School will be closed on Friday 28th January.
As many of you will be aware there are national celebrations planned to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee in 2022. This includes an extra bank holiday and a four day weekend at the start of June.
This takes place during the school summer half term break. As such, schools have been asked to take this additional day of holiday at a different time.
Unfortunately we are not able to take this holiday around the half term itself as this is a formal window for GCSE and A level exams. Similarly, between the Easter holidays and May half term students are busy preparing for these exams. An additional day of holiday would be disruptive for exam classes.
Therefore, having reviewed the school calendar we have decided to take this additional day of holiday in the spring term. Therefore the school will be closed on Friday 28th January.
I know from speaking to colleagues that schools have all taken different approaches to this holiday based on their individual circumstances. I know this has the potential to be frustrating for parents, particularly if you have multiple children in different schools.
However, each school must allocate a day for this holiday and we have tried to identify a time where this additional holiday can be the positive event it is intended to be without creating any anxiety to students in exam year groups.
We are delighted to share this week’s Weekly Bulletin for Friday 14th January 2022.
We would like to invite you to the Year 11 IAG / sixth form open evening on Tuesday 11th January from 4-7pm. This will involve a 10 minute appointment with your child’s form tutor to discuss their current progress, including mock results and also the opportunity to attend a presentation from the Burnside sixth form team.
You will need to book an appointment with your child’s form tutor and you are welcome to attend the presentation either just before your appointment or just after. The form tutor appointments will take place in block 1 and the sixth form presentation will take place in the main hall at 4.30pm, 5pm, 5.30pm, 6pm and 6.30pm. This will also be filmed and available on our website to view after the event.
We have chosen both venues due to their good levels of ventilation and opportunities to allow everyone to social distance if they wish.
If you are unable to attend we would ask that you RSVP “no” via the booking system – this will then automatically add you to a list to receive a telephone call from either your child’s form tutor, Mr MacKay or a senior leader either during the evening itself or at a more convenient time if you are at work.
Bookings can be made using the following link https://burnsidecollege.parentseveningsystem.co.uk/
On-Site COVID Testing & Return to school
Due to lateral flow testing there will be slightly different arrangements in place at the start of the year:
| Monday 3rd January: | School closed (bank holiday) |
| Tuesday 4th January: | School closed (staff training day) Lateral flow testing for years 10, 11, 12 & 13 |
| Wednesday 5th January: | School open to years 10, 11, 12 & 13 Lateral Flow Testing for 7, 8 & 9 |
| Thursday 6th January: | School open to all students |
Lateral flow testing:
Where parents/carers have already informed us their child will attend school for a lateral flow test in January, we ask that they attend school at the following times:
Tuesday 4th January:
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- 10.15am Year 10 students (please do not arrive before 10.15am)
- 12.15am Year 11 students
- 2.15pm Year 12 and 13 students
Wednesday 5th January:
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- 8.30am Year 7 students
- 12.30am Year 8 students
- 1.00pm Year 9 students
It is recommended that anyone who has tested positive in the 90 days prior to these dates does not take a lateral flow test. Likewise, anyone with COVID symptoms should not attend and should instead follow national guidance.
We would like to take this opportunity to remind our school community to continue to take twice weekly lateral flow tests during the Christmas holidays and report their results through the national reporting system. This is particularly important just prior to returning to school.
Please also see the following information provided by North Tyneside Council:
We’ve been working hard at Burnside TV to bring you a report about all of the fantastic things that have happened this term! Our team have put together a special broadcast, giving you the inside scoop into some exciting changes and events that have taken place since September, including:
- Changes since restrictions eased in September
- New staff
- The re-opening of extracurricular clubs and activities
- The Great North Run
- A charity walk completed by staff members
A huge thank you to all students and staff involved in the production of the video, and to the Burnside community as a whole, for a brilliant start to the new school year.
We hope that you enjoy the video and would like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and happy New Year! Stay tuned for more next term…
Please see the following letter regarding vouchers that are being made available to families in receipt of free school meals.
Half Term Support Letter from North Tyneside Council
Further support may also be available from Household Support Fund or by emailing: Welfare.Provision@northtyneside.gov.uk
