20 January 2010

Dear Parents/Carers

May I take this opportunity to wish you a Happy New Year as we move into our second full week of term and to include some reminders and updates for your information.

The freezing weather meant that we allowed pupils to come to school in cold weather jackets other than the school coat as very sensible protection from the extreme conditions. However, now that we have returned to more usual English weather patterns, we expect students to uphold our uniform policy. The only coat that is acceptable is the Academy, fleece lined jacket.

We are delighted to welcome PC Rosa Dimate to the Academy as our Safer Schools Police Officer. She will be working with us throughout the Academy on a daily basis and should be at the Secondary gates at the end of every day. I am sure you will join us in making her feel welcome, the role of the link Metropolitan Police Officer is crucial in making sure that the children feel secure as they leave the Academy to go home.

As part of our ongoing focus on achieving high standards of behaviour, we have two new initiatives. Firstly, please ask your child to tell you about the Caught Doing the Right Thing tickets which have been met with great enthusiasm by the pupils. Secondly, our Student Parliament will be getting involved in deciding on restorative justice activities for pupils who have made minor transgressions to our Code of Conduct. Mr Hadley will be supporting and supervising them in this work.

The lost property box is overflowing and contains many expensive items such as coats and blazers as well as a whole array of other items including sleeping bags! Please ask your child to come and check the collection, or indeed come and have a look yourself this Friday after school before we have to send some of it to a local charity shop.

The number of parents claiming free school meals has dropped considerably. Please see Nicky Headford at reception for the Cambridge Education @ Islington form which enables eligible parents to claim for these.

Finally, with such terrible news stories reaching us from Haiti, we will be having a cash collection for the Haiti Earthquake Appeal on Friday. Any contributions will be gratefully received.

Yours faithfully

Victoria Linsley
Vice Principal