Welcome to the weekly Newsletter for parents and carers of students attending John Hanson Community School.
Inspire - Care - Succeed
‘HEAD’ Lines
KID DOUBT
AND THE CONSEQUENCES
(NO, THAT ISN’T THE LATEST RAP COLLABORATION…)
Dear Parents/Carers
I am currently reading a book called ‘Dare to be you’ by Matthew Syed. Over the next few weeks I am going to share what I think are some really powerful messages that it contains.
Matthew introduces us to Kid Doubt.
Let’s introduce you to Kid Doubt. I first met him at school and he was quite distant at first. I didn’t see him much, which was fine by me – he wasn’t exactly a laugh a minute. But, whenever he was around, I would start to feel uneasy. A bit unsure of myself. And I didn’t like it.
Around the time I met Kid Doubt I was reading The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. I can’t tell you how much I was loving it. The story was so exciting, I just couldn’t put it down. And so I took it with me to school. I usually played football at lunchtime, but that day I just wanted to read the next chapter, to find out about the next epic battle in this amazing fantasy world that I was now a part of. I couldn’t wait. So instead of heading straight out to the pitch, I went back in to the classroom, got the book out of my bag and sat down to read. Just at that moment, I felt an uneasy feeling and knew that Kid Doubt was around. Some of the other kids were starting to stare at me through the window. They had the football in their hands and were pointing at my book and falling about laughing. I could see the shadow of Kid Doubt there too.
All of a sudden I could feel my legs start to go wobbly and my hands getting sweaty. My mind started racing with thoughts like:
WHAT IF THEY DON’T LET ME PLAY FOOTBALL WITH THEM AGAIN? WHAT IF THEY CARRY ON LAUGHING AT ME? AND WHAT IF THEY DON’T LIKE ME ANYMORE?
So I did something I regret to this day. I pretended that I had been reading as a joke, to make them laugh. I tossed the book in the bin and ran out to join them on the pitch.
To be continued…
I am sure that after not being in School from March to July of this year, there are many students, irrespective of how well they engaged with remote learning, who feel the presence of Kid Doubt from time to time.
Please be rest assured, we are doing everything we can to banish Kid Doubt from John Hanson and make sure you children believe and achieve.
Stay safe and well
Regards
Russell Stevens
Headteacher
PSHE Day Friday 9th October
Next Friday (9th October) is the first John Hanson Community School PSHE Day of the year. During the day students will be off timetable covering a number of important topics. Please see the below list outlining what your child will be covering:
Next week marks World Space Week. This year, space agencies all around the world are celebrating the technology that helps us explore space, focussing particularly on satellites! Keep an eye out for Space related tasks this week in your Science lessons and during tutor time.
For information on how spot yourself your satellite, click below:
Described as ground-breaking, the NHS Every Mind matters link below is to help parents support their child’s mental health at this challenging time, and with the return to school. It is a really useful resource with several helpful links covering a range of topics/concerns.
Our Virtual Open Evening tour is now available on our website - please click on the image below to view.
WANTED -
NEW GOVERNORS
What are we looking for?
Our school Governing Body is made up of Governors from all walks of life and with a range of different backgrounds, skills and experiences, but they are all passionate about making John Hanson an outstanding experience for both Pupils and Staff.
What is the Governing Body’s Role?
The Governing Body at John Hanson:
Helps set the strategic direction of the school
Holds the Senior Leadership to account for both the academic achievement of the school and the welfare of the pupils
Ensures the school is financially well run and delivers value for money
What can we offer?
A chance to develop skills in strategic management
The opportunity to work with our team of governors and staff in improving our School
A sense of achievement in making a difference to our School
The pleasure of helping students reach their potential
If you would like to find out more about being a Governor at John Hanson please contact our Clerk of Governors at email deborah.swales@jhanson.hants.sch.uk
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.
Each week we will be choosing a different ‘Word of the Week’. These words have specifically been chosen as they are both useful and sophisticated whilst encouraging challenge and extended vocabulary use. Please challenge your child (and yourself!) to use this week’s word as much as possible at home, in conversations, and in their work!
Mrs Woodley and Miss Underwood
Coronavirus updates - keep safe
We will be posting updated information on the school website and via ParentMail.
Should my child be tested for Coronavirus if they are unwell?
Please see below advice the Department for Education and Public Health England have asked me to send to parents. I have added a few of my own words in italics.
As schools return for the autumn term and we welcome back students, we understand that this may raise some concern about the risks of transmission of coronavirus. Along with all schools across the country, we are putting in every effort to follow the guidance and ensure that students can return safely as the new term starts. To aid this work I am writing with further advice with regards testing.
Testing
The Department for Education (DfE) has worked closely with Public Health England (PHE) and NHS Test and Trace to ensure that they are doing all they can to minimise the potential risks of spread. A key part of this is the appropriate use of testing to help identify people who are positive and subsequently their contacts. Testing has been made available throughout the country and anyone with symptoms can book a test online or over the telephone through 119 to get the certainty they need to protect themselves and those around them. However, I am fully aware that more recently this has become increasingly difficult.
It is crucial that everyone with coronavirus symptoms has access to a test as soon as they develop those symptoms.
When schools in Scotland returned in the middle of August there was a huge increase in demand for tests from people without coronavirus symptoms. In order to avoid a similar surge in test demand as England’s schools return (although I think it has already happened!) it is important to ensure that testing capacity is prioritised for those with symptoms and to avoid students and their families self-isolating unnecessarily.
To ensure identification of those with coronavirus while avoiding a huge increase in demand for tests from people without coronavirus symptoms, students who feel unwell should get a get tested if they develop one or more of the main coronavirus symptoms:
a high temperature
a new, continuous cough
the loss or change of their sense of taste or smell, or
they are recommended to get tested by a healthcare provider (e.g. GP or nurse)
If your child develops one or more of the main coronavirus symptoms described above, only they should be tested. There is no need for their households to have a test, unless they are also symptomatic. Unless a student has one of the three main coronavirus symptoms, they should only be tested if instructed otherwise by the local authority, health protection team or their GP. As schools across England return, students may feel unwell, for example with a sore throat, stomach upset or a headache. These students don’t need to book a test, but may need to stay off school or college and seek medical advice through their GP or pharmacist as usual.
Please use the link to a free online safety guide providing parents and carers with advice and useful tips to help keep their children safe when accessing, viewing and engaging with content online.
We hope this information is useful.
Please see the below useful links.
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 Computing Department
Music NEWS
Music Mark
The school are pleased to announce that we have been nominated by Hampshire Music Service to become a Music Mark school for the 2020/21 academic year.
Virtual Christmas Concert
This Christmas we are not going to be able to stage our annual SingUp for Christmas. We hope to produce a virtual Christmas Concert featuring performers across the school recorded on video. if your son/daughter would like to take part in some way - please let Mr Adams know. mike.adams@jhanson.hants.sch.uk
If your child would like to start to learn playing an instrument please email for details to mike.adams@jhanson.hants.sch.uk
Music lesson days
A reminder that students in Years 7-9 will require earphones in order to play keyboards and use the computers during class music lessons. The plug needs to be the standard 3.5mm plug.
