THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• COURSE FEEDBACK A reminder for all staff that if you attend a course (even via zoom) please can you complete the online form feeding back on how useful the course was. This is our way at school of tracking the impact of any training attended and also highlights what may need sharing with other staff in the school. The link is below but can also be found as a button near the bottom of every newsletter. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAJYp2DQ8_3IF4CbUroJyoboOayyqBkiFv_BsFl3PWQQmQmA/viewform?usp=sf_link

• Here's an interesting article about retrieval with some practical strategies that you can use in the classroom or during intervention: https://howthenshouldweteach.wordpress.com/2018/11/24/6-retrieval-practice-strategies-to-use-everyday/

• FACE MASKS A reminder that if you wear one of the medically graded face masks when you're around children and staff you don't become part of that bubble and therefore won't need to isolate if a bubble is sent home. We'd suggest that during the final week of this term all staff wear these masks to limit the possibility of having to isolate over Christmas.

• TWITTER Please keep on tweeting the amazing work you're doing. It's great to see and is a quick way to demonstrate to parents and the school community the work taking place across the school.

• THANK YOU to all those members of staff that helped last night with Christmas decorations. The school is feeling incredibly festive and looks great.

• STAFF MEETING next week is going to be looking at Mathletics and how we're using it across the school. It's a great resource that has been updated this academic year and we'd like the children to be accessing it so much more than they already are doing.

• SEMH Here is a useful link for children (and adults!) for coping with stress. Break big problems down into smaller ones, exercise and get active to release endorphins, be healthy and eat the right food, get creative, draw or write a diary, relax - do something that you enjoy and that makes you feel calm. https://www.parentingni.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Coping-with-Stress-for-Kids.pdf Remember - happy and clam teachers = happy and calm children. Why not get active with a physical brain break, just after the register- before you start maths - here's something to try with all ages :) :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWTbmnfvD_4 stir it up fast and slow - purple paper people!

• JANE CONSIDINE Has uploaded independent task ideas for the units of work on the site that we subscribe to - check it out :)

• ENGLISH Thank you Mrs Hartley for letting Mrs Whalen be a part of Year 2 this week - she thoroughly enjoyed it - and will be in next week to have a go at teaching RWI writing herself :)

• STAFF CHRISTMAS CARDS CHARITY IDEA We thought this year under the Covid restrictions it might be nice to have an alternative to handing out Christmas Cards between staff members. Karen S will be putting up a paper tree on the staff room wall along with a little donation box and paper baubles to write your Christmas message on and blue tack on the tree! All donations will go to Cancer research - as we would like to do something close to our hearts for Zack.

• CHRISTMAS CRAFT NIGHTS Are on Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th so they will soon be here. The teacher of their bubble will be leading the activities and we really appreciate any further volunteers in that bubble to stay and help. Please make sure you have an exciting idea and that you have the resources ready in time - glitter is a must!

• SIGN OF THE WEEK please show to your classes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrgpQnSfqZw Calm: flat hands make circular inward revolving movement.

• THOUGHT OF THE WEEK I asked Mr Kemp what he would like for Christmas. He said nothing would making him happier than a Rolex watch. So I got him nothing.