Dear Caregivers,
Thank you to all the children and adults who supported the Young Minds charity, raising awareness and money for mental health, by dressing in yellow and making donations online. The total amount raised was… £563! An amazing amount!
Well done also to Miss Birch who was the overall winner of the Elmhurst Staff Bakeoff with her incredible honeycomb bumblebee cake – it was a hit with the judges!
We would also like to thank Miss House for taking the lead on this.
Our Hello Yellow day marked the start of Mental Health Awareness week. There is no doubt that many, many of us, children and adults alike, are struggling at this moment in time for many, many reasons – some are struggling linked to the current pandemic, the restrictions and the lack of contact with family and friends and some are struggling with the onset of winter and the dark mornings and nights. Others have their own struggles.
It is important to remember that everyone has their own story and, now more than ever, we need to show kindness and consideration to each other. So, over the last week of term, let’s all make a special effort to show kindness towards ourselves, each other, and the world. Remember: “If you can be anything in this world, be kind!”
Why don’t we all pledge to try to do the following?
| Friday 16th October | Kind to me | Keeping your space clean and tidy is a great way to keep your mood and feelings up. Take 30 minutes today to properly and thoroughly clean and tidy up your room at home. After a few hours, write down a few sentences about how it makes a difference to how you are feeling |
| Monday 19th October | Kind to others | As a family or class, listen to the ‘The Kindness Book‘ by Todd Parr or “Be Kind” by Pat Zietlow Miler. Create a poster together called ‘In our family, kindness is…’ and display it proudly in your house. Please feel free to share with us as well! |
| Tuesday 20th October | Kind to the world | Take a look at some of our favourite Kindness Poems and choose the one you like the most: https://www.kindness-school.org/kindness-poems What makes the poem unique? What do you like most about it? |
| Wednesday 21st October | Kind to me | Music is a wonderful thing – but it’s very easy to get stuck to listening to the same kind of music. Today, give at least five different songs a chance. You could ask your friends and family members to recommend songs for you. You may be surprised by what you find! |
| Thursday 22nd October | Kind to others | Think about why you like and miss your friends. What would you do with them now if you could? Write down five reasons why your friends are good friends and five things you like to do together. |
| Friday 23rd October | Kind to the world | Do you know what your family’s favourite flowers are? Ask members of your household to tell you what flowers they love, and ask them to describe them. Afterwards, make them a drawing of the flower based only on the description they give you! Once you’ve finished the drawing you can look at a picture of the flower. You can also share your flowers with us! |
Why don’t you try to create your own kindness calendar for half term? We would love for you to share it with us. Thank you!
I have just had the pleasure of reading Summer’s setting change writing. You can read the whole text below but this sentence seems so pertinent at this moment:
“Towering above her, branches hugged each other like family.” Perfect!
Tracy and Mike
Attendance for the week beginning: 5th October 2020
Whole school – 97.2% –
Well done, everyone. This is so impressive in the current climate. Thank you!
Year 3 – 98.5%
Year 4 – 98.8% – well done, Year 4! Just pipped years 3 and 5 to the top of the leaderboard!
Year 5 – 98.3%
Year 6 – 93.1%
What’s happening next week? w/b : 19th October 2020 (click on the date to go to the school calendar)
We break up for half term on Friday 23rd October and school will reopen again on Monday 2nd November.
News items and updates
Educational Psychology Service – a reminder of help available
Y4 Superhero day
On Friday 23rd October (the last day of term), Year 4 will be having a SUPERHERO DAY!
Over the last few weeks in class, the children have created a superhero for themselves, so it would be wonderful for them to come in dressed as this creation! If not, any superhero costume is fine. Please do not spend money on manufactured costumes – non-uniform and a cape (a sheet) with a paper logo on is a perfect solution!
We will be celebrating this day by doing lots of superhero themed activities in school!
Anchor Girl, Book Boy & Shalom Seeker, AKA Miss House, Mr Mullen & Miss Milburn
Secondary school applications
Just a reminder that secondary school applications must be completed before 31st October. Caregivers can access the online form here: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/education-and-families/
There is no letter with a special code anymore, just the online application form!
Health care plans
If you have not already done so, please send completed Health Care plans in as soon as possible and definitely before half term. Thank you.
Parking reminders
The car park is for members of staff only. All staff are expected to park at the lower end of the car park. The top end is to be kept clear as the children use the entrance.
No cars, including deliveries and staff vehicles, will be allowed to drive into the car park between 8.20-9.00 am and 2.45-3.30pm. We apologise in advance for the inconvenience this will cause and thank you for your support thus far.
Please take note of the signs on the school side of the road outside of the school. This means any time, ie, before and after school as well as during school times. Please do not stop on the zig-zags to drop children off. This is for safety reasons. Please help to keep the children safe.
Vacancy
We have a vacancy for a Lunchtime Supervisor.
Mrs. Irwin, who has been at Elmhurst for the last twenty-four years, has taken the opportunity to retire in November. We wish Mrs. Irwin all the best.
Details of the vacancy and the application form can be found here: Lunchtime Supervisor
There is no closing date to this advert, once filled the advert will be withdrawn.
Work from around the school
Alfie’s sunflower Jasmine’s diary Ollie’s artwork Bonnie’s description Year 3 making own toasting sticks Oscar’s superhero text Summer’s scene change text Felix’s handwriting.
Something to remember in the pursuit of happiness
And finally…
“Close your ears to gossip this week.”