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Friday 18th December 2020

This has been one of the most challenging terms of my 30 year career and, for all of us, there have been a lot of challenges and new routines/procedures to learn. I cannot pretend it has been easy but it has been made a lot easier by the dedication, flexibility and 'can do' attitude of Harrow Way staff, students and parents.

As we enter the last day of this extraordinary year my mind is occupied not only with arrangements for the end of term but also the challenges and opportunities waiting for us all in 2021. I have no doubt there will be many of them before the Covid situation plays itself out. We have become accustomed to the unexpected but also we have all become skilled at adapting to the unexpected.

Email to parent/carers - URGENT COVID UPDATE REGARDING START OF TERM - JANUARY 2021

Please follow this link to read the letter emailed to parents this week regarding a positive COVID-19 test during the Christmas holiday.

Changes to the Period of Self-isolation
The Department for Health and Social Care has recently reviewed the evidence over transmission periods and has now reduced the number of days that contacts must self-isolate from 14 days to 10 days. This was set out in the UK Chief Medical Officers' statement on the self-isolation period on 11 December.

Eagle Newsletter
Students have been given a copy of the Harrow Way Eagle to bring home. The Eagle has also been posted on our website. Please note the updated calendar information on the back page.

Year 11 Pre-Public Examinations Harrow Way
To help our students prepare for the exam series in the summer, we will be holding our PPE exams (Pre-Public Examinations) as planned. Our published calendar shows that these exams will take place in the week before the February half term and the fortnight following the break. This will give all students the opportunity to experience exam conditions and where applicable, practise using exam concessions. These exams offer some really valuable information about current levels of performance, strengths and those areas that still need to develop in order for students to fulfil their potential in the summer. Mrs German will write to Year 11 parents in January with more information about the PPEs and share the timetable with you.

Celebration Assemblies
Mr Cole's Year 7 celebration assembly began with a reveal of our Year 7 Manifesto, a declaration of who we want to be and the five values we will strive to represent for the next five years (as chosen by them); respect, resilience, loyalty, environmental and attentiveness. We then celebrated the successes of our tutor groups and individuals with some awards and chocolate! Merry Christmas.

Year 8 celebration assembly celebrated the brilliance of Year 8 this year. Mr Reed praised the year group's attitude to work this year and how well they'd settled into the unique challenges of school in a global pandemic. Students were singled out and rewarded for getting the highest stamper totals in each tutor group as well as individual excellence in lessons. Each tutor also chose a 'Tutee of the Term' who was awarded a certificate as well as an edible reward.

Mrs Ford said in her assembly that it was lovely to get to end a strange term with a celebration of the year group's successes. She shared all of the amazing compliments she had received about them from their teachers and gave out prizes to tutees of the term, best effort and attitude, 100% attendance and 0 behaviour points. She wished Year 9 a wonderful Christmas and looks forward to seeing them in January.

My Weekly Reminder
Please can we remind parents/carers - do not send your child to school if:

• someone in your household is awaiting results;
• there is a positive case in your household;
• someone in the household is symptomatic or your child is showing symptoms.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support. It now remains for me to wish you all a very restful Christmas break and peaceful New Year.

Panto is coming to your living room - oh yes it is!

The National Theatre are throwing a Great British Panto Party to honour all of the theatres that have been forced to cancel their Christmas shows this year.

Join the party by watching Dick Whittington for free on the National Theatre YouTube channel from 3pm on Wednesday 23 December, then available on demand until midnight on Sunday 27 December. More information can be found here.

Harrow Way Community School (All Parents) Mailing List

Please contact the Admin Office, including your e-mail address and child's name (if applicable) to update your contact details or unsubscribe. Contact the school here.