ACADEMIC YEAR 2020/2021 - SPRING TERM: 4TH JANUARY- 1ST APRIL - Torpoint Community ...
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Thursday 4th March 2021
ACADEMIC YEAR 2020/2021
SPRING TERM: 4TH JANUARY- 1ST APRIL
EASTER BREAK : 2nd – 16th APRIL
• Friday 5th March- INSET Day
• Week beginning 8th March- HEADTEACHER‘S MESSAGE
Phased re-opening of College Dr Jeremy Plumb
Dear Parent/Carer,
Further to the message I sent out to you last week regarding the government’s announcement on the roadmap for
leaving lockdown, and the subsequent operational guidance published by the Department for Education setting out
the requirements for secondary schools reopening, this is an update on the College’s reopening in the week
commencing 8th March.
As previously notified there will be a phased return of year groups in the period Monday 8th to Wednesday 17th March,
with all students for whom consent has been obtained being tested 3 times 3-5 days apart. The return and test dates
are as follows:
Catering arrangements 8th-19th March – unfortunately we will not be able to offer our normal catering provision in the
first two weeks of reopening. The canteen will be closed between 8th-19th March. Please ensure your child comes to
school with snacks and a packed lunch throughout this period, as well as a drinks bottle. Packed lunches will be
made available for children eligible for Free School Meals.
COVID-19 mass asymptomatic testing - on a year group’s first day back students will be required to assemble in their
normal area, as before the current lockdown period, where they will be met by members of staff and taken to their
tutor rooms ensuring the enhanced hygiene measures are followed. Once registered, seating plans will be checked
and updated and your child will then receive a virtual “Welcome Back” assembly. This will include a short video on
the COVID-19 testing that will be undertaken at the College. Individual tutor groups will then be called forward for
testing and return to their tutor room and await their results; during their time in the classroom they will be follow a
programme of tutor, mindfulness, health and wellbeing activities. Once all members of the year group have been
tested (for whom consent has been given), and the results confirmed, they will resume their normal teaching
timetable which we anticipate will be in period 3 or 4. Face to face teaching will then continue thereafter.
Those who have attended the Support School and already been tested will also follow the same programme of
testing as outlined above. Once individuals have completed three tests at the College they will be issued a home test
kit with accompanying instructions. Any further testing at the College will be by exception. Whilst the asymptomatic
testing programme is voluntary, it is strongly encouraged that all students participate.
COVID-19 symptoms- can I please remind parents not to send their child into College if they have COVID-19 symptoms
or have had a positive test result, if they live with someone who has symptoms or has tested positive and are a
household contact or if they are a close contact of someone who has COVID-19. Please follow the latest government
guidelines in respect of symptomatic testing and self-isolation and notify the College as soon as possible if your child
has tested positive for COVID-19.
Face coverings – face coverings should now be worn in all areas, including classrooms, where social distancing can’t
be maintained. This does not apply to situations where a face covering would impact on the ability to take part in
exercise or strenuous activity e.g. PE lessons. We understand there will be some students who will be exempt from
wearing face coverings.
Bubbles and close contacts – there is no change to the College’s arrangements that were in place pre-lockdown
regarding year group bubbles and close contacts. However, please note there has been an update to what close
contact means:
Anyone who lives in the same household as someone with coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms or who has tested
positive for coronavirus (COVID-19)
Anyone who has had any of the following types of contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus
(COVID-19) with a PCR or LFD test:
face-to-face contact including being coughed on or having a face-to- face conversation within 1 metre
been within 1 metre for 1 minute or longer without face-to-face contact
sexual contacts
been within 2 metres of someone for more than 15 minutes (either as a one-off contact, or added up together
over one day)
travelled in the same vehicle or a plane.
Uniform – can I please ask that your child returns in full school uniform. On colder days, your child may wish to wear an
extra layer of clothing underneath their uniform as teaching areas may be a little cooler than normal due to rooms
being well ventilated. Students may wear a plain white t-shirt under their shirt or a plain black jumper under their blazer.
Attendance – school attendance will be mandatory for all students from 8 March. The usual rules on school
attendance apply. Students who have been confirmed as clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) should shield and stay
at home as much as possible until further notice. They are advised not to attend school while shielding advice applies
nationally. You may be asked for a letter providing confirmation that your child has been identified as CEV.
Remote Learning – there will be a continued remote learning provision for year groups having to stay at home. This will
be an asynchronous provision that follows their normal timetable as it has throughout the current lockdown.
Support School – the Support School will remain open for vulnerable children and those of critical workers throughout
the reopening transition period. It will close when all year groups have returned to the College on Wednesday 17th
March.
INSET Day – a reminder the College has an INSET day on Friday 5th March during which there will be no remote learning
or Support School provision.
I appreciate there is a great deal of information in respect of the College’s reopening from 8th March. Every effort is
being made to make the transition as smooth as possible and we are really looking forward to having your child back
in the classroom and resuming face to face teaching. We have a great deal to look forward to in the coming weeks:
Spring, lighter mornings and evenings and the road map ahead which offers a glimmer of hope that some COVID-19
restrictions will start to be lifted.
Thank you all for your continued support.
Yours sincerely
Dr Jeremy Plumb
Headteacher
PSYCHOLOGY BAKE-OFF
This term, the 6th form psychologists
took part in an optional enrichment
activity: The Great
Psychology Bake off! With some
excellent entries!
Awards were given to:
Louisa Maunder who achieved
1st place in the category ‘most original
creation’ with her Rorschach Inkblot
Maddie Allen Test cake.
Hollie Rickard who achieved 1st place
in the ‘best decoration’ category with
her frog psychology cake.
Madi Allen who achieved the ultimate
award, 1stplace for ‘best in show’ for
her superb brain cake, which not only
looked delicious but was intricately
decorated.
Honorary mentions also go to
Charlotte Jenkins for her psychology
cake decorated with a brain and Liv
Calladine for her brain themed
cupcakes!
Charlotte Jenkins
Hollie Rickard
Louisa Maunder
National Careers Week is a chance for you to focus on the type of Career you want
to pursue! All our students can access Unifrog and CareerPilot – these are really useful
one stop Career platforms for you to use.
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/
https://www.unifrog.org/
There is a Virtual Careers Fair
which is live 1st to 6th March
and there is no need to
register,
Simply go to the website
during 1st-6th March:
www.ncw2021.co.uk
Tuesday 9th February was our first KS3 Screen Day aiming to encourage our KS3 students to take part in some activities away from their laptop/computer/phone screens. These activities ranged from mindful colouring, creative writing to board games and baking. It was lovely to see and hear about so many of our students and families getting involved! In the Support School students also took part in art-based activities, STEM challenges, year 7 got a flavour of a Science lab and years 8 & 9 challenged each other at some games. Thank you to all who shared their experiences and thoughts on our Screen Day.
MAINTAINING MUSICAL CREATIVITY THROUGH REMOTE LEARNING THIS LOCKDOWN
Part 2
By Miss Hamilton Curriculum Leader of Learning for Music
As in my last newsletter article I would like to thank all my Music students across the year groups for the
wonderful work they are sending me via remote learning this lockdown. It is really amazing to receive
work that shows just how strong and vibrant Musical Creativity can be for many of our students at this
time despite the numerous challenges of remote learning.
In this newsletter I would like to place a particular focus on two year 9 ‘Lockdown Legends’ who have
worked with great enthusiasm in our recent composition project and have as a result both composed
their own songs which are definitely worth sharing with you all.
Firstly, let’s take a look at the computer game inspired song by Grace which is titled: ‘The Final Bite’
and which to me has a real hint of Billie Eilish about it – see what you think.
Grace got her inspiration to write the song from a computer game and wanted to create a song that
would be suited to accompany that game. She chose the specific electronic game-type backing to
fit this style and specifically wanted to create an ‘understated’ vocal effect to fit that theme, which
works well.
The audio link for the song is below.
http://www.torpoint.cornwall.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/AUD-20210205-WA0008-Grace-Buss.mp3
Secondly, I would like to share with you the wonderfully uplifting song titled: ‘Follow Your Dreams’ by
Imogen which has a bright and positive feeling to it both musically and lyrically. The lyrics of the song
are given here for you to sing along with and Imogen’s summary of how and why she wrote it follows
them. Imogen is accompanied in this song by her Father and I think they sound wonderful together –
both sharing a message of hope and positivity - I hope you agree.
Here is the link for Imogen’s song.
http://www.torpoint.cornwall.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Imogen-new-song.m4a
Imogen’s song Chorus:
‘Follow your Dreams’ Never give up on the things that you enjoy,
Passion is what we need to see us through life.
Verse 1:
Dreams can come true as long as you believe. Outro:
Believe in yourself and you’ll achieve, many Follow your dreams and you’ll succeed in
things that make you proud, everything you hoped to be,
Please don’t be afraid to stand out from the Follow your dreams and you’ll succeed in
crowd that you are put in. everything you hoped to be,
You hope to be, you hope to be, you hope to be.
Chorus:
Never give up on the things that you enjoy, Summary of why Imogen wrote this song:
Passion is what we need to see us through life. “I chose these lyrics for various reasons, I
really wanted to show people what I had
Verse 2: and not be held back by judgement
The way it feels when you work towards your anymore. I've always been a creative
goals, child, but I have never been able to
The feeling of joy and confidence, pride and express it how I wanted to, I would love
happiness is key. to inspire people by my song so they
know they can do what they want and
feel normal.”
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