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Freddie's Focus

For Parents & Carers

  • Issue 62
  • October 13, 2023

Freddie's Focus

For Parents & Carers

  • Issue 62
  • October 13, 2023

Things to celebrate

  • This week we have launched ‘Freddie’s Focus on the Stars’.  It is wonderful to see so many of our students being recognised for their hard work and effort in specific subjects across the school. We are also incredibly proud of the students who have received the Head Teacher’s Award.
  • Earlier this week, a group of our Year 8 students attended a trip to the RHS as part of their Geography studies. An interesting and enjoyable time was had by all.
  • On Friday night, we hosted our first ever Sports Award event at Tyldesley Rugby Club. This was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the sporting successes of so many of our students.  It was also lovely to be joined by some of our ex-students and Keely Hodgkinson who kindly gave up her time to talk to the students and hand out the rewards.
  • And finally… we begin our move to our amazing new building. Please see the Headteacher’s comments for further details.
  • Sporting Success this week
  • The U16 girls’ football team beat Flixton 3-2 in an entertaining game of football last week.  They play Haslingden in the next round.
  • The U16 boys played Trinity College in the English Schools Cup on Wednesday night in Central Manchester. Unfortunately, the boys lost 5-3 in what was a highly competitive game.
  • Key Stage 3 girls played their first ever rugby match against a supportive St Mary’s team and PE staff couldn’t be prouder. The students really enjoyed the experience and are ready for more training after half term. Well done to all who took part and a special thank you to Evie Leatherbarrow in Y9 who, as an experienced player, was an excellent role model, captain and coach.

School Reminders

  • Satchel:One Homework

    To ensure students are not disadvantaged as a result of the enforced closure, please be mindful that tasks for completion have been set for all students on Satchel:One.

  • Return to school dates

    For further information on return dates, please see the correspondence below sent to you by Mr Davies.

  • Belgium trip

    Our Belgium trip departs on Friday 20th October. We wish all students and staff a wonderful trip.

  • Satchel:One - Important information

    Satchel:One is making a change to their systems and require all parents and carers to verify their accounts by the 31st October 2023. Failure to do so will result in your account being deleted. Further information can be found below.

  • Form tutor meetings

    Advanced notice that on Monday 13th November, we will be holding 5 minute Form Tutor ‘Keep in Touch’ meetings online from 2pm. Further information to follow.

  • General Reminder

    We would like to start the new term in our new build positively. We therefore ask for your support in ensuring that your child adheres to our uniform policy. Key things to remember are that jumpers are not permitted. We expect all students to be in suitable school footwear and that all have an appropriate school bag. False tan, jewellery, make up, false lashes and nails are not permitted. For further information, please see our uniform policy on the website.

Satchel:One - Verify your account
New School - Final Arrangements
Term Dates and Key Events
School Uniform Policy

School Reminders

  • Satchel:One Homework

    To ensure students are not disadvantaged as a result of the enforced closure, please be mindful that tasks for completion have been set for all students on Satchel:One.

  • Return to school dates

    For further information on return dates, please see the correspondence below sent to you by Mr Davies.

  • Belgium trip

    Our Belgium trip departs on Friday 20th October. We wish all students and staff a wonderful trip.

  • Satchel:One - Important information

    Satchel:One is making a change to their systems and require all parents and carers to verify their accounts by the 31st October 2023. Failure to do so will result in your account being deleted. Further information can be found below.

  • Form tutor meetings

    Advanced notice that on Monday 13th November, we will be holding 5 minute Form Tutor ‘Keep in Touch’ meetings online from 2pm. Further information to follow.

  • General Reminder

    We would like to start the new term in our new build positively. We therefore ask for your support in ensuring that your child adheres to our uniform policy. Key things to remember are that jumpers are not permitted. We expect all students to be in suitable school footwear and that all have an appropriate school bag. False tan, jewellery, make up, false lashes and nails are not permitted. For further information, please see our uniform policy on the website.

Satchel:One - Verify your account
New School - Final Arrangements
Term Dates and Key Events
School Uniform Policy

How we learn

Below are some of our study skills strategies which we encourage students to use as a method of helping them to retain information in the long-term memory.  Actively doing something with the information that they have been taught is a really useful way of learning and remembering:

Homework and Self-directed study

Microsoft Office

Did you know that your child can access Microsoft Office at home for free? As a student at Fred Longworth High School, your child is allowed to download a fully working free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use on their computer, smartphone and tablet whilst they are a student at our school. Click on the button below to learn more.

Get Microsoft Office for free

Satchel:One

You can keep track of your child’s homework using Satchel:One. It is advisable to remind your child to get into the habit of checking their homework on Satchel:One regularly. Relying upon notifications is not the right approach and we advise students to turn off notifications so that they are not disturbed by them.

About Satchel:One

Homework Club

Please remind your child that homework club is available to all students Monday-Thursday in the Library (apart from Monday week B) where support and IT equipment is is available.

Attendance

We want to do all we can to support your child to be in school every day and ask that you support this important message from home, encouraging your child to avoid missing curriculum content through absence. Here is a breakdown of the absences for the following attendance percentages:

Message from the Headteacher

Dear Parents and Carers, 

This week has been an unusual week in school to say the least. Whilst business has continued as usual, underneath this has been the realisation that many ‘lasts’ have happened: the last assembly in what will soon be the old Sports Hall; the last science lesson in the old science block; the last lunchtime in the old canteen – I could go on. For a school that is 60 years old, these buildings hold many memories and as we have been packing and sorting through, lots of old memories have surfaced. It is an emotional time and particularly for many of our long serving staff – many of whom were students here themselves. It is right to look back and celebrate this old building. It has served the community faithfully for nearly 60 years. 

That said, we are also very excited and feel very privileged that we are benefiting from a brand-new school building, and we are looking forward to the many ‘firsts’ in our new build. Here is a reminder of the key dates and times when we return: 

  • Year 7 and Year 11 only return to school on Tuesday 31st October. Students need to arrive at school for 8:30am as usual. Staff will be present to direct students where to go.
  • Years 8, 9 and 10 only return to school on Wednesday 1st November. Students need to arrive at school for 8:30am as usual. Staff will be present to direct students into the new school and direct them. Students in Years 7 and 11 need to return to school for 11:15am on the 1st November.
  • All students will return to school as normal on Thursday 2nd November. 

Please remember that access to the school site will be extremely limited and until March 2024, there will be no visitor parking on the school site. 

Thank you for your support and understanding at this time – we look forward to seeing you on the other side! 

Regards,
 
Mr Davies.

How Yondr Works

Frequently Asked Questions

We want our students to be engaged in their learning. A child at high school should not really have a reason to contact a parent during the day; however, if there is a genuine reason e.g. they have forgotten their packed lunch, a phone call can be made home from the school office. If a parent needs to contact their child in an emergency, they should contact the school office. If you need to contact your child during the school day, contact the main office on 01942 883796.

In case of a school emergency, we direct our students to safety first, following our school emergency procedures.

 

Students are in possession of their phone - in their Yondr pouch - for the entire school day. We will advise students to store the pouch safely in their school bag or blazer pockets.

If a student damages their Pouch or is caught on their phone, we will confiscate the phone and issue a sanction which is likely to be a suspension.

Note: Damage consists of any signs that the physical integrity of the pouch has been compromised, whether intentional or unintentional, as determined by the school or Yondr staff.

Damaged pouches will be charged to parents at a cost of £20.

They will be searched and wanded with a handheld scanner by a member of SLT. If they are found to have their phone on their person they will be expected to place it in their pouch. Refusal will be met with suspension.

If a student forgets their Pouch, their phone will be confiscated.

As per our previous mobile phone policy;

  • Confiscated phones will be taken to reception where the phone will be secured in the school safe.
  • Parents will be alerted to the phone confiscation via the school office.

Parents will have the option to collect the phone at the end of the day. If parents do not collect the phone, the phone will remain in school until the end of the week or until the student has their pouch.

In Yondr’s experience, this almost never happens. All students funnel past the unlocking stations at the exits, they want their phones back and don’t forget to unlock their pouches. If they do arrive home with a phone in a pouch, they can either come back to school to unlock it, or have a phone free evening!

The unlocking process is quick and takes under a second per student. 

As a privilege, Year 11 will be able to unlock their phones as they go off site at lunchtime; however, they will be expected to put their phones back into their pouches when they return to school for period 5.

Yes. There is an adapted version of the pouch which uses a Velcro fastener instead of a magnetic lock. This means the student still follows the policy, but the adapted pouch gives them easy access to their phone when required. If the student abuses this, they will face a sanction. We are already aware of these students.

Your Office 365 account username is your school network account username followed by @flhs.wigan.sch.uk 
The password is the same password that you use in school to access computers.