Dear Parents and Students   Update as of 15.50 on Wednesday 29 April 2020 I hope you and your loved ones are well.  Next week brings two bank holidays.  This means no work is expected nor will be given on Monday and Friday. These days arrive fortuitously and give us all good reason to have a breather.   What do we know?

•  The Government have asked for young people to complete a survey to share their thoughts and feelings about the coronavirus pandemic:  https://survey.gov.je/s/Coronavirus_survey/  The confidential survey is a collaborative project between the Government of Jersey’s Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills and the Children’s Commissioner and will give young people a chance to comment on their experiences so that ongoing support can be tailored to meet their needs. Please could you encourage your daughter to complete it.
•  Y10 and Y12 are rightly raising questions about what impact this interruption to their learning will have on their exams next year.  OfQual are already discussing how summer 2021 exams will reflect this interruption.  As soon as I have any confirmation I will let students and parents know.
• Following the successful live Zoom Q & A with Y13, I am having live Zooms with Y12 tomorrow and Y11 on Friday.  I hope to do similar with Years 7 - 10 next week.
• Year 12 Periodic data is really encouraging.  Well done girls!
• Screen time:  during yesterday’s Student Council meeting for Years 7 & 8, student reps fed back that students are complaining about headaches, tired eyes, feeling achy – all due to too much screen time. They are working on screens then catching up with friends via screens etc.  I sympathise with them and know how they feel.  Working on screens is exhausting.  That is why it’s so important to switch the screen off at times during the day and do something else including exercise.  Miss David is also drafting some helpful advice on this theme.  I think we all need it.
• Thank you for the feedback we are receiving on how your daughter is.  It is so helpful and I can see from emails between Heads of School and teachers that we have bespoke plans for students that need it.  As always, please do let your daughter’s tutor know if you have any concerns about her learning, motivation or mood.  Teenage girls can be especially good at demonstrating this last point.  Equally, it is not unusual for people to act out of character in these circumstances.
• Our teachers have been under tremendous pressure to completely change and adapt how they teach and manage this from their home context.  I am incredibly proud of them and our students.
• Equally, I know you and our staff are under tremendous pressure from many other things too. From protecting your family, anxiety for relatives, cancellation of family events and uncertainty about family finances in addition to managing home learning alongside working from home yourself.  None of this is easy.  It’s important to remind ourselves that we are doing ok.

So some good and uplifting news!

• The Sixth Form Nightingale Run has begun! So far, over £900 has been raised in less than 24 hours.  This is fantastic and thank you to our runners from JCG and VCJ, and for your support. The most wonderful news is that today, Saltgate have offered to match fund everything the students raise.  Thank you Saltgate! If you would like to donate the link is:
• https://www.gofundme.com/f/jcg-amp-vcj-jersey-to-london-nightingale-run?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1
• Cakes aplenty are being delivered to St. Luke’s.  Thank you and please keep them coming. Photos of deliveries will be put on our social media.
• Our Chamber Choir has an online rehearsal today in preparation for our Leavers Service, which will happen at some point.
• Mr Jones and Mr Coxshall have had the 3D printers working throughout Easter.  The result is below.  Amazing! And needed.
• And in the Howarth home, my son cut my hair with some newly ordered clippers and the result doesn’t look too bad, considering.

Take care.   Yours, Carl Howarth Principal