16 September 2022
Dear Parents & Carers,
I’m pleased to introduce the first full Friday Bulletin of the year, after last week’s national events meant a change to our planned update. This is our most regular form of communication with home, and we encourage parents and carers to check regularly; as well as sharing the news and excitements of each week, there are often important notices concerning events in and around school.
It has been a busy week in school and students have responded well to a number of new initiatives to safeguard and support them. We have now completed a full cycle of the weekly timetable, and students will have met all of their classroom teachers. Mrs McFadden, one of our Deputy Heads, has written to the parents and carers of students in Years 7-10 about the year ahead, and letters to Year 11 will follow soon. The Sixth Form team communicate regularly with students, and parents and carers can also gain an understanding of what is going on in the Sixth Form by reading the notices which are posted further down this bulletin every week. We think very carefully about the sequence of the year in terms of learning and reporting, and we are always keen to work closely with home in supporting our students to the fullest extent. Our first parental information sessions are due to happen next week, and we have shared the dates for the rest of the year below also.
Our extracurricular offer has resumed this week too and it has been very positive to note how many students are involved in after school clubs. Joining in with any of the large range of activities on offer is an excellent way to feel part of the community and meet new people as well as learn new skills, and we encourage all of our students to take advantage of these opportunities. We are still in the process of finalising the full timetable, and will share this as soon as possible.
As well as forming a community within the school, we are also members of the local community. As such, we need to show consideration for others and to avoid behaviour that puts children at risk or causes inconvenience to others, and I would therefore
I woud like to make two requests to parents and carers, both of which relate to those who drop off and pick up their children in cars. We have had a number of parents driving onto the school site, both in the mornings and at the end of the day, in order to drop off students. 1700 students enter and leave the school each day and we are aware that it is very busy, but please do not enter the school site in your car unless you have permission, as there is no space is school for parental parking by Local Authority design. That decision was not made by the school, but restricts the capacity that we have.
The only cars allowed into school are those picking up children on behalf of the Local Authority or for our students with a disability. We do allow access to those parents and carers of a child who have had an accident or injury and need to be picked up for a fixed period of time; in those situations, we will issue a pass to allow access.
Similarly, please show consideration for our neighbours. We have been contacted by local residents who are very concerned that people are parking on and across private roads, causing damage and blocking local residents in so that they cannot move their cars. Please treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. I am aware that these can be frustrating issues, but Durham Johnston has a very small catchment area and most students live within walking, cycling or public transport distance.
Finally, a reminder that school is closed on Monday 19th September as it is a national Bank holiday on the occasion of the state funeral of Elizabeth II. School will re-open on Tuesday 20th, and we look forward to another positive week.
Thank you for your support.
Mr O’Sullivan
Parent Information Presentations
Throughout the year, we hold information sessions for parents, focused on individual year groups. The evenings are led by senior staff and offer an opportunity to gain an overview of the school’s approach for the year group, as well as to ask questions.
The timetable for the 2022-23 is below; you can also find it at this link. More information about each session will be shared nearer the time.
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Tuesday 20th September |
5.30-6.30pm: |
Year 12 |
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Wednesday 21st September |
4.00-5.00pm: |
Year 8 |
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Tuesday 27th September |
4.00pm-5.00pm: |
Year 11 |
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Tuesday 4th October |
4.00pm-5.00pm: |
Year 9 |
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Tuesday 1st November |
4.00pm-5.00pm: |
Year 10 |
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Wednesday 9th November |
4.00pm-5.00pm: |
Year 7 |
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Tuesday 7th March |
4.00pm-5.00pm: |
Year 11 |
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Tuesday 4th July |
5.30-6.30pm: |
Year 12 (UCAS focus) |
SIMs Parent App
We use the Sims Parent App as a way to share information with parents and carers, particularly about reports. It also has the facility for you to update your contact details, so we always have the most up-to-date information in case of emergency.
We have issued links for new parents to sign up; look out for an email from noreply@sims.co.uk.
You can find more information here on our website at this link.
Please note that you should not try to set up your account using SIMS ID – please use any of the other options given in "SIMS Parent APP Instructions" document at the link above.
Geography Club Update: Young Geographer of the Year Competition
Geography Club resumed in IT4 after school on Thursday 15th September from 3:00-4:00 for students who were working on their Young Geographer of the Year Competition entry before the summer holidays. There will also be sessions on the 22nd and 29th at the same time in the same room. All students entering the competition need to have their completed submission delivered to Mr Ray by the end of the session on Thursday 29th September. Students will be reminded of the competition entry criteria in the next session. If there are any new students or students who did not come along before the summer holidays who are interested, they are more than welcome to come along and submit their entry by the same deadline. Further information about the competition can be found at this link.
Mr Ray
Geography Department
Sixth Form Notices
Please click the link below to read the weekly digest of news and information for Sixth Form Students.
Careers and Guidance Department Notices
Please click here to view this week’s Careers Notices.
Mr Kennedy
Subject Leader, Guidance
Extra Curricular Drama
The following clubs will be offered this year; all take place in the Drama Studio:
Technical Theatre Club:
Starts 20th September
Tuesdays after school, 2.45-3.45
Year 7 and 8 Script Club:
Starts for all new members 22nd September
Thursday lunch, 12-12.30
Year 7 and 8 Drama Club*:
Starts Thursday 29th September (students have been informed about this postponement)
Thursdays after school, 2.45-3.45
*Only the first 30 people who signed up this week can attend on the 29th, but students can be on the waiting list and join later.
Year 9 Drama club:
Starts Wednesday 21st of September
Wednesdays after school, 2.45-3.45
Ms K Ayrey
Subject Leader for Drama
Music Notices
School music ensembles and lunchtime activities began this week. For details of the activities available for your child, please follow the relevant link below.
And, for further information about ensemble performance dates and other events over the coming school year please follow this link.
Lessons from Durham Music Service also resumed this week. Parents and Carers should look out for an email from DMS teacher and pupils should look on the music notice board at the end of the music corridor for times of lessons.
Mr Holmes
Subject Leader for Music
PE News
It has been an excellent start to school sport this year. The PE department have been so pleased to see such large numbers attending clubs and trials. On Wednesday night we had over 150 children staying after school!
Our first fixture of the year took place on Wednesday as our U14 boys’ rugby team played Emmanuel College in a friendly. It was a great match in which we were ahead for most of the game. However, we conceded a late try to lose. This was however excellent preparation for our National Cup game against Dame Allan's next week.
Last night over 70 girls attended the first netball trial and our Year 7, 8 and 10 boys’ football teams travelled to Staindrop for the first league games. It was a great start as all three teams won. Our Year 7 team started with a 10-goal thriller winning 6 - 4. Our Year 8 team also won by 2 goals 4 - 2. Finally, it was a more straight-forward 7 - 0 victory for our Year 10 team.
Mr Hopper
Subject Leader for PE