22.1.21

3 weeks in and 3 weeks to go until half term!

We are still so impressed with the engagement of our children – not just turning up on our Zoom tutorials and accessing Tapestry, but also the additional learning which is going on at home. Your children are amazing! No one can ever underestimate how hard supporting children at home is: as grownups in the house, you could have never expected to be at home educating your own children, and our staff are really appreciative of anything you are doing at home to support. 

This week has again felt like a whirlwind with so much happening in the outside world. With the G7 summit coming to Cornwall, a new American President it has felt like a break from the sad news of Covid-19 destroying families and putting immense pressure on the amazing work the NHS does. As a school, we are really thankful to all our families who are working on the ‘front line’ and realise how hard this must be, managing your own jobs, as well as being there for your own families as well. 

We are continuing to think and talk about kindness in school assemblies and the impact our actions and words can have on others. Hopefully you will be seeing some small acts of kindness in your family homes!

“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” 

Unknown.

Ms Teagle

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Updated information on Covid-19

We have updated all our information on the website giving advice on many aspects of the global pandemic. CLICK HERE  for up to date information. 

For updated information about Remote Learning and our guide for parents and carers CLICK HERE.

Lateral Flow Testing

Next week staff at Threemilestone School start the bi-weekly LFD testing as part of the Nationwide Government initiative. Our tests arrive on Monday 25th January, and our testing will happen on the evenings of Sunday and Wednesday. The test is intended to detect positive cases in people who are asymptomatic. 

This will affect the provision we have in school for children of critical workers. If a staff member tests positive on Sunday or Wednesday evening, the whole bubble will be required to shut. The staff member will then get a PCR test (a more accurate test). If the test is negative, the bubble will reopen. If the test is positive, then the bubble will be closed for the next 10 days and all the close contacts (children and other staff) who have been in that bubble) will need to also isolate for 10 days. 

Although necessary, we know that this will cause inconvenience for you and your family when this happens. As always, we appreciate your support in this matter.

All information will be communicated via ParentPay email if there is a positive test between 8-9pm on Sunday or Wednesday evenings. If there is no email, then there are no positive tests.

Google Form Questionnaire 

CLICK HERE for EYFS questionnaire

CLICK HERE for Years 1-6 questionnaire

With just about 3 weeks of Remote Learning under our belt, it is really important that we gather as much feedback as possible so that we can adapt and amend if needed according to the need. We know that this is a very different lockdown situation than previously, and the expectations on learning and accountability are far greater, but we aim to give a manageable timetable, with the focus on communication with your child’s teacher. There are many other amazing things happening in other schools, and we can never put into place something which can be bespoke to every single family. What we have done, is planned according to our knowledge and feedback from the previous lockdown, to accommodate our 423 children, ensuring that when we return (whenever that may be) our children can continue seamlessly. We also know that inevitably all families will suffer a little from Remote Learning fatigue and these will dip at different times. What we are wanting to gather are overall thoughts.

The purpose of this questionnaire is for feedback. If there are things which are really working well, please let us know, so that we know the successes of particular aspects. 

If you have more than one child, please fill out a form for each child, as the experiences for each one will be different. We will then take all feedback to staff, and ensure we share the positives with staff, who are working really hard to respond to need on a daily basis. We will also discuss ways to adapt and explore whether we are able to bring new ideas into the mix. 

Half term

We have not been directed by the Government to open during half term; therefore, the decision has been made by TPAT that our schools will be closed for this period. We will be unable to provide care for children of critical workers during this week, and there will also be no Remote Learning planned for your children. 

Budding Gardeners!

For the children who are in school, we have invested in propagators for each year group so that we can watch plants grow throughout this time of Lockdown. We have had donations from Tescos and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust of compost and seeds to start us off. Many thanks to both companies for your kindness!

Free School Meals

All emails have been sent out from EdenRed to provide families with their Free School Meals vouchers. They are for 2 weeks (covering the weeks beginning 18th January and 25th January) and more will be ordered for the following 2 weeks period.

Everyone in EYFS, Year 1 and 2 are entitled to Universal School Meals – a free meal when they are at school. This is not the same as claiming additional support if you are on benefits. If you are unsure how the system works and whether you could be entitled, please phone the office to talk it through. In times when you are away from school, it is crucial to ensure that families have all the support you need, and everything everyone is entitled to. 

Many family situations are changing due to this ongoing pandemic. If you are needing support and unsure whether you are eligible to claim for Free School meals, click on the link below to find out more. We currently have 20% of our children eligible for Free School meals – the current economic crisis is tough – please seek help if you need it. CLICK HERE

KS2 Maths Zoom check in with Mr Hick!

We all know how much Mr Hick enjoys maths! Well, he is keen to spread mathematical love to families too! Responding to a few questions from families whose subject knowledge when dealing with KS2 maths is a little sketchy, he has decided to put on weekly sessions for the next 3 weeks – Monday evenings at 7pm. The sessions will be very much responsive to your needs. It will not be a presentation, but an opportunity to bring questions and to work through things together. The link will be on the KS2 timetables for next week as well as being sent via ParentPay.  Please join him – he is very excited about this! The focus this week will be on Place Value.

EYFS Phonics and supporting Remote learning  workshop Zoom check in with Mrs Brown!

This workshop is for families of children in EYFS as you enter the next stage of your phonics learning. It will be  on Thursday 28th January at 8pm. Please turn up – she would love to see you!  We will send out the link via Parent Pay early next week.