Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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World Book Day
Fri 26 Feb 2021World Book Day is next week and we have some exciting activities planned for the children.
Thursday 4th March
Infant School
Children will be sharing the story of Supertato by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet throughout the week as a starting point to discuss their favourite book hero. They will be designing their own potato book hero and then making the accessories/ costumes to create their potato character. Teachers will be sharing ideas with the children prior to World Book Day and will be creating activities to inspire book talk and a love of reading. When making their book character children can use a potato or any vegetable as the base to their character. If you don’t have a vegetable to hand children could roll up a ball of socks or use a toilet tube as the base and then accessorise with features of their character. Faces, hats, clothes can all be made from paper and sellotaped on to the potato. Felt pens could be used directly on to the potato. Anything goes! Once the characters are complete, please take a photo for your child to bring into school so that they can be displayed in classroom reading corners when they return on March 8th.
Children who are in school do not need to bring anything with them on World Book Day or the Friday. Just their imaginations!
Junior School
The Junior School Staff have put together a ‘Masked Reader’ video for the children to enjoy! Children will be asked to guess who is reading each book, and for bonus points, what the book is! On Thursday morning on the Teams chat, Mrs Offler will upload the Masked Reader video and a sheet where you can record your guesses. There will be a small, book related prize for the person with the most correct guesses. Who will you find behind the masks?
Friday 5th March
Friday will be an exciting extension to our World Book Day celebration with children invited to get involved in a crafty day of activities with Sophie, Mrs Simmons and Mr Beament.
Children will receive two Team’s invites instead of their normal Friday schedule. A live launch of the activities on Friday morning (Infants at 9:15am and Juniors at 9:45am) and an extended ‘Hot Chocolate Friday’ where children will be able to share their learning and creations at the end of the day.
(Please note, that if your child(ren) have a targeted intervention or live session on Friday this will continue as planned. These will still appear in your Teams Calendar.)
This Friday will serve two purposes. We will be able to bring the children together as a large community, celebrating books and literature and have some fun. It will also allow teachers and staff teams to spend time preparing the school site and resources for the return of all children on Monday 8th March.
In order for your child(ren) to get prepared your children will need the following resources:
Infants – comics strip templates (optional- these will be available to print off from the home learning section of the website), paper, cardboard box, felt tip pens or crayons, your Thursday book hero and any other craft materials that you have available.
Juniors – cardboard boxes (cereal boxes and shoe box sized boxes are ideal), toilet roll tubes and basic craft supplies e.g. paper, felt pens, glue etc. These will be used to make up to 3 different book related craft projects. If you would prefer to complete your own activity (e.g. book review, making a costume/dressing up as your favourite character or something else) this is absolutely fine – use the day as an opportunity to be creative.)
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Aardman Studios work with Year 3
Fri 26 Feb 2021Children in Year 3 have had an exciting week.
Jim at Aardman (creators of Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Creature Comforts and Chicken Run) has sent through a special video talking about how they make the puppets.
The children have drawn characters and Jim has written them a handwritten note back about their work. They have really loved it and been chuffed with their notes.
Next week Jim will send another video of how to make a Shaun The Sheep.
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Lockdown School Update - full reopening 8th March
Wed 24 Feb 2021All children to return to school on Monday 8th March
We truly appreciate all your support and understanding during another period of lockdown and home learning. We understand how difficult this has been for our families and are delighted to be able to welcome all the children back to school for a full-time timetable on Monday 8th March.
We will be updating our risk assessment this week and will send this out to families next week. We are not expecting many changes to this document and the measures we had in place pre-Christmas.
Our current COVID19 risk assessment (January 2021) can be found here.
A reminder of school start and finish times
In order to ensure reduced ‘traffic’ on our school sites, we will maintain our gradual staggered start times and use multiple entrance and exit points. This will help adults and families social distance when dropping off and collecting their children.
The plan for this is below and is the same timings and drop off/ pick up points and entry/ exit points as before Christmas:
Infants
Class
Drop off/ pick up point
Drop off time
Pick up time
Nursery
Playground
08:40
15:10
Reception Poland
Car Park
08:55
15:20
Reception Latvia
Drop off - Playground.
Pick up – Car Park
08:55
15:20
Year 1 Finland
Playground
08:50
15:15
Year 1/2 Canada
Side (blue) playground gate
08:50
15:15
Year 2 Malta
Playground
08:50
15:15
Juniors
Class
Drop off/ pick up point
Drop off time
Pick up time
Year 3
Top door
08:45
15:25
Year 4
Car park
08:45
15:25
Year 5
Bottom gate
08:45
15:25
Year 6
Bottom gate
08:55
15:35
As before, the gates will be open before these times and families are encouraged to use available space on our playgrounds and school site to maintain social distancing.
What about Breakfast Clubs, SuperPirates After School Club and other after school clubs?
The DfE have stated that:
‘Wraparound childcare will be open to parents who need to access it to work, attend education or seek medical care, and to vulnerable children’
Therefore, our Breakfast Clubs will restart from the 8th March.
We encourage you to book Breakfast Club in the normal way using the School Gateway and if you need to just turn up on the morning this flexibility is available again as well.
SuperPirates After School Club will also restart on Monday 8th March and this can be booked via the SuperPirates website here: https://www.superpirates.co.uk/stsaviours. Booking will go live from tomorrow (Thursday 25th February).
Information on other after school clubs will be communicated as soon as possible.
Will attendance be mandatory?
The DfE have stated that school attendance will be mandatory for all pupils from the 8th March.
Please contact the school if you have any concerns or worries about returning your child(ren) to school on 8th March, so we can support you.
What next?
Over the coming days, we will review our school risk assessment and update families about any changes. Additional Government information has now been released that we will be considering as part of the risk assessment process. The Government have also released a blog with information for families – this can be found here
As always, thank you for your continued support.
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Exciting News - New Play Equipment
Fri 12 Feb 2021Play is so important to the St Saviour's community and we are delighted to share our new plans with you.
After months of planning and fundraising (thank you PTA) we have confirmed the new play equipment installations at the Infant School.
After meeting with the children, gathering ideas and speaking to a number of companies we are delighted with the final plans with the installation planned to start on the 8th March.
EYFS outside area
We are replacing some of the old play equipment with new fixed equipment and moveable outside blocks. Children will be able to build and design a new play area everyday.
Main Infant Playground
Working with the children we have created a challenging and open ended fixed play structure. Children can climb, hang and swing on the adventure park. The only limitation is their imagination
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Lockdown School Updates – Friday 12th February
Fri 12 Feb 2021Half term
Next week is half term, with school reopening for the children of critical workers and vulnerable children on Monday 22nd February. Home Learning will also recommence on 22nd February.
Microsoft Teams will be muted over half term, so children will be unable to add comments on the Teams chat.
Please use this break to relax and have some fun. This term has been really tricky for everyone and some quality family time is more important than ever.
COVID19 ‘Track and Trace’ during half term
If your child or a family member receives a positive COVID19 test over the February half term, please can you email us using this address:
trackandtrace@stsaviours.bwmat.org
This inbox will be monitored regularly over the half term. The normal school inboxes will NOT be monitored.
We may need to contact you and assist in ‘track and trace’ alongside advice from Public Health, especially if your child has developed systems within 48 hours of their last day in school.
Even if your child has not been in school, or there is a positive test within your household at the end of half term, please still continue to use the trackandtrace@stsaviours.bwmat.org inbox to inform us of any positive cases, so we can use this information to plan for the start of Term 4.
When will all children return to school?
This is the question on the tip of everybody’s tongue and I know how much everyone wants schools to reopen fully as soon as it is safe to do so. The Government have stated that they plan to start the full reopening of schools from 8th March. They have also stated that schools will be informed of the ‘road map’ two weeks before this date. If the Government stick to this commitment, we should have more information shared with schools straight after half term.
As soon as this has been released, and we have had a chance to consider what this means for St Saviour’s Schools, I will write to families. It is likely that the Government will lay out a plan for a gradual and staggered return to full school attendance so please be prepared for this possibility, it is unlikely all children will be back in school on the 8th March.
St Saviour’s Virtual Library
We have just launched our virtual library on our school website.
Choose a book from our virtual bookshelves and a teacher or teaching assistant will read you a bedtime story.
Click here to enter the library
#HotChocFri makes the press
This week a ‘Hot Chocolate Friday’ article was published in the ‘Bath and Wiltshire Magazine’ website. You can read the article by clicking here.
You can also visit all previous articles that have been published about St Saviour’s Schools by visiting our ‘in the press’ section of our website.
Thrive@Home
Mrs Simmons will be running some 30 minute, stand alone, 'Thrive@Home' sessions for small groups of children starting after half term. These sessions will initially be by invitation only (you will receive an email an invite on Teams which you will need to accept), but please do let us know if you think your child is really struggling and could benefit from attending one of these sessions.
Sessions will be run live on Teams and be based around fun, creative activities, with the opportunity to have a general chat whilst the children are doing these activities. You may be asked to collect a pack of resources from the Junior School Office prior to your session if we are using resources you may not have readily available at home. If you do not feel your child would like to attend the session, this is no problem, but it would be helpful if you can please let us know as soon as possible, so that we are able to offer the space to another child.
‘100 Challenge’
This week in assembly, we celebrated the life of Captain Sir Tom Moore. Sara, Sophie and Mrs Simmons read a story about his life which you can watch here. They have set you all a ‘100 Challenge’, where they have asked you to complete an activity 100 times in memory of Sir Tom, who walked 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday to raise money for the NHS. This could be anything, from completing 100 star jumps to reading 100 books! Maybe you will complete your activity very quickly, or perhaps it will take a longer amount of time.
Get creative, and we can’t wait to hear and see what you have been up to.
Junior School Live French Lessons and Spanish and French clubs
Starting next term ‘Todo el Mundo - Languages for Everyone’will be teaching every Junior School class French live on Teams – you will receive an invitation for these sessions.
We will also be starting up an additional free Spanish and French club live on Teams. This is available for the children that working from home. Please email french@todoelmundo.co.uk to sign up to one of the clubs below. A Teams invite will be sent before the first session.
The clubs will teach French or Spanish through songs, games, stories and art. Places are limited to 12 per class to ensure plenty of individual attention. Children can be new to the language or have learnt before and there is no activity book to buy or worksheets to print.
Year 2 FREE French Club with Elise Acard Tonga
Thursdays 12.30-1pm
Years 3&4 FREE Spanish Club with Katherine Mallia
Thursdays 12.45-1.15pm
Years 5&6 FREE Spanish Club with Katherine Mallia
Wednesday 12.45-1.15pm
We have updated our ‘Pupil and Parent Agreement for Remote Learning’We have added information on this document to clearly state why we record online live Teams sessions.
The new information is as follows:
• Group and whole class sessions will be recorded for the core purpose of storing the information so absent children can access the missed session(s)
• One to one sessions will not be recorded but other safeguarding mitigations will be in place, for example, staff will be in school when meeting a child one to one online, or another member of staff will be present in the call
To read the full agreement please click here
‘Camp in a tent’
Inspired by the example of Max Woosey, (featured on BBC News) who camped in a tent to raise money for a hospice and the challenge to 'give a tent for Lent' with the Shelter Box Charity, Robert Beesley (The Clerk to St Saviour’s Governing Body) is going to camp in a tent for Lent to raise money to buy tents for Shelter Box. This is 39 nights, starting next Wednesday!
The tents bought go to disaster areas around the world.
You can donate to this fundraising event via Robert’s ‘Just Giving’ page here
A message from the BANES ‘Community Wellbeing Hub’
If you are vulnerable and need help getting food, medicine, housing or other essential items, are feeling isolated, or concerned about your physical and mental wellbeing the Community Wellbeing Hub can help.
Call the Community Wellbeing Hub on 0300 247 00509am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Please check for Christmas and New Year opening hours.
email BATHNES.thehub@virgincare.co.uk
website: http://communitywellbeinghub.co.uk
Text 07870 868368
Following us on Twitter @cwhbanes
Bath & North East Somerset Council, working with 3SG, Virgin Care, and local NHS colleagues, have set up the Hub to give advice and support to those who need it during Covid-19. If you need support to self- isolate please contact us on the number above so as we can support you through this process.
If you can get support from family, friends or the local community, or can order food or medication online, please continue to do so. This means staff operating the phone line can prioritise those who need the most help and get to calls as quickly as possible
If you need to contact the council about its services please ring Council Connect on 01225 394041 or email Council_connect@bathnes.gov.ukThank you
On behave of all the staff at St Saviour, thank you for your continued support and understand through another tricky term for our community and thank you for balancing your personal and professional lives with home schooling.
Please have a relaxing and enjoyable break.
Best wishes,
Mr Beament
Executive Headteacher
St Saviour’s Schools
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Visit Our Virtual Library
Tue 09 Feb 2021Welcome to our Virtual Library!
Let a teacher or teaching assistant read tonight's bedtime story
Click here to enter the library
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Lockdown School Updates – Friday 5th February
Fri 05 Feb 2021School Staff COVID19 Testing
As explained in a previous update, staff are now self-testing for COVID19 twice a week. We have asked staff to test on Sunday and Wednesday evenings.
These are lateral flow tests (LFD) and are being used to identify cases in schools. I am relieved to report that the majority of school staff have now administered four LFD tests each and they have all been negative.
In the event of a positive test, the member of staff will need to complete a PCR test at a test centre to confirm the result.
For this reason, we have the following response in place:
- If a member of staff tests positive with their LFD, we will ask all members of their bubble and close contacts to isolate in line with Government policy until the test is confirmed or overturned by the PCR test.
- If the PCR test is also positive, then the isolation period of 10 days for all close contacts will continue (Public Health will support us in establishing the start date of the 10 day period)
- If the PCR test is negative, the bubble and close contacts can return to school the day after the result is confirmed.
It is highly likely that a positive LFD test will result in a positive PCR test.
We believe this approach is the best way to keep our community safe and is also in line with public health advice.
Laptops – our DfE allocation has arrived!
We have received our batch of Chromebooks ready for Home Learning. These can be requested by emailing the Junior School Office (JuniorEnquiries@stsaviours.bwmat.org). The number is limited and we may need to prioritise distribution, but we will consider all families who need an extra device.
More information can be found here (please click the two ‘loaning laptop’ documents under the COVID19 section).
Home Learning
We have captured our Home Learning approach in a new poster that can be found here.
BT Wi-Fi codes
After a successful application to BT, we have received 60 Wi-Fi codes for families to use for Home Learning. These codes access local Wi-Fi hotspots across the country and are available for free by emailing the Infant School Office (InfantEnquiries@stsaviours.bwmat.org).
Before requesting a Wi-Fi code, please check the local Wi-Fi spots will reach your premises by checking your postcode here.
Free School Meal (FSM) Vouchers over half term
FSM vouchers will be available from BANES Council for eligible families over the February half term. A separate email was sent to families earlier this week. Please let us know if you have not received this.
Thrive
To help you through lockdown, Thrive have pulled together some hints and tips in their first, FREE release of the Thrive-Online Parent Toolkit. It is specially designed for parents with children aged 4 to 11 years, and could be useful for anyone.
The parent toolkit provides:
• Information and an animation explaining the different, age-related stages of a child’s social and emotional development
• Short films showing two families sharing the impact this knowledge of Thrive has had on them
• Hints and tips for looking after yourselves
• Carefully selected, age-appropriate strategies and activities for you to try with your children at home
• A facility for you to expand and personalise the toolkit for you and your children.Please see Sara’s page on the website, linked here, or the document linked to the email sent out on Wednesday for information on how to register to use this toolkit.
SEND Webpage
Don’t forget to visit Sara’s webpage. The page link is here.
Sara is regularly updating this page with useful links and information for children and families.
Captain Sir Tom Moore – a special assembly
Next week’s ‘Huge St Saviour’s Assembly’ (Wednesday @11am live on Teams) will be a special assembly celebrating the achievements of Captain Sir Tom Moore and setting a small challenge for all children to take part in, in memory of Captain Tom. Captain Tom recently raised over £32 million pounds for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday and has sadly died at the age of 100 this week. Join us live on Microsoft Teams to be part of this assembly and find out what our commemorative challenge will be.
Severe weather and school closure
In the case of Severe Weather or other School Closures, please visit our website and social media accounts.
We aim to update the school website's scrolling banner at the top of the page, update Facebook, update Twitter and send out an email.
When we are making the decision to close the schools due to severe weather, we have to consider both the weather locally, and the ability of teachers to travel safely to school. Therefore, weather in Larkhall might appear reasonable but due to the distance some teachers have to travel, the schools may still close.
Please note that in some circumstances we might be unable to use all these methods of communication so please check all sources.
Please click here to visit our website page about school closures due to severe weather.
