Anglo European School
Bulletin
This week, we have been reflecting on how fortunate we have been to have had so little disruption to the curriculum this half term, in comparison to other schools, who have had to send groups of students home and have had many teachers absent. It is a tribute to our staff’s commitment, team work and resilience that we have been able to maximise teaching time for all our students, following such significant disruption previously. We are grateful for their support and sense of duty in ensuring students have felt supported and safe on their return to school.
This week, we’d like to pay tribute to our Year 11 students who have grasped the nettle of this term despite having so much of their GCSE course compromised last year. They have approached the start to the year with a real sense of determination, courage and self-belief. They have been focused, worked at a real pace, set themselves high expectations and have shown no sign of being overwhelmed by the prospect of the year ahead, despite the numerous changes proposed by exam boards and examination arrangements for 2021, which could have been very unsettling.
They are very tired; we can see that they need a rest, some respite and recuperation time next week. They all need a breathing space, some fresh air, exercise and time with their families. For so many of our students, the AA Milne quotation above resonates.
However, this week, as we observed their lessons, they were still preparing flashcards, learning quotations and vocabulary, preparing practice papers, completing essays and working out revision schedules for the PPEs in December.
In the coming term, teachers will be preparing them for these examinations; this will be a key milestone for them in assessing the impact of their hard work this term and we will soon be supporting them to make informed choices about their transition to the Sixth Form, colleges or apprenticeships. They have gained a sense of maturity, sense of their place in the world and a sense of where they might be heading on their future pathways. It wasn’t that long ago, they were eating croissants and pain au chocolate with us in Ebblinghem. Time for a “Haven’t they grown…!” moment!
Mr D Barrs/Mrs J Gee
Headteachers
Essex Moving to Local Covid Alert Level: High
We are reiterating our message sent last week to inform you that Essex County Council’s request, to the Secretary of State for Health, to move Essex into the Local COVID Alert Level: High, in order to stem the rising tide of infections in our county, has been approved and will come into effect across Essex at midnight on Friday 16th October.
The move for Essex into the High Local Alert Level means no change to the current education provision in Essex. It is still of the utmost importance that all children can attend school safely, to support their wellbeing and education and it is intended that all education settings remain fully open.
However, one change, which has been imposed, concerns the wearing of face masks in school. In education settings where Year 7 and above are educated, face coverings should be worn by adults (staff and visitors) and pupils when moving around indoors, such as in corridors and communal areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
We will expect students to follow this instruction to wear face masks:-
· for the duration of their journey to and from school if they catch a bus or train
· as they enter the school building at the beginning of the day
· whenever they are moving around inside the school building and in shared spaces (e.g. in corridors at lesson changeover and in the sixth form area)
As stated previously, face masks must be purpose made (not face coverings, such as scarves) and they must be plain white, pale blue, navy blue or black in colour.
Students can remove face masks whilst eating and drinking in their designated dining areas, during lessons, when outside during break times and once they have left the school building at the end of the day.
Exemptions to this rule apply and no-one will be excluded from education on the grounds that they are not wearing a face covering. If you believe there is a medical, or any other significant reason, why your child should not wear a face mask, then please provide them with a note explaining their particular circumstances. Your child will then be issued with an exemption card which they will carry with them in the blazer pocket to show staff who may challenge them. Failure to wear a face mask, unless permitted by an exemption card, will be treated in the same way as other uniform infringements.
Our ambition is to continue to provide our students with a high-quality education in order to support them to make the best possible progress. To do this, we need to keep the school open for as long as we can and as many students as possible in school at all times. Thank you for your continued support.
Reminders
Parking
We have received a number of calls from local residents who are concerned that parents are still parking inconsiderately at the end of the school day. In some cases, members of the public are unable to get out of their drive and are being forced to walk into the road. Please could we reiterate our message from earlier in the year when we asked parents to park considerately when collecting their children from school and consider parking further up the road to avoid heavy congestion in the immediate vicinity of the school. Thank you.
Key Dates
Monday 2nd November - U6th IB English Mock Oral Exam
Tuesday 3rd November - Year 11 component 1 - Drama practical
Thursday 5th November - Year 11 Parents' Evening (via Showbie)
Monday 16th November - U6th ToK mock presentations
Thursday 26th November - Non-Pupil Day
SPORTS HALL ATHLETICS COMPETITION
Take part in a competition against students in your year group at Anglo AND virtually against other schools in the Mid Essex Area
When:
11th November after school 3.45-4.15pm – Year 7
12th November lunchtime 12.45-1.15pm – Year 8
(in uniform with trainers or get changed)
Come along and get involved. There are various roles that you can do:
1. Be a leader/official at one of the activities
2. Be a recorder of the results
3. Be a competitor - individually and also compete with a partner against other pairs of students in the following events:
STANDING VERTICAL JUMP – standing upwards jump
STANDING LONG JUMP – from 2 feet to 2 feet jump
SPEED BOUNCE – 30secs over the speed bounce wedge
CHEST PUSH – 2 handed push of a 2kg ball from chest
SHUTTLE RUN – 10 x 10m shuttle runs
There will be a leader board of top 10 boys/girls individuals and pairs
Brilliant Club 2020
Twelve Year 9 students will be taking part in the Brilliant Club this year (part of the Scholars' Programme) where they will be working with Emily Hull, a PhD student from the Institute of the Americas at University College London on a project about the Conservative Revolution in the USA. They had their first session today and they all asked very insightful questions and had excellent discussions. Emily even said that some of their contributions were better than those of first-year undergraduates!
Exams 2021
Please find below the link to the government announcement that exams will now run 7 June 2021 - 2 July 2021.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/students-to-be-given-more-time-to-prepare-for-2021-exams
This will mean that results will now be scheduled for the following dates:
Upper Sixth A level results - 24th August
Year 11 GCSE results - 27th August
Message from the Sixth Form
Study Club
The Main School Library also hosts the school’s Study Club This unique resource is open to all pupils every day before school from 8am, during lunch time and after school until 5pm / https://www.aesessex.co.uk/students/library-and-study-club/
One parent commented "Thanks for continuing to provide the Study Club facility during the pandemic. It's invaluable as it allows my son to have the option for doing his homework and gives me more flexibility as to the timing for when I collect him from school. This has helped me juggle two kids (at different schools) yet both are able to continue with their after school clubs."
If you wish your child to use the Study Club facilities we would appreciate a donation so that we can continue to offer this valuable service. This can be paid through ParentPay.
STEAM Photographic Competition
CSES is running a Centenary Photographic Competition open to primary and secondary students in Essex as part of the STEAM festival. Students are invited to take and submit photographs which capture what is unique or special about science and technology from across our amazing county. https://www.chelmsfordses.org.uk/schools/248
Laptops
Please let us know if you or your employer has a laptop that is no longer being used as we would be grateful to be able to continue to provide laptops for students without access to the appropriate IT in their home environment.
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)
Careers Convention
Can you help us inspire the next generation? We are holding our annual Careers Convention virtually this year and are asking professionals from all walks of life to record short videos & potentially attend a "live" Q&A session about their careers /professions /organisations /institutions - let us know if you can help.
Half Term Opportunities
Recipes to try at home
Bombay Potatoes - by Mrs Prema-Gadhia
A classic dish found in many restaurants and eaten in many Indian homes across the world – celebrate (belated) National Curry Week (05/10/20 – 11/10/20)
Here’s what you need for my authentic recipe (serves 2)
Ingredients:
· 500g new potatoes (halved)
· 1 ½ tbsp sunflower oil
· ½ tsp black mustard seeds
· ¼ tsp fenugreek seeds
· Pinch of asafoetida
· 1 green chilli - split (deseed for less heat)
· 4-5 curry leaves (optional – can be found in Indian supermarkets)
· 1 tsp ginger minced
· 1 tsp minced green or red chilli
· ½ tsp minced garlic
Method
· ⅛ tsp turmeric powder
· ¼ tsp cumin powder
· ¼ tsp coriander powder
· Salt (to taste)
Garnish – chopped fresh coriander and a squeeze of lemon
1. Add the oil to a heated pan
2. Once the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, asafoetida, split green chilli and curry leaves – allow the seeds to crackle and pop
3. Add the potatoes* and stir, covering them in the ingredients above
4. Add the minced chilli, ginger, garlic and salt – mix together
5. Cover and cook for 5 mins on a medium heat
6. Open the lid – add the turmeric, cumin and coriander powders – combine all the ingredients together
7. Cover and cook for a further 20-25mins over a low to medium heat, stirring occasionally (if you find the potatoes become dry, sprinkle some water over them and put the lid back on the pan). The steam will help cook the potatoes.
Garnish with freshly chopped coriander, a drizzle of lemon, and enjoy!
*Speed up the process by parboiling the potatoes beforehand!
TERM DATES 2020/2021
Autumn Term
Wednesday 2nd September to Friday 18th December 2020
Half term Monday 26th—Friday 30th October 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