Carers & Professional’s

Don’t miss out on our training for parents, professionals and family members this term https://www.hacs.org.uk/training-and-events 

Our next training sessions are:

Understanding Autistic Children and Young People

Wednesday 26th May 2021, 6.30pm – 9pm

This Interactive Zoom workshop for parents, carers and professionals. This Workshop explores the four areas of difference associated with autism. You will have opportunity to network with other families and ask questions in supportive surroundings

£10 per person or 50% discount for HACS Members. New Members will receive this Workshop ‘Free’.

 

*NEW* Hillingdon Secondary Transfer Support Session

Tuesday 8th June 2021, 7pm – 8.30pm

MEMBERS ONLY FREE SUPPORT SESSION - Is your child starting secondary school in September 2022?  If your child has an EHCP, Hillingdon SEND Team have started the phased transfer process and you should have recently received a letter explaining this process.  You will be required to submit your secondary school placement preferences by 16th July 2021.

he move to secondary school or further education is very daunting and it’s a big decision, one you have to get right.  If you’re finalising your child’s placement for a September 2022 start, we are running a FREE support session as a starting place to help you make the right choice.  We will guide you through the steps you need to understand and help you make the most informed decision.

 

Autism and Sensory Differences

Wednesday 9th June 2021, 6.30pm – 9pm

Autistic individuals experience sensory information in very unique ways. This session for parents and professionals will explore sensory experiences strategies to create autism-friendly environments.

£20 per person or 50% discount for HACS Members

 

Autism: Friendly Guide to Periods

Saturday 26th June 2021, 1pm – 3pm

Robyn Steward is Autistic and in 2019 published her second book " The Autism friendly guide to periods: This training is for people who are going to or have periods & those who support them (the session will be gender neutral) and will cover the basics of menstruation, what specific issues there can be for autistic people and How you can support yourself or someone else during the menstrual cycle.

£20 per person or 50% discount for HACS Members

 

Autistic Parenthood with Shona Murphy

Wednesday 30th June 2021, 8pm – 9pm

Shona Murphy, Autistic parent, Autism professional and academic will be sharing her research into the highs and lows of autistic parenthood and her experiences of being an autistic mother to two autistic children. This webinar will be useful for autistic people, carers of autistic people.       

£20 per person or 50% discount for HACS Members

 

Transition to Adulthood, Getting it Right from Year 9

Wednesday 14th July 2021, 6.30pm – 7.30pm

Planning for adulthood should start from Year 9, so that young people and their parents have the right support from Education, health and social care in their final years at school and beyond, to prepare for work and independent living.

£10 per person or Free to HACS Members

 

Understanding and Supporting Autistic Adults

Wednesday 21st July 2021, 6.30pm – 8.30pm

Co-produced with autistic adults, this webinar will focus on the characteristics of autism and the challenges faced by autistic people in adulthood.

£20 per person or 50% discount for HACS Members. New Members will receive this Workshop ‘Free’.

 

Pre-recorded Webinar: Understanding PDA and Autism

Available on demand 6pm – 8.30pm

This recorded webinar is hosted by Laura Kerbey looks at the differences and similarities of Autism, Asperger's Syndrome and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and gives attendees a "tool-kit" of strategies to effectively support children and young people with this profile of needs.

£10 per recording or 50% discount for HACS Members – Email enquiries@hacs.org.uk to buy your copy

 

HACS Members please contact enquiries@hacs.org.uk for member discount codes

 


Staff Vacancies

We are currently recruiting for the following staff vacancies.  Please pass on this information to any family or friends who may be interested.   For more information and to apply please follow the links to the Crinklerecruitment website. 

TEACHING ASSISTANT

JOB REFERENCE: CJ1229
Advert Posted On: 20/05/2021

Post Start Date: ASAP
Closing date: 11/06/2021
Closing time: 11:59 AM

For more information click here

TEAM LEADER

JOB REFERENCE: CJ1225
Advert Posted On: 20/05/2021

Post Start Date: 01 September 2021
Closing date: 08/06/2021
Closing time: 11:59 AM

We require a Team Leader to be based in KS4!.   For more information click here

LEAD JOB COACH

JOB REFERENCE: CJ1226
Advert Posted On: 20/05/2021

Post Start Date: ASAP
Closing date: 14/06/2021
Closing time: 11:59 AM

For more information click here

School Website:   www.meadowhighschool.org

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/MeadowHighSch

Youtube:  meadowhighschoolhello

Email:  meadow@meadowhighschool.org

Telephone:  01895 443310