Dear parents/carers,

Thank you to all those families who have sent messages of support and thanks to our team, for the food parcels distributed this week. It means a great deal to the staff at Blacon High School.  Just to remind you, parcels of food are available to collect from school between 9 and 3 or in the Community Hub between 11 and 1 each day, Monday to Friday and these are available to any families in need of support.  One parcel will be available each week for collection.  We have delivered almost 100 food parcels to Free School Meals families who had informed the school that they were self-isolating.    As the numbers of staff increase with symptoms of Coronavirus, we may not be able to continue delivering all parcels and so I would ask that you send neighbours and friends who are not self-isolating to collect food.  The Community Hub have a list of all students at Blacon High School.

Please encourage students to access the online learning through our website by clicking on Home Learning at Teachers have set work for every subject on Google Classroom, including a range of activities to support physical, mental health and well-being.  Due to the increased amount of time spent by young people online, please do ensure you monitor what students are doing in order to keep them safe online.  Information is available with tips for online safety for students http://www.blaconhighschool.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/NOS-Student-Guide.pdf  and parents http://www.blaconhighschool.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/NOS-Parent-Guide.pdf

I would ask you to ensure that you follow the latest Government advice on movement and self-isolation.  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others  You should only leave the house for one of four reasons:

• Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.
• One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household.
• Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
• Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.

For the small number of students in school, we have strict cleaning routines in place with staff and students working apart from one another in support of social distancing guidelines.  These are unprecedented times in school and across the world.

`You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.’ Please look after each other.

Yours sincerely,

Rachel Hudson - Headteacher