Friday March 5th 2021

 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 

Firstly, we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has made the first stage of our testing programme such a success. We have been so grateful for all the efforts parents have made to help us get through what has been an incredibly challenging week. We would like to say a particular thank you to parents of the younger children who have been clearly helping prepare them to be able to register quickly and to those who accompanied their children for a little much needed moral support. It has been a mammoth task that has really highlighted how we can come together and support one another during these difficult times - your support has been much appreciated.

 

Year 7 (am) and 8 (pm) will be expected to return on Monday 8th for their second test and return straight home. 

 

Week Two	Monday 8th March
Session 1	Year 7 Test 1 180 students
08.30 -09.30	Year 7 Surnames A-G (60 students)
09.30-10.30	Year 7 Surnames H-O (56 students)
10.30-11.30	Year 7 Surnames P-Z (64 Students)
Session 2	Year 8 Test 1
12.00- 13.00	Year 8 Surnames A-F (60 students)
13.00-14.00	Year 8 Surnames G-M (68 students)
14.00-15.00	Year 8 Surnames N-Z (57 students)

 

By the end of Monday we will have tested approximately 90% of the school twice.

All staff will have had a test prior to their return.

 

Please find below some important information that we would like to share about our safe and orderly return to school next week.

 

There is NO SCHOOL for students (apart from vulnerable and key worker students) on Monday 8th. All students return to school as normal on Tuesday 9th March at 8:30am fully equipt and in full school uniform please.

 

Students will return to school for face-to-face teaching on the morning of Tuesday March 9th  It will be Week 2 of the two week timetable. We will start the day with an extended tutor period, followed by the resumption of normal lessons.

 

End of the School Day 

Key Stage 4 and 5 finishing their day at 2:15pm

Key stage 3 at 2:50pm

 

Year group ‘Bubbles’, including outside spaces, remain as last term

 

Testing 

We will continue to complete the third tests of students as follows.

• Monday 8th March Yr 7 am and Yr 8 pm - please come in as scheduled for the first test, see above.

 

The following tests will be conducted during the school day. Please note that due to timetabling restrictions some students will finish at a slightly later time if they are testing in the last ‘batch’ of the day.

 

• Tuesday 9th March Year 11 am and Sixth Form pm ( Yr 13 will finish testing at approx  3pm)

• Wednesday 10th March Yr 9 am and Yr 10 pm (Surnames O - Z will finish testing at approx 3:10pm)

• Thursday 11th March Yr 7 am and Yr 8 pm (Surnames G - M will finish testing at approx 3:10pm. Surnames N - Z will finish testing at approx 4:10)

 

Retesting within 90 days of a positive PCR test

We have sought advice from Public Health England as to whether or not to test students or staff who have tested positive to Covid 19 using a PCR test in the last 90 days. Their advice is that  ‘students do take part in routine LFT asymptomatic testing’. Thank you for your patience and understanding with this.

 

Issuing Home Testing Kits

We will be sending a separate communication about the home tests kits that we will be issuing next week.

 

Travel to School - Entrances and exits 

Please encourage your son/daughter to walk or cycle to school. Anyone who is on public transport must be wearing a mask. Please refrain from parking on the yellow lines and zig zags outside school entrances on Elder Rd and Crown Dale if you are dropping off by car. We will return to using the same entrances and exits at the start and end of the day as we did last term. Students should not gather in groups on the way to or from school and will be encouraged to disperse quickly and quietly at the end of the day.

 

Yr 7 Arrival Elder Road Exit Crown Dale

Yr 8 Arrival and Exit Elder Road

Yr 9 Arrival and Exit Tivoli Road/Woodvale Estate 

Yr 10 Arrival and Exit Crown Dale and side grey gate

Yr 11 Arrival and Exit Crown Dale and then access via back of theatre

Sixth Form Arrival and Exit Crown Dale and front reception.

 

Lunches and Refreshments

There will be hot food available to take away from Tuesday March 9th from the canteen. We are still unable to offer breakfast, break  or after school refreshments due to the restrictions of year group bubbles. Esther's Cafe will reopen for Sixth Form. Please make sure that you have charged up your child’s account online before the start of term as the payment machines in school will still not be in use.

 

Uniform and equipment

Please refer to our Student Handbook here to remind the students about our high expectations around uniform, particularly shoes, jewellery, hair, nails and piercings. A uniform and equipment check will be part of the reorientation tutor time on Tuesday 9th. 

 

Hands, Face, Space

The school has undergone another deep clean. Please ensure that your children come to school, with their own reusable face mask and hand sanitiser. Those without exemption will be expected to wear a face mask throughout the day, apart from when they are outside or whilst taking part in physical activity, for example dance or PE. We will continue to issue masks to those who arrive without one if need be, a small fee of 50p will be charged to their Wise Pay Account. Exemption cards will be issued by HOY on receipt of communications from parents/guardians. Those exempt from wearing a mask will be encouraged to bring and wear their own visor.

Some frequently asked questions:

What if my child tests positive? If a pupil tests positive on a Lateral Flow Device, they will need to self-isolate for 10 days and follow the guidance from NHS Test and Trace. They will need to book a PCR test at a local symptomatic testing site.

What happens if the test is negative? While a small number of pupils may need to repeat the test if the first test was invalid or void for some reason, pupils who test negative will be able to stay in school and resume their activities as normal. Pupils will be informed of negative test results via the text/email that they input at registration. We will also ensure that if a test is positive we contact the family concerned.

What if my child does not take the test? While we strongly advise all students to participate in the testing programme for the benefit of the whole school community, we must reiterate that testing is voluntary and students will be permitted to attend school from March 9th  irrespective of whether they have engaged with the testing programme.

 

What if staff or students have been in close contact with someone at Norwood who tests positive? The staff member or student will be notified that they are a close contact by the school and will need to self-isolate for 10 days in line with Government guidance.

 

Thank you all again for your continuing support, we are all really looking forward to seeing the students again next week,

 

Have a lovely weekend

Kind regards

 

Ms Nicholas

Senior Deputy Head Teacher