Welcome to everyone as we start our new term in the Upper School. It has been so lovely to welcome back the Year 11s who have dived straight back into their lessons and tutor time sessions with real enthusiasm. I am really pleased to see so many of our students sign up for a range of EPAs that have already started as well.
We have seen lots of team building and wellbeing activities in the mornings and we have welcomed some 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 SWC from 08:30am to 09:30am with our Wellbeing Leader and Learning and Innovation Coach, both of whom have years of experience of how to support students to become organised and best prepared for their exam years.
We also look forward to seeing you on Monday 18th November 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 and how best to support your child prepare for their mock exams at the start of Term 2.
View the latest events in the Calendar on My School Portal
Please add a sentence or two about the breadth of curriculum available to students in the year group and state all details regarding 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.
"I’d like to echo the sentiments above and highlight what a great start Year 11 have had. It’s good to see them walking around campus with a smile and the conversations have highlighted that they feel like the year has started positively. I’d like to finish with a reminder to encourage your children to retain a school-life balance and to continue their passion activities. Good luck to all for the year ahead!"
Amanda Coates
Year 11 Leader
