From: ST BARTHOLOMEW'S SCHOOL
<SC8695402a@schoolcomms.com>
Sent: 03 April 2020 16:45
To: ARobbins
Subject: Letter from Mr Lawes to
Year 11
Dear
Year 11
I
just wanted to touch in with you all as we reach the end of week two of the
school closure, and prepare to begin the Easter holiday. We are all thinking
about you and hope that you are all well and safe. There will be some of you
who will not be returning to St Bart’s, but we are still here to provide you
with support and guidance wherever this is needed. With this in mind, it would
be really useful if you could find some time to complete the following
well-being survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Y11SC1.
I
hope that you have all found time to explore some of the options Mr Robbins
listed in his letter dated 24 March 2020, which include:
- Sixth Form subject links and
pre-Y12 tasks (more of these will be added) at: https://stb6th.edublogs.org/students/pre-y12-tasks/
- MOOCs (Massive Open Online
Courses): https://www.classcentral.com/
- Starting to think about an EPQ
(Extended Project Qualification): http://tiny.cc/dl9emz
I
would also suggest you consider the following:
1.
Completing a free Open University course
to develop a skill or to research an area you hope to pursue as a career in the
future: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/full-catalogue.
2.
Explore future careers or further
education options: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/.
3.
Study a language course: https://rosettastone.co.uk/lp/freeforkids/ (free for the next three months).
4.
Read more, or engage with audio books: https://stories.audible.com/start-listen (Audible, part of Amazon.com, has released a
collection of hundreds of free audiobooks).
5.
Stay active through an exercise class:
a.
Joe Wicks “PE teacher for the nation” https://www.youtube.com/user/thebodycoach1 (Tune in at 9am each morning for a 30-minute
workout).
b.
The NHS also has 24 free instructor-led
videos covering aerobics exercise, strength and resistance, and pilates and
yoga: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitness-studio/ (They
range from 10 to 45 minutes long).
6.
Watch a free theatre performance: https://www.youtube.com/theshowsmustgoon
(full-length, smash-hit musicals released once a
week for you to watch for free. First up, it’s Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolour Dreamcoat).
The
government and Ofqual, the organisation which oversees all the examination
boards, have today sent out the guidance about how your GCSE grades will be
decided this summer. They have published a letter to all students in your
position and you can read it here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/how-gcses-as-a-levels-will-be-awarded-in-summer-2020.
We
will be doing everything we can to ensure that you get the grades which you
deserve, so please be reassured that we will carry out this process extremely
thoroughly after the Easter break.
The
closure and social isolation plans are likely to be in place for some time, and
lots of us will find it a challenge to adapt to this new way of living and
working. If you are struggling and need some support, as always, your house
office is your best first port of call; house staff are checking email
regularly and will respond to any of you who need some support. There is also a
list of resources on the school website which some of you may find useful;
these include NHS approved Apps which you can download, text lines which you
can contact 24/7 and websites packed with useful tips http://www.stbarts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Support-during-the-closure.pdf.
Last
week’s Bartholonews had some information about 5 key steps we can each take
daily to boost our wellbeing. If you haven’t read it, I’d recommend you have a
look and consider what you might try to include in the coming weeks https://www.stbarts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/25-Mar-20-937.pdf.
I
intend to regularly share with you good luck messages from your teachers.
Year 11, it has been an absolute pleasure to watch you
grow into thoughtful, hard-working and hilarious young adults. The bond that
you have with each other is special, and I hope that you continue to nurture
those relationships over the coming years. Please stay safe during these
uncertain times and do your best to continue to develop a love of learning to
prepare you for whatever the future brings. I look forward to seeing the
majority of you in our Sixth Form. Mr Lawes
I am sorry that we had such a rushed goodbye, but wanted
to let you know how fabulous you are as a year group. Your energy, enthusiasm
and ability to answer back (!!) over the years has demonstrated what an
intelligent and strong year group you are. I have enjoyed seeing my tutor group
every morning and reminding them to have an educational day, and I hope they
remember that every single day should be educational – there is always the
opportunity to learn something new and we should never ever stop doing this. I
know that you will all go on to have an impact on the world and be fabulous,
and it has been a real privilege to see that start of your exciting journeys.
Take care, keep safe and keep reading. Mrs Bull
To my Y11s - in English, Carnegie and my little revision
sessions - I am proud and privileged to have got to work with you. Some of you
I had taught over 4 years, and seeing your journey from Y7 to Y11 has been both
humbling and frightening in equal measure! I hope you will always treasure the
memories - from anger over certain Carnegie nominations, to my idiotic
clumsiness in my classroom, to the madness that was inherent in every lesson. I
will treasure these memories forever - I look forward to reminiscing with
anybody remaining in the 6th Form! Good luck, and smash your futures - you are
all such superbly talented, special and fantastic young people who deserve the
world. Mr
Matthias
Look
out for more good luck messages in future correspondence.
Over
the coming weeks and months, it is more important than ever to look after
yourselves, your family and your friends. Reach out to those you haven’t heard
from in a while, use social media to lift each other up and take opportunities
to develop your skills and knowledge. I hope you have a restful Easter holiday. I’m
sure for lots of us, we may be beginning this break disappointed that things we
had been looking forward to like holidays, family gatherings or trips out with
friends will have been cancelled or postponed. There will also be times when
some of you feel frustrated by the social distancing restrictions and the
requirement that you stay home during the holiday, especially if the weather
remains as bright and dry. Remember that this will end, and patience now and
adhering to the guidance we’ve been given to stay home in order to protect
ourselves and others is key. I hope that despite the fact that there are
restrictions on what we can do for now, your time together with your families
is restful and that you can find lots of ways to enjoy each other’s company.
We
are here for you. Please do let us know if you need anything.
Mr
Lawes
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