Dear Parent or Carer,

Welcome to our end of half-term two and Christmas newsletter.  There are a range of articles in it to interest all and in particular we hope the trips encourage your son and/or daughter to take up any of the opportunities on offer through the school such as: choir; theatre trips; going to watch a football match; or the Character Challenge and giving something back to the local community.

A reminder that the LRC (Learning Resource Centre) has a display of the ‘Top 10 Books for each subject area a student should read before going to University/getting into a particular career’.  We would highly encourage years 10-13 to explore these books to put themselves in a good position for UCAS/Apprenticeship applications.

Thursday 4 January is a staff training day and all students return to timetabled lessons on Friday 5 January 2024

I want to congratulate all of our Year 11 and 13 students in particular who have completed their mocks this half-term and we look forward to seeing the results this January.  We will be starting the new term focusing on our value of ‘Be Kind’, looking at diversity and equality. So I leave you with the first stanza from Maya Angelou’s poem ‘Equality’:

“You declare you see me dimly

through a glass which will not shine,

though I stand before you boldly,

trim in rank and marking time.

You do own to hear me faintly

as a whisper out of range,

while my drums beat out the message

and the rhythms never change...”

I hope everyone is able to spend some quality time with family and friends this holiday.  Wishing you a very Happy Christmas.

Ed Hillyard

Headteacher 

To Note:

1. Traffic: Our student intake is now at capacity for all year groups and as such, this will have an impact on the number of students travelling to and from school.  Please could we remind parents not to drive along Parish Piece and to encourage students to walk or cycle to school.  If you really do need to travel by car, please drop your child(ren) away from the school vicinity and allow them to walk.  Please park safely, legally and respectfully at all times when near the school.  We are very keen to keep our students and other road users safe at all times.
2. Communication: If you wish to speak to a member of staff about your child, please email into school with details of what you would like to discuss.  Please note our communications policy allows 2-3 working days to respond.  This is due to the fact that teachers do spend most of their days in the classroom and planning lessons and therefore are not available to take calls or unexpected visitors during the day.  If you have an urgent enquiry, please call our Reception.  We will issue a Weekly Bulletin which contains relevant information for parents for the following week.  A newsletter is provided at the end of each term and we are always keen to publish successes of our students from both within the school and without.  Please let us know if your child has achieved in any particular area.
3. Equipment/Kit and Lost Property: We encourage all students to prepare and plan well for their days at school.  This involves ensuring bags are packed the previous evening and all items of equipment/kit are included.  The school does not accept delivery of forgotten items during the school day (apart from very exceptional circumstances).  We would love to be able to return any lost property to its rightful owner and we can do this very easily if ALL items are named - including ties.  Any unnamed items are kept for one week, near Reception, and are then repurposed.
4. Attendance:  Full attendance at school is really important to all students' progress.  However, there are obviously times when a student may be unwell (for example).  If your child is unable to attend school please email attendance@holmer.org.uk or call the Attendance line (01494 719901)  and leave a message.
5. Collection from school: If you need to collect your child from school during the school day, please ensure that written notice has been given to our Attendance Office.  When you arrive to collect your child, please buzz Reception from the gate so that they know you are there.
6. After School Clubs:  Our booking system for After School Clubs is working well.  Please remember to book your children into Clubs each term.  The new booking system has recently been released.
7. Mobile Phone Policy – as a reminder phones must be turned off at the school gate in the morning and can be switched on again once students leave school at the end of the day.  If you child needs to contact you urgently, they should go to Reception where a member of staff will be able to help them.