Headmaster’s Letter to Parents
January 2022
Dear Parents I hope you have had a happy Christmas and best wishes for all that lies ahead in 2022. I hope pupils are refreshed and ready to face the challenges and opportunities that will be offered over the next term and we look forward to seeing them grow and develop as they do so. We are conscious that these continue to be challenging times for families and if there are concerns that you would like to discuss with us, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Best wishes Michael Punt
Mr Michael Punt M.A. M.Sc. P.G.C.E. Headmaster mpunt@chigwell-school.org
Contents
Page 1
PSHEE
Page 2
COVID
Page 3
Christmas Inspire Staff News Physics
Page 4
Bad Weather
PSHEE As you know, pupils across the School have PSHEE lessons, the purpose of which is to help equip them to manage their lives, to stay safe and healthy, and to make the right choices now and in the future. The course covers a wide range of topics, some of which are revisited in greater depth, and it may well be that pupils discuss them with you at home. An overview of this term’s topics is listed below and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Third Form
Managing friendships, bullying, staying safe online, families, healthy relationships, and identity
Fourth Form Resisting pressure, healthy relationships, consent ,and managing break ups Removes
Sexual health, the dangers of pornography, and the law relating to image sharing
Lower Fifth
Writing a CV, healthy relationships, and being a safe pedestrian and vehicle passenger
Upper Fifth
Interview skills and 16+ pathways, consent, pregnancy and being a safe driver
Sixth Form
Responsible driving and the dangers of drink/drug driving, individual liberty and the rule of law, 18+ pathways, first aid and growing up abroad.
1
COVID-19 As per the message that I sent on Tuesday, with regard to COVID-19 and in line with Government requirements: •
Please do not send pupils into school if they have symptoms
•
Please ensure that they continue to take LFD tests twice weekly
•
If the LFD test is positive, they should remain at home.
•
LFD tests are taken when we have no symptoms. If pupils do have COVID-19 symptoms, they should remain at home, take a PCR test, and self-isolate if the result is positive.
•
For pupils who need to selfisolate, please contact Mrs Gibbs, Mr Stubbs or Mrs Savage as appropriate so that they can access lessons remotely.
•
Pupils in Year 7 and above should bring in a face covering with them each day which they are now required to wear in communal areas inside and in lessons. This will be reviewed on 26th January.
Thank you to pupils in Year 7 and above who engaged so well with the on-site testing this morning.
2
Christmas Inspire Kids Inspire and the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. Readers included Brian Blessed, YolanDa Brown, Simon Callow and Dame Eleanor Laing.
On the evening of the last day of term, the Chapel Choir helped lead Christmas Inspire at St Martin-in-theFields off Trafalgar Square. The event raised money for the Essex charity
Staff News This term we are delighted to welcome the following new colleagues: ·
Mrs Giovanna Hutcheon joins us as Acting Head of French; she will be covering Mrs Leroux’s maternity leave
·
Mrs Iuliia Wright and her husband Michael will be Acting Houseparents of Church House in the absence of Mr and Mrs Leroux
·
Mrs Katheryn Tookey joins us as a teacher in the Pre Prep; she will be covering Mrs Lewis’ maternity leave
We hope they will all be very happy in their roles.
Physics Congratulations to the Middle Sixth students who competed in the British Physics Olympiad. This year almost 4,500 of the most able physics students from across the world participated and six Chigwell students were placed in the top third of entrants. Particular congratulations go to Michal and Michael who gained silver awards placing them in the top 17%, and to Lewis and Zhengxin who won gold awards because they came in the top 9%.
3
Bad Weather As I said in my last letter, in the event of heavy snow or ice, please consult the school website (www.chigwell-school.org) for confirmation of arrangements for the school day. We would be very reluctant to close the School but we are mindful of the safety of pupils and staff.
With best wishes Yours sincerely
Michael Punt
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TERM DATES 2022 Half term:
Saturday 12th February to Sunday 20th February
Term ends:
Tuesday 29th March
Trinity Term (Easter Day is 17thApril) First day:
Tuesday 19th April
Half term:
Saturday 28th May to Sunday 5th June INSET Day Monday 6th June
Term ends:
Wednesday 13th July