COVID19 Update –School reopening January 2021 following government announcment

Addition of an Inset day to Friday 18th December

As you know, we have worked incredibly hard since the start of the pandemic in March to keep our
academy as safe as possible, and that work has continued over the Christmas holiday period. I would like to thank our incredible staff for their commitment and professionalism, which has seen many working over the holidays.

Information relating to school re-opening in January 2021
The Government has now announced that secondary schools and colleges will re-open on a phased
basis, as follows:

For week beginning Tuesday 5th January to Friday 8th January

• If your Year 8-11 child has already been classed as vulnerable or if you or your partner is a key
  worker, then you will be contacted on Monday 4th January, and if required by you, your child
  will have on site provision from Tuesday 5th January. These children will receive face to face
  support and be able to access online learning in the academy. There will be separate contact
  to Year 7 parents following this letter.
• If your child attends ASCEND they will return to the academy for onsite learning on Tuesday
  5th January
• All other children in Year 7-11 will receive remote learning via Microsoft Teams from Tuesday
  5th January to Friday 8th January.
  To note, on Tuesday 5th January we have an external consultant installing a new remote learning app during the day to further improve are online learning facility by syncing SIMs automatically with Team. This will ensure class groups and information is seamlessly updated and accurate. Due to this installation there will be some alteration to usual timetable Teams teaching on Tuesday and the schedule for Tuesday will be:

For week beginning Monday 11th January to Friday 15th January

• If your Year 7-10 child has been classed as vulnerable or if you or your partner is a key worker,
  and if you require it, then your child will have on site provision. These children will receive face
  to face support and be able to access online learning in the academy
• If your child attends ASCEND they continue to attend on site learning
• If your child is in Year 11 (and taking exams this academic year), then your child will return to
  the academy for on site learning on Monday 11th January to Friday 15th January. Your child is expected to engage fully with their remote learning during the week of 4th January so that they
  keep up with their education
• All other children in Year 7-10 will receive remote learning via Teams following their usual
  timetable from Monday 11th January to Friday 15th January.

For week beginning Monday 18th January to Friday 22nd January

• If your child is in Years 7, 8, 9 or 10, then your child will return to the academy on Monday 18th
  January (further information to follow). Your child is expected to engage fully with their
  remote learning during the weeks of both 4th and 11th January so that they keep up with their
  education.

At the bottom of this letter I have included information pertaining to Microsoft Teams access for
students to look at.

All scheduled Year 11 vocational exams will go ahead as planned and we will provide specific guidance and support next week. I am seeking clarification around government messaging on ‘contingency framework’ for schools in COVID19 high risk areas such as Thurrock. At time of writing it is still unclear on how this will affect us. As soon as I have detail on this I will of course pass it on to you.

If your child receives a Free School Meal and they are officially not on site, we will make similar voucher payment provision to parents for each day out of school as we have done previously.

As before, a great deal of planning and risk assessment has gone into ensuring that our academy
continues to be as safe as possible for both our students and staff, in line with latest Government and Public Health England guidance.

We will continue to take decisions in the best interests of our students, working with you and keeping you informed every step of the way, while following Government rules and advice.

Mark Roessler, Principal
Ormiston Park Academy

Microsoft Teams access information for students

All students have already been trained on how to use Microsoft Teams in case of this eventuality.
Here is a reminder to students how to access Microsoft Teams Teaching and below is a link to a
instructional PowerPoint.
Students must regularly check their personal Ormiston Park Academy email address for
information, notifications and updates.

Logging onto Microsoft Teams

1. Go to search bar and type www.office.com
2. Click on sign in button
3. Enter your school e-mail address
4. Click on next
5. Enter the password for your e-mail address
6. Press sign in then you can select if you want to stay signed in
7. You will then be shown a series of icons. Click on the teams Icon
8. If you cannot find it, you can search for teams in the search area
9. You then just need to click on the calendar. This will show the classes you have been invited to
10. When you are invited to a lesson, click on accept and it will then be added to your calendar
11. At the time of the lesson, click on the join now tab and it will take you to the lesson.
    https://ormistonacademiestrustmy.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/dkelly_ormistonpark_org_uk/Ecgu4nIwvB5EgBJJVKtuAtsBsQNwJ
    UhHpzplh3dtr7owZA?e=WdZLO7&CID=d25f7516-5583-9487-ec62-81b7a91d64e4