July Newsletter
Dear Parents, Carers and Children,
As we approach our final few weeks of the academic year may we take this opportunity to thank you all for all your support and commitment this year. We have experienced an unusual year to say the least but hope is very much in sight as a result of the successful roll out of the vaccine!
General
Mr Peacock
Please keep our lovely Mr Peacock in your thoughts as he undergoes some medical treatment. Mr Peacock teaches PE across Y1-6. He will continue to come into school as he can and we wish him our love and prayers in the coming months.
Mrs Davies
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Mrs Davies in July after 21 years in the role. She is an excellent upper Key Stage 2 teaching assistant and her knowledge and commitment to school life will be missed by all of us. Mrs Davies is looking forward to spending time with her growing family and pursuing her sporting interests!
Suncream
Please ensure you apply sun cream in advance of children coming to school in the summer months. We are unable to apply suncream. Children are also encouraged to bring sun hats and bottles of water.
Birthday cakes
As a healthy school and because of food allergies we try to discourage too many sweet treats, however if you decide to give the class teacher a cake for your child’s birthday please ensure it is ready to give out to the children. School staff cannot spend time away from children cutting cakes!
June events
Governor visits
We are fortunate to have a really proactive governing body who do all they can to monitor how our children receive the best education they possibly can:
- Mary Bilous, our Chair of Governors, visits school weekly to change books and lottos in Y1 and meet with Mr Conway/Miss Brady
- Paul Benfield, a Foundation Governor, met with Miss Cuff this month to discuss developments in our wider curriculum. They discussed current books and next year’s planned changes – rather than teach a full term in our Y1-6 Topic work (History, Geography, Art, DT), we will teach the units in smaller, interleaved blocks.
- Laura Cutler, a Foundation Governor, met with Miss Brady to look at our RE books and Collective worship practice.
- Louise Brady, a Foundation Governor, met with Miss Brady to assess the EYFS developments including use of the outdoor area.
Mrs Brady will be stepping down from her role as Foundation Governor at the end of this academic year. As a former teacher at St Bernadette’s, she had a deep understanding of our school and her knowledge, support, empathy and challenge made her a great Governor. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs Brady for her time and commitment to our school.
Safeguarding review
On Tuesday 22nd July we had a full Trust safeguarding review. It was a comprehensive overview of all aspects of school safeguarding. We are pleased to inform you that the audit was very positive and confirmed our vigilant adherence to safeguarding protocols.
Bede day
This year we have tried to increase our children’s understanding and appreciation of the impact our local Saints had on our area and Christianity. On 11th June, all children across the school learnt more about St Bede. who was an English Benedictine monk at the monastery in the Kingdom of Northumbria. He is well known as an author, teacher and scholar.
PTA Uniform stall
On Thursday 17th and Friday 18th June we held a uniform stall in school. Thank you to all who contributed quality items of clothing. Also a huge thank you to Helen Gilpin (and her mum), a parent of 2 boys in Y1, who gave up her time to prepare the uniform and display the items each day. We are so grateful for her support. There are a few items remaining if anyone did not have a chance to see the stall. The uniform stall raised £57.00 which will all go to PTA funds.
Sports day
Thank you for your understanding in relation to Sports day. We were hoping that we would be able to have parents on site to witness this fun, annual event. The children enjoyed their Sports days and we hope you saw the many pictures shared via Twitter. We hope from September restrictions will allow your presence on site to join us at joyous events like this.
Y6 events
Y6 have enjoyed several special end of year activities: as they missed their residential this year they went to Carlton for a day of outward bound adventures and they have had various fitness, transition and sport workshops.
July events
Reading books/Homework
Please note that Reading books will be collected from next week. We would encourage you to access our online materials. A reminder of how to access the online materials is provided by a video on our school website (Logging in support for our online reading books (Oxford Reading Tree and AcceleratedReader ): https://stbernadettes.npcat.org.uk/curriculum-support-videos/
If you need any support accessing independent reading books online please contact the school office or your child’s class teacher.
Please note we will also not be sending homework on Google Classroom from next week.
Stokesley Open Gardens
On Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th July Stokesley Gardens returns. You can discover the secrets of Stokesley’s best-kept gardens, with the proceeds of the event supporting Teesside Hospice.
New Reception starters
On Monday 5th July, we will be holding our new Reception starters meeting for parents. This year we will be having a virtual meet. The meeting will be from 9-10am. Video call link: ttps://meet.google.com/nfq-zydp-vfh
Postgate Day
On Friday 9th July, we will celebrate Postage day in school. All children (N-Y6) are encouraged to wear their own clothes with a splash of yellow.
Reports
End of year reports will be sent home on Friday 9th July. If anyone would like to see a teacher following your child’s report please make an appointment through the school office. We will also inform you of your child’s new class teacher at this point.
Transition days
At this stage we have decided to shorten our in school transition period this year. We are hopeful this will still go ahead. The plan is for all children to move into their new year group to meet their new teachers and get used to new routines on Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th July. This period traditionally really helps the children settle and hit the ground running in September. If anything changes we will let you know. The children will return to their present class on Wednesday 14th July.
Secondary schools transition has been altered as a result of the delay to lockdown restrictions – secondary schools are liaising directly with Y6 parents in relation to rearranged plans. All secondary school partners have been invited into school to meet children also.
PTA School merchandise
St Bernadette’s merchandise has now arrived and is available to purchase via Parentpay. Please order the following items on Parentpay by Tuesday 13th July and we will distribute them to children on Wednesday 14th July / Thursday 15th July. We have added separate payment options for all
- St Bernadette’s wristbands: £2.50
- Unicorn keyrings: £2
- Hope Rainbow pin badges: £2
- St Bernadette Mugs: £5.00
- St Bernadette Pencils: £1.00
- St Bernadette Coasters: £2.00
We have a limited amount of each product so please be quick in purchasing goods.
Thanks to our parents Sarah Langstaff and Dawn McNamara for the support in purchasing the goods. A huge thank you to @sweetsmith_designs for our wonderful school design. You are amazing!
All proceeds will directly benefit PTA funds. PTA funds are solely used to purchase resources for the children and contribute to children activities eg Summer fayre parties; Y6 leavers events; ipads; reading books etc
Nursery to Year 5 Class Parties (Wednesday 14th July)
On Wednesday 14th July, Nursery to Year 5 children can wear their own clothes for the day and will play some fun games (in class and out of class) in their bubbles in the morning. In the afternoon they will enjoy some snacks and a film (U/PG). We are asking for a minimum £3 donation towards the associated costs for the activities for the day’s events.
Please note although Year 6’s will have their class party on Thursday 15th July (as detailed below)
Year 6 leavers events:
- Wednesday 7th July
.Year 6 Drama performance (outside), 6pm (a maximum of one family member per Y6 child)
- Friday 9th July
.Pizza/McDonalds and movie evening (outdoor cinema) – 6.30-9.30pm (children only)
- Thursday 15th July
.A celebration ‘Leavers Liturgy’ (outside), 9.30am (a maximum of one family member per Y6 child)
.Y6 Party afternoon and Silent Disco 1pm (children only). On this afternoon, children will also enjoy some party food contributed by Y6 parents.
.Y6 children need to come to school in full school uniform for the ‘Leavers liturgy’ but can bring their own clothes to change into after in preparation for their disco.
First Holy Communion
Over the last week, we have had discussions with Monsignor Hogan regarding completing our First Holy Communion programme with our current Y5 cohort. As you will appreciate, guidance in relation to COVID still compromises celebrating First Holy Communion in full but Monsignor is hopeful that either:
- The communions will take place one at a time on a weekend Mass
- Holding the Sacrament over a number of weekends in September.
Monsignor will clarify these options after the next announcement in mid July.
Monsignor is happy for you to contact him via the parish number, Church email ([email protected]) or Parish Facebook for further details/clarification.
A reminder that Monsignor will communicate information regarding the programme for our current Y3/4 children following completion of the Y5 programme.
And finally,
Gift policy
As a staff, we all feel very privileged to teach your children and your kind words and messages are more than enough thanks for the work we do. The trust has a policy whereby gifts must be declared. Therefore we would urge you not to organise leaver’s gifts for school staff.
Uniform
Advance notice: We expect children to continue wearing PE kits on PE days next year but we will be asking children to return to wearing shoes on non PE days.
Many thanks for your support in ensuring our children look ‘smart as carrots!’ each day in the way they dress and with their sensible hairstyles. Please order uniform via the website or direct from Motif8 https://www.motif8.co.uk/schools/primary-schools-s-z/st-bernadettes-primary.html
School Meals
A reminder that school meals must be paid for in advance. This may be done weekly, monthly or termly. If your child is absent from school, you will not be charged for any meals that they do not take. Please check ParentPay regularly to ensure that your school meal account remains in credit.
School’s Out closure
Please note there will be no ‘School’s out’ service on Thursday 15th July after school due to a staff retreat evening. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. school’s Out will be open as normal on Friday 16th July.
Summer Break
Friday 16th July is the end of our school term (No Nursery sessions this day)
We have a PD day on Wednesday 1st September and Nursery and Y1-6 children will return on Thursday 2nd September. Please note that New Reception children will return either Thursday 2nd September or Tuesday 7th September depending on their agreed starting date.
We look forward to seeing you over the next few weeks on drop off and collection at school. If we don’t see you personally, best wishes for the summer break.
Yours sincerely,
Mr P Conway and Miss S Brady
Headteacher / Head of School
