Dear Parents/Carers,

Firstly, can I thank you all for your tremendous support this term. It has been a real challenge but we have had a successful 2 terms in school, keeping as safe as possible. I think everybody now deserves a happy and peaceful Christmas. 

Online Christmas Messages

All classes have taken part in a performance of a special Christmas poem this week. This was watched by the whole school community this afternoon and can now be soon on our Facebook page.

We also shared with children a special Christmas message from Fr Michael which can also be viewed on Facebook.

This will be shared online for all we will share details next week.

A thanks to Mr Purser and Jazleen in Year 6 for doing such a good job editing the video together.

An Important Reminder - Plans for Christmas Holidays Track and Trace

Over the first 6 days of the school holiday the school is required to track and trace COVID close contacts, in the case of a positive case being reported. If this happens, it is expected every person in each class will be identified as a close contact and advised to self isolate. We have a dedicated telephone number so you can text us if:

• Your child has COVID symptoms and has been tested
• Your child has received their result - positive or negative

When you text, can you inform us of your child's name and class, details of symptoms (including when they started) and time and venue of the test. It is likely that I will then phone families back to ensure I have all relevant information.

In the unfortunate event of a confirmed case, I will inform all families in their class ‘bubble’ the DfE advice for self-isolation, which is expected to be that everybody in that class ‘bubble’ would have to isolate for 10 days. We have been incredibly careful in school and very much hope that this does not happen and upset everybody’s Christmas plans.

The dedicated telephone number is 07596 820850 - it should only be used to text suspected or confirmed COVID cases.

Nursery Opening

Our new nursery class opens after the school holiday. We are very excited to welcome these new children and many new families into our school community. I know you will all make them all feel happy and at home in our school.

Christmas Hampers

We have been very pleased to distribute a number of Christmas hampers to families in our school community.

Can I say thank you to Julie Mackie from the Cater Road Cafe in Hartcliffe, for their donations as well ast St Brendan’s Sixth Form College for their generous donations.

The Cater Road Cafe is open for deliveries during lockdown (Postcode - Bs13 7TT, Telephone - 07852 589340).

Also a big thank you to Miss Channing for taking the hampers to homes. 

Headteacher’s Awards (which were awarded this week)

Reception - 

• Gloria - trying hard in literacy and RE to write about advent and form her letters. 

Year 1 -  

• Tyron - for always setting a great example to others by being kind, polite and showing he is ready to learn in class. 
• Braydon - for working tremendously hard on his blending in phonics and showing enthusiasm for reading. 

Year 2 - 

• Kian - For making a good start to our school by demonstrating his enthusiastic approach to answering questions in maths.  

Year 5 -  

• Deniro - for his enthusiasm for his learning this week. 
• Frankie - for searching for his maths book 1 to support a question in his maths book 2.

Attendance

Well done to the following classes who had attendance at over 97% this week: 

• Year 2 with 97% attendance.
• Year 5 with 99% attendance
• Year 6 with 97% attendance.

Primary School Applications for a New Reception Place for September 2021

If your child was born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017 you'll need to  apply for a new reception school place for September 2021.  You'll need to apply by Wednesday 15 January 2020.

Apply online for a reception place for Sept 2021 at:

https://www.bristol.gov.uk/schools-learning-early-years/primary-admissions

Please contact the school office if we can help in any way or if you would like to visit the school (in a COVID safe way).

Dates for Diaries

Start of Term 3 - Monday 4 January 2021

End of Term 3 - Friday 12 February 2021.

Term 4 - Monday 22 February 2021 to Thursday 1 April 2021.

Term 5 - Monday 19 April 2021 to Friday 28 May 2021.

Term 6 - Monday 7 June 2021 to Wednesday 21 July 2021. 

Yours sincerely

Matt Condon

Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

Plans for Christmas Holidays Track and Trace

Over the first 6 days of the school holiday the school is required to track and trace COVID close contacts, in the case of a positive case being reported. If this happens, it is expected every person in each class will be identified as a close contact and advised to self isolate. We have a dedicated telephone number so you can text us if:

• Your child has COVID symptoms and has been tested
• Your child has received their result - positive or negative

When you text, can you inform us of your child's name and class, details of symptoms (including when they started) and time and venue of the test. It is likely that I will then phone families back to ensure I have all relevant information.

In the unfortunate event of a confirmed case, I will inform all families in their class ‘bubble’ the DfE advice for self-isolation, which is expected to be that everybody in that class ‘bubble’ would have to to isolate for 10 days. We have been incredibly careful in school and very much hope that this does not happen and upset everybody’s Christmas plans.

The dedicated telephone number is 07596 820850 - it should only be used to text suspected or confirmed COVID cases.

Many thanks  

Mr Condon

Dear Parents/Carers,

Firstly a reminder that our last day of term remains Friday 18th December. We are all looking forward to a safe and happy Christmas week in school. 

Updated Guidance on Home Learning

In the case of isolation, updated guidance now states that children should be expected to work online at home for 3 hours each day.

COVID - Changes to National Self Isolation Guidance

On Monday 14 December, the change to the isolation period for contacts will apply to all those who are currently self-isolating including those who commenced self-isolation before Monday.

Self-isolation periods will begin on the day after exposure, a test or the start of symptoms.

The NHS Test and Trace service will tell people to self-isolate for 10 days instead of 14 days from Monday.

The passenger locator form will be updated from Monday.

Due to the time taken to test technical changes and release updates through the app store, the NHS COVID-19 app will tell close contacts to isolate for 10 days instead of 14 days from Thursday 17 December.

In England, if you receive a notification from the NHS COVID-19 app before 17 December to isolate because you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive.

• if you have also been contacted by NHS Test and Trace you must follow isolation guidance provided by contact tracers
• if you have been advised to isolate by the app (and not by NHS Test and Trace) then you can leave isolation when your isolation countdown timer says 3 days

COVID - Christmas Holidays Track and Trace

Over the first 6 days of the school holiday, the school is required to track and trace COVID close contacts, in the case of a positive case being reported. If this happens, it is expected every person in each class will be identified as a close contact and advised to self isolate. We will share more information about this next week.

COVID - School Guidance

To make the school as safe as possible - if any member of the family, that lives in your home, has suspected COVID symptoms, can you please keep all children in the family at home - and phone the school for further advice. 

COVID - Isolation

As you will all know if there is a confirmed care of COVID in a class, close contacts will be directed to self isolate; this may often be the whole class. Can we remind you all that isolation means NOT LEAVING YOUR HOME, otherwise you could be putting others at risk. 

Online Christmas Celebrations

Daily Advent Messages on Facebook

Each school day during Advent, children from different classes will be posting video messages on Facebook. This week messages have been shared from Years 4, 5 and 6 and have focussed on the theme of Hope, which is represented in the first candle of the Advent Wreath. Next week's messages will be focussing on the theme of Faith, which is represented in the second candle. 

Online Christmas Service

All classes will be involved in an online Christmas celebration next week. This will be shared online and we will share details next week.

Attendance Reminder

Can I remind you all that although we are doing our best to safely manage the school during this pandemic, school attendance remains compulsory. Generally an absence will only be agreed if the child is ill, if there are exceptional circumstances, and now also for statutory reasons in relation to COVID-19.

Where attendance is a concern, we will take further action which may include a referral to the Education Welfare Service and/or the issue of penalty notices.

Free School meals

If you think your circumstances have changed or you have been affected by Covid 19 and you think you may be able to claim for Free School Meals, then please go to the Bristol City Council website and apply.   You can also telephone school for a form. 

Vacancy for School Cleaner

We have a vacancy for a school cleaner starting on the 4th January 2021, if you would be interested in the position please contact the school office.  Hours for the vacancy are Monday to Friday 3.30pm to 5.30pm with some work required during the school holidays.

Christmas Lunch

Due to COVID restrictions, we are having an alternative Christmas lunch this year. We will be combining our festive lunch with Christmas Jumper Day and the children can wear a Christmas top of their choice for the day.

Primary School Applications for a New Reception Place for September 2021

If your child was born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017 you'll need to  apply for a new reception school place for September 2021.  You'll need to apply by Wednesday 15 January 2020.

Apply online for a reception place for Sept 2021 at:

https://www.bristol.gov.uk/schools-learning-early-years/primary-admissions

Please contact the school office if we can help in any way or if you would like to visit the school (in a COVID safe way).

Dates for Diaries

End of Term 2 - Friday 18 December 2020.

Term 3 - Monday 4 January 2021 to Friday 12 February 2021.

Term 4 - Monday 22 February 2021 to Thursday 1 April 2021.

Term 5 - Monday 19 April 2021 to Friday 28 May 2021.

Term 6 - Monday 7 June 2021 to Wednesday 21 July 2021. 

Yours sincerely

Matt Condon

Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

A Reminder - INSET Day (School Closed)

A reminder that the school is closed next Friday (Friday 11th December) for a staff training day.

Daily Advent Messages on Facebook

Each school day during Advent, children from different classes will be posting video messages on Facebook. This week messages have been shared from Years 4, 5 and 6 and have focused on the theme of Hope, which is represented in the first candle of the Advent Wreath. Next weeks messages will be focusing on the theme of Faith, which is represented in the second candle. 

COVID Guidance

To make the school as safe as possible - if any member of the family, that lives in your home, has suspected COVID symptoms, can you please keep all children in the family at home - and phone the school for further advice. 

Home learning in Year 1

A big thank you to the parents, teachers and teaching assistants in Year 1 for such a tremendous effort with their home learning during their isolation period.

Isolation Guidance

As you will all know if there is a confirmed care of COVID in a class, close contacts will be directed to self isolate; this may often be the whole class. Our Year 1 class recently had to isolate for 10 days due to such a case. On returning, a number of children have commented on places they went during their isolation days.

Can we remind you all that isolation means NOT LEAVING YOUR HOME, otherwise you could be putting others at risk. 

Attendance Reminder

Can I remind you all that although we are doing our best to safely manage the school during this pandemic, school attendance remains compulsory. Generally an absence will only be agreed if the child is ill, if there are exceptional circumstances, and now also for statutory reasons in relation to COVID-19.

Where attendance is a concern, we will take further action which may include a referral to the Education Welfare Service and/or the issue of penalty notices.

Face Masks

To help us keep the school environment as safe as possible, can I again request that parents and carers wear face masks when dropping off or collecting children from school. Thanks again for your support. 

Children in Need Donations

Thank you to all who donated money for Children in Need this Year - we raised a grand total of: £128.13!

Free School meals

If you think your circumstances have changed or you have been affected by Covid 19 and you think you may be able to claim for Free School Meals, then please go to the Bristol City Council website and apply.   You can also telephone school for a form. 

Vacancy for School Cleaner

We have a vacancy for a school cleaner starting on the 4th January 2021, if you would be interested in the position please contact the school office.  Hours for the vacancy are Monday to Friday 3.30pm to 5.30pm with some work required during the school holidays.

Vacancy for Nursery School Meal Supervisory Assistant Role

Would you be interested in a role supporting and supervising children at lunchtime in our new nursery? If so please let the school office know and we will let you know more about the role and hope to apply.

Christmas Lunch

Due to COVID restrictions, we are having an alternative Christmas lunch this year. We will be combining our festive lunch with Christmas Jumper Day and the children can wear a Christmas top of their choice for the day.

Home Learning

As an increasing number of children are off school, due to COVID symptoms or related issues, we have reintroduced online learning. We are hoping that in most classes this will be through Google Classroom.

Can I confirm that all children who are absent from school, but are not unwell, are expected to engage in home learning activities. Generally, children should be expected to work online at home for 2-3 hours each day. Online lessons consist of English, Maths, Topic work and reading. We appreciate and thank you for your continued support. 

Places Available

The school is almost full but we do have some space available in Reception, Year 1, Year 2, Year 4 and Year 6. If you know somebody who might need a school place, please ask them to contact the school office.

Attendance

Well done to the following classes who had attendance at over 97% this week:  

• Reception with a fantastic 99% attendance.
• Year 2 with 97% attendance.
• Year 3 with 98% attendance.

Headteacher’s Awards

Reception - 

• Lily for doing independent learning through her writing at home and for using her learnt sounds and sound buttons. Well done Lily for setting a fantastic example to the rest of the class. 

Year 1 -  

• Harper G - for her super recount writing - great job! 

Year 2 - 

• Alfie - for exploring his own ideas creatively when making his Christmas stocking.
• Roxy - for being absorbed in her reading and demonstrating how well she is doing through our reading comprehension results. 

Year 3 -  

• Sofia- For showing perseverance with her maths work and not giving up when things are difficult
• Grace- For independently producing a fantastic and imaginative story using fronted adverbials and relative clauses. I was blown away! 

Year 4 -

• Anta - For connecting with the class and completing all of her whilst at home for the last week 

Year 5 -  

• Alexander -  for being a superb team  player and stepping forward to represent the class on the video Advent calendar.
• Chris - for writing a friendly story and making us laugh.

Year 6 

• Stephanie - for absolutely amazing notes in Phase of our reading sequence. You adapted and updated your notes, as your understanding developed - well done!

Primary School Applications for a New Reception Place for September 2021

If your child was born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017 you'll need to  apply for a new reception school place for September 2021.  You'll need to apply by Wednesday 15 January 2020.

Apply online for a reception place for Sept 2021 at:

https://www.bristol.gov.uk/schools-learning-early-years/primary-admissions

Please contact the school office if we can help in any way or if you would like to visit the school (in a COVID safe way).

Dates for Diaries

INSET (staff training) day - Friday 11th December.

End of Term 2 - Friday 18 December 2020.

Term 3 - Monday 4 January 2021 to Friday 12 February 2021.

Term 4 - Monday 22 February 2021 to Thursday 1 April 2021.

Term 5 - Monday 19 April 2021 to Friday 28 May 2021.

Term 6 - Monday 7 June 2021 to Wednesday 21 July 2021. 

 

Yours sincerely

Matt Condon

Headteacher