School Updates and Latest News

• World Book Day Events taking place next week

  Fri 26 Feb 2021

  World Book Day events taking place next week

   

  Dear Parents

   

  It is World Book Day next week and to celebrate we are offering a range of activities for children to partake in. Class teachers will share full details specific to their class.

   

  Below are some of the activities we are running across the school next week:-

   

  Decorate a potato: one of our fun activities involves decorating a potato as a character from a book. Please share your efforts with your class teacher.

   

  Celebrating poetry: each class will also be studying a poem about the joys of reading this week with some fun tasks and activities linked being shared by your class teacher.

   

  Dressing for the day: Children are encouraged to dress in onesies or pyjamas / dressing gowns (or even costumes if they prefer) etc. Those that are in school just need to be sure to wrap up warm enough for break times.

   

  Reading Remotely: and finally, we would love to see some photo’s of children ‘Reading Remotely’.

   

  Whether it just be curled up cosy with your favourite book and teddy or reading in a creative way for example while you are out for your walk, in your garden, in a special costume or doing something funny.

   

  We hope you enjoy the activities on offer and look forward to seeing how you celebrate World Book Day with us.

   

  Thank you for your ongoing support

   

  Mr Price

• Winter Covid Grant

  Fri 26 Feb 2021

  Winter Covid Grant 

   

  Schools are able to apply to Wyre Forest District Council for funding through the Winter COVID Grant. This funding has been provided by central government to local authorities for use in supporting people who are struggling to afford food and other essentials due to COVID-19 over the winter months. The funding is available to support households with children. This may include households not currently in receipt of DWP welfare benefits.

   

  The purpose of the funding is to provide support with food, energy and water bills for household purposes (including drinking,  washing, cooking, central heating, and sanitary purposes), but up to 20% of the total funding can be used to provide support with other essentials (including sanitary products, warm clothing, soap, blankets, boiler service/repair, purchase of equipment including fridges, freezers, ovens, etc.) The funding cannot cover payment of rent or other housing costs because these are not directly related to food or utility bills and other benefits and support is available to cover these costs. Nor is it intended to be used for the provision of general advice on managing debt and/or financial hardship.

   

  If you think you may be eligible for funding please let us know the purpose and amount you would like us to apply for by Friday 19th March at the latest. Thank you.  

• One Big Idea

  Wed 24 Feb 2021

  ONE BIG IDEA PROJECT

   

  OVERVIEW

  Within our family of schools, collectively we seek to provide our children with the best educational experience possible. Over the last calendar year this has been a challenge you have all risen to, ensuring our children are supported in their learning. One of the biggest challenges has been ensuring that we stay ‘connected’ and continue the amazing collaborative work that happens in our schools. The superb Children's Council has continued to meet through this year, sharing ideas of how we can continue collaborating and ‘widen’ the experiences for all and planted the seed for this initiative. We hope that this activity will help spark additional spin off projects for us to collaborate on later in the year when current restrictions ease.

   

  For this project, we are working collaboratively with 8BillionIdeas.

   

  8BillionIdeas are an online education company who specialise in developing entrepreneurial skills and creative ideas in young people in order to establish a platform for positive change in the world.

   

  THINKING BIG & DREAMING BIG

  We are working collaboratively with 8BillionIdeas to pose a challenge to all of our children to come up with ‘One Big Idea’ that may possibly change the world! The emphasis is on inspiring the creativity, possibilities and imagination of the children to ‘dream big’. The theme of the challenge is to harness the thinking skills and entrepreneurial spirit for all students, unlocking their innovative DNA. Participation in this event will have the following impact on the children:

  • Build confidence in speaking, listening and teamwork skills
  • Provide a different educational opportunity for all students
  • Drive a problem solving/solutions focused approach with links to real world learning

   

  WHAT DOES THE CHALLENGE LOOK LIKE?

  The challenge has an emphasis on creativity and the children using their imagination to solve the following question:

  "If there was anything that I could change about the world, what would it be?"

   

  The challenge will be launched through an assembly that all children and staff can sign into (A recording will be available for those unable to access live). In addition, parents, teachers and children will be able to play this again at any time throughout the challenge.

   

  8 Billion Ideas will provide Key Stage appropriate resources via a live website for the children to access and work through the different activities and stages of the competition and be broken down into smaller activities as follows:

  Key Stage 1:

  • Part 1 - Problem Solving Stage
  • Part 2 - Product Design Stage
  • Part 3 - Presentation Stage

   

  Key Stage 2: (The 3 stages from above are made more intricate and in depth)

  • Part 1- What's the problem you are trying to solve? (Problem Solving Stage)
  • Part 2 - Ideas, Ideas, Ideas! (Problem Solving Stage)
  • Part 3 - What is a Minimal Viable Product? (Product Design Stage)
  • Part 4 - Create your first advert (Product Design Stage)
  • Part 5 - Elevating Your Pitch (Presentation Stage)
  • Part 6 - Final Presentation in School (Presentation Stage)

   

  After the launch assembly, the children will have 4 weeks to generate ideas, consider solutions, create an advert and present to an audience. The process of how they can do this is flexible - they can work individually (should they choose to) or can work in groups of up to 4. The challenge will end on 24th March with in school presentations to find the best ‘One Big Idea’ in each school. The 6 top ideas will go forward to a SAET final on 31st March (judging panel is currently being finalised).

   

  There is no requirement for the children to make a prototype (they can if they wish). We are aware that not all children will have access to the appropriate materials/resources to do so. The challenge is for them to think about the process of creating their product (and the materials that they may use) and provide a drawing or use some toys like Lego, Kinex, or even online tools such as Minecraft to create a model of their idea.

   

  During the process, where possible, we will look to create opportunities for year groups across SAET to share their ideas with each other via video link ups.

   

  On Wednesday 24th March, the children will present their presentation to their peers and staff. An overall school ‘One Big Idea’ will be selected from all the entries to be put forward to the SAET finals the following week.

   

  WHEN?

  Launch Date                                                                                    Wednesday 24th February 1.30pm

   

  Project work: In school or at home                                                                

  In School Final Presentations*                                                       Wednesday 24th March

   

  SAET Final Presentations                                                                Wednesday 31st March

   

  *More information to be given on the structure for this at a later date. The structure for this is going to be dependent on the restrictions in place and if all children have returned to school.

   

  FOLLOW UP

  After the challenge has been completed, we hope to be able to use the ideas generated to supplement further collaboration days and projects later in the year with the children.

• School Update 24..02.2021

  Wed 24 Feb 2021

  Looking ahead to March 8th...

   

  On Monday, the Prime Minister confirmed that pupils would be returning to School from Monday March 8th.  This is wonderful news and we very much look forward to welcoming all our pupils back together.

   

  Next week we will hold ‘Whole Class Google Meets’ that I will also attend. As part of our transition we would like to collect ‘Pupil Feedback’ in order to support all our pupils coming back together. I will be spend time with each class  discovering what our pupils are most looking forward to when they return. I will also share some of the changes to the school building and how they will keep safe when in school.

   

  Staff will also be in touch with so parents can share any feedback from this lockdown that will support us in supporting the children when they return to school.

   

  In the meantime, we review and apply the latest Government guidance. We want all families and pupils returning to feel safe and secure with all the protective measures we have in place.

   

  A revised Risk Assessment will be updated and a detailed overview provided for all our families during next week.

   

  Our main focus in the coming weeks is the wellbeing of everyone in our school. Striking the right balance and meeting the needs of all pupils. We are still living through a global pandemic and this has altered the way we can do things. Compassion, understanding and kindness will be the platform in which we will begin this next chapter together.

   

  Mrs RW

• Virtual Zoom disco 12th Feb Rules

  Fri 12 Feb 2021

  Virtual Zoom Disco

   

  Please note that as part of the host ‘Party Peeps’ safeguarding policy, for pupils at home taking part in the disco today cameras will need to be on at all times. This will ensure that the virtual platform is 100% secure and that children are safe online at all times. If cameras are not on, you may be ‘sent out’ and this will be the only reason why you are sent out, you can then re-join as long as your camera is switched on.

   

  The discos will last for 45 minutes and the discos will not be recorded, again for safeguarding reasons.

   

  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

   

  Many thanks

   

• School Update

  Thu 11 Feb 2021

  Half Term Updates

   

  Thank you 

  As we finally reach half term and a step closer to when all children can safely return to school; I wanted to say on behalf of all our staff thank you for all your support.

   

  This has been a difficult half term for us all but I am so grateful to all our families and amazing pupils for their commitment, kindness and hard work.

   

  There have been many challenges during this lock down and we are mindful of the task ahead. We will explore effective methods for transition back into school and how our school day will look in the coming weeks.

   

  It has not yet been confirmed when Schools will reopen fully – we expect to be informed of how and when very soon. Once we have this information we will share our transition plans with all our families.

   

  Theme Week

  As a whole school we will come together and take flight around the world for our 'Oh, the places you'll go...' Wonder Days.

   

  After half term {Monday 22nd - Friday 26th February 2021} WSPA passports will be issued and we will escape through our imagination to each continent in the world.

   

  Every child can visit as many continents as they want - they may want to choose a continent and stay for the week or they may want to travel to each continent and discover more about the different parts of the world.

   

  We will launch our theme week during a Whole School Assembly on Monday 22nd February at 9.15am (the link will be sent out by 8am on that day and will replace morning meets on that day) followed by staff sharing resources, activities and links through our learning platforms and school website. 

   

  Pupils will be able to share their work through the normal ways: Google Classroom for Years 1-6 and Seesaw for our Early Years.

   

  Google Meets will still take place during the week (your teacher will remind you when) for pupils to share the places they have travelled to and what they have discovered...

   

  We hope our families enjoy the range of activities staff have created for each class and household to try out over the week.

   

  COVID Officers

  Just to alert all parents to the COVID officers that carry out spots checks at the start and end of the school day. Their role is to support the reinforcement of COVID rules and guidance in place during this time. Please be mindful when leaving school to follow the rules at all times. The Safer Community Police are available if you need any further clarification and are there to help. 

   

   

• Important information regarding testing Covid positive over half term

  Thu 11 Feb 2021

  As we approach half term, we ask that if your child develops any of the key COVID-19 symptoms (high temperature; new continuous cough or loss or change to sense of smell and taste) from after school on Friday 12^th to Sunday 14^th February 2021 and if they go on to receive a positive test you must email head@wolverleysebright.worcs.sch.uk with the following information:

   

  • name and class of the infected child

  • the date they first had symptoms

  • confirming that they have received a positive test

   

  It is very important that you let us know as soon as a positive test is received, as it allows us to trace anyone that had close contact in school, for a 48-hour period prior to symptoms developing. We will then advise all contacts to self-isolate for the 10 days.

   

  Of course, if your child tests positive over half term, from Monday 15th onwards, please do not send your child to school after half term, as your child & all members of the household must self-isolate for 10 days. Please inform the school on Monday 22nd.  

   

  If you have any queries or questions about symptoms or self isolation, please contact 119 or go to www.gov.uk/coronavirus

   

  Many thanks

• Children's Mental Health Week

  Mon 01 Feb 2021

  Children’s Mental Health Week begins today

   

  Children’s Mental Health Week, an annual week-long campaign run by children’s mental health charity Place2Be, begins today and will run until Sunday 7 February.

   

  This year’s theme is “Express Yourself” with the focus on children finding ways to share feelings, thoughts, or ideas through creativity. Mentally Healthy Schools have created a toolkit of resources for children, staff and parents to use during Children’s Mental Health Week.

   

  Throughout the week, the DFE will be using their social media platforms to share a variety of mental health resources including ‘wellbeing for education return’ and the children and young people’s psychological first aid training which is run by Public Health England.