Copy
Churchill Academy - Newsletter
View this email in your browser

Newsletter

26th March 2021

From the Headteacher

This week has felt like we are "properly" back at school. The Academy Hall is back in action as a hall, with Year 7 inheriting it as a social and dining space following its sterling service as an asymptomatic testing centre. And I even manged to deliver my Headteachers' Commendations in person to tutor groups! 
Many of our students have been undertaking assessments this week. This is really helping teachers to establish exactly where students are in their learning following the lockdown period, and to enable planning for next steps after Easter. Well done to all the students who have conducted themselves so well in this assessment period. 

Headteacher's Blog: the Year 9 learning groups and the Academy values

Last week's video assembly explained the origin of the names behind this year's Year 9 learning groups. If you want to find out why our learning groups are called Brunel. Stephenson, Fragapane, Park, Blackwell, Kenney, Dirac, Brohn and More - click here to read the blog! 
Read the Headteacher's Blog

COVID-19 Home Testing

All eligible students should now have received their home testing kits. Home testing should be carried out twice a week, either the evening before attending school or in the morning, if there is time. Testing on Sunday evening and Wednesday, or Monday and Thursday, would be appropriate spacing.

Home testing should continue through the Easter holidays, with tests twice a week, 3-4 days apart. All students should have sufficient test kits to maintain this testing programme. 

Results from home tests should be uploaded direct to NHS Test and Trace according to the instructions included in the kit. Results should also be reported to the Academy via the Google Form.

If a home test result is positive, you must: 
  1. Self-isolate
  2. Inform the Academy by phone (01934 852771) and/or email
  3. Book a confirmatory PCR test
Remember that home test kits using lateral flow devices are only for people without symptoms of COVID-19. If your child has any symptoms, you must book a PCR test
Report a COVID-19 home test result to the Academy

Awarding qualifications in 2021: frequently asked questions

Following the information video published immediately after the government's announcement around the award of A-level, AS level, GCSE and other qualifications this summer, we have now published a set of answers to frequently asked questions about the process. This was emailed out to all qualification candidates and their families this week. You can read it on the website here, and on our dedicated Summer Exams 2021 page

School Gates

Due to some issues with the software, we are delaying the "switch-on" of the new electronic gates at the entrances to the Academy. They will be activated over the Easter holidays so we can test them thoroughly and ensure they are working as they should. Once active, they will be open for entrance and exit at the following times: 

Coach Loop vehicle gate:
7.40am - 9am for drop-off  
2.45pm - 3.30pm for pick-up

Pedestrian gates:
7.40am - 9am 
3.05pm - 3.30pm

At all other times there is an intercom system so you can speak to reception to be permitted access to the site. This system will help to ensure we can keep all our students safe.

Easter Egg Charity Effort

We're delighted to report that Skyla Pate-Vowles, 8TJJW, has donated 268 Easter eggs to Cheddar Foodbank. Skyla wanted to do something in memory of her cousin Cora, who died at less than a month old, and asked for donations of Easter eggs for the Children's Hospital. Unfortunately, she could not donate to the hospital due to patient allergy restrictions so offered the eggs to the Foodbank who were overwhelmed by her kindness and support for families in the Cheddar area. Well done Skyla!

Lockdown Hoodies

We normally offer maroon "clubs" hoodies for students who have taken part in extra-curricular activities as a mark of their commitment. Because the pandemic has stopped many of our extra-curricular clubs and activities from running, this year we are offering all our current students the opportunity to purchase a maroon "Lockdown" hoody instead. Students who are taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme can also mark this with a maroon DofE hoody. Both hoodies are acceptable as part of the Academy uniform outdoor wear, and they are available to order now from Concept Wear

Calling all Year 11, 12 and 13 students: British Film Institute Writing Workshop Opportunity!

The BFI are running a summer screenwriting programme for 16-19 year olds.  This course has been designed to give participants a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet experts, write scripts, learn practical skills and collaborate with like-minded people. The organisers accept applications from any 16-19 year old living in the UK. No formal educational qualifications are required, just a passion for writing!  The deadline to apply is 13th June. There is  a fee of £50 however fees will be waived if the participant needs financial support. Travel bursaries are also available. Please visit the BFI website for more information.

Meningitis ACWY and DTP Vaccinations

Vaccination information and forms have been sent home to parents of Year 9 students who will be having Meningitis ACWY and DTP Vaccinations on 28th and 29th April. A reminder to return the consent forms to Reception.  Thank you.

Sixth Form Applications & Interviews

It is not too late to apply!  We are still accepting applications so if you have not yet applied, please use the Word application form and email 6thform@churchill-academy.org when completed.  Interviews will continue to take place into Term 5, so students should not worry if they have not been advised of a date as yet.
Visit our Open Evening page for all the information about applying to Sixth Form

North Somerset Parent Carers Working Together (NSPCWT)

North Somerset Parent Carers Working Together (NSPCWT) has a vision that every child and young person in North Somerset with a disability or additional need reaches their full potential. NSPCWT's purpose is to improve the service, provision and the quality of life for children and young people with disabilities and additional needs by being the collective voice of parent carers and a strategic partner for the Local Authority, Education and Health. Parents or carers with children between the ages of 0-25 which have any additional need or disability, can contact NSPCWT on any social media platform, their websiteadmin@nspcwt.org or 07434 678832

NSPCWT can help by offering an environment of support where any questions can be asked or any concerns raised which they can take forward to the relevant professional bodies to try and encourage change for the future. They run big and small events, share regular coffee meetings via zoom for parent carers to meet and have a chat plus interesting informative zooms with support professionals such as Healthwatch, Sirona Care & health plus the Local Authority SEND team.
 
Recently NSPCWT released their Annual Survey on how provision in North Somerset is for parent carers, seeking their views on education, health & social care services that they have accessed in the past 12 months. The experiences help NSPCWT convey the reality of how provision is for parent carers to decision makers in North Somerset.  The survey should take no longer than 30 minutes and you could be in with a chance of winning one of eight Amazon E-vouchers - 1st prize £100 - as long as your email address is included.  Any questions please message NSPCWT's Facebook page or email admin@nspcwt.org.

Musician Opportunities

Cheethams school is running FREE BOOTCAMP sessions for musicians of Orchestral, Jazz and Percussion this weekend and next in the comfort of your own home. Find out more here

https://outreach.chethams.com/whats-on/ 

And more locally, Wells Cathedral School are running a SALSA BRASS session - register by 24th March

Finally, there's an online Clarinet and Saxophone Day in April. Click here for more information.

Headteacher Commendations

Many congratulations to the following students who have reached the conduct points threshold for Headteacher's commendation certificates over the past few weeks. Mr Hildrew has handed out certificates to students this week.

Year 7:  Connor Allan, Cecilia Brumby, Lana Burton, Sam Heath, Adham Ismail, Olly Jones, Anya Jordan, Yana Markova, Prudence Vezey, Amelia Vincent, Jaden Winter
 
Year 8:  Molly Collins, Ted Cornick, Millie Jones, Louie Pinnell, Finn Riches, Madison Robinson, Henry Weston
 
Year 9:  Emily Fordham, Emily Hind, Jacob Hunt, Will Smith, Sophie Taylor, Freddie Vernon
 
Year 10:  Zoe Coombes, Saskia Fletcher, Millie Harris, Oliver Harris, Kyra Harvey, Emily Kendrick, Eva Michelmore, Lisa Marie Nicholls, Hayley Nottage, Lola Roberts, Jake Sprouting
 
Year 11:  Edon Boiron, Bella Buckler, Oliver Daw, Beau Landen, Lily Palmer, Elizabeth Phillips, Serena Pipkin-Adams, Sirius Roszyk, Meg Taylor, Lizzy Williamson, Bea Young

Trustees' Commendations

The following students have this week received their Trustees' commendation certificates from Mr Hildrew, having reached the required number of conduct points. Many congratulations to:  

Year 7:  Charlie Axtell, Gemma Crampton, Lola Croxton, Thomas Dellenty Cockle, Vincent Ely-Smith, Diana Enwright, Tom Hathway, Thomas Jones, Anton Lin, Noah Osmond, Thomas Oxley-Reed, Joe Seymour, Keziah Sharkey, Cohen Smith, Lily Underwood, Tori White
 
Year 8:  Erica Heiermann, Morgan Lukins, Jack Morris, Lexie Phythian, Marley Prashad, Theo Scott, Lilia Tuttiett
 
Year 9:  Alex Cockram
 
Year 10:  William Gibson
 
Year 11:  Edon Boiron, Bella Buckler, Oliver Daw, Beau Landen, Lily Palmer, Elizabeth Phillips, Serena Pipkin-Adams, Sirius Roszyk, Meg Taylor, Lizzy Williamson, Bea Young

Please note that we collate all commendations a week in arrears, so please bear with us if you haven't received your commendation certificate as soon as you reach the required number of conduct points. It will come! 

Opportunities Fund

Our Opportunities Fund is supported by donations in order to provide the "extras" which will enrich and enable students' experiences at school. Full details on the ways in which you can support this are on the Opportunities Fund page on the website.
School Lottery:  Our school lottery is open for tickets and the jackpot is £25,000. Last week's winner was Mrs W who won £44.40. Congratulations! Thanks also to a recent winner who donated their winnings of £43.50 to the Academy; it is very much appreciated. To join and purchase a ticket, click here. 
The Giving Machine:  You can help to raise money for the school by signing up to The Giving Machine, by clicking on this link: Churchill Academy & Sixth Form on TheGivingMachine

Diary

 

April

1st  End of Term 4
19th Start of Term 5
28th & 29th  Year 9, Meningitis ACWY and DTP Vaccinations
29th Careers Convention Part 2: Employment – virtual event 


May

5th Year 10 Parents' Evening, 4pm - 7pm, virtual meetings
19th  Year 8 Parents' Evening, 4p - 7pm, virtual meetings
28th  End of Term 5
Next week is Week 2
Facebook
Facebook
Twitter
Twitter
Website
Website
Instagram
Instagram
Copyright © 2013 Churchill Academy & Sixth Form. All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you chose to receive information about Churchill Academy and Sixth Form
Our mailing address is:
Churchill Academy & Sixth Form
Churchill Green,
Churchill, North Somerset BS25 5QN
United Kingdom

Add us to your address book

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp merge tag
unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences