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Important information letter for August

Friday, 19th June 2020

 

 

Dear Parent/Carer,

I hope that you and your families are safe and well and that you have been able to enjoy some of the easing of lockdown over the past weeks.

I am writing to update you on our plans for ‘Blended Learning’ from August onwards, in All Saints’.

‘Blended Learning’ refers to a learning approach whereby young people spend some of their time in classes having face-to-face teaching, and some of their time learning at home with learning activities and resources provided by their teacher. This is different to the learning experience throughout lockdown from the end of March until now, where learning has only really been available online via emails to ‘Glow Groups’ or equivalent.

The need for this approach is due to government advice around social distancing – we are unable to have all young people in school at the same time as we can’t safely accommodate this and provide 2m physical distancing between all. We are able to manage this requirement by reducing the number of young people in school at any one time; it is also important to minimise the amount of movement between classes as much as possible, and we have included this in our planning.

Our planned model of ‘Blended Learning’ then aims to maximise the amount of time young people have in school and ensures that they have access to all of their subjects. This is especially important in S4-S6, but we have tried to ensure consistency across all year groups.

 Pages below detail our plans, as follows:

  • Pg. 2 –                         The school day/week: S1-S3
  • Pg. 3 –                         The school day/week: S4-S6
  • Pg. 4 –                         School Uniform
  • Pg. 4 –                         Social Distancing & Hygiene
  • Pg. 5-7 –                      Week 1 arrangements in August

 

Our School day/Week

S1-S3

Young people will attend school, mornings only, from 8:50am – 11:20am every day, Monday-Friday.

They will attend 10 classes per week, 2 per day. Each class will last 75 minutes. Each class is split into a ‘Group 1’ and ‘Group 2’ but all attend at the same time. We have made arrangements to alternate the groups between lessons to ensure physical distancing.

  • Young people will learn in all of their timetabled subjects; we will issue a new 10 - period physical timetable when they arrive on Day 1 in August.
  • Classes are capped at 13 for a normal teaching classroom (e.g. Maths, English…) and 10 for practical subjects (e.g. Science, Music, Home Economics…)
  • In S3, young people will have lessons in all of their 8 subject areas and will have Core P.E. on a rotation (every other week).
  • In S1 and S2, young people will have lessons in English, Maths and other Core subjects each week, with other subject areas on a weekly rotation.
  • Where young people have timetabled P.E., they will be attending for a double-period and should attend school in their P.E. kit. (a reminder that football colours are not a permitted part of P.E. kit in All Saints’)
  • At 11:20am, S1-S3 young people will be dismissed to come home.
  • Those entitled to Free School Meals, will be able to pick-up their lunches on their way out of school. There will be no option to purchase meals from our Fuelzone for any other young people as we need to manage carefully how many people are in any area at any time.
  • School transport arrangements are being adjusted to accommodate these changes and I will write you the week before school starts back in August to let you know the new arrangements.       

 

pg2

 

S4-S6

Young people will attend school, afternoons only, from 12:20pm – 3:10pm every day, Monday – Friday.

They will attend 10 classes per week, 2 per day. Each class will last 85 minutes.

  • Young people will learn in all of their timetabled subjects; we will issue a new 10 - period physical timetable when they arrive on Day 1 in August.
  • Classes are capped in the same way as for S1-S3.
  • In S5/6, young people will attend 2 x classes per week in each of their 5 subjects. We refer to ‘Columns’ and this just means the groups of subjects that come at any one time. In S5-6, there are 5 columns, A-E. S5/6 have been split into ‘Group 1’ and ‘Group 2’ but again, all young people attend at the same time – we have simply split the classes and will alternate between each lesson to maintain small classes and physical distancing
  • In S5/6, Core R.E. will be delivered on a rotation
  • In S4, young people normally study 7 subjects. They will have 1 x each class each week per subject, with one additional class in Maths. They will also have a rotation across their Core subjects.
  • Where young people have timetabled P.E., they will be attending for a double-period and should attend school in their P.E. kit. (a reminder that football colours are not a permitted part of P.E. kit in All Saints’)
  • Those in P.E. classes at National 5 and Higher levels should also attend in their P.E. kit.
  • Those entitled to Free School Meals, will be able to pick-up their lunches prior to their timetabled class at 12:20pm. Again, there will be no option to purchase meals from our Fuelzone for any other young people.
  • School transport arrangements are being adjusted to accommodate these changes and I will write you the week before school starts back in August to let you know the new arrangements.

 

I have asked our Art Department to provide a pupil-friendly version of this information and this is available now on our website and via Twitter using the links we have sent via Groupcall.

 

Pg3

 

School Uniform

School uniform will be worn as normal in All Saints’ in August (other than on timetabled P.E. days, as detailed above) to include our school blazer for all young people, and 100% black shoes or trainers.  The wearing of full school uniform is an essential part of our school ethos and I would anticipate all young people in full uniform in August.

Our uniform provider is currently taking online orders and has provided some online sizing guides on their website too. School ties should also be purchased from our provider if required.

Access to the store in Glasgow City centre will be in line with the government dictated phases of recovery. I would encourage you to get in touch with them as soon as you are able to make sure arrangements can be made in advance of August. Below is a link to their website and the specific pages for All Saints’.

https://www.border-embroideries.co.uk/schools/all-saints-secondary-school.html

Social Distancing and Hygiene

As you will be aware, as well as social distancing requirements, there is an increased focus on hygiene in order to control/stop the spread of Covid-19. We have produced a very detailed Risk Assessment which can be shared with you on request. In capping our class sizes and splitting the school day in to am/pm, we are able to safely manage the social distancing requirements as set out by the Scottish Government. To support good hygiene, we have also planned the following:

  • There will be a hand-sanitising station at the main entrance to our school for use by all staff, visitors and contractors
  • Each classroom has been provided with refillable hand-sanitiser to facilitate regular hand-washing in each lesson – young people will be asked to wash their hands throughout the each block of learning
  • Each classroom has been provided with an anti-bacterial spray and disposable roll to allow young people to wipe their desks and/or equipment after each lesson.
  • Additional cleaning will take place throughout the school day, focusing on door handles, touch plates on doors, bannisters and toilet areas. There will continue to be 6 hours of cleaning split pre- and post- school day, every day.
  • We are asking that all young people and parents sign up to a ‘Pupil Contract’ which ensures everyone has social distancing and good hygiene and the forefront of their minds.

Pg4

 

 

What happens in August

Schools officially open for young people’s return on Wednesday, 12th August 2020, with the Monday and Tuesday being In-service days for staff.

In order to keep everyone safe and ensure that key messages are delivered to all young people prior to their first learning blocks, we have planned that the first couple of days of term will be devoted to time with Heads of Year and I, rather than normal teaching blocks.

During this time, young people will be given their new 10 period timetables, they will be advised about the ‘Group 1’ and ‘Group 2’ setup, they will have detailed input on social distancing and hygiene and will be given their ‘Pupil Contract’ to read, sign and take home for your signature.

I have detailed how this will work, below:

 

Day 1 – Wednesday, 12th August 2020 (S1-S3 only)

Note: S4-S6 should not attend school on this day

 

  • 8:50am – 10:20am  - S1 only

S1 should report to the school via the normal pupil entrance where they will then be accommodated across two socially-distanced venues.

 

At 10:20am, young people in S1 will be dismissed from school.

 

  • 11am – 12:30pm  - S2 only

S2 should report to the school via the normal pupil entrance where they will then be accommodated across two socially-distanced venues.

 

At 12:30pm, young people in S2 will be dismissed from school.

 

 

  • 1:30pm – 3pm - S3 only

S3 should report to the school via the normal pupil entrance where they will then be accommodated across two socially-distanced venues.

 

At 3pm, young people in S3 will be dismissed from school.

 

Pg5

 

Day 2 – Thursday, 13th August 2020 (S4-S6 only)

Note: S1-S3 should not attend school on this day

  • 8:50am – 10:20am – S4 only

S4 should report to the school via the normal pupil entrance where they will then be accommodated across two socially-distanced venues.

 

At 10:20am, young people in S4 will be dismissed from school.

 

  • 11am – 12:30pm – S5 only

S5 should report to the school via the normal pupil entrance where they will then be accommodated across two socially-distanced venues.

 

At 12:30pm, young people in S5 will be dismissed from school.

 

 

  • 1:30pm – 3pm – S6 only

S6 should report to the school via the normal pupil entrance where they will then be accommodated across two socially-distanced venues.

 

At 3pm, young people in S6 will be dismissed from school.

 

 

For those young people in receipt of school transport, arrangements are being made to accommodate these sessions and I will communicate this to you in the week before schools are due to start back in August.

 

Pg6

 

 

 

Day 3 – Friday, 14th August 2020

 

This will be the first ‘normal’ day of classroom learning.

 

Following their Friday timetable -

 

  • S1-S3 young people will attend school in the morning, 8:50am – 11:20am
    • S3 should report at 8:50am to the red ash football pitch
    • S2 should report at 8:50am to the grass football pitches
    • S1 should report to the school building via the normal pupil entrance where they will be safely accommodated across split venues

 

  • S4-S6 young people will attend school in the afternoon, 12:20pm – 3:10pm
    • S4 should report at 12:20pm to the red ash football pitch
    • S5/6 should report at 12:20pm to the grass football pitches

 

I appreciate that there is a significant body of information contained in this letter, but I wanted you to be as clear as possible about our plans. I will send reminders out regarding all of the above in the week before schools are due to start back.

 

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your child’s head of year or I at any time should you have any concerns or questions around any of the above.

 

I wish you a wonderful summer and you and yours every good health. I very much look forward to working with you in August as we try together to support our young people’s learning in these very unusual circumstances.

 

Regards,

 

Brian McDermott

Acting Head Teacher

All Saints’ RC Secondary

Pg7