Headteachers' Christmas Newsletter

We have decided to take Essex County Councils advice and hold a remote learning day on the 4th January as our first day back. All students in Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 will stay at home and lessons will be live and online.

Year 11 and 13 will be expected to return to school and will commence their PPE examinations.

The reason for this recommendation from Essex Council is that staff and students have been asked to have a second Covid test, four days before returning to school. However, because it is the holidays the first we will know of any positive results after the Christmas period is the first day back. Therefore putting in place remote lessons means we will be able to take stock of how many staff and students will be absent and plan effectively to open on the 5th January for all students. I would prefer to plan this in advance rather than text parents on Sunday 3rd January to say students cannot return the next day.

I am truly sorry for any inconvenience this causes. I want our students back a soon as possible but need to ensure we are able to manage their return safely and effectively. Thank you as always for your understanding.

Although we break up this week schools are still being asked to deal with any cases of Covid-19 until the 23rd December. The flowchart below explains when schools will deal with cases, but in short, anytime it involves symptoms or a test result 48 hours after the student last attended school and within 6 days of the student's last day of term. Clearly this will only be the case for our Year 8 and 10's now as other year groups are not in school.

If your child receives a positive test result between now and the 23rd December, please email the following address:

covid@westhatch.net

This address will be monitored daily between 11am and 1pm until the 23rd December. After this date no email addresses will be monitored by school staff.

A reminder that Mike Gogarty, Director of Public Health and Wellbeing at Essex County Council has asked students and staff to retest 4-7 days before returning to school. I have attached the letter again for you should you wish to participate.

Please find below three short videos on how to use some key techniques to revise effectively over the break.

It is important we maintain our high standards and expectations across the school even with the challenges around us. With that in mind a couple of reminders so your child can be prepared for the start of term in January.

1) Students are not permitted to wear any nose or tongue piercings, false eyelashes or nails. If a student comes to school wearing any of these items they will not be permitted to go to lessons until they are removed. If parents have allowed them to get these done prior to returning to school they take responsibility for this, it has never and will never be permitted.

2) Please check your child has a skirt that is long enough to meet their knee. Students who do not have a skirt that is long enough will be required to purchase a new one immediately or they will not be able to attend lessons.

3) Students are only permitted to attend school in a black, navy or dark grey coat and all coats must be plain without patterns.

4) Students are not permitted to wear any form of boot to school. This is clearly outlined in the uniform policy. Students must wear leather school shoes to school, no boots or trainers unless they have a medical issue and a note.

I realise this a stern approach but I am constantly having to discuss uniform issues with certain students and it is the simplest thing to get right, there really is no excuse for students getting this wrong.

Our amazing Performing Arts Department and students have put together a wonderful virtual concert for you all. If you hold on to the end you will also see our staff getting into the Christmas spirit as well. Thank you to all those who have contributed to help bring a bit of Christmas joy to us all.

I know this year has been difficult for everyone and many of our community have struggled for various reasons over the last year. Christmas is a time for much joy, but it can also be a time of loneliness.

Mr Cleere, our School Counsellor has sent me the following document which highlights a significant number of places you can get help or support over the holiday period, whether it be by an App or on the phone. Please pass this onto your child as well.

A huge well done to our Sixth Form Staff, Ambassadors and students who collected donations from fellow students for the Trussell Trust and 3food4U.

The donations were distributed to local food banks.

The weather was absolutely freezing but the students and staff kept going, with an occasional hit of hot chocolate from Mrs Smith. Thank you to all those involved and to all of our families and staff who donated.

If any of our families need a little helping hand during this uncertain time; there is a dedicated team of volunteers that can assist you with some extra food supplies.

Simply email Essexfood@yahoo.com

Equally if anyone wishes to join this group please email the address above.

You may have recently heard about Marcus Rashford’s new initiative to get free books to children but did you know that at West Hatch, we give all Year 7 students a free book when they join us!

Bookbuzz is one of the highlights of our reading calendar for Year 7 and the students are always excited about it. Students are given the opportunity to choose from 17 fantastic titles so that they can find something they love, whatever their interest or ability. They love watching the authors in the film talk about the books before deciding on their free book.

We know that some children will be facing extra challenges this year after the coronavirus outbreak. We hope that Bookbuzz will encourage students to read more frequently, which will help improve their wellbeing, spark interesting conversations and inspire creativity.

Below is a picture of a card sent to me by Mr Howell's father. Mr Howell, our Head of Computer Science, sadly passed away earlier this year.

I really can't express how grateful I have been for the immense amount of support and kindness from you all this year. Over the last few weeks I have received so many messages from parents giving their thanks to our staff for all their hard work in ensuring their children are safe and educated. As many of you have alluded to, we have had to make high stakes decisions almost on a daily basis, very often on things we have never experienced before.

I know how hard this year would have been for you all, particularly with the continued disruption of your children being in and out of school. I will continue to do my best to keep the school open for all students in January every day; I truly believe it is the best thing not only for their education but also their physical and mental wellbeing, but it is of great relief to me that I know, when I do have to make the decision to ask students to remain at home, our parents have and will support us in doing so.

I hope that the decisions we have made over the last week or so has meant you can all enjoy your Christmas with your families. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Governors who have been unwavering in their support throughout this year and their commitment to doing their best for everyone at West Hatch.

Finally, on behalf of you all I want to thank the staff who have worked so hard in unchartered territory this year, putting themselves at risk on a daily basis teaching upwards of 100 children each day as well as carrying out a range of duties across the school.

A very Merry Christmas to you all and a Happy New Year, whatever challenges we all face in the coming months.

Daniel Leonard

Headteacher