GHS Connect #15 Monday 10 January
From the Head
I hope that everyone had a lovely break and also found last week’s slightly easier transition back into school helpful. We had a few Covid cases showing up on the lateral flow tests but not a huge number, and certainly not the kinds of numbers we had been concerned we might be coming back to. We do, of course, all need to remain super-vigilant and try our best to keep Covid out of the school.
As I said in my announcement last week, there are many things we need to continue to do, but ventilation and the wearing of face coverings are key. Please keep doors and windows open, and please ensure that students are wearing face coverings in lessons and corridors at all times. Staff need to wear face coverings in communal areas, but can choose whether or not to wear them whilst teaching.
Hopefully, we will be able to move out of this latest ‘Covid phase’ swiftly!
Whilst we navigate this new challenge, can I ask everyone to continue to focus on the positives, and ensure that you carry on sharing ‘good news’ stories with Chetna and myself. I know that we will continue to have lots to celebrate this term.
Please keep an eye on the VLE as this is the time of year when various new positions may be posted. It’s also the time of year when if you are considering moving onto pastures new, or wish to discuss flexible working arrangements or career aspirations, it’s a good idea to make a time to come to see me, or let me know over email. The sooner we know people’s intentions, the easier it is to plan for them, if we can.
Have a lovely week,
Mia
I thought the start of the year was a good time to remind everyone of the Bounceback initiative which we started in September. Below are the priorities that we are focussing on in terms of L&T this year. 
For our SEN students, we are trying to ensure that they can access tasks we set and that when we set them off independently, we have done so with some sort of bridge or scaffold so they can be successful. Finally we would like people to continue to check the groups of students they know may struggle with specific tasks. 
Inclusion Heroes!
We hope that everyone had a wonderful break – happy new year to you all! Much of the news over the festive period was about the Covid Omicron variant which is more transmissible than previous variants, leading to the current high rate of infection that we are seeing in the UK.
We have a moral and professional obligation to enforce these Covid measures. If a student, having been reminded, refuses to wear a mask then please use the behaviour pathway: life before a caution, caution, yellow card and red card.