Issue 921: 5th March 2021 – Sweyne Park School

Headlines

Return to School

Further to my letter sent yesterday, I do hope that you now have all of the information you need with regards to the return to school arrangements. To confirm, in order to enable us to test as many pupils as possible before resuming face-to-face learning, the phased return will be as follows:

	First Test	Mandatory Return to School Date (Assuming negative result)
Friday 5^th March	Year 12 and 13	Monday 8^th March
Monday 8^th March AM	Year 11	Tuesday 9^th March
Monday 8^th March PM	Year 10	Tuesday 9^th March
Tuesday 9^th March AM	Year 7	Wednesday 10^th March
Tuesday 9^th March PM	Year 9	Wednesday 10^th March
Wednesday 10^th March AM	Year 8	Thursday 11^th March

Of course, if your child is displaying any COVID related symptoms, they should not come into school, but must make an appointment, via the Government’s website, to take a PCR test as soon as possible.

Early next week you will receive the schedule for the 2^nd and 3^rd in-school tests that we are required to carry out. Once these have been completed, all pupils and students will be issued with home-testing kits which include instructions on how to administer the test and report the results to the NHS and to us at school. Please keep an eye on your emails for further information.

Whilst we can all see some light at the end of the tunnel, it is still important we continue to move forward carefully. As the country is still in a form of lockdown, please can I ask you to remind your son/daughter that they must comply with social distancing at all times, should not congregate outside of school, but go straight home at the end of the school day. Thank you for your support with this. I am sure a cautious approach will be worth it in the end.

Travelling to School Safely

Essex County Council has asked us to share with you a reminder on how pupils and students can travel to and from school safely:

If you live a short distance from school, walk, cycle or scoot to and from school wherever it is possible and safe to do so;
Avoid sharing a car with anyone outside of your household or support bubble;
If you are using public transport to get to school, please try to plan ahead and allow a little more time for your journey;
When you are travelling by public or dedicated school transport, please don’t forget to:
- wear a face covering (unless you are exempt) for the entirety of your journey, including inside the bus or train station
- social distance where possible
- wash or sanitise your hands regularly
- be considerate to fellow passengers and staff

Thank you for your support with this.

Year 9 Parents’ Evening

Thank you to everyone who attended our Year 9 Parents’ Evening last night. We had a fantastic rate of attendance, helped, I am sure, by the online School Cloud system we are using. I know that staff really enjoyed the chance to see their pupils, and to have the opportunity to catch up with them in what is an important year as they start the Options process.

Returning to Education

Essex County Council has produced two ‘Recovery and Return’ webinars to help support parents and families with children returning to education. Please click on the links below to access them online.

Looking After Yourself

Looking After Your Family

If you do need some extra support, please do refer to the variety of resources available on our website or click on the link below to access some useful documents from the Local Authority regarding support for well-being and mental health during the pandemic.

Learn more ...

The Essex Wellbeing Service also provides support to both schools and parents to to gain help and advice on well-being and mental health support. This service can be accessed via www.essexwellbeingservice.co.uk or by phoning 0300 303 988.

Finally, the Essential Living Fund is available for families who need emergency help with heating, water, food, bills and other essential household items, they can be contacted on 0300 7900 124 (8:45am-5:00pm).

Book of the Week

WHEN THE WORLD WAS OURS
by Liz Kessler (YA)

“Three friends. Two sides. One memory. Vienna. 1936. Three young friends – Leo, Elsa and Max – spend a perfect day together, unaware that around them Europe is descending into a growing darkness, and that events soon mean that they will be cruelly ripped apart from each other.

With their lives taking them across Europe – to Germany, England, Prague and Poland – will they ever find their way back to each other?

Will they want to?”

This is a heart-breaking, powerful & moving story of friendship, inspired by true events.

1st to 7th of March is British Pie Week.

Find yourself a Pie to Try …
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/pie