28/01/2022

Once again, we’ve had another quiet week in school this week. The youngest members of our Eco Team headed out on a litter pick on Monday lunchtime; Mrs Mather will be taking some of the older children on Tuesday this week.

COVID-19 – unfortunately a staff member has now also tested positive for COVID-19.
All junior children will now be required to take a daily lateral flow test for the next 7 days, following the guidance below:
Pupils who are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 – children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years and 6 months identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 are strongly advised to take a LFD test every day for 7 days and continue to attend their setting as normal, unless they have a positive test result or develop symptoms at any time.

The advice for household contact remains unchanged from last week’s newsletter and we strongly encourage all families to keep school updated on any parent / sibling positive cases.

Infants Forest School – the infants will be continuing their Forest School Adventures on Monday with a visit to the wooded area here at school. They will need appropriate outdoor clothing suitable for the weather, including hat, gloves and waterproofs.

Games Club – Monday 31st January – for this week only, Games Club will take place on Monday not Tuesday due to Mrs Mather having a meeting on Tuesday. Please let us know if your child is unable to attend. Many thanks.

Walk 2 School – our next Walk to School is on Tuesday 1st February. As always, any children taking part will enjoy breakfast together when they arrive at school. We will meet at 8.20am in the carpark at the back of Cowan Bridge Village Stores. Mrs Mather has started a new Walk 2 School initiative, please see more details at the bottom of the newsletter.

Football at Arkholme – some of our junior children have been invited to take part in a football tournament at Arkholme on Tuesday 1st February. A full information sheet is attached for those taking part. Children will need to be at school ready for an 8.45am set off.  

Library Bus – the library bus will be visiting on Tuesday lunchtime, please encourage all children to return their books so they are able to swap this week.

REMINDER: Junior Maritime Museum Trip – Mrs Tidd has planned a visit to Lancaster Maritime Museum on Wednesday to compliment the children’s current History topic work. Payment of £6.75 is now due on SchoolMoney. A full information sheet is attached to the newsletter.

Exciting news about reading! – we have managed to secure visits from two authors over the next 2 terms. Jess Butterworth and Dan Worsley will be working with the children to further encourage a love of reading for pleasure. We will also be celebrating World Book Day and more information about that will follow in the coming weeks. 
As a school we are committed to encouraging reading and ensuring the children are fulfilling their potential.  We would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that we encourage all children to read daily and record this in their reading records. 
From February, each half term every class will be awarding 1 child with a reward for daily reading to display their love of reading.

Jess Butterworth – Tuesday 8th February via Zoom – Jess Butterworth, author of Running on the Roof of the World and When the Mountains Roared, will be joining the Y5 & Y6 children virtually for an interactive session. The children will have an opportunity to ask questions. Our Y5 children are currently reading her stories so we are all very excited.

WOW Walk To School – Mrs Mather has signed school up to the Living Streets Walk To School where children are encouraged and rewarded for walking to school at least once per week. This can be walking from home, if you live close enough, or park and stride which would be more appropriate for our location. Children will be encouraged to park at Cowan Bridge Village Stores and walk up to school with their parents.
Watch this 1-minute video below that really brings WOW to life! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG0GH0Qgqk8

Upper Junior Caving Day – our year 5 & 6 children will be experiencing an introduction to caving on Tuesday 22nd February. Experienced instructors from Tower Wood Outdoor Centre will lead, along with Mr Stafford-Roberts. This will take place at a cave in the Yorkshire Dales chosen by the instructors, dependant on the weather. Please come and see Mr Stafford-Roberts if you have any queries or concerns.

SEEKING: Volunteers – please email to let us know if you would be interested in volunteering to listen to readers – either infant or junior – with days you would be available. We are looking for any adults (parents / grandparents etc.) who would be able to spare an hour per week, either at drop-off or pick-up of children. Thank you.

PTFA News –
Movie night – CANCELLED due to very little uptake – Friday 28th January from 3.15 to 5.30pm
£3 per child to include a drink, sweets / popcorn.
Film will be Spies in Disguise (PG) We will reschedule this for a date after half term.
100 Square – choose a number – £1 per number
Drawn at the end of January winning number gets 50% of the money (eg 100 squares sold £50 to winner and £50 to PTFA funds). Please see Rachael Booth (Erin, Lillian and Ella’s mum) in the playground.
Messenger group – the PTFA have a messenger group; important dates, information and reminders are sent in there, please seek out Rachael, Jenny or Amanda in the playground if you wish to be added to the group. Thank you.

Coming up this half-term