Head Teacher Blog: Friday 12th March 2021

Date: 12th Mar 2021 @ 1:13pm

What a strange start to the week we had! After looking forward to re-opening and welcoming back all our gorgeous children for so long, it didn’t quite go to plan did it? The burst water main on High Street wreaked havoc with our plans but I was determined to get the children in as soon as we could. Thank you so much for bearing with us during the course of Monday morning and we were so pleased to have all the children back in for lunchtime. The joy on their faces - and yours - spoke volumes. The children were delighted to see their friends and staff and settled right back into the classroom environment as if they hadn’t been away!

I know that I have asked several times before and am beginning to sound like a stuck record, but it is so important that people do not arrive early and queue along the pavement, around the cross area or on the other side of the cross in front of the shops before their five minute slot – I understand where people might do this when they have dropped a sibling at an earlier time though and this can’t be helped. I do not enjoy having to ask people to leave or keep distance from each other and would much rather people just arrived within their allotted time. I also know that I actually have no authority over this but would hope that people appreciate that I am just doing my best to keep people safe. I appreciate that you all enjoy seeing each other and chatting to each other just as much as we enjoy seeing and chatting with the children, but under the current restrictions, the school run is not the time or the place to socialise. Once again, I have detailed below the arrival windows and you should not arrive any earlier than this, it just means that you queue elsewhere, blocking the pavement for the public or people who want to enter the sandwich shop and then the children go in and queue again on the playground.

Class	Drop Off Between:	Children Enter School	Arrive for Collection Between:	Children Leave School
Blakemere	8.25am – 8.30am	8.30am	2.40pm – 2.45pm	2.45pm
Linmere	8.25am – 8.30am	8.30am	2.40pm – 2.45pm	2.45pm
Oakmere	8.30am – 8.35am	8.35am	2.45pm – 2.50pm	2.50pm
Delamere	8.35am – 8.40am	8.40am	2.50pm – 2.55pm	2.55pm
Sandymere	8.40am – 8.45am	8.45am	2.55pm – 3.00pm	3.00pm
Hatchmere	8.45am – 8.50am	8.50am	3.00pm – 3.05pm	3.05pm

Information from Cheshire West and Chester

Cheshire West and Chester have asked all primary schools to share the following information with their school communities:

We’ve been working closely with the local public health team to ensure we’re following the latest Government guidance and necessary precautions to make our schools COVID-secure so we were ready to welcome pupils back from the 8 March. Although infection rates are coming down gradually in the area, we can all play our part to help reduce transmission of the virus by following these simple measures:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water or hand sanitiser;
• Wear a face covering when entering public indoor buildings or travelling on public transport;
• Make space by keeping a two-metre distance from anyone outside your household, where possible;
• Self-isolate with your household and get a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms by calling 119 or visiting nhs.uk/coronavirus;
• Self-isolate for 10 days if you are a contact of a confirmed case.

Pupils and families are also reminded to follow the COVID-19 safety measures in place in schools:

• All adults to wear a face covering when visiting or entering the school/early years premises including outdoor yard areas;
• Parents/carers to arrive and leave promptly when dropping off/collecting their child – please do not congregate and maintain social distancing as we know that the virus is easily transmitted from person to person; 
• In schools where it has been agreed that a parent/carer can enter the school premises for drop-off and pick-up, only one adult should enter; 
• Pupils are to avoid congregating outside school, mixing with pupils from other schools and should go directly home. 

If you’re a member of a household, childcare bubble or support bubble of staff or a pupil in primary or secondary school you can also get a twice-weekly rapid lateral flow test. You can collect two packs of home test kits at a local collection point, which are open daily from 1pm to 7pm. Households in England with people who attend or work in schools in Wales are also eligible to access these tests. Full details of where you an access a test can be found on the Testing and Self-Isolation section of the Government website:  www.gov.uk/coronavirus

From the 8 March the Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme will be extended to assist parents and guardians whose child is required to self-isolate. This is restricted to one parent or guardian who are unable to work due to caring for a child who is required to self-isolate. For more details, go to the ‘How to get help’ section at: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/covid

Census 2021

We have also been asked by Cheshire West and Chester to share the following information with our families about this year’s national census:

The census is a survey that happens every 10 years and gives us a picture of all the people and households in Wales and England.

The government, local councils, charities and many other organisations use census information to decide how to spend billions of pounds on services every year. This includes spending on transport, education and healthcare.  By taking part in the census, you’ll help make sure your community gets the services it needs.

To make sure money is spent where it’s most needed, it’s important that the census counts everyone.

You must complete the census by law. Look out for your pack in the post. It will show you how to complete your census questionnaire. There will be plenty of help for people who need it. Your answers are protected by law and will be kept confidential.

Find out more: www.census.gov.uk

National 2021 Census Contact Centre: 0800 141 2021

England NGT (text relay service) (18001) 0800 141 2021

Language helpline: 0800 587 2021

Cheshire West and Chester Council are operating a local Census Support Centre to provide advice and support for completing the census to local residents. The contact number is 0300 123 7728 and the opening hours are Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm.

#WakeUpWednesday

WhatsApp began a new era of instant messaging when it launched in 2009 and it cost Facebook $19 billion to buy out five years later. However, recent tweaks to WhatsApp’s privacy policy might have jeopardised that investment, with millions reported to be abandoning the app in recent months.

So exactly what safety concerns do people have? Were they right to be worried? Have other updates to the app made it more secure for young people… or less? This week’s free #WakeUpWednesday guide runs the rule over WhatsApp.

Informing School of a Positive Result

Now that we are all back in school, please may I remind you that if any of your children have to take a COVID test and the result comes back positive, we need to know this at school as a matter of urgency, whether it is evenings or weekends, to enable us time to organise things in school and contact the relevant people. During school hours, please call the office on 01606 592608 – do not leave an answer phone message – please continue to ring until you speak to someone. If it is the evenings or weekends, please e mail your child’s name and class to positiveresult@overstjohns.cheshire.sch.uk This is for positive results in children only. If your child needs to isolate as a direct contact of someone in your household, childcare or support bubble who has tested positive, please e mail the normal admin@overstjohns.cheshire.sch.uk address.

Confirmed Dates for the Spring Term 2021

Thursday 1^st April: School closes for Easter with bubble closure times as follows:

Blakemere at 1:45pm

Linmere at 1:45pm

Oakmere at 1:50pm

Delamere at 1.55pm

Sandymere at 2pm

Hatchmere at 2.05pm

 

Have a lovely weekend,

Mrs E Snowdon

 

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