Welcome to everyone as we start our new term in the Upper School. It has been great to get to meet many of the new Year 10 students, who have made their (I)GCSE choices and have started on their unique pathway, developing their skills and passions across the curriculum and with their EPAs that have already started.
We have seen lots of team building and wellbeing activities in the mornings and we have welcomed a number of new students across the Upper School. This academic year we remain dedicated to fostering a learning environment that encourages curiosity and thoughtful exploration and the work I have seen in classes and tutor time reflects our commitment to both individual growth and collective achievement.
We hope that you will be able to attend the upcoming Study Strategies for exam success on Thursday 26th September. This interactive workshop will be held in the Steve Warry Centre from 8:30am to 9:30am with our Wellbeing Leader and Learning and Innovation Coach, both of whom have years of experience of how to support students become organised and best prepared for their exam years.
We also look forward to seeing you on Wednesday 9th October when you will be able to meet your child’s subject teachers. They will be able to offer an update on your child’s progress and discuss personalised targets to help them continue to develop their knowledge and understanding of the subject.
All students have been asked to set personalised targets for this term, please do ask your child about this and check in to see how they are progressing. These can be focused on personal growth, or academic, and we look forward to hearing about their successes with these this term.
Check the Calendar on My School Portal
Curriculum maps and information for individual subjects can be accessed via this link.
Ian Quirk, our Wellbeing Leader, and his team of coaches, are already working hard to support a number of children across the Upper School, this is with healthy habits, organisation and may also have a focus on academic progress.
Students are continuing to engage with the Komodo wellbeing tool each fortnight and are reflecting on their personal healthy habits, from sleep, to friendships, to the impact of digital technology on their health. Thank you for encouraging healthy habits at home.
We are so pleased that our support services are also being accessed by those who need it. Prakash, and our team of counsellors, Chen Ying and Julia, as well as our Nurses, are available to empower individuals by teaching them practical coping strategies and effective communication skills, enabling them to navigate life's difficulties with developing confidence and resilience. Please do encourage your child to reach out if they need any help with their physical, or mental health.
In order to foster a culture of open communication, we encourage parents to share their thoughts and suggestions using this link for parent feedback. It has been wonderful to see students engaged in their learning, strengthening friendships and welcoming peers who are new to Alice Smith. A warm welcome to all our new families, and to those families who returned after the Summer break, thank you for your continued support.
Thank you for the warm welcome I have received from all members of the Alice Smith community. It has been a pleasure getting to know the students in the year group and talking about their goals for the year ahead. I am looking forward to sharing and celebrating your child’s successes this year, whether that be academic, sporting or through the arts.
Ben John
Year 10 Leader
