Dear Parent/Carer

As this term comes to a close I just wanted to thank you again all for your continued support of everything we do. This term has flown by, and I can’t quite believe that after half-term there are only 6 more weeks of this academic year left!

Our Y11 and Y13 students have worked so hard on their final assessments and I must give credit to the staff as well, who have taken on the task of a mammoth amount of marking to ensure that our grades are double-checked and accurate. This exercise has been a real team effort and the support from you as parents cannot be underestimated.

We are delighted to see our new senior students taking up their roles in Y10. The interviews were excellent and all the students have now been given a chance to lead and grow with us. It will be amazing seeing them take on the wider responsibilities we have given them and, as long as things continue to improve on the COVID front, they will be meeting with the other students after half-term.

As you know we are all one step closer to a more normal way of life. Whilst some Covid measures have now been lifted, and thankfully, cases in the county remain low, it’s important to remember that Covid hasn’t gone away. Please do keep up the testing and reporting after half-term as this helps us track what is happening with the virus.

Measures to keep us Covid secure remain in place.  Students will continue to stay in bubbles, with one way systems where appropriate. We will be maintaining the current regimes of hand sanitizing and cleaning of desks and the same timings for the day until the end of the summer term.

In spite of this, we are making plans to see how we can run some of our key events like Sports Day. Mr Griffiths and the team are busy planning how we can make this event as exciting and safe as possible and there will be more to come on that! We are also planning a virtual Achievement Evening, which will be very exciting.

We are starting to see Y10 students taking on work experience places and Mrs Balmer and the team are making plans for the sixth form so that they can feel the benefit of the genuine sixth form experience at Dene Magna.

Y6 induction week will be happening, and we will be in touch with parents/carers straight after half-term to share our plans and risk assessments so that they can see how we are keeping everyone safe, but getting the benefit of induction week.

Hopefully, this will be one of the last times I write regarding arrangements for COVID over a holiday, but please remember that we can all still help to prevent catching and spreading Covid by following this guidance:

• Following the rules around hands, face and space are still the best things we can all do to help stop the virus from spreading.
• Regular rapid testing, alongside getting vaccinated when invited is also a key part of our journey out of lockdown. There are more than 100 pharmacies across the county that are set up as collection points for FREE rapid COVID-19 tests. From next week, you can also go to a local pharmacy to take a test on-site.
• If you or anyone you live with test positive from a rapid test or experience symptoms of COVID-19, you and your family should self-isolate immediately and book a PCR Covid test via the Government portal.

For more information visit: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/testing If you are eligible, but haven’t yet had your COVID-19 vaccination, please get in touch with your GP who can help.

The recent unlocking of further restrictions is fantastic news for us all and an incentive to keep doing the right thing.

The forecast looks good for the half-term, so please do have fun catching up with friends and family. It is fantastic that we have these things available to us again, but please do stay safe and keep doing all you can to make sure we all come out of this as soon as we can.

Stay safe and stay positive, and thank you for your support. It means so much to us!

Kind regards
Stephen Brady