October Newsletter 2020
Dear Parents, Carers and Children,
Firstly, on behalf of the leadership team and teachers, we cannot thank you enough for all your support and commitment to your children’s attendance, work and uniform. The children have returned with enthusiasm and a real vigour to learn.
Later this week we will share our Curriculum newsletters so you are fully informed of what your children are learning each day in school.
Attendance
Attendance for September has been fantastic. Thank you. We are very proud of our exceptional attendance in school and your commitment to your child’s education and welfare – thank you. The expectation is for pupils to attend school every day, otherwise attaining at least 97% attendance for the school year, which equates to having 5 days (or 10 sessions) absence. Please keep supporting us in ensuring your child is at school each day and punctual. Our full attendance policy can be accessed via the school website.
Parking
Our staggered start and end times mean that we have a slight overlap with The Avenue. We appreciate this can cause some congestion. There have been some reports of unsafe car manoeuvres endangering pedestrians. Please continue to be respectful of our neighbours, other car users and pedestrians and you must NOT park on the yellow zigzags – this endangers your children and could result in a major incident! Where at all possible please help to reduce congestion by walking, cycling or scooting.
Local lockdowns/ bubble closures
You will have heard through the local press about a range of schools who have had class/year group bubble closures as a result of positive COVID cases. You will be aware that we have unfortunately had to close our Year 5 bubble over the next few weeks. Under current guidance, unfortunately such situations may occur from time to time. Please be reassured that we adhere to very stringent risk assessments in place in school to keep our staff and children safe. We do have contingency plans should a bubble need to collapse and if this happened your child’s class you would be informed of next steps via official school correspondence.
Please be reassured that anytime we need advice in relation to COVID we contact Public Health England – in most cases the subsequent actions only affect a limited number of individuals (close contacts) who generally need to isolate. As you will be aware our classes (staff and children) have little or no close contact with other bubbles so generally only limited or isolated bubbles would need to collapse should there be a positive case within our school community. It is difficult to generalise and in all cases we follow advice but usually only if a staff member or a child tests positive would whole groups need to isolate.
In the event of a year group closure we will now use Google Classroom to maintain children’s learning experiences. Please practise logging onto this area for homework. If any children are absent as a result of COVID testing, Track and Trace or bubble closures key skills work will be placed on the class pages weekly.
Local lockdowns may also occur but we fully expect school to remain open. It is a difficult time for us all but all we can do is remain vigilant to our school and Government safety measures, namely adhere to hand hygiene advice and limit our social contact with others. We must remain hopeful that if we stay positive and adhere to guidance then we will return sooner to ‘normal’ again.
Google classroom / ILP
As referred to above, we have replaced our Learning Platform with Google Classroom. Google Classroom provides an area where your children can access homework and weekly key skills. It is essential you and your child can access Google Classroom in order to support their progress at home. Work can be completed directly via Google Classroom or via homework books. We would kindly ask you to check homework books for the foreseeable future and not return them to school.
Mr Bourner will be sending a letter today to clarify instructions but many children will be aware of the process already. If anyone needs further support accessing this platform please contact your child’s teacher or the school office.
Out of this world / x tables
Over the last few weeks teachers have been organising and sending home reading books (Rec-Y6) and times table practise cards (Y1-6). Books will be quarantined between use so depending on the range of books available children may not change books as frequently as previously. In class displays reward pupil practise and develop the key skills essential to learning. Please support your children by listening to your children regularly – 2-3 times weekly makes such a difference!
There are videos on our school website to explain our reading/lottos/Maths practice initiatives. https://stbernadettes.npcat.org.uk/curriculum-support-videos/
Dependant on year group, there are relevant passwords in your child’s reading records to help them access interactive resources at home including Times Table Rockstars, SPaG.com, Tapestry etc
Flu immunisations
The flu vaccine is being offered to all children (Reception-Year 6). You must consent via: www.hdft.nhs.uk/electronic-consent School Code: 142369. The last date of submission is 02/12/2020. If you do not have internet access please contact us on 0300 003 2554. Children will not be provided the immunisation without consent. We will inform you once we are aware of when the immunisations will take place.
Financial support
We are aware that people’s circumstances are constantly changing so please, if you are struggling financially in any way, complete a FSM form (Free School Meals). The form is available via our website https://stbernadettes.npcat.org.uk or from the school office. Applications can be returned to the school email or via our general school enquiries: [email protected] If you would like to discuss this further or have any questions please contact Mr Conway or Miss Brady.
A reminder that 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.
Lunch menu
Our staggered lunch times are now running efficiently and children are choosing their meals weekly with their class teacher. If you want to view the menu please visit our school website so you can support your children make their choices: https://stbernadettes.npcat.org.uk/lunch-menu/
Volunteers
Because of current COVID restrictions we are unable to have our usual invaluable band of volunteers. At present only limited adults are allowed on site. We will make contact once we are able to welcome further visitors.
Pupil/Parent/Carer contact information
Please advise the school office if there are any changes to the information we currently hold. In particular: addresses, all telephone contact numbers and parent/carer email addresses. As the majority or correspondence is sent out via email, it is essential that we have up to date email addresses.
September Events
Trinity HT meet
We were delighted so many parents were able to attend our Y5/6 parents meet in our school hall on Monday 21st September. Thank you. Unfortunately, Open Evenings are not in person this year as a result of COVID restrictions. A virtual tour and presentation will be shared next week. As our Catholic feeder school, we will be sharing Trinity’s Open Evening via our social media platforms (Twitter/Facebook). Trinity’s Virtual Open Evening will be on Tuesday 6th October, 6-8pm – it will be available to view anytime after this also. If anyone would like further information about Trinity please do not hesitate to contact Mr Conway/Miss Brady.
Mindfulness Jars
As part of our Recovery Curriculum planning, Mrs Smith organised class mindfulness sessions this week. Children created their own mindful jar and practised some mindful exercises and relaxation techniques. The sessions were well received and enjoyed by all and formed part of our ambition to ensure our children develop resilience and hope to cope with the unusual world we are currently living in.
Dates for the Diary
PTA News
Due to the current climate all of our usual PTA events have been cancelled. We would love to get together virtually and see if we can come up with some necessary innovative ways to continue to raise funds for school. Currently we are hoping to raise money to complete out fabulous new reading scheme for school.
You are invited to join our google meet TOMORROW Thursday 1st October at 7:30pm by following this link. https://meet.google.com/bci-fiqu-mgp
Extended Schools
Mrs Smith is looking into the feasibility of starting class bubble extended school clubs again in the new year. When we are able to proceed we will be in contact with identified year groups.
Tempest Photographs
Individual photographs of school children only (there will be no wider family group photographs this year) will be taken by Tempest Photography on Monday 19th October. The older children will be photographed individually (with the exception of twins). Photos will be taken standing up for the majority of children. Younger children may sit down on a bench. There will then be a break between bubbles to allow areas and surfaces to be disinfected. The Tempest staff will socially distance from the children, adhere to all school risk assessments (hand hygiene, temperature checks etc) and will not make adjustments to ties/hair. A staff member from class bubbles will assist where necessary. Unless you inform us otherwise, we presume you would like a professional photo taken.
School’s In/Out
Following feedback from our survey in March we have decided to alter the opening hours of our Wraparound care (School’s In/Out) from November: 7.45am-5.30pm. Staff have kindly agreed to come in earlier to facilitate working parents.
We will not provide breakfast in the morning club but children are welcome to bring small packed lunches. Charges will therefore remain the same: from 7.45am £4 / from 8.15am £2.
Charges are also unchanged for School’s Out: £4 per hour / £2 per half hour. A further breakdown is provided below:
| Collection time | Cost on collection (Parentpay) |
| From 3.10pm-3.30pm*
Class teachers bring children to School’s Out at approximately 3.10pm |
£2 |
| From 3.35pm-4pm | £4 |
| From 4.05pm-4.30pm | £6 |
| From 4.35pm-5pm | £8 |
| From 5.05pm-5.30pm | £10 |
| School’s Out close 5.30pm |
Morning Maths Club
Because of COVID restrictions on mixing bubbles we do not have additional rooms to facilitate Maths Club however we can provide Maths Club resources on request for children to complete in School’s In/Out. Please inform the school office or School’s In/Out staff if you would like your child to complete some additional Maths work.
And finally,
Lunch supervisor
We have just advertised for a new lunchtime supervisor. If you would like to join our school team and are available each day at lunchtime please complete the application which is available via our Trust website: https://npcat.org.uk/current-vacancies/ If you require further information do not hesitate to contact Mr Conway / Miss Brady.
Time for Goodbyes
We are really sorry to announce two staffing goodbyes:
Mrs McAvoy
Mrs McAvoy has decided to retire at October half term. Mrs McAvoy has been present at our school since 1992 Mrs McAvoy has had many roles: lunchtime supervisor, teaching assistant, ICT support, Catholic Cup coordinator and of course School’s In/Out manager. She has not had a days illness since 1999 – we wish her continued good health and happiness as she looks forward to spending quality time with her new Grandson – Jacob! Enjoy your last few weeks at St Bernadette’s Lynne and thank you for all your commitment to our school.
Mrs Beaumont
Mrs Beaumont has decided to move closer to family over the summer so will be unable to continue providing her excellent weekly Music lessons and support with performances. We will all greatly miss Mrs Beaumont but we wish her well on her new venture and are happy she will be closer to loved ones.
Please find below a heartfelt goodbye to you and the children:
| To the whole school family,
I have to say thank you before I say farewell. I came to St. Bernadettes 20 years ago, a foreigner with a funny accent, to an unknown community where football was more important than rugby! There have obviously been numerous changes over the years, but one thing that has remained a constant is the solid family community and the love and respect that we share. It is not something common to all schools and it is very precious. Thank you to Monsignor, Mrs Cobbold, Mr Conway, Miss Brady, Mrs Pennick, every member of staff and governing body, and of course every child, for so many wonderful (and whacky) Wednesdays. If I think of all the masses, liturgies, class assemblies, concerts, tea parties…. as well as regular class sessions, it has been a fabulous chapter of my life. I’m also extremely grateful for the invaluable emotional support I received from the school when I was widowed 3 years ago. It’s time to say goodbye now though. Over the last few months, there seemed to be many indications that it was time to move south, closer to my daughter. Once again, it’s a huge move to an unknown area and community – this time a tiny village – but I have felt God leading me in every aspect of this, so trust that He has a plan for me. I am sorry that I couldn’t say goodbye to people in person, as we would normally have done, but these are unusual times. My sincerest thanks and love, Katherine Beaumont |
Best wishes
Mr P Conway Miss S Brady
Head Teacher Head of School
