3^rd to 7^th March 2025

Week A

A Message from Mr. Whiteley

Welcome back to the start of the spring half-term. Although this half-term is short, it is usually one of the busiest times in the school year.

Year 11 are set to begin core subject mock examinations next week. Arrangements have already been shared, but to clarify, these examinations run each day, students in Y11 arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before the start of their morning exam. Between the morning and afternoon exams, students will remain in school for lunch, arriving at the exam hall 10 -15 mins before the start of the afternoon exam.  Students will be able to leave school when the afternoon exam ends.  Please note that sometimes this will be earlier than usual, but at others, the exam will finish later than normal.

These examinations are vitally important for a number of reasons. As with everything in life, practice improves performance. Sitting through this intense period of exams will not only boost the recall skills of the students, it will also help build the resilience they need in preparing for the final exams, which start in May. Also, as we conduct these in a formal manner, with external invigilators and full examination conditions, they are a failsafe should something happen to prevent them sitting their final examinations.

Year 10 students are set to embark on their work experience fortnight on Monday 10^th March. We urge any students who are still struggling to find a placement to continue to work with us to find one that is suitable.  Any families who can support us by offering placements in their place of work should get in touch as soon as possible.  Our aim is for all students to have a meaningful experience that prepares them for later life.

This is also the season for trips and visits. The school ski trip runs from Saturday 8^th March, followed immediately by the New York sports trip the following week. We’re very proud to be able to offer these enrichment trips and the 150 or so boys involved in these wonderful activities will have a fantastic experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

You will by now have seen that the school has been identified for a major investment and rebuild.  All the details and images of the new school are available via a link to the public survey below. We would appreciate your support in answering the questionnaire included in this document;

https://www.planred.co.uk/consultation/mosslands

My thanks go to all of you for the support you have given so far.

Year 11 Parents' Evening

Don't forget that this very important event takes place this evening from 4pm.

Y9 Vaccinations

If you wish your son to have his vaccination on Monday, please ensure you have given your consent. The letter is attached to the newsletter email. Please note any queries should be addressed to the NHS, schools cannot answer any queries.

Ski Trip

There is a meeting for parents at 4.45pm on Monday. Parents should bring their son's passport to this meeting (if it has not already been brought into school). At this meeting, parents will need to fill in a medical consent form and if any student has medication for which staff need to be responsible, a consent to administer medication form will also need to be filled in.

Library

The final of the Year 8 Spelling Bee took place on Friday 14^th February and all the students that took part were incredible! This is a spoken round, so all the more nerve-wracking, but our students took it all in their stride. It was a very close final. We almost ran out of tie-breaker spellings, but our worthy winner was Marshall from 8R1. Well done to all the students that took part!

On Wednesday, we had a wonderful visit from the author of the Ultimate Football Heroes books, Matt Oldfield. Matt presented to Y7 and 8 and was incredibly engaging in describing his journey from reader to writer. As always, our students asked thoughtful questions, and it was great to see the buzz around school afterwards. Matt's books are available in the library now!

World Book Day is Thursday 6^th March and this year's theme is "Read your Way", which is designed to promote and celebrate a love of reading in all its forms.

World Book Day tokens were handed out to all Y7 and 8 students during their English lessons before half-term.  These tokens can be used to buy a £1 World Book Day book or to get £1 off a book.  Book tokens can be used in most supermarkets and all bookshops until 23^rd March. Students in years 9 - 13 can pop to Mrs Barton for their book token at any time.

The national event will celebrate reading in all its different forms, such as books, audiobooks and e-books. As a school, we're preparing to join in these celebrations by also championing the idea that pupils "Read their Way" based on what they like to read! - e.g. a Sky Sports article read electronically, a play enjoyed as an audiobook or a book exploring the circumstances around important historic events.

Last year, the National Literacy Trust found that only 1 in 5 children and young people aged 8 to 18 said that they read daily. This is the lowest level since 2005. With reading being so closely linked to future success and wellbeing, this year's message is an important one in encouraging boys to adopt good reading habits.

In support, staff will be dressing up as characters from some of their favourite stories. A number of departments will be running World Book Day events with plenty of prizes and rewards, but more importantly, to promote the message to boys of "Read your Way". 

During break and lunchtime on Thursday, students can grab a scavenger hunt sheet from Mrs Barton in the library and try to find the staff members that have stolen a book from another subject so that Mrs Barton can get the book back to its rightful place. Prizes will be given to those who take part and get a correctly completed sheet back to Mrs Barton in the quickest time!

For book events, reading recommendations and more, follow us on Instagram @library_mosslands

MFL Restaurant Trips

Please ensure you have paid for the trips if your son wishes to attend, as numbers need to be confirmed with the restaurants.

Drama Theatre Trips

Mrs Brett has organised the following theatre trips to The Liverpool Playhouse for KS4 and KS5 drama pupils:

• Thursday 13^th March - Ghost Stories 7:30pm 

• Wednesday 2^nd April - Animal Farm 5:30pm

If your son wishes to attend either trip, please complete payment on ParentPay. 

Art Department

You can follow us on Instagram @art_mosslands to see some fabulous examples of the work produced by our students.

Reporting an Absence 

Parents must telephone the school attendance line (0151 638 8131, option 1) on the first day of absence before 8.45am and on each subsequent day of absence. Alternatively, you can email attendance@mosslands.wirral.sch.uk. Please do not use the admin@mosslands email or the contact school option on the My Child at School app as these do not go directly to attendance, and you may still get a truancy call. It is our duty to keep your child safe, so if you do not inform us, you will receive a truancy call. You will receive 6 further calls until you respond.  The number which will display as an incoming call is a Sheffield number, 0114 303 4042.

Medication in School

If you have any questions or concerns regarding medication in school, please contact the SEND Department. Students should not bring medication into school and any medication should be registered at reception. If your child is diagnosed as being asthmatic, following on from medical guidelines, please ensure they have an inhaler on then at all times and that we hold a spare within school. Many thanks.