Headteacher's Newsletter

Dear Families,

Welcome back to the second half of the Spring Term. It's strange to think that we are now officially over half way through the school year, time flies!

Having had a really positive start to the academic year, I have to say that the last half term was somewhat of a challenge at times; I hope that the break has served to refresh our students and that they have all come back to school with a positive attitude to their work and to each other.

Our Pre Public Examinations (PPE's) have started in earnest this week and I'd like to wish our Year 11 and 13 students the best of luck. The PPE's serve a number of functions: helping prepare students for their final exams, providing students and teachers with the areas where each student needs additional support and providing the school with the students' overall performance to help with putting in place interventions. I hope our students have used the half term break effectively to prepare for these important exams. There are only 10 weeks left until their final exams commence.

I wanted to say a quick thank you to our parents and carers. We have always had high expectations in terms of uniforms but I know this year putting in place sanctions for uniform has raised the bar again. Myself and the pastoral team have very much appreciated the support of so many families, particularly in relation to the girls skirts and as a result the uniform around the school has been generally excellent; sadly I can't also patrol the streets for the journey to or from school!

As always there is a lot of important information within this newsletter and I hope you find it useful.

Yours sincerely

Daniel Leonard

Headteacher

As you know we have recently undertaken a consultation with families, staff and students about the school uniform. I will be providing more information about this consultation in the summer term.

However, as part of the consultation we put forward the opportunity for students in Years 7-11 to wear school polo shirts during the summer, as a result of the changing climate over the last few years. The Governors have, as a result of the consultation feedback, agreed for students to be able to wear a grey school polo shirt instead of their blouse/shirt and tie and blazer from the start of the summer term, therefore after the Easter break. Students are only permitted to wear the school polo shirt which must be bought from our uniform outfitters either Carolinas or Forest Casuals. The cost of the polo shirts start from £9.00.

Students that do not wear the polo shirt will not be able to remove ties or untuck shirts around the school, as part of the rationale for this change is how poorly presented some of our students look during the summer term. Students are welcome to wear the polo shirt one day and then their normal uniform another. A picture of the polo shirt can be found below.

Please read below the information leaflet from Essex Police outlining the concerns around vaping.

One of the factors that cause staff the most stress is the amount of emails we all receive during and outside of working hours. Schools managed to function very effectively before email and there are not many professions where a member of staff would expect to be contacted after work, during the evenings or at weekends. Therefore staff will not be checking emails between 7pm and 7am on weekdays or at all at weekends and I am writing to remind parents to refrain from emailing staff outside of these hours.

Our School Policy states that staff are expected to respond to any query within 48 hours, so please remember this when contacting the school, as there are occasions parents have emailed in the evening and contacted staff the very next morning to ask why no one had responded to them. Just to confirm parents will never receive a response in the evening as staff will not be checking emails and must be given time to respond in line with our School Policy.

I was delighted to attend the school's annual Love Lounge Event, just prior to the half term break, and I was so proud of the talent we have at West Hatch. This year we had to hold the event over two evenings because of the amount of students wishing to take part. There are a small selection of pictures below, but there were so many wonderful performances ranging from singing, musicians, poets and dancers. Thank you to all the students for their hard work in preparing for the event, Ms Lord and her team for their work in the build up and on the evening, and to all the Parents, Governors and Staff who attended such a fantastic two night show.

At the beginning of February three of our Year 12 students, Gabrielle Gabbidon, Thomas Chittock and Chloe Verschoor visited Auschwitz for the day with the Holocaust Educational Trust. They took part in tours of the camp sites and viewed the museum exhibits. Miss Howarth also accompanied them on the trip and said "the trip is something she will never forget. Not only was it captivating but seeing it all in person emphasised the magnitude of the Holocaust." Some pictures below of the visit.

Our Year 11 Drama students visited the theatre earlier this month to watch the show Hamilton, and they were lucky enough to also have a Q&A with the cast afterwards, which was arranged by our alumni student, Jay Perry who plays Aaron Burr.

Just before the half term some of our Year 11 Geographers went to Amsterdam, where they visited a clog and cheese factory, explored Amsterdam and went on a canal cruise. They also had a trip to

Rotterdam to see the new man-made port. They all had a fantastic time and there are some pictures below.

https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/report/talking-to-your-child-about-online-sexual-harassment-a-guide-for-parents/?utm_source=16%20December%202021%20C19&utm_medium=Daily%20Email%20C19&utm_campaign=DfE%20C19

Parent Events

Thursday 29th February - Year 9 Parents Evening (online appointments)

Thursday 14th March - Year 8 Parents Evening (online appointments)

Tuesday 19th March - Year 11 Transition Day (by appointment)

Thursday 21st March - Year 12 Parents Evening (online appointments)

School Events

Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th March - Dance Show (tickets available on Parentpay)

Early Finish

Wednesday 6th March (PPE marking afternoon) - students dismissed at lunchtime

Thursday 28th March - students dismissed at lunchtime for the Easter break

Summer Term begins on Monday 15th April.

A reminder to our Year 7 families to save the date for our Graduation. This will take place on

Saturday 6th July 2024 from 11.15am on our school field. This will be an opportunity for us to all celebrate your child’s first year at the school and to recognise how well they have worked and integrated into West Hatch. We hope that all of our Year 7 students will be in attendance, but I have had to meet with some of the Year 7's whose behaviour or attendance falls below our expected standard and I have set them targets, which they must meet if they wish to attend the Graduation. If your child has been set a target then you will have received a separate letter from me.

Manuela de Melim Brustolin in Year 13 works as a lifeguard at a local leisure centre and she was recently instrumental in saving the life of a four year girl who was struggling under water. Manuela reached her first and saved her within eight seconds. A very brave act and one the school and her parents are proud of.

I love seeing the achievements of our children outside of school, so thank you to all our families for sending the information into us. In my next newsletter I will be sharing all the successes our students have had in their school sports, as it has once again been a successful year for the PE Department and the school.