Rook’s Nest Academy Mini Newsletter
Issue 15 – July 2020986
Final Newsletter of 2019/20
“There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day.”
We have finally made it to the end of the academic year 2019/20. In all my years of teaching this will go down as the most bizarre so far. We didn’t get to do all the lovely things that we normally do in this final ½ term but, there is always next year.
Unfortunately, that is not true for our Y6 pupils. We have tried to have a fun last week with lots of “special treats” but it has still not been the same as we have not all been together or been able to share the end of the year with families and friends. The assembly we had this morning was recorded so it could be shared and also a message from our Chair of Governors, Father Bish.
Father Bish End of Year Assembly
September start
Some parents still don’t seem to have accessed the information about changes for September. Please look on the website for information and also in the newsletters (also on the website). It is imperative for the smooth running of the academy that parents are fully aware of their responsibilities.
We will be running before and after school clubs as normal in September, using the KS1 and KS2 bubbles. If you are interested in securing a place please contact Mrs Saville at the Academy (vsaville@rooksnestacademy.co.uk). Information about flyers can be found on the website and also under information for summer holiday club.
In September the children will be requested to bring in as little as possible from home. Anything they bring in: lunchboxes, fruit boxes, PE kit and water bottles (which we will provide in September) should be sanitised before being brought into the academy. Children will not, and should not, bring in any pencil cases as stationary needs will be catered for by the academy.
We have informed parents already about the extension to the school day on Wednesdays from 16th September for children who will be in Y1 to Y6. We encourage parents to make arrangements so that all children can access this opportunity. Parents will be asked to contact the academy in the first week back if they do not want their child to attend – otherwise we will assume attendance and not release the children until 4.30. Children will need to be collected from their usual pick up areas but we asked parents to be even more vigilant about social distancing.
Government guidance for September
Schools are asked to take “proportionate protective measures” and only requested to “minimise the number of contacts that a pupil makes during the school day”. Schools will implement requirements in different ways based on their individual circumstances. Classrooms will be arranged to ensure children are facing forward and maintaining distances as much as possible. The academy risk assessments and the behaviour policy have been revisited in preparation for September and can be found on the website. Different groups of children need not be allocated their own toilets but regular cleaning and insistence on handwashing will be in place.
“Maintaining consistent groups remains important, but given the decrease in the prevalence of COVID-19 and the resumption of the full range of curriculum subjects, schools may need to change the emphasis on bubbles within their system of controls and increase the size of these groups”.
“Some schools may keep children in their class groups for the majority of the classroom time, but also allow mixing into wider groups for specialist teaching, wraparound care and transport”
Teachers and other staff can operate across different classes and year groups in order to facilitate the delivery of the school timetable. Children will be provided with their own individual equipment if it is frequently used. Volunteers may be used to support the work of the school, as would usually be the case but following the guidance provided. Uniforms need not be cleaned more often than usual, and therefore the uniform policy will be enforced.
Classroom layout for next year:
Medication reviews
At the start of every new academic year we ask for updates on children’s medical needs. If anything about your child’s needs or dietary requirements have changed over lock down, we ask that you inform us as soon as possible. Due to the limited movement students will be allowed to make around the academy next year we are suggesting that anyone requiring asthma medication keep it in their bubble (for KS2 students this can be on their person for younger children this will be at the teacher’s desk).
Photographs
We can’t foresee a problem going ahead with individual and family photographs. We will carry this out so that bubbles do not cross, only in the case of family members. Unfortunately, this year we will not be able to allow photographs of families involving siblings who do not attend the academy. The dates for the photographs will be the 21st and 22nd September. Further details will follow closer to the time.
We know that the first few weeks of next year will be hectic and no-one can predict if any further changes will need to be made. We will update you of any necessary changes as soon as possible but for now go off and enjoy the summer knowing that there is, for the time being at least, a plan going forward.
We NEED You!!
As with many other sectors, the academy has been financially affected by the pandemic. We had hoped this year to secure government funding to renovate the existing toilet facilities unfortunately, this has been refused. Alongside this, and the fact that we have had to cancel so many of our usual fund-raising activities (summer fayre, Nest Fest etc) without some ingenious plan our desire to improve these much-needed areas will not be possible. Therefore, I would like to launch, before the start of next term, a fund-raising idea I hope friends and families will support us with.
SPEND A PENNY PROJECT
If, when any of the RNA community go to the toilet, we each put a penny in a jar, 5 trips a day would be the same as 35p a week equalling £1.40 a month. If each of our 379 families joined in, with on average 4 people in a family, that would be £2122.40 a month. Without too much impact on anyone’s pocket we would be able to raise the funds needed to complete the work. The more people we can get doing this the easier it will be to reach the target. I hope we can all get involved in what could be a little bit of fun but for a very serious purpose.
Regards
Ms Dawson and the RNA team
“One day this will be over and we will be grateful for life in ways we never felt possible before.”