Metropole News
Bulletin #06 16-17 | GEMS Metropole School, Motor City
From the Principal's desk ...
Dear Parents,
As this academic year slowly comes to a halt, there are several final housekeeping items which need to be resolved for this academic year and some specific items to be forthcoming before we commence our next academic year here at Metropole.
2016-2017 Academic Year
Last Day of 2016-2017 Academic Year
Please note : Thursday June 22nd will be the last day of term this academic year. Students will be dismissed at 12:30. Parents, please make the necessary arrangements to collect your child(ren) from school at this time.
Following on from this, on behalf of the staff and Local Advisory Board, I would like to wish you all Eid Mubarak and a restful and safe summer period.
Leaving Staff
On behalf of the Metropole family, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all staff members who have decided to move on in their careers next year and thank them sincerely for their tireless work in serving the Metropole community. We wish them well on their continued journey in education. Please see below, a letter of farewell from Mr John, our school's Vice Principal who will be leaving us for greener pastures.
New Appointments for Next Academic Year
Following on from our first round of leadership interviews, I am delighted to congratulate the following staff members on their respective appointments. It should be noted that the calibre and quality of all interviewees has been extremely high and therefore made these decisions extremely difficult.
Please join with me and congratulate the following staff members:
Whole School Leadership Appointments
Sara Hedger - Vice Principal (Effective Learning)
(UK Appointment) - Vice Principal (Student Achievement)
Jumana Shehadeh - Principal of Multicultural Learning
Primary School Appointments
Jan Steel - Associate Principal/Acting Head of Primary
Peter Nash - Deputy Head of Primary
Louna Oertel - Foundation Stage Phase Leader
Siobhán Scanlan - Foundation Stage Assistant Phase Leader (Student Achievement)
Kate Marshall - Foundation Stage Assistant Phase Leader (Effective Learning)
Emily Smith - KS1 Assistant Phase Leader (Student Achievement)
Rachel Sinclair - Lower KS2 Phase Leader (Y3 & Y4)
Sasha Crawley - Upper KS2 Phase Leader (Y5 & Y6)
Rachel Day - KS2 Assistant Phase Leader (Student Achievement)
Sarah Polley - KS2 Assistant Phase Leader (Behaviour for Learning)
Secondary School Appointments
Maya Vaghela - Deputy Head of Secondary
Mark McAdam - Deputy Head of Secondary
Rachael Horne - Leader of English
Saiqah Amin - Digital Media Leader
Tejal Bhatt - Key Stage 3 Coordinator
Michael Brady - Year 7 Head of Year
Candice Strange - Year 8 Head of Year
Elise Norman Hunkin - Year 9 Head of Year
Kevin Conlon - Year 10 Head of Year
Mannie Sahota - Year 11 Head of Year
Suggestion of Middle Years (Year 6 and Year 7)
After recent conversations about the inclusion of a Middle School, we believe it is in the best interest of the students not to proceed with this next academic year. Student progress and transition in Year 6 and Year 7 will be closely monitored by all relative teachers and Heads of Year to ensure accelerated progress and a smooth transition for students.
2017-2018 Academic Year
Term One 2017
The 2017-2018 academic year commencement dates:
- September 5th AM: - New parents and students Year 1 to Year 11 Induction Morning
- September 5th PM: - Returning parents and students Year 1 to Year 11 "Meet the Teacher"
- September 6th: All Year 1 to Year 11 students resume school
- September 12th: First day of Foundation Stage students - Details to be shared
Foundation Stage 1 & Foundation Stage 2: Soft start from 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM. This is a change to existing timings. Bus students will arrive between 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM and will be supervised until they are able to go to their classroom.
Year 1 - Year 11: Drop off from 7:30 AM with a hard start 7:55 AM. Any student arriving after this time will be considered late and will be subject to the new attendance and tardiness policy.
Morning Gate Times
Gates: 3, 4, 5 & 6: Open at 7:25 AM
Gates: 3, 4, 5 & 6: Close at 8:15 AM
Gates 1 & 2 Open at 7:00 AM
Afternoon Gate Times
Gates: 4, 5 & 6: Open at 2:15 PM
Gates: 4, 5 & 6: Close at 3:15 PM
Parent/Guardian Lanyards
As a reminder to all parents, if you still have not received your yellow lanyard, identifying you as a MTS Parent. Please contact Miss Dina (d.morsi_mts@gemsedu.com) at your earliest convenience as parent lanyards will be mandatory for all parents to wear while on school premises next academic year.
Non-Negotiables
I would like to repeat a section from a previous Newsletter explaining our new set of non-negotiables. As from the very beginning of next academic year, these non-negotiables will form the very foundation for us as a whole school to ensure we are all working together on our journey to be an outstanding school.
They will serve as a reminder on how we talk to each other, respect all, dress for success and outwardly display the ethos and school spirit we have come to know as the ‘Metropole Way’.
They have been established for all stakeholders - students, staff and parents alike to abide by. These non-negotiable are to serve as a reminder of our joint responsibility toward making our school outstanding.
Metropole Non-Negotiables
- Loyalty to MTS vision and mission
- Attendance - Students are expected to achieve a minimum of 98% attendance through the school year
- Timekeeping - MTS exhibits zero tolerance for lateness.
- Dress Code, tidiness and hygiene - Students = correct uniform. Staff/Parents/Visitors = smart & respectful
- Respect to the school environment, equipment and property - Keep it tidy and treat it with respect.
- Student/Parent/Teacher ID - To be worn at all times whilst on the school premises.
- Tolerance and Respect for all
- Social Media responsibility - By not posting or publishing media or disclosing information or photos on websites or social media without the prior consent of the school, or any attempt to deface the school in public.
- Seeking the proper channel of communication - by respecting the school’s hierarchy.
- Confidentiality - of students, parents and employees' records and information.
iPads for all Primary Students
Next academic year we have made a significant change to the “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) policy here at Metropole and will introduce an innovative and superior integration of technology to our vision. All students from Year 1 to Year 6 are required to purchase their “iPad Bundle” through our recommended vendor.
The benefits of Metropole's 1:1 iPad programme are numerous. The programme:
- Informs and involves parents and provides a real-time, interactive window into their child’s learning
- Places the learning in the hands of the student; promoting continuation, extension and application of learning anywhere, anytime
- Enables the development of life-long learning skills
- Provides accessibility to people, places and experiences otherwise unimaginable
- Provides personal choice in how students access, organise, apply and present learning
Additionally, your child's iPad will be enrolled into a Mobile Device Management programme (MDM). This means that we will be able to help your child manage the device while they are at school with regards to pushing and removing bulk-purchased apps, security and content.
JTRS is an IT solutions company and Metropole’s preferred provider and will directly manage the sale, delivery and setup of the device in your child’s name under the school’s MDM. They have sourced the iPads and other requirements as per our specifications for a very good price. (NB: that Metropole requests you purchase direct from JTRS and will make no financial gain from the purchase.)
Please note that at this time of year, Apple stocks are in very high demand and therefore in order to ensure delivery for the start of the school year, it is imperative you order immediately. Please see the link for further clarification and instructions on how to order - https://www.smore.com/8bzrx
During the first weeks of school, parents and students will be asked to attend a presentation which will clearly outline expectations for acceptable use and asked to sign our ‘Acceptable Use Agreement’ prior to receiving your iPad.
Should you require any additional information about the the BOYD programme please contact Nithin Thomas by email - n.thomas_mts@gemsedu.com
Bags and Library Bags
Next year students will be asked to bring their books and belongings to school in a backpack. Trolley bags will no longer be permitted. For further information about selecting the correct school bag for your child, please refer to the following link - https://www.smore.com/gwkcu
Library bags will also be a requirement for all Primary students. They will be available for purchase for students to ensure books are kept clean and intact.
School Policies Under Review
Next academic year at MTS, whilst adhering to the new 10 Non-Negotiables, we will also see some subtle changes to a number of policies. Two such policies that have been reviewed are:
- The Attendance & Tardiness Policy
- The School Discipline Policy
The changes to these documents will impact all students and parents. At the beginning of the new school year, all stakeholders will be briefed about the changes. I look forward to your support to ensure your child(ren) follow the revised guidelines.
Teacher of the Month in April was Claire Taylor
Teacher of the Month in May was Adrian Strooberg
Adrian has been working very hard this year to change his style of teaching to be more engaging and has created many opportunities for pupils in Business Management. The move to a facilitator has made a big difference in his classes and pupils are working very well. He recently offered and ran a PD session called ‘Facilitation’ for other specialist staff. The feedback from this was very positive.
Teacher of the Month in June is Jessica Brown
Farewell from Mr John Hughes - Vice Principal
When you all return to MTS after the summer break, I will have left Metropole to prepare for the opening of GEMS Vertus School in September 2018. Obviously, I am excited about this great opportunity and the new challenges it will bring.
Having said that, it will be difficult for me to leave MTS and our amazing school community.
Over the last three years, we have created something amazing, doubling in size year on year, whilst still providing our students with a welcoming, caring first class learning environment.
To all of the staff, past and present, I say thanks you for your hard work, creativity and good humour. You made coming to work a pleasure and my job easier than it should have been.
To the SLT, I thanks you for your support, advice and comradeship, which I will always treasure.
I thank our parents for demonstrating to the world that education truly is a partnership between home and school.
Most of all, I thank our creative, energetic, thoughtful, kind and resilient students. You made every day worthwhile and I look forward to hearing stories of your future achievements and successes.
Finally, I thank my wife, Alice, for being here with me.
John Hughes
Vice Principal
Skills 21 After School Activity Opportunity
Dear Parents,
I am excited to extend this invitation to enroll your child in Skills 21. This is the second year the company will be running this innovative programme that nurtures 21st-century skills in children. In the first year we saw our Skills 21 graduates flourish as their skills, abilities, and confidence developed. One of a 'Skills 21' Year 8 students confirmed this when he said “Before Skills 21 I had no idea I had these strengths and skills within me”.
Skills 21 will run during Term One as part of our ASA programme. During this time your child will have the chance to develop a range of behavioural, social, and emotional competencies, including creativity, collaboration, communication, persistence, critical thinking, and self-management. All skills beneficial to academic learning, as well as life beyond school. The Skills 21 method of delivery creates a learning experience that is engaging, entertaining, and educational. The programme uses gamification and immersion to not only teach your child about the skills but also to let them practice the skills in real time and in real situations.
The programme will be taught on campus by their teachers over 10-week period. For more information on Skills 21 please www.arcskills21.com.