Weekly newsletter: 5th June 2020
Curriculum and Go4Schools
During this half term, remote learning for all subjects has been organised into a 7-week curriculum which will be the same for all students studying a subject. This is designed to consolidate learning from year 10, including during lockdown, as well as potentially to introduce topics that will be covered in year 11.
Work will be issued as one piece of work for the week (two for maths and English).
It will be allocated for the whole week and you should organise your daily and weekly timetable yourself. Consider doing this at the start of the week in order to plan out your week.
*An example of a ‘standard’ week timetable can be seen below
During certain weeks, some students will have one day attending school where they will receive a Maths, English and Science lesson.
These lessons are standalone lessons and for that week will be in addition to your regular lessons. You should therefore rearrange the rest of your lessons for that week appropriately.
These lessons will also be on Go4Schools and will have the word SCHOOL at the front of them. If you will be attending school for a face to face session, ignore these lessons. If you are not going to come to school, they are there for you to complete at some point during this half term.
*An example of a ‘school’ week including rearranging the rest of the week can be seen below
Example student timetables
Standard week
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Maths 1 |
Option 1 |
Maths 2 |
English 2 |
Option 3 |
English 1 |
Chemistry |
Option 2 |
Physics |
RS |
Biology |
|
PE |
|
Tutor period |
‘School’ week (in school Monday – you would need to adjust if your ‘school’ day is Tuesday or Wednesday)
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Maths |
Option 1 |
English 1 |
English 2 |
Option 3 |
English |
Chemistry |
Option 2 |
Physics |
Biology |
Science |
Maths 1 |
RS |
Maths 2 |
Tutor Period |
|
|
PE |
|
|
A blank timetable can be found on the link below to help you organise your week:
Face-to-face opportunities.
Your parents will have completed a questionnaire telling us whether or not you will be taking the opportunity to attend school for some face-to-face support at some point during this half term. The details for this will be confirmed when we are sure of numbers. For the majority of you, this will not begin until at least 15th June in line with Government guidance. These days will look very different and some initial details have been sent out by Miss Dean. These details are also shown below.
We will continue to include Microsoft Forms quizzes as part of the home learning and you should endeavour to complete these. We will also be looking at the possibility of using Microsoft Teams more widely and may be asking you to sign into video calls via this system. It may be worth logging into Microsoft 365 and then Teams to see what it looks like. You will of course receive instructions of how to do this as and when they are required.
Return to School Plans for Years 10
8:55 – Arrival at school, hand wash and go to hall.
9:00 – 9:15 Assembly
9:15 – 11:20 Subject 1 including a 20 min break
11:20 – 13:00 Subject 2
13:00 – 13:40 Lunch
13:40 – 15:40 Subject 3 including a 20 min break.
15:40 School finishes
Classroom organisation
We will provide subject specialist teaching for three subjects: English, Maths and Science.
Students will remain in the hall during the day.
Students will have access to a particular learning space, toilet facility, and outdoor space as follows.
Within these areas, student will be required to maintain physical distancing of 2m from each other.
Lunch will be taken in their allocated space or outdoor space.
Home Group |
Entrance to Building |
Room Allocated |
Toilet Facilities |
Outdoor Space and break area |
Year 10 |
Lower Link |
Hall |
Lower Link |
Near side of tennis courts (Gym) |
Daily procedures
Arrival at school |
Enter via the side gate and head to the link block entrance – maintain 2m distancing. Enter school via the link block, head to the lower link block toilets and wash your hands. 1 boy and 1 girl at a time at the sink. Maintain 2m distance as you queue. Proceed to the hall, take your seat and wait for the assembly to begin. Do not move the seats as they have been placed to maintain suitable 2m gaps. |
During lessons |
We will provide all students with a pen and ruler. You should use the equipment provided and not share with others. Remain in your seat at all times. Put up your hand if you have a question for the teacher. If you go to the toilet, you should proceed straight to the lower link block toilets. Use the hand sanitiser as you leave the room and/or wash your hands before you use the toilet. Wash your hands after you have been and consider using the hand sanitiser if required as you re-enter the room. It is vital that all students maintain the recommended 2m distancing at all times. Please do not break this and do not pretend to do so. It is vitally important that you behave appropriately at all times at this challenging time. Please consider the effect that inappropriate actions may have on others. |
Break time / Lunch time |
Your teacher will ask you to pack away and will dismiss you in a spaced manner. You will be allowed to go to the toilet, use the allocated outside area (see above), or remain in your seat. You must maintain suitable 2m distancing at all times. If you stay in the room, you cannot swap chairs. |
End of school |
Your teacher will dismiss you in a spaced manner. Proceed to the toilets to wash your hands again before leaving via the link block. Ensure you leave the school site straight away. If you are due to catch a school bus, please stay in your seat and you will be released when the bus arrives. |
Uniform
Students do not need to wear full school uniform. Students need to wear appropriate clothing for school (smart/casual) but students should also be aware that their clothing needs to consist of items that are easily washable at the end of each day. It is recommended that students put clothing into the wash immediately and was at 60 degrees when returning home and then shower.
Equipment
All students will be provided with a pen and a ruler. We advise students not to share equipment and to use only the items provided to them. Students do NOT need to bring in exercise books. Paper will be provided for students. Students are not allowed to bring a school bag and should bring their lunch in a plastic bag.
Safety Measures
- All students will be allocated to a working space; this will be the space where they work for the day.
- Class sizes will be 15, maximum.
- Layouts or working spaces will be altered to support social distancing, where possible.
- Each group of students, in school, will have a designated space for their breaks.
- Break times and lunchtimes will be staggered.
- If a student brings in a packed lunch, they will be asked to ensure all contents are returned home and not disposed of on school site.
- There will be a limited catering provision which consists of students being able to order a pre-packed sandwich.
All young people deserve to enjoy the life-changing benefits that come from play and sport. That’s why this year we’re asking our pupils’ families to take part in National School Sport Week at Home. John Taylor will be hosting a Virtual Sport Week from Monday 22nd- Friday 26th June!
More information will follow over the next couple of weeks with a range of activities and challenges being announced. Compete for yourself but also for your house!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME A SPORTING YOUNG AMBASSADOR?
If you are currently in Year 7 and Year 8 and would like to apply to become a sports ambassador for the PE Department. Please read the following.
In less than 100 words, email Mrs Berry on [email protected] and say why you should be considered for this highly important role.
You will need to have a sense of community, respect and kindness for others, perseverance to never give up and integrity. All these are part of the school values of John Taylor.
On top of this you need to be committed, punctual, have sound leadership skills and have the ability to get on with things using your own initiative.
A sense of passion for promoting your enthusiasm for sport to pupils who are younger than you.
This is an interesting role where you will be helping with sporting festivals, events, competitions and Assemblies at Primary Schools when it will be safe to do so.
Apply if you think that you would like to help promote sport and the local community. The deadline for applications is Friday 26th June.
Mrs Berry.
Mrs Berry
[email protected]
Please check out the resources below with details of next week's 'Kindness Challenge' from the Art department.
Good luck!
For any KS4 and KS5 students who are interested in Geography. I have attached an interactive PDF which has some excellent links. Select the download version to access the interactive links.
Currently, The Curious Geographer is hosting weekly live interviews with academics, professionals and journalists. This term the speakers are -
- 4th June Dr Kimberley Thomas, Temple University, water security across borders
- 11th June Ed Brewster, the climate emergency
- 18th June Adam Corsini, online mapping programme Layers of London
- 25th June Ilan Kelman, UCL, with Disaster by Choice
- 2nd July Tim Marshall, Geopolitics
- 9th July Dr Christopher Pater, off shore windfarms and Britain’s glacial landscapes
- 16th July Dr Susan Page, University of Leicester, The role of peatlands in the carbon cycle with
German Culture Challenges
Challenge 1: Schweine Örchen
Dear Year 7, 8 & 9 German students,
I promised you a few German cultural challenges. The first one is a baking challenge:
Schweine Örchen (literally little pigs ears) are a sweet puff pastry biscuit, also often known as Palmiers. These are delicious eaten freshly baked. Serve them on their own or with a good cup of tea or coffee. (German's love to have a cup of percolated (drip filter) coffee and a chat with friends - ein Kaffeeklatsch).
The challenge: Can you follow this recipe to make this simple but delicious treat? You can choose one of the three challenge levels below to complete this task. Number 1 is the hardest, Number 3 the easiest. Have some fun and enjoy munching on these treats with your family.
As lockdown wears on, it can be difficult to remain positive in amongst the constant uncertainty and fear that Covid-19 has brought into our lives. It feels as though time is losing its meaning; all of the days are beginning to blur into one and the light at the end of the tunnel seems distant and unreachable. As it was mental health awareness week between the 18th and 24th May, I decided to ask some Year 12 students (including ABC members and Mental Health Ambassadors) how they’ve been managing to stay positive while we’re all stuck at home. I hope that, by sharing their responses, you can gain some ideas on how to look after your own wellbeing so that we can all make this crazy period of our lives a little more manageable.
Stay connected
One of the most important things that students brought up time and time again was staying connected to people that you care about. Although we have to remain socially distant, maintaining close relationships with those you love is more important than ever and we are incredibly fortunate that, in this technological age, there are so many ways to do this. You could play video games with your friends online, organise an online pub quiz for family and friends or simply drop your friends a message in a group chat. It might be a welcome break from the people you live with to FaceTime a friend, but it’s equally important to switch off from social media every once in a while to give your mind a rest.
Have a routine
Many students stressed the idea of having a manageable routine that strikes a balance between completing school work and making time for the things you enjoy. Maybe you could write yourself a to-do list every morning so that you feel a sense of accomplishment when you finish a task. Make sure you include both school work and fun activities (such as baking, watching a new TV series, getting green fingered in the garden or learning a new creative skill). However, try not to stress if you don’t stick to your routine perfectly all the time; always take a break if things get too much and make sure you reach out to friends, family and teachers if you’re struggling. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to people close to you, I’ve left a list of other places where you can find help below.
Exercise
Regular exercise is a great way to look after both your physical and mental wellbeing. Some students said that getting out of the house at least once a day has been really beneficial to avoid getting cabin fever- even a short, 10 minute walk will work wonders to clear your mind and boost your positivity. There are so many things that you could do to get your heart rate up and your endorphins flowing: go on a bike ride in a nearby park, walk the dog (if you’re lucky enough to have one), do an online Pilates session or try the home workouts that Joe Wicks does at 9am every weekday.
Stay positive
Hard though it is, trying to keep a positive attitude is the key to maintaining good wellbeing while in lockdown. If you’re not feeling so great yourself, why not make someone else feel good? Surprise a family member with breakfast in bed or send a nice message to a friend you’re really missing- you’d be amazed at how much making others happy inadvertently makes you feel better. Putting on a nice outfit or doing your makeup every once in a while might also help you to feel a sense of normality and will undoubtedly boost your self-esteem. It’s really important to have things to look forward to after lockdown is over, too, so don’t be afraid to make plans with your friends for when some form of normality resumes. Of course, you may not know when you’ll be able to have that group trip to Nandos, but just having something planned will work wonders for your mindset.
Reach out
As I’ve already mentioned, you mustn’t ever be afraid to speak to someone if things are feeling a bit overwhelming. There are some fantastic resources below that you can use if you need some support. No problem is ever too big or too small; there are always people you can talk to.
Childline: Ring 0800 1111 or speak to a counsellor on the website chat function https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/1-2-1-counsellor-chat/
Young Minds: Information and support https://youngminds.org.uk/
Mind: Information and support https://www.mind.org.uk/
The Mix: Ring 0800 808 4994 or visit their website to speak to a counsellor or message the crisis team https://www.themix.org.uk/
Samaritans: Ring 116 123 to talk about anything that is upsetting you, or alternatively you can email [email protected]
Be kind to yourself
As one student so brilliantly put it, “this [situation] is highlighting everything we appreciate in life as it’s all been stripped back and taken away from us. This means that when normal life resumes everyone should be kinder.” Now is the perfect time to learn how to practise kindness towards yourself- you could start a gratitude journal and write down a few things you’re thankful for at the end of each day, complete a guided meditation on the Headspace app or do a yoga session with your family on Yoga with Adriene’s YouTube channel. Taking a few minutes out of your day to be kind to your mind is always important, but in amongst this fear and uncertainty our brains need it more than ever. Equally, check in with how your friends and family are doing when you can and encourage them to reach out if they’re feeling low.
I hope that, by trying some of these things, the light at the end of this seemingly endless tunnel will begin to feel a little bit closer. Remember: stay safe, stay 2 metres apart and stay hopeful that we will come out of the other side of this. Thank you to all of the Year 12s who contributed towards this article.