Year 9 Options Webinar, Tues 20th April, 5pm
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Covid-19 - Latest Updates for Parents
On this page, we will update you with key information relating to the school and Covid-19, so that you always have the latest details in one place. This and previous updates can also be found on our Letters and Emails Home page.
Weekly Update from HAB
26th March 2021
Dear Parent/Carer,
I hope that you and your families are safe and well, and that you have been making the most of the brighter weather in between the rainfall. I imagine that the clocks moving forward this weekend will serve as another friendly reminder that spring is certainly on its way! It has been so wonderful to have the students make a full return to onsite learning, and it feels as if they’ve never been away. I can speak confidently on behalf of the whole staff that they have made us incredibly #ProudToBeHAB as they have demonstrated such compassion, ambition and respect since their return.
Please see below for key updates and reminders.
Covid Testing, Track and Trace
Your daughter was provided with her second pack of home testing kits today, and will receive two further packs on Tuesday. This will ensure that she can continue to complete two tests a week at home throughout the Easter Holidays. We are advising that students take their final test of the holiday period on Sunday 18th April so that we are mitigating any risk of transmission as much as possible. This will be especially important for our Year 11 students, who will be starting their mock exams on Monday 19th April.
If your daughter has a positive test result, you will need to inform the Academy next week up until Friday 2nd April so that we can employ our test and trace action plan. Please contact Ian Boswell, our Covid Coordinator, at ian.boswell@harrisbermondsey.org.uk in the event of a positive test result.
If your daughter has a positive test during the week of the 12th April then please email habreception@harrisbermondsey.org.uk so we know they will be isolating and not returning on Monday 19th April.
A sincere thanks for your continued support in mitigating the risk of Covid-19 transmission at the Academy.
Final day of term: Wednesday 31st March
As is tradition at the end of the full school term, and as mentioned last week, we will have a slightly reduced day at the end of term on Wednesday 31st March. To ensure year group bubbles do not mix we will stagger student dismissal time rather than the normal 12.15pm finish for all. Students who receive Free School Meals will be able to collect a sandwich pack from the restaurant before leaving site.
Student dismissal times for Wednesday 31st March:
Year 7: 12.00pm
Year 8: 12.30pm
Year 9: 1.00pm
Year 10: 1.30pm
Year 11: 2.00pm
HAB6: from 12.00pm depending on whether they are in Period 4 lessons
This day will be a non-uniform day. Students should wear appropriate clothing for the season with no crop tops or thin strap tops allowed. Students will be asked to bring in a voluntary contribution of £1 and we will be donating all funds raised on this day to Solace Women’s Aid, a charity which aims to create a world where women and children live their lives free from all forms of male Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG). Students will have an assembly about the reasons behind choosing this charity next week.
Year 11 Mock Examinations
Year 11 students will be starting their mock exams on Monday 19th April, with students receiving their timetables next week before the holidays so they can maximise their revision time over the holiday period. Since returning to onsite learning teachers have been working incredibly hard to ensure every Year 11 student has the key information they need in order to demonstrate their subject knowledge in the mock examination period, as well as the emotional resilience to be able to cope with what will be a stressful or worrying period for some. Please don’t hesitate to contact a member of the pastoral team if you feel your daughter may need some extra support throughout this period. Ms Senior, Assistant Principal for Year 11 can be contacted at Filishia.senior@harrisbermondsey.org.uk, and Ms Magee, Assistant Principal for Safeguarding can be contacted at elizabeth.magee@harrisbermondsey.org.uk. I know that as a community you will join me in wishing the students good luck over the next month as they enter the next phase of their educational journey.
Year 9 Options Webinar: Tuesday 20th April 5.00pm on Zoom
I would like to invite all parents/carers of Year 9 to attend a Year 9 Options Webinar that will take place on Tuesday 20th April at 5.00pm on Zoom. This will be an opportunity for you to understand the GCSE Options process, as well as hear about the timeline for students to make a decision about their next steps, as well as how they can make a successful transition into Key Stage Four. Please see below for the registration sign up:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ye4Ocp2FSz-MVjytLlzsZw
Bedrock
As mentioned in last week’s letter, Bedrock is an important part of our English language curriculum at the Academy. Your daughter works on Bedrock tasks on a weekly basis, and I am pleased to share the new Bedrock champions of this this week with the wider HAB Community.
Do speak with your daughter about their Bedrock progress to enable her success in this important aspect of the English curriculum.
Free School Meal vouchers during the Easter Holidays
As mentioned in last week’s letter, Southwark Council have confirmed that students will be in receipt of Free School Meal funding once again during the Easter Holidays. We will use the Tesco Voucher system as previous and you will be receiving your vouchers by the end of next week for the two-week holiday period. If your financial condition has changed recently, please do complete a Free School Meal application at https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/harrisfederation to ensure that you receive the support you are entitled to.
…and finally
This will be my final communication of the half term, and I would like to wish you and your families a restful and joyous break. Please note our staff will be unavailable throughout the holidays, and inboxes are not routinely checked. If you do need to communicate with us, please note we will respond to emails at the point of us returning on Monday 19th April. Your daughter will be receiving a HAB Care Card during Monday and Tuesday of next week that details how she can receive support and help when she isn’t at HAB. Please encourage her to put the card somewhere safe so she always has access to it in case of an emergency.
Thank you as always for your continued support in ensuring your daughter’s success at the Academy.
Yours sincerely,
Lyndsay Harris
Vice Principal
Important Information on COVID-19
Symptoms of COVID-19
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
- new continuous cough and/or
- high temperature and/or
- a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.
If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/ or by phoning 111.
How to stop COVID-19 spreading
There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19
Hands
Wash your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds.
Face
Cover your face in enclosed spaces, especially where social distancing may be difficult and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
It is now compulsory to wear cloth face coverings on public transport, shops and several other indoor settings.
Space
Stay 2 metres apart where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place.
Keep your distance from people who are outside your household or support bubble.
Limit social gatherings (including abiding by the ‘rule of 6’) and avoid crowded places.
Further Information
Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
