Newsletter: 23rd October 2020
Posted on October 23, 2020 | By Mr Cole
FOWS update
Thank you to everyone who came to the FOWS virtual AGM last night. It was lovely to look back on the year and know that, despite everything, FOWS has been able to continue working for the children at the school and have lots of plans for the near future!
I am very happy to say that the Chair of FOWS has now moved to Neil Wonnacott who was elected unanimously at the meeting. I know Neil will already be known to many of you and is a great asset to our strong team of core Committee. Rachel Coles continues as Treasurer for the group, as does Sarah Fairbairn as Secretary. More news from FOWS in the coming weeks, I’m sure.
Ashmansworthy Class
For families with children in Ashmansworthy Class: You will no doubt be aware that Miss Butler has been away from work all this week and the class has been very ably covered by Mrs Fiona Ferris. Miss Butler won’t be returning to school until the second week back after the break at the earliest so I am pleased to confirm that Mrs Ferris has agreed to continue working with the class after half term. Where Mrs Ferris has existing commitments, I will teach in Ashmansworthy to that there is maximum continuity of learning for the children in this very important year, however, the vast majority of the week will be taught by Mrs Ferris.
Until Miss Butler is back at work, we will postpone Ashmansworthy Class’ parent-teacher meetings. If you have any queries about the class where you would normally contact Miss Butler via email, please email Mrs Appleton instead and she will pass on your queries. Mrs Appleton’s email is sappleton@woolsery.devon.sch.uk.
Petroc Students
Today we say goodbye to Georgia and Sadie who have been with us in Early Years for the half term as part of their work experience placement. Both girls have been an absolute pleasure to have in the school and I know the children in Sunflowers and Cranford classes will miss them hugely! Good luck girls, we hope to see you again in school before too long.
Next half term, we welcome Lily as a work experience placement student and she will be working in Sunflowers until mid-December.
School Voice
Once we are back from the half term break, we will be reforming our School Voice groups. Due to Covid, the groups won’t be able to be attached to our usual Family Groups (which can’t run at the moment) but we feel it’s important to give the children some normality with things like planning Children In Need events, Anti Bullying Week assemblies etc. For this year only, we will be forming the four School Voice Groups (Charity Voice, Global Voice, Community Voice and Enterprise Voice) exclusively from Year 4, 5 and 6 so that the different Voice groups are able to meet together to plan events.
If your child is still wearing a sew-on Voice badge from last year, they should now be removed please (Beavers, Cubs & Scouts can put them on their campfire blanket…) and a new batch will be given out shortly after the break for those taking on Voice roles.
Generally, we are hoping to get as many “normal” functions working again after half term, including getting back in the routine of having assemblies (held virtually) and presenting Headteacher Awards on Fridays. If your child is awarded certificates etc in out-of-school activities, you are very welcome to send them in ahead of the Friday assembly so we can share them virtually with the school community and celebrate your child’s achievement. Please ensure anything you do send in is clearly named and explains what it was awarded for, as normally I ask the child to explain in the assembly which they obviously won’t be able to do in our virtual format.
Poppy Appeal 
Thank you for your amazing support for this year’s poppy appeal. We have sold almost all of the child-based items in our pack, such as snap bands and have just a few reflector poppies and zip pulls left (both 50p). We also have a lot of traditional poppies and these will continue to be on sale for the first week after half term. If you would like your child to collect one for family at home, this is no problem as we realise poppies will be much harder to get hold of this year as door to door sales have been suspended by the Royal British Legion.
With Trick-or-Treat off the cards for this year, we’re really pleased to support a safe alternative for the children to get stuck into this half term…
The trail will benefit all of the youth groups in the village, including FOWS, Brownies/Rainbows, the Scout Group, Youth Club and Tiny tots.
Thank you!
Thank you for your amazing support this term. We feel deeply fortunate to have such a wonderful and supportive group of parents who have worked with us in these strange times, through the staggered starts and finishes, restricted access to the site and all the myriad of difficuluties our Covid regulations has thrown up. Whatever you are doing this coming week, we hope you have some restful and happy family time and look forward to seeing everyone back in school on Monday 2nd November.
Matt Cole, Headteacher.