Key Notes: 14 January 2022

14th January 2022

Covid-19 Update

On Monday we welcomed back Year 10 who were the last group of pupils to be Covid-tested prior to joining the other year groups in school. This week we seem to have been running to keep up with the ever-changing Government guidance for Covid testing and self-isolation arrangements. At present, the advice states that anyone who tests positive using a lateral flow device test (LFD) is no longer automatically required to seek a confirmatory PCR test. Therefore, if your child returns a positive LFD test as part of the regular twice-weekly testing this will count as an accurate result confirming their Covid positive status. Anyone with a positive LFD test result should self-isolate and follow the revised self-isolation guidance which applies from Monday 17^th Jan and states that:

• People self-isolating with COVID-19 will have the option to reduce their isolation period to 5 full days if they test negative on both day 5 and day 6 and do not have a temperature,
• Individuals who are still positive on their LFD tests must stay in isolation until they have had 2 consecutive negative tests taken on separate days. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 5 of the self-isolation period, and the second must be taken the following day (eg 24 hours apart).

It is essential that 2 negative LFD tests are taken on consecutive days. If an individual is positive on day 5, then a negative test is required on both day 6 and day 7 to release from self-isolation, or positive on day 6, then a negative test is required on days 7 and 8, and so on until the end of day 10. The default self-isolation period continues to be 10 days, and you may only leave self-isolation early if you have taken 2 LFD tests 24 hours apart and do not have a temperature. You should still not leave self-isolation even after 10 days if you continue to have a temperature.

If your child does test positive on an LFD test, please make sure the results are reported on TestRegister (this reports them to us) and also to the NHS. The latter is vital so that they can keep accurate figures and can follow the Test and Trace procedure. The day of the first positive test will be ‘Day 0’ of the isolation period.

Those who leave self-isolation on or after day 6 are strongly advised to wear face coverings, maintain social distancing, and limit close contact with other people in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, to minimise contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with Covid-19. If, at any time, your child develops any of the main symptoms of Covid but their LFD tests are negative, please arrange for them to have a PCR test. For further guidance see here.

Covid-19 vaccinations in school - 25 Jan 2022

An email was sent earlier this week to let you know that the school nursing team will be in school on 25^th January to deliver the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination. The team require you to consent for a first dose if your child has not already received the vaccine, or re-consent for a second dose. To complete the consent form (for either first or second dose) please click here. You will need this unique code number EE137527 which identifies your child’s school. If you have any queries, please call 0300 555 5055

Physical Education

Our PE department need commending as they wasted no time in organising a sports fixture this term. Year 11 boys football team had their last 16 ESFA Cup tie on their second day back (Friday 7^th January). They travelled to Hemel Hempstead and played out a full-bodied cup tie with goals galore! We showed resilience to repeatedly come from behind to win 5-4. Henry was in the goals again and Levi was Man of the Match with some epic defending!

This Wednesday we hosted Comberton for more boys’ football, this time Year 8 and 9. Our Year 8s improved markedly and were competitive throughout, but lost 2-0, a special mention to Annabel who was the only girl selected in this team; she showed some neat touches as a forward and hit the post late on. Theo was also a very strong defender, tackling aggressively throughout.

Meanwhile our Year 9 team raced to a 1-0 lead but were pinned back and eventually scraped a 2-2 draw.  James equalised, having been pushed into a forward position.

Surprisingly, there are still some local schools refraining from doing any sports fixtures at all and who have offered their pupils very little in the way of extra-curricular activity since September. We are proud to offer pupils a range of enrichment PE clubs on Monday-Wednesday each week this term. We are currently prioritising outdoor fixtures against other schools and are keen to increase the number of opportunities pupils have to play competitively against other schools. On Monday it is the turn of our Year 10 boys football team who host St Peters School from Huntingdon in the County Cup. We are also hoping to provide some girls football and netball fixtures soon, so watch this space!

Post 16 applications

A huge well done to all 123 Year 11 pupils who have completed several post 16 applications each. These have now all been checked and sent to local colleges and sixth forms. Some pupils will be looking for an apprenticeship opportunity from January onwards (these are available in various sectors such as Law, Business, Finance, Engineering, Retail, Advertising, Construction, Hair & Beauty). All these pupils have a back-up course at a college arranged.

Young Carers

Centre 33 are offering an exciting opportunity to any of our young carers who would like to become a Centre 33 Young Carers Representative. Becoming a Young Carers Representative allows Young Carers to become part of our highly respected Young Carers Advisory Board. The Young Carers Advisory Board aims to give Young Carers a voice and to influence real changes in local services (including ours).

In 2021 the Young Carers Representatives were able to access free training including: public speaking, commissioning, recruiting and much more! They also interviewed the Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough (Dr Nik Johnson), helped to decide what we offered Young Carers as trips and activities and also took part in awareness-raising films which have been shown to hundreds of professionals. If any young carers would like to make an application, please complete the short form here.

Spring Enrichment Activities

Extra-curricular clubs started up again this week. Options available depend on year group but include table tennis, football, art, Minecraft, Warhammer, running club, basketball, show band, creative writing, and electronics. In addition, there are several subject revision sessions for Year 11 pupils. If your child has not yet registered for activities and bus travel (if required), please complete the Enrichment Activities form by clicking here.

English

Miss King and Mrs Hallam will be offering pupils some GCSE English Literature revision sessions via Teams on Monday 14th February and Tuesday 15th February. Teams invites will be sent to all of Yr11 for all of the sessions as per the schedule, below. There will be pre-reading released prior to the revision sessions, so pupils should follow the link here to access the relevant folder. If there is something in the folder, you MUST have read it in advance of the revision session.   

All Year 11 pupils are welcome and encouraged to join all the sessions.

Monday 14^th Feb - Mrs Hallam:

· 9:30-11:00am - Macbeth

· 12:00-1:30pm - Essay Writing skills

· 2:00-3:00pm - Unseen Poetry (poetry writing practice)

Tuesday 15^th Feb - Miss King:

· 9:30-11:00am - An Inspector Calls

· 12:00-1:30pm - A Christmas Carol

· 2:00-3:00pm - Unseen Poetry (poetry techniques)

STEM Club – Science@Home!

Today, we are launching the first in our exciting new feature – Science@Home! Whilst we are not able to have our STEM club as part of enrichment in school, we are hoping that many of you would like to take part in some science activities at home instead.

In the last newsletter, Dr Wilson mentioned that we are avidly following the James Webb Space Telescope’s movements as it prepares to take images of distant stars and planets. This week’s activity provides a step-by-step guide for how to create an origami hexagon, just like the telescope’s primary mirror which is composed of 18 tessellating hexagons. See full instructions below. Give your hexagon to Dr Wilson and we may be able to construct a model of the full mirror. Good Luck!

Have a good weekend,

Simon Holmes

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