Headteacher's Newsletter
November 2021
Welcome Back
Welcome back to the second part of the Autumn Term, I hope you all had a lovely week during the half term break.
We really have hit the ground running this academic year and the vast majority of our students have taken being back in school in their strides and are making up for all that lost time during the last couple of years. I've been particularly delighted by the activites I have seen taking place outside of lessons, and want to say thank you to my staff for putting on so many extra curricular clubs for our students. Please talk to your child and encourage them to join some of our clubs and activities beyond the curriculum; there is plenty on offer.
I also wanted to say well done to our Year 11 and 13 students who have been sitting their Pre Public Examinations (PPE's), over the last few weeks. They have been working very hard in preparation for these exams and they will serve as a check point in time for us to help appropriately target our interventions, so that all students are successful at the end of this academic year.
There is, as always, a lot of important information in this newsletter. Thank you for taking the time to read it and I hope you find it useful.
Yours sincerely
Daniel Leonard
Headteacher
Changes to the PE Department
Mr D'Silva and Miss Huggins are well established, outstanding members of the Department who have given a tremendous amount of time and energy to the school over a number of years. I have every confidence that they will continue to build upon the strong basis that Mrs Reid, supported by Mr D'Silva previously as 2nd in Department, have developed, and help the PE Department to continue to thrive in the future.
Sixth Form Open Evening
When our students join the school in Year 7 we expect them to be with us for seven years, progressing on to higher education or work at the end of Year 13. We offer a wide range of courses and opportunities for our Sixth Form students to develop both academically and personally. Our Open Evening is on Thursday 25th November at 6pm and we hope to see many of our Year 11 families there, so we can help you to understand a bit more about Sixth Form life at West Hatch and what we have to offer.
Please note students will finish school at 1.05pm (1.15pm for Yr.7 and 8) on the 25th November to allow Departments to prepare for the evening.
Religious Holidays
As you know our students have missed a considerable amount of time in school over the last few years and we need to ensure they attend regularly and are therefore able to learn and make progress. Attendance is an absolute priority for the school this year and our new attendance officer, Mrs Mustafa is working tirelessly to maintain our excellent levels of attendance. With this in mind I am writing to confirm that moving forwards and in line with our policy in place for staff, we will only be authorising one day off for religious observance per occasion, therefore if a religious holiday lasts for two days then only the first day will be an authorised absence.
Social Media Use
Please remind your child that we do not permit public social media groups affiliated to West Hatch and if your child chooses to use the West Hatch name to endorse content they will be sanctioned, this also includes accepting invites to such a group and becoming a bystander to any abuse on the app. Please make sure you have in place monitoring processes for your child's social media activity. As a parent myself I understand this is difficult to do, but our children are being provided with often uncensored, access to a range of inappropriate information, as well as being drawn into situations through social media that they would not involve themselves in, outside of this vehicle. Social media is a powerful, dangerous part of ours and our children's lives and as parents we hold responsibility to ensure they understand how to use it appropriately and how they should be treating others online.
Piercings
Parent Voice
West Hatch believe strongly in the importance of the relationship between parents and the school and Parent Voice provides the chance for parents to feel part of important decisions relating to the school and their children’s education. The meetings are chaired by the Headteacher, and it is a wonderful opportunity to really feel a part of West Hatch.
The next meeting will take place on Monday 22nd November at 6.30pm virtually and if you would like to attend then please email my PA, Louise Chittock on lchittock@westhatch.net and she will add you to our mailing list.
Parent and Friends Association
Year 12 National Art Gallery Trip
Our Head of Art, Mr Hanley and Miss Cowie took a trip to the world-renowned National Art Gallery in London, with some of our Yr.12 students. They watched a live art life drawing class and listened to some art history talks. They were also able to see famous paintings first hand from some of the best and most famous painters in the world to help them with their own work. They also saw the body awareness display ‘The Real Catwalk’, celebrating positive body image, which they were told is being made into a BBC documentary. Both Mr Hanley and Miss Cowie said "that extracurricular trips are among the most memorable days at school and it was lovely to see pupils getting inspiration and enjoying the cultural activities in London."
Food Bank Donations
A big thank you to those famlies that helped support the Harvest Festival Donation last Term. The charity 3Food4U works in partnership with schools and churches across the Epping Forest District assigning vulnerable families with donations without the need for any burdensome paperwork, referral or assessment. 3Food4U were really impressed with our School Council for organising the event and Ms McGrath, in charge of the group said: “It makes me very proud of our West Hatch Students for stepping up and making a difference in the community.”
Epping Forest Youth Councillor - Aliza Zarras
Well done to Aliza who has received a Jack Petchey award for her contribution to the community and the Youth Council project work. Diane Butler from Epping Forest Council said that "since joining the Youth Council in March 2020 Aliza has grown in confidence and has excelled in all that she does. She takes on new challenges with ease and confidence and she is kind and supportive to her fellow Youth Councillors. Aliza is an excellent youth ambassador and Epping Forest District are proud and honoured to have Aliza Zarras on the Youth Council."
The Epping Forest Youth Council is fast approaching its fourteenth year and Youth Elections will take place next year in March 2022.
Student Leadership at West Hatch
Visit to the Stock Exchange
West Hatch was honoured to visit the London Stock Exchange, as part of World Investor Week; joining the World Federation of Exchanges to ‘Ring the Bell for Financial Literacy’. World Investor Week saw almost 80 exchanges globally taking part in a range of events, throughout the week, aimed at highlighting the importance of financial literacy. Students had the opportunity to hear about the work which goes on at the London Stock Exchange and the impact this has both nationally and globally. They also spoke to several employees and were able to ask about their routes into the industry and the challenges of their jobs. A particular honour was given to one of the students, Jaina, when she was asked to officially open the Exchange a much-coveted task, reserved for VIPs. There was also the honour, for Joshua, to sign the London Stock Exchange’s visitors book, on behalf of West Hatch High School.
Year 8 Target Team Success at the Boccia Competition
Well done to our Year 8 Target Team who recently took part in a District Boccia Competition at Debden Park High School and made it through to the County Finals. Our Year 8's competed against other schools in the local area with Shabaan, Youcef & Zayyan taking the first place and earning the Gold Standard on behalf of the School. Miss Pearce, our LSA in charge of the Target Team commented that "the team all worked really hard on the day and their behaviour and team spirit was something they should all be proud of; we look forward to taking them to the counties later in the year."
The Grand Opening of Jenna's Garden
Jenna, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 21 and died aged 25, had studied at West Hatch, and after university returned to the school to work as a Learning Support Assistant with the ambition to qualify as an English teacher. Members of Jenna's family, her school friends and West Hatch staff gathered for the opening.
Year 9 Sports Leaders
Our Year 9 Sports Leaders have been busy working with the local primary schools helping run various KS2 Sporting Events. Mr Hoy took our Year 9 girls to a local primary school where they helped organise a SEN football tournament, and our Year 9 boys helped out at the West Essex District 5 aside tournament at Shooters Academy. They all did a superb job, whether time keeping, refereeing or supporting the KS2 pupils that were taking part. Well done to all our Sports Leaders who are pictured below.
Year 9 Consequences Workshop
Our Year 9's this week were involved in a number of workshops hosted by Epping Forest District Council’s Community, Health and Wellbeing Team, Arc Theatre and Spark 2 Life. The aim was for our students to learn about the impact of their decisions and actions they take. Topics covered included healthy relationships and consent, and former offenders shared their personal stories about abusive home lives, criminal activity and growing up with gangs. They talked about prison life and the consequences of their crimes, and also about being reformed by the restorative projects such as Spark 2 Life. Thank you to Mrs Sharma, Head of Year 9 for organising the event who said "the students were engaging and really enjoyed participating in the workshops."
Important Dates for the Diary
Parent Events
Thursday 11th November - Year 10 Parents Evening online
Thursday 18th and Friday 19th November - Year 7 Aspirations Day (Online event)
School Closures
Monday 8th November - CPD Day - school closed to students
Thursday 25th November - early finish for students at 13.05 (13.15 for Yr.7 & 8)
Thursday 9th December - CPD Day - school closed to students
Tuesday 4th January - CPD Day - school closed to students
Friday 17th December - End of Term - School closes at 13:05 (13:15 for Yr.7 and 8)
Spring Term begins for students on Wednesday 5th January
Other School Events:
Thursday 25th November - Sixth Form Open EveningOur Students' Achievements
County Netball Trials
Well done to Felicity in Year 7 and Ava-Grace in Year 8 who took part in the County Netball Trials and were successful in making the team. Felicity made it through to the U13 Essex County Netball Team and Ava impressed them so much that she was automatically moved to the U15 team . Her netball team have also recently qualified to play in The England Youth Premier League. Her aim next year is to make The Pulse U15 pathway team.
Dylan Kotecha - Yr.9
Well done to Dylan who ran 10k in the 'Cancer Research Summer Run' in London and raised £211 for Cancer Research.
Charlie Hayward - Yr.7
Charlie competed in an Essex County Swimming Qualifier at Basildon Sports Village last month where he managed to set three PB’s in 50m Freestyle, 100 Freestyle and 50m Backstroke. He has now qualified for the Essex Champs next year. Well done Charlie.
Harrison Fraser - Yr.7
Harrison Fraser was awarded Man of the Match in the school team match against Ongar Academy where he scored the winning goal. Well done Harrison.
Aras Majauskis - Yr.7
Aras has recently taken up Go Karting and he competed in his first race last month and placed second. Well done Aras.
Raynon Kwaramba - Yr.7
Raynon recently attended the Pineapple Dance Studios to auditon for the role of Michael Jackson. He unfortunately didn't get the part but did make it to the semi-finals. He continues to work on his acting, singing and dancing skills. Keep up the great work Raynon.
Evie Gold - Yr.7
Congratulations to Evie who celebrated her Bat Mitzvah last month. Evie studied Jewish history for 6 months and performed a presentation about everything she has learnt in front of all her friends and family along with the Rabbi of the synagogue. In Jewish law she is now responsible for all her actions and is classed as an adult.
Richard King - Yr.8
Richard was casted by a film production company in London last month to appear in a short film called " Value Education, Value Educators" for National Education Union UK. The film highlights how important schools and teachers are to children, young people and society especially during the Covid -19 Pandemic. Richard felt privileged to be offered the opportunity to be part of this great cause. If you would like to view the video then please click on the YouTube link
Noureen Ikram - Yr.8
Adrain James - Yr.13
Well done to Adrain who has been selected to play rugby in the Dubai International 7s Tournament next month. During the tournament his team the Lions 7, are set to play Georgia, Belgium and Russia. We look forward to hearing how his team gets on. Good luck Adrain.
Amaan Mohammad - Yr.13
Amaan has been entered for the England National Youth Boxing Championships 2021.He has been boxing since he was 11 and his past achievements include becoming “Junior National Champion” twice. He is now 17 so will enter the Youth Competition for the first time. We wish him the best of luck.