Dear Parent/Carer,
I just wanted to write a brief last letter to wish you all the best at the end of the year. With the record temperatures in the UK recently, the sun has definitely been shining on Jesmond Park Academy. It has been a strange year in many regards, but has ended superbly with the publication of a ‘Good’ Ofsted inspection report for our school. I would like again to reiterate our thanks to the whole school community for their help in achieving this result. It is extremely rare for a school to improve by 2 categories under the new Ofsted Framework. To do this in such a short period of time means we are especially proud of the outcome.
I would like to take the time to say thank you to the parents who came to see the ‘Creative Showcase’ at our school on Wednesday evening. It was absolutely superb! The students were stunning and the variety of singing, dancing, drama and musical performances was so impressive. There was certainly a ‘buzz’ at the end amongst the staff, students and parents and it reinforces how important these enrichment experiences are. I would like to put on record a huge thanks to the whole Performing Arts Department for their efforts. We are committed to putting more events on next year and we have already enrolled in the Heaton schools Shakespeare festival for 2023. Moreover, whilst we are proud of the number of clubs and activities that are on at the school, we have been able to start our overseas trips again, with a Ski Trip and a French Trip on the plans for next year. Enrichment opportunities are so important in creating the memories that students will remember and hopefully you will read about these opportunities next year. If you would like to read more of our positive stories from this term, then please read our Park Life magazine that can be found here:
https://www.jesmondparkacademy.org.uk/article/2022/7/22/park-life-summer-edition-2022
We have already sent information to you explaining the arrangements for next year and you will also find all the information on our website, under the Key Information & Updates section. In this, you will find out information on our staggered start to the year, but I have listed these below for your ease:
Monday 5th September Staff Training Day (School Closed for students)
Tuesday 6th September School open to Year 7 students only (8.25 am)
Wednesday 7th September School open to Year 7, 8, 11 and 13 (staggered starts:Y7 & Y8 8.25 am, Y11 10.25 am, Y13 9.25 am)
Thursday 8th September School open to all Year Groups 8.25 am start (10.35 am start for Year 12)
Friday 9th September Normal teaching day for all students
Pastoral Structure for September 2022
There have been some changes to the Pastoral Structure for Years 7-11 and this is important for you to know so you are aware of who to contact at the school if the need arises:
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Senior Lead
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Head of
Key Stage
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Year Group and base
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Head of Year
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Year Manager Key Stage
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Year Manager
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Dave
Merrifield
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HoKS3
Elspeth Dowling
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Y7
MFL
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Louise Sayers
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Mark Bolam (Y7 Sept to Oct ½ term)
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Heather Hearons
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Y8
Science
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Steve McLaughlin
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Ben Brown
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Y9
Humanities
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James Smith
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Mel Booth
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HoKS4
Chris
Mason
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Y10
English
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Andy Cleland
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Graham Henderson
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Alaina Winship
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Y11
Maths
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Hayley Hooker
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Lyndsey Henderson
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Community Information
I would like to pass on some information with regards to activities and assistance that are available over the summer:
The People’s Kitchen - During the school holidays starting from Monday 25th July till Friday 2nd September, the kitchen will be able to provide food parcels to help out with breakfasts and lunches for any children. The bag will hopefully contain cereal, bread, margarine, tuna, beans and sweetcorn. If we have juice and fruit available, that will also be provided. The bag can be picked up from the kitchen between 11am and 3pm Monday to Friday. (https://www.facebook.com/308357935949361/posts/5341638219287949/?sfnsn=scwspmo)
Please follow the link below to the St. Gabriel’s Church Family, Fun and Food Poster
https://www.jesmondparkacademy.org.uk/media.ashx?id=6859
Please follow the link below to the Summer Holiday Activities Flyer:
https://www.jesmondparkacademy.org.uk/media.ashx?id=6860
So, all that is left is to say is over this summer, we feel it is important that students take a well-earned break and recharge their batteries. I hope you and your family can manage to have an enjoyable and relaxing summer.
Yours faithfully,
STEVE CAMPBELL
PRINCIPAL