3 minute read
Parents/Carers update
Parent/carer survey reminder
Thank you to the parents/carers who have completed our survey issued last week. For those who have not yet done so we would really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to give your feedback on how you think Highfields is doing. Your responses will help inform our main improvement plan (‘Big 3’) priorities for 2021-22.
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A separate student survey has been emailed to all students this week via their Highfields email account to obtain their views. Surveys are open until midnight on Sunday 16 May.
Year 12 future directions: work experience and careers research
There will be an evening event for all year 12 students and their parents/carers on Tuesday 18 May from 7pm until 8pm.
In normal times, many year 12 students would be arranging work experience and going on it towards the end of the summer term. We have been thinking of ways to creatively make up for this.
The conversation - We think you can often learn just as much about a job from a good conversation as you can from actually being on work experience (and sometimes perhaps more). But sometimes it's not always obvious what would be good to ask, and how to get the most out of one of those chats.
We have lined up a couple of former students and people connected to the school, so that we can give examples of a good conversations - to really find out if it's the kind of thing which would suit or inspire you. The point isn't really whether or not these particular jobs are ones you want to find out about (we can only talk to a couple of people), but it's more aimed at helping you think about how you could do your own research. Having said that, we have chosen some jobs which aren't well known, and hopefully will open your eyes to a variety of different fields.
Your opportunities - If you then want help finding people to talk to in a particular career, then we'll help you do that through a network of former students, willing parents/carers and wider contacts.
Further sources of information - As part of the evening we'll also signpost you to some further resources for looking at work experience and careers.
Is it for me? We think this would be good for all students - either you are thinking about it now, or it will help in the future - because there will certainly come a time when you need to do this yourself.
Zoom link: we will send out the link to all year 12 parents/carers via Weduc.
Thank you to everyone who responded to our consultation on the timings to the school day being made permanent - the majority of responses were in favour of the change. The governing board met on 29 April to review feedback and gave their approval to starting the school day at 8.45am and finishing at 3.20pm.
The amount of time students will spend learning will not be affected, neither will extra-curricular clubs or catering arrangements, and Derbyshire County Council’s transport team confirmed the permanent change would not present any specific difficulties for bus operators.
Extra-curricular clubs
Performing Arts Clubs
Performing arts clubs are running during lunchtime and after school from 3.30-4.30pm as we are working towards a summer performance – we need you!
Lunch After school
Monday
Year 8 Musical Theatre
Tuesday Year 12/13 Musical Theatre -
Wednesday Year 10 Musical Theatre Year 11 Musical Theatre
Thursday - Year 7 Musical Theatre
Friday Year 9 Drama - Lower site club will be in the performing arts mobile and upper site club will be in P1. All lunchtime clubs require students to bring lunch or have canteen food at break to allow time in the shortened lunch break.
Sports Clubs
The PE department are trialling extra-curricular sports activities in the form of ‘sports pods’ taking place on the following days after school:
Monday
After school 3.30-4.0pm
Year 10 Tuesday - Wednesday Year 8 Thursday Year 7 Friday Year 9
Students participating should get changed in the changing rooms at the end of the school day ready to start the session at 3.30pm. Sessions will be a mix for all abilities/genders and run for an hour, finishing at 4.30pm. Activities will be decided on the evening.
