Access to school in the morning
In order to keep students as safe as possible, we need to make sure that they are only coming onto the school site once there are staff available to supervise them. This supervision begins at 8.30am each morning until form time begins at 8.45am. We would therefore ask you to make sure students are not arriving before this time, as they will not be able to enter the school site.
Year 11 Prom payments
A reminder that this weekend is the last chance to pay your deposit for the Year 11 prom.
World Book Day
We have celebrated World Book Day throughout the week with a wide range of activities including: teachers displaying posters about their favourite book; teachers creating and sharing videos about their favourite book; and a range of fun quizzes and challenges. On the day, we shared diversity-themed readings in all classes, some staff members dressed up, students brought in props and accessories, and in the library we had a ‘Guess the Book Character’ competition and a Harry Potter themed Jellybean Challenge.
This is not the end of our celebrations, however, and we have a trip to Rowntree Reading Café and an outing to The Portal Bookshop to look forward to, as well as nominated star readers receiving book prizes next week. Also, further reading lists for each subject will be made available on the school website soon, with all the suggested books being available and easily accessible in the library.
We are always keen to promote reading at Millthorpe as it has amazing educational benefits as well as being a relaxing, fun and informative activity. Please do encourage your child/ren to read as much as possible. Reading for fifteen minutes a day adds up to over 100,000,000 words in a year. A good time to encourage reading is before bed. It is a particularly good time to turn off screens or the blue tone of back lights, and prepare for a good night’s sleep.
Bookbuzz Books and World Book Day
A few weeks ago we shared the great news that through a scheme called Bookbuzz all Year 7 students received a book of their choice from a great selection. This week we put out quizzes and activities related to the books for students to complete. After completing these and returning them to Miss Brooks in the library, students will receive a substantial sweet treat or a set of bookmarks, and a golden ticket. Please encourage your child/ren to get involved.
Refugee Aid for Ukraine
The Millthorpe community has watched the events unfolding in Ukraine with sadness and concern. This week, we have shared information with classes about the war in Ukraine, using reliable sources for learning information and how to spot misinformation.
We are proud of our longstanding tradition of supporting other communities, near and far, who need extra help and many people are keen to support refugees and citizens who remain in their homes in Ukraine. The effort to provide aid is a fast and very changeable situation. Mrs Featherstone, who has connections to charities in Poland, has organised a link between our school and SOS Wioski Dzieciece/SOS Children’s Villages who are presently working to evacuate children and families to safe places, provide those still in Ukraine with food and other supplies, and provide trauma support for children and families. You can find more information about this charity here.
Using Mrs Featherstone’s links to the Children’s Villages Charity and Ms Garner Steel’s connections in the foreign aid sector, we have followed the advice of aid workers on the ground, who have said they are currently struggling to process and store the amounts of well-meant material donations at this time. Therefore, we have chosen not to collect material donations at this point, but to ask for donations of money which will go to fund the vital work the SOS Children’s Villages are doing with Ukrainian refugees who have fled to Poland. You can donate money on ParentPay or students can bring cash donations to form until Friday 11 March.
As the situation unfolds, we will continue to look to see if there are other initiatives we may be able to support and we will let you know about these in future emails.
York Apprenticeship Recruitment Event
A reminder that the York Apprenticeship Recruitment Event will take place on 15 March at York High School. The event, which runs between 4.00-7.00pm, provides young people with a great opportunity to find out about apprenticeship opportunities in the local area. There is no need to register and students are encouraged to take an up-to-date CV with them to the event.
SEND Inclusion Review – Parent Carer focus group invitation
In May last year, City of York Council launched an Inclusion Review Survey which asked children and young people with SEND, their families, carers, health and childcare professionals, for their views on proposals to change provision for young people with SEND in York.
The Council are now onto the next phase of the SEND inclusion review and they would like to invite parents and carers to share their views and help shape future support and provision via two parent/carer focus groups. These will take place on:
- Wednesday 16 March 6.00-7.30pm (virtual meeting via Zoom)
- Thursday 24 March 1.30-3.00pm (Hob Moor Children’s Centre)
To book your slot, please email Laura.Brown@york.gov.uk
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