To all Parents & Carers

We have had a great week! It was lovely to welcome our pupils back to Braidhurst and watch our school come alive again. They did you proud looking very smart in their uniforms and doing everything they were asked to do.

We are doing our very best to mitigate any risk in our school. Our risk assessment can be viewed by clicking the link below. I have also added the presentation which was shown to all pupils with instructions on how we can keep our community safe.

Risk Assessment Aug 2020

Return Post Lockdown

The situation, as you know is constantly changing and I just want to update you on some things for next week. Apologies for ‘information overload’ but it is important you are kept fully informed of these changes.

1. Timetable

You may be aware that the Scottish Government have advised that pupils should be taught in ‘big blocks’ of learning. This results in less contact with different teachers, more time in class, which helps compensate for staggered lunch and departure times, and cuts down in the movement around the school. Similar to secondary schools in North Lanarkshire we are therefore going to introduce double periods for every pupils. The timetable is delivered over a two week period.

2. Lunch

As you will be aware North Lanarkshire have introduced an app, Fusion, to order their lunch. They are also introducing a cashless system for school payments. Information can be found on:

https://northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=34918

Parents can apply for a free school meal using the link below:

https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals

There are issues with the tills at present which we are trying hard to solve. As a result until Friday 21st of August pupils can put cash on their card or pay by exact money. All pupils should order via the app. Ordered lunches can be picked up at the start of lunch and NOT 1pm as stated on app. Any pupil who needs a lunch will receive one. Please ask them to come to canteen and speak to DHT if they need one and have either not been able to go on the app or put money on their card.

Our arrangements will be changing for next week. S1/2 will be dismissed slightly early for lunch to enable them to access the dining hall first and enable social distancing.

3. PE

Pupils are unable to access changing rooms as present. Therefore, on the days pupils have PE or football, they should wear their PE kit and blazer to school. This includes:-

• Plain white T-shirt or one with school logo
• Plain black joggers or leggings
• Outdoor jacket

We take pride in our high standards of uniform and will expect all pupils to return to full uniform as soon as we can access changing rooms.

4. Forms

• Please return all forms – data check, GDPR, ICT consent form – as soon as possible. It is imperative we have the most up to date contact information for your child.
• We are living different times and instructions and advice is changing on a regular basis. We will keep you informed through our social media – website, twitter and school app.

Mrs Rooney

Headteacher

We are in the process of sending out letters to all parents and carers of every Braidhurst pupil (S1 to S6). Some of the information is specific to certain year groups therefore please read carefully. You can view or download a copy of these letters below by clicking on the links.

S1 to S3

• S1 final version
• S2 final version
• S3 final version

S4 to S6

• S4 final version
• S5 final version
• S6 final version

Information and advice is changing on an almost daily basis. You can find lots of useful info on the NLC frequently asked questions (click here) and also keep a lookout on our main school website and social media channels.

If you still have a question you feel is not covered by the above please feel free to contact us using our form: click here

Please see below an update from NLC on schools returning next week. We will be in touch shortly with further information and details of our plans to ensure your child returns safely to Braidhust.

http://northlanarkshire.gov.uk/schoolplans

Aug 5th update: FAQ section has now been added to NLC website: Click here

or you can view a PDF version here School update FAQs – August 2020 V1 (advice may change)

SQA will issue certificates to pupils on Tuesday, 4th August, those pupils who have signed up to ‘My SQA’ will gain access to their results from 8am.

On Wednesday, 5th August, pupils and parents can discuss results and/or make changes to their options with a member of the SMT.  Due to current restrictions these meetings will be by appointment and only the pupil and one parent/carer can attend.  Appointments need to be made in advance, please phone the school on 01698 274999 between 10am and 2pm to arrange a suitable time.

If pupils are intending to leave the school, please contact the school to discuss completion of a leavers form.

Congratulations to Morven house, this years inter-house champions. Also a big well done to all pupils who took part in events throughout the year and scored points for their house.

Today’s announcement from the Scottish Government outlines the plan to reopen all schools on a full time basis from August.

We are currently considering the practicalities and implications of this announcement and will await further clarification and guidance from government, particularly in relation to public health and scientific advice.

Our priority is the safety of our pupils and staff across our network of primary, secondary and ASN schools, as well as our early learning and childcare settings.

We understand that you will have questions, and as this news was only announced today, we will make further information available on how this impacts on our schools and facilities in the coming days.

We are preparing for pupils to return full-time to school on 12 August and we will be working closely with our schools and partners, including our early years and childcare provision to establish our plans, which we will communicate as soon as we are in a position to.

Gerard McLaughlin

Head of Education (North)

As we prepare for next session our biggest challenge has been accommodation. Keeping desks 2m apart has restricted class sizes to an average of 10 pupils. As current advice indicates children will return to a “blended” model of learning, attending school for two days each week and then completing home learning tasks during the remaining three days. As per council advice we will continue to use Microsoft Teams as a platform for any digital learning. Although we are waiting on final confirmation from education and families our provisional days for next term are as follows:

S1: Monday and Tuesday

S2: Tuesday and Friday

S3: Monday and Friday

S4: Wednesday and Thursday

S5/6: Wednesday and Thursday

This may change over the holidays depending on advice from Scottish Government. We have split each day into three larger blocks, effectively double periods, to ensure pupils receive an appropriate balance of subjects while also minimising any travel around the school.

We may also have to slightly alter our school day to minimise the number of children entering and exiting the building at any one time. We have also spent a considerable amount of time working out how pupils will safely access the building and routes around it. I will issue more detailed information on all of the above nearer the date we are due to return to school.

Pupils will have to preorder a snack for interval and a lunch if required. They will be unable to access the water machines so should bring a bottle of water with them if required.

Pupils should receive their SQA results on Tuesday 4th of August. If any pupils would like to discuss possible subject changes for next session our re-coursing day will be on Wednesday 5th August from 9.30am – 1.30pm. As August will be very busy it is essential that if you want to make any changes then you make every effort to attend the re-coursing session.

Pupils will return on Wednesday 12th of August, if scheduled to attend that day.

These arrangements will stay in place until the Scottish Government and North Lanarkshire Council make any changes in line with the roadmap out of lockdown.

I would like to thank you all for your continued support throughout these very challenging times.