Dear Parents and Carers

Thank you for your support this term and during 2020. The children have been amazing in the way they have dealt with the changes and challenges at school. They have worked extremely hard since their first day back in September and their good humour and resilience and amazingly positive attitude to learning has been wonderful to see.

The children have worked hard all week to complete their learning before enjoying a wonderful Christmas meal on Wednesday that the children ate in their bubbles (see photo) and their well-deserved parties on Thursday afternoon.  

Here are some important messages for the end of term:

Christmas Blogs
We have missed having you in for performances this year however teachers have uploaded videos of our Christmas activities on to the class blogs for you to enjoy.

Testing
If your child tests positive for Coronavirus (Covid-19) during the school holidays, please inform me by email (head@polperroprimary.co.uk) as soon as possible. I will check emails up to and including Christmas Eve so that the school can work with Public Health England and Test and Trace to identify and inform those who may need to isolate.

Dates and INSET
Monday 4th January is an INSET day.  We look forward to welcoming the children back to school on Tuesday 5th January 2021.

With all best wishes for a very safe and very happy Christmas. 
Mrs Hillman and all of the staff at Polperro Primary Academy

We are all very busy in school with the run up to Christmas. The children enjoyed their art day this week and thank you for sending them in wearing their festive jumpers today. We raised over £80 for Save the Children.

Christmas lunch is on Wednesday 16th. Whether your child is having a traditional Christmas lunch or packed lunch on this day, they will all eat in their own classrooms with each bubble on the screen so they can see each other. They have made Christmas Crowns to wear during our Christmas Art Day.

Christmas Parties Each bubble will have their party on Thursday afternoon. Please send your child in wearing their party clothes (please make sure they are warm enough to go outside at playtime) as we are still limiting the amount of belongings being brought in from home.  Look out for a separate letter from your child’s teacher regarding their class party.

Christmas Presentations and Performances We will miss seeing you in school for performances this year however classes have been working hard to create something special for you and this will appear on the class blogs next week. We will let you know when.

The last day of this term will be Friday 18th December with the usual Friday pick-up time. January 4th is an INSET day and we will open again to the children on Tuesday, 5th January 2021.

Stay Safe


Mrs Hillman

Remembrance
This year's Remembrance Assembly was a little different as it was on Teams. We were however all together, albeit virtually, to hear the children talk about and show the poppies they had made and why, before observing our 2 minute silence.

Our Enquiry Questions
Enquiry-based learning is going at full speed at Polperro.  Penhallow Class is learning about bears in order to answer the question 'Are All Bears Real?' Landaviddy Class has gone back in time to find out about the Egyptians at the beginning of their learning journey to answer the question Did Mummies Always Text?' Talland Class continues to work out ' What is Out There?' while Chaipel Class is grappling with the question 'Is What you Wear Who You Are?'.  There is more information about how the children have been answering their class question on the class blogs.

Children In Need
We had a fun assembly in PJs yesterday.  Thank you for sending the children into school in MUFTI and for your generosity.  At the last count we had raised over £160.  The Pudsey Ears ran  out very quickly (sorry to those who were disappointed not to get some) so we have made a note to order more next year.

Our next non uniform day will be on Friday 11th December which is Christmas Jumper Day.  We are planning a range of Christmas activities for the children for the run up to Christmas and will share them with you soon.  Watch this space!

Thank you for your continued support for the school.

Mrs Hillman

It has been lovely to see everyone back in school this week.

We had our annual Autumn Art afternoon on Thursday which although lovely, wasn’t quite the same without you coming in to join us.

Online Learning
Nearly all parents and carers are now using the Arbor App to inform us of consents for their children. This is particularly important at the moment as we need your consent in order teach your child online should a bubble have to close meaning pupils need to stay at home. It would help us to know if your child does not have access to a tablet, laptop or PC should this happen. Please email school on secretary@polperroprimary.co.uk by Friday 13th November if this is the case.

Poppies There will still be poppies available for the children to buy until the 11th November.

Children in Need Next Friday, 13th November, is Children in Need and we would like children to come dressed in their pyjamas and dressing gowns. This is the idea that the majority of children voted for this week. A donation of £1 would be gratefully received. We have some Pudsey ears for sale so if you would like to buy some to raise funds, please send your child in with £2:50.

PE We will continue to do most of our PE outside so please make sure your child has tracksuit bottoms or joggers with their PE kit to keep them warm.

Staying Safe In light of the current situation, we have reviewed our risk assessments and routines and continue to keep the school safe by minimising contact with individuals who are unwell by ensuring that those who have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or who have someone in their household who does, do not attend school. The enhanced hygiene routines continue to include cleaning hands thoroughly more often than usual; ensuring good respiratory hygiene by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach; and continuing enhanced cleaning, including cleaning frequently touched surfaces often. The children continue to cope amazingly well with the routines.

We hope that you all stay safe and well during this difficult and challenging time.

Mrs Hillman

Dear Parents and Carers

This half term has been a challenge for all of us and the children have responded amazingly well. We are very proud of how resilient they have been. Thank you for your support this half term and your positive feedback during the recent parent consultations.

After School Wraparound Care 3:15 – 4:15
Unfortunately, we have not had sufficient numbers to make this provision viable so will not be offering after school care after half term. We are sorry we are not able to make this work at the moment and will review requirements and start it up again if the demand rises. This does not affect Breakfast Club which will still be running.

Poppies and Remembrance
These have been put into a box for each bubble and will be available for sale in classrooms after half term. If your child would like to buy a poppy to raise funds for the British Legion, please on this occasion, send your child in with cash which they will be able to put into the pot in each bubble. A minimum donation of 20p would be welcome.

Staggered starts
Start times remain as follows for each class and your child should arrive as close as possible to this time. Chaipel 8:40; Penhallow 8:45; Landaviddy 8:50; Talland 8:50 Please do not drop your child before their allotted time unless you have a prearranged agreement with the school. Thank you to the very many of you who are already ensuring this happens.


I hope you have a safe and enjoyable half term and we look forward to welcoming the children back on Tuesday 3rd November.

Mrs Hillman

Many of our year sixes have braved the roads this week to gain the level 2 Bikeability award. The aims of the Level 2 course are: to encourage and develop safe cycling skills; to develop positive attitudes towards road use; to increase knowledge and understanding of the road and traffic environment; to give the year six children the confidence to use their bikes on local roads.

We hope to increase the opportunities for all children to improve their cycling skills at school so that they can be safer on the roads and establish a love of cycling.

We have had a last minute opportunity to offer Level 1 to year 4s this Thursday. Level 1 is carried out on the playground.


‘A child who enjoys riding a bike is more likely to cycle as an adult or even to become an Olympic athlete.’ Laura Kenny (née Trott) OBE - The first woman to win four Olympic gold medals.

Dear Parents and Carers

You should by now have received a letter (by email) regarding upcoming parent consultations which are taking place as follows:

Penhallow: Tuesday 13th October 1-4pm; Friday 16th October 1:30-3:30pm
Landaviddy, Talland and Chaipel Classes Monday 12th October; Thursday 15th October; Thursday 22nd October Times: 1:30 – 3pm and 4pm – 5:30pm 

This year we are carrying them out by phone.  Your child's teacher will ring you during your chosen slot for a ten minute conversation.  Please note that the call will not come from the school number but from a withheld number.

If you have not already contacted us with your preferred time, please email secretary@polperroprimary.co.uk or call.

Teachers are looking forward to speaking to you about how well your child has settled in to school, the progress they are making and how you can support them at home and they will, of course, be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Mrs Hillman

Dear Parents and Carers

This week has flown past. The classes have been busy getting to grips with their new enquiries and also writing poems on Thursday, National Poetry Day.

You may remember that last year school was working towards Plastic Free Schools status and we had set up a Plastic Free Schools committee of pupils from each class to lead the work on this initiative. Because we cannot now mix pupils from different classes so easily, Chaipel Class has taken up the challenge of leading this initiative on behalf of the school.

Children who were in the group last year will continue to be involved and have already been active.  After watching a Newsround report about how Lego is changing its packaging, three of our Talland eco warriors have written to Lego to congratulate them on the changes they have introduced. And thank you to our Talland pupil who has carried out a beach clean (see photo attached).

Please note that the booklets for supporting your child with maths are now attached to class blogs. If you have any questions, please email school.


Stay safe


Mrs Hillman