Friday 22 May 2015

Headteacher’s Blog - May 2015

Headteacher’s Blog May 2015

Dear Parents, Carers & Guardians,

It has been an incredibly busy, but hugely rewarding half-term as the news stories on our website www.selbyhigh.n-yorks.sch.uk are testimony to the tremendous range of opportunities available to our students, together with the impact they have had both locally and nationally. The human bicycle in celebration of the Tour de Yorkshire was simply amazing!!

I would like to thank you for the on-going support you provide in order to ensure that our youngsters can engage with these activities.

We continue to work relentlessly to drive up standards and improve the accommodation and resources. During the summer vacation, we will also be continuing with our corridor modernisation and painting & decorating programme, together with our annual maintenance programme. We are working closely with an architect and a project management company putting together the final plans for our new sports changing rooms and alterations to the sports hall to accommodate, amongst other things, Selby’s very own wheelchair sports centre and additional classrooms. Work should begin on site in October 2015; exciting times!

We are looking forward to welcoming a maximum intake into the school in September for the eighth consecutive year as more and more people want to take advantage of the exciting opportunities and excellent education Selby High School provides.

Once again, I am seeking your continued help in ensuring that your child is wearing the correct uniform, including their House tie. If we experience a heat wave we will of course issue separate daily instructions in respect of wearing blazers and ties. It is also important that students bring the right equipment to all lessons. It is vital, as you will appreciate, that students continue to approach their studies with the correct focus, attitude and determination to achieve at the highest level and aim for excellence in all that they do. Equally, further to my letter earlier this month, I welcome your support in ensuring your child (ren) eats healthily with regard to their breakfast; break-time snacks and lunch. Young peoples’ diets has such an impact on their ability to concentrate and study, this is something we cannot leave to chance!

Every student’s aim should be to become a Selby 4 Key student. Talking of which we are hoping to take over 320 students on an all-expenses paid trip to Flamingo Land on 16th July 2015, to celebrate collecting 10 Keys over 3 trackers for year 7 to year 9 students and 13.3 keys over 4 trackers for Year 10 students, together with putting on a free film show for over 460 3 Key students!  Over 89% of students are currently either a 3 Key or 4 Key students with 37% being 4 Key students. This is a tremendous achievement; thank you for all that you do in ensuring your child(ren) put the maximum commitment and application into their studies; there is no substitute for hard work!

Staffing Update for Parents, Carers and Guardians
Since my last Blog the following members of staff have left Selby High School to take on new challenges:
Mr Robert Sellers (mathematics teacher) has gone to work at Michael Page Motor Factors.
Mrs Angela Kitchen has taken up her post as the midday supervisor covering the outdoor eating area. Mrs Joanne Trubas left her position as a catering assistant on 13th April 2015.
Mrs Hayley Wright-Brook (cleaner) left the school on Friday 15th May 2015 to take up the position of caretaker at Kellingley Primary School. We wish her every success in her new role.
Miss Lynne Eagles has been appointed as the new Senior Science Technician.
Mrs Deborah Rowley (catering assistant) is leaving the school on 31st May 2015 to concentrate on her role as a carer at a local residential home.
Mrs Adele Keepfer (Data Manager) will be leaving her post on Friday 5th June 2015 to take up an operations analyst role at TSYS in York.
Mrs Linda Seaton (cleaner), having worked at the school for nearly twenty years, will be retiring on Friday 3rd July 2015. We wish her a well-deserved retirement!

Finally, I would like to send Miss Jennie Crackles (Curriculum Area Leader for Business & Enterprise) every good wish for her maternity leave which she begins on Thursday 11th June 2015

Watch this space for my end of term Staffing Update.

Paul Eckersley
Headteacher


Dates for Your Diary
Monday 1st June                              School re-opens
Monday 1st – Friday 5th June         Year 8 Bewerley Park visit
Tuesday 16th June                           Inter-School Language Spelling Bee
Wednesday 17th June                      Year 8 Physics Olympic Competition
Thursday 18th June                         Year 10 More Able STEM Event
Monday 22nd, Wednesday 24th      Geography Field Trips     
& Friday 26th June
Tuesday 23rd June                           Year 8 & 9 STEM day
Wednesday 24th June                      Year 11 Prom at Carlton Towers
Thursday 25th June                          MFL Eurofest Event at Selby College
Friday 26th June                               Prison Me No Way
Monday 29th June –                         Activities Week
Friday 3rd July
Monday 29th June                            Year 7 trip to Yorkshire Wildlife Park
Monday 6th July                               Years 7, 8 & 9 Big Brain Game
                                                          Careers Fair
Tuesday 7th July                               Year 6 Induction Day
Wednesday 8th July                          Year 9 & 10 trip to Manchester
Thursday 9th July                              Year 10 Taster Day at Selby College
                                                           Year 6 Parents’ Information Evening
Friday 10th July                                 Sports Day
                                                           Gifted & Talented Workshop
                                                           Tracker 3 Reports Issued
Monday 13th July                              Consultation Day
Tuesday 14th July                              Puzzle of the Week final
Wednesday 15th July                         Reserve Sports Day
Thursday 16th July                            Rewards Day
Friday 17th July                                 Whole School End of Year Assembly

Monday 20th July                              Training Day – School closed to students