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

Dear Parents and Carers

We have had another good week at school. The enquiry questions around sowing and growing have meant that around the school areas of garden are coming to life, including a garden for dinosaurs which has appeared just outside of Penhallow Class. We are about to begin work on developing our outside learning area so please watch this space for more news.

World Book Day Books Vouchers are valid until Sunday 28th March if you haven’t already spent them.

PE Kits A reminder that children should have a complete PE kit in school every day. They should bring it in on the first day of the half term and keep it in school and we will send it home if it needs a wash. When the PE kits come home next week at the end of term we would be grateful if you would check that your child’s plimsolls or trainers still fit well so that the children can run in them safely. The children may have outgrown them since they were last in school!

School Uniform We are currently setting up an online supplier, more details to follow. If you need any items we still have items in stock here, including PE kit (red t-shirt, black shorts).

End of Term Next Thursday is the last day of term and the day will end at the same time as usual in order to keep our bubbles separate. School starts again on Monday 19th April.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Hillman

Friday 19th March 2021

Dear Parents and Carers

Comic Relief
Firstly, a gigantic thank you for the effort which went into the amazing costumes for Comic Relief today. There was a fantastic buzz around the school all day and we have raised over £100.  We were able to take the whole school onto the field this morning, socially distanced of course, to do a giant Mexican wave so that the children could all see each other. 

Parent Consultations 
You will have received yesterday an email regarding parent consultations on Teams next week. Please email secretary@polperroprimary.co.uk to let us know your preferred slot so that teachers can meet with you to discuss how your child has settled back in and their progress this year.

Attendance
Last week on several days we had 100% attendance at school which is amazing. Thank you for ensuring your child attends every day.

Picking up and dropping off

If you are going to be late in the morning, please let us know so that we can arrange for your child to come in to school safely. Our times are currently close together to make it as easy as possible for parents with siblings in different classes but we still need to stick to allotted times so that bubbles do not mix in order to keep children, staff and families as safe as possible. Times are as follows: Penhallow 8:45 – 3pm Landaviddy 8:50 – 3:05 Talland 8:50 – 3:15 Chaipel 8:40 – 3:15


Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Hillman

Hello Parents and Carers

We have come to the end of eight weeks of online teaching and school reopens for all on Monday.  We are ALL very excited about seeing everyone again in person.

Here is the information you will need to help you prepare for your child's return.  It has also been emailed to you.

Drop off and Pick Up
Start and end times will remain the same as before Christmas as follows:
Killigarth Nursery: arrive 9:00 nursery gate;  pick up 3:15 (or as agreed)
Penhallow Class: arrive 8:45 side gate;   pick up 3:00pm side gate
Landaviddy Class: arrive 8:50 main gate;   pick up 3:05pm main gate
Talland Class: arrive 8:50 main gate;   pick up 3:15pm main gate
Chaipel Class: arrive 8:40 main gate; pick up 3:15pm side gate

Please help us to keep everyone safe by arriving at the time given and leaving as soon as you have dropped off or collected your child so that all families can arrive and leave safely. One adult only should drop off and collect. If you have children in more than one class, please arrive at the time that your earliest child should be there.

Face Coverings and Social Distancing
Please wear a face covering when dropping off and picking up. Staff will be wearing face coverings during these times and also in school in communal areas, however teachers will not be wearing them when teaching. Please observe social distancing when dropping off and picking up to keep us all safe.

Children’s Work from Lockdown
We know how much effort the children have put into their learning at home and would like to keep examples of the work they have produced during lockdown. Please look on the Class Blogs for requests from teachers for specific pieces of work for the children to bring in. There will be no need to bring everything in. They have been asked for their favourite piece of work from their lockdown work. If your child has been in school, we will keep pieces of their work too and ask them to choose their favourite piece (in paper form or a photo).

Uniform and Equipment
Children should come into school in school uniform; however, if they have grown out of any items and you have not been able to replace them yet, please don’t worry, just let us know.

We still need to limit the number of items coming from the home to school and from school to home so please send your child in with a bag containing only the following items: a packed lunch; a healthy snack for mid-morning (Penhallow and Landaviddy Classes will be provided with fruit); a named water bottle containing water; a fully labelled PE kit in a labelled drawstring bag (this will stay in school);  sun hat and sun cream; a pencil case (most are still in school) not to be shared with anyone else (Penhallow class children will be provided with their own pot of pens, pencils, scissors and glue which they will not share with anyone else); a bookbag for years R-3; a coat.

Wraparound Care
Breakfast Club (8am with Mr Bishop) will run from Monday 8th. Children should arrive accompanied at the back door, on foot at 8am. Please email school on secretary@polperroprimary.co.uk if you would like a place for your child.

Keeping in Touch Class blogs and the Heads’ blog on the school website will be updated weekly so that we can share with you what the children are learning.

These are the main messages for you at the moment as we start back, but we will send out further correspondence as needed, via email, text and on the blogs.

Looking forward to seeing you all very soon.

Mrs Hillman

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