Parent Briefing 13/1/25
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
The Spring term is now underway and we had a brilliant first week back at school.
Children returned ready to learn and did a tremendous job of dealing with the (very!) cold temperatures. We are hoping that the forecast is accurate and we see some slightly warmer days ahead!
Attendance
Attendance at school was a cause for concern for me last week. This is particularly the case in Year 11 and Year 10.
Attendance at school is compulsory; we’re unable to support children unless they are here.
Year 11 and Year 10, particularly, are at a crucial stage of their educational journey. They MUST be in school every day unless there is an exceptional circumstance.
Children who have an attendance of 95% or higher, achieve better than their peers. We will be contacting Year 11 parents/carers with an attendance of less than this to discuss how we can reach this figure.
We have some fantastic Attendance Rewards launching for Year 11 today.
Students who attend every school day each week will be entered into our Friday raffle to win a pair of cinema tickets. There will be 2 lucky winners every Friday.
Also, for every 100% week, they will also receive one entry to our pre-exam draw to win an iPad. The more 100% weeks they complete, the more chances to win! The draw will take place on the last Friday before exams.
For details of Attendance Rewards for other year groups, please scroll down the page.
Principal’s Post
Thank you to those parents who have contacted me with feedback on the recent Principal’s Post shared on our social media. The Principal’s Post is a way of communicating with our families to ensure important messages are received.
Last week, we released two Principal’s Posts which focused on Arbor Parent and the cold weather. This week, there will be an update on our new uniform and the exam season for all year groups. Watch last week’s Vlogs below, and follow us on our social media on Facebook and Instagram for this week’s.
Arbor Parent App
The Arbor Parent App is our main method of home-school communication as well as giving you access to Clubs, your child’s Guilford Gold, payments and personal data.
As discussed before Christmas in various communications, and during last weeks Principal’s Post, we are now communicating with our families via Arbor Parent and email for the majority of communications.
For school absence, we are returning to sending texts to parents/carers to notify you that your child is not in school. We may also follow this up with a phone call home. You can view your child’s Attendance in the Arbor Parent Dashboard.
For school detentions, communications will be sent to you by email. You can view your child’s Detentions by clicking on Negative Incidents on the Arbor Parent Dashboard.
Please ensure you have the Arbor App downloaded, have switched on notifications, and check all messages frequently. If you need any support with this, please ask at Main Reception. You can find out more here.
Pre-Public Exams (PPEs)
The Year 8 PPEs begin today – a really important time for children in this year group to show their teachers what they can do. This will be the springboard for some quality feedback. It is extremely important that children keep up-to-date with their homework throughout this period to ensure they are as prepared as possible. Year 8 have received exam preparation sheets from their teachers to support them with revision.
Year 9 Parents’ Evening
Please keep an eye out for a letter heading your way regarding Year 9 Parents’ Evening.
It is extremely important that all Parents and Carers attend Parents’ Evening—there is only one opportunity every academic year to discuss progress, so please do make time to attend.
Booking is now open on SchoolCloud. Instructions on how to login can be found here: Parent-Guide-to-SchoolCloud.pdf
Ramadan
An important letter will be sent out to you this week.
If your child is observing Ramadan and you would like them to be included in the arrangements here in school, please ensure you complete the online form which will be linked in the letter.
SAFEGUARDING
Online Safety
This week we will continue to work on training both staff and children on the dangers of harmful online content, with particular reference to online radicalisation and exploitation. The UK Safer Internet Centre is an excellent go-to place for all things around online safety, with excellent resources and guides for parents: saferinternet.org.uk
If you have any Safeguarding concerns, please email: john.williams@ellisguilfordschool.org.uk
ATTENDANCE MATTERS
40 Guilford Gold for 100% Attendance this Week!
Each week students can earn an increasing amount of Guilford Gold for turning up to school every day that week, starting with 20 Guilford Gold for 100% attendance in Week 1 and rising to 120 Guilford Gold for 100% attendance in Week 6.
Students can spend their Guilford Gold in our Swap Shop or save for bigger rewards in our Swap Shop including the end of year rewards trip.
Don’t forget Year 11 have their own Attendance Rewards with 2 pairs of cinema tickets to be won every week, and entry to our Pre-Exam Draw to win an iPad. The more 100% weeks completed, the more chances to win!
REWARDS TRIPS
Click on the images below to view details of our Rewards Trips open to students in Years 7 to 10. Tickets are now on sale in our Swap Shop for the Tenpin Bowling trip, taking place on 14 February.
For a reminder of our Attendance procedures and how to contact the Attendance Team, please visit: Attendance – Ellis Guilford School.
SCHOOL REMINDERS
Ellis Electives: New Timetable for January 2025
If your child would like to take part in our range of after-school Electives (clubs), please sign them up through the Arbor Parent App. You will find the full schedule along with details of how to sign up here: Extra-curricular Activities – Ellis Guilford School. We have a range of new Electives starting this term, including Trampolining, Indoor Cricket, Badminton, Girls’ Football, ‘Grease’ Dance Rehearsals and ‘Grease’ Production Club. You can view the timetable and new Electives in the slides below. A letter regarding our new timetable has been issued today: Ellis-Electives-New-Timetable.pdf
Pre-Owned Uniform Shop
A reminder that we have our pre-owned uniform shop available to purchase current uniform for Years 8 to 11 at low cost.
Please do pop in to our pre-loved uniform shop during its opening times , or ask at Main Reception if these times are not suitable.
25 Guilford Gold will be rewarded for any donations being dropped off at Reception.
KEY DATES & EVENTS
Click on the image below to view our ‘live’ calendar of key dates and events. Click through the pages to find out what’s happening this month or next!
