7th May 2020
Download the letter here: Letter to parents 7th May
Dear Parent/Carer,
I am writing with a brief update.
Friday 8th May is a Bank Holiday and I have asked staff not to set work for that day as I feel it is an excellent opportunity for families to spend some quality time together. The weather is forecast to be quite good and perhaps this could be a chance to put some of our current worries to one side, be together without having to think of school work or indeed any work and enjoy the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. It is worth remembering why we, as a nation are celebrating. It is about celebrating that for three quarters of a century Europe has largely been at peace. Most of us have been fortunate enough to have lived our lives without the reality of war and destruction. I spoke to a gentleman who lived round the corner from me the other day whilst I was walking my dog. (I will point out that we both observed social distancing.) I’m not sure of his exact age but he will be around 70 – he commented that “this situation with Coronavirus is the worst thing that has happened in his lifetime.”
I reflected on that comment afterwards and came to the conclusion that he may well be right. I then thought about the people celebrating VE Day in 1945 and everything that generation of people endured. I then thought how fortunate I was to have reached the age I have without having to make that level of sacrifice and lived in a country like what I do. I concluded that staying at home isn’t that much of a hardship in comparison with the sacrifices of the war-time generation. Please enjoy the weekend.
Free School Meals
I need to keep reminding parents to make contact with us if their circumstances have changed. Please contact the school via office@seahamhighschool.com if you now think you may be eligible for FSM. As employers are making decisions about Furlough circumstances will change for a number of families which means they may now be eligible. If you are in any doubt then please contact us. Similarly if you are having problems with the Voucher website in terms of a missing code or a new order then please contact the school via the following email fsmvoucher@seahamhighschool.com and we will endeavour to help you. Please be patient with us the school is limited to ordering new vouchers and resending an old voucher code, if parents have not received it. For other concerns parents must go direct to the company. I would ask parents to check their spam or junk folder in their emails as vouchers sometimes end up in there.
Laptops
Recently, the Government announced that eligible students will be provided with a laptop in order to access any online work from home. We have received some guidelines from the LA and have submitted a list of eligible students today.
Children of Key Workers and Vulnerable students
The school remains open to these students on Friday 8th May and it is likely we will be open over May half term too, dependent on Government guidance. Please continue to fill in the Key Worker booking forms as previously.
Once again I am grateful to all of you for your support. Please stay safe.
Yours sincerely
Mr G.W. Lumsdon
Head Teacher