I know that we are currently in a funny time of the year where we are a little bit in limbo. We are now heading into week 13 of home learning which for anyone is challenging. I can only commend the children and you on your hard work and dedication. I have noticed less and less work appearing over the last week, which is why our learning gallery is a little sparse on photos and work. I miss the children dearly and love to see what they are up to, these last 13 weeks have been the most challenging of all of my 12 year teaching career, so please keep the photos coming. I understand that the children are tired and that there is an awful lot to juggle at home. I urge you to keep on going. Next week will be our final week of formal lessons where I aim to tie up our history topic and complete lots of science. Following that there will be a week on transition tasks and then I look forward to welcoming the children back for their final week.

The children have come up with some lovely ideas for that final week in school…I cannot wait to see them.

The next part of the blog is the same as last week. There is a lot on there about transition and I have just added in friendship groups. These are the form groups that the children are in. I do not know the form names or their form tutor, just the children from Our Ladys who will be in the same group as them.

This is the timetable for the final three weeks:

Week beginning Monday 29th June: online learning for Year 6 following the same lessons that we have been doing since lockdown. Next week will be the final week of formal lessons.

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

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

TRANSITION INFORMATION

I have repeated the information that I sent out last week but now included the friendship groups that the children will be in.

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.

FORM GROUPS

Although I cannot tell you which form your child is or who their form tutor is, I can tell you which friends your child will be with at St Bedes as part of their form. These have been decided based on the friend requests that your child gave me a few weeks ago.

I am still speaking to Miss Cochrane most days so as and when I get more information from her, I will update you all further.

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