Anglo European School
Bulletin
Normality may seem a dream at the moment. Certainly, the last few days presented us with immense challenges and we have had to make some very difficult decisions albeit with advice from Essex Test and Trace and their experts. We know this has been unsettling for all members of the Anglo family, staff, students and parents alike. Despite this, the feedback we have received has been really reassuring. Here is an example: "I just wanted to thank you for all the information and measures you have had to take in these unpredictable times, whilst having to teach and deal with all the everyday school matters. It can't be easy! Thank you for all your time and effort, it is very much appreciated."
A few parents have expressed concerns, many of which we share, we would urge you to read our risk assessment and the latest government advice before writing. There are times when we have to make a local decision but generally we try to act in accordance with published documents.
Thank you for working so constructively alongside us in these really unique and difficult times.
Looking back on the last few weeks there is much that we have learned and much that is positive. We all appreciate, and need, physical face-to-face contact. This is why it is so important that schools remain open for as long as it is possible and safe to do so. But the virtual world we currently inhabit has some benefit. Consider the following:
- Our annual "IB or A Level?" evening attracted over 100 participants as opposed to the 50-70 we have become used to.
- We have over 70 employers or Higher Education providers involved in our Careers Convention compared to 45 or so normally.
- Lunchtimes with their year group bubbles, food pods and the absence of football games are characterised by young people in conversation, many of them making full use of the 40 extra picnic tables that were purchased.
- No time-consuming and polluting journeys into London to attend meetings or training sessions.
- A successful Year 11 Parents' Evening with some lovely feedback from parents.
- Our first virtual Community Lecture with Sir Richard Jolly had over 300 views as opposed to 100 that have normally attended.
Looking ahead, the Sixth Form are planning new approaches to an annual Senior Citizens' Christmas Party which will involve delivering "goody bags" to far more 'guests' than the 60-80 people who, in past years, were able to attend the school party in the school hall. Our Music Department are also looking to deliver our annual Christmas Concert in a virtual format.
No-one can tell what the future might hold, although perhaps we can see a glimmer of light at the end of the Covid tunnel. Yet, it is incumbent on us all to look for opportunities to improve what we do. As Einstein said "in the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity".
Mr D Barrs/Mrs J Gee
Headteachers
Changes to dates of parents’ evenings, summer study leave and Year 10 PPE mocks
As many of you are aware, the Government has recently reiterated that the summer GCSE and A level examinations will continue as usual; however, they have moved the dates for these back three weeks so that there is a little more time to teach content and for the students to prepare for these examinations. We will have to wait to see how the rest of the academic year pans out and we obviously hope that there is little disruption to learning for our students and that we are in a good position to take those examinations. We also wait to hear from the government about the contingency plans for the summer. However, the immediate issue for us at the Anglo is that these changed GCSE and A level dates mean that there are a number of changes to the calendar.
Summer study leave
As the start of the A level examinations is now the 7th June and for the GCSE examinations is the 26th May (for the written papers – the practical examinations will start before this date), we have decided to move the start of study leave for these students. The dates for the IB examinations have not moved from their traditional position in the calendar at the start of May. Therefore, the last day in lessons for the respective cohorts are now as follows: U6th IB last day in lessons will be 23rd April; Year 11 students’ last day will be 25th May; U6th A level last day will be 27th May (the start of the half term).
Year 10 Preliminary Public Examinations (PPEs)
When we renamed the “mock” examinations as PPEs a year ago, we did not know that PPEs would come to mean something entirely different and be such a central part of our lives. We usually calendar the Year 10 PPEs at the end of the summer term to take place just after the end of the A levels and GCSEs. These PPEs take place in the Sports Hall, as do the public examinations, so we have to wait for Sports Hall to be available for the Year 10 students. With the GCSE and A levels now taking place three weeks later than usual, we do not have time at the end of term for these Year 10 PPEs to be sat by the students, then the teachers mark the papers and the results reported home. With this in mind, we have decided to move the Year 10 PPEs to take place between Wednesday 12th May to Friday 21st May. The exact dates may change once we know the exact lengths of the PPE papers and how many days of tests we need to timetable. We will send out more information nearer the time on these Year 10 PPEs.
Parents’ evenings
The change in the dates for the Year 10 PPEs also mean that the Year 10 parents’ evening needs to move in the calendar so that the parents’ evening happens approximately three weeks before the PPEs; then the teachers will be able to report on each students’ performance up to that point in the year and give suggestions for preparation for the PPEs.
We have also made the decision to move the Year 8 parents’ evening. When we constructed the calendar, we put all parents’ evenings in their traditional slot in the year; however, the Year 8 parents where the only cohort that did not have a parents’ evening last year (due to the lockdown). As such, if we kept the parents’ evening in April then they would have 5 terms in school without a parents’ evening. As such, we have decided to bring the Year 8 parents’ evening to January. We decided not to bring it further forward as there is a balance in the timing and too early in the year would mean that the teachers have little to report on the students.
With these changes taken into account, the date for the remaining parents’ evenings are as follows:
3rd December Upper 6th
7th January Lower 6th
14th January Year 8 x side
21st January Year 8 y side
28th January Year 9 x side
4th February Year 9 y side
25th March Year 7 x side
15th April Year 7 y side
22nd April Year 10
Two weeks ago we did the Year 11 parents’ evening using the Showbie application to post our comments and voice notes for the virtual evening. If you are a Year 11 parent and have not yet “attended” the evening then I would encourage you to do so, as the information will not be available for much longer. You have had all the information you need to access the parents’ evening via emails. The feedback that we have received from some Year 11 parents has been very encouraging and we thank you for telling us about your experience; as the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, we have decided to continue to use Showbie for the remaining parents’ evenings.
Mr M Seager
Deputy Headteacher
Reminders
Budgens/Co-op - Please be reminded that students are not to visit either of these two shops either before or after school. There is an agreement between the school and the local Parish Council to limit any close contact in these stores between students and members of the local community to reduce the chances of transmission and to allow for effective social distancing. We have increased our food outlet capacity in school to compensate.
Password Change - Due to some students now working remotely, it has been agreed to postpone the changing of passwords for a couple of weeks. We'll update students when this will happen in due course.
Key Dates
Thursday 26th November – Careers’ Convention Virtual Event - Live Q&A sessions
Thursday 26th November - Non-Pupil Day
Wednesday 2nd - Friday 4th December - Upper Sixth Theory of Knowledge Oral Exams
Thursday 3rd December - Upper Sixth Virtual Parents' Evening
Tuesday 8th - Thursday 17th December - Year 11 Preliminary Public Examinations
Thursday 10th December 16:00 - Anglo European Co-operative Trust AGM
Friday 11th December - Christmas Jumper Day
Friday 18th December - Last day of term, school finishes at 12.30pm
Monday 4th - Friday 15th January - Upper Sixth Preliminary Public Examinations
Senior Citizens' Christmas Appeal & Foodbank Appeal - collection dates 16th November to 5th December
Many thanks for all your donations so far, we are continuing to collect for:
- The Senior Citizens' Christmas Appeal - pre-wrapped food items, eg biscuits, cakes, individual mini jam pots, mini bottles of wine, Christmas crackers and items that can be wrapped as presents.
- The Foodbank Appeal - non-perishable goods such as pasta, tinned products etc.
Donations are to be brought to the outside of the Main Hall foyer where Sixth Form students will be waiting to collect these. All goods will be quarantined before distribution.
Thank you, in advance, for your kind generosity.
Sixth Form Community CAS Group
AM Music School
Monday - Year 7 Ukulele Ensemble (Mr Barden) and Y8 Ukulele Ensemble (Mr Saunders)
Tuesday - Year 7 Keyboard Ensemble (Mr Saunders) and Y8 Keyboard Ensemble (Mr Barden)
Wednesday - GCSE Music Ensembles (Year 10 (Mr Barden) and Year 11(Mr Saunders))
Thursday - Year 9 Mixed Ensemble (Mr Saunders)and Sixth Form Ensemble (Mr Barden)
Anglo European School Careers' Convention 2020
The AES Careers Convention 2020 has proved extremely popular, you can continue to view the 85 videos here. One Year 11 parent said that "this has given my son real focus and can envisage his future with more clarity. At this time, when they are deciding on Sixth Form and the way ahead, this has been timed perfectly and has been supportive in all his decision-making."
It is with regret that we find ourselves in the position of needing to postpone certain elements of the Careers Convention "live chats" this week. We are facing an ever-changing situation at school and this, coupled with the fact that a large number of the participating students wish to chat to a large number of employers, has meant we will stagger them over the coming weeks in order to maximise the opportunity and prevent clashes. We will provide more details directly with the students wishing to participate.
Cleaning Supervisor
Nightingale Cleaning are looking to recruit a Cleaning Supervisor / Day Cleaner to work at a School in Ingatestone.
Monday - Friday , 10.15am - 7.15pm. ( -1 hour unpaid lunch break)
Applicants must have previous experience, be reliable, a good time-keeper and trustworthy with the ability to use their own initiative.
Duties to include supervising a team of cleaners, dusting, vacuuming, mopping, emptying bins and other general cleaning tasks appropriate to the site.
Uniform provided.
Paid on a fortnightly basis.
DBS vetting required.
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: £11.50 per hour
Recipe to try at home
My ‘Proper Chicken Curry’ (serves 2)
I often cook this “winner winner chicken dinner”. It may take a little effort but it’s worth it, especially if you love a curry. The base of this curry uses whole spices to infuse the flavour into the gravy, with added masala to crank up the taste. You can add more or less spice/chillies according to how you enjoy it. Serve with naan, wraps, or rice. For extra flavour you can marinate the chicken using my Jeera chicken recipe from last week.
Happy Cooking – Mrs Prema-Gadhia
Ingredients
2 chicken breasts – washed & diced
1 tsp garam masala powder
2 bay leaves
1 tsp cumin powder
3 cloves
1 tsp coriander powder
2 cinnamon sticks
¾ tsp turmeric powder
1 black cardamom (or 2 green cardamom’s)
3 cloves garlic (minced)
2 tbsp oil
1 green chilli minced (add 2-3 more if you like it fiery!)
2 large onions diced finely
A thumb sized piece of ginger (minced)
2 tomatoes diced (skinned if you prefer)
½ tsp salt (or to taste)
Method:
1) In a heated pan, add the whole spices - cloves, cardamom, cinnamon stick and toast over a low heat for 2 minutes
2) Next, add the oil to the pan.
3) Add the onions and salt. Sauté over a medium heat until the onions begin to brown. (The onions should reduce down and soften – the browner the better).
4) Add the chopped tomatoes, along with the dry spices and garlic, chilli and ginger (mix together)
5) Cook for 10 minutes over a medium heat or until the tomatoes have mashed and all the ingredients combine together
6) Drop the diced chicken in, mix together and pour in a little water if required
7) Simmer for 10 minutes on a medium heat or until the chicken is cooked
Garnish with fresh coriander and enjoy
TERM DATES 2020/2021
Autumn Term
Wednesday 2nd September to Friday 18th December 2020
Thursday 26th November 2020 (non-pupil day)
Spring Term
Monday 4th January to Friday 26th March 2021
Half term: Monday 15th February to Friday 19th February 2021
Summer Term
Monday 12th April to Friday 16th July 2021
Half term: Monday 31st May to Friday 4th June 2021
Anglo Communication
Finance - finance@aesessex.co.uk
Attendance - attendance@aesessex.co.uk
Admissions - admissions@aesessex.co.uk
Email: enquiries@aesessex.co.uk
Website: aesessex.co.uk
Location: Anglo European School, CM4, Willow Green, Ingatestone, UK
Phone: 01277 354018
Facebook: facebook.com/angloeuropeanschool
Twitter: @angloeuropean73