Coronavirus Update 03.06.20
Dear parents/carers and wider community of St Bernadette’s,
I do hope you enjoyed your half term and managed a few relaxing days with the family last week. In the past few months, you have been put in a very challenging situation. There are not many generations of children who have faced such a tricky set of circumstances. You have faced uncertainty, apprehension and a huge change in the way you learn. I am proud of your positivity and role modelling – thank you.
In the space of a single weekend in March, you made the transition from classroom learning to working from dining room tables; you went from spending your days with your friends on our busy playgrounds, to being limited to a single household for weeks on end. We have all missed our friends and family and we have all missed you.
You have been challenged, yet you continue to shine and show how fantastic you are. At times, you may have struggled, but you have come together with your families and we will be all the stronger for it!
Good News
Over half term I am delighted to inform you that Mrs Whitfield, our Reception teacher, had a baby girl. Mr and Mrs Whitfield is doing really well and enjoying time at home with her second daughter, Jessica. Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Whitfield!
School reopening update
Last week the Government confirmed that schools are now safe to reopen. We must see this as a positive step towards welcoming a return to ‘normality’. I wish everyone could come back, but this can’t happen yet. The Government ambition remains to bring all primary year groups back to school before the summer holidays but we will need to closely monitor this in the coming weeks and we will communicate further updates as necessary on the return of any other year groups.
The way in which the return to wider groups of children will be managed at St Bernadette’s is as follows:
- This week, we have only been receiving children of critical workers in school.
- On Monday 8th June, we will only be receiving Year 6 children and children of critical workers in school.
- From Monday 15th June, we will be receiving Year 1, Year 6 and children of critical workers in school.
- We have not set a date for children in Nursery and Reception to return as yet.
- There is no Government directive as yet to return children in other year groups.
School will feel different for those children who are returning: there will be no assembly in the hall, we will be staying in our smaller groups and we will not be allowed to wander around the school. What will not change will be the welcoming face of our school. Myself and all the staff are looking forward to seeing the children who are returning.
School has in place a robust risk assessment and logistical arrangements for Y1 and Y6 parents will be communicated in a separate parentmail.
Key workers
The definition for key workers has remained unchanged. On Monday 8th 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 4th JUNE to request a place in our school for wb 08.06.20. If you do not fulfil the criteria for key workers we will unfortunately have to decline a place for your child.
Key worker timings collections may be slightly more flexible as per current arrangements or if there are siblings in Y1/Y6 but to manage social distancing we would like where possible children to arrive at 9am and be collected at 3pm. Only in exceptional circumstances can a child be in school beyond these hours. Mr Conway/Miss Brady must authorise these cases prior to commencement of each week (where agreed normal charges will apply).
Finally, it is expected that all children in the key worker group wear daily freshly cleaned school uniform (no tie necessary); black trainers are fine as there will be regular outdoor provision. Please limit all additional items to school eg no PE kit; bring packed lunches; water bottle (only water allowed); coat if necessary; no bags if possible. Please note that our school kitchen service will resume cold packed lunches again from 15th June for anyone who would prefer a school lunch.
Home learning
Resources for home learning have again been updated on Monday 1st June for all year groups.
The children returning to school will be doing school work: it will be exciting and interesting; they will spend a lot of time outside. Don’t worry if you are staying at home; the work the returning children are doing will be similar to the work we set on the class pages.
If your children are remaining at home, we will keep in touch.
RSE (Relationships and Sex Education)
Each year we have an annual Journey in Love week in school. This is part of our Sex and Relationships Curriculum. All Primary Schools are required to teach RSE (Relationships and Sex Education). Unfortunately as we are not all in school at present we have not had it this year. “Journey in Love” is the current recommended teaching for Relationship and Sex Education in Catholic Primary Schools. Nursery and Reception predominantly focus on celebrating themselves and the wonder of God’s world. Year 1/2 focus on how we are part of a family and of wider communities. Year 3/4 encourages the children to begin thinking about how can live good lives and celebrate our uniqueness. In Years 5/ 6 a particular emphasis is on health education, as many children experience puberty at this age. Our current RSE Policy is available to view via our website.
This year as we are not all in school, we will be sharing appropriate resources via the learning platform on wc 22nd June. Children in Y1 or Y6 will also receive this input in school. As we are not all in school this year, we are asking you to cover the aspects outlined on the individual class pages.
As part of their ‘Journey in Love’ week, Year 5 and Year 6 will be able to view a Puberty video. The video will be available on request for parents in Y5/6. I would encourage all Y5/6 parents to watch the video with their children. This, along with the teaching resources, outlines how their bodies change during puberty, what menstruation is and how babies are born.
If anyone would like to discuss the content of the ‘Journey in Love’ input or any of the above please do not hesitate to make contact with Mr Conway or Miss Brady.
Virtual Sports week (wc 15th June)
This year, as we are not able to partake in our annual Sports day in school, Tees Valley Active are trying to ensure we can all still enjoy a series of sporting activities in June. The clip below demonstrates 8 challenges for you to practise at home individually or as a family. Send your clips to Mrs Smith, our PE lead, who will display your efforts on Twitter (please send either photos or short video clips with the name of your child and an explanation of their activity to: [email protected] )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlUXmU9krvE
Half term challenge!
Mrs Harris displayed numerous pictures on our Twitter feed of you ‘Running for Reading books’ over half term. Thank you to all who took part. Whether you raised £1 or £200 all donations have been gratefully received. I will confirm the total raised next week but as always we have been overwhelmed with your kindness – THANK YOU!
If any monies have not been donated to school yet please can they done via ParentPay: ‘Run for reading books’. Alternatively, if any monies can be safely dropped off at the school office this week 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.
‘Recreate a book cover challenge!’
What great contributions we have had to our reading project – thank you. Mrs Stoker 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’
Thank you for all your efforts on ‘Rockstars’ before half term – WE WON against our friends at St Augustine’s! In all seriousness though well done to all the children who are trying to improve their times tables skills.
Class videos
All classes have now made videos as keepsakes for the children. 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. We hope you enjoyed them!
General
FSM
Those in reciept of FSM vouchers will again be receiving your weekly voucher this week. If anyone would like to see if they are are eligible for Government funding please contact me directly.
SVP support
The St Bernadette’s Parish SVP have provided 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.
Hampers
The kindness you display never fails to surprsie me; this week we dropped off two large hampers donated by one of parents to St Mary’s Primary, Grangetown. Thank you to all who have displayed random acts of kindness to our in-school staff or for our wider community in recent weeks.
Transition (Y6-7)
In the recent weeks and over the coming weeks, Mrs Stoker is in contact with secondary school transition partners. This is to ensure that the Year 6 still have as smooth a transition as possible. It is unclear whether children will visit the schools in person but we have passed on academic achievements, and we will share our opinions of the children as individuals (their attitudes to school, behaviour, attendance and homework record). If you are in Y6, no matter how nervous you get at the prospect of joining a new school, remember that you overcame COVID-19 and you are unstoppable!
New starters (September 2020)
Parents of children due to start in Nursery or Reception have been contacted via email this week. If you require any additional information about your child starting our school in September, please make contact directly. Please return relevant forms to the school office asap.
We currently have some additional spaces in some year groups so if you know anyone looking for new schools please ask them to contact myself or Miss Brady.
Uniform
For those of you looking to purchase new uniform for September please visit our school website: (order directly from our school website) https://www.motif8.co.uk/schoolwear/primary-schools/st-bernadette-s-primary.html
One of our Grandparents supplies iron on name lables for uniforms and shoes. If any parents are interested in enquiring about this please contact: [email protected]
New roles 2020-21
Next year, I have been appointed to support the Trust Standards team on a part time basis. The role is initially a secondment for a year to begin in September 2020. I will remain substantive Headteacher. Miss Brady will act up as Head of school on the days I am not in school. I have confidence in my leadership team and the wider staff at St Bernadette’s that the exceptional Catholic life and the achievements of everyone will continue to thrive. My Standards role will involve visiting all Trust Primary Schools. There are excellent schools, leaders and teachers in the Trust and part of the Standards role will be ensuring the excellent practice in place is cascaded. I would expect this to have a positive impact on St Bernadette’s.
And finally,
In our weekly newsletters, I promised you that we will be together again. I still don’t know when the whole school will reopen, but I make this promise to you again….it will happen! We are making the first tentative steps towards that rainbow…hopefully the storm is passing. I cannot wait to see you all back in school, whenever and however that may be. In the meantime, keep safe and continue looking out for one another.
Be kind, be hopeful and reach out to the people who love you!
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
I came across this lovely YouTube clip recently which you may want to share with your children: ‘While we can’t hug.’ It is an emotional but uplifting story that offers the many things we can do to continue expressing our love for those we miss most.
