Dear Parents/Carers,
I hope this email finds you well. Another week has passed in this strange and challenging time and I hope it has gone well for you and your family. Please remember that we’re here for you every step of the way so, if you are finding things difficult, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
If you have any worries or concerns, contact the school
If you have any concerns about helping your child learn or you need any other support from the school, please let us know by contacting our school on 01669620287 or emailing us [email protected]. We are here to support you so please do get in touch.
Our school is open for the children of key workers
Naturally we miss having our pupils in school, but we must continue to follow the government’s guidance to keep everyone in our community safe. Our school is open for children of key workers and we ask that parents/carers only use this service if they are not able to safely care for their child at home whilst working. If you wish to access this service please get in touch with school. Please be aware that the children who are in school during this time are completing the same work that is set for all children via google classroom. If parents/carers have any concerns or difficulties with the system then please do not hesitate to get in touch with the school.
Google Classroom
How to check what work your child has to complete
To check if your pupil has work set in their classes on google classroom, log on to their main google classroom page with the large squares with each class on. Please note that current assignments are not necessarily listed in these large squares. If the squares are empty do not assume you have no work set. In order to check for work you need to click the class name eg 5H PE 2019-2020 in order to enter the class. This will take you to the google classroom stream where teachers post assignments and other comments and pupils from that class can also post comments . To see each individual assignment, look towards the top of the page and click on ‘classwork’. That takes you to the page where all assignments, current and past, have been set. Just click on an assignment that has not been completed to access further information and any attached documents needed in order to complete the assignment.
We are no longer setting due dates
Following feedback from parents/carers we are no longer setting due dates for when work is expected to be completed. Therefore the activities/tasks in each class are a bank of resources from which children can choose what to complete.
Why not join us in our twice weekly school worship?
If you click on Learners 2019/2020 in google classroom you will see a number of whole school worships – they are normally placed on the site on a Tuesday and a Thursday. The worships – usually 20 minutes in length – involve a song; a link to our school values and then a reminder of the seven suggested strategies to help us through this difficult time – namely:
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Strategies to support our Well Being Try to avoid rapid, breaking news Be mindful of others Do one purposeful thing every day Connect with others Carry on doing the things you enjoy Stick to a daily routine Take time to relax – mindful breathing |
Resource to help us stick to a daily routine
One of the strategies above is to stick to a daily routine. The Education Endowment Foundation have developed a short film for parents/carers and children to watch together to help do this – the link is: https://
NHS guidance to help with our mental well being
It is always important to take time to consider our own mental well being and that of others. The NHS have provided the following materials to support us in this goal – the link is: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/
New national home learning telephone helpline
Obviously if your child is finding any of the work difficult we suggest you get in touch with the school, however please be aware that there is a new national home learning telephone helpline called startline – this can be accessed via https://www.starline.org.uk/
Remember that Key Stage Two Tests for 2019/2020 have been cancelled
Please remember that on March 18th, 2020 the Education Secretary announced that “We will not go ahead with primary school assessments or secondary exams this summer”.
Keep in touch with news in our Community
Last week I shared with you the link for Over The Bridges. The team is working at an impressive speed. They have done three issues for April and their May issue is now on their website. You can read about everything that is happening in our community via this link http://overthebridges.org/
Reflections on the school Year so far
While we can’t say yet when we’ll be able to open the school fully, our Prime Minister – on April 30th – did say that next week the Government would discuss the way forward from our current lockdown. We were last physically together as a school on March 20th, 2020 and it would be nice if all children could take some time to consider what has gone well so far during our school year so far – from Wednesday, September 4th, 2019 to the present day. Please could children fill in the appropriate form linked to their class below:
Keeping Safe Online
In these difficult times we are spending a lot of time working on line so please keep safe. The Department of Education is providing parents with ways that they can keep their children safe online. The following link will provide further information on ways to further help Parents/Carers with this important task – https://parentinfo.org
Resources to for COVID-19 advice to parents and carers
Clearly this is a very stressful time for families. If you are finding things difficult, then please get in touch with us and we will do our utmost to help. The NSPCC have produced resources to for COVID-19 advice to parents and carers which can be accessed via https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
The resources include how to talk to children about COVID-19; Taking Care of Our Mental Health; Arguments and Family Tension and How to Cope With Tantrums.
Children can contact School Nurse
Children between the ages of 11 – 19 can access a service entitled “Chat Health Messaging Service” whereby they can text a school nurse. They will receive a reply within one working day. The number is: 07507332258 and is available from Monday to Friday between 9:30am and 4:30am.
Information about Crimestoppers
In this difficult time we may see things as neighbours, friends and colleagues that we may wish to pass on. Information can be passed on to Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111 or online: https://bit.ly/2ykQ3bo
Government Information regarding testing for Coronavirus
The Government have published information that details how essential workers with symptoms, and people who live with essential workers and have symptoms who need a test, will be able to book a test – this can be accessed via https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
I hope you are finding this information useful. Please remember we are always here for you. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any concerns.
Take care,
Liam Murtagh – Headteacher
