Dear Parents/carers

I hope this email finds you well and that you haven’t been tempted to eat too much chocolate over the Easter period.

I know that many of you continue to follow online sites in order to keep up your fitness levels, but if you are struggling to work off that chocolate, Mr Whincup has added another resource to the end of this update which may give you a few new ideas.

Next week would have seen the summer term starting and children beginning new topics here in school. On our website, we have already published the outline of the curriculum for each year group in order to help you to think about new areas you might wish to look at with your child. The teachers are continuing to add new activities and have already added ideas for the start of the new term. Whilst we have set up folders for each year group – there is no problem with looking at the activities in another year group as well. It is finding activities that inspire your child that is the most important thing at the moment.

Whilst the weather remains mainly fine, it is also important to make the most of your daily walk, run or cycle to appreciate the world around us. Whilst we are confined, the wildlife is having a whale of a time especially the birds who are absolutely singing their hearts out at the moment.

In terms of music, Mrs Malone has added even more resources and is loving receiving recordings of your music making. The newest items are included at the end of this update, as well as being posted on the website. Join in with the birds and enjoy your own music making!

As mentioned before the BBC has been putting together resources to support parents and these go live on Monday 20^th April. Follow the link below for more information:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52149409

 

On a more serious note, if your financial circumstances have changed significantly due to the impact of the coronavirus and you are now eligible for universal credits, you may then be entitled to Free School Meals. The full criteria and details of how to make an application can be found by following the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

If you do make a successful application, could you please let the school office know by email at:

Adminoffice@st-marys-jun.hants.sch.uk

 

Finally, I would like to remind you to maintain a balance in all things and specially to ensure that you have fun and time as a family. It is important for everyone to limit screen time, even adults, and ensure that we follow the same set of rules to ensure everyone remains safe online. Please keep looking at the Online Safety section of our website and revisit activities on a regular basis.

Thank you once again for your many kind words of support.

On behalf of all the staff at St Mary’s I wish you and your family all the very best.

Stay safe.

 

Caroline Welch

Headteacher

 

Music Update Message from Mrs Malone

There is still much music going on at St Mary’s despite the current situation. Some of the children have found their own way of music making out of school. Have a look at this great project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tLbCXpa-eE. Congratulations to our musicians who participated in this virtual youth orchestra. Please do let us know if your child has done something similar or if you hear of things that other could join in with.

Online Music learning can be found in the Parents/How to help your child with/Music section of the school website. Some great work on BandLab has been submitted by years 4, 5 and 6 and I hope that year 3 children have enjoyed playing the fantastic “Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” game. There are some tricky levels but it is well worth the challenge.  Not only is it great for music learning but it’s a sneaky way to get children reading!

Online Music Clubs are now starting so if your child is a member of a school music club please do check the Curriculum/Music Section of the School Website. The first online club will be Senior Choir but plans for Recorders and Orchestra are coming very soon. All you need is a device that records audio such as a phone. All resources can be downloaded and instructions are simple – so please do start recording and sending submissions. We will start with familiar music so that children can share immediately with family what they have been learning.

Hearts for St Mary’s Art/ Music Project. The Senior Choir project is to sing a song they didn’t get to perform sadly. I am going to mix the voices and create a presentation. To go with this, I would love colourful hearts from ALL our school community. Please send photos/ scans of art work (or Lego models, junk models, hama beads, painting, chalking on the pavement etc!) to Mrs Malone via email.  Landscape would be best and please don’t have names or images of children in the artwork.  More details can be found on the Curriculum/Music Section of the School Website

Hampshire Music Service is launching their online music learning platform after Easter. Parents should have received a letter regarding this.

Parents can email Mrs Malone at  R.Malone@st-marys-jun.hants.sch.uk

 

 

Real PE at home – online learning resources

real PE at home includes an online programme which supports families to be active, play and learn together. It includes a programme specifically for children in Early Years and Key Stage 1 with 12 themes, 6 areas, over 250 activities and challenges and 1000s of hours of fun and activity.

For children in Key Stage 2 there are carefully selected personal best challenges, skills and games designed for the home and garden. Daily and weekly guidance is provided for both programmes in addition to an option to choose your own themes and activities.

There are so many benefits to being active, not only to our physical wellbeing but also to our emotional and mental health, especially in such testing times for all of us. We hope that the ideas help support you and your family to stay fit and healthy in the coming months. Here are the details to access real PE at home:

The website address is: home.jasmineactive.com 
Parent email: parent@stmaryscej-1.com

Password: stmaryscej