Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Mental Health Awareness Week 13th - 19th May 2024
The Townley community are asked to join us for Wear It Green Day on Thursday 16th May, during Mental Health Awareness Week – let’s turn the world green for good mental health!  You are able to donate on Arbor via the school shop.

By going green, you are supporting the Mental Health Foundation UK in carrying out vital research and delivering programmes for different communities. There are a range of activities to take part in across the week. House tutors will provide further information and reminders for students on year group hubs, via google classroom and during form time on Monday 13th May. 

Free Youth Wellbeing and Mental Health Courses 
Blackfen Community Library host youth wellbeing and mental health courses.  The Hub Workshop will take place on 13^th June between 4-6pm for young people in school years 7-11. There is no cost associated with the programme.  

Blackfen Community Library also hold a youth drop in, "The Hub", held every other Friday for school years 7-11. This is to provide a safe environment for young people to hang out. They have virtual reality, latest games consoles, table tennis, pool, table football, crafts and discounted food and drinks. This is also a free event.  For further information, please see the posters contained in this week’s Townley Bulletin or Blackfen Community Library, 7-9 Blackfen Parade, Blackfen, DA15 9LU Tel: 020 8301 1433 www.blackfencommunitylibrary.org

Congestion and safety when dropping off and collecting students
We would like to politely remind parents and carers that they should not be driving onto the school site, either in the morning or at pick up time.  It has come to our attention that parents/ carers are driving through our reception car park and allowing students out of the car, often causing congestion and queues back on Townley Road.   In addition, the number of cars driving through this area poses a risk to our students' safety as well as other pedestrians; please therefore be reminded that this entrance should only be used by our visitors and for deliveries. 

We have also noticed that parents/ carers are accessing the staff car park in the morning and this similarly causes congestion. It is equally dangerous for our students since they must then exit the car park on foot, via the barriers, to gain access to the school site; with a constant flow of staff cars driving in through the barriers, I am sure you can appreciate that this also poses significant risk. 

We would appreciate your support in ensuring that all parents/ carers drive carefully and respectfully when in the vicinity of the School, showing courtesy to pedestrians, other road users and our neighbours.  

Important information on Adulterated Vapes
Following previous communication in February regarding synthetic cannabinoids in Schools, Bexley Public Health and Greenwich Borough have provided an update. There have been multiple reports of adulterated vapes across a number of schools in Greenwich Borough in the last seven days. Additionally, testing of historically confiscated vapes (from school settings in Greenwich) by the Police, in conjunction with Bath University, has also identified just under a quarter (22%) of the products contained ‘Spice’.

• Spice is a synthetic cannabinoid with unpredictable effects and varying potency.
• Its use carries a high risk of severe side effects, including panic attacks, numbness and unconsciousness.
• The drug has been linked to a number of deaths, particularly in the adult prison population.

Support and advice: Parents, children and young people seeking support can contact the Bexley Young People’s Drug Service - BYPDAS on 020 3260 5200.

Treatment and support: Any young person known to have used or exhibiting signs of use should be taken to hospital if unwell or be kept safe until the effects pass. This can be several hours depending on the strength and quantity of the substance ingested.

Free Workshop: How can we help to keep our young people safe during the summer?
Bexley Moorings are running an online discussion on 10^th May at 10am – please see the linked flyer for more information. 

Free Theatre Workshops for Children and Young People
The National Children's Bureau and University of Kent are organising a series of free theatre workshops as part of a project celebrating the creativity of children and young people with lived experience of social care and/or disability. You can find out more about it here.

Participants will coproduce a series of monologues across different themes, with a final performance in early 2025. Please note that you can only apply if you are a child or young person up to 25 years of age. All travel costs will be reimbursed. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Ava Berry, Policy and Research Manager at National Children's Bureau (aberry@ncb.org.uk).

Finally, please do take a look at this week’s Townley Bulletin here .

Kind regards, 

Miss H Mitchem

Deputy Headteacher