Good afternoon,

Welcome back, I hope that you and your family have enjoyed a break from routine over half term and are feeling refreshed and ready to go. We are on the home stretch now; we have to stay
positive that we will be looking back on COVID-19 very soon. Thank you to those of you who responded to the parent survey. The survey clearly shares the difficulty of juggling the timings of these with work and also home schooling. Your feedback on the remote learning experience for your children has proved to be really useful. Both the teaching staff and myself appreciate the daily challenges of motivating children to work at home. Please continue to communicate with your class teacher as much as you need to. We will always continue to strive to support all of our children in this as well as yourselves. Thank you again for your ongoing support and understanding!

One aspect of the Prime Minister’s proposed road map for easing lockdown includes planning for the full return of all children from 8th March 2021. At the current time, in line with government guidelines, all primary children are expected to return to school from 8th March. I will contact you on Tuesday next week with all the information you require to bring our children back safely.

We are now in the season of Lent and the liturgical colour for this time of year is purple, which reminds us that it a time for both preparation and penance. To mark this important season, Father Lamb has purchased Day by Day booklets for all our pupils and staff. All children working in school or remotely should now have received their books. If you haven't, please contact the school office. The 'Walk with Me' Calendar for Lent (see below) is a lovely way to prepare as a family for Easter as it provides daily prayers and reflections.

Please click on the PDF link below for information of our current job vacancy. You can find the person specification, job details and application form on our school website.

We are so impressed with all the learning that is taking place in school and remotely at home. The following children will be receiving a certificate for their fantastic efforts this week. Children in school will receive their certificates on Monday when we return after half term and children at home will receive theirs in the post. Well done everyone.

We were so proud of Lilli-Rose for appearing on Crackerjack. It was a great opportunity to be a contestant on a fun television show.

On Tuesday 2nd March - Saint Chad's feast day - we will be providing our pupils with the opportunity to adore the Blessed Sacrament, experiencing the real presence of Jesus Christ in their lives. It is an opportunity for us all to offer our own thoughts and prayers in quiet reflection. There will be a whole school Mass, live-streamed from our school hall - at 10.00am and everyone will have the opportunity to wear something yellow because it is our yellow house saint's feast day.

This year, we have been given digital book tokens to spend on new books. Please see below:

This Wednesday, we took the time to focus on french. We challenged our pupils to:

* Make a poster, leaflet, fact-file or presentation all about France.

* Work with someone to cook a popular French dish.

* Turn into a French teacher and create a lesson to teach someone in your family.

*Go on a walk or hunt around the house and spot as many things as you can that are red, white and blue. Find out what some of these items are in french.

* Design their own french outfit.

We are currently working with low income households to gain a reduction on their water charges (billed by Severn Trent Water). The maximum reduction is 90% which for some families struggling to make ends meet provides some welcome relief from at least one utility bill.

Please see the flyer below for more information.

Please click the link below to access this week's Wednesday Word.

Please see the email below that we have received regarding entrants for 'Junior Bake Off'.

My name is Charis and I’m a Casting Researcher at Love Productions; the company behind The Great British Bake Off, The Great British Sewing Bee and The Great Pottery Throw Down.

We are delighted to say, that we have recently opened applications for the 7^th series of Junior Bake Off; a Channel 4 programme that celebrates the culinary talent and ambition of the younger generation in Britain. 

With this in mind, we are contacting schools in hope that they can help us spread the word regarding this exciting opportunity.

We are looking for young budding bakers between 9 -15 years old.

Filming would take place from July 2021, but our applications close on Sunday 28^th March 2021. 

Interested bakers can apply online at - WWW.APPLYFORJUNIORBAKEOFF.CO.UK.

Best wishes,

The Junior Bake Off Team

enquiries: applyforjuniorbakeoff@loveproductions.co.uk 

Please click on the PDF link below for more information on food and activities for children in our local area.

Latest update on testing and isolation periods.

• If a child or member of staff tests positive, they now have to self-isolate for at least 10 days, even if they feel well.
• If they are NOT a known contact of a confirmed case they can return to school if the result is negative, providing they feel well and they have not had a fever for 48 hours.
• If they are a contact of a confirmed case, they must stay off school for 14 days isolation period, even if they test negative. This is because they can develop the infection at any point up to 14 days after being in contact a confirmed case. This would apply to pupils and staff who have been in a bubble with a positive testing child.  School Leadership will decide which members of staff have come into close proximity with the bubble and therefore also need to self-isolate for 14 days.
• Please be aware that anyone admitted to hospital is likely to receive a test for Covid, whether they are showing symptoms or not.  
• Covid symptoms are now being classed as: a persistent cough, high temperature, and/or loss of taste and smell.
• No action needs to be taken as a school until a test result is shared with us.

Please also note that we cannot request test results, parents have to approach us with results.

Kind regards,

Mrs Brocklesby.