Newsletter 23.10.2020
Date: 23rd Oct 2020 @ 3:05pm
Newsletter
23rd October 2020
Dear Parents / Carers
Mrs Hardwick
After 21 years as a Teaching Assistant at Winsford High Street we have sadly said farewell to Mrs Hardwick today. She has worked with many children during her time at the school providing guidance in the areas of autism and speech and language. Mrs Hardwick has decided to retire and will be relocating closer to her family in Liverpool where she has plans to spend more time with her grandchildren. She has been presented with flowers, jewellery and additional money to celebrate her time at the school. I am sure that you will join with me in wishing her a long and happy retirement.
Mental Health Awareness Day
Thank you for your support of World Mental Health Day. As a result of the children dressing in yellow and participating in an array of wellbeing activities, we raised £317.92 which has been donated to Young Minds a Mental Health Charity which supports young people. Thank you again for your support with this. Please note that this was a whole town initiative through the Winsford Education partnership and some images of children at the school can be found in this week’s local newspaper.
Office 365
We are progressing well with our roll out of the new 365 Platform. As a result, a high proportion of our children are now accessing their homework through the platform. I have also been delighted by the parental response to our online parent / teacher consultations. We have had a few teething problems with these and thank you for your patience. As the term progresses we will be guiding the children further in the use of the platform so that it becomes an integral part of their learning.
If for any reason you have not received your child’s log on information, please contact the class teachers who will speak to Mr Bratt and the IT leads, they will make contact with you and resend the information.
Please note that the instruction videos produced by Mr Bratt will also be posted on the school website for future reference. Please note that we realise that you as parents will be required to support your child initially with these procedures, but as they become proficient they will be able to access the platform themselves.
Face Coverings
Many thanks to all members of the school community for adhering to our policy by wearing face coverings whilst on the school grounds. This will hopefully help to keep all members of the school community safe during these difficult times. We do understand that there are a very small number of parents who are exempt from wearing face coverings and ask that these parents carry their lanyards / cards with them to display to staff members on duty.
School Photographs
I am pleased to be able to inform you that we will still be having Tempest Photography visit to take individual photographs of the pupils. They will do so for the children in Early Years and KS1 on Tuesday 17th November and for the children in KS2 on Friday 20th November. Unfortunately, this year we won’t be able to have family group pictures taken or pictures with siblings due to the movement around the school and the possible cross contamination of ‘bubbles’.
School Council
I am delighted to inform you that the following children have been voted as Head Boy, Deputy Head Boy, Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl by the children from each year group. I am sure that you will join with me in congratulating them.
Head Boy: H Wallace Deputy Head Boy: L Blackburn
Head Girl: E Newton Deputy Head Girl: M Taylor
Flu Vaccinations
Please note that the flu vaccinations have been scheduled for 10th and 11th November. If you are still to return your paperwork to request that your child participates in the programme, we should be grateful if you would do so before Wednesday 4th November.
Ofsted
As you will be aware we were recently visited by Ofsted to review how we have implemented the guidance on returning to full time education. The formal letter will be released following our return to school after the half term break.
Half term
Please note that the school closes at 3.30pm this afternoon for the half term break and reopens for the children on Monday 2nd November 2020.
We are delighted to have reached this point in the school year without having to close any year group bubbles. We can only thank you for your support in following the procedures set and guidance issued. Hopefully we can continue in this vein and reach Christmas in the same way.
Should you have any issues which you wish to discuss with regards to the return to school or other school matters, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards
Mark Joule
Head teacher