Newsletter: 8th December 2023
Posted on December 8, 2023 | By Mr Cole
In our final piece of our recent series on Safeguarding and Online Safety, I wanted to share some more general online safety parenting tips with you.
Did you know…?
- most inappropriate content online is seen by children through games console browsers, not on phones or laptops?
- parental controls with your internet service provider is the most effective way of limiting your child’s exposure to inappropriate content
- your child will be exploring online MUCH younger than you think they will… be vigilant now!
- children as young as 6 know how to set up VPNs (virtual private networks) which bypasses any parental controls you may have set
- it’s NOT an invasion of your child’s privacy to routinely look through their devices, social media, photo gallery – it’s good parenting!
If you need advice on how to set parental controls, the NSPCC have a whole section dedicated to helping you. The link for this advice can be found here: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/parental-controls/ Please remember, though, that filters aren’t foolproof and there is a whole industry developing around devising ways of getting around these protections – this means you have to be vigilant too – don’t think that because you’ve set controls, your job is done.
As with all aspects of safeguarding, having an ongoing, open conversation about online safety with your child is really important – so that if things do crop up (and they most likely will) your child feels comfortable talking to you and asking for help. The last two weeks’ Newsletters have had lots of ideas of opening up those conversations with your child. Online Safety really isn’t any different to keeping your child safe when they’re out and about, meeting with friends or learning to cook for the first time: they need your guidance and advice, however confident they may appear.
Your child knowing that at times you will go through their phone, laptop, console and check on everything may be just enough for them to think twice before posting things online themselves, taking inappropriate pictures and so on. It’s also a great way in to have those tricky conversations. Your child needs to know that your checking is about you caring and parenting, not about you looking for fault and not trusting them.
Finally – and this is more for the 10+ age range in our schools – please be vigilant about children seeing, sharing and taking nudes or semi-nudes. This is a growing problem as pre-teens begin to get curious about their developing bodies. Advice on this can be found by following this link: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/sexting-sending-nudes/
Show Time!
The children have been working incredibly hard over the last few weeks to bring together their performances for you to enjoy next week, and there is a real buzz in each school in anticipation of their moment in the spotlight. We hope you enjoy the shows!
Please remember that each school will have a collection and FOBBS, FOPS and FOWS will be selling refreshments and raffle tickets at each performance so if you could bring some change with you we’d really appreciate it. And don’t forget your tickets to get in!
If you have any more donations for raffle prizes, pleased send them in to your child’s school on Monday so that they can be checked and prepared for the performances.
Please remember that your entry tickets are in children’s book bags tonight and will be needed to watch the show – please don’t forget them!
Late Registration
We know that next week is a huge commitment for our children, particularly on the evenings when they have performances. To help a little, we are offering the opportunity for your child to come in to school late on the days shown below only without losing a registration mark. This means we keep our registers open form the usual time at 8:45am through to 11am. Provided your child arrives in school by 11am, they will get a registration mark for the day.
However, our school lunches still need to be cooked so please make sure you have contacted school by email or phone to confirm that your child will be having lunch as booked on ScoPay.
Late registration day for Parkham is Thursday 14th December
Late registration for Buckland and Woolsery is Friday 15th December
Schools wil open at the normal time and we will receive children as usual from 8:35 until 8:45 on the playground. After that, you will need to buzz on your school gates to get in.
24 Books Til Christmas
Just a reminder that we have a fantastic collection of titles building up on our Blog – these are inspirational reads for your children so if you’re looking for last-minute ideas, or perhaps your child will be wanting to buy a book with some Christmas money, there are some super suggestions for them. The collection can be found by clicking on 24 Books Til Christmas at the top of this page or by following this link: https://woolseryprimaryschool.edublogs.org/category/24-books-to-christmas/
Christingle Thanks
Well done and thank you to all of the chidlren who came along and took part in the Buckland Brewer Christingle service last weekend – it was a special evening and the children did their readings and songs very well. Particular thanks to those who were given pieces to read on the spot minutes before the service started to make up numbers for children who didn’t appear. We could hear all of you very clearly despite the church being pretty full!
There is also a Children’s Hospice South West Light Up A Life service at Woolsery Parish Church on Tuesday at 6:30pm.
Well done to everyone who has received a Christmas Headteacher’s Award today! As usual, our awards are given in recognition of achievements relating to our six learning animals which represent for children the qualities needed to be a good learner. They are:
Orleigh: Iliana (Bee) For great cooperation and sharing of ideas when creating imaginative worlds using the bricks, blocks and other loose parts; Rory (Tortoise) For working hard to form the letters in his name and practise using pens and pencils to make controlled marks.
Tythecott: Timmy (spider) for making links in maths. He used prior learning to help him answer the questions; Arthur (dolphin) for diving into his French, by independently matching how the transport moves with the transport in French. Arthur has been very excited to learn the song as well.
Gorwood: Ava (tortoise) – for showing determination and perseverance with her art work when creating a map; Sydney (dolphin) – for diving into her singing and trying her best during group singing and when singing solo
Foxdown: Verity (bee) – Verity is so kind and helpful to everyone in Foxdown. She has been especially understanding with preschool playing well and helping whenever she can; Darcey (dolphin) – Darcey had dived in to our production of Alice and Wonderland and has shown a passion for performing.
Melbury: Olivia (tortoise) – A great resilient tortoise this afternoon with computing, you persevered to achieve what you were asked, well done; Jack (tortoise) – A resilient tortoise with your writing this week Jack, you persevered to make improvements where they were needed. Well done.
Goldworthy: Elodie (dolphin) – for diving into and working extremely hard during art to explore creating an imaginary map, using different typefaces to label areas; Finn (tortoise) – for continuing to show a high level of resilience towards his learning; really focussing and completing work to a good standard, especially when working with fractions in mathematics.
Sunflowers: Freddie and Tristan (tortoises) – for their amazing Foundation to Phonics work this week
Cranford: Keitija (dolphin) – for an amazing drawing and very careful colouring in of Father Christmas; Oakley (tortoise) – for persevering with trying to put your coat on. Keep trying!
Burscott: Lucas (Spider) – for making links and connections and putting together what he has learnt to produce great narrative writing; Riley (dolphin) – showing enthusiasm for all his learning, and asking questions to further his understanding.
Stroxworthy: Maggi (dolphin) – for diving into her learning like a dolphin and selecting excellent vocabulary when describing the movement and emotions of her fantasy character; Lily (tortoise) – for being resilient like a tortoise and producing a superb description of her fantasy character.
Alminstone: Bella (tortoise) – superb effort in learning multiplication facts off by heart. Well done, Bella; Evie (tortoise) – showing resilience and determination to get it right during a solo performance on the ukulele this week. Well done, Evie.
Ashmansworthy: Xavier (dolphin) – for excellent reasoning and problem-solving skills in maths; Harry (bee) – for sensitively taking account of other people’s skills and talents during PE
- 13th December – Parkham Christmas Production (Alice The Musical) 6pm
- 13th December: Woolsery Christmas Production (Porridge) 1:45pm & 6:30pm
- 14th December: Buckland Brewer Christmas Production (Panto Pandemonium) 1:30 and 6pm
- 14th December: Woolsery Christmas Production 6:30pm
- 19th December: Christmas Dinner Day (all schools)
- 20th December: Last Day of Term
- 8th January 2024: First Day of Spring Term
| Monday | |
| Tuesday | Dress Rehearsals |
| Wednesday |
Parkham School presents Alice The Musical at 6pm in the Allardice hall Woolsery School presents Porridge at 1:45 and 6:30pm in the Village hall |
| Thursday |
Late registration for Parkham children – register by 11am please and book lunch by 9:30am Buckland Brewer presents Panto Pandemonium at 1:30 and 6pm in the Village Hall Woolsery School presents Porridge at 6:30pm in the Village Hall |
| Friday |
Late registration for Buckland Brewer and Woolsery children – register by 11am please and book lunch by 9:30am
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Mr Cole’s planned schedule
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| Monday | morning | afternoon | |
| Tuesday | afternoon | morning | |
| Wednesday |
morning evening |
afternoon | |
| Thursday | all day | evening | |
| Friday | morning | afternoon | afternoon |
With best wishes,
Matt Cole, Headteacher