18th February 2022

This was not the end of half-term that we were expecting!. As I write this the winds are picking up and outside is getting very noisy while the inside of school is eerily quiet.

Last week, I mentioned in my message about the online safety focus that we are having in school and I encouraged parents and carers to look at the webinars and courses available through National Online Safety. As I am sure you are aware there have been some worrying headlines about Roblox this week and this should make parents aware of the pitfalls of children using the Internet if the necessary parental controls are not in place. I was asked specifically which of the online webinars would be useful, so I thought I would share this with everyone. The Annual Certificate in Online Safety for Parents & Carers of Children aged 3-7 gives a good overview https://nationalonlinesafety.com/enrol/marlow-c-of-e-infant-school but there are others that you can access if you have older children. 

I know that there is a rumour that the government will be lifting the requirement to self-isolate following a positive Covid 19 test while we are on half-term (this is not confirmed). As a result, there will be updates to guidance for schools which will mean changes for our risk assessment, but the guidance has not yet been provided for schools I will not be updating the risk assessment yet.  What I do know is that Headteachers are being advised to do what they think is best for their settings. As a school we have been impacted more by illness resulting from catching the virus than absence due to self-isolation, so to keep our children and staff safe, I am asking all parents and staff to test before returning to school after half-term. This will allow me to assess if I need to put extra measures in place to keep both adults and children as well as I am able.

I would like to wish you a very relaxing half-term and please look after yourselves in this dreadful weather!

World Book Day 3rd March

Reading Challenge

This week we are launching a reading challenge to run for the next two weeks finishing on the Friday of Book Week. We would like every child to record how many minutes they spend each day reading or being read to - sharing books or enjoying them on their own. You can download a Reading Log to record this at home and at the end of each week we would be really grateful if you could enter the number of minutes into an online form so that we can collate it and see how many minutes we spent in total as a school. 

In addition to this, we are trying to replace the non-fiction books in our school library and so, if you wish to do so, you can get sponsored by family and friends for every minute you spend reading. A sponsorship form can also be downloaded and we would appreciate if any money collected could be paid to school via Parentpay by Friday 10th March. 

The Reading Log and Sponsorshop forms will be sent by separate email, if you are unable to download or print them then don't worry - just create your own on paper at home. 

We hope that everyone joins in the Reading Challenge, whether or not you get sponsored to do so. 

To record the minutes : 

Week 1 https://forms.gle/GFdST1RPTxHpmYdNA

Week 2 https://forms.gle/4BNfmuvTdWGNJgkQA

World Book Day Dress-up

On World Book Day, Thursday 3rd March, we would invite children to come to school dressed as their favourite book character. The costume does not have to be elaborate or expensive and there are ideas for simple homemade costumes here https://www.worldbookday.com/dressing-up-ideas/  We love seeing which books the children are enjoying, and it's a great way to get reading ideas from your friends by looking at their costumes. 

Story Potato Competition

We are also running a competition for any children that want a creative challenge. A 'story potato' is a potato decorated to represent a character from a story.  If your child would like to take part in the competition then they should bring their potato to school on Wednesday 2nd March, please ensure that it is clearly marked with your child's full name and class.

Online Book Fair

We also have an online Book Club running with Scholastic Books here https://schools.scholastic.co.uk/marlow-ce/digital-book-club

All the books in the Book Club are discounted, some by as much as 50%. Any books you buy help us to buy books for our school library - for every £1 you spend the school receives 20p to spend.

You can see the leaflet for the Book Club here

Year 2 Visit to All Saints Church 11th March

On 11th March Year 2 will be visiting All Saints Church to support their RE learning. Their topic for RE next half-term is Salvation and during their visit to the church they will be looking for signs of Easter and learning about how Christians follow Jesus' example in helping those in need.

We will need some parents to come with us on this visit. We will be leaving school after morning registration and spending most of the morning at church returning just before lunch. If you are able to help with this visit please register here

Year 1 Walk to the Woods

Tuesday 15th March

On the 15th March, Year 1 will be walking to Hunts Woods once again to look for signs of Spring. In order for this walk to happen we will need some parents to walk with us. We will be going in the afternoon of Tuesday 15th, so we would need parents to be in school for 1.15pm. If you are able to help please register here 

Science Week 14th March - Scientists Needed

The week beginning 14th March is Science Week and we would love to have some parents come in to talk about their jobs in science and engineering. If you work in an area of science or engineering then we would love to hear from you and arrange for you to come and talk with the children.

In the past we have had doctors, computer programmers, geologists and neuro-scientists come and share their passion for science. If you would like to help, or find out more, then please email the school office. 

Clubs after Half-term

Any clubs run by outside providers they will have informed you of dates for next half term. 

Playball Reception club Thursday after school

Playball are adding another club for Reception after school on a Thursday starting after half-term. Please contact them to book details can be downloaded here

Mindful Colouring and Book Club

These will be open to new sign-ups for next half-term and if your child would like to take part you should register here

Mindful Colouring will continue on a Thursday lunchtime and Book Club will be on a Friday lunchtime.

Keyrings on Bags

Children should not have keyrings, plushies or any other decorations attached to their school bags. Please take the opportunity over the half-term break to remove these from your child's bag. 

School Lunches

Due to supply chain issues, Dolce have had to make some last minute menu changes on a couple of occasions recently. Where this happens, and a pre-order is deleted, you should receive an email from SchoolGrid to inform you and ask you to re-order. However, please be aware that the order will be deleted not just for the current week but for each week that the same menu is on as their menus are on a three weekly cycle. So if you do receive such a message please check the order not only for the current week but for three weeks time if you order a term ahead. 

For World Book Day on 3rd March there is a special menu being put in and so any orders for that day already placed will be deleted. Could parents please check over half term that there are orders in place for every day your child will need a meal even if you believe you have already ordered for the whole term. 

Class Worship - register for Bee Class Worship

We would ask that parents register if they would like to attend class worship using the links below. We also ask that you wear a mask when on school premises and if you are able to take a LFD test before attending that would be appreciated. 

The remaining Class Worship dates are as below and parent sign up will be communicated in the school Newsletter 2 weeks before each date. 

• Bee Class Friday 11th March https://forms.gle/oMYbL75HoPjboH1H6
• Ant Class Friday 18th March
• Grasshopper Class Friday 25th March

For class worships our COVID risk assessment applies and we would ask that:

• face coverings are worn at all times on school premises
• attendees take a lateral flow test before attending if possible
• you should not attend if you have any COVID symptoms