Selecting our ACE activities

All students were given the opportunity to self select their ACCESS activity of choice this afternoon following a carousel of staff sales pitches. 

Students have selected first, second and third choices and will begin their six week block of ACCESS curriculum enrichment next week. 

Sessions include swimming, STEM Kart, Equestrian Club (with a real life horse), Darts, Italian language club and much more! 

Planning break and after school ACCESS

As well as our Friday ACE time, all students have the opportunity to join a lunch or after school club. 

Staff have finalised their offer today and this will be shared with students via the student bulletin on Monday. More activities will be launches during the half term and further updates will be shared. 

Please encourage your child to participate. 

Electing the School Council

Tutor time is always buzzing with discussion and debate but this week has been especially exciting as not only have students been setting targets for themselves, debating the use of AI in education, learning about savings accounts and why we have a government but they have also held Tutor group elections with every student writing a manifesto before voting for their preferred representative. 

Congratulations to all those elected. The first School Council meeting will be held in the library on Monday morning at 8.30am. 

Doing some lunchtime menu maths

Year 7 students have got to grips with secondary school lunchtime and have been encouraged to take advantage of the meal deal offer which includes a drink and is cheaper than buying separate items. 

Please discuss lunchtime options with your child to avoid them over-spending and make the most of the fabulous food available to them. 

Planning the Lumiere launch

Students in Year 9 will be attending the Lumiere launch on Tuesday next week. 

This involves a visit to Locomotion and a series of workshops with artists, scientists and the the Lumiere production team. 

In order to participate Year 9 students must return their completed consent form which has been given to them today. A copy of the letter can also be found here. 

Sharing reminders about communication

We have six ways of communication between home and school.

1) This bulletin Sent out every Friday with an update of the week and important reminders. Please share with others. 

2) Social Media- follow us to see daily information and news and school policies

3) School Comms- app we use to send letters, information specific to your child including reports

4) Class-charts- app that shows you your child's attendance, behaviour and achievement points and their homework (don't believe it if they tell you they don't have any. They do!)

5) Telephone- If we have concerns about your child or they have received first aid, we will always call you. It is a legal requirement that you provide accurate contact details and that you have emergency contacts who are available should your child need to be collected. It is a parental responsibility to respond to communication about your child. 

6) The website: durhamacademy.org.uk for policies and general information.

If you have any problems accessing the above please contact the school reception and we will ask our IT team to reissue passwords or resolve issues. 

Please be aware that if you contact main reception via the telephone, the member of staff you would like to speak to may not be available. All members of staff have full timetables where they are deployed to work with students and therefore they will return your call within 48hrs.

Verbal abuse and aggression will not be tolerated and your call will be ended as staff and students have the right to feel safe whilst at work and school.