Page 3 - Regent Digest - Vol 8 Issue 30

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
P A G E 3
D

ear Parents,
Thank you all for your continued support over the last weeks of our 'current normal'. The stresses and
strains are clear for all to see across the globe and during such times it is important to take stock of what
has been achieved in the past weeks. Our online learning has gone from strength to strength as all
members of our school community have gone to sleep knowing more about the technology we use
than they did when they woke up that morning, this statement is particularly true for me, as I also learn
new and interesting skills daily about the technology we have all readily embraced.

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that while developing our online programme,
we have also reached out to friends and institutions around the world to see what they are offering
during these times in terms of their continued learning provision. On receiving the feedback from the
UK, Europe, The Middle East and China, it was clear and remains to this day that we are offering
surpasses almost all other cases we have been informed about. The fact that there is 'live teaching' in
every lesson is an absolute credit to our school, this is supported by consistent classwork and a recently
revamped homework schedule ensuring that the curriculum is covered completely. We are also
providing additional support for students who require it and this is achieved through the timetabling of
booster classes for those identified in certain year groups. All of these facts mentioned, allows our
students to make the continued progress we would expect of them regardless of the situation we find
ourselves in.

The staff here at The Regent Secondary School have been an absolute credit to me and many are still
making huge personal sacrifices to ensure the learning here at The Regent Secondary School has
continued. So, to all staff, I must give a huge thank you too. To ensure that the highest standards
expected are adhered to, the senior leadership team and I are constantly dropping into lessons at random
times throughout the week to ensure the quality is still at the core of the teaching and learning. Using
this process, I can actually get to more lessons than I previously could and feedback when necessary to
teachers too on the quality of the teaching being seen.

We are currently putting together our students' reports for the online learning we have delivered and
these will be issued next week to all parents. To support you even further in your understanding of the
progress made by your child, we are also holding Parent-Teacher Conferences during the week
beginning 1st June 2020 (most likely the 4th & 5th June). More information on the process will be
emailed to you early next week with guidance on how you can sign up and how the meeting will take
place, which will be through a Google Meeting request. As you are acutely aware, any time missed
from academics does leave a student at a disadvantage and this, unfortunately, is still the case with our
online learning. As stated above, we have constantly refined our practice and taken on the feedback we
have been given by both the students and the parents alike. Students away from learning miss crucial
concepts and the opportunity to learn and ask questions in real-time from their teacher. I, therefore, urge
you to support us in ensuring your child is present at all times for online learning.

With this mass of new information, there must also come a period of calm and reflection. It is essential
for all to ensure that we do find a small amount of time each day where we can be quiet and without
distraction. Next week provides a perfect opportunity for our community to rest and enjoy the other
parts of our lives that often become neglected during busy periods in our lives. Try, therefore, to find
that time for you to talk and listen to each other without the additional stress that life sometimes throws
at us. We have a week's break from online learning next week so please do try and spend time as a
family talking openly and sincerely about the situation we find ourselves in.

I think the benefits that will be gained from spending time as a family and through these conversations
will be crucial moving forward, as when we do come out of this pandemic, we will be better equipped
in so many ways to face the world.
Respect Responsibility Resourcefulness

T H E R E G E N T D I G E S T VOLUME 8 ISSUE 30