Denstone College Newsletter - 20-10-2023

20 October 2023

Newsletter from the Head – Week 7

Dear Parents and Guardians

Welcome to Half Term! This has been an extraordinarily positive start to the new school year and it is with real pride I reflect on just how much has been achieved in the past 7 weeks. This is a much-deserved rest for the pupils and I trust that they will use their time wisely to ensure they are ready for the final run to Christmas. This holiday we have children in Nice on a French Trip, Valencia on a Spanish Trip, Malta on a Diving Trip, Lille on a Hockey Tour and Gold Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition in the local area. We wish them all safe travels!

There are a number of key issues raised within this newsletter and I do hope you will be able to take some time to review it carefully.

Parkrun

Well done to so many of you who have contributed to the Parkrun challenge. There are three Saturdays this half term and it would be great to see as many members of our community getting out there and giving it a go. If you do, please do send results to: [email protected]. Current results are as follows:

Communication over Half Term

It is important that our teaching staff get a rest this holiday and therefore I politely ask all parents to keep non-urgent emails until the start of the next term. If there are urgent issues, or you require a response before November 6^th, please do email: [email protected]

Half Term Reports

Half term grades and comments will be available on the iSAMS Parent Portal site for viewing from Monday 23 October. These can be found by logging into your usual Parent Portal account - https://denstonecollege.parents.isamshosting.cloud - and clicking on your child’s name followed by ‘school reports.’

Any queries over access to Parent Portal can be sent to [email protected]. Further guidance regarding our new reporting arrangements and grades can be found in the 'Parents' Guide' document which was circulated at the start of term. This can be viewed by following the link below:

https://denstonecollege.turtl.co/story/the-academic-year-202324-a-parents-guide/

For Parents of 1^st and 2^nd Form

As of half-term, we will be removing the Saturday P4 prep period for 1^st and 2^nd Form pupils. Instead, 1^st and 2^nd Form pupils will go to lunch from 11.30am onwards, where they must register with the member of staff on duty. This will allow games sessions for these pupils to begin a little earlier in some cases, and should often therefore result in a slightly earlier finish time for these pupils on a Saturday afternoon. In order to facilitate this earlier start to Games, for 1^st / 2^nd Form pupils only, pupils may come into school in full games kit on Saturday morning, so they are ready for their session after lunch.

We hope this change will be welcome in allowing our younger pupils a little more free time at the weekend, on Saturdays where they do not have fixtures. Please be aware, therefore, that 1^st and 2^nd Form pupils may on some occasions ask to be picked up a little earlier than they have previously been on Saturday afternoons.

Lower School – Monday Afternoon Arrangements

Please remember that with the start of Winter timetable (afternoon lessons run from 3.30 - 5.30pm on Mondays), there will be no early collection for Lower School students on Mondays after half term. This option will resume after February half term when we revert to Summer timetable.

Lower Sixth Form Parents’ Evening

The calendared Lower Sixth Form Parents’ Evening is taking place on Tuesday 7 November. Please refer to the letter on the parent portal.

Remembrance Service – Reminder

We warmly invite you to join us for our annual Remembrance services this year. Details of the services are as follows: 

• For 1st and 2nd Form: Thursday 9 November, 8.50am – 9.30am 
• For 3rd to U6th Form: Friday 10 November, 4.15pm – 5.30pm 

To ensure a smooth and timely seating process, we kindly request that you arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the service. This will allow us to comfortably accommodate both you and our school community. Given the limited space, particularly for the senior service, it is essential that you secure your spot by completing the booking process using the following link by Monday 6 November: https://www.trybooking.co.uk/CSXZ. Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Jackie Plewes: [email protected] 

Please note that the café will be open from 8.00am on Thursday 9 November.

Pupil Photographs

If your child was a new starter in September 2023, moved up from the Prep or is in 4^th or L6^th Form and you wish to purchase an individual or sibling photo, please do so before the link expires on Tuesday 31 October. If you have any questions, please email [email protected]

Evolve Trips:

Below is a list of trips currently launched on Evolve:

Communications Available on the Parent Portal

The following letters can be found on the Parent Portal by visiting https://denstonecollege.parents.isamshosting.cloud    

• Lower Sixth Form Parents’ Evening
• Lower School Michaelmas Assessments
• Lower School Essential Kit

With very best wishes,

Lotte