Coronavirus Update 22.04.20
Dear parents/carers,
I am sure this Easter period was the most unusual you will have all ever had but I do hope you and your families are keeping well given the circumstances. I hope you enjoyed our school video: Reach for the stars and it provided you and your families with some post Easter cheer.
Easter reflection
Easter is a very special time for Christians when we recall the Last Supper, Christ’s Crucifixion and then his glorious Resurrection. It is traditionally a time when we discuss how Jesus, when washing the feet of his disciples, modelled “service to others.” We use this analogy to remind us all of the importance of putting others first, being a positive influence on others and a great role model. I thank the community of St Bernadette’s for the service and support you give and will continue doing, going forward. In the midst of a huge challenge, you are all responding magnificently. In a few short weeks, life has changed dramatically for us all and we are all feeling the impact of COVID-19. At the moment every day can be challenging. It is important we all find coping strategies and time to relax amidst the uncertainty. One of my mantras is: “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% of how you respond to it”
An article I was reading recently recommended the following tips to help well-being:
- Look after key relationships: your partner, your children and keep in regular contact with parents and grandparents, siblings, closest friends.
- Stay active. Exercise. Enjoy nature.
- Watch your diet. Try to eat/drink healthily.
- Books that have nothing to do with the current crisis and can be such a wonderful release.
- Limit your time on reading difficult news articles. Use social media responsibly.
- Listen to uplifting music/podcasts.
- Keep in touch with local residents. Offer support where you can.
- Write down your thoughts. Keep a family lockdown diary/memory book.
- Have a good sleep. Mindfulness can help you switch off.
- Remember that all crises end! See an opportunity in every setback: most people are being kinder; there is a boom in volunteering; there is more respect for others and the air is cleaner.
FSM
During the COVID-19 outbreak the government has committed to providing support to Free School Meal Families (FSM). Although there has been some problems processing vouchers FSM children will receive their vouchers this week via email. If you have not received yet, please contact us. We have had a limited take up on new families applying for FSM but I will continue to ask anyone who thinks they are now eligible as a result of changing circumstances, including Nursery parents, to send your applications to school as soon as possible. A successful application will ensure you can access Government funding. Full guidance is via the red link on the school website https://stbernadettes.npcat.org.uk or please contact me directly to discuss further.
The St Bernadette’s Parish SVP have provided school with emergency funds for families who are concerned about providing necessary provisions for their families so please reach out if you are in need of any support financially.
School closure
The Government last week indicated that the current restrictions in place for lockdown would remain in place for at least another three weeks. Hopefully during this time we will see a continued decline in new cases as a result of social distancing and self-isolation. I appreciate the difficulties that arise as a result of our school being closed and the lockdown rules but please remain patient and please keep following the Government guidance. When guidance changes, I will inform you at the earliest opportunity. School remains open only for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. I would ask that if you need to go to work to support the country’s fight to tackle coronavirus, to contact myself, Miss Brady or school office by 3pm THURSDAY 23rd APRIL to request a place in our school for wb 29.04.20.
Keeping in touch
Teachers love catching up with you all and hearing what you and the children have been getting up to since school has been closed. They will continue to call you regularly. We understand many families are juggling parenting and work commitments so please don’t think we are checking up on you. We know you are all doing what you can to support your children in these unprecedented times. We are in this together so please be assured that our teachers are there for you – if you need anything at all just reach out!
Home learning
This week, the teachers have refreshed home learning resources via the Learning Platform ready for a new term of learning. After a slight blip on Monday 20th April as a result of the volume of people trying to access materials across the whole country, eschools is fully functioning again. We have started a new term so the Topic focus for Y1-6 will be Art/Dt and for EYFS will be ‘Wonderful World’. Please continue to engage in this learning in the coming weeks – we are fortunate to have your dedicated support in your child’s learning. Please practice regularly the essential skills of learning (read lots; practise key spellings and phonics; handwriting and maths especially basic skills in the Y1-6 white booklets). Share your 100 reads or Maths key skills developments with your teachers and we will celebrate this via Twitter or the Learning Platform. Thank you so much – it really does make a massive difference! If anyone is having any individual issues regarding the learning platform please contact your child’s class teacher via their school email.
Cookathon
Congratulations to all the bakers out there! Mrs Whitfield was overwhelmed with the community response to our school Cookathon competition – thank you everyone who kindly donated (https://www.teamevie.org ) All entries were all celebrated via Twitter. The 3 lucky winners as chosen by Steph (Millie’s mum) will receive £5 Amazon vouchers as a token of thanks for your participation and the runners up will receive a Team Evie wristband.
Winners: Sophia H (Reception) for her amazing bunny cake; James W (Y6) for his NHS millionaires shortbread shared with his auntie who works on a COVID ward and the Burke sisters (Y5/Y6) for their traffic light jam tarts given as gifts to others in the community. The runners up were: the Braye siblings (Nursery and Reception) for their biscuits; Lily W (Reception) for her cupcakes which were donated to the radiographers at the hospital and H Mullins siblings (Y3/Y6) for their rabbit cake. Mrs Whitfield will be posting your prizes in the coming days. Well done all!
Hope project-Art
We are going to have an Art project over the next two weeks to fit in with our Topic focus this term. Please do participate if you have time: In these unprecedented and uncertain times, we at St. Bernadette’s are always aiming to look for positivity, happiness and hope within our communities. Using our children’s artistic abilities, we are hoping to create a ‘Wall of Hope’ across the railings at the front of school to display our children’s hopes and aspirations for the future. We would like to invite our children to create a colourful, vibrant piece of artwork to showcase their hopes and dreams for the future, which we will then display on the railings at the front of school to inspire and encourage others. Create your own picture, dream or hope for the future…anything that inspires hope and positivity would be welcome! If your child wishes to participate, please photograph the artwork and email directly to Mrs Stoker, our Y6 teacher ([email protected] ) Mrs Stoker will tweet the picture of hope and share it with our school community via our ‘Wall of Hope’ at the front of school. Please do not put names on the artwork but inform Mrs Stoker of the name/class your child/children are in via email. Please ensure all entries are received by Friday 1st May.
We are trying to creatively use our school Twitter feed to share a variety of fun and factual messages; if you don’t already, request to follow us! As we progress from Easter, we celebrate new life. Mrs Pennick and Miss Brady will be sharing staff baby photos via Twitter! Please join in and share your responses. This week the EYFS team photos are on @stbernadettesm. Can you identify Miss Brady, Mrs Andrews, Mrs Hill, Mrs Harris and Mrs Maguire? I got them all wrong! Answers will be revealed in a few days. Look out for more staff photos; staff prayers and maybe even another song in the coming weeks!
New starters
The school and parents of Reception class September 2020 children were informed last week where their Primary school allocations were. We are delighted to welcome 25 new full time families. We still have some Reception places available so if you know if any families seeking alternative settings please ask them to contact school.
We are also happy to inform you that we are able to offer up to 16 places of 30 hour provision in our Nursery from September 2020. These places will be offered on the criteria of age, so oldest children will get first chance to take up the places. Please contact us Mrs Day ([email protected]) or Miss Brady ([email protected]) as soon as possible if you would be interested in taking up the 30 hour provision.
Miss Brady will be contacting both the new Nursery and Reception starters for September 2020 in May/June.
And finally…
Try to remain as positive as possible and have faith that we will rise from this crisis. We are here for you all. If you are concerned about anything or anyone, please contact us immediately.
God Bless,
Mr P Conway [email protected] / [email protected]
St Bernadette, Patron of our School, Pray for Us and Help Us
Blessed Nicholas Postgate, Pray for Us
Latest Official Guidance
To keep abreast of the latest Coronavirus information or to access Trust support services please refer to our school website (https://stbernadettes.npcat.org.uk ) and click the red link at the top of the page.
Reflection of an elder (a post war childhood)
My father and I are very close and one thing I love about him most is how he imparts his reflections of the past to help guide me through the present. Over Easter, we were discussing via Facetime things we can learn from this current crisis. As you read my dad’s reflection below, I am sure you too will draw many parallels with life then and now.
‘I was born in 1947. I remember food being rationed. I recall queuing in shops. What was available was basic, wholesome produce. In fact, peoples’ diets were really healthy as the meals were home cooked and made from fresh ingredients. I remember having to help my mother prepare the vegetables and I became proficient at preparing the Yorkshire pudding mix!
My mother also taught me how to sew my shirt buttons on and I also learned to iron. Skills I learnt at that time have stood me in great stead in later life.
The NHS was created in 1948 and from then onwards treatment for sickness has been free. I am very grateful for the treatment I have received since. The current situation has made the public realise once again what a marvellous job all the doctors, nurses and support staff are doing at present to help us through the crisis.
Because of the shortages during the war people developed a positive community spirit. I knew well all my neighbours in the street. You would think nothing of asking to borrow basic commodities like flour or milk from someone nearby if you had run out.
We amused ourselves a lot within the home. Most people did not have TV’s until the early 1960’s. We played a lot of card games with our parents and brothers and sisters. Knockout Whist was my favourite. We played dominoes and games like Ludo and Snakes and ladders. Table tennis on the dining room table was eagerly looked forward to. Head tennis with a balloon was good fun. Football along passage way with my brother was always another great activity but not popular with the grown-ups!
We were encouraged to read. The books were not as exciting as those available now. I preferred comics like the Dandy, the Beano, the Hotspur and Charles Buchan’s football monthly.
These are indeed extraordinary times but when it has passed, I look forward to enjoying meeting my friends again in the pub, hugging my grandchildren and welcoming a new positive, kind and loving way of living.’
Frank Conway aged 73 years April 14th 2020
- As the national press has rightly reflected on Captain Tom’s inspirational acts and life we all need to keep reaching out to ‘elders’ in our community with renewed appreciation and respect.
