Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Thank you to Miss House for organising such a lovely, and important, day last Thursday. My particular highlight is the family tree in the gardens. Please keep sending in your photos and we will keep adding them to the tree. Families come in all shapes and forms.

Here is a message from Miss House.

RSE Day 2021 – last Thursday

Thank you to all of the families who took part in our RSE Family Bake Off last week. The challenge was to bake something that relates to faces, families, friendship and/or love. As you can see, the standard of the bakes was incredibly high! The judges have found it impossible to award a clear winner, and would therefore like to commend and congratulate all of our bakers for their amazing efforts. A certificate and prize has therefore been given to all of the families who entered – well done everyone!

Thank you also to all of the families who sent in photos for our ‘family trees’. This was a key opportunity to recognise and celebrate all of our Elmhurst families. Key aspects of our RSHE curriculum are built around recognising the importance of respect, diversity, equality and inclusion.

PSHE & RSHE Surveys:

Adults – If you haven’t already, please take a moment to complete our parent and carer survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfCc3d_mg4gEhYxAfmGYeHYOJu21nJXpwcjAEKUo0eQiEPxFA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Children – Please click this link (using your ejsch account) to complete the pupil survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSej1W9QBN1hpxJnlZDbVqk-lz3clCMQrRubSmsIXB66rfooeQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

These surveys will play a key part in helping to develop our PSHE and RSHE curriculum – your opinions are incredibly important to us.

Thank you once again for your support!

Miss House

PSHE & RSHE lead

Ps. Have a look at some of the entries:

Website posts you may have missed:

News items and updates

Attendance at Elmhurst – w/c 21st June

Whole school – 95.6%

Year 3 – 96.4%

Year 4 – 96.5%

Year 5 – 97.7%

Year 6 – 91.9%

September class lists

It is around this time of the school year that thoughts turn towards September and class lists. The Leadership team has spent much time considering the lists, liaising with class teachers, and rearranging both staff and children.

The children will find out their new class teacher’s name on Wednesday 7th July, the traditional “Moving Up” day. Unfortunately, as you are already aware, the normal transition activities cannot take place this year. Instead, the children will meet their new teacher, formally, on Tuesday 20th July.

There are many considerations that occur when sorting class lists. We need to ensure the classes are as balanced as much as possible with regards to gender, ability, SEN, and PP needs, to name a few. Friendships are important but are not a key driver. Children will make new friends and part of learning, part of being in a school, is to develop friends and deal with challenges. We cannot protect children from this. They need to learn strategies to support them. Some children have been mixed up and some have stayed with existing classes. It is about what we feel, as a school, is best for the children at this point in time.

Parents and carers will always have their own ideas about who children should/ should not be with and will want us to consider these. If we are aware of any concerns, we have taken them into consideration where possible. This doesn’t mean that the request has been granted.

As always, we would ask parents to allow the children the first half term to settle in their new classes. Hopefully, we will be in a different place in September and children will be able to mix with friends in other classes and other years. Fingers crossed!

Wasps at Elmhurst

Our lovely rotting tree stump is again home to wasps. It is ideal for these amazing insects. Mrs. Chard will make a sign for it, so everyone is aware and knows to stay away

 
Wasps are pollinators and great composters too.  Please extoll their virtues rather than feed the fear around them.  If anyone ever gets stung by a wasp vinegar is the antidote (bee stings need bicarbonate of soda and generally the sting gets left behind).

 
Here is a short video by Chris Packham about wasps. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52998427

Covid Rules

There has been some social media talk about crowds attending football matches and the fact that parents are not able to attend school sports days. While some fans are allowed at football matches, this is decided by government and most are used as test events.

Schools are still under Covid guidance from the Department of Education and social distancing and protecting bubbles is still a requirement.

While we would love to have parents attend the planned sports days we do not have the capacity to provide Covid Marshalls, man the different gates and ensure parents are maintaining social distance guidance for the whole afternoon whilst running the actual sports events. Our focus should, and will be, on the children’s enjoyment of and engagement in the event. As always, we thank you for your understanding.

A reminder:

Adults in a household or support bubble where children regularly attend educational settings are advised to test twice-weekly. To find out where to get a Lateral Flow Device test, visit: www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus/covid-19-lateral-flow-test/

Music

We have received the following information on a summer music opportunity. If any parent/carer wishes to book please do this directly with CYMT using the link provided.

Keep your summer upbeat and join our August Summer School.Open to anyone aged 10-18, our 5 day summer school will give your young person a fun packed week of top quality CYMT music and drama. It’s guaranteed to be inspiring, memorable and a great soundtrack to the long summer break.It starts Monday 2 until Friday 6 August. Cost is £295 per student. Book today to ensure a place – sign up online at this link or contact the CYMT office on 07754 217993 or taunton@cym.org.uk.

Reading at Elmhurst

We expect all children to read at least four times a week to an adult.

No one reached the 100% target last week but Hazel came very close! Come on Elmhurst. Get reading!

Please support your child by reading with them at home.

Summer Reading challenge

Wondering how to keep your children occupied during the summer holiday? Street Community Library has fantastic news! The Summer Reading Challenge is back. Children are challenged to read 6 books of their choice between 10th July and 10th September. Children get a free pack from the library, stickers as they progress, and a medal and certificate when they complete the challenge.

This year’s exciting “Wild World Heroes” theme will inspire children to explore ways of helping to save the planet. The challenge is all about reading for pleasure. There are activities and games on the Reading Agency website (this is positive screen time as it’s linked to reading!). We will also be holding fun events in the library. Please check Street Library’s Facebook page or the Somerset Libraries website for updates.

You can register children by popping into the library (from 10th July) or via this website: Somerset Libraries Registration Form http://bit.ly/WildWorldHeroes

Parent Pay

As you are aware, we now use Parent Pay for all bookings. Parent Pay can be accessed via the link below. Activation codes are needed from the school office if you haven’t used it previously.

Lunches and WAP will need to be booked via Parent Pay. For all enquiries about Parent Pay, please contact Abbie Laffen via the school office.

Due to end-of-year procedures, Parent Pay will be closed from Friday 16th July at 3 pm but will reopen again from 9 am on Friday 23rd July. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience.

Extra information about WAP and school lunches may be found on the school website following the links below:

Class photos

Just a reminder that class photo order forms need to be returned to school by 9am on Monday 5th July.

Inclusive Activities calendar

We’re excited to share with you our Inclusive Activities Calendar for the Summer holidays! These activities are for children who have disabilities or additional needs, and include a variety of face-to-face, online and activity packs delivered to the young person’s door. The calendar, as well as more information about the Community Inclusion Activity Team, can be found under the Local Offer at Children with Disabilities Service (somerset.gov.uk)

Work from the week:

In a change to the gallery work, we will now be including examples of work in the weekly newsletter. Here are some of the things we have being doing at Elmhurst this week.