Dear Parents and Carers
I hope this email finds you well and you have all had a restful half term break. As we approach the start of term on Monday we would like to take this opportunity to pass on some notices and reminders.
Attendance
Thank you for your support in ensuring your child is in school and ready to learn for period 1 at 8:45am. A reminder that all children should be in school on site for 8:40am allowing them time to get to their first lesson at 8:45am when the register is taken. It is crucial that students arrive on site with plenty of time to get to lessons and this impacts their learning time. We offer breakfast in the canteen from 8.15am so students are able to access the site early. For students on free school meals the canteen offers free porridge in the mornings before school.
We will continue to issue detentions for lateness due to the importance of being on time to school ready to start learning. We appreciate that on rare occasions there can be issues with the buses and road works however, persistent lateness will be challenged.
As a reminder Term 2 starts on Monday 8 November and we will start on Week 1 of the timetable.
Uniform
As we start to experience the colder weather please be reminded of the uniform policy in particular black tights or black ankle socks for girls. Please ensure that girls are wearing the correct blouses. The blouses can be plain pale blue or the Strood Academy striped blouse. Girls’ blouses should be revere blouses (i.e. not buttoned up to the neck/ shirt collared) and students are expected to remove coats when entering the school building as normal school policy. Please be aware that hoodies are not deemed suitable outerwear and will be confiscated if students are seen wearing them on the school site. The school will not be liable for any hoodies that are confiscated and not returned to students as it is the responsibility of the parents/carers to ensure students attend in the correct uniform.
We expect our Sixth Form students to abide by the Sixth Form dress code which is linked here. Please be aware that facial piercings are not permitted on the school premises.
Behaviour and sanctions
Our revised behaviour system that launched in September provides students with an opportunity to make an informed choice to correct their behaviour when it doesn’t meet our expectations. If students are not able to rectify their conduct despite a reminder and a clear reinforced message outlining the possibility of a detention should they choose not to improve, then unfortunately they will receive a detention. Whilst we apologise if this does cause inconveniences at home, the conversation should be with the student who has chosen not to meet the expectation and then failed to improve their conduct despite a clear warning about the outcome. We appreciate your support in improving standards and student conduct. Please note detentions are either 30 or 60 minutes. The appointed parent/carer contact will receive a text notification. These will be on the same night if set before 2pm or the following night if set after 2pm.
Mobile phones
A reminder that if students in all year groups make their phones visible or attempt to use them during the school day at any time (except in the classroom by invitation of the teacher), they will be confiscated. As per our normal policy, parents and carers will need to come to the Academy to collect mobile phones if they are confiscated. They will not be handed directly back to the student.
Canteen
We have on several occasions experienced students not having adequate funds on their accounts. Please can you ensure that sufficient funds are on your child’s ParentPay account if they are purchasing food from the canteen. It would be useful for you to set up an alert on your account for when funds are running low. Instructions on how to do this are as follows:
- Log into ParentPay
- Select Communications in top toolbar
- Select Alert Settings in left hand side toolbar
- Tick the check box for email or text alerts for low balance (set your threshold here), new payment items alerts (this is for trips, not purchases at the canteen)
- Press SAVE
COVID update including flu and COVID vaccinations
As we are going into the winter months, cases for COVID are expected to steadily rise. Please continue to carry out lateral flow tests twice weekly (Wednesday and Sunday) and inform us of any positive results from a lateral flow test or PCR test. We will continue to distribute test kits in school to students.
You may have heard recently in the media that the COVID vaccinations will be offered to children aged 12 to 17 years old. This vaccination will not be offered in school and you can book your child’s vaccination using the link below. The nearest vaccination centre is Pentagon Vaccination Centre, DW Sports, Chatham, ME4 4HY
For students in Years 7 – 11 the immunisation team will be in school on 2nd and 3rd December to give the flu vaccinations. If you haven’t already done so, please submit your parental consent or refusal using the link below. This needs to be done before 29 November.
Parental consent or refusal form for flu vaccination
Term 2 Events
Further details of these events will be circulated nearer the event:
| Thursday 11 November | Armistice Day – students may wear Cadet uniform to school |
| Thursday 2 December | Year 7 Parents Evening (virtual) invitations will be sent via email to you next term |
| Thursday 2 December | Year 7 – 11 Flu vaccinations |
| Friday 3 December | Year 7 – 11 Flu vaccinations |
| Wednesday 8 December | Year 11 ADT Christmas Exhibition |
| Tuesday 14 December | Performing Arts Christmas Show |
| Friday 17 December | End of Term |
We look forward to seeing all the students back on Monday.
Best wishes
School Office
