St Cuthbert's Catholic High School

End of Spring Term letter to all parents/carers

31 March 2021

 

Dear parents/carers

As we reach the end of another term I would like to wish you all a safe and happy Easter.

The last 12 months have been extremely difficult for everyone but with the start of spring comes a new hope that we can begin to see an end of such challenging times. However, this will not happen unless we all take responsibility for maintaining the National restrictions, continuing to take the LFD tests at home throughout the Easter break and beyond and taking care of ourselves and others. Your child’s form tutor will issue further home test kits before we finish for the Easter break.

We therefore ask that parents/carers follow these steps during the Easter break:

  1. Please continue to take your child’s home LFD test on Sundays and Wednesdays throughout the Easter holiday and register your child’s result with both NHS Test & Trace and school (Click on this link – when you click on the school link you will be prompted to enter your child's St Cuthbert's school email log in details). Here’s a link to my previous letter regarding home testing.
  2. If your child’s home LFD test is positive, new government guidelines from today means that a confirmatory PCR test will need to be taken. The PCR test should be booked immediately either online or by calling 119 and should be undertaken within 2 days.  Students who had a positive LFD test result, and their close contacts and other members of their household, should self-isolate immediately in line with NHS Test and Trace guidance and while awaiting the PCR result. If the PCR test is negative, it overrides the LFD test and the staff member, pupil or student can return to school or college, and their close contacts can end their self-isolation. Please also inform us at school of the result of the PCR test by completing the school form.
  3. Finally, if your child or anyone in your household develops symptoms over the Easter holiday, you will need to self-isolate and book a PCR Test. If this happens, please inform us by email at hello@stucthberts.com and also inform us of the result by email.

As we finish the term at 2.40pm on Thursday 1st April I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff at St Cuthbert’s who have worked tirelessly throughout this pandemic and in particular the site team, led by Mr Kevlin who go above and beyond to keep us all safe whilst we are in the building.

This week we welcome back Mrs Dawber to the history department and Head of Year 7. Next term will be busy for her and her team as we start to welcome our new intake for September 2021. Thank you to Ms Lomax and Miss Lomas for their work during Mrs Dawber’s absence.

I would like to thank parents and carers for your support, as the vast majority of students have returned in full uniform and ready to learn.  I know that it has been difficult for some families to ensure that the school uniform is correct due to shops being closed but now that non-essential shops are opening again (from 12th April), can I stress the importance of the correct school uniform next term. Please refer to the website for a complete and correct uniform list – link here.

There has been an emerging issue around the length of school skirts which has not been evident for several years now. Skirts should be knee length and box pleats. This was the skirt chosen by the students several years ago and has not changed. It is not a fashion statement and the skirts should not be rolled up. I am sure you are aware of the term ‘upskirting’ and our role in protecting students from any inappropriate behaviour. Please encourage your child to wear their uniform correctly.  Trousers should be school trousers and not branded e.g. North Face and all school shoes should be black and polishable.

Again, since returning to school we have been encouraging students to adhere to the school standards of uniform, the inappropriate wearing of jewellery and make up and the misuse of mobile phones. After the holiday we will be enforcing these standards further.

Finally, a reminder that school starts at 8.30am every day. We will focus on ensuring that our children come into school on time next term and those who are late will have to make up the time at the end of the day to ensure that they do not fall behind.

Thank you as always for your support. Stay safe and well and we will return to school on Monday, 19th April 2021 at 8.30am.

Yours faithfully

Mrs C Twist
Headteacher

 

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