Headteacher Weekly Newsletter 2021 Issue 3
29th January 2021
Dear Families, Staff and Governors
I hope this email finds you well.
Please find the Friday newsletter attached with important information and some great photography to enjoy - of your home learning achievements. Thank you for taking the time to send these in - it gives a real lift to the day to see how you are all getting on. Please don't hesitate to send photos to me directly if you would like to see them included in the newsletter.
A huge thank you again to parents for your fantastic support and efforts with the Remote Learning. We continue to see high levels of engagement in Google Classroom activities, in school and engagement with home learning packs. Like you, our staff have been adapting and changing systems to accommodate the circumstances of individual families and I know that you have also been adapting to new ways of combining your own commitments as well as supporting home learning. Everyone’s efforts are what makes the difference to a difficult situation being manageable, thank you.
From general feedback, I know it has been a tough week for many of us in our whole school community. The strain of home learning and the uncertainty of the pandemic can be too much some days. These are the days you need to be kind to yourself, get in touch with us - you are not alone. We have supported many families to adapt by removing the stress and providing a more individual support plan focusing on the basics. While we have a duty to follow government requirements of providing 3 or 4 hours of daily learning, I understand the reality of how challenging this can be at home. Please get in touch with us if you are finding this stressful, you will not be judged. We will listen and find a way. I sincerely hope you can see that our blended learning approach has been developed to support everyone as much as we can and there is no single best fit for remote education. We are certainly not expecting you to complete everything but to find a way that works for you. A blended approach of live Goggle Classrooms, phone calls, online educational sites such as Oak National Academy, offline learning packs and now a focus on non screen Monday activities is the approach we are taking to hopefully reach all of you in a way to suit you.
HOT NEWS: We have just received a very kind offer of support from the St Day Parish Council - to purchase some workbooks for home learning. This will support every child in our school and provide learning support for families to easily oversee - including worked examples and access to instant answers. Huge thanks to the Parish Council - what a great Community to be part of. More information will follow next week.
I am sure you will have heard the government’s plans for the reopening of schools. The Prime Minister has indicated that the earliest the government believes it will be safe to begin to increase student numbers in schools will be from Monday 8 March. Whilst there remains too many unknowns, we will be given at least two weeks’ notice to prepare for a return to face-to-face education. Like you I'm sure, I can't wait! I have no further information I can share, as like you, I find out about any changes via the news.
In a further statement from the government this week, it was confirmed that schools will not be asked to remain open over February half-term or to provide remote education. This will enable our staff, children and families to take a well earned break away from screens. I would ask that children focus on their health and well-being using this time to enjoy daily activities outdoors, within the current government guidelines. As a minimum - reading, reading and more reading is key! Make time and enjoy this time to share books together.
We remain open for all our families - we are here to support you and can help get the right plan in place to meet your individual circumstances. Early contact is important so support can be given as soon as possible to prevent any issues escalating. Some days you'll be the one carrying the strain and caring for everyone and other days you will need to stop to regain your own strength. That is ok. Be kind to yourself this week. If your children are loved, safe and cared for, know that you are doing a great job. The rest will follow.
'Express Yourself' and 'Cornwall Active' will hopefully give us all a lift this next week - all in the newsletter - please read!
With best wishes
Susannah Storey
Headteacher