Previous Newsletter September 2009

Autumn Term Newsletter

15th September 2009

Dear Parents/Guardians,

At the start of the new academic year I would like to bring the following information to your attention. (Please note that this is the only newsletter which is posted home and that other newsletters will be sent home via students. Periodic checking of schoolbags recommended!). A copy of the newsletter will appear on our website at www.lesbeaucampshigh.sch.gg

New School Building

The re-building of Les Beaucamps High School has been recognised as a top priority by the States and we now await the results of the States Debate later this month to discover whether the project will have immediate funding from the States.

During this period of uncertainty, the Education Department has continued with its planning for the re-development of Les Beaucamps High School using some of its existing funds. Carol Steere, Minister for Education, has championed the re-building of the school at every opportunity and she has said “we will be taking the project to a point where it is ready to progress to the detailed design stage”. The design team has continued to work on plans for the new building. If all goes to plan the first and main phase of the new building would be completed towards the end of 2012.

I will be spending at least two days a week working with the design team and consulting with staff on the new building. Please be aware that I may not be quite as available as previously and that my new Deputy Head, Mr Lambert, will be deputising for me during this intensive planning period over the next year or so. This is a great opportunity to build a school fit for the 21st Century.

School Closure Day

School will be closed on Friday October 9th for the purpose of Staff Training.

Staff Changes

With the exception of a vacancy for a Library Assistant (which is currently being advertised) we are in the fortunate position of being fully staffed this again this year. However, we have had a number of staff changes which I would like to bring to your attention.

With the retirement of Mr and Mrs Beardsell as Deputy Heads, I am pleased to welcome Mr G Lambert and Miss S Young as new Deputies. The closure of St Peter Port School has brought us four very experienced teachers: Mr R Boorer is our new Head of Science, Mrs S Debiere our new Head of Geography, Mrs J Pritchard our new Head of P.E and Mr R Sweeney who returns to the school as Head of Art and Design. We are also delighted to welcome Miss L Taylor to the English Department as well as Mrs S Wilson and Mrs V Brouard in our School Office.

The changes mean that the following forms have new Form Teachers:

8 De Havilland – Mrs N Bradshaw and Miss L Taylor
9 De Beauvoir – Mr R Boorer
10 De Beauvoir – Mr D Costen

Open Evening

Parents, guardians and friends of the school are cordially invited to attend our annual Open Evening which takes place on Thursday October 1st from 7.15p.m until 8.45p.m. (Parents of Year 6 students are invited to attend from 7.00p.m, when there is a talk in the hall about the school). Please come along to look at the work of the school. There will be displays as well as some demonstrations.

Absence of Students Through Illness

If your child is ill and unable to attend school please inform the school office each day. The Office is open from 8.20am until 4.00pm (3.30 pm on Fridays) and the telephone number is 256477. Information may also be emailed to school on the office email address given earlier in this newsletter.

Traffic Management

May I remind parents/guardians who pick up their child/children by car at the end of school to please try to arrive a little before 3.00pm (and not during the busy 3.00-3.10pm exit time). Please would parents not arrange to pick up students at the side of the main road where Mr Dorey is directing traffic as this endangers the safety of all road users.

Homework Schedules

Guidance on when homework is set for each year group and other information on the curriculum is in preparation and will be issued to your son/daughter to bring home shortly.

School Validation – June 2009

I am hoping the Validation Report will be published by the Education Board this term. We had a very successful ‘inspection’ over almost a week in June last term and we are pleased with the findings of the report that this is a good school. Thank you to all parents who returned questionnaires to the Validation Team.

Data Update

Each September we update the contact information we have for each student on our computer system. If there are any changes to your circumstances (e.g change of address, telephone number, work place contact number) would you please return the form attached to this newsletter with the relevant details.

If your son/daughter now has your permission to leave school during the lunch hour, could you please ensure that we have a letter of permission from you so that our records can be changed. (Some students are gathering in the lanes around school, instead of going home, and this is causing problems for other road users. The school can take no responsibility for any incidents occurring where students are out of school with parents’/guardians’ permission). Students going out of school without permission will be dealt with by the school. We strongly recommend that students stay in school during the lunch hour unless they actually go home to lunch.

Summer Examination Results

Although this Summer’s examination results could not match the best ever results of last year’s Year 11 cohort, we were delighted that 99% of students achieved at least five GCSE passes with 53% of students achieving five or more passes at the higher grades of ‘C’ or above. All grades represent a level of achievement and it was pleasing to see our ‘high-flyers’ achieving many ‘A’ grades as well as some of those students who were not quite so gifted achieving well above expectations. Around 80% of students in Year 11 have opted to continue their education either at The Sixth Form Centre at the Grammar School or the College of Further Education.

Calendar for the Academic Year 2009-2010

A calendar of key dates is included below. Some dates are provisional. ‘Reminder’ letters will be sent out for Parents’ Evening and other important meetings.

OCTOBER
Thursday 01 7.15 Open Evening
Thursday 08 4.00 – 6.45 Year 11 Parents’ Evening
Friday 09 School Closure Day
Thursday 15 7.00 Careers/Post 16 Meeting for Parents
Friday 23 Year 10 Interim Reports issued
Monday 26– Friday 30 Half Term
NOVEMBER
Monday 02 – Friday 06 Work Experience Week for Year 11 students
Thursday 05 4.00 – 6.45 Year 7 Parents’ Evening to meet with Form Tutors
Tuesday 10 Maths Module Exam Year 11
Thursday 12 4.00 – 6.30 Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Friday 13 GCSE Maths Years 10 & 11
Thursday 19 GCSE Science Exam Year 10 & 11
Wednesday 25 Year 11 Presentation Evening. For last year's students/parents
Thursday 26 Years 8 – 10 Presentation Afternoon
Monday 30 – Friday 04 Year 9 English Speaking Board

DECEMBER
Monday 07 Year 9 English Speaking Board
Friday 18 Years 7, 8, 9 & 11 Reports issued
Friday 18 TERM ENDS

Spring Term
JANUARY 2010
Tuesday 05 Term starts – students
Thursday 07 Careers Convention at Beau Sejour
Monday 11- 19 MOCKS & Study Leave for Year 11
Thursday 28 Year 9 Parents’ Evening
Friday 29 Year 9 Option Choices Form issued
FEBRUARY
Monday 15 – Friday 19 Half Term
Monday 22 – Friday 26 Year 11 English Speaking Board All Week
MARCH
Friday 05 Year 11 Reports issued
Friday 12 – Sunday 14 KS4 French Trip
Friday 19 Year 11 Conference – venue to be confirmed
Monday 22 – Wednesday 24 French Orals Year 11
Friday 26 Reports for Year 7, 8, 9 & 10 issued
TERM ENDS

Summer Term
APRIL
Tuesday 13 Term starts – students
Friday 23 – Saturday 24 11 Duke of Edinburgh Expedition Route A
Thursday 29 4.00 – 6.45 Year 7 Parents’ Evening (all teachers available)
MAY
Monday 03 May Day Holiday
Thursday 13 4.00 – 6.45 Year 8 Parents Evening
Monday 17 May Year 11 Study Leave begins
Tuesday 18 GCSEs begin
Monday 24 –Friday 28 Year 7 French Trip
Monday 31 – Friday 04 Half Term
JUNE
Wednesday 09 Sports Day
Friday 11 – Saturday 12 Year 10 Duke of Edinburgh Expedition Route A
Wednesday 16 Art Exhibition Year 11 at St James's (provisional)
Monday 21- Friday 25 Year 7 English Speaking Board All Week
Tuesday 22 GCSE’S Finish
Friday 25 – Saturday 26 Year 11 Duke of Edinburgh Expedition Route B
Monday 28 Year 7 English Speaking Board
JULY
Wednesday 07 New Year 7 Induction Morning
Thursday 08 7.00 New Intake Evening

Friday 9 – Saturday 10 Year 10 Duke of Edinburgh Expedition Route B
Friday 16 Reports issued for Years 7, 8 9 & 10
Friday 16 – Saturday 17 Year 10 Duke of Edinburgh Expedition Route A
Tuesday 20 – Thursday 22 Activities Week
Friday 23 TERM ENDS
NB Other events will be added during the year.

Yours sincerely,

P.D. Le Cheminant
Headteacher

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