Half Term is Here

What an amazing half term. The children have worked very hard and their ability to deal with change and their resilience has impressed us all. 

Cross Country Very well done to our cross-country team who took part in the first race of the year last Friday and did extremely well, as they have jumped from the shorter distance when in year 3, into the longer distance. There were star performances from Alex (6th overall) and Jazz (7th overall) and Eloise (22nd overall). Mrs Williams said that it was lovely to see them enjoying their running and they had great team spirit - really supporting each other at the start line and cheering each other on during the races.

Visible Learners This half term we have been discussing how everyone can help themselves learn by knowing what to do when they are stuck, whether it’s finding the right resources independently, using the displays in the classroom or asking a friend or a grown up. Visible Learner certificates were awarded to Sophie, Jowan, Thomas and Callum today for knowing exactly to do to help themselves. 

New Class Signs A massive thank you to Tippers Classic and Vintage Plates for making and donating new signs for our classes. The children have made some amazing cards to say thank you.

African Drumming The children in Landaviddy, Talland and Chaipel Classes have enjoyed music lessons this week where they have played African drums.   Thank you Mrs Butlin. 

Y3 football club opportunity Following the success of our Monday Football club for years 4-6 we would like to invite Year 3 to attend. The club runs from 3:15 to 4:15 every Monday and is run by an external coach, Mr Hancock. If you would like your child to attend, please email Mrs Dourass on secretary@polperroprimary.co.uk

Clubs Reminder that if your child has signed up to a club they should attend every session unless they are unwell.

Lunches You will have received a letter earlier in the week about a change to ordering lunches on Parent Pay. Please remember that if you would like your child to have a school meal, you will now need to order two days in advance.

Anti-Bullying Week 2021 Anti-Bullying Week 2021 will be taking place from Monday 15th - Friday 19th November and the theme is One Kind Word. Odd Socks Day is part of AB Week - All the children need to do is wear odd socks! It's a great way to celebrate what makes us all unique in Anti-Bullying Week! It will be held on Monday 15th November 2021.

Wishing you all a lovely half term.
Best wishes

Mrs Hillman

Dear Parents and Carers

I hope you have had a lovely summer.

Staff have been in school getting ready for the new term and we are really looking forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday, 7th September.

Below are some important messages regarding arrangements for the beginning of term.

Staying Safe Cornwall is currently experiencing high transmission rates of Covid-19 and has been moved to an Enhanced Support Area until at least 4th October by the Government. In light of this and our new Trust risk assessment, we are staggering pick up times at the end of the day for the time being (see below for details).

Staff will continue to test twice weekly and we will also be wearing masks in communal areas. To keep everyone as safe as possible, please wear a mask if you come onto the site.

Dropping off and picking up your child For the time being, one parent only should drop off and pick up. Please leave promptly once you have dropped your child in the morning and once you have collected your child at the end of the day. Please observe social distancing at drop off and pick up.

DROP OFF All children should arrive at school between 8.45 and 8.55.

Penhallow Class children should be taken to the side gate (by the car park) where a member of staff will welcome them into school. A separate communication has been sent out to our Reception parents and carers with details of arrangements for their first week.

Landaviddy, Talland and Chaipel pupils should enter the school by the main gate and go to the playground where they will be directed into their class.

If you have any messages for teachers or the office, please inform the member of staff on the gate or contact the office by phone or email (secretary@polperroprimary.co.uk). If your child is new to the school, we will ensure there is someone available to take them to the playground.

PICK UP The school day will end at 3:10 for Penhallow and Landaviddy Classes and 3:15 for Chaipel and Talland classes.

Penhallow Class. Pupils will be taken to the side gate at 3:10 to meet their parents/carers.

Chaipel Class pupils will leave by the side gate at 3:15. Many of our Chaipel children walk home independently. If you are collecting your child, one parent/carer per child should wait on the pavement.

Landaviddy Class will leave via the main gate at 3:10. One parent/carer per child should wait on the left-hand pavement.

Talland Class pupils will leave via the main gate at 3:15. One parent/carer per child should wait on the right-hand pavement.

Please bear with us while we implement these measures. We hope that they will be temporary and that we can move to a 3:15 end of day for everyone. We will keep these arrangements under review and contact you if and when there are any changes.

Breakfast Club If you wish your child to arrive earlier than 8:45, Breakfast Club is open every day from 8am. Please email secretary@polperroprimary.co.uk if you would like your child to attend. If they are attending Breakfast Club, please walk your child to the back door where Mr Bishop will sign them in.

PE and Swimming Kits On the first day, please send your child in with a named PE kit and named swimming kit. We are hoping the weather will hold and that we can use the pool in PE lessons.

We look forward to seeing everyone very soon.

Best wishes

Mrs Hillman

Years 4 and 5 Lead the way 

We have had yet another wonderful week at Polperro.

All of our year 4s and year 5s have been learning how to be Sugar Smart and have enjoyed a day of training to become ‘Sugar Snap’ playground leaders. They will be setting up and running playground games at lunchtime play next year for all year groups and running some practice sessions in their bubbles in the meantime. This is part of an initiative to educate children regarding making healthy choices in their lives.

The children have continued their music lessons and we have all been very proud of how quickly they are learning. Their version of Mamma Mia has been especially lovely to listen to.

Sport at Polperro Our sports day this year will be held in separate bubbles on 13th July unless it rains. Unfortunately, due to the current situation, we will not be inviting parents in so please look out for photographs on the website. We recognize this is a poor substitute for cheering on your child in person and look forward very much to the time when we can invite you in properly. We also will be holding an Alternative Sports Day on 21 July for our pupils to try out a range of different sports and activities.

Change of INSET days for 2021-2022 To accommodate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee we have had to make some alterations to our INSET days. INSET days will now be on: Monday 6 th September, Monday 1st November 2021, Monday 28th February 2022, Friday the 10th June 2022, Monday the 25th July and Tuesday the 26th July 2022.

Payment reminder Please make sure payments are made in advance for Breakfast Club, school meals etc.

Best wishes for a lovely weekend.

Mrs Hillman

Chaipel Class visits the labyrinth

In 2019 the school became involved with the Kerdroya project, a project celebrating 60 years of the Cornwall AONB.  Our school is one of 12 partners chosen to work in AONB sections across Cornwall to celebrate one of the most special aspects of what makes our landscape so unique – the Cornish hedge.  Children who were then in Talland Class learned all about Cornish hedges, their importance as a habitat, and how to build and look after them becoming hedge stewards in the process.

This week, Chaipel Class represented the school when they visited the Kerdroya Site at Colliford Lake on  Bodmin Moor. KERDROYA is a major new piece of permanent public art – a 56m diameter classical labyrinth which is being built of Cornish stone hedging. When completed, visitors will walk a single, meandering path through stretches of artisan stonework celebrating the aesthetics of distinct hedging styles from 12 Cornish locations. 

The Chief Hedger, Polperro parent Sean Williams, explained to the Class all about how the hedge is being built.  The children then set off through the labyrinth to reach the centre. They then buried a time capsule and made a wish for generations who might find their Treasure Capsule, perhaps 4000 years from now. Well done to Sophie and Olly who had the well-deserved honour of placing the time capsule in the hole before each child placed soil on top of it to bury it. 

After a picnic by the lake, the children explored the wider site and learned some Cornish words such as 'Lynn' for lake.  This was their first school trip in a long time and I was so proud of the way they enthusiastically involved themselves in everything that was going on, learning a huge amount in the process. Well done Chaipel Class.

I am pleased to let you know that the other classes will be able to visit the labyrinth next year once it is completed. Meanwhile, you can find out more about the project here.

Mrs Hillman

Swimming Lessons

Welcome back to the Summer term.

Thank you for ensuring that the children have their swimming kit in school every day so that we can make the most of the sunny weather.

The children have come back full of energy and Talland and Penhallow Classes both enjoyed their swimming lessons in our pool today. We hope this weather holds so that all  of our classes can have PE lessons outside and in the pool over the coming weeks.

Thursday 27th May 2021

Dear Parents and Carers

I can’t believe it is the end of half term already. We have had another busy week at school and finally the sun has come out and we have been able to spend time outside. Thank you for support this half term. We still miss being able to invite parents and carers into school and hope that we will be able to do so before long.

Sun Safety The children have been learning how to stay safe in the sun in time for what we hope will be a sunny half term. Please ensure your child comes into school after half term with a sun hat and sun cream (at least factor 30).

Staffing We are looking forward to welcoming Mr Fernie back to Penhallow Class from Maternity leave after half term. I am pleased to say that we are not saying goodbye to Mrs Batchelor at this time as she is staying on to teach children across the school in areas they may have missed when school was closed. We are also looking forward to welcoming after half term Mr James Hulbert as TA in Landaviddy and Mrs Helen Garaghon as TA in Penhallow Class.

Friendship Challenge Week 7th – 11th June If the past year has taught us anything, it’s the importance of friendship. From 7th-11th June all classes will be taking part in a Friendship Challenge which is designed to help classes focus on the importance of friendships, and what it means to be a good friend.

Swimming The pool has been ready for a while and we will certainly be using it after half term. Please ensure your child has a named swimming kit in school every day after half term.

New Hotel We have a wonderful addition to our garden in the form of a deluxe bug hotel courtesy of Mr Baldwin. Many thanks on behalf of all of us and the bugs who are settling in well. 

Class Photographs We have arranged for the school photographer to visit on Wednesday June 9th to take class photographs.

We hope you all have a lovely half term week. The children have worked extremely hard this half term and we hope they enjoy a well-deserved rest. We look forward to seeing everyone back in school on Monday 7th June.

Mrs Hillman

Maths is everywhere

National Numeracy Day

Many thanks to parents and carers for sending the children in on Wednesday wearing all sorts of maths-related MUFTI today. From a child size clock to arms full of 99 club badges, each outfit has given us all plenty of opportunities to talk about maths. The customized T-shirts are works of art!

Throughout the day we discussed how maths is used for real purpose. Chaipel heard from an automotive designer about how car designers use maths in their profession, in particular how maths is used to create 3D design. Chaipel, Talland and Landaviddy made maths raps and while Penhallow Class shared stories with maths in and  created a huge long list of how they have used maths throughout the day. Many of the children entered a National Numeracy competition where they had to draw which job they would like to do as adults and show how maths is used in it.

At the end of the day we all agreed that there is no job that doesn’t involve maths in some shape or form.

Covid Heroes

The whole school has been thinking about its covid heroes by designing a stamp for the Royal Mail.  Here are some amazing examples of the children's entries.

National Numeracy Day

On Wednesday 19th May it is National Numeracy Day which is the UK’s only annual day dedicated to everyday maths. We will be basing much of the day around fun maths activities such as how maths is involved in dance with Katya, how maths is involved in music, baking and all sorts of fun activities.
Children are welcome to come in wearing maths-related mufti. This could be a number (e.g. on a football shirt) or something to do with shapes, angles, time, fractions… We will provide something for children to add to their clothes if they are unable to find something maths-related to wear. We will be discussing the real life use of maths. In school KS2 children have been looking at what job they would like to do when they are adults and how maths is used in this job . They will be entering a competition, organised by National Numeracy regarding this.

We have had another successful week in school. I have seen some amazing learning going on in each class and outside. Children have enjoyed the new huff and puff equipment at break times, although the new foam balls weren’t heavy enough to drop through the new basketball net and Chaipel Class had to work together to solve the problem of how to get them out!

Homework Teachers have this week reminded pupils of expectations for homework. In addition to reading each night, regular practice and learning of maths facts, spelling strategies/phonics, each class will have a grid of homework activities for your child to complete across the half term either independently or with a parent or carer. All of this information is explained in more detail on your child’s Class blog.

The Big Ask Next week your children will be given the opportunity to complete The Big Ask questionnaire at school. This is a national survey for young people that has been created by The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza. She’s keen to hear from young people about the things that make them happy, that worry them and that they would like to see in the future. All schools are encouraged to support their pupils to complete this survey. A range of teaching resources have also been produced, including lesson plans and activity packs, to help teachers incorporate this into their lessons. All of your child’s answers will be confidential, and they don’t have to answer any question if they do not want to. They will be used to inform the Government of the changes that children would like to see. Click this link for more information https://cco-web.azureedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cco-the-big-ask-parent-information-sheet.pdf

Payments We would like to remind you that all payments now need to be through ParentPay, and paid in advance, including lunch money and Breakfast Club payments. Please let Mrs Joslin know if you need a log-in. 

School Uniform Uniform is now available from:- https://www.wovina.com/collections/polperro-primary-academy-school Please do let us know any feedback on using this system. We still have a small stock of sweatshirts and PE items in school to sell. Also sun hats and book bags, and we hope to have swimming hats soon. We no longer have a supply of water bottles.

Lunch Menu With the reopening of our own school kitchen we have had some confusion as to the menu on offer for the school packed lunches! Most of the children down for lunch were delighted to learn they would be having fish fingers today. Please see a copy of the slightly amended menu attached.

Wishing you an enjoyable bank holiday weekend. We look forward to seeing the children back in school on Tuesday 4th May.

Mrs Hillman

Week 1 Summer Term

This term has got off to a great start with the children learning and playing outside on the field, having music lessons and getting to grips with their new learning (see below).

This Term’s Enquiry Questions Penhallow Class is asking ‘What’s it made of?’. Landaviddy Class is wondering ‘Does Polperro always stay the same?’. Talland Class is finding out about ‘How does my body work? and Chaipel is grappling with ‘Humans vs Mother Nature: is this a fair game?’ More information about your child’s learning is on the class blogs which are updated weekly by the teachers.

Garden Update A huge thanks to Mr Baldwin, Mr Barron and Ms Costello for working on the garden with us over the Easter break. It’s now really taking shape with a space cleared for the fabulous greenhouse which is on order (paid for with funds raised by parents and the community before the pandemic). A huge veg patch has been dug, ready to be planted and tended by the children. We have wooden bench seating (thank you Mr Baldwin for making these) which the children will use as part of their outdoor classroom, and will be constructing tables from tree stumps and circular tops made by Mr Crabb – thank you. We will keep you posted as the work progresses.

After School Childcare If you are interested in wraparound afterschool child care please email secretary@polperroprimary.co.uk to let us know which days you would need it for your child. The cost is £3.00 for an hour with a snack, and £1.00 for up to 15 minutes if you are going to be late collecting your child from school. If we have sufficient numbers, we will restart the club which will run each day from the end of the school day until 4:15.

After School Running Club We would like to start up running club again on Monday 26th April initially for Talland and Chaipel Classes. We hope to then open it up to Landaviddy Class too. The club will run from 3:15 until 4pm. We continue to operate a bubble system so Chaipel Class will leave by the side gate and Talland Class by the front gate. If you would like your child to attend, please email secretary@polperroprimary.co.uk The club will not run if it is raining.

Guitar Lessons will resume next week on Wednesday on a one-to-one basis.


Have a good and safe weekend.

Mrs Hillman