A week of new things! Greenhouses, forest school visitors, hearts, lungs and learning about the new coronavirus and sabbaticals. The first of our mother’s day forest school afternoons welcomed very sunny weather on a bright spring afternoon. Thank you to everyone involved for making it a very special day. The feedback from families was encouraging and the staff and children loved sharing their typical experiences. We want every child to have someone to come along so if you have a friend, or other family member who can join in with the afternoon please feel welcome to invite one per child. Only adults can come (due to the use of fire and dangerous tools!) It was especially nice to see Jackie from
Asda’s community programme come along too – thank you for the free seeds! And the warm chocolate bananas cooked on the fire looked great (still waiting for a taste!).
On Monday and Tuesday we were able to learn more facts about the coronavirus in our whole school assemblies. We now know it doesn’t get caught by eating bats (definitely considered the truth by some children!) that it needs humans to help it to spread, that it can be passed into the body by hands touching the face, mouth, eyes, ears or nose. We know that handwashing can get rid of the virus and stop it from spreading. The children have been very good at washing their hands more and using the sanitisers in school at regular intervals. As a school we have been issued with guidance and contact details should we need them for potential concerns. We will keep you updated according to that advice.
Additional hygiene measures have been taken such as more regular hand washing expected, more ready supply of sanitiser, eliminating finger foods from our lunch menus, additional cleaning of classroom spaces such as handles and button pressing areas! We have reviewed the current Health Care Plans in place to highlight any children with reduced immunity so we are sensitive to potential high risks. Please don’t hesitate to let school know if you or your children have symptoms, and for all concerned we ask that you self isolate as a precautionary measure if at all in doubt and contact school by the usual methods. (online and by phone) Children in reception enjoyed their second journey to Northlea Court
Care home where they enjoyed sharing stories and singing nursery rhymes and songs with the residents with our World Book Day theme. They have been very well supported this week by a new supply teacher Carly who is covering for Rebecca while she is poorly which will be for the rest of this half term. Get well soon Rebecca – we miss you lots! But thanks to Carly Carr (capably supported by Jeanette and Danielle) the boys and girls are continuing with some amazing learning. They have explored Bear Hunting and ladybird counting and are a delight to be with on the frequent occasions I’m in the classroom! Meanwhile in Y6 they have enjoyed dissecting sheep intestines as part of the ongoing science investigations into ‘What makes a great Scientist?’.
NSPCC assemblies
We promote safeguarding the children with a wide range of different experiences and assemblies. Some children who are due to take part in assemblies led by the highly trained
NSPCC will bring home letters for parents to consent to their participation. Children will hear how to keep themselves safe and what to do if they don’t feel safe.
New Greenhouse – thank you ASDA!
We are delighted to have put up the new greenhouse that Y3 are going to be planting up in future weeks when they learn all about soil and planting. Watch out – as Ahmed has given us permission to sell any fruit and vegetables in the corner shop across the road!
Q: What’s a sabbatical? A: Time away from work (after seven or so years)
And finally, I’d like you all to know that governors have approved my application to take a sabbatical from my role as principal from the 1st May until the 1st November this year. This unpaid time away will allow me the opportunity to support my family at a transitionary time, as well as to explore some new vision and strategy for CVPS. Staff and governors at CVPS have been incredibly supportive of this request, and I am hugely grateful for them for the way they have dealt with the news of my request as well as their continued endorsement of my leadership at CVPS.
I’m delighted that Amanda Milligan, our Vice Principal will step up to an Acting Principal role alongside Susan Percy (current headteacher at West Newcastle Academy). Susan is an
exceptionally experienced headteacher of 15 years, the last 7 of which have been spent setting up a primary free school in Newcastle. Without knowing one another previously, our
two schools are very well aligned in terms of vision and values and a drive to meet individual children’s needs by inspiring them in their learning. Who would have known that like us, they have ‘proper’ forest school, lots of ‘learning expeditions’ and a really inspirational teaching team.
You will all obviously know Amanda as our highly effective and exceptionally gifted Vice Principal who will continue her SENDCo role with additional support within school. Amanda
also has a wealth of school leadership experience having previously ‘acted up’ as headteacher in the past in two of her previous schools. I will continue to ‘keep in touch’ as
would be the case on any maternity leave (but there’s definitely no baby!), and Susan, Amanda and I have already discussed the details of my time away. Next year’s plans are
already well under way in terms of class allocations, and we have started consideration for important end of year events. I know that the staff team we now have at CVPS are next to none in terms of their commitment and dedication to their roles and our progress and attainment results continue to strengthen.
Please don’t hesitate to speak to me if you have any further questions.
World Book day
Thanks to everyone for participating and promoting a love of reading through world book day. The children enjoyed receiving their tokens during assembly, and showing off their
amazing costumes of favourite book characters. We loved the staff costumes too!
Reminders for mothers day forest school dates
- Y1 and Y2 – Weds 18th March 1pm
- Y3 and Y4 – Thurs 19th March 1.15pm
REAL planning release days
Days out for staff to plan for next term’s themes and topics will be as follows:
- Weds 11th March Y1/Y2
- Weds 18th March
Oracy showcase day
Please come along and hear what your children have been saying on Weds April 1st for the Oracy showcase day. There are lots of exciting plans for you to enjoy.
Attendance and Punctuality
- YR 97%(2)
- Y1 99%(2)
- Y2 98%(5)
- Y3 96%(3)
- Y4 97%(4)
- Y5 99%(1)
- Y6 99%(3)
Well done to Y5 this week for excellent attendance and only 1 late.
Achievement awards
Kindness Champion – Finley Hill
Ashleigh’s Outdoor Idea
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a nature scientist? Our forest school ranger (Niamh) has suggested that you could put a flower into coloured water then make predictions about what you think will happen to it. You could observe it over the next week and let us know what (if anything) happened. Ideas for coloured water include, cordial, beetroot juice, food colouring, yellow gorse petals!
A big Accelerated Reading Sticker to Y4 this week as they have smashed their weekly quiz average and achieved an impressive 94%. Well done Y4!
Dates for your diary
Please check all the dates below so you don’t miss out on what’s happening this coming term.
