Dear Parent/Carer,

I hope you and your families are well. 

A few updates for you this week:

Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 Welfare Meetings

Parents of these years groups were sent an email earlier this week in relation to welfare meetings that we are planning to hold before the summer holidays.  These are not compulsory and it is important that if you wish your child to attend a meeting, you must complete the survey that was sent out with the email.  The meetings will then be scheduled and individual parents will then be contacted in due course.

Year 10 and Year 12

It is has been very pleasing to see our Year 10 and Year 12 students return and the feedback from them and their parents has been positive.  This phased return has allowed us to test our processes and systems as we start to consider the reopening of the school in September.

Microsoft Teams Trial

Following a small trial that has been conducted, before the end of term we will be holding a wider trial using Microsoft teams in order to deliver a blended learning curriculum.  Helen McVIcar (Deputy Headteacher) will be sending out a letter in due course in relation to how this will work.  This will support any future remote learning requirements as it is difficult to predict what will happen with the virus moving forward.

Also, following an evaluation of the work on Show My Homework and appropriate staff training, it is pleasing that more interactive learning activities have been placed onto the system to support students.

Opening in September

We are pleased with the fact that we will be able to open in September and welcome our students back.  We are still awaiting the final guidance and when this has been published Helen McVicar will send out the arrangements for this before the end of term.  A lot of preparation is being done in relation to the recovery curriculum that will need to be put in place, which has a focus on health and well-being of students, as well as academic progress. 

Article in the Derbyshire Times

If you have not seen it, an article has been published about the retirement of Keith Brown as Deputy Headteacher.  This is a great article celebrating his many years of commitment that he has shown to the school.

Free School Meal Vouchers

The free school meal vouchers will be distributed for the summer holidays on Wednesday 15^th July.

Government Information

Please see the link below in relation to information that we have been asked to distribute to you by the Government.  I hope you find you this helpful.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-keeping-children-safe-from-abuse-and-harm

Finally, thank you for your continued support and if you have any issues or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

Best wishes

Dave

Mr D Williams

Headteacher

Netherthorpe School

Chief Executive Officer

Cavendish Learning Trust