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ST MARY MAGDALENE’S SCHOOL

Dear Parent/Carers,

I hope everyone continues to be healthy and safe as we continue

with some easements of the Lockdown. I have to say, I have been

a little confused with some of the Guidance but hopefully people

will continue to be safe and sensible.

Further announcements have been made regarding schools

reopening this week. You should have received a letter

explaining the plan at St Mary Magdalene’s. We continue to

provide provision for Critical Workers and Vulnerable families,

and we are now very near capacity for safe Bubbles, following

our in-depth Risk assessments. Any concerns, please contact

school. I understand the confusion and dilemma of so many

parents in view of the ever- changing scenarios.

This has been a very long time for children not to be attending

school and I know many people are finding it more difficult to

engage and sustain children’s interest with their Home Learning.

Relationships with children for parents and teachers is very

different and many of you are doing a great job of being both,

with no respite. We are looking at the Home Learning provision.

Whilst neither the DFE nor Ofsted have any advice on

effectiveness or minimum standards of provision in relation to

support for remote learning in this new situation, I would draw

your attention to Lancashire on line resources. This newly

developed area on the website is populated with online learning

materials, developed by different services, which cover most

aspects and subjects from across the curriculum and also

consider the needs of children from all ability groups and

languages. I have included the Lancashire resources site https://

www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/online-

education/

Mr Beattie is continuing to work hard to develop the Virtual

Learning through Microsoft Teams. It was really lovely to see

children at the Drop-In sessions on Tuesday. The feedback has

been very positive indeed. Staff are hoping to be using this

facility more regularly to support children at home. We are just

ironing out some technical issues currently.

We are hoping to hold a Celebration Assembly through Teams

this week on Friday at 2.00am. You should have received a

notification to attend this. If not, please contact school.

The EYFS Team are busy preparing for the Induction of new

starters. Again, we have to adapt our usual Home and Nursery

visits. We are holding a Teams Induction meeting on Tuesday 16th

June at 6.00pm for new parents. Mrs Worrall will also be doing

some Socially Distanced visits to drop off Welcome and

Information packs.

Please note that staff may not always be able to respond

immediately to parents by e mail or telephone. They will respond

at the earliest opportunity.

Please keep the children in your prayers who should have been making their First Holy Communion this Sunday. We have postponed this important event for now but we will update you when we are able to. I hope the weather improves for the weekend!

Bridget Parkinson Headteacher

Headteacher Mrs B. Parkinson 12th June 2020

Home Learners of the week

for week commencing 1st June R - Ayla Flynn 1 - Charlie Hargreaves 2 - Lucy Wilson 3 - Alfie Bracey 4 - Isla Holden 5 - Darcy Bamber 6 - Joshua Wilson

Burnley Virtual Science and Technology Festival

Burnley college is holding a online science festival on 26th June which might be of interest to some of our children in school. Join in and learn about the amazing universe of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths – but this year, you don’t need to beat the crowds; you can experience all the fun from your own living room! Here is the link to the Facebook Event https://facebook.com/events/s/burnley-college-virtual-scienc/589447881678086/?ti=icl

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Online Safety Tips for Parents

Help your child learn

to filter information

online and navigate

fact from fiction.

If you would like to support the PTFA during this time there is www.yourschoollottery.co.uk with a chance to win our local prize, a national prize of £25,000 or this term a £100 B&Q voucher for only £1 a week! We are also a member of www.easyfundraising.co.uk where you can earn cashback for school with all your online purchases. Take Care and hope to see you all soon.

Please contact us at

ptfasmm@st-marymagdalenesrc.lancs.sch.uk or on our Facebook page SMM PTFA if you would like to

join us or be a volunteer at events.

How to make a bird feeder by Year 2

You will need:

Peanut butter

Bird food (seeds)

String (60cm approx.)

Toilet roll tube

Butter knife

Plate

Method:

Sprinkle the bird seeds onto a plate.

Spread the peanut butter onto the toilet roll tube with a butter knife.

(Make sure you cover the tube evenly.)

Roll the peanut butter tube into the bird seeds on the plate. (The more bird seeds, the better!)

Place the string through the tube and tie the two ends together to make a knot.

Hang your bird feeder from a branch, hook or ledge outside. (Try to place your bird feeder under some type of shelter.)

SATs Lockdown Congratulations to all the Year 6 children that got involved with the SATs Lockdown and we're pleased to say you all passed with flying colours! Congratulations to Cain for being the overall winner and please have a look below at some of their work:

Schools Games Sports Day 2020 Every year the Lancashire School Games

host a big sporting event in Blackpool. Unfortunately, this year it won’t be able to

take place. As it will not be taking place they have created a

virtual ‘sports day’ which can be done in school or at home. The date for this is

Tuesday 30th June. Further information will be posted in next

week’s newsletter.