CMPS Newsletter Week ending 18th September 2020

This is a communication from Combe Martin Primary School for parents and carers only.

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SCHOOL CALENDAR
What is happening this week?

Tempest single portraits - Friday 25th September 2020

NEWS FROM THE EXECUTIVE HEAD TEACHER - Mrs Gail Holmes

It has been wonderful seeing children happy and progressing in their learning in a relaxed and safe environment. The children have settled back into the new school routines really well and have reflected the school behaviour expectations beautifully.

At the start of term it is always important to remind the whole school community of our school behaviour expectations.

At CMPS We are always… SAFE, we are always READY & we are always RESPECTFUL.

Be safe… Our school is a safe place to learn. To be safe we will think carefully about actions that will affect our safety or the safety of others. We will always make sure adults know if we do not feel safe and we know they will listen to us. We know that to learn well we must feel safe to make mistakes. We know that someone will help us make sense of those mistakes so we can learn well.

Be ready… School is a place where we learn. We need to choose to be ready to learn, be ready to make mistakes and arrive with a ‘can do’ attitude - knowing if we can't do ‘it’... we can’t do ‘it’ YET and we will soon if we work hard. We are ready to listen, to think, to reason and to challenge. We are ready to help and be helped. We are ready to struggle and ready to grow as learners and citizens in our community.

Be respectful… (being considerate of others and thinking about how you affect a situation) Respect is earned but we understand that we can give it for free. At CMPS we show respect because we aspire to be good citizens who lead the way. We understand that to be respected we must respect others. We understand that we can all learn something from everyone. We respect the effort put into learning and know that we all face challenges that are different to our friends and colleagues. We must respect the value of our environment, our locality and our community, as well as the physical resources that make up our school and classroom. We treat everything and all with respect.

COVID-19 symptoms or general illness?
I know it is hard to distinguish whether your child/children are suffering from general seasonal coughs and colds or they are displaying COVID-19 symptoms and we are very aware that testing availability is really llimited locally. Below is a reminder of the symptoms to look out for and what you should do if any member of your household display these symptoms.

Main symptoms
The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Most people with coronavirus have at least 1 of these symptoms.

What to do if you have symptoms
If you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus:

Get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible.
Stay at home and do not have visitors until you get your test result – only leave your home to have a test.

Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, must also stay at home until you get your result.
For further information please see the link below.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/

Below is a useful flow diagram to help parents

As most of you are aware, we are now up and running with the new School Money System and you should all have received a text and email with your user id and password.
As before, all school meals will need to be booked online. Well done to all the parents who have already booked their children's meals in advance. We have been informed by users that this system is more parent friendly and easier to use.
You will notice that we have had to streamline our menu. There will be 4 choices, main meal, vegetarian meal, jacket potato or baguette.
If you have not received a text or email, please contact the Admin Office with your up-to-date information.

BREAKFAST CLUB

Breakfast Club is available Monday - Friday from 7.40am - 8.40pm. This will need to be booked online, using the new School Money System.
The club is held in the 'old Tiddler' setting at the top of the playground. Access will be through the side gate of the school, following the one way system, then across the playground.
KS1 pupils will be escorted to their classrooms at the end of the session, and KS2 will follow the one way system back to their classrooms.
Each session is £2.25. Please book online by 5.00pm the day before, so a register can be printed off and passed to the Breakfast Care Leader for the next morning.
If you have any queries, please contact the Admin Team.

Tempest photography will be in school on Friday 25th September to take individual photos . Unfortunately, due to Covid19 they will be unable to take any family group photos. The photography area will be thoroughly cleaned between bubbles.

Tiddlers is now being run in the Tiny Tiddlers building. We have a fantastic new and improved outside space and still have a few spaces available if you require one.
You can check if your child is entitled to the 2 year old funding or the extended entitlement of 30 hours for 3+ years at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

We will be having the flu vaccination team into school during the morning of Monday 7th December 2020 to see all children between reception and year 6, this will be administered adhering to all up to date Infection Control, PPE and social distancing guidance at the time.

Flu vaccination is one of most effective interventions we have to reduce pressure on the health and social care system which is going to be more important than ever this year. For this reason, it is essential we deliver the vaccine to as many children as possible to prevent the spread of infection to those most at risk in society.

In light of the above we are expecting demand to be high and therefore we urge you to follow the below link to consent to your child’s vaccination now if you have not already done so. You will also find answers to your FAQ’s on this link.

https://schoolimms.virgincare.co.uk/flu/2020/devon

More detail online...

Class 5 will be swimming every Thursday afternoon this half term.
Sessions will be from Thursday 17th September – Thursday 22nd October

Swimming is part of the PE National Curriculum and all children will be expected to take part. As you are aware, the costs of transport and the hire of the pool and any instruction falls directly onto the school and whilst we have endeavoured to keep costs at a minimum, and is greatly subsidised by the school budget. A weekly contribution of £4.00 or the full 6 weekly sessions @ £24 can be paid online weekly or in full. Please see the letter sent home regarding times and clothing required.

School Uniform
As previously informed, you may now order directly from our supplier for your school uniform and accessories. We believe this will be a quicker and more convenient service for you.
We will continue to stock only a SMALL selection of SWEATSHIRTS ONLY in each size. Cardigans, book bags, PE bags, T-Shirts and Polo Shirts with logos can be ordered only from the shop retailer. You will not be able to order these items now on Scopay.
Plain white Polo shirts & PE-shirts can be bought at a selection of retailers including your local supermarket!

Please visit their shop at the address below.
Express Embroidery
Tracey Stantiford
3 Moxham Court
EX32 8HR
(By Barnstaple Bus Station)
Your may also email your uniform order directly to them wathen528@aol.com
Thank you

Unfortunately at this time we are unable to provide extra curricular activities outside of school hours. This will continue until at least half term.
We hope to resume these clubs as soon as we are able to.

Medicines form

Term Dates 2020 - 2021

Autumn Half term 26th - 30th October 2020

Last day of Autumn Term 18th December 2020

First day of Spring Term 5th January 2021

Spring Half-term 15th - 19th February, 2021.

Last day of Spring term is Wednesday 31st March, 2021.

Summer Term begins on 19th April, 2021.

School closed for Bank Holiday 3rd May 2021

Summer Half-term 31st May - 4th June 2021

Last day of the Summer term is Thursday 22nd July 2021.

Combe Martin School is part of the Alumnis Multi-Academy Trust, a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 11409631