Crestwood Park Primary School

It's been a busy week at school and as we approach the end of the term, our thoughts are turning to all things 'Easter'! Details of how we will celebrate this important time of the year, despite the difficulties of COVID restrictions, are detailed below.

We're pleased with how children are settling back into routines, however readjusting to school life and the high expectations we have in and out of the classrooms has been tricky for some. Please be assured that if this is the case for your child, we will work closely with you to ensure that children and families are supported. If you are worried about your child's transition back into the class or how they are coping with learning under more 'normal' circumstances, please let staff know and we will always try to help.

Although we have spent the last few weeks welcoming people back in to school, we are sadly preparing to say goodbye to a long standing member of our staff team. Mrs Hale (who is currently working in Year 4) is retiring at the end of term. We will be making sure her last days at Crestwood Park are enjoyable and we will share some of our 'Goodbye and Good Luck' messages with you in next week's newsletter.

Community Egg Drop

Last Easter we were in the middle of the first lockdown and needed to find homes for the Cadbury's Creme Eggs that we had bought for our children, so the staff and pupils who were here at that time decided to deliver the eggs along with a little message, to houses in our local area. The repsonse was wonderful and we had messages from many different members of the community, saying how much they appreciated the kind act.

This year we want to do the same thing again! Next week, children and staff in Year 6 will go out delivering a little treat and some Easter cheer to the houses in our immediate area- we will let you know how it goes!

Easter Hamper - Up for grabs! 

Keep an eye out for Mrs Kennedy and Mrs Cooper selling raffle tickets on the playground before and after school next week for the chance to win a Easter Egg hamper! It is filled with chocolatey treats for you and your family to share!

All proceeds of the Easter raffle will go towards extra-curricular activties and resources for the school. Tickets will be on sale for £1 a strip.

Easter Activities in School

Our children will also be taking part in various egg-iting Easter themed games, crafts and activities throughout the week!

Easter Assembly

Finally, look out for our recorded Easter Celebration which will go live on the website on Friday next week.

It is great to see the children taking part in after school activities again! We have had a great response and all of the children taking part have enjoyed the clubs.

KS1 - look out for your letters after half term!

Details of other clubs we can offer during the Summer term will also be shared after the Easter Break.

Reading

Last week the children chose a virtual story time with a member of staff to watch during our book day. We would love to build up our story time collection, with the children of Crestwood Park reading a story. If you have a favourite story – please send in a video of your child reading and we can add it to our story time web page.

Keep reading!

Mrs Cadman

The very best of birthday wishes are sent to Molly, Teddy and Mackenzie who have all had their birthday this week. Happy Birthday to you all! 

Today's ABC Assembly is available to view on our website in the usual place or you can watch it via the link here.

Next week look out for the Golden Certificates and SPARKS Assembly on Thursday next week and then our Easter Celebration on Friday. (Remember this one will be password protected.)

Please remember that although the 'R' number for COVID infections is reducing, we still need to be very careful in and around school. If your child presents with any of the associated symptoms, please do not bring them into school. Give us a call and let us know then arrange for a walk through or drive through test. You will normally receive the results within less than 24 hours. Please also remember that siblings will also need to stay at home, until a test result is received. 

Should children need to isolate, remember that we will provide remote teaching packs/ online resources, so that children can keep up with their learning.

Please read the letter below, from the Director of Public Health.

Our uniform is now up and running on the Totally Uniform website if you’d like to take a look- they have just received our first stock order in store!

If you have any unwanted jigsaws (maximum 500 piece) that you would like to donate to the school we would be very greatful.

Our children across the school enjoy a jigsaw or two and it would be nice to add a few new ones to our collection. 

Yellow zig zag lines outside schools indicate the length of road where stopping or waiting is strictly prohibited. The Highway Code states that you should keep these areas clear of stationary vehicles, even if picking up or setting down children.

Parking/waiting on the yellow zig zag lines could result in a fine or penalty points.

For the safety of our children and commuity during dropping off and collecting children, please refrain from parking or waiting in this area.

Thankyou to those families who have already nominated a member of the community, but just in case you missed the message last week....

Do you know someone in our community who would appreciate a message from school?

We would like you to nominate someone who lives in the local community but has no connection to our school. Do you know someone that would appreciate a kind message from the children at Crestwood Park? Please email your nominations to Mrs Cadman - acadman@crestwood-p.dudley.sch.uk

Accessing symptom-free tests

Parents and carers and anyone else living with a school age child or young person are among the priority groups being given access to free home lateral flow testing kits to test themselves.

Information on how to access these can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/rapid-lateral-flow-testing-for-households-and-bubbles-of-school-pupils-and-staff

All are strongly encouraged to have a lateral flow test at a local testing site prior to starting home testing, to know how a test is undertaken. 

Twice weekly testing will help detect hidden asymptomatic cases and help keep pupils and staff safer in school.

Anyone unable to do home testing can go to one of the Dudley lateral flow testing centres. These are at Dudley Leisure Centre, Saltwells Education Centre, with pop-up sessions at Holy Trinity Church Community Centre in Wordsley, Lifecentral Church in Halesowen, St Andrews Church in Sedgley, St James Church in Wollaston and the Salvation Army Church in Lye.

There is also testing at more than 30 pharmacies across the borough. For details on where you can get a lateral flow test and to book visit www.dudley.gov.uk/symptom-free-testing

Parents and carers can also visit www.dudley.gov.uk/coronavirusparents for more information on both symptom and symptom-free testing and the other symptoms residents are now being encouraged to take a precautionary test if they display.

Spring is definately in the air and we can't quite believe that Easter is round the corner! Remember that we break up for the holiday on THURSDAY next week, as the week ends with Good Friday. We hope you all have a peaceful weekend and that you manage to get some fresh air, see a little sunshine, but above all stay safe.

Take care and we look forward to seeing you all on Monday. 

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is the responsibility of everyone in our school and at all times we consider what is in our children’s best interests. We work to ensure our children our safe and cared for and by doing this we are protecting their health and development and preventing them from harm.  If we are worried, we will raise concerns, share information and take prompt action with the aim of ensuring families receive the right help at the right time.