Newsletter 18.9.20

A message from Miss Woodward

I have been so impressed with the calm way that everyone is managing the morning drop off and afternoon collection times, especially with the new systems we have introduced. Many parents have also commented on this to me, so thank you to everyone. You are all playing an important part in helping the school to be Covid safe. I have particularly noticed the Year 4 children forming an orderly, socially distanced queue on the playground – well done everyone! As with any new way of working it might be that we need to make tweaks in the coming weeks and months.

The pupils are working very hard in their class bubbles and are already making good progress in the curriculum subjects. Please see our new curriculum newsletter page. I am fortunate enough to be able to visit each of our classrooms every day and I am struck by the calm and purposeful environment our team have created. Last week I held our first remote assembly, which the children really enjoyed. I am hoping to share this week’s praise assembly through social media.

We would like to say well done to Mr Reeves-Kemp who is expanding his role as the Ebor Academy Trust Computing Curriculum Champion. Over the next few weeks he will be working in each class to ensure the children can use technology remotely and blended in each curriculum subject. We will be producing a remote learning policy to help support our families whilst children are self-isolating or in case of a local lockdown. More information will follow. Sadly we are saying goodbye to Mrs Brown in Year 6 today. We wish her well on her new journey.

Covid-19 Symptoms:

A new continuous cough?

A fever (high temperature over 38 using a thermometer)?

A loss or change of smell and taste?

It is crucial that if your child displays symptoms of COVID-19 they stay at home and isolate until a test result has been received. The test should be taken as soon as possible and within 5 days of the onset of symptoms. If the test result is negative, they can return to school as soon as they are well enough. If the test result is positive, they must isolate and it is crucial school is informed immediately please. Unfortunately, we cannot allow children who have had symptoms to return to school without isolating and without a negative test result as we have a duty of care to keep all children safe. They will be noted as an X code on the attendance registers if isolating due to them awaiting test results, so it will not affect their attendance record.

Virtual Curriculum Evenings

This term our parent’s evenings will take place virtually or over the phone. A letter will be sent out next week via ParentHub. This is a great way for you to find out about your child’s learning and the exciting curriculum provision we have planned.

Wellbeing Focus

This week we have been focusing on our school virtue of ‘self-belief’. The children have been reading the story Mabel and the Mountain. We have been developing our positive attitude and resilience. We encourage the children to have big plans and aspirations. Our motto is ‘I can do it’. If you would like to listen to the story, please use the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb8KkrdGacU

Don’t be a contact

Staff on the main gate will be holding visors. If you want to speak to them, they will put the visor on to ensure they minimise the risk of becoming a contact. We are continuously reviewing our procedures in line with the latest government guidance, our own experience and feedback from parents and staff, so please be alert for any updates sent via ParentHub.

We used Google Maps to pretend we went on a visit to our class street: Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate! It was so exciting to explore all the things to see and do there! We have also been looking at how we have changed as we have grown! Can you guess who is who?

Gillygate have enjoyed two great stories; ‘The Way Back Home’ and ‘On the Way Home’ which they have used to inspire their writing. They are getting really good at using the chrome books and have been practising their spellings and number facts. We have done some careful observational drawings of flowers and labelled the parts.

In Fossgate the children have been reading their class novel ‘The story of the Blue Planet’ in preparation for their diary entry. They have been learning about place value and practising their timetables on number gym.

Micklegate have been writing diary entries about being trapped inside The House With Chicken Legs describing their emotions.  They have also researched chair designers and created their own chairs from clay.

Stonegate – have continued to work hard this week, showing enthusiasm and eagerness to become excellent learners. They are currently enjoying their class novel: The House With Chicken Legs – so far they have explored the characters and the key themes in the story.

Year 6 have also worked hard to become expert mathematicians over the last two weeks.

Logan Mulhearn even taught the class how to multiply and divide fractions!

Nessgate has had a busy week exploring the artwork of Paul Klee, observing how they have changed since they were babies in Science, creating aerial maps of the Year 2 classroom, as well as enjoying their new class book, ‘The Jolly Postman’!

Ousegate have been busy this week exploring their feelings and emotions. We have been using the characters from Inside Out to discuss what makes us feel that way. We have also each done a beautiful hand drawn self-portrait for our wall!

Music

We now start every music lesson reinforcing beat/pulse. Every class has accepted the changes to music (no group singing) in a positive way. The EYFS children were all eager to join in and Mrs McCartney was delighted that some children even lead class activities using body percussion by themselves. KS1 children have been exploring the differences between pulse and rhythm. KS2 have been working with an irregular time signature (7/4) and a ‘speaking song’ working with 8’s that involves body percussion and a lot of thinking!! We can’t do our usual hand clapping games so we drew our hands straight L&R and crossed over R&L all ready a new clapping rhyme called ‘Support’ which was great fun. We used Eric Whitacre’s worldwide Virtual Choir composition Sing Gently for our listening activity and linked it to hope for the future.

Attendance Matters

Our School Target is 97%

This week our attendance was: 89.30%

The winners this week are…

First Place: Fossgate with 95.49%

Second Place: Gillygate with 94.6%

Third Place: Micklegate with 93.93%

ATTENDANCE Following the period of lockdown, attendance is now mandatory and children are, by law, are now expected to attend.