Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Admissions 2021- Deadline for applications are 15th January 2021

  Mon 30 Nov 2020

  Admissions 2021

  As we move into the Christmas period of excitement, just a little reminder that if your child is due to start school in September 2021, you must apply for a school place by the 15th January 2021.  This can be done via the South Glos admissions pages. 

   

   https://find-information-for-adults-children-families.southglos.gov.uk/kb5/southglos/directory/advice.page?id=4vPD_KfmtZs&familychannel=2-2&channel=family

• Christmas activities in school this week

  Fri 27 Nov 2020

  Each class also made their class Christmas paper chains so that we can create a giant whole school paper chain to again show togetherness even when we can’t physically be together.   The school is now covered in glitter – exactly as any infant school should be at this time of year!

   

  Next week our ‘Moment of Joy’ is to decorate each classroom ready for Christmas and for every child to make their own Christmas tree decoration to put on their class tree.   Our whole school advent calendar, lights and whole school paper chain will also be going up ready for December 1st. 

• Children showing compassion, collective worship and Living the values

  Thu 26 Nov 2020

  This week Mr Jones taught the children about the word ‘Compassion’ highlighting the ‘passion’ part of the word encouraging us to think about showing with passion how much we care. We also learnt about the Unicef rights of a child and St. Andrew’s Day as that is on Sunday.

   

   

  Children showing compassion to others

  I would love to hear about how your children are showing compassion to others outside of school so if your child is doing something special for other people, whether in the wider community or in their family, I’d love to hear about this and celebrate it.  One of the most valuable things I think parents can teach their children is about how to show kindness and compassion to others and to think of others before themselves and I genuinely believe it will help them to turn into kind and compassionate adults who make our society a better place.  Covid does restrict this slightly but some nice ideas that I have tried with my own children or seen others do could include; making up packed lunches and delivering them to the homeless shelters or directly to homeless people in the centre of Bristol, writing letters and making cards for elderly neighbours or residential homes, doing a litter pick, donating some of their own money or raising some money for a charity.

   

  “Teaching children compassion is a vital part of their childhood learning journey – a skill that will help them throughout their life.  Through learning the importance of compassion, children will learn how to be kind to themselves, others and help those in need. As part of a broader skill se, compassion will help them to think creatively in situations, make decisions that inspire their personal journey, and pursue life with purpose.” Taken from Wild Kind Play School

   

  This week the staff values award goes to Mrs Courtney for showing compassion to Britannia Court, our neighbouring retirement village, and a local Food Bank by donating produce and organising cards for people who may be lonely.  The children’s awards go to 2 Cheetahs – Emilia and Nicholas.  Both children show compassion for others all of the time and have been caring for each other this week alongside other people.

   

   

• Catch-Up Funding

  Mon 23 Nov 2020 Lucy May

  Catch-Up Funding

  We have been delighted to introduce two new teachers to our school who have been employed using Catch-Up Funding provided by the Government.  Miss Appleby and Mrs Davies have now joined the teaching team in Y1 and 2 and will be working in the afternoons to either teach classes so that teachers can pop out of class to teach small groups from their class or to teach the small groups themselves.  This funding has been provided to help any children who were previously working at the expected standard in English and Maths before lockdown but who now need a bit of extra support to catch up.  This is no reflection of how much home learning they did when they couldn’t attend school as it has inevitably affected all children but some have coped better than others.  It is likely that any children getting this extra support daily will make rapid progress and then we will be able to identify new areas of focus or support different children.  You should have received a letter about this if your child has been identified as someone who would benefit from this additional teaching – please ask us if you have any questions.  We have also appointed Mrs Newby, who already works in the school, to work as a Reading Assistant and she reads with Y1 and 2 children across the school to help them to learn to read more fluently.

• Parent Council 23.11.20

  Mon 23 Nov 2020 Lucy May

  Parent Council 23.11.20

   

  Attended: Anna Martin, Jo Dyer, Jenna Lovegrove, Stacey Hunt

   

  Having teacher email addresses is super helpful - prevents them being bombarded on the door. Parents fed back that responses from staff were timely.

   

  Parents Evening – feedback about Zoom meetings is great. Lots preferred these over coming into the school. Less stressful for the kids and adults. Hopefully it was for the teachers. If we are back to normal by the next one we will offer Zoom, phone call or face to face in school.

   

  Some class doors have been opening late in the morning and at the end of the day. A reminder about junior siblings to be near the front for those who need to rush off to the junior. The doors opening late in the morning have created overcrowding whilst waiting and people are getting late for work.

   

  Communication about Giraffe class was really good – well managed by the school.

   

  Parents have really appreciated all the fun things recently for the kids.

  The Panto, Andy and the odd socks have gone down really well.

  They will LOVE the snow machine.

  Can we do more performances like the Panto rather than trips.

   

  Quality of lunches – lack of healthy options and variety. The restricted menu is due to COVID and having to provide table service due to children having to stay in bubbles. We have fed this back to Integra and they will make some tweaks.

   

  Remote learning for locked down classes – we discussed whether the infants should move towards Google Classroom or not. AM to take feedback from parents at CCJ and Giraffe Class to see what they thought. So far the video lessons we have done have gone down really well.

   

  Website – AM asked the parents to think about the website before the next meeting to gain feedback for GJ. The thing they said they felt people used it most for was before selecting school. May be useful if all home learning and Apps were on there.

   

  Flu Vaccine – please could the office staff write names and classes on the envelope so that we can contact anyone who hasn’t returned it to check they haven’t forgotten.

   

  What other moments of joy could we provide?

  Forest schools

  More pantos

  Silent discos

  Swimming

   

  Parents are smoking right outside the school gates – please can they be asked to move away slightly so children don’t have to walk past that, see that.

• Crisp Packet Donations

  Tue 17 Nov 2020 Lucy May

  Calling all crisp lovers!!! 

  We are on a mission to make 20 insulated blankets for the homeless in Bristol this winter.  It takes 150 empty packets to be ironed together to make 1 blanket so we need your help to collect 5000 wrappers.  Please wash your packets in warm soapy water and then place them in the box by reception.  Thank you so much in advance.

• School Photos

  Tue 17 Nov 2020 Lucy May

  The children had their school photos taken last week and this time we have asked Tempest (the photography company) to provide us with contactless ordering. You will be able to order direct from them. Keep an eye on your email for a message from them with the codes you will need to be able to place your order.

• Take care little Giraffes!

  Fri 13 Nov 2020

  It felt very hard to close our first class today due to Covid and we really hope you are all ok on hearing this inevitable news.
   

  We will miss our little Giraffes and their staff so much over the next two weeks and hope that everyone stays safe. 

   

  Sending our love and best wishes to our family who are unwell and wishing them a speedy recovery.

   

  Have a good weekend everyone, whether you are stuck in the house or can enjoy some time outside. 

   

  Anna Martin and the CCI Team

• Children in Need Donations, with Gift Aid for our Non-Uniform day on Friday 13th November.

  Wed 11 Nov 2020

  If you would like to give to Children in Need and our non-uniform day, please do so by following the below link, this will allow you to apply gift aid, if this is applicable to you.

   

  https://app.parentpay.com/ParentPayShop/Foc/Default.aspx?shopid=1452

   

• Reception 2021 virtual open evening

  Wed 04 Nov 2020

  Please share this presentation designed to replace our open evening for Reception parents 2021 with anyone you know is looking at schools for next year. This is in addition to our Virtual Tour video that we already shared.

   

  https://youtu.be/SP_76LXOOMo