Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Mobile Phones and Social Media
We are aware that a number of students do use WhatsApp and are in group chats with their friends at the school. I would like to take an opportunity to remind parents and carers that lots of social media, including WhatsApp, is recommended to be used for children aged 13+. I would like to further encourage parents and carers to be conscious of the activity on your daughter's phone, and also to keep an eye out for future parental communication about Safer Internet Day in the coming weeks.

Whilst mobile phones may feature prominently in people's lives, there is no place for them in an educational setting.  This is to ensure that students are not tempted to check mobile phones intermittently and is part of our wider commitment to reduce screen time and encourage more physical and social interaction. In addition, UNESCO, the UN’s Education, Science and Culture Agency, said there was evidence that excessive mobile phone use was linked to reduced educational performance and that high levels of screen time had a negative effect on children’s emotional stability.

The research into the damaging effects of mobile phones for teenagers is overwhelming and if you would like to read more, there is a useful article here.

Key Stage Four Curriculum Evening – Wednesday 5^th March
This will take place on March 5^th and provide students, parents, and carers with an opportunity to find out more about KS4 (Years 10-11) curriculum options and next steps.

Year 9 students have already started to engage with this process through assemblies and the evening event should help with making choices. Further information will be provided in the coming weeks.

World Book Day - Thursday 6^th  March - Dress up day
To celebrate World Book Day, and in addition to literary activities, we are allowing all students and staff to dress up as favourite book characters for the day. We encourage students to create literary costumes, which could include characters from novels, myths, legends, folklore, comic books and Manga.

Students will be in costume all day so do plan accordingly, if students have dance, drama or PE they will need to change for those lessons. There will be photos taken to commemorate the day and acknowledge the creativity of stories and our students, and prizes for the best homemade costume and best-dressed forms.

We will also be collecting book donations during the World Book Day week. Please donate any children's books that are in good condition and these will go to children in the community who need them. A collection box will be in reception and in the library. We look forward to celebrating this event.

Townley Bulletin – Student successes, community events and information
Please do catch up on school and community news by clicking here.

Kind regards,

Miss S Totty
Acting Headteacher