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

• A message from Mrs Howlett - 5th June 2020

  Fri 05 Jun 2020

   

  Dear Parents and Carers

   

  I hope you are well and are continuing to stay safe at home as much as possible. It is really important to continue to adhere to the Government guidelines to reduce the risks of COVID 19. Please remember, if I am asking children and staff to come into school, it is absolutely vital that you continue to socially distance yourselves from others outside your household, at all times, including the weekends and evenings, so that they may be protected and the risks to the staff and children are minimised.

   

  As you know, throughout this COVID 19 period, the school has continued to be open for children of priority families and critical workers; however this week has also seen the return of children in Year R, Year 1 and Year 6. 

   

  I am so proud of the children and the staff of Newtown C of E Primary School. Their resilience has been so evident and everyone has adapted so well to the new changes that we have had to manage. Learning has been fun and focused and will continue, first and foremost, to ensure the health and wellbeing needs of the children are met at this current time.

   

  May I also thank you as parents and carers who have adhered to the new systems and regulations that we have had to enforce to keep everyone as safe as possible. I know some of the requests have not been ideal but I am so appreciative of your ongoing support. Our risk assessment process is evolving daily and the staff and I are doing all we can to minimise the risk to all.

   

  To the families and children who are not yet back at school, may I send a special message of thanks and support to you. The home learning has been phenomenal; myself and the teachers have enjoyed looking at the quality of the work and I am so proud of all the children and parents as you are all juggling so much at this time. Please continue to access the opportunities for home learning via our website www.newtownceprimary.co.uk

   

  As per my previous communications, we are suggesting a maximum of 2-3 hours per day spent on home learning and please only do as much as you feel your family circumstance allows. What has always been most important to me is that our families stay physically and mentally well. You know your children/child best and please do not be troubled by the amount of work being provided by school, be pleased, as we want to give you as many opportunities and activities across a range of themes, projects and subjects to help as possible, but to what extent your child completes these is up to you.

   

  Please continue to use Seesaw and Tapestry to share your child’s learning with their teacher and I would like you as parents to continue to share your strength, your calm and your laughter with your children. I want every child to have happy memories throughout this unsettled period and I want as much as possible for our lovely Newtown community to stay safe.

   

  I know there has been a lot of hype in the press about schools reopening fully at some point in the future. To date I have had no guidance or communication about this. The hype surrounding this issue is unhelpful and at this time there are no plans to reopen fully and we will only do so when we are told to do so and only when it is safe to do so.

   

  The staff and I continue to miss everyone very much that are not back with us. Our staff are continuing to call all families that remain at home so that we can touch base with you all and keep in touch. Please remember, when this period is over, no one will be left behind, our fabulous teachers will make sure of that, whenever the time comes that everyone returns to school.

   

  Thank you once again for your continued support.

  Kindest regards

  Mrs. E Howlett, Headteacher

   

• South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) Competition

  Tue 02 Jun 2020

  During these challenging times, South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) would like to offer their support by sharing resources you may find useful. They are also launching a competition for children, and we would like our pupils to take part.

   

  As a school, we have been responsive to supporting local initiatives and the local community during this difficult time and we would love the school to get involved with this competition.  Some of our families are critical/key-workers, who work for the NHS and this helps to celebrate and appreciate all their efforts and support, to care for our loved ones. 

   

  This competition is open to all year groups for primary (up to the age of 13 yrs old).

   

  For details of the competition and to view the resources, please visit the Home Learning section of the website - South Central Ambulance Service Competition.

• Seesaw/Tapestry

  Thu 28 May 2020

   

  Our teachers are resuming normal classroom duties from 1st June. Teaching staff will continue to monitor & give feedback via these platforms, but they will not be able to respond as frequently as they have been due to their class commitment in school.

   

  Thank you.

• A Message from Joe Wicks

  Thu 28 May 2020

  Hi Everyone

   

  I know that things have been really difficult for schools and teachers recently as you try to navigate your role of keeping children across the UK learning, by supporting their parents with home schooling. I also know, as my role as BBC Children in Need’s Schools Ambassador, that children are finding things really difficult. A lot of children are missing out on the shared experience that schools bring and also really missing the social side of seeing their friends.

   

  So I wanted to get in touch to say a massive thank-you for all the amazing work you’re doing to keep children across the UK entertained, happy and learning. You’re doing an incredible job.

   

  Whether you’re still in school or staying at home, I hope you’ve been taking advantage of the fantastic resources from Twinkl’s Home Learning Hub and BBC Bitesize.  They’re perfect for keeping children learning with loads of resources and activities.

   

  I hope you and all the students you support have been joining me for my morning PE lessons to get active, feel energised and start the day off positively.

   

  We know that some children may be struggling with their mental health/wellbeing being impacted by feelings of unease and anxiety. We also know that it’s an incredibly stressful time for parents, who are trying to support their children through this. So I wanted to share Dr Radha’s really useful, top tips to help parents and children cope better in these strange and uncertain times.

   

  I’m really looking forward to the autumn, when I really hope to be able to see you as part of BBC Children in Need’s Appeal Week!

   

  Thanks again for everything you’re doing – you’re all amazing!

   

  Lots of Love 

  Joe

  

• Ask Mrs Howlett!

  Tue 19 May 2020

   

  I know a lot of parents have questions about their children's education during this time, whether they are in a year group planned to return on the 1st June or not. Therefore I will be doing a question and answer session on Thursday 28th May for all parents and carers at 3pm.

   

  Send me your questions via the comments icon on the relevant facebook post or follow @NewtownCEPri on twitter and use the hashtag #AskMrsHowlett and I'll try and answer as many as possible on Thursday 28th May!

   

  Thank you!

  Mrs Howlett

  

• INSET Days 2020-2021

  Wed 13 May 2020

   

  The following INSET days have been confirmed for next academic year:

  • Thursday 3rd September 2020
  • Friday 4th September 2020
  • Friday 23rd October 2020
  • Friday 12th February 2021

   

  Further INSET days and other key dates will be sent out nearer to the next academic year.

• May half term holiday

  Mon 11 May 2020

   

  Please note that the school will not be providing any home learning for the May half term holiday taking place between 25th-29th May 2020.

   

  We would like to encourage the children and their families to have a more relaxed family time where possible during this continued challenging and unusual time.

   

  It is so important to look after our own and each other's physical and metal health and well-being and whilst this school holiday period is not going to be the same as we had hoped and planned for, we do not believe that there should be any expectation with regards to completion of home learning.

• COVID 19 Update - 11/05/2020

  Mon 11 May 2020

   

  In response to last night's message from the Prime Minister, like you, we have only just seen this announcement and at this stage we cannot answer all of your questions.

   

  We are waiting to receive more information from the Government about what this means for our school. However, in the short term nothing has changed and we will provide more information in the coming days once we are able to do so.

   

  Please can we ask that you do not call the office at this time regarding this situation. More information will follow.

   

  Thank you.

• The Midnight Gang

  Thu 07 May 2020

  Chichester Festival Theatre has a free online broadcast adaptation of David Walliams book,'The Midnight Gang' to watch on the Chichester Festival Theatre website. This is available until 29th May.

   

  Its a tale of friendship, dreams, resilience, aspirations and the importance of kindness and is suitable for age 7 upwards.

   

  It is also captioned for deaf viewers and Polish-language captions are also available.

   

  Something different to entertain your children!

  The Midnight Gang Broadcast

• Positivity Pebbles & Reflection Space

  Wed 06 May 2020

   

  We are looking to develop a reflection space by our Newtown tree at the front of the school grounds.

   

  Please can we ask all children to paint a message of hope or positivity to inspire our local community during these difficult times and for the future.

   

  A basket will placed at the front of the school for you to place your decorated pebble in.