And we are finally at the right moment! I was so unbelievably happy to hear that we can now open the school to more pupils. A school’s heartbeat is definitely the laughter of the children and the smiles that we see everyday. The past 12 weeks was not how I intended the children to finish their primary school journey but I am so grateful that we get to spend the last week together; hear the children’s laughter and see the children’s smiles. It will be a little different and we will be in two learning bubbles, but I am busy being creative and trying to plan ways that we can celebrate the last week together - but afar! The children have been putting their own ideas on the class blog. I am really excited to have them all back together.

Let’s celebrate this week’s wonderful learning and sporting achievements.

As of Monday, I will be in school and working alongside children a little more than I have been doing over the past few weeks. This will mean I won’t have quite as much time to prepare videos for online learning. I know that is tempting for the children to be taking their foot off the gas in the final few weeks but I urge you to keep them going. I will be going back to the White Rose Maths videos to teach the children algebra for the next two weeks and then the Wonder and topic lessons will continue as normal.

This is the timetable for the final four weeks:

Week beginning Monday 22nd and 29th June: online learning for Year 6 following the same lessons that we have been doing since lockdown.

Week beginning Monday 6th July: Transition week. The children will have some set tasks to complete about their move to high school.

Week beginning Monday 13th July: Welcoming the children back into school for their final week.

TRANSITION INFORMATION

I have now spoken to all of the high schools that your children will be going to. Again, this isn’t how transition usually happens and I know there will be some anxiety about the move. Please be assured that I am doing everything that I can to make it as smooth as possible for all of the children. If there are any questions at all, please just ask.

I have received this information from St Bedes this week.

TRANSITION BOOKLET

St Bedes have updated their Transition Booklet, so it not only informs pupils (and parents) of the basic information about the day to day running of the school but includes pictures of key staff they may not have the opportunity to meet. Each subject department has outlined information about what the children will be learning throughout Year 7 and there is a final section with a few tasks for the pupils to complete.

The Transition Booklet will be posted next week along with the following documents;

ParentPay username and log in instructions

Medical 3B form to complete
Uniform suppliers information containing the specific coronavirus arrangements for the individual stores. Appointments have to be made at uniform suppliers in order to try and collect new uniform.
Firefly link to the 'Information for New Parents' section. (The Firefly link will also be emailed out to all parents to ensure we have the correct email addresses. The 'Information for New Parents' section has been constructed so parents can view this area prior to setting up a parental FireFly account).
'All About Me Profile' to complete and return to share the with the Year 7 team.

TRANSITION MEETINGS

The transition meetings which take place between St Bedes and th,e Year 6 teachers are an integral part of the entire transition process. As it is not possible for these to be done face to face, they have all be conducted using video technology. Miss Cochrane and Miss Abberley our SENCO, have both been present on all of the calls made. The transition meeting has already taken place between Mrs Gregan, Miss Cochrane and Miss Abberley on Monday 8th June.

TRANSITION VIDEO

As the Year 6 pupils will most likely not get chance to visit St Bedes before they start Year 7, St Bedes are working on a short video which will include certain staff introducing themselves and a mini tour of the school to refresh the memories they may have from their Year 5 Science Taster Day or attending our Open Evening.

The Transition Video will be completed and issued by the end of the month, this will be added to the 'Information for New Parent' section on Firefly as well as added to the school website. We will send a copy to each primary school to show pupils in Year 6 attending school too.

I hope that puts your minds at ease for the next few weeks. If anyone has any questions at all, please do speak to me and voice your questions. I speak to Miss Cochrane at least once a week so I can ask any questions that you may have.

Water Parks Refund

Please see the following letter from Mrs Hodges.

Dear Parents,

I’ve been very disappointed to find, having checked with the ParentPay administrators, that I can’t refund onto your cards to make the process as quick and easy as I’d expected. Instead, the refund must be made into your ParentPay accounts.

The payment will be credited to your Parent Account immediately, and a refund notification email will be sent to you.

How you see a refund in your account

As well as receiving an email notification, you will get a notification when you log into the ParentPay system for the first time after a refund has been processed to your Parent Account. This notification will explain to you the amount, the pupil, and the payment item associated with the refund. You will then be able to withdraw the amount back to your payment card/account. Frustratingly I have to process these refunds payment by payment - some people have made multiple payments and they will get refunds coming through one by one. I’ve asked ParentPay if there is ANY better method in order to simplify but unfortunately there is not.

Thanking you as always for your patience and understanding.

Kindest regards to you all,

Geralyn H

School Office

Have a wonderful weekend…hopefully the sunshine will be coming back!

Mrs Gregan