30th August, 2014 Dear Parents and Pupils, I hope that you have had a very relaxing Summer holiday and are now refreshed ready for the new academic year. The year promises to build on the excellent academic work of 2013-2014 and all of the other wider school activities that were provided. I hope you did have a chance to read through the July addition of the Secondary Newsletter (http://www.obs.edu.pt/page.cfm?p=358 ) as this contained much of the news from the Summer Term but also about the new year ahead including some information about changes in classes and teachers. This letter aims to update you on some of the news over the Summer and some notices related to the start of the new Academic year. 2014-15 Exam Results The best news over the Summer has been our excellent examination results. All of our students passed the IB Diploma. The average point score was 35.2. This is well above the world average of 29.81. 22% of our students gained 40 points or more and 84% of all grades were above 5. We are very proud of these results and wish all of our Form 12 Leavers continued success in their degrees and future. Later in the term, Ms. Macleod will send out more detailed news about the university placements our students have gained. Our IGCSE pupils also achieved very good results that will stand them in good stead for their IB Diploma course. The percentage of A*-A was 43.2%, A*-C was 87.5% and 91% achieved five or more A*-C grades. I am sure that with a relentless focus on learning, OBS pupils will continue to build on these successes through 2014-15. New Teachers at OBS The new academic year sees some new teachers arriving. All of the teachers we have recruited are experienced and dedicated professionals that will ensure your child’s learning and progress continue to flourish. Mr. William Nolan, Physics, who has been teaching in an International School in Qatar. Mr. Neil Crehan, Chemistry, who has most recently been teaching in an International School in China and has much experience of teaching in the UK. Ms. Pia Weston, English, who joins us from a Secondary School in London, UK. Mrs. Gander, Business Management, who has recently been teaching in an International School in Zambia and has also taught in the UK and Malawi. Mr. Rob Gore, Music, who joins us from teaching at an International School in Switzerland and has much experience of teaching in the UK. Mr. Allan Duncan, ICT, who joins us from Scotland and has been a Computing Teacher for five years and also an IT advisor and consultant for nearly ten years. Mrs. Mackay will also join us as a Trainee Teacher specialising in Business Management and Humanities. More detailed biographies of the teachers will be available on our website soon. INSTITUTO CULTURAL BRITÂNICO DO PORTO Rua da Cerca, 3261350 Foz do Douro, 4150-201 Porto T: 00351226166660/F: 00351 266166668 E: [email protected] /W: www.obs.edu.pt NIF: 501083340 I am also pleased to announce the following appointments have been made to strengthen our Leadership and Management of the school. Miss. Denisova has been appointed as the Pastoral Coordinator. Miss. Denisova will lead the Secondary Section Tutor Team and support pupils with their punctuality, attendance, behaviour and wellbeing. Mrs. Quintas has been appointed as the Portuguese Liaison Officer. Ms. Silva has been appointed as the Examinations Officer and will work closely with Miss. Corcoran, the Academic Coordinator. Key notices for the new academic year Tutor groups and set changes: The school has reviewed tutor groups for Form 7 and 8 to ensure greater social and academic balance. Parents and pupils will shortly receive a letter stating their new Form group and Tutor. There have also been some set changes in some subject areas. Again parents and pupils will receive a letter related to this if there has been a change. First day – Wednesday 3rd September Pupils are expected to arrive before 08:45 and must assemble outside Teage Hall as for Assembly. Form Tutors will take pupils to their Form Room, where they will be given all the necessary information re: timetables and locker location. Pupils will also be assigned a Planner, for recording all homework, tests and other useful information. Tutors will also use this to communicate to parents. Please ensure you check and sign your child’s planner on a regular basis. Attendance and Punctuality It is important that you help your child to develop a good habit of arriving punctually to school. All absences must be communicated as soon as possible via the Front Office, and when applicable, planned absences must be authorized by the Head of Secondary or the Deputy Head. All pupils arriving late at school must register at the Front Office. Pupils who arrive late to school or lessons more than three times in one week will be expected to attend a school detention on Friday lunch time. There are no excuses. IB students who arrive late will not be allowed out of school for lunch. Permission to leave school Pupils in Forms 6 to 10 may be allowed to leave the school unaccompanied at the end of the school, provided parents have requested this in writing via the Front Office, Miss Vera Silva, [email protected] . Pupils in Forms 6 to 10 may only leave the campus at 1:15pm in order to return home for lunch; they may not go to cafes/restaurants on their own or with other pupils. Permission to go out for lunch with immediate family, relatives or other adults should be requested, in writing. (No pupils in Forms 6 to 10 are allowed to leave the campus at morning break). A list of those pupils authorised to leave the premises at lunchtime and/or at the end of the school day will be deposited with Miss Vera Silva at the Front Office as a security cross check. If your child’s name is not on this list, they will not be permitted off site. Please note that these procedures and requirements are to ensure INSTITUTO CULTURAL BRITÂNICO DO PORTO Rua da Cerca, 3261350 Foz do Douro, 4150-201 Porto T: 00351226166660/F: 00351 266166668 E: [email protected] /W: www.obs.edu.pt NIF: 501083340 the safety of your child whilst under the care of the school. IB pupils are allowed to leave the premises during break and lunch, however, if they are late for school or lessons then they will not be allowed to do so. End of the school day All secondary pupils that have not been collected by 16:30 will be required to attend the Homework Club in the Secondary Library, and will not be allowed to remain at the entrance of the school. The Homework Club takes place Monday-Friday, 16:30-17:30. Meetings with teachers If you wish to make an appointment to see members of staff in the Secondary Section, you should contact the School Secretary, Mrs Joana Saraiva, [email protected] who will liaise with the relevant members of staff. The usual protocol in the Secondary Section is as follows: any pastoral matters should be relayed in the first instance to the Form Tutor and only thereafter, the Pastoral Coordinator. Miss. Denisova and then the Deputy Head (IB), Miss. Macleod or the Head of Secondary, Dr. P. Jones. For subject/academic matters, in the first instance you should arrange a meeting with the subject teacher, and only then with the Head of Department and/or the Academic Coordinator, Miss A. Corcoran. Personal belongings As per the Secondary Section rules in the pupils’ homework diaries, mobile phones may not be used on school premises during the school day unless provided permission by a teacher. Pupils may bring in and use iPads or laptops but may only use them if the teacher provides them permission. Should your child bring a mobile phone, iPad, laptop or any other such device, it is the responsibility of the pupil. They should ensure that these devices are safely secured in their lockers or kept with Joana in a secure place. Similarly, all other valuables and money should be deposited in their lockers. Road Safety May we politely remind you of the potential problem of traffic congestions, illegal parking in front of the school and driving in a manner that may result in a serious injury. May we please ask our community to respect each other at pick up and drop off times at the Oporto British School. We simply do not want to be in a position where one of our pupils, parents or staff will be injured or involved in a fatal accident occurring in front of the school. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter. We look forward to welcoming you back for a productive year, and value your continued support. Yours faithfully, Dr. P Jones Head of Secondary INSTITUTO CULTURAL BRITÂNICO DO PORTO Rua da Cerca, 3261350 Foz do Douro, 4150-201 Porto T: 00351226166660/F: 00351 266166668 E: [email protected] /W: www.obs.edu.pt NIF: 501083340