Day 98...

Hello everyone, 

We are nearly at 100 days of Salesian hiaitus. It's almost too sad to think about all the things we will have missed out on by the time we all see each other again - so I'm going to focus on some positives this week. You will begin to feel like some pressure is beginning to mount - with lots of demands on your time. As ever, work hard; be kind...the rest will take care of itself.

There is an interesting opportunity that you and your families might want to have a crack at this Wednesday (1st July - and my birthday!). There is a code-breaking challenge you can all have a go at. I have once done an escape room with my family and to describe our performance as an abject failure would be a massive understatement...it was a total catastrophe and exposed some enormous character flaws I never even realised I had! I'm sure you and your families will be infinitely more successful though...details here: https://operationbletchley.soldierscharity.org/

We have just 3 weeks until a presumably slightly odd...but very welcome summer holiday. 

I described some of you as ostriches last week - not meaning to cause offence. I'd urge everyone (in school or at home) to make the most of everything the school can offer this side of the summer holiday. That means...asking for advice from your teachers and being very very very very honest with yourselves (and us) about your personal statements and EPQs. Mrs Bolton and I both made a point of emphasising the value of the EPQ in college assemblies last week (on Thursday). For anyone who wasn't in, this was our message:

We don;t yet know what the exam and marking arrangement will be for next year's A Level students...and what view universities will take given they will likely have a backlog of students who deferred entry from this year to next. With that in mind...your EPQ might be your only opportunity to secure a marked and moderated qualification which might help evidence your progress and will indicate your suitability for independent study at an undergraduate degree course/ apprenticeship etc. In short...do it...and make it as good as you can.

(Virtual) Parents' Evening

We are currently booking a virtual parents' evening to give your parents/guardians a chance to see (on a screen) and speak with some of your teachers. We will hope these can be valuable opportunities to discuss how you have been getting on this year. I hope and expect you to join your parents on screen - as you would in person at a normal parents evening - so that you can contribute to the (brief) conversation. Details will be with you/ your parents soon. We hope they will be positive discussions which will ultimately help to prepare you for next September's Exam Week.

UCAS

You should have been following Mrs Elmer's blog at the address below...by now you should have submitted draft 2 of your personal statement on Unifrog and be waiting for feedback from your tutors over the next fortnight. https://salesianucas.blogspot.com/ 

You should also have selected your teachers on Unifrog - this will kickstart the reference-writing process in September.

The latest from Chateaux Matthews

Since my last blog, I have had my first father's day as a new parent...we made the most of a break in the poor weather to have some nice walks as a family. We are also looking forward to giving both our parents a chance to give the twins a hug. It's so bizarre that they have missed this intimacy since late March! Lots of you will be looking forward to emotional reunions with family this weekend I'm sure. Remember to be careful...but ultimately, to enjoy some precious family time.

Virginia Water waterfall in full force!

Sheffield Wednesday Father's Day gnome!

Dodging the drizzle at the Saville Garden

We have been weaning Alice and George, which means using a nutribullet to blitz up some puree dinners...it's fun to have them sat at the table like little people (rather than tiny babies). Mrs Matthews also officially returned from maternity leave so we have both been trying to juggle parenting with working. It's proving to be really difficult - I'm so impressed by all your parents who brought you up. Parenting is, by itself, unbelievably difficult - to do it at the same time as being successful at work...is almost impossible!

Don't tell Mr Kibble about the Salesian umbrella...I found it in the boot and must have accidentally stolen it after getting caught in the rain at Highfield Road...I promise I'll return it!

Pineapple Time...

Matteo H, Mark C, Joseph K (all working hard at HRD last week), and anyone who is attending all their Teams sessions on time and occasionally turns on their camera just to say hello and be friendly...thank you...teachers actually like to see who they are teaching sometimes and, though you're not obliged to have your camera on, it is good to see a friendly face sometimes. 

As ever, very good health and happiness to you and your families. Don't be strangers.

Mr M

Saint John Bosco...

Day 88...

Hello everyone, 

88 days...fast approaching 3 figures...in two blogs' time - I'll have the depressing task of recording over 100 days without 'normal' school life. Upsetting as it is, we have to look for positives!

So...here goes: 

1. 25% of you have had some normal teaching in the last week! We expect this to increase soon as capacity increases and we get creative with timetabling and availability

2. Next week is due to be sunny

3. Primark is open

I may have been clutching at straws with number 3...it's not a huge consolation to attempt socially-distant shopping in Primark - but it is a sign that the country is beginning (slowly) to return to normal.

Those of you have been following the news will see that there is a sudden agenda to try to reveal the plans for reopening schools as quickly as possible. It's not my place to speculate but I imagine the plans in place at the college currently (25% of students in school) will stay relatively similar between now and the summer holiday (don't quote me on that). That said, the plans appear to change quite frequently - so it may be that I am posting something profoundly different next week. Such is life.

Here is the LRC (remember it). You'll notice that the staff use the rows of seating infinitely more respectfully than you used to! It was eerily quiet. I'm used to snatching a few surreptitiously bought sausage rolls and coffee cups as soon as I emerge through the double doors - so it was a bit of a novelty to see just a few sensible adults in the space. In all honesty - I slightly missed confiscating (and eating) student's food - and barking orders about when to get to assembly.

Grade Collection

You will all have a grade collection before the summer - this will be communicated soon. All my advice from previous blogs apply. There is no secret formula for doing well - just hard work. I do have, perhaps, one piece of new advice. Don't be an ostrich. Some of you are guilty of burying your head in the sand and not recognising what needs to be done - so let me be explicit.

• Attend all your Teams lessons
• Hand in homework on time
• Check the UCAS blog every week...
• Read your emails thoroughly...
• Make a timetable of work that is due each week...
• Email your teachers when you are struggling...
• If you have a burning question during a Teams lesson - ASK IT!

UCAS

You should have been following Mrs Elmer's blog at the address above...by now you should have submitted draft 2 of your personal statement on Unifrog and be waiting for feedback from your tutors over the next fortnight. https://salesianucas.blogspot.com/ 

You should also have selected your teachers on Unifrog - this will kickstart the reference-writing process in September.

The latest from Chateaux Matthews

We have been experimenting with some more regular meals for Alice and George. I have learned why all parents look at me with pity when I tell them this - because it means that our table, and their faces, end up covered in various bland-tasting purees...and an increased demand on an already struggling washing machine.

Apart from wrestling two five month olds and trying to convince them that blueberry and pear porridge is definitely something they want to eat...we have been doing our best to get them out in the fresh air and down to the river where possible! I discovered that we had walked over 100 miles in the last month - all with a pretty heavy double-buggy...which I was quite proud of.

The calm before the storm...

Pineapple Time...

Everyone who has been in college this week - on time, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. I wanted to bring pineapples for all...but it is firmly against the safeguarding policy to hand things out to you at the minute...even if I sprayed each one with disinfectant!

As ever, very good health and happiness to you and your families. Don't be strangers.

Mr M

Saint John Bosco...

Day 81...

Hello everyone, 

Day 81...it's frightening to think of the time that has passed and how much the world has changed in such a relatively short space of time. 

I hope that you have been reassured by some recent progress in terms of the country emerging from 'lockdown.' That said, with events in America and closer to home over the last couple of weeks, things remain pretty volatile. 

I promised early in the blog not to get too stuck-in to current affairs or comment on the news (teachers are duty-bound to remain politically neutral). I do feel comfortable in telling you in no uncertain terms to keep yourself informed. I was entertained by a tweet which summed up some slightly confusing advice - since zoos and theme parks threaten to re-open while we still can't hug our parents/grandparents.

I also frequently celebrate the power of children's literature in the blog. It seems oddly appropriate that this week we have graduated from The Fearless Octopus and started reading a magnificent book bought for us by Mrs Cornforth when Mrs M was pregnant. It's called Mixed, and the story is all about the division and violence that comes between a community of different coloured dots. Their little world separates in to Redville, Yellow Heights and Blue Town...only for a hopelessly romantic 'blue' to fall madly in love with a yellow and beget a cute green baby. Spoiler-alert: multi-coloured harmony returns! It's a Romeo and Juliet tale of forbidden love and acceptance - which we could all learn a great deal from!

I popped to GRD this week to check in on some of the Y12 students who were in school and to speak to some members of staff. It felt very odd being in school when it is so empty - but nice to get back in to the routine of commuting (safely) to work.

Many of you will, like me, be a little anxious about returning to College next week. I was reassured by my visit to school that every precaution is being taken to keep you apart, and safe - while bringing the important routine of school back. Some of you might choose to wear a mask next week (this is completely your choice). All I would ask is that you all respect the social distancing rules - and by mindful  of everyone else's personal space.

Assessment Week/Predicted Grades

I've had a few conversations with students who are a bit worried about assessments and predicted grades. I said you had my word that I would update you as soon as I could - so here goes. 

'Year 12 Assessment Week' has been rescheduled (provisionally) for the week beginning 21st September.

Some of you have been concerned about predicted grades and the impact this might have on university applications. It's not likely that you will receive a predicted grade until after the assessment week in September, when teachers will have a better idea of what level you are working at - and will hopefully have more of an idea about what the exams will look like next year based on updates from the Government. 

In the mean time - when considering your options there is some guidance below which might help:

1. Teachers will be ambitious but with a dose of realism with your predicted grades - they are on your side and want you to do well - so your choices should reflect this.

2. The best preparation remains: attending Teams lessons, completing online learning/homework to the best of your ability, attending school as much as possible if you have been asked to, working hard; being kind

3. Being as informed as possible in terms of university admissions policies and course expectations (using Mrs Elme's UCAS blog): https://salesianucas.blogspot.com/ 

UCAS

You should have been following Mrs Elmer's blog at the address above...by now you should have submitted draft 2 of your personal statement on Unifrog and be waiting for feedback from your tutors over the next fortnight. 

When you log in to Unifrog (if not for the last few days) it will prompt you to select all your subject teachers for the purposes of generating a reference. Do this over the weekend if you haven't already please.

The latest from Chateaux Matthews

In many ways, I have been blessed during the last few months to spend so much time with the twins. They have come on so much in the last few weeks - which is wonderful. 

We are on to more solid food now - which is a whole new adventure. We have also discovered that it is impossible to keep a tidy house as well as entertaining two babies...literally impossible. When I'm not teaching on Teams, as a result, I can often be found joining Mrs Matthews - as we both run around trying to: cram bibs in to the washing machine, sort the dishwasher, complete laps of the house quite maniacally with a hoover, cook a frozen pizza, mow the lawn, make a coffee, do the re-cycling and, occasionally, we manage to squeeze in some parenting ... - but we wouldn't have it any other way.

Play time!

Evidence of a good appetite!

We did manage to squeeze in a walk around Virginia Water with Mrs (and Mr) Rawlins - which was wonderful. I'm hoping to use Mrs Baumgart's wise advice about reasonable parking options to take on Windsor's The Long Walk soon. 

Socially distant fun!

As ever, I'd take any and all recommendations!

Pineapple Time...

This week...the following students were successful in becoming the founding members of the college newspaper (name to be decided). Well done to them for their talent, organisation and commitment - they will make it a great success no doubt and it is something that can become a legacy for later years and will benefit next year's Year 12 too. Well done to: Grace, Niamh M, Lara C-M, Alys D, Juliette G, Phoebe L, Isabella P and Erica DG!

Remember - it is open for all to write articles for (which will support your UCAS statement!). Once it's named - I will set up an email address for the editing team to make this process straightforward. 

As ever, very good health and happiness to you and your families. Don't be strangers.

Mr M

Saint John Bosco...

Day 73...

Hello everyone, 

Welcome to the last half term of the year! Let's hope it's the last half term where we are not in school. I'm certainly struggling without the structure and the routine of the school day - and I know lots of you will be feeling a bit overwhelmed and will have been through a whole range of emotions over the last 10 weeks. It's exhausting. Just know that we are here for you when you need us and remember to be honest with yourselves about what's happening and how you are coping. The sooner you figure out that something isn't quite right...the sooner we can go about helping you to find a way through it. 

I really hope you had a great half term and made the most of an opportunity to switch off. 

I know many of you will be feeling a bit overwhelmed by the UCAS and EPQ expectations...but we want you to know that these expectations are ultimately there to give you a competitive advantage and to have more chance of achieving your dreams. Just a few things from me this week - so brew up, get a biscuit...and enjoy the (short) read.  

UCAS

Mrs Elmer has updated the UCAS blog - with a focus on your personal statement. You can and must view it here:

https://salesianucas.blogspot.com/

We will soon be asking tutors to give feedback on your first draft of a personal statement - so this needs to be on Unifrog as soon as possible. It's only a first draft...no one is expecting the perfect document first time round.

The Bosco Times

Some of you will be wondering how you can include some super-curricular activities in your UCAS personal statements. This is potentially your answer! I would like to advertise the post of 'Editor of The Bosco Times' (name is negotiable). A periodical emagazine in which students can write articles on any subject (one linked to their degree application would be sensible).

I need people who would be interested in editing the magazine, subediting, creating a graphic identity for it...taking photographs...and people who are willing to write articles for it. 

If, for instance, I was applying to university to study Sociology...I might write an article exploring 'the impact of Coronoavirus on the BAME community.' If I was hoping to study Sport and Exercise Science...I might write about the controversy surrounding 'Project Restart for the Premier League.' If I was applying to study law, I might write about the 'legal consequences of returning to school during a pandemic.' You get the idea...

Either way...if I was a university admissions tutor and I saw an applicant who could write on their personal statement..."I edit a periodical school magazine about current affairs..." or "I created the graphic identity of a school newspaper..." or "I have submitted articles to the school magazine on x, y or z..." I would be deeply impressed!

To express an interest in any of the above...simply email a few sentences to explain why you're interested or what strengths you have that would make you suitable - to jmatthews@salesian.surrey.sch.uk with the email subject BoscoTimes. Deadline Thursday 11th!

The latest from Chateaux Matthews

We made the most of our new BBQ over half term and spent a little too much at our local butcher's shop...we've also capitalised on the good weather by getting out for some walks. We discovered Virginia Water - where we hadn't been before (I bet lots of you have). It's tricky to find a decent walk where it's easy to fit a pram - so if any of you have photographic memories of your own infancy or (more likely) you have young siblings/family friends and you know of any in the local area - I'd love to hear from you!

Enjoying the river in Richmond...

Cremating a 1/4 pounder...

Soaking up the sun at Virginia Water

Apart from that, I enjoyed (for the first time as a father) a round of golf. This will divide opinion...many of you will hate or be bored by the idea of golf...but it is a beautiful sport...and a round of golf is a form of therapy in its own right! 

Admiring a great golf hole...and a very average golf shot...

 I'd also welcome any good photos you have taken - as ever (countless virtual pineapples on offer)!

School

You have hopefully noticed that the learning you have been doing should have become a bit more consistent and engaging since this week's move to Microsoft Teams. I know it can be a bit confusing having so many platforms for work (email, SMHW and now Teams) but it's ultimately a good thing that teachers are being creative with ways to keep you engaged and give you the best educational deal that is possible. 

Many of you will be nervous (understandably) about the prospect of Year 12 Assessments...it's sensible for us (staff) to wait for the Government to give slightly clearer advice about the return to school plans for Years 10 and 12 before we set a Year 12 exam programme and timetable. All I can say in the mean time is the best preparation is: attending Teams lessons, completing all your work, flagging any concerns specific to subjects to your teachers as soon as possible. I PROMISE to share any updates on assessments as soon as I have them...you have my word.

Pineapple Time...

This week...a few deserving people are scooping a well-earned pineapple... 

Zac W-S, Niamh M, Toby P, Frankie B...you are all great for a number of reasons - just remember that!

As ever, very good health and happiness to you and your families. Don't be strangers.

Mr M

Saint John Bosco...