20/7/23: End of Summer Term letter
Dear Parents/Carers,
End of Summer Term letter 2023
Firstly, I would like to thank you for your support this term. We have had a fantastic and busy term of events, trips, extra-curricular and community events and I thank you for supporting us in this. We are very proud that our students have been excellent ambassadors for the school in all our activities and on all our trips by consistently displaying The Grace Way.
We are impressed by how hard our students worked for their examinations and assessments and we are really proud of their continuing commitment to and embodiment of our core values of Amazing Grace, Intentional Excellence, Mutual Respect, Genuine Integrity and Limitless Potential.
Attendance
Once again we have celebrated maximum attendance this term and it has been so good to see our students continuing to engage with their education up until the last day. So many of our students have demonstrated Intentional Excellence and have shown that success does not happen by accident but instead through hard work, engagement and determination. We thank you for your support and look forward to next year.
Pastoral
A reminder to parents that when students return in September they will need to have natural hair colour and braids. Jewellery is limited to one stud in each ear and a mechanical watch. Students should have natural nails, no false eyelashes and only natural make-up. It is also worth noting that Smart watches are not permitted as detailed in our Uniform Policy and also in respect of promoting our electronic device free environment.
Trips and Enrichment week
Go in to any secondary school in the UK in the last few weeks of term and you will see a variation on a (well-rehearsed and well-deserved) theme. Sports events and days? Check. Trips to suitable tourist attractions? Check. Wacky science experiments and creative projects? Check. So, how about all that, plus whole-year trips to the seaside, charitable excursions to Manchester and an entire week of collapsed curriculum, one that is dedicated to the personal development and cultural capital of all students? Absolutely!
Grace Academy’s busy Enrichment Week kicked off with the first of four days of trips. Over the week, Years 8, 9 and 10 were taken to Twycross Zoo, where they could see conservation in action and learn about an abundance of wildlife. Highlights included watching the penguins duck and dive (providing you can mind the smell!), feeding birds in the exotic aviary and trying to spot a beautiful leopard through the undergrowth.
Back in 2022, we took every year group to Blackpool and so this year it was the turn of our Year 7 students. On arrival, students were given free time to spend their coins in the arcades and were all treated to an ice cream before competing with the seagulls over lunch. A few chips were lost to greedy beaks! Thankfully the morning’s blustery tide turned, and in the afternoon, students could dip their toes in the brisk Irish Sea before a big group photo on the steps. A great day was had by all.
Back at the Academy, students were treated to all sorts of enriching activities, coordinated by Mrs Williams. The jam-packed schedule included playing music that was ‘beautiful to hear’ and dances which were ‘entertaining to learn’; visits by theatre groups; workshops; pizza making; Dragon’s Den style activities and even an escape room to crack. As the students said, the week was ‘a nice break from school work’ and ‘lots of fun’.
No Summer term would be complete without a Sports Day, fuelled by fun, sun, ice-cream and a dash of healthy competition. Scheduled by Mr Jones, students worked in their tutor groups to accumulate as many points as possible in benchball, rounders, football and field athletics, before the whole Academy gathered on the field after lunch for a blast of track athletics. Students competed in sprints and relays before the afternoon was rounded off by the teacher race. Of course, they weren’t competitive at all – Mutual Respect at all times!
At Grace, we also always strive to demonstrate our Intentional Excellence and Amazing Grace outside of our four walls. As part of the Grace Foundation, we are committed to playing our part in the Manchester Revolution project – dedicated to benefitting families in need of support in their standard of living. So, straight after Enrichment Week, a group of our students, along with Mrs Williams and Mr Driver, headed up to Manchester for three days to help a family in need; they worked solidly, painting the family’s house and sourcing furniture to keep them comfortable. This is truly an example of our students giving back.
And as if all of that wasn’t enough, an excited yet nervous troop of 18 Year 9 students set off on the final stage of their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Working across three teams, ahead of the day, each group planned their routes, devised their meals and shopped for resources. The overnight camping stay came at the end of a tiring walk across the border in to Leicestershire and the next day, following a self-cooked breakfast, they trekked back to the Academy. Alongside the physical mental resilience of the trek, students going for Bronze are required to undertake three months of volunteering, physical activity and learning a new skill. These students have demonstrated Limitless Potential to the extreme and contributed towards our school and their wider community; they can also be proud of (amongst other things) new sporting skills and languages learned.
All of our students have a lot to be proud of this year, not least their efforts and contributions to a phenomenal Summer term. Being able to round off the year with such a wealth of experiences is a worthy reward. More of the same next year? Check.
Rewards
This week, students have been rewarded for their efforts across the term in our rewards assemblies. Certificates and prizes were issued to students selected by Tutors, Heads of Year, Assistant Principals, Vice Principals and the Principal. Students were issued with subject and maximum attendance awards. We issued even more student leadership ties to those students consistently displaying "The Grace Way" and are so proud of students committed to being leaders in both their year group and the Academy.
Transition
Just before the end of term, we held our Year 6 transition day and transition evening for parents which gave the Grace staff an opportunity to meet and get to know our new Year 6 students and parents. We had a fantastic day and really look forward to welcoming the Year 6 students into the Grace family in September. We were really pleased to see how fantastic our current Year 7 students were in supporting and helping the Year 6 students so they were positive and optimistic about starting in September.
Over the last few weeks we have also been completing the transition for our Year 9 students into Year 10. They have had their options finalised and are looking forward to the transition into Key Stage 4.
Parents’ Evenings
We were delighted to see so many of you at our parents’ evenings and it was lovely to see parents and staff having positive conversations about our students’ education and their personalised steps moving forward. It is really important that parents are able to attend these events so that we can work together to best support our young people.
English & Library Update
We have just completed an audit of our books on offer for students in our lovely library and have lots of exciting new books ready for September. We are always keen to engage our students with reading and are excited to hear about the books they have been reading over the summer. There are many different ways to enjoy a book - reading aloud or being read to can include various members of the family; your child may like to read stories to their siblings or grandparents may enjoy reading to them, or if you are travelling an audio book can be a great way for everyone to enjoy a story.
Ethos and Wellbeing Update
We had a fantastic trip to Manchester with some of our Year 10 and Post 16 students where we worked with other schools from the Trust to serve the community. This was done through renovating a house for a vulnerable family to move into, as well as serving the homeless community a three-course banquet meal. It was a fantastic trip, and we are so proud of our students’ willingness, enthusiasm and displaying Mutual Respect. We look forward to more social action trips like this in the future.
We are hosting a Summer School during the holidays for our Year 6 students who are joining us in September. It will be a fantastic week including activities such as a Science Show, Rocket Making, arts and crafts, sports activities led by Sky Blues and lots of other treats and activities, as it is always key for us to make sure the students feel settled and excited about coming to Grace.
Safeguarding and Family Support
As a school, the safety and wellbeing of our pupils and members of the school community are most important to us.
As we break for the summer holiday, if you have any immediate concerns for the safety or welfare of a child please contact MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) on: telephone 024 7678 8555
If you need support for yourself over the holiday period, please contact your local family hub:
https://www.coventry.gov.uk/themoatfamilyhub
The Family Hub aims to reach children, young people and families when the need first emerges; and to help and support when it can have the greatest impact.
- Early Help: telephone 0800 8870545 or email earlyhelp@coventry.gov.uk
- Emergency Duty Team: telephone 024 7683 2222 between 5pm – 8.30am and during weekends
Below are some useful numbers and links for services that can provide support for you and your family:
https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/37590/coventry-schools-mental-health-leaflet?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Orlo&fs=e&s=cl
Holiday Clubs in Coventry 2023
With the Summer Holidays fast approaching, it's time to start thinking about Holiday Clubs. Coventry Rocks have gathered up some brilliant holiday clubs in Coventry which offer fun and educational activities for children, whatever the weather!
Holiday Clubs and Activity Camps can of course relieve childcare headaches for parents who have to work. But also all of these clubs have been carefully created with children's development in mind, letting kids come away with new skills learnt in a safe, supportive environment.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with everything going on in Coventry!
https://www.coventryrocks.co.uk/guides/whats-on-guides/holiday-clubs-in-coventry/
Coventry Holiday Activities and Food programme will also be taking bookings for their Summer Fun programme taking place during the summer holidays for eligible children and young people. For more information, please take a look at this link: https://www.coventry.gov.uk/haf
Coventry City Council
Coventry City Council has launched a new website to help families understand their rights and entitlements and how help can be accessed. Please use this link: https://www.coventry.gov.uk/cost-living-wellbeing-support .
Finishing times – Friday 21st July
On Friday 21st July there will be a staggered end to the day as follows:
- Years 7, 9 and 12: finish at 12.30pm
- Years 8 and 10: finish at 12.40pm
Any students who are eligible for free school meals will have their allowance made available during morning break time on that day and a hot meal will be served.
Return in September
A reminder that the new term begins as follows:
- Year 7 - 8.20am on Tuesday 5th September
- Year 12 - 10.15am on Tuesday 5th September
- Years 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13 - 8.20am on Wednesday 6th September
If you have any further questions regarding these arrangements, please contact the Academy office on 02476 589000.
I hope you have a restful summer and look forward to seeing you all in September.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs N Whiles
Principal