Light at the end of the tunnel
It is very easy at the moment to dwell on all the bad news, it is very easy to get scared and anxious about the pandemic and the constant scary statistics of increasing infections. It is very easy to get frustrated about not being able to visit relatives, to not be able to go to favourite restaurant and to be stuck in doors. It is very easy to be negative, and it is completely natural, at the moment, to have these emotions.
However, when you are around children, it is very easy to be positive. To be proud of their resilience, to be amazed at their focus and determination to succeed. It is very easy to smile at their sense of humour, to be warmed by their support and kindness to each other. It is very easy to be positive, when your children, show us how wonderful the future is going to be.
Your children’s adaptability and resilience, combined with the good news about the vaccine rollout, allows me to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel. At this darkest point of the pandemic, it is vital for all our sakes, that we focus on that light, and work together, to support one another and to keep on going
For those of you, working from home… some messages
Thank you for taking part in the Zoom meetings this week, it was lovely to see so many of the children. Zoom meetings will take place every two weeks, and will take different forms. The Zoom meetings could be with just the children at home, or it could include the children in school and sometimes it might be individual meetings. We will let you know nearer the time, please encourage your child to take part, it is a great way of keeping in touch.
Next week (week beginning 18th January) staff will ringing the children at home to have a chat to them, to see how they are and to offer any necessary support. These phone calls will probably say “number withheld” so please look out for them and answer when we ring. It is important that we remain in contact.
We would also like the children to submit some of the work that they are completing at home to their class teacher via the email address on the class pages. If they could do this at least once a week, the teacher will be able to give you some feedback and support.
Staff will attempt to answer emails as quickly as possible, but please bear in mind, that they are still teaching in school. No emails will be responded to after 6pm in the evening or at weekends. Thank you for your understanding.
The new blogs for next week’s work will be uploaded today. Please have a look and do what you can. We are here if you need us.
If you need reading books for home, please email the class teacher, we can arrange a Covid Secure handover.
We still have a few laptops available, so if you require a device, please send me a message via the website, and we can see what we can do.
For the children attending school … some messages
Well done on adapting to the new bubbles and the new systems in school. You have been amazing and I am very proud of your resilience and your adaptability.
We are still doing proper lessons in school (although you might not be taught by your normal teacher) - keep working hard.
School starts at 9am, please arrive on time, so you don’t miss any learning. The door opens at 8:40am
The gates open at 3:05pm. Dismissal time is 3:05 - 3:10 for Reception and Key Stage 1.
Dismissal time for KS2 and Nursery is 3:10 to 3:20pm. Please stagger your collection time, so that we can maintain social distancing on the playground.
Face masks should be worn where possible
Children will be taking part in Zoom lessons with their classmates, if you do not want your child to participate, please let me know.
If you a critical worker, but there is someone at home, consider whether you need your full time school place (please read my previous blog).
And remember…
If your child is unwell, please keep them off school.
If anyone in your household is showing symptoms, the whole household should self-isolate
Tests can be booked online
We have some tests in school if you can not book a test
The self-isolation period is 10 days.
Please let school know if a child has a positive test result (even if they are at home accessing remote learning)
Update about Miss Whitley
I spoke to Miss Whitley this week, and I am pleased to say that she is making steady progress. The doctors believe she is recovering well from her strokes. She is receiving various treatments and she is thinking positively. She may be able to return to school (on a part time basis) for the Summer Term, however this will depend on her continued recovery. I will, of course, keep you up to date with any developments. In the meantime, Mrs Claxton will continue teaching in Year 1.
Keep Going By Edgar Guest
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must—but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow—
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out—
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit—
It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit
Remember, keep in touch and school is here if you need us.
Keep safe… and help keep others safe
Miss Goodson
