CCSA Founding Families Update - 17th December 2021
Merry Christmas to the entire CCSA community! Thank you so much for all the hard work, commitment and support you have given throughout our very first term together.
So many of our students have already shown that they have such tremendous God given potential. So many of our students already embody our values as Church school and our mission to learn, flourish and celebrate truth every day. I want to take this opportunity to thank all those students who have done this throughout the term. They deserve to succeed, and they have earned what I hope will be a restful and joyful break.
This week we’ve been reminding students to stay safe over the holiday break, to help others make the most of this time of celebration, and to give what they can, or give their time, to those less fortunate than themselves.
We look forward to welcoming our students back to school on Thursday 6th January 2022 at 8.45am.
Please take the time to carefully read through the updates below.
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Headteacher’s Award – Michaelmas Term
There are so many students who have been nominated to receive a Headteacher’s Award and this term and it has been a difficult decision to make. Congratulations to Simran in 7B and Macie in 7D on winning this award this term! Both these students exemplify what is means to be an excellent student every day here at CCSA. We are truly blessed to have them as part of our school community.
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Reflecting on this term and preparing for the term ahead
CCSA is a school for every young person who is passionate about learning, willing to work hard and ready to challenge and develop themselves in a Christian community. Since our opening day students in our founding cohort have earned over 11,700 commendations through meeting our expectations consistently, or for going the extra mile. This is a remarkable achievement!
Please take the time over the break to review these commendations and celebrate them at home where possible. Please also take the time to review your child’s profile on our Parent Portal / Arbor App, and reflect on any areas for improvement around our student code of conduct. This will be important as our expectations, key routines and procedures will continue to grow and develop throughout the rest of the year.
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CCSA student ID cards
All students have been issued with a CCSA student card which enables them to purchase items in the restaurant and will soon be providing them access to other systems such as library services and printing services. The student card is an essential part of the academy equipment list and all students must have their card with them every day.
Student not in possession of their student card must report it lost to the school office as soon as possible and pay for a replacement (charged at £4), otherwise access to these services will be restricted and sanctions issued.
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Student meal accounts
Please ensure that your child’s meal account is topped up and any debt that is on the account is cleared prior to the new term starting.
You can top by card up via your Arbor Parent Portal app by clicking the ‘Quick Actions’ tab, selecting ‘Payments’ then ‘Meals’. Or alternatively, on the first day back of term, via the cash loader located in the restaurant. Please note, students will need their ID card if they wish to top up in this way.
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Uniform expectations
With all uniform items now available at our supplier we expect all students to be wearing full and correct uniform every day.
In particular we expect all students to wear black leather school shoes (no boots, trainers or sports branding) and dark grey formal school trousers or a dark grey pleated formal school skirt, unless they are in PE kit. We also expect all students to wear their CCSA blazer at all times (unless specific permission has been granted by a teacher).
Our policy states that no student will be permitted to engage in learning with the rest of the school community unless in full school uniform. You can find full details of our uniform policy at the link below:
Uniform — Christ Church, Church of England Secondary Academy (christchurchsecondary.org.uk)
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Toys and fidget items
In order to minimise any distractions when they are learning, please ensure that your child does not bring in toy items, fidget / fiddle toys. These are banned items and the academy will confiscate / dispose of any toy items, fidget toys or fiddle toys if brought into school, unless specifically authorised as part of a learning plan.
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COVID-19 measures from the start of next term - Updated with new national guidance on 4th January 2022
We are asking the entire CCSA community to be as cautious and safe as practically possible, in order to minimise the spread of COVID19 variants. Whilst the impact of the virus on the education of our students has, so far this year, been minimal, the emergence of new variants only serves to increase the risk. Therefore, the following measures will be in place from the start of next term:
School attendance remains mandatory unless you are self-isolating due to the virus or are showing symptoms and awaiting the results of a PCR test. Any student with symptoms of COVID-19 must not attend school under any circumstances and should arrange for a PCR test as soon as possible.
On our return to school, we will be be expecting all students (unless medically exempt) to wear face coverings in all classrooms and all indoor communal areas throughout the school day. As a matter of course parents should provide the academy with evidence in support of any medical exemptions. All face coverings should be logo free, cover the mouth and nose, and loop around the ears. If using disposable masks, they should be plain in style and similar to those worn in hospitals.
We will also be resuming our regular lateral flow testing requirements (twice a week at home) and all students must start the term having tested negative (lateral flow) at most 48 hours before their return to school. As we have done previously we will be expecting all students to complete a lateral flow test in school on the first day of term.
Should you need more information, a breakdown of the current government guidelines in response to COVID19 and the national measures related to the Omicron variant can be found online here.
As always, we will continue to keep families updates should national guidance and school measures change. Please check your emails regularly.
