Crestwood Park Primary School

Well we started the week with snow, we had torrential rain in the middle and we're finishing the week with a tiny bit of sunshine and then more rain...perhaps a hint that Spring might be round the corner! 

Thankyou to the parents of children who are in school at the moment- we know Monday's closure may have caused you some inconvenience but we hope you understand that the safety of staff who need to drive in to school has got to be a priority when conditions are so bad. 

We know there is more snow forecast over the weekend. Fingers crossed all will be well for opening on Monday. If we do need to close we will inform parents as early as possible via sch.life message. We also inform the Dudley Local Authority 'Weather Watch' page and local radio stations (Black Country Radio, Free Radio (Wolverhampton & Black Country and Birmingham) and Heart. 

You will be aware that the Prime Minister has given March 8th as a date for when schools might be able to re-open to all children. Whilst we know that COVID related plans often change, we've carefully thought about possible different scenarios and have some plans for the next few weeks.

Up until half term things will pretty much stay the same for any children who are in school at the moment and our expectations for home learning will also stay the same. After the half term break, we will be increasing staff numbers in school but not children (unless the government change the guidelines).

After March 8th, we are hoping we can re-open to all children. If this is the case, our 'pre Christmas' plan will come back into place: we will go back to the September drop-off and pick-up times; use our one-way system; keep children in Bubbles whilst in school etc etc. 

We will await further guidance from the DfE to see if anything changes regarding who should be coming into school and expectations for home learning- we will always try to give you as much notice as possible with any changes or developements. 

Well done to all the parents who have battled through four weeks of very high expectations for home learning. We know it's been tricky for most people so we really want to stress that there is always someone here to talk to you if you need any tweaks to your child's resources or activities. We also know that this situation can turn a normally calm, organised and positive household into something that is stressful, chaotic and where normal levels of patience and perseverance go out of the window!

If this is happening, please get in touch...there is normally something we can do to help. 

Don't forget all teachers are offering 1:1 Teams meetings as well as their class catch-ups. Email teachers if you would like to request one of these. Please bear in mind that we ask an adult to be present (in the room) for the entire meeting and that 1:1 check-ins are recorded for safeguarding purposes. Please call/ email us of you would like any more information about this. 

The very best of birthday wishes are sent to all these children who have had their birthday since the last newsetter or will be celebrating this weekend. Happy Birthday to you all! 

Don't forget we've got competitions and challenges to keep you busy during the lockdown, not to mention our 'virtual' talent show! More details can be found on our Learning from Home page but you can follow the link here too! So get your thinking caps on and get busy sending in your entires...we'd love to feature some on next week's newsletter!

Thank you for your lovely pictures! Keep sending them to us, it is lovely to see what you have been up to!

If you would like to share your outdoor adventure snaps with us, send them in via info@crestwood-p.dudley.sch.uk and we'll feature them in next week's newsletter.

Our screen use has increased for so many reasons, with technology enabling us to do some of the things that we temporarily can't do in person. 

Click on the link below for some tips for parents of young children, on how to manage little ones' screen time and make sure they develop healthily and happily. 

Parent Zone- Top Tips for Screen Time

Today's A,B,C Assembly is available on our website in Pupil Pages or can be watched via the link here. Don't forget we are also still looking for children who demonstrate our SPARKS values. This half term we are focusing on AWARE. If you have any nominations from home, send them in and we'll add then to the contenders for this half term's awards.

Thankyou for all the suportive messages and memories of Mrs Orme that we've had coming in to school. We will keep you posted when we plant the rose outside the office; also if you've watched this week's ABC Assembly, you will have listened to Bob Marley and a track that Mrs O particularly loved.

We hope that you all have a peaceful weekend and that any snowfall brings a chance for children to get out in the fresh air and have some fun. Stay safe, look after each other and we'll 'see' you again next week. 

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.