Dear Parents
I hope this finds you safe and well at this time.
As the end of term approaches, we always find that rather than ‘winding down’, the school intensity actually ‘racks up’ as the weeks and days run out. This year is proving no different and all our staff are fully engaged with attending to the end of the academic year formalities in addition to finishing off our educational courses. Of course, because of the current situation, we are having to adapt to the constraints upon us in terms of face-to-face collaboration and the usual end of term events which we normally enjoy to mark another successful school year. Despite this, we have still had a very successful year in terms of achievements in overcoming the challenges we have faced since March 10th. The manner in which teaching staff, support staff and students have faced these challenges is quite extraordinary. We have all learned to be more resilient, adaptable, creative and understanding: lessons which will stand us all in good stead going forward. As parents, you have also had to adapt not only to your own working and family conditions, but also to become more active partners in supporting your children’s education at home. For this, I am extremely grateful. I know it has not always been an easy task for you, but hopefully, you will have had at least a small insight into the life of a teacher/TA and the joys learning can bring to us all.
In the last 2 weeks of this term, you will receive your children’s report cards and have the opportunity to reserve an online meeting with teachers to discuss the report. Please ensure that you have signed up with a date and time. If you are leaving the school in the summer, and if you require your child’s report card to be attested, there are new regulations from the MoEHE which have been communicated to parents. Please ensure you leave enough time for this process which can take up to one week to complete. We are looking forward to the Virtual International Day video, the Teacher Appreciation video and the announcement of this year’s House Competition Winners.
As I mentioned previously, we are preparing a Virtual Summer School for all students. This will be accessible through our VLE Platform CANVAS and will contain a range of activities, wellbeing and some subject-based activities for all year groups. Please note that the purpose of this is not to address any perceived gap in learning, but rather is a ‘drop-in ‘resource to help with the children’s holiday period whilst in lockdown.
Yesterday I heard from the MoEHE that our proposed calendar for next year has to be amended to include a change to Eid holidays in May, which we are obliged to observe. I will be redrafting this for the ministry today and will send you the proposed changes to the calendar.
We are still waiting to hear from the examination board Pearson/Edexcel with regard to any refund for the IGCSE Examination students. This has been a long process but we cannot resolve this without the decision from the exam board in the UK. This will affect all schools worldwide.
Wishing you a relaxing weekend.
Kind regards,
Derek Laidlaw
