Friday 26th February Update
Mr Johnson’s Announcement
I am sure that you would have heard the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday, confirming that all children will return to school on Monday 8th March. (Nursery children will continue to attend their timetabled sessions)
The usual rules and duties around school attendance will be in place from 8 March (including mandatory attendance and the re-introduction of penalty fines for regular lateness and persistent absence).
I know that some of you may be worried about the children returning to school, but we have a wide range of precautions in place (more information about that next week!) and fortunately, we have not had a bubble burst since the pandemic started a year ago. In next week’s blog, I will outline the precautions that we have in place, and give a gentle reminder of how we can all work together to keep each other safe. Please ask if you have any questions or concerns - safety for all of us (pupils, parents and staff) is paramount and at the forefront of my decision making.
In addition to all our precautions, school staff will continue to take two rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) tests each week at home to identify positive cases more quickly and break the chains of transmission: up to this point all results from the staff have been negative.
Personally, I am delighted that all the children are coming back to school. I have missed them! I also believe that school provides a routine and structure that not only helps the children academically, but also supports well being and positive mental health. We we will be working hard to ensure that the children have a smooth transition back to school and meeting up with their friends again. We will be having a Parents Evening before Easter (via phone calls) to discuss how the children have progressed over the Spring Term - more information about the Parents’ meeting nearer the time.
Thank you to all those family members at home who have supported the children with remote learning, you have been doing an amazing job. Thank you. One more week of remote learning left (and it is an exciting week with World Book Day and Geography Field Work Week) - enjoy it and don’t forget to share photos of your work, with your class teacher.
I look forward to welcoming all the children back to school on Monday 8th March, and I will clarify our Covid Secure procedures in next week’s blog.
See below for final Zoom meeting dates and our Stars of the Week.
World Book Day
This World Book Day we will be collaborating with all the other schools in the John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust. There is even a new website to celebrate the occasion: https://jtmatlovesreading.co.uk/
Each school in the Trust has their own section, you can find Winshill Village’s section here: http://jtmatlovesreading.co.uk/category/school/winshill-primary-school
In school we will be taking lots of photos of all the activities taking place and uploading on to the JTMAT loves reading website.
It would be great, if everyone who is completing remote learning could take a photo of one their World Book Day Activities. Please email a photo to your class teacher and we will arrange to get it on the website.
After the day we will pick MAT wide activity winners and arrange for the 'Apart but together' World Book Day book to be published. Happy Reading!
Geography Field Work Week
Also, next week Mrs Williams will be organising a Geography Field Week. This will encourage the children to use their Geography skills in practice; from conducting surveys to using a compass: the children both at home and in school will have a great time exploring the great outdoors. Have a read of Mrs Williams’ Geography blog and the class blogs to find out more about the activities. Again, if you could email us any photos, we will be making a display in school. Have fun!
Zoom Meetings Next Week
The final Zoom meetings will be taking place at the following dates and times. We really encourage your child to take part.
Nursery: Wednesday 3rd March at 1:30pm
Reception: Tuesday 2nd March at 1:30pm
Year 1: Monday 1st March at 1:30pm
Year 2: Thursday 4th March at 11:15am
Year 3: Monday 1st March at 1:15pm
Year 4: Thursday 4th March at 2pm
Year 5: Thursday 4th March at 2pm
Year 6: Wednesday 3rd March at 1:30pm
Stars of the Week
Reception Bubble
Sofia: for trying really hard with her phonics and reading
Erin: for her kindness to to other children
Key Stage One Bubble
Harry: for writing some fantastic sentences in English
Mason: for working hard in Maths and counting in 10s
Leland putting in lots of effort to all he does
Year 3 and 4 Bubble
Reuben: his maturity and grown up attitude
Tegan: for being enthusiastic about her learning
Scarlett: perseverance with solving problems in Maths
Year 5 and 6 Bubble
Kody: Using numberlines to convert units of time
James: For a having a fantastic first week and settling in really well
LIly: for her continued hard work
Remote Learner Stars of the Week
Ruby: For working extremely hard during lock down and for helping to look after her little brother.
I Opened a Book
By Julia Donaldson
I opened a book and in I strode.
Now nobody can find me.
I’ve left my chair, my house, my road,
My town and my world behind me.
I’m wearing the cloak, I’ve slipped on the ring,
I’ve swallowed the magic potion.
I’ve fought with a dragon, dined with a king
And dived in a bottomless ocean.
I opened a book and made some friends.
I shared their tears and laughter
And followed their road with its bumps and bends
To the happily ever after.
I finished my book and out I came.
The cloak can no longer hide me.
My chair and my house are just the same,
But I have a book inside me.
DFE Increase Allocation
I wanted to make you aware another 3 companies have joined the DfE’s data allowance scheme whereby parents can request additional data for their devices to assist with home learning. To request more data for your home devices, please follow this link http://bit.ly/JTMATData.
Stay safe…. and help keep others safe.
Miss Goodson
