Headlines By James Saunders 12th March 2021
The first week back after any break is always an important one. When it’s the first week back after a lockdown it is even more vital. We could be forgiven for worrying that both learners and staff may take time to adjust and find it hard to get back into gear. It has, after all, been eleven weeks since the school last resonated with the sound of a full complement of learners. I am pleased to say that on Monday the staff arrived full of focus and enthusiasm; excited to be reunited with our learners. We have staggered the transition of cohorts and this week have successfully tested our C11-C9s and welcomed back C10 and C11. Next week we will be back to full operational capacity as we welcome C7 and C8. I would like to thank families for their continued support and patience with the many additional demands placed on us to get learners back to school. Testing is one of those demands. Our testing centre has operated without any issues all week and those learners and parents who have been through have commented on how easy we have made it. Foolishly, in the middle of trying to welcome everyone back I agreed to a visit from the NHS to review our safety measures and approach to Lateral Flow Testing. I am pleased to report that the NHS representative stated that our testing centre was the most thorough and carefully planned he had come across in any school. He was very impressed with all of the control measures that we have in place across the school. I should be receiving a report from him next week. The other change we have had to introduce is to expand the expectations of mask wearing. When introducing any change there is always room for interpretation; guidance can be interpreted to mean different things to different people. I have had to spend a lot of time discussing the issues of masks with families and whilst I do enjoy speaking with families this has taken up a lot of time.
I appreciate that different people have different views when it comes to the pandemic but would like to point out that the guidance we have received is that masks in classrooms are only to be in place until Easter - two weeks away. After walking around the school to see how learners have been getting on I can report that they have embraced the return well. Many teachers have spoken to me about how great it is to be doing what they love - teaching a room full of wonderful learners. We remain committed to our development priorities, that day to day all learners and staff live through our core values and promote equity and well-being. I wish you all a safe and happy weekend James Saunders Congratulations To: Erin Smith and Rose Collier, our winner and runner up of the world book day challenge. Both will receive house points and a book voucher.
Changes to Published Inset Days This summer, due to the awarding of qualifications for Cohort 11 being determined by teachers, and the additional workload this places upon them marking additional assessments and examination papers, (which is usually carried out by awarding examination boards), a decision has been made across all Saffron Academy Secondary Schools for an additional Non Pupil Day to be scheduled next half term. For Honywood learners this will be taking place on Monday 24th May. Consequently no learning will be set on this date. Next academic year 2021/22 we will be changing the date of a previously scheduled Non Pupil Day from Friday 19th November 2021 to Friday 3rd December 2021. Copies of the updated term dates can be found on the following pages and published on our website.
Week commencing 8th March 2021
English
Maths
Geography
C7—Evie Stayt C7—Ethan Kindred C8—Olivia Longhurst C8—Nathaniel Lane
C7—Scarlett Evans C7—James McCully C8— Will Harvey C8—Ruby Shingles
C7—Samantha Flowers-Amaral C8—William Harvey C9—George Stark C10—Charlie Long
C9—Will Chandler C9—Tilly Mead C10—Dominic Brown C10—Louis Mountague C11—Joe Fulford C11—Kaycie-Leigh Butler
C9—Amber Slater C9—Connie Pratchett C10—Charlotte Baker C10—Aidan Young C11—Josh Taylor C11—Charlie Mullenger
C11—Emily De Silva
Science C7—Dominic Scherer C7—Max Schroder C8—Isobell Hoadley C8—Evie Schwingen C9—Susannah Dyer C9—Carl Robinson C10—Connie Tubby C11—Kacie-Leigh Butler C11—Maxine-Emily Harvey C11—Louis Medlock C11—Ashtyn Newley C11—Mondo Watts
KS3 Technology C7—Scarlett Evans C8—Amy Pellowe
Food Technology C10—Jack Dearsley C10—Max Welton—Cook of the Week
Resistant Materials
C7—Zane Sargent C8—Ellen Roberts C9—Erin Smith C10—Megan Walby C11—Finley Kennedy
C7—Gracie Tupper C8—Rose Collier C9—Theo Snowling C10—Wilf Peeters C11—Rachel Ball
Philosophy & Religion C7—William O’Connell C8—Olivia Jinman C9—Holly Bates C11—Emily Pyatt
C10—Nick Gray
PE Graphics C9—Niamh Matthews
Art
History
Textiles C9—Amy Barnes-Grime Health and Social Care C9—Susannah Dyer C10—Miranda Nicholls
C7—Alfie Cork C8—Ziyanna Flaherty-Webb C9—Samuel Divine (Core PE) C9—Susannah Dyer (GCSE PE) C10—Kyra Hedges (Core PE) C10—Jack Davis (GCSE PE) C11—Ronnie Hayward (Core PE) C11—Matt Gomes (GCSE PE)
Week commencing 8th March 2021
French
Music
C7—Ella Norfolk-Stimson C8—Rose Young C9—Amber Chard C10—Charlotte Baker
C7—Kartal Avcu C8—Ziyanna Flaherty-Webb C9—Theo Nicholls C10– Tom Birks
C11—Freya Wash
C11—Kirsty Farrell
German C7—Katie Olley C8—Zach Thorogood C11—Hannah Pyatt
Spanish C9—Molly Barnes C10—Faye Ely C11 0– Evie Higgon
Drama C7—Zac Shuffield C8—Gabriel McQuillan C9—Georgia French C10—Nicholas McKeown C11—Toby Roberts
Dance C7—Niel Viljoen C8—Clara Donnelly C10—Amelia Jenkins C11—Hope Rogers
Enterprise Solutions C7—Aaron Shrimpton C8– Adam Fulford
Computer Science C9—Malwina Kuczera C10—Luca Shuffield C11—Corey Edwards
Business Studies C9—Levi Halasi C10—Thomas Keeble C11—Cole Robins
Media Studies C9—Holly James C10—Thomas Keeble C11—Mickey Morris
All Learners nominated will be receiving certificates in the post shortly. In addition, every learner nominated will receive 10 House Points!
Well done to everyone who has been nominated this week!
Dates for the diary The First Stop Centre Braintree has been chosen to support families with their Census and is available to support people to fill in their census online If you require support, you will need to book an appointment with the team on 01376 346535 and bring along: The letter containing the code they have received through the post The month and year you arrived in the UK (if not born here) Your previous address if moved within the last 12 months.
You will also need to know the following information
Date of birth Qualifications held Employer details of current or last job Country of issue of passports held by those in household First Stop Centre Charity No. 803170 29 Bocking End Braintree Essex CM7 9AE
Exciting news!” New website coming after Easter!
Friday 19th March
C10 Lead Learner interviews
Friday 26th March
Last day of school
Monday 29th March to Friday 9th April
Easter holiday
Thursday 15th April
C10 Ambassador application launch assembly
Friday 23rd April
C11 cohort photo at 9am
Monday 24th May
NLD—staff only in school (C11 marking and moderation)
Monday 31st May to Friday 4th Half term June
Friday 2nd July
C11 Prom @ Colne Valley Golf Club
Wednesday 21st July
Last day of term
Next week is a Week “A” Reminder to families: Please use the App where you can access the online portal to view, update or amend your child's contacts/medical details etc when needed. You can also access your child's timetable and the school calendar. This information is necessary when organising trips and visits so any changes, please update as soon as possible. If you have not downloaded the app, please note all changes to your child’s information ie. Address, photo permission must be submitted in writing to the school office.
Remember to bring a coat to school! Learners will need two masks and a plastic bag in which to keep the spare mask. Masks to be worn at all times.
With COVID precautions, doors and windows will be open and the building much colder!
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