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Newsletter no 6  -  Week Ending  13th January 2023

Colliers Green welcomed local MP Greg Clark to school this morning. Having not been here since before the construction of the new buildings, he was very impressed with our light and airy classrooms. Fortunately the rain held off so he was able to enjoy CG in the winter sunshine, although he parked in the carpark so was sympathetic to our current issues with the terrain! Class 4 did an excellent job of asking some really inciteful questions about life as a member of parliament, and presented Greg with a pack of letters discussing the importance of making schools more sustainable and the feasibility of installing solar panels to all new builds. – an idea he seemed to really agree with.

Thanks also to Catherine Lloyd, who joined the visit in her governor capacity.

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Green Team News

This year, we will be taking part in the RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch when we will be joining thousands of other schools to find out which birds visit our school grounds.

In preparation for the Big Schools’ Birdwatch we will be putting up feeders around school to encourage as many birds as possible to visit our patch. If you would like to support us with this, you can help by donating bird food or loaning feeders to us. 

Please hand contributions to any adult on the gate. There are lots of brilliant ideas on how to make  bird feeders from recycled materials on many websites and this can be a great rainy day activity to do with your children eg:

https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-kids/games-and-activities/activities/make-a-recycled-bird-feeder

Alternatively, you can take part in your very own bird watch between 27th-29th January by signing up for your free guide to the Big Garden Birdwatch.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/

We would love to find our what birds are visiting your gardens so please send any results or photos of your children recording birds or making feeders to cmoorhouse@colliers-green.kent.sch.uk. This will help the RSPB understand how UK birds are doing in the face of the nature and climate emergency as well as contributing to our Green Flag application!

Carpark

We are in the process of coming to a more permanent solution to the waterlogged carpark situation, but I appreciate that in the short term, alternative arrangements may be necessary.  We will also unlock the gate on Marden Road (the one near the multi-surface, NOT the kissing gate), and a gate by the school house, for you to drop your children off if you wish to avoid the carpark. There will be a member of staff of each of these gates, and the usual entrance, to greet your children, so we would ask that you leave them with us to go straight in and make their way to class, allowing us to keep the roads as clear and free-flowing as possible. Gates will be unlocked at 8:45, so children can be dropped off from then. Class 1 and 2 children should be in by 8:50 as normal, class 3 and 4 by 9:00. Regarding pick-up, the children will be walked down to the multi-surface playground for you to collect from there. The same gates will be unlocked: school house, Marden Road and normal carpark, so it is up to you where you park. Please note that the gates will not be unlocked until 3:20 for class 1 and 2 collection. Classes 3 and 4 will come out at 3:30. I know some of you like to arrive very early, but please try to keep the roads as clear as possible. Clubs will also be dismissed from the multi-surface. These arrangements will be in place until the weather and waiting area dries out a little; at which point we will let you know of the change back to normal. There may well be a couple of teething issues with increased traffic on the roads, so I would appreciate your patience with all the staff whilst we try to help you.   

Miss Hopkins

First Aid

On the 7th February we have invited FAB First Aid in to school to teach all children in Years 1 through to 6 the basics of first aid.  

We believe this to be a vital life skill, benefiting both families and children.   Hopefully the children will be confident to pass on their knowledge after the event!

We are asking for a voluntary donation of £2 per child for the training if you are able to help us with the cost.

Upon finishing the course all children will receive a certificate, first aid booklet and sticker. 

 

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Attendance 

Please can we ask you for your support with your child/ren's attendance. 

The expectation of the local authority is 95% as a minimum.   Whilst we head into the winter months we do appreciate that children are more susceptible to bugs and germs and we do understand that absence in this case is understandable.    

We are, however, more than happy to keep children 'soldiering on' by providing medication if that is needed.    After all, it's an important lesson to learn as adults, to 'soldier on' when you can! 

There is also guidance on recommended periods of isolation in the event of illnesses and this helps to keep transmission to other children, and staff,  to a minimum.   In the case of vomiting and diarrhoea we ask please for a full 48 hours clear of the last episode before children return to school.   

Thank you for your support.

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