End of Term Arrangements

12th December 2023

Dear Parents/Carers

As we reach the end of the autumn term, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our parents and carers and wider community for their support of the Academy.  

This has been a very busy term. Students in Year 7 have settled extremely well into Academy life.  Students in Year 8 and Year 9 continue to produce excellent work and have completed end of term Delta Assessments and  students in Year 10 and Year 11 have completed mock exams and assessments with an exemplary attitude.  We are very pleased to announce that our new 3G Pitch/MUGA (Mult-use Games Area) is now complete and open offering a wide range of sporting facilities to our students and wider community.

May I take this opportunity to remind parents/carers that if you need to make contact with the Academy there are a number of ways in which this can be done: this can be via telephone, email or voicemail.  As a polite request, please note that our Academy telephone lines are very busy and we endeavour to answer your call as soon as possible.  If you are unable to make contact you can email via the school email address: info@donvalleyacademy.org.uk/attendance@donvalleyacademy.org.uk or leave a voicemail and we will make contact with you.  Academy teachers, leadership team and pastoral staff may not be able to take your calls before 2.30 p.m. due to them being in supervised contact with students or in pre-booked meetings.  We ask for your support in ensuring that if you wish to meet with member of Academy staff, that this is arranged in advance.  We cannot facilitate immediate face to face appointments.  The Academy has received an increase in occurrences of verbal and aggressive abuse towards staff in recent months.  The Academy will not tolerate this and we ask for your patience and understanding.

In the final week of this term there will be a number of events and celebrations planned:

  • Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th December – students will attend EPC assemblies on Equality and Diversity, Body Image/Self Esteem and Peer Safety.
  • Students in Year 11 will attend intervention sessions in place of their normal timetabled lessons.
  • Wednesday 20th December – Christmas Dinner will be served in the dining hall.  Students will be seated at decorated tables and will be served a traditional Christmas dinner which is free of charge.
  • Christmas Jumper day on Wednesday 20th December 2023.  Students are required to wear their full Academy uniform with the option of wearing a Christmas jumper under their blazers.
  • Wednesday 20th December – Careers Day for students in Year 7 to Year 10.   Year 11 students will attend normal timetabled lessons/interventions.
  • Celebration Assemblies will take place for year groups on Thursday 21st December and Friday 22nd December.
  • Thursday 21st December – DVA Well-being Walk – Students and staff will take part in a well-being walk around the Academy school grounds.  This will be an opportunity for a catch up with friends and to enjoy a hot chocolate drink.  (This activity will be weather permitting – students may wish to bring their trainers to change into for the walk)
  • Thursday 21st December – 6-7 pm – Family Christmas Quiz, please click this link to attend: https://forms.office.com/e/xaJimCVKtc
  • Friday 22nd December 2023 – The Academy will close to students at 12.15 p.m.  All students will register at 12 noon and then will be dismissed to leave the Academy.  The dining hall will be open for any students who wish to have a school meal before they leave the Academy site. Please note that the school buses will not be available; please make any necessary arrangements for your child’s safe journey home from the Academy.

The staff of Don Valley Academy would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  We look forward to seeing your child back in the Academy on Monday 8th January 2024.

Yours sincerely

Mrs H Thornton

Principal