It's been business as usual this week with all classes settled and concentrating on their learning. KS1 have begun rehearsals for their Christmas production which we're all very excited about. On my learning walks around school and whilst visiting classes with governors and prospective parents, I'm always struck by the children's enthusiasm for talking about their learning and showcasing their work. I'm delighted not only with the progress being made, but also the positive relationships and happy pupils I observe. Thank you, everyone.

We're delighted to announce that Little Beacon's Pre-school now have their own blog page so that you can now read their news each week as well as that of the other classes in school. Recently, the Little Beacons children have been learning how to keep safe around traffic. They have learnt a new song, Stop, Look, Listen, Think, and have practised walking next to and crossing the road. We look forward to hearing more about our youngest children and thank their new teacher, Silje Rodde-Aust, for contributing to the blog.

Bags to School
Do you have unwanted clothes, accessories, home linens or soft toys getting in the way at home? Why not donate them to our Bag 2 School collection?!
Drop Off Site:
The Pavilion, South Zeal
Dates for Drop Off:
Sunday 5th December ~ 4-5pm
Monday 6th December ~ 3-4pm
Tuesday 7th December ~ 8-9am
See the attached poster for more info.
Many thanks in advance for your support!

Date of next meeting - Monday November 29th - all welcome! Email [email protected] to be sent the zoom link.

​An invitation to you from Nazareth the donkey and friends! They will be attending our annual community Beacon Nativity to be held at St Andrew’s Church, South Tawton on Sunday 12th December at 4pm. As always, we need lots of shepherds and angels and also three kings to make the story happen. Do come along and join in the fun. Please email [email protected] for more information.

We've had a lovely week at school with some very memorable moments. Year R took part in both Islamic and  Christian weddings on Wednesday and even had a reception with dancing and wedding cake! Year 4 continued their interest in climate following COP26, and welcomed in Mark Sidaway to help them learn more about the weather. Year 1 have been palaeontologists and have used tools and safety equipment to search for fossils. (A big thank you to Andrew Shaddick for making this possible by mending their broken sand tray.) Finally, the whole school came together in pyjamas on Friday to raise money for Children in Need. Don't forget that you can visit the blog page for each class to read and see more on these stories. 

I'm delighted to announce that, with no Covid cases in school last week, we were able to move back to Stage 3 of our Covid Contingency Plan meaning that we started the week with a whole school assembly to discuss this year's Anti-bullying week slogan - One Kind Word. This assembly was then followed up in all classes with special SCARF (this is our personal, social and health education scheme) lessons as follows:
YR- I am caring
Y1- Unkind, tease or bully?
Y2- An act of kindness
Y3- Let's celebrate our differences
Y4- What would I do?
Y5 - Kind conversations
Y6 - Respecting difference

We were also able to meet together indoors this week for our weekly celebration assembly. The number of certificates given out reflect how proud the staff are of our pupils for their resilience, hard work and kindness towards each other. 

Early last week, I was delighted to receive the photo above from a parent and the following email from Emma Neath, the Chair of our Local Stakeholder Board:

I attended the Remembrance Day Service at South Tawton church on Sunday. There were so many children there, and although many of them were attending as Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Brownies, the majority of the younger ones would attend South Tawton school. There was also some lovely artwork, poems etc on display.

With my Community Governor hat on can I say how lovely it was seeing them all there, they made up a large part of the congregation and the service, and I was very proud of them all. They were an absolute credit to both the organisation they are in and the school. 

Thank you and well done to all who took part both in this service and any others.

Last Wednesday saw the first train to leave Okehampton for Exeter in 50 years, dispatched by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. One of our pupils was lucky enough to be a part of these celebrations. Chloe represented Okehampton Brownies at the opening ceremony, and was one of the first passengers to board the train, She was given a commemorative  ticket in a glass frame amongst other momentos of the day. I expect many of our pupils took the opportunity to travel on the train this weekend and I couldn't resist sharing one of the photos below which I found when looking at the new Dartmoor Line website.

If you bring your dog to school at drop off and pick up times, please ensure that they are always on a lead and under very close control. Please do not stand too close to any of the gates which the children use, as some children are very nervous of dogs. Many thanks.

Handle with care 
Gives advice on safe ways of holding a baby and suggests ways parents can soothe and cope with a crying baby.
Home alone guide
Helps parents decide when it is safe to leave their children home alone and how to choose a babysitter or childminder.
Out alone 
Helps parents decide if a child is ready to be out on their own and gives advice on preparing them for different situations such as walking to and from school by themselves, attending sports or holiday clubs, or going out to play with friends.
Positive parenting
Gives advice on setting boundaries for children, building relationships with them and keeping cool when children’s behaviour is challenging.
Look, Say, Sing, Play
A set of resources to help parents interact with their baby, boosting child development and setting up positive behaviour as their child grows.
Other helpful resources for parentsFind more information for parents on the NSPCC website:

• Supporting a child who has mental health problems and/or suicidal thoughts
• What parents can do about self-harm
• Online safety information for parents
• Advice on talking to children about drugs and alcohol
• Help talking about difficult topics
• Talk PANTS with your child (the underwear rule)
• Helping children deal with divorce and separation
• Advice on keeping children safe in sport on the Child Protection in Sport Unit website

For further resources to share with parents, search the NSPCC Library catalogue using the keywords "parenting" or "parents' books".
If you need more specific information, please contact our Information Service.

This week's newsletter is brimming full of photos of some of the special things we have done this week. Please visit each class page to see still more photos and read about what's been happening in the classes. As well as our main stories of Remembrance and COP26, on the class blog pages, you can view a video of Y2 performing an African song in music, see Y3 making volcanoes in DT, read about Y5's walk on Dartmoor as part of their English topic and learn about Y6 investigating light in science.

At 11am on 11th November, the whole school gathered in the playground for a Remembrance assembly. We discussed the meaning of Remembrance, listened to some poems and readings from Y6, observed a one minute silence and listened to The Last Post. As ever, I was hugely impressed by and proud of our children for the consideration and respect shown throughout. Some of the children will be part of the Remembrance services in local churches on Sunday representing the school as well as local Brownies, Cubs, Beavers, Rainbows and Scouts groups. 

On Monday 8th November, we were privileged and excited to participate in a day of workshops and activities inspired by COP26. The children all took part in a number of sessions to increase their knowledge and understanding of climate change, our planet and the issues being addressed at the COP26.

The science of hot and cold - Dr James Screen
Where’s the coldest place on Earth (and is it colder than my ice-cream)? Will climate change make all the ice melt? What does climate change mean – how much hotter is it going to get?  The youngest children experimented to see how and when ice melts (and how fast we can melt the penguin out of the ice block!)  Older classes (years 2-3) also looked at the difference between melting sea ice and melting land ice.

Measuring our weather and climate
Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get. In this session, Dr Will Seviour, a climate scientist, set up a new South Tawton weather station (funded by the PTA) with the children. The weather station will link to an open website, so in the future, all South Tawton pupils (and friends and family, and wider community) will be able to keep a track of what the weather has been like on the school site. 

The Planet (led by Dr Hannah Susorney)
Our planet is old. Really old! In fact, humans have only been around for a tiny amount of the time that Earth has existed. Temperatures have gone up and down over the Earth’s history. However, temperatures are changing faster now than they ever have in the past. And, the Earth’s getting hotter than it ever has before.

Making decisions about our climate future (led by Dr Saffron O’Neill)
What is the COP? What actually happens there? How do decisions about climate change take place, and who makes them? In this session, older pupils had the opportunity to take part in a mock COP negotiation. Each group took the role of one country, and tried and get their voice heard in the decision-making process. 

What difference can I make? (led by Lizz Williams / Saffron O’Neill, with pre-recorded video from Dr Chris Manktelow & Zoom to Sylvia Hayes at COP26)
‘What difference can I make?’ was a session intended to empower pupils and help them understand and explore the difference their voice can make. A worldwide study shows many young people feel intense anxiety about a climate-changed future.  The sessions addressed questions such as: ‘Why is (or is) climate change important to me?’, ‘How can I respond?’, ‘What am I trying to do?’, ‘What difference can I make?’ and ‘Does my voice count?’ 

From all the staff and children here at South Tawton Primary, I'd like to say an enormous THANK YOU to the amazing scientists who gave their time voluntarily to make this day happen and ensure that our children have a better understanding of these issues.

Parents – Your school needs YOU!
There is a vacancy for one Parent governor to join the Three Hares Primaries Local Stakeholder Board. Local  governors are a vital part of the Trust’s connection with schools and community and parents are an important voice within the governance structure.

To qualify as a Parent governor, you must have at least one child on the school roll and must be eligible under the national governing body rules.
Applications are now open, until close of business on Friday 27th November.
All nominations will then be put forward to a parent vote, which will take place electronically.
The nomination form must be completed in full, and can be found on the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust website:
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=kG0HO7J4vUqeBcIPJiicRgleRjEa8rtFmqDbcaa1oYlUNDVEQkJPNktORURPQTlSVk1KM1c5NlRPMyQlQCN0PWcu

For an informal chat about the role of parent governor and the responsibilities of the local stakeholder board, please contact the Chair Emma Neath: [email protected] or the Clerk to Governors: [email protected]

Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to receiving your applications

Covid 19 Update
I don't wish to tempt fate, but I'm delighted to report that we have not had any reports of new Covid cases this week. Fingers crossed that this may continue. 

Tempest Photographs
On Tuesday 9th November, Tempest photographers will be in school taking individual photos of all the pupils. Please ensure that your child has their school jumper or cardigan with them on Tuesday. Family group photos of siblings within school will be organised and taken within school time, but if you wish for a photo of your child with a sibling from preschool or another school, then the photographer will be available in the school hall from 8am and you are welcome to bring your children to school for a photo at this time. Please note that children may not be left at school until the usual time of 8:40. Breakfast club will run as usual on this day from the other end of the hall.

Late Arrivals
We currently have a lot of children arriving at school a little late. The school gates are open between 8:40 and 8:50. Registers are taken at 8:50. Please try to arrive before 8:50, but if you arrive after this time, please come straight to the school office to sign your child in. We have had some cases of children arriving late and without their parents which can be upsetting for them. Please accompany your children to the school gate and ensure that they are in safely before leaving them. 

Lunch Menus
Thank you to all those of you who have given feedback on the new menu. From tomorrow, we will once more be able to offer a jacket potato each day. If you would like to change any current meal choices to jacket potatoes, please email the school office [email protected]

As you will have seen, a new climbing structure was erected on our school field just before half term. With the final adjustments made during the half term holiday, the children were finally able to start climbing. Year 3 had a fantastic time exploring the new structure and a different type of play. There were many laughs and giggles. Year 4 have also had a go this week and commented on how much fun it was. The classes will all have access to the climbing structure throughout the year and we’re sure it will make a very enjoyable addition to the school field during those summer lunchtimes.

Year 6 and Year 2 also have a new addition installed on their playground; a new goal end and basketball hoop has been added and they have already had plenty of use.

Radon surveys are quite easy to perform - it's just a matter of purchasing some radon monitors from the UK Health Security Agency, formerly Public England, and placing them in appropriate places.  It could be that you've monitored for radon already.  Also as it is radon awareness week I was wondering whether we could let parents know about home monitoring as well.   Anyhow, I'd be glad to help out in any way I can.  Useful information is at:

https://www.ukradon.org/


and at:

https://radonweek.co.uk/

You may remember that we had a competition on Census Day where all children who had a school dinner had the chance to win a book. Congratulations to the children pictured below who were some of our winners. We hope you enjoy reading and sharing the books at home.

We are thrilled to announce the PTA have funded a further 15 Chromes books. So that we have now donated a full class set! They have been delivered and are already being used and enjoyed by the children!! 

We have really busy term of fun things happening...

​SCHOOL DISCO
We are so excited to be planning a school disco on Friday November 26th.
3.30 - 4.30pm: Years R, 1 and 2
4.45 - 5.45pm: Years 3 and 4
6.00 - 7.00pm: Year 5 and 6 
We have had to stagger the groups and times like this due to Covid restrictions, but we hope this won't stop the children from having a great time! The tickets will be £2.50 and this include squash and crisps. We will send out further details/permission slips with the children next week.

If anyone would like to volunteer to help us out with any of the sessions then please email [email protected]

CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING
Do you fancy making a beautiful Christmas wreath for your front door? We will supply you with all the things you will need and expert tuition to create a beautiful, hand crafted wreath! Friday 3rd December, £20 per wreath - but numbers limited so if you would like to join the fun here's how...

1. Pick a style for your wreath: Rustic, Glitzy or Traditional
2. Email [email protected] to order your kit by Monday November 29th. Use the subject ‘Christmas Wreath’
3. Your kit will be sent home with your child on Friday 3rd December (or pick up/delivery by arrangement)
4. Join us on Friday 3rd December at 8pm via Zoom!
This was an incredibly popular event last year and spaces are limited, so BE QUICK to book your place!

COLOURED HAMPERS
Back by popular demand - we will be organising for each class (including preschool) to pick a specific colour and we will be asking for donation in that colour! Food, drink, toiletries, gifts - anything new and in that colour goes! We will then send home some raffle tickets for you to sell to friends and family! The class with the most tickets sold will receive a reward! The draw for the hampers will be on December 19th!

CHRISTMAS PACKS
These will be designed to keep your children occupied during the Christmas holidays!
More details to follow!

Date of next meeting - Monday November 29th - all welcome!

October's 100 club draw was done on the last day of half term by Year R. The winning numbers were:
86 Sarah Angel
38 Shirley Culverhouse
34 Jo Hilton

Congratulations to the winners!

There are still some numbers available if anyone else would like to join the 100 Club. Please email [email protected] with any queries.

Coronavirus case rates in Devon continue to be above the national average, as they are across the whole south-west region, but over the past couple of weeks they have reduced and appear to be plateauing.
Cases continue to be highest in the school age and working age population.
To read the latest update from Devon County Council, please click here.