Welcome to the weekly Newsletter for parents and carers of students attending John Hanson Community School.
Inspire - Care - Succeed
‘HEAD’ Lines
The Next Phase
Dear parents/carers
Since the Prime ministers announcement on Sunday evening it has been a busy week to say the least for us in education.
On Sunday, while a date was given for the phased return of some primary school year groups it was only very briefly mentioned that at some point year 10 students would hopefully get some face-to-face contact with their teachers.
By Tuesday that had morphed in to the expectation that by the week beginning the 1st June secondary schools will have started to consider offering some form of face-to-face support to supplement the remote education currently being offered.
As you can imagine, life has been ‘interesting’ since Tuesday as I, alongside my senior colleagues, have started to grapple with firstly what ‘some face-to-face support’ means and then the logistics around the offer we will be able to provide.
I would like to stress, in the strongest possible terms, that while I believe any phased reopening for year 10 students will be a positive step forwards for both their education and wellbeing, it will only happen if I am convinced it is safe to do so, and will be based on scientific advice. My overriding focus is on the health and safety of any student or member of staff that walks through our gates. If it’s not safe I will not reopen the school. While this has the potential to further delay any face-to-face contact for year 10 students with their teachers, their health will always come first.
On this basis I will not be opening the school to year 10 students on the 1st June. The week stating the 1st June will be spent making sure staff are prepared for the return of year 10 students and can deliver a meaningful experience to them when they return. It will also be used to make sure the school site is appropriately prepared and set up such that all those who work and student within and kept safe and well at all times.
Next week, I will be sending out a survey to the parents of all year 10 students setting out the measures that I will be taking to make sure the school is a safe place for year 10 students to return to. Based on this outline, I will be asking if you intend to send your child back to school on the 8th June.
Your responses to this question will be critical in allowing me to make sure we have the right provision in place before students return, and therefore I would urge all year 10 parents to complete the survey in order that we can make our first steps and the right steps back towards reopening the school.
Unfortunately the position in relation to students in years 7-9 (except for those deemed to be vulnerable or the children of key workers who are offered placed in school) remains unchanged and we will continue our efforts to provide the best possible remote learning experience for them as we move towards half-term and then in to term 6.
From today I have also implemented some temporary changes to my management structure in order to support my staff and to support you as parents so you know, where/if necessary, who to communicate with:
Charlotte Ferguson (Assistant Headteacher and SENCo): An overarching role as SENCo that will have elements of all 3 of the roles above. charlotte.ferguson@jhanson.hants.sch.uk
Kim Hide (Assistant Headteacher): Transition. Mainly year 6 in to 7, but also elements of year 11. kim.hide@jhanson.hants.sch.uk
This is an ever changing ‘new normal’ that we are living in and I expect that between the time of me writing this and you reading it something else will have been published and the landscape changed further.
Thank you once again for the amazing job you are doing in supporting your children’s education in these difficult times.
You can sign up to the Hampshire E-Library even if you don’t have a library card! Use your address and the library will give you a temporary ‘borrower number’ and you can read any books from the collection. The website with instructions for how to sign up is below and then download either the RB Digital app or the BorrowBox app to read books on-it’s so easy!
We hope you take the opportunity to go on lots of literary adventures from your own home! Keep your teachers updated with any new books you have read: we can't wait to hear about them!
Chloe Rollason Year 9- Charity Fundraising.
We are very proud of Chloe who has decided that she is going to take the extraordinary step of shaving her head in order to support two fantastic causes that are doing an amazing job at this difficult time. We hope that you can offer your support by contributing to her gofundme pages.
Firstly, I want to help the NHS as they are doing an incredible job with making sure that everyone is cared for during this pandemic, even putting their own lives at risk. It would be incredible if I could reach £1000 for them as I feel that it is really important to everyone to help out however possible, even if that is just remaining at home on lockdown.
I also want to help Crisis UK to support their assertion that in 21st century Britain, everybody should have a place to live.’ People lose their homes for a variety of reasons: rising pressure from high rents and low pay, or a sudden life event like losing a job or family breakdown, can quickly force people into homelessness. But it doesn’t need to be like this. We can end homelessness for good. This doesn’t mean that no-one will ever lose their home again, but that everyone facing homelessness gets the help they need quickly".
I have a second gofundme page for Crisis UK (as you can’t add two charities to the one fundraiser.)
Please feel free to donate to whichever charity you are more passionate about - or even both!
The Head Shaving is due to take place on 30th May.
‘Mirror Mirror’ is a fantasy novel written by Jen Calonita. The book is part of a series, which tell classic fairytales with a key twist. In this case, the Evil Queen poisons the prince instead. Other books in the series include Part of Your World (The Little Mermaid), Tale as Old as Time (Beauty and the Beast), So this is Love (Cinderella) and many more. Overall I really recommend this book to any Disney fan as well as anyone looking for a good read and a darker twist. Format The cover of the book has the title ‘Mirror Mirror’ across the top in metallic red, with also splattered blood, which goes with the theme of ‘a darker side of Disney’ well. It has a black background. Underneath in smaller writing is ‘A Twisted Tale’ in red, to show what series it’s a part of. Then underneath that there is a silhouette of the Old hag’s hand holding a shiny, red apple. There is also the silhouette of the castle and branches, with smoke behind it all. At the bottom it has the key question ‘What if the Evil Queen poisoned the prince?’ to intrigue a buyer. I think this is a smart design, that catches the eye of a potential reader on the shelves and looks nice with the other books in the series.
Plot The book is set alongside the classic plot of Snow White, so in Germany around the 1500s. It starts off as it does in the classic, except we have more detail about Snow’s mother, who died of ‘illness’. And Snow’s father, who apparently abandoned his kingdom and ran off. Snow meets the prince, and after that the huntsman is sent to kill her but he doesn’t, then she finds the dwarf’s cottage and they welcome her.
But instead of her just trying to settle there, she plots to retrieve back her throne, after she learns from the huntsman that the Evil Queen killed her mother (Which is the Evil Queen’s sister). The prince arrives also and says he has found Snow’s father so they head off to see him and the dwarves go and round up an army. Meanwhile, the Evil Queen disguises herself as the Old Hag and goes to find Snow White, but she isn’t in the cottage.
The Queen leaves and in the next few days, they go to invade the castle. The prince goes first into the kitchen but the Evil Queen is still the Old Hag (She is as weak as one too, as she gives most of her power to her magic mirror) poisons the prince in the kitchen. She invites everyone to a ‘celebration’ where she showcases that she has poisoned the prince. Snow’s army has been scared away but as she finds the Prince the guards catch her.
Then Snow comes to the Evil Queen. Ingrid (The Evil Queen) Is given a choice by the mirror: the crown or him. She can either flee with the guards or protect the mirror. But she refuses to choose so Snow destroys the mirror and halfdestroying the Evil Queen in the process (She is locked up, because Snow doesn’t want to take her life), wakes the prince by kissing him and they all live happily ever after.
I really liked this plot because it was a more difficult way to get to happily ever after with a deep and dark twist that is so interesting because it runs alongside the classic storyline.
My Review I think this book is good for ages 10 and up. It’s compelling and intriguing, but not too complicated, but on the more difficult side of happily ever after. The backstories of the characters are well thought-out, and make you link their characteristics with their past. Descriptive language is used, with words not too over-complicated so that even 10 year olds could understand, but advanced enough to make it a good read.
My only critique with this book is it’s a lot to get through until the twist in the story actually happens, and sometimes it gets a bit boring in the parts where nothing is happening, and it’s just Snow discussing her plans.
My favourite parts of the book were probably the parts where it told the story of Katherine (Snow’s mother/ the old queen) and Ingrid. It really tells the reader about the injustice Ingrid feels because Katherine is prettier and better at the farm, she feels under appreciated and worthless, which makes her powerhungry (Which shows as she does anything, even kill her own sister, to become queen) and obsessed with her looks (Which is also showcased later in the book, as she has to be ‘Fairest of Them All’).
Overall I rate this book a 9/10. By Hollie Phelan
Year 11 - College update
Year 11 Post 16 – each of you should hear directly from your college in the next week or so, to support you with you transition from school to them. Please let Mrs Hall know if this doesn’t happen, or email the colleges directly if you have any concerns or worries. Michelle, our careers advisor, is also available for advise still.
Please encourage your son/daughter to use their SCHOOL EMAIL for work rather than their own private email. This is important for safeguarding and also some of our messages for students are being sent to school email addresses.
This book is quite romantic at the start and you might think aww this book is really boring but once you read past the first and second chapter then it starts to get interesting. In my opinion, I think this book is a thriller. It is written in 1st tense by the main character, a girl called Celeste.
In this book, society has collapsed and the everyone has to follow a set of rules made by the only thing keeping the country together; a special courthouse where they don’t judge you if you’ve broken the law but if you didn’t follow the set rules. Celeste was a good girl always following the rules, A+’s in work and girlfriend to the head judge’s son, Art.
One day Celeste breaks one of the rules which to her is a one in a billion chance of happening. Now if you break the rules you get seared with a hot red F standing for Flawed meaning imperfect. Depending on which rule you broke -sometimes multiple- depends on where they sear you. You’ve got: the tongue, forehead, right foot, right hand and chest. Now being one of the Head Judge’s favourite children can get you out of trouble which is exactly what Art’s Dad wanted to do. However, Celeste disobeyed and the Judge turned as cold as ice and said she was “Flawed to the very bone” and sentenced her to be flawed on every body part you can sear. It was painful, disgusting and never happened before.
Now they did most of her marks with anaesthetic/ pain-easer. Most…
I like this book because of the characters. There are loads of books about society collapsing and they are all different in some way. For example, Noughts and Crosses or The Hunger Games. Noughts and Crosses is a romance and Hunger Games is a thriller and action. Totally different. Perfect is a thriller and maybe a hint of romance.
Personally, I’d recommend this book for ages 11+ because some of the chapters, especially the searing one, can be quite graphic. Celeste and the Judge are so calm at the beginning and near the end chaos erupts; it shows even in books human relationships are just so fragile.
We will be posting updated information on the school website and via ParentMail.
Safeguarding
Now, more than any other time, the safeguarding of our students and your children, is of paramount importance.
I would like to reassure you that our safeguarding team are still working closely with children’s services and the police to keep our young people safe, and are available if you have safeguarding concerns at dsl@jhanson.hants.sch.uk
Teaching and working remotely has presented new challenges for us all. Our staff have been updated and will be using the skills they have, to look for concerns regarding the wellbeing of children they are working with.
Many students who were receiving pastoral support at school are being contacted regularly to ‘check in’ and we ask that you encourage your child, if they are struggling, to contact a trusted member of staff who will be there to help.
Students with SEN, may be contacted by teaching assistants who will offer support with their learning.
To protect all, our staff will only contact your child via their school email address, and we have asked that students do the same. Our staff will reply during the hours of 8am – 5pm; in line with school hours.
Learning platforms and links that your child will be sent are all appropriate and safe.
We cannot emphasise enough the importance of a safe online environment and encourage parents and carers to set age-appropriate parental controls on digital devices and use internet filters to block malicious websites. These are usually free, but often need to be turned on.
With children spending increasing time online, the Department for Education has produced a list of helpful links which provide guidance for parents:
Thinkuknow provides advice from the National Crime Agency (NCA) on staying safe online
Parent info is a collaboration between Parentzone and the NCA providing support and guidance for parents from leading experts and organisations
Childnet offers a toolkit to support parents and carers of children of any age to start discussions about their online life, to set boundaries around online behaviour and technology use, and to find out where to get more help and support
Internet matters provides age-specific online safety checklists, guides on how to set parental controls on a range of devices, and a host of practical tips to help children get the most out of their digital world
London Grid for Learning has support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online, including tips to keep primary aged children safe online
Net-aware has support for parents and carers from the NSPCC, including a guide to social networks, apps and games
Let’s Talk About It has advice for parents and carers to keep children safe from online radicalisation
UK Safer Internet Centre has tips, advice, guides and other resources to help keep children safe online, including parental controls offered by home internet providers and safety tools on social networks and other online services
If we can help you support your child in anyway please contact your child’s Head of Year in the first instance. We may be able to help you with encouraging your children to engage in school work, to set healthy routines and help with their emotional struggles at what is a confusing time for us all. You are not alone – we are in this together!
Kim Hide
Assistant Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Think you know – Activity Packs relating to online safety Who’s watching yours? – 17% increase in children livestreaming since lockdown (Advice to help parents/carers minimise risk to children online) Mental health – How to look after your family’s mental health when stuck indoors Houseparty – Everything you need to know.
John Hanson Community Department
Music Tuition
LRC READING CHALLENGE
Where have you been reading your books from the LRC during lockdown?
We would like to find out the most unusual place where you’ve read your book!
Please email us your photos of you reading your books. The best ones will be put on display on the LRC noticeboards when we return to school.
You have until Friday 15th May to do this. Prizes will be awarded for the best entries.
Mrs Coward has been reading the Evil Within in the garden and Mrs Ferreira has been reading Ink by her shed!
Keep reading and keep safe and we are missing you all.
Mrs Coward and Mrs Ferreira.
Let’s celebrate and embrace the different backgrounds, heritage, language and traditions of all the children living in our community!
The importance of knowing cultures other than ours is of extreme value for the personal development of the human being. Curiosity and Creativity is amplified in contact with different cultures. In addition, different cultures bring with them a giant historical compilation of teachings, works, artistic and scientific knowledge. So, these are new references that will certainly serve as a spark for your child's creative thinking.
This week`s cultural focus is Nepal a country with a diverse tapestry of culture and religion.
Be well and be safe. Mrs Ferreira EAL co-ordinator
Dates below are currently postponed/cancelled until further notice:
