This Term

Monday 10 January D of E Award Parents' Information Evening

Friday 14 Ten Tors residential weekend

Monday 17 Governors' Finance Committee

Wednesday 19 Parents' Committee

Friday 21 PTA Quiz Evening

Friday 28 Pixies Holt weekend (all years)

Wednesday 2 February Governors' meeting

Wednesday 9 Drama Production

Thursday 10 Drama Production

Friday 11 Drama Production

Monday 14 Finance Committee

Friday 18 German Exchange Departs

Monday 21 Half-term week begins

Friday 3 March PTA Film Evening

Tuesday 7 French Exchange Meeting

Saturday 11 PTA Jumble Sale

Thursday 23 Governors' meeting

Sunday 9 April OATS Cross-Dartmoor Walk

Monday 10 Finance Committee

Friday 14 Last Day of Term

Rest of the Year (Terms and holidays only)

Summer Term begins Tuesday 2 May

Half term week Monday 29 May

Last day Friday 21 July (Pupils)

Autumn term Wednesday 6 September (Pupils)

Staff Day (School Closed) Friday 20 October

Half term week Monday 23 October

Last Day Tuesday 19 December (to be confirmed)

Parents' Evenings (6.30 - 9.00 p.m.)

Year 11 Thursday 13 January

Year 10 Tuesday 4 April

Year 9 Wednesday 8 March (Options) and Tuesday 14 March.

Year 8 Wednesday 22 March

Year 7 Tuesday 8 February (Changed from date first announced)

Year 6 Thursday 6 July (New Intake)

Additional Staff Days The Government has said that there will be two additional staff days, one in the Spring and one in the Autumn Term, to allow for training in the introduction of its new performance management scheme. I have no firm information on these or if we will be free to choose which days we close.

Calendar of Examinations GCSE written papers begin on Friday 19 May but there are also practical examinations throughout May. The Government has moved the Year 9 Sats to the week beginning 8 May. School examinations are planned for the week beginning 21 May, except for Year 10 which were to be in the week now occupied by Sats: a new date has to be confirmed.

Other Calendar Items Separate calendars have been issued (or will be issued) to those involved in Ten Tors; Exmoor Challenge; Drama rehearsals; Sports fixtures; canoeing; Duke of Edinburgh's Award. They show the complete programmes for those activities.

Commendations Thomas Blackmore, Rhys Davies, Steven Birch, Alison Weekes, Melissa Taylor, Michael Roscoe, Daniel Hinchcliffe, Lucy Gilson, Laura Barnard, Rebecca Knowles, Louise Hodgson, Chloe Stickland, Nathan Gibbs, Ben Palfrey, Daniel Reed, Gillian Manley, Elizabeth Dingle, Ruby Smith, Victoria Mugleston, Cheryl King, Wendy Heywood, Hayley Snell, Stephanie Hart, Anna Wells, Megan French, Daniel Pick, Rebecca Pike, Lisa Scott, Owain Quick, Samual Larcombe, Rachael Trethowan, George Lewis, Dean Robson, Michelle Stoneman, Edward Moore, Nicholas Stanley, Oliver Burtchaell.

Bad Weather The school is not usually closed, even by severe weather, unless our electricity supply fails. Our overhead power lines are rather vulnerable and we have been without power two or three times in the past ten years. School closures are announced on local radio (we have a code word to make sure the closure is genuine), as early as we can make a decision. We have to accept the judgement of our transport contractors as to whether they run the buses, or if they want to take pupils home early. Conditions vary across our huge catchment area and we are sometimes surprised by their decisions. We cannot contact the homes of all 800 pupils to let them know of early closures. Parents, particularly of younger children, should ensure that there is somewhere safe for pupils to go if they are brought home early. We suggest that pupils wait up to half an hour beyond the normal time for transport in the morning (unless conditions are very severe) before returning home.

Pixies Holt Weekend The next residential weekend is from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 January. A range of activities will be provided, probably including caving, walking and mountain biking. They will be suitable for all ages. Letters will be available early next week.

Signed Mr B Gordon [Headteacher]