Dear Parent(s) and Carer(s),

Firstly, I want to say thank you to all of your support with the student- tutor meetings over the past fortnight. We’ve had some really positive feedback from parents, students and staff. It’s been great to be able to provide an opportunity for students to re-familiarise themselves with school before September and reduce any worries they may had had about being back in the building. The well-being surveys have been very useful and we were able to provide some additional pastoral support for students during these meetings if they had highlighted any particular concerns.
You should have all received an email last week giving you a bit of an update about our building works; both in Midland House and the new build. As I mentioned, the new section of Midland House will be ready for our new year 7 cohort in September. This will include all of their own facilities including: dining area, main hall, general classrooms, indoor recreation space and specialist classrooms. The new food room is in the year 7 block but will be used by all year groups. The current block of Midland Househas also had some refurbishment works including, new fire door access from the main hall into the front courtyard, upgraded internal lighting and an access ramp from the rear courtyard into the building. All of the necessary adjustments needed for the new Covid-19 guidelines are also all in place such as increased hand sanitising stations.

You also should have received a link about transport arrangements to school. This is something that all schools have been asked to survey in order to help with local transport planning. The government are aware that some students rely on public transport and are looking to assess the need for this. We appreciate that your child may not be able to avoid the use of a public bus/train but please do use the
survey to indicate if they are able to use an alternative method at all e.g. walk or car. Schools are not providing additional transport as this is the type of transport that the government are looking to reduce the use of. We also need to see the number of parents who may be dropping their child/children off in their car as we need to avoid having any congestion close to the school entrances. Thank you to those of you who have already responded - if you haven’t done so, please do complete this as soon as
possible using:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Jdd87-JnyEiwWrcpkWBNht_AqofWraNDisHg11lvDQtUOUc0V1VWQThYMVI1VktOT0I1TVlIQk5FUi4u

We are holding a staff meeting this week to discuss all of our responses to the new government guidance. After this, towards the end of the week, we will be sending out information to all parents/carers. Hopefully, this will answer all of the questions you may have but please do feel welcome to email us after this with any remaining queries. One important point to note is that all students will be expected to wear normal, full uniform and have their own equipment everyday (as this can’t be shared or lent out).

A final reminder for all families is that the last day of school is officially Thursday 23rd July (as Friday 24th is an INSET day for staff, used for Covid-19 planning). Thursday 23rd July will be the last day that school is open for any students and it will remain closed over the summer, including for children of keyworkers.

I wish you all a good and, hopefully sunnier, week.

Yours faithfully
Mrs J. Brown

Safeguarding concerns

If you have any concerns related to safeguarding then please do contact either social services or the police. If you feel that a child is in immediate danger then call 999.
Please see the contacts box below for contact details of social care and the police.
You can also inform the school safeguarding team of any concerns or issues.

The staff to contact are Mr R. Hoy or Ms J. Nethercott – again, contact details are below.

New text messaging service helps young people access health advice

A new text messaging service has been launched in Derby to help young people and parents and carers living in the city to access confidential health advice and support in a quick and easy way.
Young people in Derby aged 11-19 who send text messages to 07507 327104 can get advice from a health professional about subjects including physical or emotional health, sexual health, relationships, bullying or drug or alcohol use. Parents or carers looking after children in Derby city aged between 0 and 19 can text 07507 327754 to seek advice about subjects ranging from breastfeeding and bedwetting to emotional wellbeing and behaviour.
https://news.derby.gov.uk/new-text-messaging-service-helps-young-people-access-health-advice/

Keeping young people safe

The government have published a useful document that provides lots of support information relating to keeping children safe from abuse and harm. This guidance brings together sources of information about the main risks children may be vulnerable to and signposts you to help and support available.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-keeping-children-safe-from-abuse-and-harm

Railway Safety
Due to the very high level of trespassing on the tracks by young people in our local area, Network Rail in partnership with Learn Live are working to help raise awareness to students across the UK educating them about the dangers of the train tracks.
Network Rail say:
There have been 1,024 incidents since lockdown began, and we are keen to help keep students safe. As part of our Programme to electrify key rail routes across the mainline, the section of railway near your school will be under construction for the installation of the Overhead Line Equipment and be electrified. The safety of people on and around the railway is our priority so please watch the short video using the following link:
https://learnliveuk.com/network-rail-secondary-school-safety-talk/

Dealing with Loss and Coping With Lockdown
BBC Bitesize has an article about coping with the change and emotions that lockdown can bring:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z7xyvk7

Safety Around Water
Please see the following website regarding safety around water.
https://www.unitedutilities.com/about-us/recreation-sites/reservoir-safety/

HPV Vaccinations – Year 8 only
We have emailed out a letter to all parents/carers of year 8 students about their HPV vaccination which is now due. As these cannot take place in school buildings, a number of venues are being used for a walk-in/drive through service. If you would normally consent to this happening in school, please do follow the instructions below. These are all detailed in the email sent out last week.
How to book an appointment:

1. Complete a consent form HPV Vaccination drive through session; Year 8 boys and girls, and Year 9 girls only. Please only complete a consent form if you haven’t already done so for Year 8 girls and boys.
Please visit https://www.derbyshireandcityimms.co.uk/Forms/HPV to complete the consent form. The option to consent or decline the vaccination is at the end of the questionnaire so please complete even if you do not want your child to have the vaccination.
Your unique school code for Derby Cathedral School is DC143734
If you experience any problems please call the School Age Immunisation Team.
DCHST.immunisationteam@nhs.net Repton: 01283 707178 Clay Cross: 01246 252953

2. Please book an appointment with your child’s name and date of birth by following this link: https://www.swiftqueue.co.uk/derbyshire.php Only book an appointment if your child hasn’t completed their HPV 2 dose course.

3. If you experience any difficulties please call: Repton: 01283 707178 or Clay Cross: 01246 252953
Please do not attend if you, your child or anyone within your family home is displaying signs of being unwell.

The following helplines give support and advice on a number of issues including personal safety, mental health and well-being.
Childline: 0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk
NSPCC – 0800 028 3550 www.nspcc.org.uk
Samaritans – 116 123
Shout – www.giveusashout.org. Text Shout to 85258
Kooth – www.kooth.com

Relate counselling – 0808 178 9363 (free helpline for couples, children and those affected by Autistic Spectrum Condition. Available: Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10.00am – 1.00pm. The helpline gives people the opportunity to speak directly to an experienced Relate trained counsellor, without having to make an appointment. For further information contact 01332 349177 or 07741193484 or email info@relatederby.org.uk
www.relatederby.org.uk

LGBT+ Support – https://www.derbyshirelgbt.org.uk/
Online Safety Parent Support www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Support-tools/home-activity-worksheets/11-13s/
Derby City Children’s Social Care First Contact Team: 9am to 5pm 01332 641172 or out of hours 01332 786968
You can also report non-urgent concerns online https://myaccount.derby.gov.uk/en/service/report_concerns_about_a_child
If you believe that a child is at immediate risk and in need of protection then you should call the police on 999 or 101 immediately.
Alternatively if you want advice from the police and the child is not in immediate need of protection, you can call them on 0845 123 33 33.

Key staff email contacts:
Mr R Hoy (Designated Safeguarding Lead) r.hoy@derbycathedralschool.org.uk
Mrs J Nethercott (Deputy DSL) j.nethercott@derbycathedralschool.org.uk
Miss M Amiss (Head of Year 7) m.amiss@derbycathedralschool.org.uk
Mr C Capon (Head of Year 8) c.capon@derbycathedralschool.org.uk

ParentPay Cashless Payment System
Derby Cathedral School uses ParentPay, a cashless system for the purchase of school lunches, equipment and the payment of trips and outings.
Due to the current Coronavirus pandemic and the need to protect the health and wellbeing of both staff and students, adding funds to your child’s lunch account in school will no longer be possible.
Parents/carers will be required to add monies direct to your ParentPay account as we will not be able to accept cash in school, in any form.
Please log in/activate your account in readiness for your child’s eventual return to school to ensure they will be able to buy food items when back on school site.
If you require any assistance or a duplicate copy of your login details, please contact info@derbycathedralschool.org as soon as possible.
Many thanks.

The power of the word
This week there is the opportunity to celebrate the power of the word. BBC Bitesize are using their English lessons to explore the power that words have to change the world around us. Speeches from Martin Luther King, all the way to Greta Thunberg are being placed under the microscope to help you understand how these great speakers have been able to use language to provoke change in the world.
It isn’t just the spoken word that can change the world, why not have a look at the music activities that focus on rap music and how to write your own.
Plenty of excellent ways to use language as a way of expressing yourselves!

Reading Challenge!
Firstly a huge thank you to all of you that completed the Kahoot! attached to last week’s reading bulletin. This week I’d like people to focus on the Biography/Autobiography genre. It is one of my favourite reading areas, as I think you can always find someone who you look up to, admire or are just plain curious about, and read about them. For people that aren’t book lovers it means they can focus on the person rather than the reading. Here is another Kahoot! to get you started:
Game PIN: 07156747

Summer Reading Challenge – Join ‘The Silly Squad’
The Department for Education has launched this summer’s reading challenge – The Silly Squad. The challenge is open to students in Key Stage 3 and is a great opportunity for children to stretch themselves with a bit of reading ready for their return to school in September. Head over to https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/ for more details on how to get involved.

Free Book from J. K. Rowling
J. K. Rowling is publishing her new book as a serial from 26 May; it’s called ‘The Ickabog’. She’ll be posting a chapter (or two, or three) every weekday between 26th May and 10th July on The Ickabog website. Find the link on the following website: https://www.jkrowling.com/j-k-rowling-introduces-the-ickabog/
There is also an illustration competition that you can enter.

Learning Timetable
Just a reminder that if are struggling to plan a routine for your child, the timetable below might be useful. Each family will have their own circumstances and can adjust to fit your own needs. 

Each Head of Year will be sending you a narrated bulletin every week which gives you all sorts of information. It will include the weekly challenge and other bits of information to inspire, encourage and celebrate your achievements. We hope that you enjoy them!

Year 7
Tutors are looking forward to seeing their forms again this week. We hope students find these sessions useful and enjoy spending some time back in the classroom. Remember to bring in any work you would like to show your tutor.
Please watch the Y7 / Y8 assemblies every Wednesday to keep up to date with all the latest news. If you would like your work or any activities that you have been doing to be included in the assemblies please email: distancelearning@derbycathedralschool.org.uk and mark them for the attention of Miss Amiss.

Year 8
Don’t forget to watch the Year group assemblies every Wednesday, and make sure you get involved in the Kahoot challenges Year 8, - I want us to show the Year 7’s how it’s done! Great to see lots of you last week for tutor time and so impressed with the work that’s been produced. I’m very proud of you all to see that during your time away from school, you are really keeping up the high standards of work, even down to underlining dates and titles. Congratulations! If you would like your work or any activities that you have been doing to be included in the assemblies please email: distancelearning@derbycathedralschool.org.uk and mark them for the attention of Mr Capon.

This week sees two ‘Beat the Teachers’ quizzes for students to enter. Topics are as follows:

 Horrible Histories quiz
 Football Trivia quiz

Links to the Kahoot quizzes will be sent to students on Wednesday. The teachers will have already participated so you will be able to see what the score is to beat! These are designed to be fun and appeal to your competitive spirits!

Look out for the Wednesday challenge as announced in the virtual assembly from your Head of Year.

If you have a child on the SEND register who is struggling to adjust to this new way of working then please have a read…

Life skills are very important for students with SEND and sometimes students with additional needs need a little more practice. Cooking is a something that we all need to do. The following link from Jamie Oliver shows a series videos dedicated to cooking for younger people.
Youtube.com/user/JamieOliver

Universal Credit
If you are having problems claiming universal credit then you may be eligible for an advanced payment. A Universal Credit Advance (new claim) is an advance payment of a customer’s first estimated Universal Credit monthly payment. This may be paid if the customer is in urgent need of money, has made their universal credit claim and can’t wait the 5 week period for their first payment.

Please use the following link for more information https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/new-to-universal-credit/help-with-managing-your-money/

There are lots of free resources and fun activities online made available during this time. We have picked out some useful ones below:

Walk by the River Thames
https://www.facebook.com/events/542945143299238
Watch the wonders of London LIVE from the Embankment area, wherever you are in the world!
We can't welcome you in person right now because of the measures in place to combat coronavirus – but our live coverage means you won't miss the wonders of London.
Our camera will capture the best views of the Embankment area, allowing you to connect with London from the comfort of your own home.
Tickets are £2.99 per person

Drive in films – dates for your diaries (Please check the age-rating)
https://www.visitderby.co.uk/whats-on/events/drive-in-films/
Enjoying films on the big screen whilst socially distancing.
Drive in Films bring all forms of Entertainment to a GIANT screen for you to enjoy from the safety and comfort of your vehicle. This includes; great films, live comedy shows and inspirational musical performances.
Due to the Covid-19 we require all attendees to stay in or by their vehicles, except for rest breaks. This helps to keep our staff and all our customers safe. To support this our booking process includes all elements of a drive-in night – the view, the entertainment and the refreshments. We take our responsibilities to providing as safe an environment as possible very seriously, by having pre-ordered refreshments and free delivery to your car door we believe this reduces the risks for all. We thank you for your support and for adhering to the rules.
Follow their guide below to make your booking and viewing experiences run smoothly
The films announced so far are;
• Joker - 24th July 2020, Gates 7.45pm, Film at sunset
• Grease -30th July 2020, Gates 7.45pm, Film at sunset.
• Rocketman - 31st July 2020, Gates 7.45pm, Film at sunset
• Forest Gump - 13th August 2020, Gates 7.45pm, Film at sunset
Drive In Films, Mickleover Sports Club Station Road Mickleover DE3 9FB
24th July 2020 - 25th September 2020 £7 – £13.50

Enjoy the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) from the comfort of your sofa
You can now meet the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) on Google Arts & Culture.
Google Arts & Culture will allow users to go behind the scenes and explore the range of activities that go on at this innovative and extraordinary institution. Think: Street View tours including ‘Step inside Burlington House’ and ‘Hidden Rooms at the RA’ and over 230 beautiful photographs and videos to marvel at
https://artsandculture.google.com/project/meet-the-royal-academy?e=StellaAccess

Fun and free online learning for all the family!
During this difficult time, you may be wondering what to do with your children to help them learn and develop whilst at home. Family learning courses are free and offer fun learning opportunities for parents, carers and children to learn together.
Top Tips for Families
The Family Learning team are now offering online courses from Making Maths Fun, to learning new languages and even making family meals together. The online sessions are a great way for you to interact with other parents or guardians and learn about other great online courses Derby Adult Learning will be offering too!
https://www.adult-learningderby.org.uk/courses/what-you-can-learn/covidcourses

Online Summer Science Event
This year, we’re moving our Summer Science Exhibition online. Join us for an exciting week of science streamed straight into your home, with talks and videos on subjects including the science of pets, doping in sports and Antarctica exploration, and some highlights from our favourite exhibits over the years. You can also find out what some of the researchers from past years have been up to since showcasing their work at Summer Science.

You can view the full programme on the Royal Society website: http://royalsociety.org/summerscience

Whether you're keen to delve into our rich, 350-year-old archive to explore the legacy of the Exhibition and our historic artefacts, manuscripts and records, or want to tune in for our family friendly big Summer Science quiz, complete with a round for younger viewers, there's something for all ages and interests. Plus, we will be giving you a sneak preview of next year’s exhibition, with announcements throughout the week about the 2021 line-up.
Don’t miss out on this free celebration of cutting-edge and historic science, all to enjoy at home.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel where activities will be streamed for free between 13 - 17 July 2020, or follow us on Twitter @royalsociety. https://www.facebook.com/events/573662953295232

Big Bang Digital 2020 – science, engineering & Covid-19
Meet the inspirational scientists, healthcare professionals, engineers, technicians and students doing incredible things during lockdown.
Big Bang Digital 2020 – science, engineering & Covid-19 is a free, online event on Tuesday 14 July that celebrates the amazing work of scientists and engineers in a pandemic. The 1-day event celebrates their achievements, hears about challenges, innovation and collaboration, and explores some upsides to lockdown.
Aimed at students aged 11+ #BigBangDigital gives young people a front row view of the incredible contribution of people working in science and engineering.
An inspiring day of upbeat sessions, Big Bang Digital 2020 suits students with an interest in the people, or the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) behind the news stories. Get involved with interactive polls, live Q&A sessions, and Big Bang activities – there’s also a follow-up competition for summer inspiration.
Whether it’s through a live stream at school/college or on a tablet at home, join online for an uplifting look at the essential role of science and engineering.
https://www.digitalbigbang.co.uk/

eBug Project
Based on suggestions provided, ‘My Back to School Bubble’ aims to help children understand the new protective measures that may be in place at their school, in an age-appropriate way. It reinforce public health messages
including the importance of hand and respiratory hygiene, while reassuring children that everyone makes mistakes, helping to combat feelings of anxiety, that have been reported by parents.
The published story is available as a free download and can be found alongside our other COVID-19 resources on the e-Bug website.
https://e-bug.eu/eng_home.aspx?cc=eng&ss=1&t=Information%20about%20the%20Coronavirus

Supporting Young People to be Active
Children and young people should engage in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity for an average of at least 60 minutes per day across the week. Derbyshire School Games are providing a weekly resource to give ideas on how to be physically active with a different sport theme for 30 minutes each day.
This is an excellent website with lots of ideas and a weekly competition every Friday.
All of the resources (which currently also include golf, football, netball, athletics and orienteering) can be found on the website https://www.activederbyshire.org.uk/young-people-active-at-home