Dear
Parents, Carers & Guardians,
It has been another exciting and spectacular
half-term in respect of students excelling in the arts, science, sport,
community service and charity fundraising. The news stories on the website and
Twitter feeds are a testimony to our continued success.
Please encourage your child(ren) to undertake some
on-line learning, revision (mock examinations for students in Year 11, start
straight after Christmas on Monday 4th January 2016), together with any
required catch-up work during the Christmas holidays, so that everyone can hit
the ground running in January. Remember,
there is no substitute for hard work!
Talking
about hard work, our independent learning and effort rewards system ‘Selby
Keys’ continues to go from strength to strength, thereby helping our students
to rapidly develop the skills necessary to be a successful learner in today’s
educational climate.
Your co-operation in helping to maintain the now
established high standards of uniform, together with attendance and
punctuality, from the outset of the Spring Term in January will be much
appreciated. In this respect it is worth remembering that students should wear
their blazers at all times, in addition to any school jumper or cardigan,
unless instructed to do otherwise by a member of staff. We will also be
continuing our campaign, during 2016, to educate everyone connected with the
school what bullying is and what it isn’t, together with convincing all
concerned of the virtues of being a ‘telling school’.
At the end of this term we will be saying goodbye to
Miss Donna Brown (GSSM) who is taking up a similar post, nearer home, at the
Snaith School; Mr Peter Griffin (English teacher) who is moving to Cheshire and
has secured a new post at a school in St Helens and Mr Paul Austin-Clarke
(D&T Technician) who will be retiring after seven and half years’ service
at the school. Miss Amy Ridley (ASSM) and Mrs Naomi Sellars (mathematics
teacher) will be starting maternity leave. Mrs Cadence Knights (mathematics
HLTA) started her maternity leave at the end of November, together with Miss
Cant (CAL for Music). We are pleased to have secured the services of two mathematics
teachers, Mr Chris Powell and Mr Chris Johnson, to cover the required time in
mathematics and Miss Anne Todd to teach music. In addition, our new School
Social Worker, Miss Jane Holman took up her post on 23rd November
2015. Mr Heath Lanzillotti (CAL for music technology) will take on the
additional CAL role for music as a whole.
In January, we will be welcoming Mrs Helen Metcalfe
to the school as our new KS3 English Progress Co-ordinator and Miss Hannah
Gibson the new combined CAL for PSHEE&C and RE.
I should like to take this opportunity to remind
you, that in the advent of adverse weather conditions, a decision as to whether
or not to open the school will be made, at the latest, by 6.30am. If closure is
necessary an announcement will then be made on BBC Radio York & Minster FM.
The school’s website will also carry information about any school closure and
we will tweet and SMS message you with information. Once the school is open it
will remain open until the end of the day unless it becomes clear that students
risk becoming stranded, because of any worsening conditions. If the school has
to close we will make a decision, whenever possible, by the end of the day in
question, about the prospects for the following day.
Finally, I appreciate that Leeds Road is extremely
busy. I would however, ask you to be mindful of the fact that we are situated
in a residential area, and to be considerate to our neighbours when parking,
especially if you find yourself blocking their driveway.
As we say at Selby High School, and as we look
forward to 2016, it is more important
that we are more successful tomorrow than perhaps we have been today! So
we are looking forward to an excellent and outstanding 2016.
On that note I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the staff and governors to wish you a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
Paul Eckersley
Headteacher
P.S. I am looking
forward to seeing all the parents, carers’ and guardians of students in Years
7, 8, 9 and 10 at the Consultation Day on Monday 14th December 2015.
Important Dates
for Your Diary
Monday 4th January School re-opens
Monday 4th January – Year 11 mock examinations
Friday 15th January
Wednesday 20th January Year 7 & 8 Theatre-in-Education (pm)
Thursday 21st January Year 7 Faraday Challenge day
Thursday 4th February – Year 11 Astronomy trip to Kielder
Friday 5th February
Tuesday 9th February Year 11 Targeted Evening
Thursday 11th February Final of the Inter-House Music Competition
Thursday 11th February School closes for holidays
Friday 12th February Training Day – school closed to students
