Nearly There
This week has been all about preparations. Preparations for the return to school of our pupils; for the assessments this term and next needed for the ‘TAGs’ (teacher assessment grades) which will take the place of examinations for this year’s GCSE and A-level cohorts; for lateral flow testing of nearly 1,000 people over three days. We have had to deep clean the site and get our classrooms, social spaces, outdoor areas, tents, and shipping container wash-stations all back to full readiness (all having suffered somewhat through the stormy winter months).
Today, these arrangements will be finalised and perfected, as teachers take the opportunity of the moved Inset Day to prepare their classrooms and lesson plans for the return of live teaching.
But these arrangements have not stopped the bustle of normal KES activity this week, as we have held careers events, parents’ evenings and ‘virtually’ hosted some wonderful children’s authors as part of our celebration of World Book Day.
But come next week, the work of this week will all be worthwhile.
Welcome back, one and all. We are nearly there. We are looking forward to seeing you in person.
Neal Parker
Head
Neal Parker
@HeadKESSoton
Whole School Notices
Lateral Flow Testing
Once the pupils have been tested on return to school the Department for Education have asked all schools to test all pupils twice more with tests set 3 to 5 days apart. On these occasions pupils will be issued with a time slot to attend their test and will be excused from their lesson for about 5 minutes. We do not need to ‘hold’ the whole year group in one area as they will have already tested negative. The schedule for testing is shown below.
After we have completed all the tests on Friday 19 March, pupils in the First to Fourth Year and Lower Sixth will receive a pack of self-test kits. These will be distributed during an additional group base at 3.40pm so that the pupils receive their test kit and go straight home. Please can parents check they have their kits and are kept safe. Pupils should then test themselves twice weekly.
As the Fifth Year and Upper Sixth have assessments from Tuesday 16 March, we will not be able to complete a third test for these year groups. Therefore, they will be issued with their self -testing kits on Friday 12 March and we would ask the students to undertake a home test on the evening of Monday 15 March.
Testing remains voluntary but we would encourage all pupils to take part to help prevent the risk of transmission from anyone who may be asymptomatic.
AM | PM | |
---|---|---|
Thursday 11 March | Fifth Year | Upper Sixth |
Friday 12 March | Fourth Year | First Year |
Monday 15 March | Lower Sixth | Second Year |
Tuesday 16 March | Third Year | Lower Sixth |
Wednesday 17 March | Fourth Year | First Year |
Thursday 18 March | Second Year | |
Friday 19 March | Third Year | Period 6 shortened to finish at 3.40pm then group base. Home test kits issued. |
Critical Worker Children
Any pupil who will be attending the critical worker provision on Monday and Tuesday next week should note that they must be in school uniform, go to the top floor of the Library (not the Sixth Form Concourse) and a school lunch will be provided.
School Lunch Arrangements Reminder
The deadline for changes to school lunch arrangements for the Summer Term is 4pm Friday 12 March 2021. It will not be possible to meet requests that arrive after the deadline. Please email dinners@kes.hants.sch.uk giving the pupil's name, tutor group, and the change intended. Any request using the above email will have their request acknowledged. No action is required if arrangements are to continue as at present.
OBNO Uniform - A message from the PTA
Should your son or daughter have grown out of any element of their uniform in the last few months, please note that OBNO are now able to take orders remotely via their online store. All A-grade quality stock can be purchased from their website here. Order received before 9pm Thursday will be sorted and then left in reception for your child to collect from the following Monday. OBNO still have other stock that is not on the website and they keep a waiting list for items in demand, so if you can't see what you are looking for, please email. Additionally, please consider donating your used uniform to OBNO, as this helps the PTA raise funds; helping families source more affordable uniform solutions, whilst doing your part towards reducing waste and improving sustainability. Please get in touch at PTA-OBNO@kes.hants.sch.uk
First Year Notices
Language Options
Parents of First Year pupils are advised that a letter from Dr Waymark regarding language options for next year can be found here. The online options form, to be completed by Friday 19 March, can be accessed here.
Second Year Notices
Subject Options
Parents of Second Year pupils are reminded that the deadline for completing options choices for next year is Friday 12 March. The online options form can be accessed here.
Third Year Notices
No notices this week
Fourth Year Notices
No notices this week
Fifth Year Notices
Assessment Timetable
The March 2021 assessment timetables are available on the school intranet, which can be accessed here. Pupils will be given an individual copy of the timetable when they return to school next week.
Lower Sixth Notices
Parents’ Higher Education Evening Reminder
Thursday 11 March, at 6pm.
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82601208560?pwd=VkovMmxhVnlWZGhEU2RMWTZ5M2l3UT09
Meeting ID: 826 0120 8560, Passcode: KES-HE
This meeting is for parents only; students need not attend. We hope you will be able to join us.
Upper Sixth Notices
Assessment Timetable
The March 2021 assessment timetables are available on the school intranet, which can be accessed here. Pupils will be given an individual copy of the timetable when they return to school next week.
World Book Week at KES
In celebration of World Book Day, the Library Manager and Library Assistant put together a week-long itinerary of activities and events.
Students were invited to join virtual author visits from Chris Bradford, Ali Sparkes and Matt Dickinson. A Big Book Quiz was hosted by Ms Speck on Wednesday, and on Thursday, First Year and Lower School students read a book in a day.
KES Art Competition
The KES Art department launched an art competition in January, inspired by David Attenborough's 'Take Action Through Art Competition'. Art has a vital role to play in both imagining and building a better future and students were invited to present a reimagined future where we celebrate and protect nature. The full brief can be found here.
We were delighted that so many students participated and submitted artwork in response to the competition. Presented below are the winners and the shortlisted students that showed both artistic skill and had carefully considered how to present the environmental concerns in their work. We also accepted entries that showed appreciation of the beauty of our natural planet. We hope you enjoy looking at the artwork as much as we did!
KES Library Literary Review
This week's issue of the KES Literary Review is here!
Each week the newsletter features guest reviewers to share their opinions on recent or favourite reads. Click on the images below to read the newsletter in PDF format.
SPORTS FIXTURES
After school sport
After school sports practice will resume, as soon as each respective year group is back in school and has been tested. The full practice schedule can be found here.
Saturday sport
The sports department are delighted to be offering students the following sports sessions on 13 and 20 March. With no fixtures to prepare for these are not compulsory, but we do hope that as many students as possible will take the opportunity to get out and be active.
Hockey
Hill Lane
U12: 9 -10.15
U13: 10.15- 11.30
U14: 11.30- 12.45
Wellington
U15: 9 - 10.15
U16: 10.15 - 11.30
Sixth Form: 11.30 12.45
Netball
Wellington
U12: 11 - 12.30
U13: 9.30 -11
Hill Lane
U14: 11.30 - 12.30
U15: 10.30 - 11.30
U16: 9.30 - 10.30
Sixth Form: 9.30 - 10.30
KEY DATES
Friday 5 March - Deadline for GCSE subject choices (Third Year)
Thursday 11 March - Lower Sixth Higher Education Evening
Friday 26 March - Last day of Term