Head's Blog

Friday 15th January

Dear Parents and Carers

They say a week can be a long time in politics. The person who coined that saying had clearly never been in lockdown or waiting for a Government announcement…

That said, it has been so lovely to see the huge amount of learning that has been flooding Tapestry and Teams this week. I have seen SO many fabulous pieces of work and I have been lucky enough to take part in some of the many live lessons and sessions – Year 4 today all looked like they were at the Cinema which was lovely to see, and Year 6 were fantastic in their answering their quiz questions (surely ONE of the questions could have actually had the answer Gary Barlow??), and I LOVED the PE session with Year 1 yesterday. I was very impressed by the different shapes that Year 1 can get themselves into. No need for pilates there, I can tell you.

The live sessions are very much worth joining if you can (though they are all recorded too), as the connections made in these sessions are fantastic. The positive feelings that we get when we connect with others shows how much we need contact and I have to tell you – I miss it! Last term I missed our whole school in the hall assemblies (the beginning of MARCH LAST YEAR was the last time we were all together) whereas this term I am really missing our Teams Assemblies where at least we all knew that we were watching at the same time and we all saw the Shining Stars Winners every week. These days, it is nigh on impossible to get everyone together (I still have not ruled it out though and possible live events, here we come!), so I have recorded an assembly, which will be ready to watch from Monday onwards in every Year Group’s Teams Files Page (Years 1 -6). It is in the file called Assemblies and it is in the form of a powerpoint. Do please watch it as a slide show if you get a few minutes. I am planning a more exciting one next week - don’t worry! – but the message is very definitely clear I hope: Be kind. Kindness matters. Always. Kindness makes everything so much more bearable.

My last message to you for today is just that: be kind to others, but also, please, be kind to yourselves. It Is absolutely fine not to do all of the work set. Please do what you can. When you can. We will always make up any lost learning. Tell us if you are needing help. We want to help, and we are here to support you.

My other last message to you today is that if you see any lost looking penguins around Wadebridge, please could you let Year 1 know. They are looking for them.

Enjoy the weekend as much as you can and stay safe.

Kindest regards

Ms Whitlock

PS Year 1 are reading the book ‘Lost and Found’ and have created some AMAZING ‘Have you seen this Penguin?’ posters. They are heart-cheering in the extreme.

Friday 8th jan

Dear Parents and Carers

Thank you SO much for your support and patience this week. I feel that whilst it has been a challenging week in many ways, all of our wonderful community has pulled together so well. The quality and quantity of remote learning has been exceptional in so many cases; the live learning and story times have been wonderful; the pupils in school have been amazing and the understanding of parents to our ‘in school’ limits (given that you were thrown into this situation just as much as we were), has been so appreciated.

I know that you have received many an email this week, so I will try and keep this blog post relatively short too!

Do let us know if you are struggling to access remote learning and not in school. There are things that we can either help with or advise you to do. Some of these options are detailed below, but we can also help in other ways.

Please also make sure that you are monitoring your child’s use of Teams. It must only be used for school and work purposes. If in doubt, do contact us.

Advice on how to use gaming console to access Teams:

If you do not have a spare device or laptop for Home Learning but have an Xbox and/or PlayStation you can use them to access Microsoft Teams.

Teams can be opened on Xbox and PlayStation. There isn’t an app that the students can add to their consoles. Instead, they are going to have to use the built-in browsers that come on the two devices.

On Xbox, it is Microsoft Edge.

On PlayStation, it is the “www” browser.

Your children will probably know how to find the browsers on their consoles, but if not, each one has a search function they can access on the home screen.

Once the browser has been opened:

•. Type in 'microsoft teams the url bar. A prompts for teams account will appear. Your login details from school. Home screen open up.

• If you have a keyboard then you can plug it in, you will have a much easier time navigating. Otherwise, use the controller to click on the icons and buttons to navigate.

Please keep an eye on your child whilst they are using their device, (for some, it will be very tempting to access their favourite games).

Please do not hesitate to contact us at school, should you have any questions about this.

Digital Support- additional mobile data<

The DfE have announced an opportunity for schools to apply for temporary additional mobile data for certain pupils. If you know of families who would benefit from this, please liaise with them directly and follow the guidance as per the link below- it varies depending on which network they use. Please keep records of this.

The hyperlink below sets out the full details and how to apply but in summary, there is the possibility of applying for additional mobile phone data for pupils who:

• do not have fixed broadband at home

• cannot afford additional data for their devices

• are experiencing disruption to their face-to-face education

In addition, there is also the possibility of requesting mobile data increases for children who cannot attend school face to face due to being clinically extremely vulnerable or if there are restrictions preventing them attending.

If increasing mobile data isn’t a suitable option there is also the opportunity to apply for 4G wireless routers and again, full details can be found within the hyperlink below:

Increasing data allowances on mobile devices to support disadvantaged children - Get help with technology - GOV.UK (education.gov.uk)

If you need help with any of the above, please do get in touch.

Enjoy the weekend as much as you can and stay safe.

Kindest regards

Ms Whitlock

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Due to tonight’s Government announcement, WPA will be closed from Tuesday 5th January to all pupils except vulnerable children and children of key workers. We will be in touch tomorrow regarding online learning.

Head's Blog and important information for the new term

Dear Parents and Carers

Thank you so very much for your continued support over this term – it is hugely appreciated and we, as staff, feel so very lucky to have you.

I hope that you have all managed to watch the Christmas Extravaganza that is currently headlining the Headteacher Blog – I loved seeing every single one (though I did hold my breath for bits of the Year 6 performance as I had just been looking at Health & Safety in school)! They show just how happy and purposeful the school is, which makes the world of difference.

This week saw almost all of the marvellous raffle prizes picked up and I have to say; what a FABULOUS job FOWPA did in organising it. The total raised was a stupendous £1451, and we send our grateful thanks to ALL who donated. As FOWPA say, all monies raised go directly towards creating enhanced learning opportunities for all pupils in school and every penny counts. Thank you.

We also drew our first 100 Club winners. Many congratulations to our first winners and remember that if you did not win this time, you are still in the draw for the rest of the year, so do not give up – your time may come!

I am going to leave my very short blog here, as we can then leave the videos right at the top of the website, but please do take the time to read the information below.

Whilst almost everything is staying the same after the Break, there are a few small changes that I wanted you to know about. As ever, if you do have any questions, please do get in touch with us and we will do all that we can to help.

First Day Back to School:

We do NOT have an INSET day planned so please come into school ready to learn on Monday 4 January 2021. We are very excited to see you then. Please still ensure that nothing is brought in from home apart from bags, books and water bottles (and lunches if you are having a packed lunch).

Lunch Logistics:

We have a new menu starting from the 4th January 2021. It has already been sent home, so please do have a look at it before we come back on the first day, but just in case, the lunches for Monday 4th January are:

Ham and Cheese Pizza/Cheese and Tomato Pizza/Salad and Coleslaw with Fruit and Homemade Cake for dessert.

From January 4th, all of KS1 and Reception will be eating their lunches in the hall. Hurrah!

KS2 will still be eating their lunches in their classrooms. They will enjoy the same menu as KS1 and Reception, but it will be delivered to their classrooms rather than them coming into the Hall.

Start of Day timings are slightly changing:

To maximise learning time, we have made the decision to amend and shorten the drop off timings slightly. Please see below for the revised timings that will start from Monday 4 January 2021:

Nursery – 0820 - 0845

Year R – 0820 – 0835

Year 1 – 0830 – 0845

Year 2 – 0820 - 0835

Year 3 – 0830 – 0845

Year 4 – 0820 – 0835

Year 5 – 0830 – 0845

Year 6 – 0820 – 0835

Please ensure that you stick to these timings where possible. As per this last term, in order to avoid congestion, if you have more than one child, please drop off all of your children at the same time, at the drop off time of your eldest child.

End of Day timings (also changing slightly):

At the moment, the Year 3 and Year 5 pupils leave just as Wadebridge School finish their day. This causes understandable concern for the Year 3 and 5 parents. To ease this congestion, we have slightly changed the end of day timings to the below. The timings in brackets are for the Friday pick up:

Nursery – 1425 – 1445 (1225 – 1245)

Year R - 1425 – 1435 (1225 – 1235)

Year 1– 1435 – 1450 (1235 – 1250)

Year 2 – 1430 – 1445 (1230 – 1245)

Year 3 – 1455 – 1505 (1255 – 1305)

Year 4 – 1445 – 1455 (1245 – 1255)

Year 5 – 1455 – 1505 (1255 – 1305)

Year 6 – 1445 – 1455 (1245 – 1255)

Friday Early Finish:

We will continue to finish at lunchtime on a Friday for the first half of the Spring Term, but our plan is to revert back to a full day on Friday from after the February Half-Term Break. This means that up to Half Term, we will continue to finish at the bracketed times above, but AFTER the Half Term break, starting on Tuesday February 23rd (Monday 22nd February is an INSET day), we will be moving back to a full day on Friday afternoon. NO other timings will change.

It remains for me to say that we hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas, a relaxing New Year and that we look forward very much to seeing you on Monday 4 January 2021, raring to go!

Kindest regards

Rebecca Whitlock

Headteacher, Wadebridge Primary Academy

Wadebridge Christmas Show!

Key Stage Two

EYFS & Key Stage One

Friday 11th December

It has been a super busy week, made even more special by the Christmas festivities beginning to take over. I think that, for lots of us, the festive cheer in school really cranked up a notch today with the fine array of Christmas Jumpers and hair fashions (why are they always so itchy?!) on show. Christmas Jumper Day is one of my most favourite days of the year and it is made even better by all those taking part helping to raise money for ‘Save the Children’.

Today, whilst in our jumpers, we filmed our virtual ‘Christmas Show’. We look forward to sharing this with you on the school website next week. We then look forward to hearing from Hollywood soon after….

All pupils have enjoyed a festive Christmas lunch (or packed lunch) in the hall this week. There were crackers; party hats; two types of squash to choose from and, most importantly according to Mrs Lee Elkins, …. no sprouts! Thank you so much to our wonderful team (especially our kitchen team) for ensuring that we could all enjoy Christmas Lunch together, despite the challenges faced this year. We have also been lucky enough this week to be treated to two virtual assemblies from Pastor Drew Cox, who has been reading us excerpts of the Christmas Story via a video link – they have been great fun and it was lovely to see someone other than me on a screen during assembly!

Next week brings (possibly) even more excitement. There will be lessons as normal, with fantastic learning frantically going on up and down the school, and on Monday afternoon, we will be judging the Christmas decoration competition. If you are wanting to be in it to win it, please ensure that your decorations are in school on Monday. Winners will be announced on Facebook on Monday evening, so watch this space!

On Wednesday, we are having our class ‘cinema’ afternoons. Pupils are welcome to bring in 50p for a bag of popcorn and all money raised after costs will go towards FOWPA.

On Thursday, children are welcome to come into school in their best Christmas party outfits ready for a Christmas party in the afternoon. Please note that you do NOT need to send your child in with party snacks as a small treat will be provided by FOWPA (NB: we have noted those who may need an alternative treat).

On that note, we as a whole school would like to say a HUGE thank you to our brilliant FOWPA team. Despite the limited fundraising opportunities this term, this hasn’t stopped them from working incredibly hard to help raise precious funds for our school. Thank you to everyone who donated towards the raffle prizes and also bought and sold tickets and thank you to our talented pupils who created the marvellous hampers. A MASSIVE well done to Year 2, who deservedly won the prize for the best decorated hamper.

The last day of this term will be, as per the email sent today, Friday 18 December. We will be finishing at lunchtime though, so please do remember to pick up at those times mentioned in the email. We will send reminders!

Two points to end on though, please, both related to car parking:

This week, several parents have mentioned to us that parents are parking on the bend closest to the zebra crossing, up by Wadebridge School. Whilst we fully appreciate that this area does not have double yellow lines, it does make it incredibly difficult for people to see the cars coming in the opposite direction if cars are parked there. This has meant that, on several occasions, it has been necessary for parents to have to try and reverse (towards cars also in the queue). This is obviously very unsafe and puts both walkers and drivers at risk as well as causing huge hold ups. Please avoid parking on this bend where possible. We have also noticed cars parking on the double yellow lines. This is not safe, nor legal (!) and causes many problems for flowing traffic. Please do not do this this.

Thank you.

I will be writing to you again next week to confirm arrangements for next term, but please note that term starts on MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2021. Woohoo!

Enjoy the Christmas magic over the coming week and stay safe.

Kindest regards

Ms Whitlock

Friday 4th December

Dear Parents and Carers,

Can you believe it! Snow before Christmas (which actually does not always mean good things for all of us trying to get over the moor to school…)! Anyway, we very much appreciate your support and patience at drop off and pick up times as they can get very busy. One point to note please, though, whilst I am talking about cars, please, please do keep to the speed limit of 10 mph on the road into school. It can be very dangerous to drive any faster and we would hate for anything adverse to happen.

On a lighter note, it has been another busy week, but we are getting lots done! I have seen some truly wonderful work this week in English in many year groups and we have all seen a small part of the wonderful Celts and Romans Day that Year 3 had on Wednesday. Handily, Wednesday is an Assembly day, so we were able to briefly join them to see their wonderful costumes (and some of the shields that we saw were spectacular, so I had to show them to everyone), learn some fascinating facts and listen to a wonderful song about both Boudicca and the Celts and the Romans. Well done to Year 3!

Today was the last day for our Post Box Christmas Cards and thank you all so very much for your cards. We have lots to sort on Monday!

Christmas Lunches start on Monday too. We have spread the lunches out so that everyone can remain socially distanced and safe in their bubbles. What will also be nice is that on the days when Christmas Lunch is in certain year groups, everyone in that year group will eat together in the Hall. We are really quite excited. It will be an ‘almost’ normal lunch day for everyone next week!

Shining Stars this week were all won by those who had worked hard on their home learning and I did go and see those wonderful Topic Shining Star things from last week and I can tell you that the classrooms and the pupil books are looking very wonderful indeed.

You will have received an email from FOWPA today regarding the 100 Club – DO please get involved if you can as the more people that enter, the larger the prize will be. Please see the email for more details. FOWPA have also asked me to include this message in today’s blog:

Don't forget to hand your raffle ticket stubs into the school office no later than Monday 7th December. If you would like additional raffle tickets, please contact the school office. There are the usual big money prizes (£100, £75 and £50), as well as other fantastic prizes on offer including a gaming headset (worth £85) from Wadebridge Computers, a £60 Bridge Bistro voucher, a £30 TH Lobb Butcher voucher, a free Will writing service (worth over £200) from MacMillan solicitors, a food hamper from the Vine, 3 x £10 Attic beauty vouchers and many more.

Also, this year we have some beautiful hampers as prizes, made by the teachers and children from items bought in from you, the parents. See below from some sneak preview pictures. Thank you so much to everyone that has bought in items, they really are going to make great prizes.

The FOWPA team

Thank you so very much for your continued support. Have a super, safe, wrapped up and restful weekend and we look forward to seeing you on Monday.

Kindest regards

Ms Whitlock

Image Gallery

Christmas hamper - 1.jpg

Christmas hamper 2.jpg

Documents

Friday 27th November

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been a really busy week, but we have a had a lovely time! We have started our Christmas Preparations as we are busy decorating our hamper boxes and we are starting to practice our parts for the Wadebridge Primary Academy’s Christmas Bonanza. Oh my goodness, you will be in for a treat.

Do make sure please that you carefully read the letter that we have sent home about the run up to Christmas. There are lots of things on and many dates to remember and we will remind you as much as we can, but we would hate anyone to miss out. The first three things to remember are:

1) Bring in any high-quality donations for the hampers on Monday (last day!) (please see the letter home from FOWPA that details the sort of things that might work well)

2) Return the slip for your order of a Christmas Lunch by Wednesday 2 December and pay on ParentPay (£3.30)

3) Post your Christmas Cards in the fantastic Christmas Postbox by next Friday 4 December.

Phew!

This week saw us looking at several things in Assembly; next Monday is St Andrew’s Day and so we looked at the origins of this day and how it is celebrated in Scotland. We also went virtually into the hall to listen to the Fabulous Year 4s singing a French song that they had learned for their French Day. They were marvelous (very clear and loud with super pronunciation) and the school loved it. We then talked about how lucky we were to be able to come to school and learn as well as we do (we linked this back to St Andrew going across Europe to teach people about his faith and how dangerous that must have been) and we listened to this year’s Radio 2 Allstars song that was brought out for Children in Need.

Phew!

Shining Stars this week were all won by those who had worked wonders with their non-core subjects (History, Art, D&T etc.) and I have to say that it was SO rewarding to reward all those that we did. There is so much going on that it is sometimes hard to take in, so please do head to the class blogs to see what they have been up to. I am due visits (short ones, hovering in the doorway, wearing my mask at all times) to every class next week to see what they have been doing. I am very excited.

Thank you so very much for your continued support. Have a super and restful weekend and enjoy this picture of our very recently put up tree (thank you EYFS!).

Kindest regards

Ms Whitlock

Image Gallery

christmas tree 2020.jpg

Documents

Friday 20th November

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been a very busy week with many things going on. We thank you so very much for your support and understanding and appreciate very much your smiles in the morning as you drop off (which of course we now tend to see in your eyes!).

I wrote to you last week to mention our Year 2s, who were to take the National Phonics Screening Test this week. They did brilliantly and we are very proud of all of them. Phew! Next week on Tuesday and Wednesday, we will hold our virtual Parents Evenings. I hope that you have all managed to find a slot, but if you are not able to speak to us on either of these two days, we will definitely be able to fit you in at another time. We do know that there are issues with a particular ‘phone operator, but we will do everything that we can to mitigate this.

It was Anti-Bullying week this week. Every class has done some work around this topic and we talked about it in Assembly too. I thought that one of the main points that was talked about this year was really interesting, and indeed slightly different to what we might look at normally, as it mentioned that whilst it is wonderful to be kind and nice to everyone, we also all had a responsibility to speak out if you see something that you know is not right even if you are not in any way involved. We are very lucky in school as we have the most wonderful pupils, who are possibly the kindest that I have ever met as a whole, BUT we all just need to keep in mind that if we know that someone is lonely on the playground, that we go and help them. It was a really good session and I stayed firmly in my office for the whole thing. I felt that it was for the best.

Next week brings us ever closer to our Christmas Plans. Our first step towards it is FOWPA’s collection for Christmas Hampers. Please see the separate email that has been sent from FOWPA but next week we are looking for high quality donations for every year group if you are able please. It is a brilliant idea for each year group to get a hamper together I think and I cannot wait to see what next week brings!

Thank you so very much for your continued support; we really do appreciate it and look forward to seeing you on Monday. Have a super and restful weekend.

Kindest regards

Ms Whitlock

Bubble Closure

Following the positive case of COVID-19 in the Reception Bubble in school yesterday, Public Health England, the Bridge Mat Trust and the school have made the decision to close the Reception Bubble for 2 weeks until Wednesday 2 December.

All learning has moved to the class website page and Tapestry. If you are having problems logging in, please contact the school who will be more than happy to help.

Thank you so much for your patience and understanding during this time.

Ms Whitlock and the Reception Team