Happy new year to you all. We’ve had a great return to school and I thank you for your support with ensuring your children have the correct equipment, uniform and attitude. Students had an extended tutor time to reset: we went through our standards, expectations and routines and to spend time working through their Character Passports. Our new passports are an opportunity to reward our students who achieve excellence in our four values across the year and will now have the opportunity to graduate with merit or honours at our end of year rewards evening.

On our return, we also welcomed the following teaching staff to our school:

• Mr Lilley - Maths teacher
• Ms James - Computer Science teacher
• Mr West - PE teacher
• Ms Powlesland - Teaching Assistant 

The big news this week is that on Tuesday our school was assessed for accreditation as an exemplary school of character. After a rigorous process, we are thrilled to share that we have been awarded the ACE school of Character Quality Mark, held by only 29 schools. It reflects the commitment of Orchard Park to deliver an education that teaches our young people to be great citizens, morally good and well rounded. My huge thanks to every member of staff for organising character clubs, trips, visits from outside speakers/ companies, teaching our school values and for explicitly and continuously rewarding the children when they get it right. 

On Wednesday, we held the first session for our Changemakers who are the leaders of our ‘Grassroots’, a programme that empowers students to improve the way young people in schools communicate and treat each other. Our change makers will meet every week and will work together to identify the changes they want to make in our school and put these into action. It was a fantastic first session and we are so proud of the energy and enthusiasm of the group.

Finally, Mr Headley reports on this week's sports fixtures: 
Yesterday, our under 16 team played Riddlesdown School in the Croydon Basketball League fixture. It was a competitive game opened with us scoring three early baskets from Kemari and Khalil in quarter one. Kemari was in fine form and collectively we won a significant amount of rebounds and interceptions to put Riddlesdown on the back foot early on in the game. As Riddlesdown grew into the game, our students demonstrated great resilience to hold off their waves of attack during the third quarter. In the process, Jayden demonstrated one of the cleanest three pointers you will see in high school basketball. Orchard Park grew in confidence as the game went on and started to pick up more points. A few costly mistakes at the start of quarter four was the difference between the two sides, with the game ending 33-23. Nonetheless, our first game so far this season with more upcoming league games, there are plenty of positives to build on! Shout outs to: Khalil, Kemari, Kevahney, Lucas, Shakir, Jayden G, Nathan, Jayden D-S.

Ms C Moran, Headteacher