Dear Parents/Carers,

This afternoon, we complete a second week of home-study and begin the Easter break. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support with your children’s learning and assure you it is hugely appreciated by everyone at Horizon. I was delighted to be able to celebrate what is being achieved on Twitter yesterday through #proudthursday. Please do have a look if you have not yet had the chance @horizon_cc.

As I said in my letter earlier in the week, it is important that we all now have an opportunity to rest and enjoy quality time together – albeit in the confine of our own homes. I am not therefore asking teachers to set learning activities during the holiday period, so that children, parents and staff all ‘return’ refreshed on Monday 20^th April. However, if your children would like to complete work they have already been given or develop aspects of study already touched on in learning time, they are more than welcome to do so and then discuss and share this with their teachers after the holiday.

It is not yet clear how long schools will be closed but it increasingly looks as if it is likely to be well into the next half-term, so it is important that we learn to manage a very different way of working. To support this, after Easter, students in each year group will have access to a suggested timetable and their learning for each subject will be emailed once a week from their subject teachers, as previously explained. This will hopefully help us all to work together even more effectively.

As we break up today, we say a sad goodbye to three members of staff. I would like to thank Mr Barker, Miss Bamforth and Miss Light for all they have done and wish them every success in the future. We are also saying a temporary farewell to Miss Khan and Miss Sheldon, as they now begin maternity leave.

This does mean a few changes will be happening and so your children may have a new teacher when the Summer Term begins. I would therefore like to both introduce and welcome Miss Bell, who joins us in Modern Foreign Languages, Miss Collins-Taylor, who joins us in Science, and Mrs Askey, who joins us as our Assistant SENDCo. I would also like to welcome back Miss Anyon, who will be joining Mr Plant as Head of School for Year 9. Finally, Miss Winterburn will now become Head of School for Year 10, Mr Middleton will join Mrs Malson as the Head of School for Year 7, and Mrs Proud will become our SENDCo working alongside Mrs Walker.

I wish you all a safe, restful Easter Holiday.

Kind regards

Mrs Huddart