The following message went out to parents on Monday 12 December 2022:
I have not contacted you for a while – which is normally a good thing because it means things are ticking along but as we approach the end of term I wanted to get in touch so put a yuletide log on the fire (as it will cut the gas bill), get some mulled wine, and settle down for a quick read.
This email will include:
End of Term Arrangements
We break up on Friday 16 December for the Xmas Holidays. This will be a normal, full school day.
New Term Arrangements
Everyone returns to school on Tuesday 3 January 2023 for the Spring Term.
Christmas Dinner Day
We are serving a Christmas dinner in the school canteen on Wednesday 14 December.
It costs only £2.34 and includes roast turkey, stuffing, pigs in blankets and all the veggies. There is also a Christmas dessert included.
There will also be Christmas music and even some carol singers.
For those not feeling so festive, there will be a selection of sandwiches, desserts and drinks available.
PTFA Xmas Raffle
We know that many parents are supportive of the work of our PTFA but do not have the time to commit themselves to events, meetings, etc.
Even so, there is a really easy opportunity to get involved by buying a Christmas Raffle Ticket. All you need to do is text keyword: FRIARY22 to the number: 70970 and you will automatically be entered into our prize draw. Each text makes a £5 donation to our raffle and entitles you to one entry. You can text as many times as you like to make extra entries.
The prizes include a week in a holiday cottage in Skye from Skye Holiday Rentals, a Nintendo Switch, an Arthur Price Cutlery Set (RRP £250), £100, a Christmas Hamper, a bottle of gin, an Ego meal voucher, a Deanslade Fitness voucher, a Jewellery.co.uk voucher and more besides.
The raffle will be drawn on Wednesday 14 December and prize winners will be notified before the end of term.
Snow Arrangements
Touch wood, we won’t have a snow closure before the end of term – though I’ll perhaps regret saying that – but I thought it would be useful to remind you what happens in the event of heavy snow.
Myself and the site team get into school early and walk the site to see how the land lies. We have a responsibility to ensure that the paths, etc, are safe and on a big, and at that time dark, site is not a straightforward job. Clearly, the school carries a liability for everyone on site and we have to judge this, as well as crack on with some digging and gritting.
If we decide there is a snow closure, you will receive a text ASAP – this should be no later than 7.30pm. We will also post it on Twitter, on the school website, and on Facebook too.
We will keep you all updated as the situation develops; for example, if it looks like it is running into extra days.
The only thing we can guarantee with a snow closure is that there will be some unhappy people. Rest assured, we close the school as a very last resort. If we can safely open then we will always open. It is also worth knowing that every student will have HLAs, vocational coursework, and other work to do so there will be things to do.
School Budgets
We owe you all a great debt for your patience and ‘get-on-with-it’ attitude to coming into school with reduced heating earlier in the term. I guess we are all in the position that we understand the problems high heating prices are causing.
In fact, we budgeted at the start of the year to cover most the costs and the heating has been on, as in any other year, in recent weeks and will be on after the holiday.
What has hit schools is the 5% pay award that has not yet been directly funded. However, the government did promise extra school funds in their Autumn Statement, and though it seems we will have to go into reserves which are usually saved for big projects like a new boiler, etc, we are expecting clarity on this extra funding some time in the Spring.
We’ll keep making do here and there but will still do our very best to offer the best education we can. Your patience with us, at what is a difficult time for everyone, is appreciated.
School Entry / Exit Gates
Our new entry / exit gates will be in full operation next term. The barriers will be closed between 8.25am-9.00am and 2.30pm-3.20pm.
Anyone who has been on our site will understand why we have taken this step. The safety of the 1,250+ student pedestrians at this time have to take priority over parent X or Y who wants to pick their child up ten steps from the main doors.
There will be an intercom system but we would simply ask parents not to come on site at this time to meet with staff unless it can be avoided. We might see one or two parents to try and fob their way through, but bearing in mind this would hold up buses taking 100s home, we are confident everyone will see sense.
Standards – Uniform
We have explained our stance on uniform in the past and reiterated how it is an important part of us setting up good behaviour in lessons. In the colder weather there is a temptation to let standards slip, but that then has a knock-on effect on learning.
We would be grateful if you could ensure your child retains the school uniform expectations; so items like hoodies, huge boots, coats with goggles rather than visible faces, etc are not permitted.
If you can help us with this, we can help your child by getting them to learn.
Focus Weeks
Our Focus Weeks see us address key themes that are included in PHSE and a raft of other areas we have to cover as a school. The aim is to make sure we produce young adults who know how to cope with the world around them and can treat other people with respect.
There is a big focus this year on equalities as per the Equality Act (2010) and we are spelling out the responsibilities we have to one another in terms of age, gender, relationships, disability, racism, religion or belief.
As a school we do not accept any discrimination and will be very direct in dealing with it – both in terms of sanctions, but just as importantly in terms of educating children in how they need to conduct themselves. We have clear steps in place for this and work continues with all students to lay out society’s parameters, as well as with the occasional individual who transgresses.
We have a wonderful student body, and whoever they are, we back them and support them as they grow and move forward in life.
Sixth Form Places
We have a high number of Year 11s seeking to gain a place in our Sixth Form which is fantastic.
These interviews are rolling through but some may run into early next term. If this is you child, do not worry, as it will not affect the offering of place.
The key to getting that place though rests with the GCSE grades – but every child has the chance to shine in those.
Dates for Spring Term
There are a range of key events coming up next term – whether it be Y11 Mock Exams, Parents Evenings, Fund-Raising Weeks, or Bikeability Week so it is worth checking them out.
They can all be viewed at: https://www.friaryschool.co.uk/calendar/
The website will be updated over the Xmas holidays, so if there are some gaps as I trawl through it please be patient.
And Finally
We are nearly there in terms of the Xmas Break so please accept our best wishes for Christmas – in these difficult times we hope that Santa gets to all of you – and we look forward to seeing your children again in 2023.
Merry Xmas
