Newsletter 2 Summer Term 2

It's been lovely to welcome preschool, reception, year 1 and year 6 back into school this week. Everyone has adapted very quickly to the new furniture arrangements and are doing their best to maintain social distancing. If your child is attending school, please ensure that you book them in through the clubs section of school gateway as we use this to register children in each day. Whilst we're delighted to have some year groups back, we are very conscious that there are still so many children working at home and are working hard to improve the offer for these pupils. After sending out several photos last week of empty classrooms and playgrounds, we thought you'd like to see how it looks now that more children are back. As you will see from the last photo, Hugo the puppy has been visiting school too!

Message from Mrs Underwood
12th June 2020
Dear Parents,
We are pleased to have welcomed back more children into our Three Hares primary schools this week. As you know, children of foundation stage, Y1 and Y6 have returned into new bubbles following a great deal of preparation to ensure that strict social distancing and hygiene guidelines are adhered to. Our staff have been brilliant as always, and I am delighted that the first week has gone smoothly. Numbers of critical workers’ children are steadily growing and as of today, we are seeing the highest numbers of children in school since lockdown began. The process of reintegration and building on home-learning which has taken place has begun for these children, whilst continuing remote learning for others.
We were disappointed to hear that government plans to bring back remaining children in Y2,3,4, and 5 changed this week. However, in discussion with the Trust, we are now thinking creatively at a local level, to develop plans for some face-to-face contact with those children before the summer holidays. Plans might look different at each school depending on staff availability and building capacity.
We are also working on a transition strategy for children joining reception classes in September as well as for our Y6 children, moving on to secondary school. Information will be issued to families over the coming weeks.
Thank you for the continued support you are giving the staff of our schools during these unusual times.
With my very best wishes
Elizabeth Underwood

Class Of 2020
Our year 6 pupils have been very excited to receive their Leavers' Hoodies this week. Please click the link to their class blog to see them modelling them.

​​https://www.southtawton.co.uk/year-6/class-of-2020

Black Lives Matter

Recent news has been focusing on the important ‘Black Lives Matter’ campaign.  If children were in school, our teachers would be discussing this with them and raising their awareness of the important issue of racism.  I would encourage you to have a conversation with your child about equality, racism and fairness for all.  
Here is a link to watch a Newsround report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52978346 
​and another quick video entitled ‘we need everybody to speak out to make change’  https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52978346
 
Year 1 have talked about equality and what it means to them - one had heard on the news what had been happening in the world, the others were happy to discuss it. We talked about everyone being the same, whatever the hairstyle, skin tone, eye colour. Just be kind to each other.
We drew around our hands and coloured in the fingers in people colours. We then drew faces around it - embracing all skin colours, hair styles and eye colours. 
No matter who you are, what job you do - Be Kind and be respectful.

Many children, particularly teens, will have spent more time that usual considering the events in the news whilst confined to home. Here are some articles for your own information and some book resources to direct pupils and parents to.
 
‘No reader is too young to start’: anti-racist books for all children and teens. “Use these books to start conversations, hold yourself accountable and educate a new generation. Reading isn’t the only answer but it’s the start” https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jun/04/no-reader-is-too-young-to-start-anti-racist-books-for-all-children-and-teens
 
NLT have brought together a series of book lists for children and young people of all ages to share black stories and promote black voices. https://literacytrust.org.uk/resources/black-lives-matter-book-lists-ages-0-16/?mc_cid=8ea2999360&mc_eid=ef95477a38

A selection of lovely free resources gathered by the library service:
NLT have joined forces with Premier League Primary Stars and children’s author Dan Freedman to bring children a week-long series of free football-themed activities and challenges to inspire them to get reading and writing at home.                    
 https://literacytrust.org.uk/news/premier-league-lines-fantastic-football-takeover-family-zone/
 
Actress Juliet Stevenson reads Smriti Halls and Ella Okstad’s picture book Elephant in My Kitchen to raise funds for Save the children. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNIZ6b3Yhuw
 
Attack of the Heebie Jeebies author and illustrator Tom Percival is reading a chapter of his new book each night on YouTube. The story deals with anger and jealousy. This is the link
 
The Humble Mayor of Grumble by Hilary Robinson and Steven Johnson is an illustrated poster story that is a fable for our time. This is the link
 
Chicken in the kitchen by Nnedi Okorafor & illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini. Winner of Children's Africana Best Book Award 2018 this is brilliantly read by Lucian Msamati. This is the link
 
Just one of a selection of stories read on Tata storytime YouTube channel with authors from African, Caribbean & African American heritage.  This is the link
 
Take a look at Petr Horacek’s latest blog on how to draw an elephant, along with a reading of his latest picture book, The Best Place in the World. http://www.petrhoracek.co.uk/blog/
 
Actress Alexandra Shipp reads Eileen Browne’s Handa’s Surprise for Save the Children to help raise funds for their coronavirus appeal.  You can watch here:
 https://www.instagram.com/tv/CASOfE9Bc5F/ .
 
Jane Porter reads her delightful story The Boy Who Loved Everyone. @TheJanePorter's Instagram
 
Mama G reads Tooth Fairy in Training on her Facebook page. The video is available to watch here:   https://www.facebook.com/MamaGStories/videos/535574900471528/
 
The Runaway Pea, written by Kjartan Poskitt and illustrated by Alex Willmore has been chosen as the BookTrust Time To Read campaign. https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/news/news-2020/booktrust-selects-the-runaway-pea-for-2020-time-to-read-campaign/
 
Not Now Bernard by David McKee celebrating its 40th anniversary. https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2020/june/not-now-bernard-is-40-celebrate-with-this-lovely-storytime-video/
 

Summer Reading Challenge

Please click here for more information on the Summer Reading Challenge

Digital safety
Please click here to access a useful document giving advice and support on digital safety.

Supporting Children's Well-being through play.
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Have you visited our Well-being blog yet. Please take a look to find many activities aimed at supporting you and your children.

I particularly like this recent one: ​​https://www.southtawton.co.uk/well-being/supporting-childrens-wellbeing-through-play