Dear Parents,
I start my message today by giving a big THANK YOU on behalf of the Hollygirt community to all front line workers and what they are facing on a day to day basis.
Teaching, Learning and Communicating
We are listening to suggestions coming in and key staff are working in the background to put structures in place to enable those teachers who wish to deliver virtual lessons to do so with some of their classes. We think they will also be able to be recorded so they can be played back later if the live session is missed. We know that some children miss our direct explanations and face to face interactions and hope that after Easter there will be more interactivity happening. Resourcing will continue via SatchelOne as well. This is work in progress now.
In the meantime can I reiterate that the work set does not have to be completed in the ‘live time’ as per timetabled lessons. It does not have to be finished, in some cases even started if it is a bad day. I do not wish children to feel under any pressure in their individual circumstances, or feel they are getting behind. We are putting all online, lesson by lesson, to encourage engagement. We would love all children to do something of everything, but we would be happy knowing that each is doing what they can.
Easter Holidays
Whilst school will be physically closed for the duration, we will be doing our best to keep in touch with the children and to give things to do, for example: project work. This will be voluntary! Children can still continue with any work previously set if they wish to and are able to. We will not be following the normal timetable but we know that for those in a good home routine now, keeping this going will be the very best thing to support our families. It is true that the days all blur together and there will be little differentiation between school days, weekend days and holiday days as we have nowhere to go and most of our holiday pursuits are out of bounds.
I am asking teachers to keep in touch with the children throughout their break and we will add lots of other ideas and suggestions for things to do to keep well and occupied.
Scam Alert
The following scam is being attempted and it is perhaps the worst possible. Emails are being received from friends’ email accounts purporting to be from those friends which say:
“I have just lost my (relative) to COVID-19 and consequently I have started a fundraising page you can contribute to here …..”. Please be aware that this exists and do not respond.
Key Worker Children
We are open for the children of key workers on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week. If children are definitely coming in, could you please let us know so I can let staff know who to expect each day. (Today I sent the junior teachers home as no-one came).
I am sorry there is no facility for childcare over the Easter break.
Keep well.
Mrs Pam Hutley
Headmistress