Newsletters

12.04.2021

10 Apr 2021
The Duke of Edinburgh
At St George's, we are deeply saddened by the passing of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Our thoughts and condolences are with Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family at this time. His Royal Highness devoted his life to public service and made a significant...
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For those who missed it..... 

25 Mar 2021
Our Easter Celebration
The children in each class have been learning about the Easter story. Join St George's as we lead you through the events of the Easter story and the impact that Easter has today. Thanks to Rev. Mike for the blessing and a very Happy Easter!
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Welcome back everyone. 

I hope you had a great Easter holiday, and are ready for the excitement that the new term will hopefully bring. It’s very strange in school how quickly you fall back into the routine of work life. As I walked around the classes this morning the children are lovely—they really are an asset to the place. They looked great, worked well and genuinely seemed delighted to be back. It was lovely.

As is normal, the class letters, and homework letters will come out this week. They will give you ideas for practical, consolidation work that can go on at home. On the homeowrk menu we will also begin to cover key topics that we havent taught yet because of school closures. These links will be to either BBC revisewise, or The National Oak Academy, and will be linked to learning lost last year - so don't be alarmed! I would urge you to chill into these, and enjoy completing them with your childs. 

With regards other 'missed learning' we will be focussing on year 6, reception and year 1 this term. Rob and Georgina have devised a splended system for year 6 to help them catch up, and we will be welcoming Rachel Smith (formely Steel) who will be working in reception and Year 1, working with groups of kids to cover missed key learning from the Curriculum. All very good, all very beautiful, all very calm. 

We will repeat the process for the new year 3, 4, 5 and 6 next academic year. 

Period of National Mourning
All Day
From 09 Apr until 17 Apr
09
April
May Bank Holiday
All Day
03
May
INSET DAY
All Day
06
May
Y6 SATs Week "CANCELLED"
9:00am – 12:00pm
10
May
Class/Group Photographs
9:00am – 11:00am
13
May
Y6 Height and Weight
10:00am – 11:00am
17
May
Spring Bank Holiday
All Day
From 31 May until 04 Jun
31
May
INSET DAY
All Day
From 07 Jun until 08 Jun
07
June

Rachel Smith (Formerly Steel)

We welcome back Rachel following a very long lock down maternity. It will be nice to see a little more of Rachel around the place. Indeed we actually will be once again seeing a little more of Rachel, as she is expecting her second child in August. And yes, your calculations are correct; the kids will be in the same year group - how exciting! But for now, we welcome Rachel back - get boosting Rachel! Rachel will be leaving us at 28 weeks as per covid guidance, but will continue zooming in her lessons. 

The fat lady isn't singing, but maybe she's getting ready to, the eggs are laid, but the chickens haven't yet hatched, the people are on the pitch, they do think it's all over.....  Please continue to be massively vigilant in supporting us in trying to keep COVID out of school for as long as we can. We do that by strictly following the guidelines, and at times being devilish and fastidious with the latest detail and by being punctilious with regard kids symptoms. 

Forget the flow charts. The best, and tightest advice is:

If your kid has any of the major symptoms of COVID found in children (Fever, cough, runny nose/nasal congestion, muscle aches, unusual, unexpected tiredness,  all are major indicators of COVID in kids) please keep your child, and any siblings off school, and book a PCR test. If any adult in your house has any of the major symptoms of COVID found in adults (Temperature, Cough, Change to taste or smell) please keep your child, and any siblings off school, and book a PCR test. Really, in both these cases the whole household should self isolate until the results of the PCR are in. 

A day or two inconvenience for a household is preferable to 10 days isolation for 30 households. 

Many, many, many thanks for your cooperation, support and understanding (if not always full agreement) from where I'm coming from. Appreciate it.

Internet and Online Safety

What an amazing tool the internet is. It allows children to open up a whole world full of exciting possibilities. They can play, learn, create and connect. It is our job as adults to ensure that our children stay safe online. There is a wealth of information out there on how to keep your child safe online but in the meantime here are a few tips that we apply both as teachers and parents.

· Ensure that your child is using the internet and indeed any kind of social media that is age related and appropriate.

· Try and ensure that computers, phones, tablets and gaming devices are used in a family area and that children are not going online unsupervised.

· Limit the amount of usage time.

· Check your child’s browsing history regularly.

· Consider having a family charging area to ensure that children are not using their devices throughout the night.

· Apply parental permissions on devices but please don’t overly rely on these. No system is 100% accurate.

Well, I've been round all the classes. It really is great to see the kids again, and doesn't the sunshine lift the spirits. 

A massive welcome back folks. I hope you are all well rested  safe, and well. 

I will conclude this week's newsletter with an image, probably a fictitious image, which depicts how we will, for now at least prepare to return to "normality" (never has a word been so encompassing in its meaning)

Of course, we will take our own tentative steps to wider school life, but we will do so at a pace dictated by the least confident. Many of us may feel weary, our confidence in life may have been shattered. We're all genuinely drained, and wary, and we all have our own families to consider, and place in the centre of our decision making.

Throughout this final term, as always I would welcome your views, and advice, some of which may be taken, all of which will be listened to, as to how speedily you would like us to come out of school lockdown. If you have any thoughts you would like me to consider as we plan to return to wider school activities please email me. 

Educational catch up wise, as explained,  we welcome back Rachel, who will be focusing on reception and year 1 kids. I know Rob and Georgina have written a splendid booster plan for year 6, in preparation for their informal SATs in June. 

For now folks, enjoy being back with us, continue to head the government message of "hands, face, space," and continue to indulge in the pure joy of life. 

All my very best, 

Andy