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Marvellous Monday 24th January

Mon 24 Jan 2022

Welcome to another brief update for our Marvellous Monday. Last week we said a sad and fond farewell to Rev Simon Jones who has been curate at the churches within our benefice for the last 4 years. He moves onto his own church in Leeds with all our love. We also looked at Martin Luther King in collective worship thinking about the need to stand up when we see injustice and things that are not fair. The children were incredibly articulate and engaged well.

On to our brilliant book.

Infant 1- Florence and Theo did some amazing writing last week and really impressed Mrs Findlay with their ability to have a go and always try their best.

Ben- this morning Ben had already created and written his own book retelling the story of the 3 little pigs and it was absolutely brilliant to share with the school!

Infant 2- Winky - you have just started at our school and already have impressed Mrs Owen working so hard and trying with your English.

Elodie- so many teachers around school had spotted you being such a kind friend to Winky. Thank you!

Junior 1- Ida-Rose and Lissie- some fantastic computing work both in class but also completed at home using our new comic making website.

Liberty- for some impressive setting writing. Mrs Brown was blown away by the quality of your vocabulary and phrasing.

Junior 2- Henry and Olivia- for your fantastic maths work looking at fractions and solving equivalent fractions.

Hazel, Harrison and Frances- for your amazing English work writing your own endings or Carrie's war. Mr Tyler was very impressed!

Marvellous Monday 17th January

Mon 17 Jan 2022

What a fantastic week we had in school last week, the children have really responded well to our Respect value and thinking about diversity. They watched a video looking at difference and similarities to celebrate the fact that whilst we are all unique there is more that unites us than divides us.

Today is Martin Luther King day and we will be looking at the difference he made to the world this week.

On to our brilliant book.

Infant 1- Georgia- a huge well done for you starting so well with your word time and always being so enthusiastic and wanting to read!

Infant 2- Eleanor - for such amazing progress with your reading. Coming in every morning and doing some before school is really working!

Junior 1- Rex- for fantastic writing and working independently

Pui Yi - for settling so well into Junior 1.

Junior 2- Lucy and Amy - for fantastic maths work using division to answer problems.

Marvellous Monday 10th January

Mon 10 Jan 2022

Happy 2022! We had our first Marvellous Monday assembly today. All this half term we will be looking at our respect value and considering respect not just in school but also how respect is important around the world. We will be looking at a diverse range of people to see what we can learn from their stories. We hope to challenge all children to see the world differently and grow in their respect for others.

On to our brilliant book...

Infant 1- Rozza and Marcel - for brilliant story maps for Goldilocks and then using superb story language to retell. Mrs Findlay was so impressed with the expression they used and the turns of phrase that were just like in the original.

Infant 2- Archie - amazing attitude towards swimming- Mr Tyler was so impressed at how brilliant he was every week last term.

Claudie- fantastic letter to Santa about adventures they would like to go on. Presentation absolutely beautiful and the content is superb.

Junior 1- Anders- for fantastic reading comprehension where he really took care and thought about his answers.

Lauren- for her enthusiasm and determination in dance especially with our coach Lauren.
Jake- for fantastic effort during the Junior 1 athletics challenge especially in speed bounce, standing jump.

Junior 2- Polly and Max - brilliant maths work last week looking at division and including fractions in your answers.

Toby- fantastic improvement in handwriting your effort has certainly been noticed so well done.

Covid Update Jan 22

Wed 05 Jan 2022

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Apologies for having to welcome you to 2022 with a COVID-19 related email. However, given the incredibly high case numbers at the moment, I am sure that many of you have been affected by Covid over this winter break. If you are currently unwell, I send get well wishes and hope that everyone has managed to celebrate and enjoy some family time together despite illness and periods of self-isolation.

The Department for Education issued updated guidance for schools this morning. While some of the guidance is only relevant for secondary schools, some of the updates are important for you to be aware of and so I ask that you please take the time to read the following carefully.

Changes to the self-isolation period for individuals who test positive for COVID-19.

Since Wednesday 22 December, the 10-day self-isolation period for people who record a positive PCR test result for COVID-19 has been reduced to 7 days in most circumstances, unless you cannot test for any reason.

Individuals may now take Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests on day 6 and day 7 of their self-isolation period. Those who receive two negative test results are no longer required to complete 10 full days of self-isolation. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period and tests must be taken 24 hours apart. This also applies to children under 5, with LFD testing at parental or guardian discretion. If both these test results are negative, and individuals do not have a high temperature, they may end their self-isolation after the second negative test result and return to school from day 8.

Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests will need to complete the full 10-day period of self-isolation. Further information is available in the stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection.

Daily testing for close contacts of COVID-19

Adults who are fully vaccinated and children over 5, identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, should take an LFD test every day for seven days and continue to attend school as normal, unless they have a positive test result or develop symptoms at any time.

Children under 5 are not being advised to take part in daily testing of close contacts. If a child under 5 is a contact of a confirmed case, they are not required to self-isolate and should not start daily testing. If they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 they should limit their contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19 and arrange to take a PCR test as soon as possible. They can continue to attend an education or childcare setting while waiting for the PCR result. If the test is positive, they should follow the stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection.

Asymptomatic testing and confirmatory PCR tests

Staff will continue to take their twice weekly LFD tests to help reduce the risk of transmission. There is no need for primary age pupils to regularly test, unless they have been identified as a contact for someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and therefore advised to take lateral flow tests for 7 days. I know that some of you do use LFD tests with your children and you may wish to administer a test before their return to school on Tuesday.

If your child has symptoms of COVID-19, they should not attend school and they should take a PCR test as soon as possible. Whilst awaiting the PCR result, individuals should continue to self-isolate. If the PCR test is taken within 2 days of a positive lateral flow test, and is negative, it overrides the LFD test and the child can return to school, as long as they don’t have COVID-19 symptoms.

Funded air cleaning units for education and childcare settings

You may have heard reports in the news about some schools being provided with special air cleaning units. This is not relevant for Gunthorpe at present. CO2 monitors are present in rooms around school so that ventilation levels can be monitored on a daily basis. Sadly we do not have enough for every classroom however will continue to rotate these around on a regular basis.

Staff absence

You may recall during the Autumn term I wrote regarding the issues we were experiencing with staff absence. We will continue to do all we can to ensure school remains open and, where teachers and teaching assistants are required to isolate, we will always try our best to cover their absence with staff who are known to the school. Please know that this won’t always be possible, given the number of people affected and the increased demand for supply teachers. Where teachers are absent for extended periods, I will continue to communicate cover arrangements with parents and carers so that children can be made aware of who their teacher(s) will be during this time.

Learning from Home

Where a child has tested positive for COVID-19 but has very mild or no symptoms, then work is available on our school website for your child's class. Each class also has their own email address which can be used for parents to send work and teachers to feedback. Teachers can also share any additional activities which could be completed at home via this. If a child’s class teacher is absent and unwell, you will be provided with an alternative contact to provide additional guidance regarding schoolwork and feedback.

The above is only relevant when absence from school has been authorised. Additional guidance and feedback will not be provided for periods of unauthorised absence.

Where children are unwell with COVID-19 or absent as a result of any other illness, there is obviously no expectation to complete any schoolwork.

Should whole classes or year groups be required to self-isolate, a full timetable of home learning will be published for each day, to include live meetings via zoom.

Face Coverings

The wearing of face coverings is not recommended for primary aged pupils. Staff will continue to wear masks in corridors and communal areas of school, but not while teaching.

Additional Control Measures

We will continue to ensure good hygiene for everyone by asking children to clean their hands regularly and adopt the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it approach.

Where additional measures need to be introduced as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak in school, these will be communicated to you.

We are looking forward to seeing you back at school on Tuesday. Thanks for your continued support and here’s to 2022!

Best wishes,

Claire Bills