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December Newsletter and Christmas Arrangements 2021
Mon 29 Nov 2021Mudeford Junior School
All dates for the term can be found on the school calendar.
Dear Parents/Carers,
As we approach the end of the Autumn term I would like to thank you for the incredible support shown by the parents of the school during what has continued to be a challenging time for everyone. In fact, yesterday the Department for Education sent us out information regarding the use of face coverings in school for staff and further mitigating safety protocols. Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Local Authority have also sent us guidance on festive performances and gatherings to share with families and as per their guidance we will be sending out a small Christmas video of the children sharing a few festive carols.
As last year, in this time of giving, we have decided to support the local food bank in the run up to Christmas. During the period of advent, from Wednesday 1st December, this is an opportunity to give rather than receive. We will be collecting tinned items such vegetables, tuna or tomatoes, biscuits, dried beans/pulses, tea, coffee, sugar and everyday toiletries such as shampoo, shower gel, soap, toilet rolls, toothpaste, toothbrushes, nappies, baby wipes baby formula, washing up liquid, cereal bars, flour etc. There will be a box in each shared area for the children to put their donated items in. The food bank will collect all donations on Wednesday 15th December so you can bring your donations any day until then.
Christmas arrangements
As always, we want to make the last week of the term a memorable and exciting week for the children.
Elfridges (Christmas Shop for the children) will be open for business on Friday 10th December for children to purchase a gift for someone special.
Festive activities will be taking place throughout the week. There will be Christmas parties for each year group.
Party days – Year 3 - Monday 13th December
Year 4 – Tuesday 14th December
Year 5 – Wednesday 15th December
Year 6 - Thursday 16th December
On party day, the children are invited to come in to school wearing mufti for the whole day.
We’re excited that Merlin and Okey Dokey the dragon will be visiting to give a special performance of magic, mystery and entertainment to all the children on Wednesday 15th December. All classes in Year 3 (Tuesday 14th) and Year 4 (Thursday 16th) will also enjoy a Christmas craft session. Years 5 and 6 will have the opportunity to participate in a Christmas Handball tournament organised by Mr Dan Moody, Christchurch Sports Partnership Manager.
Each class will also have the chance to undertake some festive cooking with Mrs Hills (our cookery teacher) to produce some edible Christmas treats, something to share with all the family!
In addition to children wearing mufti on the day of their party, we also invite the children to wear a Christmas jumper into school on the last day of term (Friday 17th).
M & M Productions who tour the country will be bringing us their version of Aladdin in the new year - “Oh yes they will!” on Friday 7th January.
On the last day of term, Friday 17th December, we invite children to bring in games to play, (no tablets or lap tops please). On this day we are also offering a hot Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.
School will finish at the usual time for each class on Friday 17th December and we return on Tuesday 4th January 2022.
May I take this opportunity to wish you all a safe and happy Christmas.
Best wishes
M Partridge
Headteacher
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Year 4 Summer term Trip Ancient Technology Centre, Cranborne
Thu 11 Nov 2021Year 4 Summer term Trip
Ancient Technology Centre, Cranborne
Dear Parents,
We are delighted to have the opportunity for Year 4 to visit the Ancient Technology Centre in Cranborne during the summer term.
The Centre delivers an authentic, hands on experience for the children, bringing to life all the different periods the children have studied during Year 3 and 4; the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages, the Romans, Anglo Saxons and Vikings. The children will be able to explore reconstructed buildings of the times and will take part in skills and crafts, such as blacksmithing, felt making and willow weaving, following processes that have remained unchanged for thousands of years.
Both Year 4 classes will be visiting the Ancient Technology Centre on Thursday 19th May 2022. We will leave school at 9am and return to Mudeford for 4pm. The later return time will ensure the children can maximise the opportunities provided throughout the day.
This trip is such a valuable and exciting experience for the children that the school governors have kindly agreed to subsidise the cost and this is now £15.00. We are therefore seeking a voluntary contribution of £15.00 by no later than Friday 1st April 2022. The Governing Body has agreed that if the total value of voluntary contributions falls below 90% of the overall cost, then the trip/activity will be cancelled. The school is happy to accept payments in instalments in the period between details being sent to parents/guardians and the final date for receipt of voluntary contributions. Payment can be made online with ParentMail (you can select this item by going to Payments and then Shop) or by cash or cheque made payable to Mudeford Junior School.
The Governors appreciate the on going support of the parents and guardians in continuing to make contributions, enabling us to provide a range of opportunities for the children.
Yours sincerely
Year 4 teachers – Mrs Miller Mrs Lee
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Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal
Fri 05 Nov 2021We will be supporting the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal again this year. The children will be able to purchase Poppy items costing up to £1.50, including snap bands and wrist bands, alongside the usual paper poppies from Friday 5th November until Friday 12 November.
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Whole School November Newsletter 2021
Thu 04 Nov 2021Dear Parent/Carer
I hope you enjoyed the half term break.
We will be supporting the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal again this year. The children will be able to purchase Poppy items costing up to £1.50, including snap bands and wrist bands, alongside the usual paper poppies from tomorrow, Friday 5th November.
Please can I remind you that the deadline for Photograph orders is tomorrow, Friday 5th November. Orders are made online with Fraser Portraits. Any problems, please contact the school office.
Back by popular demand, The Elves of Mudeford Junior School are partnering with the School and are pleased to be able to open a Christmas Secret Gift Shop 2021. Children can come and buy a present for a special adult in their lives. This will take place on Friday 10th December during the school day. More information to follow.
Thank you to all those parents who have ordered the Christmas cards and festive items. We look forward to distributing them in the run up to Christmas.
COVID : Over the last week BCP Council have been in contact with all schools. They have advised us that the number of Covid cases in the BCP locality are of a concern.
Schools, Early Years and educational settings in BCP and Dorset have been given scope to enhance the measures they use to protect children and staff from Covid during the coming weeks.
They are encouraged to do this by BCP and Dorset Councils and by Public Health Dorset, with several measures being added to support a reduction in cases in schools and the community in BCP and Dorset.
Why are they being asked to consider enhancing measures?
· In the south west and pan-Dorset there is agreement that more measures need to be at the disposal of schools and settings following the case load in half term one, which saw many schools having outbreaks and a rise in cases in school age children
· Public Health Dorset write that case rates in those aged 11-16 year olds are a particular concern, although we have seen cases in Early Years and primary phase too.
· Whilst the immediate health risks of COVID-19 infection to children and young people are low; the present high case numbers harms children and young people by their missing or having disrupted education and is also disrupting the vaccination programme for older pupils.
What measures will the school use?
These will include;
· Extending daily LFD testing for close or household contacts (identified by NHS Test and Trace) while awaiting PCR results to a minimum of 5 days, increasing to 7 days as necessary to ensure the final test is taken on a school day. Note: this can be applied in secondary, middle and in primary, at parent/guardian discretion. So if a case arises in a primary or middle school setting, parents can support safer return to school by using LFTs on their asymptomatic children.
Mudeford Junior School Specific
During the first half of the autumn term the school has maintained significant Covid safety protocols. Attendance has been 95.6% during the first half of term with a low number of pupil Covid cases reported (14 children).
A number of staff have contracted Covid 19 over this period, however the Governors and Senior Leadership Team of the school had foreseen this and implemented plans which we knew would ensure we could continue face-to-face education rather than revert to home-based learning. The school has an extensive risk assessment which kept the outbreak amongst staff within a certain year group. Safety protocols will continue, with children continuing to eat lunch in their own classrooms, enhanced cleaning taking place, no assemblies in the hall and the only mixing in the year groups outside the building. Public Heath Dorset have asked schools to keep these measures in place.
How can parents/carers help to support less infection in school?
· If a case arises in a primary, junior or middle school setting and you are notified, parents can support safer return to school by using LFTs on their asymptomatic children, which many have been doing/asking if they can do this.
· Support school by observing isolation and getting PCR tests when asked
· Adhering to new requests for mitigation and encouraging eligible family members to get vaccinated/boosters
· Observe close contact advice from NHS Track and Trace and do not send children to school with symptoms of the virus.
Over the next few weeks the school will be sending out notification of positive PCR cases to the relevant year groups to raise awareness and Inform the wider community.
If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 at any time, please isolate and book a test, even if you have already taken a test. The main symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- A new, continuous cough, and/or
- A temperature, and/or
- A loss of, or change to, sense of test and/or smell.
Further guidance on COVID-19 and what you need to do can be found at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Yours sincerely
M Partridge
Headteacher