Children were very calm and settled around school and were, as usual, a real credit to you with their lovely behaviour and manners. It was absolutely great to hear them playing outside my office again!
Staffing is now in place for next year and I will be sending you an email about class teachers this week. As children have not completed a year with their class, and to make a return less stressful, class groups will remain the same.
I hope you all had a lovely holiday. I understand that many of you will have concerns. We have a Training Day on Monday and children are expected to return Tuesday. I will be communicating by email this weekend. Please watch for emails.
Thank you to those of you who are making a marvellous effort with remote learning. Teachers love seeing children daily and know that this makes such a difference for children having routine and the pleasure of waving to friends and teachers.
Children should come to school tomorrow unless they, or someone in their house, has a new, persistent cough or a temperature. We really want to see them for as long as possible. I am very worried that, if we close, we won’t see them for a long while!
Good morning from High Borrans! Everyone slept brilliantly without a peep. We’ve enjoyed cereal, toast and scrambled egg and now ready for the day ahead!
I will need to work out logistics of this announcement and will be taking advice from the Local Authority who are also trying to work out how they can ensure that children who have entitlement to free school meals can access this. I will be in touch tomorrow when I know more.
Last night tonight! We’ve packed, cleaned; eaten delicious stick toffee pudding and are now playing a quick game of Beetle before bed. Children have been so well behaved and will have made some lasting memories!
Really want to thank all parents/ grandparents and friends who came along to support us today. We were delighted by how many people came but also a bit overwhelmed. I am really grateful also for your understanding and patience with the whole event!
People must consider how serious this situation is and must take all actions to protect your own families and the families of others. Thank you to our parents who are with NHS. If we do not follow advice, the NHS will not cope.
Thank you, parents for all of your kind cards, gifts and words. Staff was felt very appreciated. It was a lovely last day with our fabulous Year 6 children and we would like to wish them well. Happy holidays everyone!
We have had a lovely night around the fire pit: sharing talents, singing songs and toasting marshmallows with hot chocolate! Bed time now, ready for another busy day ahead!
Dear Parents, Having listened to the news tonight, it seems that we will be required to be partially closed from Friday. Tomorrow I will be sending a form out to ask if you are a key worker and will require childcare. School will also be open for vulnerable children.
Dear Children, Your teachers are very busy this week delivering reports and packs. We have included more workout books for you to complete. These cost quite a lot of money so please take care of them and try to complete only a few pages at a time! Thank you.
One cheery point for me in my day was when one of the Year 1 children said that I was her favourite Headteacher! Even though there isn’t much competition for that position it made me smile!
Thank you to parents who, despite being considered key workers, have been able to keep their children at home today. It is vital that, if children can be at home, they are at home. We need to take this virus very seriously.
Dear Parents, please see email coming to you tonight. Very disappointing. School now only open to key workers and vulnerable children. We will keep you informed. Contact the school office tomorrow with any queries.
Tonight staff have worked hard to put together packs of work for children and tomorrow you will receive a letter from me that explains how we are approaching ‘work for home’ with children. The photocopier was so hot after the copying that I suspect we may need a new one soon!!
Dear Parents, We have made it to the end of a very long week. Things will only get harder. Thank you to parents and children who have made the day of the staff team by sharing your work and ideas! Staff greatly appreciate you responding to their efforts!
A huge well done to all children and their staff today. They evacuated school in under two minutes for our fire drill and their behaviour outside was exemplary. Our police officers waved as they passed in the van and were so impressed.
Dear Parents, thank you for your patience and co-operation today. Staff greatly appreciated this. Tomorrow, the first field gate will open at 8.30 but the far gate will remain closed until 8.40. Thank you in advance for waiting on the crosses patiently.
I have a Headteacher’s meeting tomorrow morning and will be providing further information tomorrow night. We have a lot of logistics to consider. I wish all staff currently poorly or in isolation a speedy recovery and am sending best wishes to all families at home.
Thank you very much for everyone who has been so prompt at responding to our survey. Currently, in a huge majority, you recognise the enormity of the task ahead and realise that, there is no way of safely returning all children by the end of the year unless the situation changes.
Thank you to parents for your excellent support today at Sports Day. Children has such a great time. We raised £1023 for school fund too which will support with playground developments.
I have spent the afternoon hearing about facts, research and strategy re the COVID-19. I am still reassured that, whilst the majority of us are likely to get it, the vast majority will make a full recovery. The risk is to older people or people with underlying issues.
IMPORTANT- Staff will not be communicating over Twitter or Tapestry until Tuesday 21st April. This is because, during this difficult time, I need to ensure that they can have an emotional break even though their holidays are not as they would have anticipated. Many thanks.
Staff will be preparing work for children in event of closure. It may not be possible to provide work for all children who are absent for 14 days however, we will be trying to pull packs together tomorrow night as missing education is not ideal for children.
I have loved seeing classrooms busy again and having children outdoors playing and doing sports. They have been telling me that they are enjoying learning and being with their friends again.
Thank you to staff who are here today supporting key workers. I am mindful of the risks being posed to them and their families by providing this key role.
I am sure you have appreciated the efforts of children and staff for their efforts with mini-enterprise where children have to make and cost items for a profit! Well done. I will let you know the total raised tomorrow and all money will be for outdoor play for children!
An email has now been sent to the office and will be sent to parents a.s.a.p. Explaining timings etc. We will also be sending out, later in the week, a visual image of the arrival and drop off/ collection points for children.
Delighted to tell you that we have achieved 'Gold' standard again for our Health and Safety Audit and with one of the highest scores! We were commended for very good practise! Well done, team!
Dear Parents, our special visitors have gone. Children have had a brilliant day. Expressions on their faces have been priceless! Gates can now open from 3.15. I am sure they will be tired tonight!
On behalf of all at Shiremoor Primary School, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy holiday. I hope it is truly magical for children.
I will be sending a letter to clarify these points. I will be cancelling all visits out of school and into school whilst we navigate through this situation. Many thanks, Mrs. Middleton
Thank you, parents, for today! It was actually a lovely day having you all in school and being able to see the children perform. I am very proud of every year group and you could see the progression across school.
Well done to Mrs. Evans. Due to her excellent work, the LA have nominated us as a Music Mark school this year. I am hoping that parents will post some great clips of children learning music at home. I am sure parents in KS2 will love having recorder practise from next week!
I am busy risk assessing and taking a lot of advice currently but will be writing to you to prepare you for some of the huge considerations of the risk assessment. School will not be the same place and we would have to prepare children for this.
Weather looking better today. Off to climb a mini mountain and then have a canoe. We all played bingo last night and enjoyed Mr Noble’s quiz. We were all shattered so went to bed early but have still slept in this morning! Everyone is having a great time.
Thanks also to other staff who supported in manning doors, doing sign lists and collecting children etc.
Thanks to children for their exemplary behaviour too!
Happy holidays everyone! We will miss you! Breakfast Packs will arrive Thursday so I look forward to seeing some of you then. In the meantime, enjoy the weather this weekend and send us postcards if you do go to any North East attractions or beyond.
Thanks again to you all.
Due to high temperatures this week, children may wear their P.E kits, although it must be school kit without branded logos. All children must ensure they have water bottles, suncream and hats.
Please can parents wear masks where possible and socially distance at collection and pick up time. We want school to stay open safely and parents must support with this.
Thank you so much to the mum who has offered to deliver packed lunches to doorsteps of people who can’t get out. Many thanks. Lots of examples of kindness just now!
Please keep an eye on Twitter and emails following the Prime Minister’s announcement. Keep in mind that the covid19 picture here is very different to that in the south of the country.
CCTV will be installed to cover the school field and grounds next week. The police are supporting us in the area to ensure that teenagers are not causing damage to property in the community. Can residents support too by contacting police if they see any problems?
Have been to see Year 6 at Beamish and they are having a fantastic time. Best fish and chips ever! Tents are huge and weather couldn’t be better. They have been on the go all day but ready for hot choc at fire now!
High Borrans update: Everyone has had great fun out walking in the dark! They’re all unpacked, had dinner (pizza and millionaire shortbread!) and are just getting their pyjamas on ready for hot chocolate! Busy day tomorrow!
Dear Parents, I know you will have received my letter. It was with a heavy heart that I have had to give notice to close nursery (other than for parents who need childcare for work) but it will release staffing to prop up rest of school.
Thank you to parents who collected lunch if they needed to today. People were very careful how they did this and took only what they needed. Please be assured that I took leftover sandwiches to the Bay Food Bank so that they would be put to good use.