HIGHLIGHTS 

Hearing that our students doing their DofE volunteering have clocked up over 3000 hours supporting local organisations delivering much-needed services in the local community.  Students get much out of giving their time and supporting others, I hope many continue to support these groups.  

It has been wonderful to be hearing about the Year 10 trip to Spain and seeing all of their adventures soaking up the culture of Salamanca, from attending school to visiting local restaurants.  The group have been a real credit to the school, thank you to Mr Wightman and Ms Fernandes for taking them.

COMMUNICATION WITH STAFF

We believe in working in partnership with parents to enable us to provide the best possible experience for your sons/daughters.  One of our central values is respect, as such can I, therefore, ask that in communications with us, you are polite and respectful to staff as they are doing their very best to support your children.

The only other thing we would say is that we understand that sometimes parents or carers may be frustrated about issues that arise and we will always do our best to solve these. At the same time, our staff should not have to put up with communication that is rude, abusive or aggressive. As such staff will not communicate with anyone who is communicating in such a manner, I am sure you would agree that no one should be subjected to such communication. 

Furthermore, we would much prefer parents or carers to contact us directly with concerns rather than raise them on social media before we have had the chance to respond.

It shouldn’t be forgotten that there is a teaching recruitment crisis and we need to ensure that we hold onto our excellent staff so please be respectful.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT

It is important that in life students learn to get the basics right as this will help them to be more successful in life.  They also need to understand that different expectations are found in different places.  As a school, we believe that students should follow our basics of being polite to all, listening and supporting each other as well as the basic expectations around uniform and jewellery for example. 

We are very clear on what our expectations are around this and make no apology for having high standards around them.  I must highlight how difficult it makes it for us and indeed students when parents do not support these expectations.  

I, therefore, ask that you support our staff in upholding our basic expectations.  We don’t always get decisions right in the same way that young people do not always make the right decisions.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

As you will know we have been working hard together to promote positive school attendance. Our overall figures are still not yet where we would like them, but we are heading in the right direction, thank you for your support.

This week,  the Heads of Year and Pastoral Leaders had some further training on ERSA – Emotionally Related School Avoidance, led by borough specialists. This gave further advice on how we can support parents working with young people that are struggling to get in to school with anxiety and other related conditions. The training was useful and hopefully we will see some of these strategies implemented very soon, however, we have extracted two very information slides that parents may find useful when preparing students for the week ahead on Sunday evening and Monday morning. They can be found here. We hope that you find them useful.

SUMMER FESTIVAL - 5 WEEKS TO GO

It’s only 5 weeks until our Summer Festival and we would like to thank all those who have offered to help. We know that ‘many hands make light work’ and it’s not too late to get involved. Should you have a spare 30 minutes available and are available before, during or after the event please do get in touch with Mrs Reid-Smith who would love to hear from you.

A huge thank you to all those who have donated a bottle to our tombola. Anyone who would still like to donate an item - bubble bath, perfume, wine etc, - can drop items off at the Main Reception.

We will be launching the Summer Draw on 30 June and have a wonderful array of prizes including:

• Perfect Treat Spa Day for 2 at the Berystede Hotel – Use of the spa facilities from 10am to 6pm, a 55 minute treatment and afternoon tea (available Mon – Thur)
• Go Ape Treetop Challenge for 2 – Sponsored by Powell Construction
• An £80 voucher and a bottle of prosecco for The Belvedere Arms
• £100 Zara Gift Card – kindly donated by a parent

Tickets will be available on ParentPay from Friday 30 June and will be priced at £5 each. You will also be able to purchase tickets on the day of the Festival and the Grand Draw will take place at 2pm on Saturday 15 July.

SECOND HAND UNIFORM

As Year 11 students near the end of their exams, we wanted to give parents a way to donate uniforms which are in good condition but no longer needed. We will use the donated items to create a Second Hand Uniform stall at our forthcoming Charters Festival. We hope to offer the following items for parent/carers to select on a ‘pay what you feel’ basis during the event:

• Blazers
• Skirts
• Trousers
• White Shirts
• Polo Shirts
• Navy Pullovers
• Junior Ties
• Senior Ties
• PE Polo Shirts
• Rugby Shirts
• PE Base Layers (Tops and Leggings)
• PE Shorts
• PE Skorts
• PE Fitness Shorts
• PE Tracksuit Pants
• Football/Hockey Socks
• School Shoes (Formal plain, flat, black shoes that can be polished)
• Trainers

The idea is not to make a great deal of money, but to provide a way for parents to clear their wardrobes of unwanted items, share resources and help save a few pounds at the same time.

We will be collecting donations on Friday 23 June from 8am - 8.30am and 2.45pm - 3.15pm. To make it as easy as we can for people to donate to this initiative, volunteers will be waiting to receive clothing in the wooden shelter adjacent to the Leisure Centre car park during these times. If you bring your child to school by car and would like to donate, please use the car park off Devenish Road so that items can be left either before or after school.

If your child makes their way to school on foot or via the school bus, please ask them to deliver the items to the shelter before they go to registration.

Please do not send in items to the Main Reception

There are just a few rules to follow:

• Please only donate items you would be happy for your own child to wear
• Donated items must be clean and ironed (on hangers would be helpful but not essential)

We very much hope that this initiative will help our school community save a little money whilst also helping to protect our planet. Thank you for your support.

NEWS

Click on the images below to read this week's news stories...

Climate Scientist from Imperial College Visits

These are just some of the things that have taken place this week at Charters.  Take a look through our social media using these buttons to discover many more.

NOTICES

BLAZERS

As we are starting to see the temperatures rise students will no longer have to blazers from Monday 12 June.

If students are cold they will need to wear a school jumper or the blazer, they cannot wear non-school uniform such as hoodies , sweatshirts or training tops.

Lets hope that the weather is warm enough for this not to be an issue.

HANDLING THE NEWS DAY - DONATION OF NEWSPAPERS

Plans for the Year 9 Handling the News Day on Friday 30 June continue at a pace.

You may remember from previous Newsletters that students will be placed in news groups – The Times, The Sun, The Independent, Bracknell News etc. and assigned roles such as editor or reporter.

To enable students to become familiar with their assigned news group we are looking for donations of weekday national and any local newspapers. We are particularly short of local newspapers e.g. Bracknell News, Windsor, Ascot & Eton Express or any other local newspaper.

If you have any papers that you wish to donate, can you please arrange for students to drop them into the English Office by Friday 23 June.  Many thanks.

YEAR 11 AND YEAR 13 PARENTPAY ACCOUNTS

Please plan to spend down dinner money balances during the summer term if you know you are leaving Charters School in the summer. 

You may still need money for food during the exam period but please be aware that the administration costs involved in processing refunds means that only balances over £5 are refunded.

Any remaining Year 13 balances over £5 will be refunded in July.

Any remaining Year 11 balances over £5 will be refunded once we know who has returned to Sixth Form. This is expected to be by the third week of September.

CUCINA CATERING REVIEW

Our School Catering team has created an overview of the food available this term & the menus, offers & promotions, along with sharing some of the comments and feedback from recent student surveys.  Please click here to view.

ASSOCIATE STAFF VACANCIES

We are seeking part-time or full time Teaching Assistants to join us in September 2023.

If you are interested please click here for further details.  Teaching Assistants.

For further details and to apply, please see the Vacancies page on the school website.

COMMUNITY

PARALLEL WINDSOR

Fancy trying something new and different? Then check out Parallel Windsor  - an Award-winning Festival of Inclusivity with challenge events for EVERYBODY of all ages, health conditions and abilities. Parallel Windsor will take place on Sunday 2nd July 2023.

Discount codes available for Ascot & Maidenhead School Sport Partnership Schools (Children, families, friends and staff) – see attached flyer – FREE Festival tickets using the code  A&MSSPFESTIVAL & 50% reduction in the Challenge events using the code A&MSSP50 You don’t have to be completing a Challenge event to attend the Festival, and your Challenge Ticket includes entry to the Festival.

Parallel Windsor is the UK's national celebration of disability inclusion & wellbeing. Our award winning event is held in the grounds of the majestic Windsor Great Park & staged on the iconic Long Walk.

Parallel Windsor features challenge events for everybody of all ages, health conditions & abilities. Walk, push or run - there are no cut off times, highlighted by our slogan of 'Start Together, Finish Whenever'. Everybody who starts gets a medal, t-shirt, & goody bag. A great opportunity for all ages and abilities to find their distance and complete a challenge and for families and friends to take part together.

Our selection of distances range from 100m, 1k, 5k, 10k & our very own SuperSensory1K. The shorter distances start & finish on the historic Long Walk, with 2 stunning routes in The Great Park for the 5k & 10k; all finishing against the backdrop of Windsor Castle.

Parallel Windsor provides lots of inclusive fun & entertainment for the whole family. Our festival footprint brings together a wonderful charity village, picnic area, yummy food concessions & our famous Clusivity Inn provided by The Windsor & Eton Brewery. There is also a huge range of activities & entertainment - Live Music Stage, Arts & Crafts, Storytelling, Sport, Active Lifestyle, Play, Skills & Careers, Technology, Mobility & Community.

As a fully accessible event, Parallel Windsor has on-site parking, on-site mobility aids for hire, accessible toilets (including 3 Mobiloos), medical support, quiet spaces & all support & assistance animals are welcome.

To find our more visit: https://www.parallellifestyle.com/windsor2023

BUGS, BIRDS AND BEASTS DAY – 25 JULY 2023 AT IMPERIAL COLLEGE

Come to a day of free and exciting events for all the family at Imperial College London’s beautiful Silwood Park campus, in Ascot.

Bugs, Birds & Beasts Day is a nature activity day for all the family, hosted outdoors. Join us and find out how bugs, birds and beasts enrich our lives: watch live bird eggs develop and hatch, marvel at falconry displays, take part and discover wonderful facts about the creatures all around us on bug hunts. There’s something for everyone, from pond-dipping to Jurassic Lab exhibits.

BBQ and refreshments available – or bring your own picnic.

Limited parking onsite.

Free entry and everyone is welcome!

Date: 25 July

Time: 12:00-17:00

Register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bugs-birds-beasts-day-2023-tickets-624519092417 

Website: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/georgina-mace-living-planet/events/

FOOD BANK - EVERY TUESDAY

12:00-1:00PM
SHARE Hope Church, Sunningdale
High Street, Sunningdale, SL5 7LY (next to Nag’s Head Pub)

Hate food waste? Come along to Hope Church Sunningdale FOOD BANK, open to ANYONE. We have mainly fresh food and bakery items donated from local supermarkets. The food is at the end of its shelf life (but still perfectly fine to eat!) It would otherwise just go to waste. Bring a bag to fill up, stop for a chat and a cup of tea (and cake!!) and warm up in the church. ALL welcome, no voucher/referral required.

We operate a  one (standard size) shopping bag per family policy and use ticketing system to stagger entrance to the food bank. We ask that you enter through the side door. Tea/coffee/biscuits are available from 11:15 and during the food bank. Entrance tickets will be distributed just before the food bank opens at 12:00. We may need to limit some items so there is enough to share with everyone.
 

USEFUL INFORMATION

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

We love sharing our student successes, out-of-the ordinary lessons, fantastic opportunities and much much more with our wider school community.  So why not follow us on our Social Media platforms where you can find out about all the unusual, and not-so-unusual, events that happen here at Charters.  Join us at:

   

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