Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Christmas Message

  Fri 18 Dec 2020 Mrs Bland

  Parents and Carers, 

   

  I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your support through what has been a very different Autumn Term for us all.

   

  When we returned in September there was a lot of anxiety about how we would all settle back into school life and adapt to our new ways of working.  The positive, solution-focussed approach of the children and staff has meant that we have embraced and thrived on the challenges and following the Covid guidance have enjoyed learning together and supporting each other to be our best selves.

   

  As the term draws to an end I look back on it and feel incredibly proud of how much the children have achieved.   We are blessed to serve such amazing children.

   

  Usually we would end the term with our Nativity and Carol Service in church.  Sadly this year we have been unable to come together to celebrate Christmas in this way.  The children have prepared a Nativity performance for you to enjoy in the comfort and safety of your home and share with wider family members.  This can be viewed by visiting our school website www.stmarysonline.co.uk selecting the parents tab and then Christmas 2020.  We hope you enjoy their efforts.

   

  It’s been a challenging year in lots of ways, we have all steeled ourselves and kept going, determined to make the best we could of the circumstances.  As we slow down, take a deep breath and exhale,  we need remember to be kind to ourselves.

   

  I hope that each and every family in our school community enjoys the peace, joy and blessings of the Christmas Season and that you get to spend time with loved ones over the festive period.

   

  I wish you happiness and good health for 2021 and I look forward to welcoming the children back on January 4^th 2021.

   

  Best Wishes

  Mrs Bland

• Advent Angels

  Fri 11 Dec 2020 J. MacDonald
  Thank you to everyone who donated to the Bay Foodbank this Advent. They were once again overwhelmed by your kindness

  

• Do Good December

  Fri 11 Dec 2020 J.MacDonald
  As part of our Mental Health and Wellbeing work we are joining with Action for Happiness to set ourselves personal challenges each month. The calendar invites us to think of how we can be kind and do good this month so we can offer support and wellbeing to ourselves and others.

  

• Change to Christmas Holiday Dates 2020

  Thu 10 Dec 2020 Acting Chair of Governors

  Dear Parents and Carers,

  Yesterday afternoon we received a COVID-19 update form the Department for Education (DfE) with new advice on holiday dates and school management of the track and trace process.

  The update stated: ‘Schools may wish to use an INSET day, making Friday 18th December a non-teaching day and using the day for staff training which could be delivered online.  Where term would normally finish in the week commencing 21st Dec school’s may wish to consider adjusting term dates to make Friday 18^th December the last day of term and bringing forward the start of term in January by the same number of days.  In all circumstances, teaching time must be made up at another point in the academic year.'

  This policy change has come very late, with schools having previously been told not to change term dates. The guidance is intended to prevent the need for school staff to be providing a track and trace service and potentially contacting parents instructing them to self-isolate their child on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day itself.  Neither the school nor parents would want to find ourselves in such a situation.

  As Chair of Governors, I have taken the decision to follow the Department for Education advice to adjust the published holiday dates for the end of this term.

  As our school was due to finish term in the week commencing 21^st December I have taken the decision that the last day of term will now be Friday 18^th December and children will return on Monday 4th January instead of Tuesday 5^th January as previously published. It also means that the additional closure day on Friday May 28^th which was communicated recently will now not need to happen and school will be open to children on that day.  These changes ensure that the children will receive 190 teaching days as is statutorily required.

  I know that these changes will cause some disruption to the arrangements parents have made and I apologise for that.  We are continuing to follow government advice - as we have done through every stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Term dates are set by governing bodies a year in advance and therefore we could not have anticipated this situation.  The decision to change term dates at such a late stage is unprecedented, however it reflects the seriousness of the situation and greatly reduces the risk of COVID-19 transmission and the need to self-isolate during the Christmas holidays.

  As part of the guidance update, we have been asked to ensure staff, parents and carers are aware of the following information and relevant arrangements regarding positive cases in the holidays:

  Where a pupil or staff member tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms more than 48 hours since being in school, the school should not be contacted. Parents and carers should follow contact tracing instructions provided by NHS Test and Trace.   For the first 6 days after teaching ends, if a pupil or staff member tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms within 48 hours of being in school, the school is asked to assist in identifying close contacts and advising self-isolation, as the individual may have been infectious whilst in school.  If your child develops symptoms within 48 hours of being in school please notify Mrs Bland on cbland@stmarysonline.co.uk   School staff are not asked to remain on-call or conduct any contact tracing more than 6 days after the final day of teaching. Where a school’s last teaching day is on Friday 18th December, there should be no pupil contact tracing beyond Thursday 24th December.

  Also in line with this guidance, the email for notifying positive cases, cbland@stmarysonline.co.uk will not be monitored from 5pm on Thursday 24^th December and from that point all track and trace responsibility will be undertaken by Public Health England.

  I wish to reiterate that the decision to close earlier than planned has been taken with the well-being of all our school community at heart and to minimise the chance of track and trace self-isolation during the Christmas holidays.

  May I wish you a happy and healthy Christmas and we look forward to seeing you all safely on Monday 4^th January 2021.

   

  Best wishes,

   

  Ms. L. Laggan

  Acting Chair of Governors

• Advent Dedication Tree

  Fri 04 Dec 2020

  This week saw the start of the Season of Advent.  This year we have chosen to decorate our hall tree with stars.  Each class has decided on their own design and every child has made a star to hang on the tree. Our stars symbolise ‘Hope’ and whilst creating the stars the children thought about their hopes for this Advent season.  Today we had a gathered via Teams and each class shared their work and some of their hopes:

  “I hope that all homeless people find a warm safe place to spend Christmas”

  “ I hope that I am able to spend time with my family who I haven’t seen because of lockdown soon”

  ” I hope that Mrs Miley gets better soon and comes back to school - I miss her”

  ” I hope that all the different charities are able to help people who need help this Christmas”

  It was a lovely celebration of our children’s hopes and gave a real insight into their understanding of the challenges some people will face this Christmas.

  As we journey through Advent we hold these hopes close to our hearts and pray that God our Father will be with all at this special time