Covid update
We continue to operate with low numbers of covid in the pupil population – cases have been below 10 for a considerable time now. However, covid has hit the staff very hard this term and we are, even this week, dealing with staff absence due to the illness. We have used a number of supply teachers but, crucially, have often been able to redeploy staff within school so that the children are taught by someone who knows them well. I am grateful to all the staff who have covered for others in this way – it’s been a fine team effort from them all.
However, there’s no denying that there has been some disruption to some classes. We can only hope that next term is easier on everybody.
As of last Friday, the rules have changed again and have been updated on the Covid Guidance page on the school website (under the Parents/Carers menu).
- There is no longer any need to test your child if they are experiencing any symptoms
- Children who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people
- Children can come back to school when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend. A negative test is not required.
As always, if you have any questions, please contact the school office who will be happy to help.
Year 4 trip to London
Last Thursday and Friday our Year 4 class set out on a grand adventure to London. Travelling on the train to Waterloo, they first headed for Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on the South Bank for a guided tour and a Macbeth acting workshop. They then visited the Tate Modern before pitching up at the Golden Hinde to learn what life was like as a Tudor sailor. Oh yes, and then sleeping on the deck of the ship. There was time for some sightseeing the next morning before return to Weymouth on the train.
It was a fabulous trip and offered some fantastic learning and cultural experiences to the Year 4 children, who embraced everything with their customary energy and enthusiasm and with no complaints about the cold, which I suspect was sub-zero at times. What a resilient and intrepid class they are! They did their parents and the school proud and were an absolute pleasure to spend time away with. My thanks to the staff who accompanied the trip and who helped make it such a success: Mr Prior, Miss Maitland, Mrs Aitken and Mr Bell.
Photos on the website: https://www.southill.dorset.sch.uk/news/livin-la-vida-london/
Macbeth
As if all that wasn’t enough, Year 4 then joined with Year 3 to put the finishing touches to their Macbeth performance before inviting parents to see it this week. Both classes have enjoyed learning the story and delivered the gruesome tale with great verve and gusto through action, speech and song. It was our first proper show in the hall to parents for over two years – and it was well worth waiting for. Well done everyone!
Big Walk and Wheel
Thank you to everyone who were able to encourage their children to walk, scoot or pedal their way to school over the past two weeks.
Clearly we were never going to beat some of the schools who were able to organise 100% of their pupils to travel actively to school, but I don’t think that matters. What we were aiming to do by taking part in this event was to reinforce key messages to the children about healthy lifestyles – something which is an important part of our school ethos. From talking to the children I know that the Big Walk and Wheel was a successful event in that respect.
Southill finished in 343rd place nationally (53rd place in the South of England) with 60.47% of the school population either walking, scooting or cycling to school during the two weeks of the competition. We made 1115 total active journeys to school. Thank you everyone involved.
Parents’ Evenings
It’s been great to see parents in school for their consultation appointments with teachers. I hope you all found the annual reports useful and valued the opportunity to discuss these with the teacher.
Governors’ News
Please look out tomorrow for the first ever Governors’ News. I’m really pleased that our governors are keen to communicate with parents and that they’ve taken this step in bringing their important work to light. Their newsletter will be sent as a Ping and will also be posted on the school website.
Easter Holidays
So the spring term has drawn to a close. Not without its challenges, it’s also been a successful and happy term with some important school routines returning as we continue our slow journey back to ‘normal’. I hope you all have a brilliant Easter holiday and we look forward to seeing everyone back on Monday 25th April at 8.45am.
Important dates for the summer term
Start of Summer term: Monday 25th April
May Bank Holiday (school closed): Monday 2nd May
Year 3 residential to Leeson House: Tuesday 3rd May – Wednesday 4th May
Year 6 SATs week: Monday 9 May – Thursday 12 May
Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday (school closed): Friday 27th May
Half term Holiday: Monday 30th May – Friday 3rd June
Year 5 residential to Wye Valley: Wednesday 8th June – Friday 10th June
KS2 trip to Poole Lighthouse Theatre: Thursday 9th June
Year 6 residential to Cornwall: Tuesday 21st June – Friday 24th June
Year 6 Transition Day: Tuesday 5th July
Year 6 Primary College : Wednesday 13th July – Friday 15th July
Last day of term: Wednesday 20th July
Other messages for parents and carers
Easter sports at Redlands and the Wey Valley Tennis Centre
We are pleased to announce that we are going to be running a Easter holidays sports camp this April. A perfect opportunity for your child to participate in a range of Sports and Multi skills.
The camp involves a mix of Tennis, Multi skills and some other Sports. There will be coaching, individual and team skills and lots of games!
Dates:
- Wednesday 13th April – at the Wey Valley tennis centre at Wey Valley School.
- Wednesday 20th April – at Redlands inside the big sports hall
PLEASE NOTE THE 2 DIFFERENT VENUES
The camp will run from 9-12pm and the cost is £15 per session.
The camp is aimed for children from aged 5 up to 12.
Places for the camp are limited, so if you would like to book your son or daughter in, please email or text myself or Matt which includes your child’s name, age, contact number and any medical conditions we need to be aware of. We will have a break for snacks during the session, so please bring drinks and snacks. Payments can be made via bacs or cash.
07540625887
07891808156
Water Safety Advice from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
With the longer days and hopefully warmer weather we will all be spending more time outside. In the two counties covered by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service we are lucky to have many beautiful areas of water including the sea, rivers, lakes and canals.
The most important water safety advice you can help teach your child for water safety is FLOAT to live. Talk to your child and explain if they ever fall into water, or struggle when swimming they need to think “FLOAT.” Lie on their back, put their legs and arms out like a star and look up to the sky. Why not check your child knows how to do this by practicing on dry land or next time you are swimming in a pool with them?
For more information, including two stories to watch read by Zoe Wanamaker CBE and Olympic Swimmer Sharron Davies MBE and activities to keep your child entertained during the holidays please visit Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service | Be Water Aware (dwfire.org.uk) there is also the chance to enter our prize draw to win a VIP trip to a DWFRS fire station!
Earth Day
Earth Day is a positive event celebrating what is already being done to help the environment and understanding what we can do next! Join us on the 23rd of April, 12noon – 4pm at The Great Field, Poundbury.
There will be local groups, sustainable businesses, inspirational speakers, yummy food, fun activities, workshops and amazing musicians!
Some of our activities include exotic animal handling, face painting, mindfulness sessions, crafts, a solar workshop and much more!’
We will also be running a clothes swap at the event so are encouraging people to bring one item of clothing that they can swap on the day.
Below is a link the Facebook event too: https://bit.ly/3JCDF6r
See you tomorrow