Having seen the team at work, we were amazed by how long every tiny piece took – with a lot of repetition for shots from different angles. Dogs’ woofing or cars driving past all created sound interference and the filming had to be paused and then questions repeated. The crew were setting up and filming from 8am until 4.30pm with hardly a break, for a very short piece. We have no idea which parts will be edited out and which pupils, staff and parents may be seen but a very big thank you to those who took part. I will let you know when it will be shown!

Sadly, due to COVID requirements plus this hectic schedule Benjamin Zephaniah was not able to come and visit our classes but he signed books for the school and was kind enough to have a photo taken in our library where he was filmed. We will make sure that we get it printed out and display it in our library.

I have to say whilst it was an interesting day yesterday, it has been very nice to return to a normal type of day today without having to negotiate timetables and filming!

Very appropriately, it is World Poetry Day on Sunday 21^st March so in honour of Benjamin you could choose to read some favourite poems at home this weekend. Who in the family can recite a poem by memory? What is your favourite poem? Do you have a favourite poet? You could even go online and watch Benjamin performing one of his poems!

Mrs Katy Pinchess, Headteacher

In other news...

• We all really enjoyed the birthday party celebrations this week at school. Whilst COVID has stopped us from having parties we were all happy to have fun with friends at school. There has been dancing, movie watching, game playing and some yummy snacks. Thank you to parents for the donation towards the PTFA. Thank you to staff for setting up the parties and making them fun!
• As we reach the end of a second full week of school we can see that children are still adapting to the busy-ness of full time ‘real’ school. A few children have had bumps or have found separating harder as they have been more tired at the end of the fortnight back. This is a very similar pattern that we see in school in September after the summer break and is entirely normal. You can help your child adjust back into the normal routines with early bedtimes and set routines. If they are still struggling and you feel concerned, do contact the class teacher, but we do need to expect a ‘re-settling in’ period, extra tiredness and even raised anxiety, for us all after the disruption of the last year. Please give your child some time and support to re-build their resilience. 
• Mrs Pinchess has asked all children to show the super manners we see with staff at school when they are collected at home time. We have encouraged ALL children to carry their own water bottles, coats and book bags as they leave the playground. We have reminded children to greet parents/carers politely and say ‘Good morning’ and ‘Good bye’ to adults and children.
• Thank you to all parents for the courteous queuing at home time. We appreciate social distancing makes this difficult, but please continue to support us at school to keep a COVID safe set up. We do not wish to move to staggered pick up and have appreciated parental support with the systems in place.
• Mrs Rhodes has kindly set up a link with The Coffee Can Company, which is a travelling van ‘pop up shop’ selling delicious drinks and cakes. It will be sited on the back playground for parents to visit on the last day of term after drop off on Thursday 1^st April. What a nice treat!
• On Thursday 1^st April we will have a full day of school with pick up at 3.15pm as usual. We will end the school year on Friday 23^rd July with a half day.

 

Thank you….

… to Charlie’s grandad, for his fascinating talk on fossils today – the children particularly liked the fossilised poo!!

…to Mrs Miffling for completing a competition to win a pack of ten free Happy News company newspapers for our children to enjoy.

 

Kaira Konko Day – Tuesday 23^rd

We are delighted to be teaming up with Kaira Konko again this year, as voted for as one of our three special charities by the children at the start of the year. We will be supporting our friends and the Sitahuma School in The Gambia with a special dress down day on Tuesday 23^rd March 2021. Everyone is invited into school wearing their brightest, happiest clothes to celebrate the colours and textures of Gambian fabrics. Anything goes - as long as it’s bright!

We are asking for a donation of £2 per child in exchange for wearing their bright, happy clothes – you can pay in cash on the day or via www.scopay.com. Every penny raised on the day will go towards purchasing pens, pencils, exercise books and other supplies for the children and teachers at Sitahuma.

 

CHILDREN – Did you know that on average two out of five young people each week report feeling anxious or worried about something that had happened online?

Communicating and connecting online should be fun but it MUST BE SAFE. Using technology to connect with others provides challenges for you, your family and teachers. It can put us all at risk and make us feel unhappy.

Using your technology wisely can help protect and keep you safer online.  Behaving respectfully and responding sensibly to a problem online can help too.

PARENTS - Do you know what is going on in your child’s online world?

As a parent, you have a vital role to play in supporting and managing your child’s online relationships. 

Children and young people want our support and help navigating and exploring a life online.

• Focus on the positive aspects that a life online can bring to your child’s social life.
• Help them to create a positive online identity and digital footprint.
• Support them with challenges that they may face with their online life.

Click here for more information about keeping your children safe online.

 

FIRST News

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