18th September 2020 Newsletter

Dear all

I hope everyone has had a good week but goodness what a sharp change in the temperature from Monday and Tuesday. As per usual the children have been stars– still smiling, still working hard and still adapting! We met our New Early Years children as whole classes this week and they have been excellent, they have settled in so well– what a smooth entry into school. We wish them well in their learning journey at St Michael’s.

Again I must thank all parents and carers for their consideration regarding the staggered drop off times– parents are on time, only 1 adult per family is arriving and everyone is leaving the playground very promptly. The only thing I would ask is for all parents to make sure they are standing 2m distanced from the person in front of them as they wait to come into the playground to collect their child from the drop “ waiting bay”.

I am however very aware of the frustrations we are all experiencing in regard to tests for children with what would appear to be Covid symptoms.

The whole situation is extremely frustrating for all of us. This is a national problem with schools put into a difficult situation of deciding whether to allow a child and their siblings in school or not. However we received new guidance last night: a cold and all the accompanying symptoms e.g. runny nose, a slight cough etc  is not Covid-19 and a test should not be sought. Your child, if well enough is safe to be in school.  However if your child has the following symptoms: a continuous dry cough which goes on for an hour with perhaps 3 bouts per day, a temperature– skin that is hot to the touch and loss of smell or taste, then this could be Covid-19 so a test should be sought with self isolation in the meantime whilst waiting for the test and the result. Your child only needs to experience one of these symptoms to be considered as possibly having Covid.

If you are having to keep your child at home please do access the school Jotter learning platform which is on our website under your child’s year group. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the button. All the work will be posted up from your child’s teacher which your child can complete and then either upload back to the platform or take a photo and send into the school office via the office email for marking by the teacher.

Mrs K Sexton