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Half term catch up from Yewtree
Fri 30 Oct 2020Dear Parents and Carers,
I do hope you have all had a lovely half term despite the rather inclement weather. I managed to get out and about today with my twins. We went to Ashridge House and did the pumpkin trail which I have to say was rather pleasant. Even better that George fell asleep for the journey home only to wake when we went to get some Halloween gingerbread biscuits.
Halloween is very different for us all this year and tomorrow we are going to wander around the area spotting rainbow pumpkins; for everyone we spot they get some sweeties in their bucket - I'm just hoping the weather holds!
You may have seen on Hemel Community Facebook page that tomorrow there is a Halloween motorbike parade driving around Hemel Hempstead starting at Maylands and touring the area. I am also hoping that many of you have taken advantage of the many eateries in Hemel Hempstead offering free lunches for those families who are entitled to free school meals. It is lovely to see the community pulling together during these difficult times.
I just wanted to remind you that school recommences on Monday 2nd November with the gate opening at 8.30am. Sherpa run a breakfast and after school club should you require wrap around care. Bookings are made direct with them.
I hope that you all managed to attend your virtual parent consultation. If you did not manage to attend and would like to have a chat with your child's class teacher please email them directly. The email address is on your parent booklet which was distributed just before half term.
At Yewtree, we are all aware of the importance of regular attendance as that enables children to access the teaching sequence and make great progress. The whole school attendance statistic for the week before half term was 94.9%. An improvement on the previous week however still below the 96% attendance that the Government expects. It would be great to start the first week of the second half of term by smashing that statistic!
Looking forward to seeing you all on Monday
Have a lovely weekend
Tracy Prickett
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Testing Positive for Coronavirus over the Half Term
Fri 23 Oct 2020Dear Parents/Carers
If your child tests positive for coronavirus at any point during half-term, please notify us as soon as possible so we can complete the relevant tracking and tracing process with public health and notify any other children or staff who have been close contacts and need to self-isolate. During half-term you should contact head@yewtree.herts.sch.uk. Please don’t call the normal absence line as this won’t be covered during half-term.
Remember as soon as your child or any member of your household develops symptoms, they must start self-isolating immediately and book a test.
Main symptoms of coronavirus are:
• a high temperature
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot, for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
• a loss or change to sense of smell or taste – this means they cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
If you’re not sure whether symptoms suggest that they have coronavirus or an everyday cough or cold, you can consult this online NHS symptom checker: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/
Please do not send children back to nursery or school if any of the following apply:
• they have symptoms of COVID-19
• they, any members of your household, or any close contacts (including extended family or friends they have seen and bubbles at half-term activities and sports clubs) have tested positive for COVID-19
• they haven’t completed the full 14 day isolation period requested
If you or your family are affected by COVID-19 and need support locally with things like shopping, getting medication or financial advice, visit: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/coronavirus
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Welcome to the latest edition of Families First News
Fri 23 Oct 2020Welcome to the latest edition of Families First News
We hope you enjoy reading yet another busy edition.
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Update from Yewtree 19.10.2020
Mon 19 Oct 2020Dear Parents and Carers,
Good afternoon and what a lovely sunny day it is!
Apologies for not communicating to you over the weekend, I had to invest some 'parent hours' this weekend and I have to say my French (which I haven't studied since I was 14) is improving and I now know all about the colonisation of Canada. Because I like to keep myself busy, I have enrolled in the Executive Leadership Programme which has meant that I have had to do some study.
Welcome to week 7, this is our final week before we break for half term next week. Last Friday you should have received your child's report. If you haven't received it please check their bag and then give us a call. Included within the envelope is the Registration Certificate. This informs you of your child's attendance statistic. At the end of this half term, I will be monitoring attendance and team members will be writing to parents where attendance is below 93%. The Government expects a 96% attendance statistic and we are all aware the impact a lack of attendance has on our children making good progress and achieving age related outcomes. Our whole school attendance for last week was 94.5% which was a dip on the previous week. I appreciate we are working in different times and we are all protective of our school community however if your child is well enough to be at school it is important they are here.
This week at Yewtree is parent consultation week. I know many of you have signed up for a MSTeams consultation slot. This does mean that you are not required to attend school site for the meeting this year. If you have not booked your slot please contact the office who will be able to support you with the process. The school report will be the starting point for the conversation and this is a great opportunity to find out how they have settled back into 'Yewtree life' and if your child needs catching up due to the school closure what can be done as a collaborative approach.
This week we continue our pupil outcome meetings. This is where I or a member of my SLT, meets with the class teacher and we discuss every single child in the class. We look at their current attainment, progress and what that child needs to move them forward. It is lovely as this is an opportunity for me to really get to know your children. After half term I plan to get into classes and watch the children in action!
It is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of this half term; as they say time flies when you are having fun!
As always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or suggestions just drop me an email or speak to me when I am 'out and about' on the playground.
Kind Regards
Tracy Prickett