Newsletter: 4th March 2022

World Book Day

Thank you to everyone who supported World Book Day yesterday by dressing up in PJs and amazing Onesies. Even Rev’d Jane gave her assembly in a dinosaur onesie! Thank you also if you were able to come in to school to share a book, we were really pleased with the number of paretns in school. I hope your children enjoyed the special day.

Red Nose Day (almost)

March is always a busy month for charity events and next up is Comic Relief. Red Nose Day 2022 takes place, for the rest of the UK, on 18th March. However, on that day, Ashmansworthy Class are performing at a high profile singing festival in Exeter Cathedral alongside seven other local schools and the Exeter Cathedral Choir. They really don’t want to miss out on the fun! Therefore, Woolsery Does Red Nose Day will be the day before, Thursday 17th March 2022. Connie, who is part of our Charity Voice group has produced the following poster to tell you everything you need to know about your child dressing up on that day, and taking part in a red-themed art competition if they’d like to. Thank you in advance for your support.

Rock Your Socks for Down Syndrome

The Monday following Red Nose Day (21st March) is also Mencap’s Rock Your Socks Day. This is held every year to raise awareness of Down Syndrome, as condition very close to our hearts as Molly is such an important part of our school community. The reason Rock Your Socks day is held on 21/3 each year is because the genetic mutation which causes Downs is found in the 21st chromosome. most people have two copies of the 21st chromosome, but people with Down syndrome have 3 copies – hence the significance of 21/3… or 21st March.

To mark the day, we invite all children to wear bright, but odd, socks to school. We’re not fixing a charge for this event as it’s so close to Red nose Day, but anything you’d like to contribute will go straight to Mencap.

Children will also be doing some awareness raising about downs in class on 21st March so they may have questions about the condition when they get home, or want to share their learning with you.

Yurt Damage

Storm Eunice managed to move the yurt about a metre east and push it severely out of shape. It is therefore not in a usable state at the moment! Thankfully, we don’t think there is any permanent damage to the canvass cover or wooden frame. However, the yurt does need to be taken apart and put back together again as many of the roof spars have been dislodged and the wall is no longer circular or vertical. If any parents would like to tackle this mini project, please let us know – we’d very much like to bring the yurt back into use as soon as possible. I would think it’s about a morning’s work for two or three people and whilst I’m very happy to explain what needs to be done, I just don’t have the time at the moment to do it myself. Thank you in advance.

Fab Lab at Half Term

During the half term Comic Club ventured to the Fab Lab at Barnstaple library. It’s an amazing studio with machines that turn 2D designs into 3D objects.

Members can use the vinyl cutter, laser cutter, digital embroidery machine and 3D printer.

Comic club used the computers and laser cutter to turn their comic club characters into a wooden keyring.  Thank you to Rachel Coles for organising this event – the childrne look like they had an amazing time!

Covid Changes

I’m sure you’ll be aware that Covid regulations have now changed again, removing the legal requirement to isolate for coronavirus cases. However, there is still an expectation that anyone with symptoms will isolate until two clear test results can be produced. This is the case for your child, so the basic school’s policy hasn’t changed (although we recognise that it’s now much harder to actually get hold of a test…). Devon have asked all schools to remind parents that if your child has symptoms of Covid-19 and tries to come to school, we have the authority to refuse entry. I can’t imagine us having to use this approach as everyone has been brilliant in managing cases as they arise but please note that this is the case, and that you should not send your child to school if they have symptoms. Thanks.


Ukraine Coffee Morning

Just a reminder that Mrs Newell and her mum Shirley have organised a coffee morning to raise funds for UNICEF’s appreal for those affected by the war in Ukraine. Please come along and support if you can. It’s taking place on Saturday here at school, from 10am to 12 noon. Thanks

 


Village Schools Partnership

Please remember that is you’ve not yet contributed your thoughts about the proposed Federation it’s still not too late. You can share your views using this google form and all responses will be looked at by Governors when they make their decision on 15th March. Thank you.

Football Matches

We have two football matches after school next week, both being played at home and both against Hartland Primary. The Year 3/4 Match will be on Monday at 3:15 and the Year 5/6 Match will be on Tuesday at the same time. We hope you’re able to come and cheer the team on! Match Reports will follow next week.

Staffing adjustment

In the last Newsletter, I wrote that Mrs Reynold would be stepping into a more regular teaching role at school covering my teaching commitment as the school prepares for me to take on the acting Executive Headship of Flying Start Federation from March 19th. However, sadly Mrs Reynolds is no longer able to undertake this role. I am delighted, though, to be able to say that Mrs Emma McGuire will be working in the school on Mondays and Tuesdays on a supply basis to cover both by teaching commitment and other leadership duties from other staff. Emma is well known to many at school as Georgia and Ida’s mum as well as one of our Parent Governors. She will be working with Stroxworthy and Burscott classes on Mondays and Ashmansworthy class on Tuesdays.

Forest School

Our Forest School programme continues next week for Sunflowers, Burscott and Stroxworthy Classes. Please remember your child needs wellies on their day – see the Week Ahead below. they are also welcome to bring warm clothing such as hats, although we have a good supply of them for loan-out.


Well done to everyone who has got a Headteacher Award today…

Sunflowers: Keitiya (bee) – Talking to both her friends, and also to adults, answering questions in English at circle time; Ethan (tortoise) – Being resilient, not giving up and achieving independance within his learning

Cranford Class: Oscar (spider) – Writing a sentence on his own with tricky words and diagraphs; Milo (spider) – Drawing and writing about his favourite book yesterday for World Book Day

Burscott Class: Kaleb (dolphin) Great engagement with all his learning this week; Louie (spider) Independently making links in his learning

Stroxworthy Class: Emily (dolphin) – Diving into her learning when being challenged by related calculation in maths; Mia (dolphin) – Diving into her learning by producing an amazing final write in our Cinderella of the Nile work.

Alminstone Class: EmilyRose (tortoise) – Showing great resilience in her learning, especially her amazing explanation text in English and for never giving up with anything; Phoebe (owl) – Understanding the learning journey, reflecting back at what she had learnt and using it to create an incredible explanation text. 

Ashmansworthy Class: Millie (dolphin) – Diving into her learning in her first week at our school; Bobby (tortoise) – Being resilient with his William Morris-style artwork.


Monday

Mrs Farmer and Mrs Kersey out at meetings all day. No coding club after school.

Burscott Forest School (am); Sunflowers Forest School (pm)

Mrs McGuire with Stroxworthy (am) and Burscott (pm)

Tuesday Mrs Farmer out all day (SENDCO meetings)
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday

Ashmansworthy Class swimming continues

Stroxworthy Forest School (pm)

Mr Cole’s planned working: (please remember that although I may be working another school I am still contactable by phoning Woolsery who can put calls through to me)

Buckland  Parkham Woolsery
Monday afternoon morning
Tuesday
Wednesday all day
Thursday all day
Friday morning afternoon

With best wishes

Matt Cole, Headteacher

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