Newsletters

A Message From Mrs Rigby 

Dear Families

Welcome to some and welcome back to others!

I can't begin to tell you how happy myself and all the staff have been to see your children back on site.  During lockdown, we missed the interaction we normally have with pupils and it was with great delight that we reopened our doors to everyone last week.

Obviously, things are still not quite 'normal' and I wanted to remind you exactly how things are different at the moment:

1. All tutor groups spend every lesson in their tutor base, there is no movement about the school for lessons.
    
2. There is a comprehensive one way system about the buildings.
    
3. Some pupils are arriving late and leaving early as their transport dictates.
    
4. We have staggered break times so that each tutor group can play in a zone without mixing with other tutor groups.
    
5. Pupils eat their lunch in their tutor bases. If they have a school lunch they collect it from the hall at the allocated time and return to form.
    
6. Whilst we have returned to teaching and learning we still have a heavy focus on wellbeing, relationships, communication and learning how to be Covid secure, eg: hand-washing; hand sanitising; catch it, bin it, kill it; social distancing; donning and doffing face coverings etc.
    
7. The addition of contract cleaners who operate throughout the school day, sanitising all frequently touched areas.
    
8. The addition of multiple hand-washing facilities about the buildings and site.
    
9. Assemblies are now virtual and classes watch them in their tutor base.
    
10. Tutor group staff teams are consistent and cover for them is provided by a senior teacher wearing a mask.
     
11. All staff have face masks, visors and gloves should they need to assist a pupil in a medical or another emergency.
     
12. We have an isolation minibus, where any person exhibiting possible symptoms of Covid, would be situated whilst they were assessed and a decision made as to whether they needed to go home.

Other things that are different at the moment are not a result of Covid !  We are delighted that our building work has started for the new school.  It has added some challenges both for staff and pupils. Pupils have lost playground space and certain routes around the site that they were previously familiar with.  For staff, the vast majority cannot park on site so are now either walking, running or cycling to school (yes, it's good for us and the environment!) or are parking on local driveways and walking to school from there.  Last week the whole school assembly shared with pupils some images of the new school. I will be sending out invitations to families to join a virtual meeting where I can show you the plans and images of the new school. Please look out for these!

We are currently making our plans for what our Covid systems, timings of the school day and lessons will look like when we 'pop' the bubbles. However, at present, with the further restrictions from the Government and the increase in local cases, it is likely that we will extend our current model or operation for at least two weeks (until Friday 2nd October). I will confirm this in next week's bulletin.

I would like to take a moment to thank all parents, carers and family members who drop off and pick up their child each day for your tolerance and understanding.  Thank you for bearing with us, particularly when you collect your child at the end of the day.  Some pupils have a very long walk around the one way system to get to the front of school which can take some time! Also, apologies for my struggle in learning names!

A few requests to help us keep all pupils safe:

1. Please ensure you always use the crossing at the front of school to model to both your child and others that might be watching,  that this is the safest place to cross.  If you could please do this even if you do not have a child with you I would be most grateful.
    
2. If you need to turn your car around, please drive either up or down Royal Lane to one of the roundabouts and make the turn there, not in the school entrance or as a three point turn manoeuvre outside the school. Many thanks. 
    
3. Please do not stop your car anywhere along the road at the front of school. Unfortunately some parents have received tickets from the traffic camera system which monitors this area.
    
4. If you need to speak to a member of staff,  please understand that those on duty before and after school are all assigned to a particular job and may not be able to talk with you.  Also, standing at the front of school or on the path can cause a blockage in our social distancing.  Alternatively, where possible, please call or email the school so we can give you the attention you deserve.

I hope you feel secure in the measures we are taking to keep our site secure, but should you have any concerns, please email them to meadow@meadowhighschool.org or alternatively, communicate them to your child's form tutor.

Best wishes for a beautiful weekend in the sun!

Mrs Rigby
Headteacher