Dear Parents/Carers,
Thank you for your support during this academic year which has continued to have covid-related challenges. I have a few reminders for you ahead of the new academic year as well as the end of this one.
Hot Weather Precautions
As you will be aware, we are expecting record breaking temperatures next week which coincides with some school events we have planned. There is a risk assessment on our website on which you will be able to see that we have considered the health and wellbeing of our students during such times. Please ensure that your child has a bottle of water with them all week, a hat for when they are outside (to be removed when inside the building) and suncream. We would advise students to stay inside at lunchtime or in one of the shaded areas. The SSO (Short Sleeve Order) continues to be in place until the end of term meaning that students do not need to wear their blazer but their shirt must be tucked in and their tie must be worn at all times.
You will be aware that students finish for the year at 1pm on Thursday 21st July and begin again in September at the following times:
Friday 2nd September 2022 Year 7 and Year 12 8.30am
Monday 5th September 2022 Years 8 – 11 and Year 13 8.30am
Upon return in September we continue with our tutor time Preparedness checks. At the beginning of every morning your child spends twenty minutes with their tutor in order to ensure they are prepared for learning. Preparedness checks involve uniform, equipment and supporting your child with any issues that arise. Please can I remind you that hoodies and sweatshirts are not permitted in place of a coat and that as of September 1st the black school skirt must be pleated and knee-length. The preparedness checks are also an important opportunity to celebrate the successes from the previous week and this is done through AtL discussions (Attitude to Learning). You can support your child in the next academic year by engaging in regular conversations about any feedback they have received regarding their AtL.
During the summer holidays our local supermarkets will be running a variety of ‘back to school’ offers. It will be the cheapest point in the year to equip your child with calculators, geometry sets, an engaging reading book and other revision materials. We would like to encourage you and your child to review the equipment they currently have and where possible make timely purchases for the next academic year.
This should include:
- School bag
- Pen
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Reading book
As always, if you have any difficulties with uniform or equipment, please contact your child’s year team and we will support you in obtaining any items. Please find below the Year Teams as of 1st September 2022:
Year 7
Progress Leader: Mrs Honeyman
Assistant Progress Leader: Mrs Maasz
Student Services Assistant: Mrs Hammett
E-mail: amanda.hammett@hdhs.school
Year 8
Progress Leader: Mrs Bradshaw
Assistant Progress Leader: Mrs Hughes
Student Services Assistant: Ms Mason
E-mail: sarah.mason@hdhs.school
Year 9
Progress Leader: Mr Day
Assistant Progress Leader: Mrs Harris
Student Services Assistant: Mrs Wells
E-mail: alison.wells@hdhs.school
Year 10
Progress Leader: Mrs Green
Assistant Progress Leader: Mrs Beynon
Student Services Assistant: Mrs Locke
E-mail: deborah.locke@hdhs.school
Year 11
Progress Leader: Mr Gooder
Assistant Progress Leader: Mrs Brundle
Student Services Assistant: Mrs McDermott
E-mail: danielle.mcdermott@hdhs.school
6th Form
Acting Director of Sixth Form: Mrs Henderson
E-mail: sixthform@hdhs.school
Summer holiday safeguarding concerns:
During the summer holidays, if you have any urgent concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of a child, please call the Essex Safeguarding Child Board on 03456037627 or Essex Police via 999 in an emergency or 101, or via text (18000).
Any concerns sent in from Friday 22nd July to Wednesday 31st August may not be picked up immediately, so please refer to the sources above during this period. All non-urgent concerns can still be sent to school or reported via the Whisper button: https://www.swgflwhisper.org.uk/report/har4
I hope you and child have the opportunity to rest and enjoy the summer, ready for the fresh new start in September.
Yours sincerely,
Kate Finch
Headteacher
