Dear Families

It is hard to believe that we have come to the end of our first half term and what a busy one it has been.  Our new year 7 students have settled so well into our College family here at St Mary’s.  Following what has been a turbulent 2 years, all our students have returned with a really positive attitude and eager to take part in many of the activities available to them.  Our Junior Leadership Team is now fully established and ready to work very closely with our College Council and Anti Bullying ambassadors to ensure that all students have a voice in our community and support in how we shape the future of our college. 

There have been so many highlights this half term: 

  • A really successful and well attended Open Evening where our students made us exceptionally proud; showcasing everything that is fantastic about our College. 
  • Our thriving Faith in Action group taking part in many different activities including a presentation to our our Diocese Headteachers about homelessness
  • Our Chester Zoo Takeover 
  • Participation in the Antibullying Big Assembly 
  • Students attending School Climate Conference and making an appearance on Good Morning Britain on ITV
  • National Poetry Day
  • Hello Yellow – to support world mental health day and raising awareness of the importance of child mental health
  • Our year 7 Welcome Mass 
  • Dance Show and Drama Show Launch
  • LOTS of amazing clubs and sporting fixtures where one of our teams ​​have made it to the latter stages of the Merseyside Cup
  • Our well attended SEND Coffee morning
  • We finished off our final day this half term with rewards for our 15 day challenge.  This was for all of those students who have managed to have 100% attendance over the past 15 days.  Well done to all students who achieved this goal, we really hope that you enjoyed your activities. 

I am sure that you will agree, a lot of things in a very short period of time and so many more things to come as we continue throughout the academic year such as our PA department production of Legally Blond at the Floral Pavillion, many trips planned including a fantastic trip to Iceland. We will also continue to work with Edsential to develop music tuition for our students – as one of their new Music Centres. 

As ever we encourage you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with all of the latest news and information. 

New Headteacher – Mr Maddocks

As you know the HFCMAT have recently appointed Mr Maddocks who will take up his role after the half term break on the 1st November as Headteacher here at St Mary’s.  I will continue to work closely with Mr Maddocks for a few weeks following the half term break to ensure that there is a smooth transition.  I have been extremely proud to be part of the St Mary’s family and have thoroughly enjoyed my time meeting our wonderful students over the past half term.  I would like to thank students and parents for their warm welcome and personally thank all of the staff here at St Marys for their continued support, hard work and commitment to ensuring the best outcomes for all of our students. 

Communications

We will shortly be launching our parent app via Arbor.  This will allow parents access to live information about your child’s attendance, conduct and reports. Thank you for your patience while we are setting this up. 

Please find attached a letter to parents and guardians from Merseyside Police regarding Halloween and Bonfire Night.

Uniform and Homework Reminder

Thank you for ensuring that uniform and appearance standards are maintained. Please note that full school uniform including school shoes is expected at all times as well as travelling to and from school.  Make up is not permitted in years 7 to 11, this includes nail varnish, false eyelashes and false tan. Can I also ask for your cooperation in ensuring that your children do not bring energy / fizzy drinks into school. If your child has one of these drinks, they will be confiscated. 

Can I ask you to check your child’s planner regularly to ensure that homework is completed. If you have any concerns or queries, please contact your child’s year team.

Mock Examinations

Mock examinations for year 11 and 13 will take place between Monday 22nd November and Wednesday 8th December.  Please encourage your child to prepare for these through regular study and revision. 

 

Coronavirus Update

We know how important it is for you to be able to send your child to school. 

At SMCC we are taking a number of measures to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus, including:

  • Encouraging all staff to test regularly, to minimise the risk of our teachers giving your child or other children Covid;
  • Ensuring our staff and children practice good hygiene;
  • Making sure our spaces maximise ventilation; and;
  • Encouraging all members of our community to isolate and book a PCR test should they develop symptoms of the virus.

We are also asking all parents to encourage their children to test regularly and to report each result.

  • Up to one in three people who have COVID-19 can spread the virus without knowing. This is because they have no symptoms.We are therefore asking all parents to encourage their children to test twice weekly. 
  • This is particularly important in Year as in the last few days we have had 5 positive PCR cases. 
  • Your child is able to collect home test kits from their Form Tutor and bring them home with them – each week. Please ask your child if they have received these and help them to take the test and report their results. Testing is free of charge.
  • The tests will come with guidance in multiple languages on how to take the test. You can also see this useful video to show you how to take the test – tests usually take a few minutes to do and you get the results in 30 minutes. Then all you need to do is to report the result to:

Financial support is available if your child tests positive and you need to self-isolate

If you are unable to work due to your child having, or displaying symptoms of, COVID-19, you may be entitled to a one-off payment of £500 through the NHS Test and Trace Support Payment scheme if you are required to stay at home and self-isolate. 

You will be eligible if you live in England and meet all the following criteria:

  • you have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, including by the NHS COVID-19 app
  • you are employed or self-employed
  • you cannot work from home and will lose income as a result
  • you are claiming at least one of the following benefits:
    1. Universal Credit
    2. Working Tax Credits
    3. income-related Employment and Support Allowance
    4. income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
    5. Income Support
    6. Pension Credit or Housing Benefit

Information for schools on the 12 to 15 year old vaccination programme

We have been asked by the Department for Education to inform parents that NHS England will soon offer 12 to 15 year olds the opportunity to get their COVID-19 vaccine out-of-school, such as through vaccination centres.

As you will be aware, Covid-19 vaccinations happened in school this week for pupils who had parental consent. If any of these pupils were away (or had not consented by the deadline of Sunday) – we have been told to ask you to look out for a letter from the NHS with more information on the vaccination programme shortly, including information about how to book an appointment out-of-school. We have not been informed of any further in-school vaccinations at this current time.

More information can be obtained from the Wirral Immunisation Team on 0151 514 251 or Information about COVID-19 vaccines is also available on the NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/.

All pupils back on Monday 1st November.

Many thanks for your continued support and cooperation. I do hope you enjoy a restful half term break with your families.

Mr P McLoughlin
Interim Headteacher