October 2020 Newsletter
Dear Parents/Carers,
We have all really enjoyed the first half term with your children. We have been surprised at how quickly and easily they have settled into the new routine despite the long absence from school. It has been lovely to see them coming out of class smiling at the end of the school day – a great start to the year!
Thank you for your cooperation and support with the new school procedures, particularly the new staggered drop off and collection times and for wearing face coverings when collecting your children. We understand that it hasn’t been easy. However, as cases continue to rise both locally and nationally, it is important that we continue to work together to reduce the risk of virus transmission and to keep everyone safe as far as possible.
Google Classroom
As many of you are aware, all homework is available online through Google Classroom. This is to ensure that all pupils can access and submit work in the event of a partial school closure or isolation period. If your child does need to isolate at home for any reason, they are expected to complete their class work on Google Classroom. Teachers have set up a “Work from home” folder which includes topics covered in school that week. Pupils should submit the work using this facility and teachers will provide feedback and return the work to your child.
It is the school’s expectation that pupils complete the online work, whether this is weekly homework or work during periods of isolation. This is to ensure that they practise skills learnt in school and avoid falling behind academically. Any work not submitted will be followed up by the class teacher and parents may be contacted to discuss the situation.
If your child experiences difficulty logging on, please contact the school via email or telephone and a member of the team will return your call and provide you with some assistance.
If your child does not have access to a laptop or tablet, please get in touch with us. We have a limited number of laptops in school which can be loaned to families.
Sickness and Covid testing
As you are aware we had confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Y6 last week and as a result all pupils and staff in that bubble are now required to self –isolate until Saturday 31st October. Please ensure that if your child is displaying any Covid related symptoms that they do not attend school and that you contact the school to keep us informed. Equally, if your child has had a Covid test for any reason, please let the school know.
If you are experiencing problems getting a test please get in touch as we may be able to assist you.
Breakfast Club
We are pleased to announce that our new breakfast club will be continuing after half term. The provision is open from 7:45am and we are now accepting child care vouchers. At the moment we have vacancies so if you have not yet completed the online Google Form to secure a place, please let the school office know as soon as possible.
Winning House this Half Term
The winning house in our house point league tables this half term is Weir. Children in Weir house may come to school in home clothes on Monday 2nd November. Pupils in all other houses must come to school in full uniform as normal.
P.E. Kit
As the weather has turned colder children are wearing tracksuits to school on their P.E. days so we would like to remind you that they must be plain dark tracksuits. Please do not send your child into school wearing tracksuits with transfers or logos on.
Contact Information
Please ensure that the contact information that we hold is up to date, including all contact numbers and email addresses. It is important that we are able to communicate information to you, especially in case of emergency.
Class Attendance and Award Winners
Please take a look at the Home page of our school website www.shj.havering.sch.uk every week and check our Award winners via the Useful Links tab. We publish the attendance for each class for the week and which Upper and Lower school class has won our Attendance Awards. We also publish which House has been awarded the most house points and which children have achieved a gold certificate each week. We would also like to encourage you to check the Calendar regularly for updates too.
Salisbury Road Car Free Street
We would like to remind you that as from Monday 21st September, Salisbury Road became a pedestrian and cycle zone only between 8am and 9.30am and 2.30pm and 4pm from Monday to Friday during term time. The zone is enforced by unattended cameras positioned on Heath Park Road and Brentwood Road facing into Salisbury Road. Any vehicles entering the zone within these times will be issued with a penalty.
Dr Bike
We have been informed by Cycle Confident, the company who deliver our Bikeability training, that they are offering drop in sessions where a professional bike mechanic provides a bike check. This will include minor adjustments and fixes using common spare parts where possible. Some fixes may need bulkier and more specialist tools which could not be done on the day and would need to be referred to a bike shop.
These sessions are open to our pupils at Romford Market at the following times:
31st Oct - 9:00 to 17:00
11th Nov - 9:00 to 16:30
Questions or Concerns
A reminder that if you have any questions or concerns, it is important that you let us know as soon as possible. We will work hard to resolve any problems as quickly as we can. Our team are here to help and your child’s happiness and well-being are important to us.
We look forward to welcoming you all back to school on Monday 2nd November. Have a lovely half term.
With all good wishes,
