This morning, we begin week 8 of the forced school closure. 

If school was open, this would have been the annual SATs week and our Year 6 children would be sitting their Statutory Assessment Tests (SATs): Monday-Thursday.  As it is, school remains closed for most of our pupils.  Miss Lees, the Year 6 teacher has written a little poem for our Year 6 children.  CLICK HERE to read it. 

A message for our Year 6 pupils:

Unfortunately, due to the national emergency we have been advised that theatres will not re-open until 28^th June. 

It is with a sad heart that I have to inform you that the London Residential Visit will have to be cancelled this year, due to the national emergency.

From Mr Batey

We will of course look in to refunding all monies paid for this visit in due course.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced that primary schools may possibly begin a phased re-opening, week beginning 1^st June 2020.  He indicated that Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 may be able to return to school after the may half-term holiday.  It is important to emphasise that this is conditional on the state of the national emergency, at that time.  In addition, he also encouraged workers to return to work, if they could not work from home.

During this very difficult time, our school continues to offer Emergency Childcare for our most vulnerable children and the children of key workers, who are unable to work from home.

The Government have clearly stated:

Critical workers are defined as parents whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response, including those who work in health and social care and in other critical sectors.

However, many parents working in these critical sectors will be able to ensure their child is kept at home.

Every child who can be safely cared for at home should be, to limit the chance of the virus spreading. 

Therefore, if children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading. 

Over the coming days, I am sure that we will gain clarity on the Government’s position and the implications for our school.  In due course, as the picture develops, I will endeavour to keep you up to date and explain the changes for you.

For now, for our school community we ‘keep going.’

Food Boxes ordered for this week will be delivered to school on Tuesday 12^th May 2020 and can be collected from 12.30pm until 3.45pm, tomorrow.

Today, the teachers will upload this week’s ‘weekly bite’ which will help parents to explore the topics in manageable ‘bite-size’ chunks. 

This week the children can look forward to learning about:

• Mrs Banfield-NEW:  Week 8 - Weekly bite: Castle History

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• Mrs Eggleston-NEW:  Week 8 - Weekly bite: Castle History

• Mrs Tinkley and Mr Liversidge-NEW:  Week 8 - Weekly bite: Rivers

• Miss Sugden-NEW:  Week 8 - Weekly bite: Rivers

• Mrs Webster-NEW:  Week 8 - Weekly bite: African Culture

• Mr Caton-NEW:  Week 8 - Weekly bite: African Culture

• Miss Kirk and Miss Swatton-NEW:  Week 8 - Weekly bite:  The Swinging Sixties

• Miss Lees-NEW: Week 8 - Weekly bite:  The Swinging Sixties

The teachers have created NEW Curriculum Videos to support children with the weekly bites:

1. Reception and Year 1: Mrs Banfield and Terrance have visited Newark Castle on their daily walk to learn all about the Castle’s history! CLICK HERE

1. Year 1 and 2: Miss Sugden visited the banks of the River Trent to explore the River.  CLICK HERE. 

1. Year 3: Mrs Webster has created some formal multiplication tutorials as well as some tutorials on the bus stop method for multiplication to support her class.

1. Year 3 and 4: Mr Caton has created a brilliant 'cooking with Mr Caton' video to link to Year 3 and 4's topic of African Culture. CLICK HERE

1. Year 5 and 6: Mis Kirk, Miss Swatton and Miss Lee’s have created a fun Sixties Dance Tutorial Video.  CLICK HERE

Don’t forget, you can also access regular daily lessons in English and Maths, as well as other core subjects, in a new version of the BBC Bitesize website, as well as from the new Oak National Academy. 

For those children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 you can also access free daily Phonics Lessons.  All links available on your child’s class page.

This week, please could we ask parents to continue to support their children with:

• Handwriting:  produce written work, at home, using a joined handwriting style.  Their writing should be evenly sized with clear ascenders (h, k, l) as well as descenders (j, g, p, q).  When working at home, please remind your children about their handwriting and encourage them to do their very best.

• Reading fluency and stamina, using a range of reading material e.g. reading books or wider.  The children should be encouraged to read at length for over a period of 10-15 minutes per day and parents should add written comments to their child’s Reading Record;

• Spelling proficiency, using the online resources on the Class Pages or the Home Learning Guidance.  All children should continue to practice spelling the Curriculum Word Lists which can be found in the Spelling Jotters, there are word lists for: Year 1 and 2, Year 3 and 4, Year 5 and 6;

• Mental Arithmetic skills, using the Times Tables Rockstars App.  The children will then have the opportunity to practice recalling of the multiplication and associated division facts which is appropriate for their age;

Please feel free to ‘pick n mix’ these online resources which will supplement the school’s Home Learning Guidance as well as the individual content available on the Class Pages.

Please remember to contact your child’s class teacher this week. 

This could be simply to:

• confirm that ‘all is well’ at home and your child is happy with the tasks that they are doing;
• to share some work with your child’s teacher; or
• to ask for further support around a particular activity.

The teachers and I remain on-hand to support you through these times.  Please use the e-mails:

• ReceptionandYear1teachers@barrowby.lincs.sch.uk-For Mrs Banfield and Mrs Eggleston
• Year1and2teachers@barrowby.lincs.sch.uk-For Miss Sugden, MrsTinkley and Mr Liversidge
• Year3teacher@barrowby.lincs.sch.uk-For Mrs Webster
• Year4teacher@barrowby.lincs.sch.uk-For Mr Caton
• Year5teachers@barrowby.lincs.sch.uk-For MIss Kirk & Miss Swatton
• Year6teacher@barrowby.lincs.sch.uk-For Miss Lees

NEW Today:

1. NEW: Daily Challenges by Mr Batey

You can choose from challenges 1-28. This week:  Mr Batey would like you to choose any of the Daily Challenges Videos and:

• Complete once (count your score)
• Repeat Challenge (count your score)-can you beat your first score.

Email your class teachers, by Thursday 14^th May, to share the outcome of the Challenge.  Class teachers will forward your Challenge results to Mr Batey.  Good luck everyone!

Why not give it a go?  

I know that these are uncertain times for us all but we will continue to support our school community as best we can.    

Stay safe.