Dear colleagues,

I hope that you are all OK and have survived the adverse weather unscathed.  Thank you for posting tasks on Google Classroom for our learners.  It is always frustrating to lose time from class, so keeping pupils engaged and connected is important. Unfortunately the loss of power in the villages is likely to have had an impact on some pupil and staff.  Please keep this in mind.

A busy week ahaed with the Curriculum Evening to support course choice on Monday, tracking due and House Assemblies. I will be out on inspection - back at the end of the week.

A predicted, the return of the seniors brought with it an increase in phone confiscations. This week there were 12  (3 x S1, 1 x S2, 4 x S4, 4 x S5).  Thank you for holding the line and enforcing the policy. I see calm, purposeful, uninterupted classrooms.  The routines are already strong in S1-3.

As agreed at the staff meeting, the next area requiring attention is to improve uniform expectations. You were copied-into an email sent to parents last week. Already, we see an improvement in general standards - thank you Form Class Leaders! If we do not alert parents and pupils to our collective expectations, they assume that whatever they are wearing is acceptable.  Please could all staff ensure that outdoor jackets and hoodies are removed in classes.  

As part of our safeguarding responsibilities, I will be reviewing the numbers of incomplete registers.  Please ensure that all registers are completed, ideally within the first 15 minutes of class.  I will review data with you next week.

Thanks to those who have provided feedback on the Learning, Teaching & Assessment Policy and updated Observation Sheet (below).  If you haven't had a chance, your feedback is most welcome.  

Here is a link to the Social Media Survey staff responses. Of those who replied (37 responses) there is a strong consensus that we should quickly remove ourselves from Twitter.  I will deactivate the school account this week after I have alerted parents.  Does anyone have any ideas about how we can quickly save the pictures and videos that are held there?  It is a shame to lose them. I am keen to understand more about Instagram.  In the feedback it was suggested that this may be less succeptable to bots tagging our accounts if the comments were switched off.  Instagram provides built-in protective measures for parents of teen users.  If you have a strong opinion or more knowledge, I am keen to hear from you for advice.

On a positive note, the Head Prefects are back and Thankful Thursday will run again from this week.  Please do recognise and nominate young people or colleagues.  Recent pupil focus group feedback highlighted that pupils really do appreciate it. 

Thanks again for your professionalism and hard work. It makes a massive difference. #buildingfuturestogether

Elaine