7th May 2020
Dear Parent,
As we continue through this strange half-term, where the site is closed to most pupils, but our school continues unabated online, I am daily impressed by the way that our pupils are continuing to engage with school life, albeit remotely. It has been wonderful, for example, to see the daily reflections and weekly assemblies continue online. These reflect the ethos which underpins what makes St Anne's special: we are not simply an organisation where children gather knowledge and pass qualifications, but a living, breathing community who care for one another and want to help young people grow to become the best that they can be. We continue to be here for your child, and if there is anything that we can do as a school, do get in touch.
Year 12 Welcome Programme
I start our notices with an exciting update on how we are helping our year 11 applicants for sixth form take control of the next stage of their education and to hit the ground running ready for year 12. We are creating a year 12 Welcome Programme with bridging materials and opportunities to communicate with your new teachers and future classmates. It is a chance to turn this difficult situation into a positive by getting ahead of the game now that the need to prepare for GCSE exams is gone. It's not too late for any year 11 that hasn’t applied to sixth form to still do so and be a part of the Welcome Programme before it launches in about a week's time. Email info@ st-annes.uk.com to get in touch with our sixth form leadership team. We will be sending out information to applicants and their families about the programme during the next week.
Learning
I hope that access to Microsoft Teams remains positive. Teachers are currently feeding back to the senior team about the levels of engagement to help us get a sense of what support might be needed. A reminder that you can access support for Microsoft Teams at: https://st-annes-soton.eschools.co.uk/web/microsoft_teams.
Educational Provision onsite
We continue to provide educational provision on site for children of critical workers and vulnerable families. The registration process for this is weekly, closing each Thursday for the following week, and can be found on the front page of our website.
Free School Meals
We have worked hard to ensure that the vouchers for free school meals are finding their way to families who are eligible for free school meals. We will continue to send out vouchers by email to the email address we have for parents. This will be the provision for all families unless you tell us otherwise. Contact Emma Wright at emma.wright @st-annes.uk.com if you need further support.
Friday 8th May 2020
This Friday is a bank holiday, and as such I will be making clear to staff that they are to stop online working for the day. I would ask you to encourage your daughter or son to treat Friday like a day off rather than continue to work online. It is important to remember VE day, and also to try to stick to as normal a routine as possible which has shown helps maintain a positive mental health.
YoungMinds
Speaking of mental health, if you need some support looking after your child’s mental health, you can call Young Minds at 0808 802 5544 between 9:30am and 4pm every week day. You can also email them out of hours and they will get back to you. You can find out more information here: https://youngminds.org.uk/contact-us/parents-helpline-enquiries/
Digital and Numeracy courses for the whole family
Digital and numeracy skills are amongst those that are most sought after by employers, and can help you progress in work and boost your job prospects. Digital skills can be anything from using social media and staying safe online to coding, programming or digital marketing. You can choose from a selection of high quality courses put together in collaboration with experts. Find a level and time to study that’s right for you. The Skills Toolkit makes it easy for you to boost your skills. Go to: https://theskillstoolkit.campaign.gov.uk/ for more information.
Never Alone
At this difficult time, there will be a range of needs that families are facing, potentially for the first time. The helpful summary below shows a range of various organisations offering support and advice.
To finish, I wish you and your families continued good health and that you remain safe during this difficult time.
God Bless
James Rouse
Headteacher
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