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John Hanson Weekly News 27th November 2020
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Welcome to the weekly Newsletter for parents and carers of students attending John Hanson Community School.
Inspire - Care - Succeed
 
 
 
‘HEAD’ Lines



We are listening
 
 
Dear parents/carers

I would like to start by again thanking the significant number of you who responded to our recent parent survey.

Two weeks ago I wrote, and gave an overview of the very positive response that you gave to the questions posed.

I have now had a chance to read all of the free text responses. I am going to use his weeks ‘HEAD’ Lines to ‘respond to your responses’.

There were a few comments made that pertained to individual students. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on these. As such I have grouped the responses and will address the key themes.

Remote Learning during the first lockdown

We acknowledge that while this was mainly a positive experience for many students, there were those who struggled with a very different way of working. I would put the school and my staff in that category right at the beginning. This was an unprecedented situation that the school and staff adapted to incredibly quickly and subsequently provided students with the best education possible under the circumstances. This has been borne out by the positive approach the vast majority of students have taken to their learning since returning to school in September.

That is not to say that we have not learnt from the experience and have made note of changes we would make if, and let’s hope not, we find ourselves in this position again.

Why didn’t the school provide all lessons as ‘live’ lessons during lockdown?

The decision not to move to live lessons for all subjects and all students was a conscious one. A 'live lesson' based remote curriculum assumes that all students have an appropriate, dedicated device on which they can access the lesson and a suitable internet connection. While for many students this would not have been the issue, this would not have been the case for all. Some lessons were live and many lessons were pre-recorded. The circumstances of teaching staff also needed to be taken in to consideration. While quality pre-recorded lessons could and were produced across year groups and subjects, it is far more difficult to deliver live lessons if a member of staff has to look after their own young children. At all times teachers were on the other end of an email to support students ‘live’ during lessons.
 
Location of the work, with the fact that different subjects use different learning platforms
 
We acknowledge that different subjects use different learning platforms to deliver their content, and that caused some issues with the number of usernames and passwords that needed to be remembered. We are currently working on a ‘single sign on’ process that will hopefully make this easier moving forwards. In the mean time we continue to encourage students to take responsibility for their log on details.

Difficulties downloading and/or viewing Remote Learning content due to not having the appropriate programmes on the home PC/laptop/device.
 
Links to download or use online, the full Microsoft Office suite of applications have and are available via the school’s weekly newsletter
 
Clear help for parents
 
There were a few comments about the fact that while students seemed to know what to do there was not enough information/help for parents.
 
All parents have a log in to Show My Homework and therefore should be able to see the instructions that students are given regarding how to complete the work they have been set.
 
Parents Evening – not enough information about my child
 
We acknowledge that the current remote nature of parents’ evenings is far from ideal. We are learning from the experience each time we are having to deliver parents evenings remotely and hope moving forward, to move away from an email/phone call based system to one that is live and interactive; please bear with us.
 
Why could students not have been given more coursework in order that they could get ahead of the game?
 
Most subjects on the secondary school curriculum no longer have a coursework element and those that do have, stipulate that this work must be completed in school, such that the author of the work can be verified.
 
Why are students allowed to use mobile phones in school?
 
Our view as a school remains that we are educators. Mobile phones are not banned in society and therefore it is our job to help educate students in their appropriate use.
 
Students should be allowed to wear face coverings in lessons
 
They are
 
Why have students not had an increased amount of homework since they have returned to school to make up for what they have missed?
 
A feeling, that I know is shared by many of my Headteacher colleagues across the country, is that expecting students to ‘catch up’ on everything they have missed during lockdown by giving them ‘loads of extra work’ and/or ‘loads of tests’ would be the worst thing we could do.
 
Our approach continues to be focused on getting students back in to good habits for learning and planning sequences of lessons that will allow us to identify where gaps in knowledge, skills and understanding exist. Subsequent lessons and some homework time is then being spent on ‘filing the gaps’
 
Enjoy the weekend with your children
 
Regards
 
Russell Stevens
 
PSHE Day 2 – Black History


Over the course of November Lydia Graham and Katie Garwood from STA (Stay Together Andover) are running/walking 200 hundred miles to raise funds for our 2nd PSHE day.

The funds raised will be used to have the Black Curriculum lead an assembly on notable black Britons (contemporary and historical) and understanding the impact of language, and why what students say matters for our year 8 students. Having met their original target they are now trying to raise £2000 to ensure all year groups have the same opportunity as year 8. 

If you wish to support Lydia and Katie and support the school, please see the below Go Fund me page:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/200-miles-for-200
Microsoft Office for Students

Links to documents for Microsoft Office
John Hanson Helping to Spread the Christmas cheer -

in Andover High Street

We at Mooch gift shop on Bridge Street have been closed during lockdown, however, we felt it was still important to decorate our shop window to bring some Christmas magic to Andover’s High Street this year.

The window is created all by hand and on a tight budget so when we needed a sleigh building we contacted John Hanson school who were happy to lend us their excellent technology and woodworking facilities.

We would especially like to thank Mr Lucas of the Technology department kindly giving up his own time to build our sleigh which is featured in our magical Narnia themed window.

As a thank you we have again donated some gift vouchers for the students Christmas Dinner raffle and hope it brings some festive cheer in these trying times.

If you are able to come and see the window in person then please do, if not, more photos are on our Instagram and Facebook page and website moochandover.com
Many thanks once again

George Roberts (Owner) and the Mooch team
 
 
New Barnardo's helpline to support Black, Asian and minority ethnic children, young people and their families impacted by Covid
 
 
Barnardo's has launched a vital new support service which should make a positive difference to the lives of many Black, Asian and minority ethnic children, young people and their families impacted by Covid-19.
 
This is a UK-wide helpline which will focus on issues specifically affecting children, young people and families from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities who, as we all know, have been hard hit by the pandemic. The new service is a free telephone helpline and web chat facility for children, young people and families from these communities who are suffering the long-lasting and wide-ranging impact of Covid-19. Barnardo's specialist advisors will aim to provide on-going support on a
complex range of issues including mental health, bereavement, family break-down, neglect, back to school, parenting advice, counselling, family stress, discrimination, barriers to services and more.

You can find out more about the new helpline here:

helpline.barnardos.org.uk/helpline
Thank you!
We would like to say a heart-felt thank you to the John Hanson Community for all of the generous donations of Christmas hamper goodies and in some cases full hampers of all twelve items! These are being delivered to the Andover Foodbank this afternoon and will certainly make this Christmas a little bit brighter for families in our town.
 
Every year the foodbank gives Christmas hampers to families and individuals who are struggling. These hampers make an enormous difference to the festive season, helping alleviate the many financial pressures and allowing people to celebrate the season rather than exist through it. For more information please visit:

https://andover.foodbank.org.uk/
Winter Drawing Competition
Thursday (3rd December) is the second John Hanson Community School PSHE Day.

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:
 
Year 7
  • Winchester University – Successful starts
  • Puberty  - Girls and Boys will receive separate sessions
  • Smoking
  • RUN/TELL/Hide – Knife Crime
  • Fire Safety
  • Refugees
Year 8
  • Team Building
  • Sexting & Cyber Safety
  • LGBT+
  • E-Cigs
  • Alcoholism
  • Health – The Facts
  • The Black Curriculum – Virtual session
Year 9
  • I, Daniel Blake – Documentary on finance and debt
  • Employability Skills
  • SUN – Options after school
  • Career Pilot
  • Gender Equality focusing on careers
 
Year 10
  • Year 10 – JHCS Enterprise day. Students will spend the day with their tutors, working as part of a team to develop, brand & market their own business. They will then pitch this idea to members of staff to win a number of business awards
 
Year 11
  • Upskirting & Revenge Porn
  • Internet dating
  • Gender Fluidity
  • How to revise!
  • Managing Exam Stress
  • CV Writing
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.

https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/         
 
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.



If you are having problems logging into


Show My Homework contact

mike.adams@jhanson.hants.sch.uk

who can send you a new login PIN

For help with SMHW visit:

https://help.showmyhomework.co.uk/
 

Lost Property

Please can you remind your children to check lost property if they have any items missing.
Word of the Week: 

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.

 

Please see the other 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
Vacancies for Guitar Lessons and Drum lessons -
                                                               contact Mr Adams for details
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
Earphones / Headphones will be needed in class Music lessons

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.

These can be purchased from the LRC for 70p

EMTAS – Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service
Extra-Curricular Activities
Due to Covid lockdown restrictions - some activities are not able to run at the moment.
Some of the dates shown here may be adjusted or postponed depending on covid restrictions
Cold weather and P.E.

As we are entering the cold weather period students will be encouraged to wear appropriate gloves and hat (beanie type hat and thin gloves) in outside lessons, this will depend on the activity that is being taught. Students are allowed to wear a base layer or are encouraged to wear two layers. During this spell students will be able to wear any colour sports top as most of the lessons will take place outside.

                       SPORTS FIXTURES  and  RESULTS                       
You can follow our activities via the Sports Twitter - visit sports on the website http://www.jhanson.hants.sch.uk/Students/Sport/
Extra Curricular Programme 2020
Due to Covid lockdown restrictions - some activities are not able to run at the moment.
Community News
Tuesday 1 December 5-7pm: Humanities and Modern Foreign Languages
 
Talks on this evening will be from Business, Classical Civilisation, Economics, English Language, English Literature, French, German, History, Politics, RS Philosophy and Spanish.
 
There will also be a Sixth Form Welcome and a Careers talk focusing on how we support Oxbridge applications
 
To book please click here. Booking closes 12pm Monday 30 November
 
 
Thursday 3 December 5-7pm: Creative Subjects
Talks on this evening will be from Art, Design Technology, Music, Physical Education and Theatre Studies.
 
There will also be a Sixth Form Welcome and a Careers talk focusing on how careers advice is provided in the sixth form.
 
To book please click here. Booking closes 12pm Wednesday 2 December
 
 
All of the evenings kick off with a welcome talk by the 6th form and head student team and you can then book into as many subject talks as you wish for both evenings.
 
Our Sixth Form welcome video is now live on the website here and subject videos will be available on the website by the end of the week (I’ll let you know when they are uploaded).  https://www.swgs.wilts.sch.uk/sixth-form-2/
 
If you have any questions do get in touch by emailing sixthform@swgs.wilts.sch.uk
 
Best wishes,
Miss Kate Philbrick
Director of Sixth Form
We are pleased to announce that we are working alongside Andover Radio to promote success and achievement in Andover.






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John Hanson Community School · Floral Way · Andover, Hampshire SP10 3PB · United Kingdom

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