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• Head Teacher's Blog

  Fri 26 Jun 2020 Mrs Bates

  Week Ending 26^th June 2020

   

  This week, the following children have received recognition from me for their home or school learning through Class Dojo:

   

  Scarlett – year 5 – For the way in which she has been choosing to carry out her learning at home. It has been impressive to see how she has chosen tasks to suit her interests and also selected projects of her own to carry out. She has loved many of the science experiments and has developed a wonderful love for ‘Japan’. She has even created her own art based sushi and learnt many facts about a country that she now is determined to visit one day.

   

  Archie – Year 2 – For doing a great job with his home learning and working hard through the topics and tasks set each week. He is taking on all the top tips from Mrs Clarke and still using checking time and editing his writing. His handwriting has really developed over lockdown and he is also now taking time to correct spellings. Well done, Archie, you are overcoming your obstacles and nurturing, developing and growing indeed.

   

  Leah – Yeah 5 – For setting up ‘Cassey the Covid-19 snake’ in Collier’s Wood and going back to check up on the length of it. Cassie the snake now has 310 beautifully decorated stones and pebbles weaving through the wood. What a super community project, Leah. Well done.

   

  Hattie – Orange 1 – For working extremely hard every day and sending Mrs Barrowcliffe lots of work. A couple of weeks ago, the children were also set a task to watch “When I coloured in the World” as part of their English and Hattie was looking for ways to make the world a better place. She and her parents discussed how some children don’t have clean water to drink and she wanted to do something to help. Last weekend, she completed a 10 day sponsored litter pick of her local area and raised £300 for Water Aid. What a super achievement.

   

   

   

  Well, what a different week it has been again. This week, we saw the Reception and Year 1 children return to school after being on lockdown since the 23^rd march 2020. It was so exciting to see more families walk through the school gates and there were so many smiles, excited skips and stories to be told as the younger children returned. I have been with a reception bubble this week and I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to their stories, taking their questions and sharing their hopes… “I wish this virus would go away, Mrs Bates!” I have also enjoyed the bubble mixture, playing shadow tag (because we can’t touch) and running around in the grass. I am very proud of our young ones!

   

  Year 6 are now on their second week back and they are getting into their new way of schooling. We are very proud of the children and couldn’t have wished for their returns to school to have gone any better. Thanks to all the parents for putting your trust in us and enabling your child to return to school at a very difficult time.  

   

  This week, we have started ‘Loom’ sessions, talks, messages and assemblies and hopefully this will allow the children to see snippets of teaching material from their actual teacher. We have enjoyed this new way of working and look forward to doing more Looming over the coming weeks. We hope that the children are enjoying seeing the teachers and find this is a safe way of connecting to school. Continue to upload your learning as we really enjoy seeing what you are learning and the progress you are making at home.  

   

  We continue to get questions about the prospect of more children coming back to school. At the moment, our position has not changed due to staffing capacity in school. Despite 2m social distancing reducing to 1m over the next week, our bubbles still need to remain at 15. Of course, I will keep you posted if arrangements are to change before the end of term.

   

  With regards to transition, the Senior Leadership Team have a meeting on Tuesday to plan for this. The whole staff team will be notified of the plan on Wednesday and then transition activities, messages, calls and Looms/videos will commence.

   

  Annual reports are now complete and they will supplement the academic update that you received in the spring term. They will be emailed out next week from Monday through to Wednesday. Due to partial school closures, and a whole term of school being missed for some, the report is in the form of a letter to the children. For progress and attainment information, please refer to the spring term report that you received at the start of lock down. Information about teachers for next year will be provided next Friday.

   

  Have a great weekend everyone. Keep safe and keep smiling,

   

  Mrs Bates

  Head Teacher

• Head Teacher's Blog

  Sat 20 Jun 2020 Mrs Bates

  Week Ending 19^th June 2020

   

  This week, the following children have received recognition from me for their home or school learning through Class Dojo:

   

  Conor – Year 3 – For a super piece of maths work, using addition and subtraction to create a picture

   

  Harper – Reception – For amazing work on her portfolio and lots of posts per day. We particularly liked her piece of writing about a book she has read as she asked some super questions using question marks.

   

  Madeleine – Reception – For writing an amazing story about finding a rocket and ‘drifting away’ into space to see lots of the planets. A very impressive piece, which was beautifully presented.

   

  Dylan – Year 3 – For following lots of instructions well and completing a good amount of work in class. Work has been completed positively and attitudes have improved.

   

  Harry – Year 4 – For an improved attitude towards his learning and completing tasks positively and to a good level. When reminders have been given, he has become focussed again and worked really hard with increased positivity.

   

  A special mention to the Brown and Oldham families this week. They set up a sponsored charity animal walk last week to raise money for animal parks and zoos across the Midlands. I shared their Just Giving page on the last BLOG and already they have nearly £1000 in sponsors. In addition, Theo and Ethan stared on the BBC News East Midlands and we were very proud to see them live. It showed their story and some photographs! What great community spirit. Well done to the parents too for supporting this charity work. What kindness! If anyone wants to donate to this worthwhile fundraiser, please see the link in the previous posts.

   

   

  Well, what a different week it has been. This week, we saw the Year 6 children return to school after being on lockdown since the 23^rd march 2020. It was amazing to see them and they managed to fit into the new school ‘norm’ very well.

   

  Next week, we welcome back the Reception and Year 1 children and we can’t wait to see them too! My communication letter in the previous post shares the school’s current position on wider opening. We look forward to ‘Loom’ing next week. Enjoy!

   

  Have a great weekend everyone and Happy Father’s Day to all of our dads and daddies.

   

  Warm regards, keep safe and keep smiling,

   

  Michelle Bates

  Head Teacher

  

• Head Teachers Blog

  Fri 19 Jun 2020 Mrs Bates

  Communication Update

   

  19^th June 2020

   

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  As ever, I hope that you are well, safe and coping through one of the many different scenarios that you may find yourself in currently.

   

  This week we welcomed back our year 6 children. Thank you to everyone for your support during the week. Almost 90% of the year group returned on Wednesday. It was fabulous to see so many friendly and happy faces walk through the gates and enter the playground spaces. The week has gone very well and it has been an absolute pleasure to have some children back. Everyone has followed all of the safety and hygiene measures and have adapted to the many changes we have put in place, which shows great maturity and understanding. Lessons have resumed positively, albeit in smaller groups, on separate tables and with protective measures in place. Any anxieties have alleviated throughout the week and children have been happy and positive about their return. I am very proud of them.

   

  Next week our Reception and Year 1 children return and we cannot wait to see them too. Yes, things are different but school is still a great place to be right now. Staff have been pleased with the way that children have returned and cannot wait to see more children back and continue with more teaching. For those families who are choosing not to return to school, our home learning packages will remain. Class Dojo continues to be a platform to share work and gain feedback.

   

  I know families in years 2-5 will feel more frustrated but please remember we are following government guidance. The numbers we are allowed in bubbles, with consistent staffing, is dictating our current plans. If guidance changes, and when I have more staff able to work, then we will review our procedures accordingly, and communicate new plans with you.

   

  Our home learning offer continues to be something that we are proud to share. We appreciate that some families want more virtual online teaching, but this is currently not an option for us due to safeguarding implications, the level of technology required in some families (when parents are also working from home) and the number of staff now teaching. From next week, we will be using ‘Loom’ across school, which is an online platform to enable teachers to share pre-recorded teaching videos and messages with children. This has been trialled this week in some year groups and we are hopeful that this will be well received.

   

  Finally, there is a lot of speculation around teaching currently. What will happen over summer? What will happen in September? How will we return?  What will transition look like? As a school, we avoid the media speculation and follow the official guidance from the government and the Local Authority. When we are updated by the Department for Education (DfE), we will discuss the guidance, consider what is possible for our school and then contact you with our plans (as we have all along).

   

  Once again, thank you for the support and have a great weekend. Please take care and stay safe.

   

  Yours sincerely,

   

  Mrs Bates

   

• Head Teacher's Blog

  Mon 15 Jun 2020 Mrs Bates

  A huge well done to these children during lockdown so far. Your teachers have put your name forward for a special Head Teacher mention on Class Dojo - you should be very proud of yourselves:

   

  Red 1: Noah, Arya & Bonnie

   

  Red 2: Harris

   

  Orange 1: Alfie, Ella & Bluebell

   

  Orange 2: Skyla

   

  Yellow 1: Alice, Rylan, Sophia & Amelie

   

  Yellow 2: Joshua, Denny, Susie & Ethan

   

  Indigo 2: Jake, Alfie, Joey, Leah & Miley

   

  Violet 2: Isobel

   

  Well done, Children! Great work. Keep it up and keep smiling :)

   

   

• Head Teacher's Blog

  Thu 11 Jun 2020 Mrs Bates

  Dear all, 

   

  All of the information regarding the wider opening of school to Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 children has been sent to parents and carers in those year groups. 

   

  All of the information, communication letters and support can be found at:

   

  https://www.greasleybeauvale.co.uk/corona-virus-advice-and-information/

   

  We are busy preparing for next week and beyond. Soon we will send families a video to physically show you what the building looks and feels like, both inside and out. This will be available for all to see. 

   

  If your child is in a priority group, please keep us informed of the places required in school.

   

  Take care and keep smiling, 

   

  Mrs Bates 

   

   

• Head Teacher's Blog

  Wed 10 Jun 2020 Mrs Bates

  Very proud to hear from children today in school, who want to help Twycross Zoo and West Midlands Safari Park. 

   

  Theo and Stanley (year 4), Ethan (Year 2)  and Bonnie (Reception) want to help all the animals at their 2 favourite places that are suffering due to the COVID 19.
  
  They are doing a 5 mile walk on Sunday dressed as their favourite animals to raise money, but want to get as many people doing the same thing too!!
  
  They will also be making some posters so if anyone stops and asks why they are dressed like they are they can explain and hope to get more donations on the walk.
  
  They have set up a Just Giving page if anyone wants to help and support also:
  
  https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/nicole-brown-3?utm_term=EABw6wYvj

   

  Good luck, children and well done!

• Head Teacher's Blog

  Tue 09 Jun 2020 Mrs Bates

  I was delighted to see a photo today from Leah in year 5. Three weeks ago, she set up Cassey 'The COVID-19 snake' in Colliers wood. There are now 203 painted and decorated stones to make up Cassey. What a great community project and I am sure they look delightful. If you are out walking and fancy adding a pebble or stone to 'Cassey' then visit the Woods. 

   

  Well done, Leah :) 

  

• Head Teacher's Blog

  Fri 05 Jun 2020 Mrs Bates

  Well, another busy week as we plan for our wider opening to Reception,  Year 1 and Year 6 on the 15th/22nd June. A letter has now been sent to you all with the final plan and preparations are in place. 

   

  School will look and feel very different so by next Wednesday I hope to send, to those families of children who will be in school, the following documents:

   

  * Behaviour Addendum Policy

  * Wider opening handbook

  * Bubble Rules

  * Home-school Agreement

   

  I will be in touch and all take care,

   

  Mrs Bates