Welcome to St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, where our high expectations for learning, behaviour and responsibility enable our children to let their light shine!
Friday 26th June 2020
Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you and your families continue to keep well and safe.
Thank you, once again, for your continued support, partnership and understanding since schools were officially asked to close on March 20th.
In line with government guidance, St Mary’s school began the phased re-opening last week with Year 6. This week we re-opened further ‘bubbles’ in the Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 year groups. Our vulnerable and key worker groups in line with government guidance continue.
Systems have been set up across the school to keep each bubble separate from other bubbles, each with their own room for their safety. The school environment has been adjusted, as well as the classrooms to provide social distancing, and to put in protective safety measures. There are also staggered start and end times of the day, as well as their own outdoor spaces. Due to staffing constraints, hygiene requirements and space, the bubbles may not be in their own classroom or with their class teacher.
School leaders with staff review the re-opening regularly, so far all are pleased with how the wider re-opening has progressed, the protective safety measures in place, and adjusting to the changes in the school environment.
With the phased re—opening, we aim to safely increase numbers in some of the bubbles next week and open a final bubble from next Tuesday. Those on the waiting list in the eligible year groups will be contacted. You would have received a link yesterday to the letter which went out providing updates of the school’s re-opening this week and the next step of the phased re-opening.
We understand that some of our families are concerned about the safety of returning to school and choose to keep their children at home using the home learning route. We understand, please call or email the parent support email address if you would like to discuss this further. We are following government and local authority guidance with protective safety measures in place at school.
For those who cannot yet come back to school home learning provision continues. This week we started using the Islington home learning resources, for children at home and at school. Those who are home learning, please do this at a comfortable pace for you and for your child. You can continue to use google classroom or class dojo (for Reception and Year 1) to let your teacher know how your child is getting on, or if you would like some guidance from your teacher. There is also the opportunity to nurture life skills and we have heard some lovely feedback of the baking, art and healthy lifestyle activities going on from home. Well done.
We do not underestimate how difficult recent weeks have been for us all with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. We have sent out details of support that is available for families through support agencies. If you would like further details, please email our parent support email address or call at the school office where Monica or David will take your call.
We thank you once again for your patience and understanding for us during this time where school operations are different. Despite shortages of staff in some areas, we are all doing the very best for your home learning provision, onsite provision, responding to families through the google classroom and class dojo, as well as our office team responding to your calls and emails.
With my best wishes, Genevieve Prayag, Headteacher
