Last week’s bulletin had a focus on getting ready for next academic year with an outline of the key systems, procedures and expectations in place for students and parents. If you haven’t had a chance to read it, I would recommend that you do so, and can find it here. The final part of last week’s bulletin was a parent survey for us to take on feedback on how we can work in partnership with parents to continue to improve the school. Please share your thoughts using this link: 

https://avanti.wufoo.com/forms/afs-parent-survey-questions/ 

Today’s children and young people are growing up in an increasingly complex world and living their lives seamlessly on and offline. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. In this environment, children and young people need to know how to be safe and healthy, and how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way. For this reason, the DfE have made Relationships and Sex Education compulsory in all secondary schools, 

In the Summer 2 term, the school will be delivering the Relationships and Sexual Education (RSE) component of our PSHE curriculum at Avanti Fields. The school has worked closely with the Trust to develop appropriate resources for our RSE lessons and RSE is not about the promotion of sexual activity. You can find our RSE policy on our website.  

Next half term, students will cover the curriculum outlined below.  

This week the school has participated in our annual Challenge Partners review. It is a fantastic opportunity to work collaboratively with other school leaders to identify good practice across the school, confirm our judgements on development priorities and showcase the exceptional work done across the school. The school will receive a report from the review which will be shared with the community once published.  

Finally, I want to thank the PTFA for organising a fantastic Mental Health and Wellbeing day at the school last Saturday. There were over 600 visitors to the event, and they even got mentioned in the paper:  

https://leicestertimes.com/leicester-news/leicester-school-event-promotes-mental-health-and-wellbeing/27785/ 

On Monday 23rd May we will be hosting a Tea and Talk event for Year 7 parents. We will be delivering some key information via a short presentation and it is also an opportunity to meet other parents of Year 7 students and help build a stronger community for our Year 7 cohort.   

If you can attend, please complete this google form by Wednesday 18th May 2022, so we can stock refreshments accordingly. https://forms.gle/oQWkc2aGqB53jkJdA  

Following the May half term break, from Monday 6th June 2022, there will be no onsite collection of secondary students except for those parents who are blue badge holders.   

Please consider the following options:   

• Park and Walk (from TESCO)   
• Walk from Humberstone Lane/Barkbythorpe Road   
• Cycle   
• Public Bus Service   

Paid for Bus Service (Beaver Bus).  If you are interested in signing up for Beaver Bus for the next academic year, please visit the Beaver Bus website www.beaver-bus.co.uk and click on: “School Buses” tab followed by “Reservation form”.  You will need to complete the reservation form even if your child already travels by Beaver Bus.  

We are also requesting that parents think about whether they need to use Thurmaston Lane as a drop off/collection point for their children. As a school, we are part of a local community, and there have been concerns raised by local residents about the traffic along Thurmaston Lane around school times. We recommend that Thurmaston Lane is for pedestrian/cycle traffic only, and that one of the other suggestions above is used if travelling by car.   

As part of the knife crime awareness week, next week students in Y9 will have the opportunity to participate in a virtual workshop to educate our young people on this issue. They will have the opportunity to discuss knife crime awareness and gain a better understanding.  The session will be delivered by Kate Hudson, the children and young person’s officer for Leicestershire police.  In addition to the workshop, the local police will be visiting schools across the city and provide an opportunity for students to speak to them and ask questions.  The police will be holding an information stand on Monday 16.05.22 during the lunch sittings at 12:00 – 13:30.   

• Tuesday 3rd May: Queen’s Platinum Jubilee school-based Holiday (school closed)
• Monday 30th May – Friday 3rd June: May half-term
• Wednesday 8th June – HPV Vaccine (Year 8 and 9)
• Thursday 9th and Friday 10th June: AST INSET Day (school closed)
• Thursday 16th June: Year 7 Parent’s Evening
• Wednesday 22nd June: Year 7 Parent’s Evening
• Monday 20th– Friday 24th June: Year 10 Work Experience
• Tuesday 28th -June: Year 6 Transition Day
• Friday 1st July: Ratha Yatra Chariot Festival Day
• Tuesday 5th– Friday 8th July: Year 7 Avanti Quest
• Friday 8th July: Last day of academic year

The term dates for 2022/2023 can be found on our website here.

Yours sincerely

Miss Bardsley

Acting Principal