Coronavirus Update 20.05.20
Dear parents/carers and wider community of St Bernadette’s,
School reopening update
As you will now be aware from emails sent out this week, St Bernadette’s will begin a phased and partial return of our Year 6 children from Monday June 8th and a week later, Monday June 15th, for our Year 1 pupils. This would end the current phase of wider opening – no provision for Nursery or Reception is planned at this point, as we fully understand the educational issues surrounding any return to school for these children. We will also continue to provide education in school to children of key/critical workers only next week and for the foreseeable future.
The Government ambition remains to bring all primary year groups back to school before the summer holidays. During our next phase of reopening this will be monitored and we will be communicating further updates as necessary on the return of any other year groups.
Please be reassured that we will be guided by Government guidelines and will put in place robust risk assessments to ensure we keep our staff and your children safe.
School has been open since Monday 23rd March for children of key/critical workers. School staff have continued to provide education and care for these 10-20 children daily inclusive of holidays, bank holidays and planned PD days. This service has been vital to ensure our key workers, who are unable to work from home, have been able to support the country’s fight to tackle coronavirus. I thank all our key/critical workers. I am also extremely grateful to our school staff for their commitment to our school. The in-school team have adhered to specifically adapted COVID-19 risk assessments and our key worker children have enjoyed a plethora of stimulating activities as well as daily formal learning.
Half term
Next week is our May half term holiday. I appreciate many of you may have taken annual leave, however if you have not already, please let myself or Miss Brady if you require a place for your child during half term: wb 25.05.20 by THURSDAY 21st MAY.
June 2020
On Monday 1st June, school be only be open 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 21st MAY to request a place in our school for wb 01.06.20.
Home learning
Next week I am asking staff to try to relax a little where they can! Resources for home learning will again be updated on Monday 1st June for all year groups.
READING PROJECT – WHOLE SCHOOL: ‘Recreate a book cover challenge!’
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
What great contributions we have had to our reading project – thank you. You still have time to contribute….
This week, Mrs Stoker wants to set you a Reading challenge: ‘Recreate a book cover.’ To ensure we continue to develop essential basic skills we want you to share your favourite book you have read since school closure. It could be a book the children have read independently or one you have read together. Please could you send your photos to Mrs Stoker ([email protected]) by Friday 22nd May. We will adorn the photos on Twitter and in our library as a lasting memory of our school love of reading!
‘Y1-6 Times Tables Rock Stars Tournament’
A reminder that this week, we are competing in a ‘Times Tables Rock Stars Tournament’ against our friends at St. Augustine’s in Coulby Newham. Both schools are competing to become the highest scoring school! All correct answers on any game that the children take part in will count towards our overall total (so they can play garage, studio, soundcheck, festival and it all counts!). We really hope that the children from year one to year six embrace the challenge and improve their skills whilst they are at it!
The competition runs from 8am to 4pm until Friday 22nd May. Only games played between 8am and 4pm on those days will count – we are conscious of too much screen time! Each night, we will tweet the current score. Please contact Mr Bourner if you need reminding of your children’s log in details: [email protected]
Thank you for all your efforts on ‘Rockstars’ this week – unfortunately Mr Bourner informed me last night we were losing! Regardless of the outcome though (it is a friendly tournament after all!), any extra practise that the children take part in will only be a good thing.
Class videos
Teachers have been making videos will serve as a keepsake for the time children have spent away from school. Nursery, Reception, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 6 class videos have been shared it via parentmail, our Learning Platforms and Twitter. We have shared these videos on our closed platforms with the permission of our parents but please do not share these videos on your own social media platforms. Year 4 and 5 teachers will be sharing their videos soon – enjoy!
It has been a huge source of joy to witness the sharing of hope via our Twitter feed. If you are not already a follower, please request to follow us @stbernadettesm We only accept names we recognise so please inform your child’s class teacher if you have requested to follow us but we have not accepted you.
Wall of Hope
Several neighbours have called school in recent weeks to express their appreciation of our fence art outside of school. It contains prayers, letters, pictures etc This week Mr Lynn has added our songs of hope from the staff – if you are passing school and have an enabled ‘QR Scanner App’ then click the QR codes to watch the videos staff made recently.
General
Northumberland refunds
Regrettably, in view of Covid19 we have had to cancel the Year 6 residential visit to Northumberland. We are able to provide a full refund in respect of this trip. By accessing your ParentPay account, you will be able to see the amount you have paid. Last week Mrs Simpson shared a Refund Request Form with Year 6 parents. Once you have completed the form, the Trust finance team will be able to process your refund. If you are unsure, or have any questions regarding the refund process, please email Mrs Simpson via the school enquiries email [email protected]
SVP support
The St Bernadette’s Parish SVP have rovided school with emergency funds. I have vouchers in school available for any families (FSM or not) who are concerned about providing necessary provisions for their families. Please reach out if you are in need of any support financially and we will help immediately.
And finally,
Half term challenge!
Mrs Harris has been doing an early reading audit in recent months and I am sure you will agree that our EYFS and KS1 books need an influx of new resources! As such we would love to organise some fundraising events in the next academic year to supplement the purchasing of new books for the children.
Inspired by Captain Tom’s remarkable fundraising for the NHS, please can we suggest you ‘Run for Reading books!’ this half term. Our challenge is to see how many laps of your garden/front or back yard you can do over half term. We have no specific target for this first event but across the year will be looking to raise up to £5000! Whatever you raise whether is be £1 or £20 will be gratefully received and used immediately to purchase books for our young readers in school. If you are struggling financially at present, don’t worry, just do it for fun. If you send pictures (photos rather than videos) of your half term running to Mrs Harris, she will tweet it: [email protected]
If any monies raised can be safely dropped off at the school office wb 1st June in a sealed envelope with your name/child’s name on it would be really appreciated. If you cannot safely drop off money in early June, please just contact school to inform us of money raised and drop it off whenever you are able.
Thank you in advance for your support and have fun running!
Half term summary,
I am proud to be the leader of our school. I am proud to lead such a dedicated group of passionate and caring staff. I am grateful for all the unconditional support from our parents and wider community – thank you. I am proud of how our children have tackled their home learning with such dedication. I am also proud of our in school children – their resilience to change, their smiles and compassion for each other have made our jobs brighter in the dark months.
Do not be anxious or worried about our phased school return. This is our school! This is the family we love! We have hopefully been through the tough period and are slowly progressing into happier times. When we return to school we will help your children get some normality back – this is the next phase in the seeking the rainbow!
There will not be a Wednesday newsletter next week unless guidance changes over the half term break. I will communicate further logistical details on our June plans to all parents on Friday.
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
- ‘The Seven Wonders of the World’ – a lovely little clip focusing on the things that really matter in life is attached with this newsletter.
- ‘Things that may help your children transition back to school’ – a short article attached covering reassuring points to consider when discussing our return to school with children
