Monk Fryston Weekly News 22.1.21
Staying Safe
Digital Parenting from Vodafone
Griffin Occupational Therapy
Griffin Occupational Therapy are providing content for families on YouTube to support students at home (and students in school). There will be three five minute videos a week including:
o Sensory breaks which are perfect for students who need a quick break between learning activities
- Movement cartoons designed to help students with their coordination and balance
- Fine motor activities like dough disco.
Thoughts on Remote Learning
During the first lockdown, we shared some thoughts on remote learning with you and felt it was right to share them with you again:
o Teaching is the most brilliant profession but it is HARD. Parenting is also very HARD. Put the two together, combine in siblings and not being able to leave the house and it all gets so MUCH HARDER.
o So, a few tips and comments which may or may not help – they are not meant to be patronising in any way:
· We genuinely sympathise with the plethora of difficulties that you may face during this challenging time. You may be working, you may be delivering online content yourself, you may have younger children, or a combination of all of these factors. Of course, you and other family members may also be ill. We really do understand.
· This is an unprecedented emergency situation impacting on the whole world. Let's keep perspective. Remote learning is not home schooling. Home school is a deliberate choice by parents to deliver education. Remote learning provides activities that children should do when they are not in school, but it cannot replicate what would happen in a classroom, or create the numerous interactions they would have within a day.
· Do the best you can, try to get a routine in the day and go for ‘little and often’ rather than giving up!
· Education staff find home learning hard too! It is NOT the same teaching your own kids.
· Don’t try and completely fill a child’s day; they need down time as do you. Primary aged pupils ALL need time to play – perhaps you do too!
· Don’t set yourselves up to ‘fail’ over timetables which are too lengthy (beyond the school day) or that your child might get bored with.
· Any sort of physical activity during the day will also help with not just everyone’s physical health, but also our mental health too.
· Keep expectations realistic. You know your child best and whether it is working little and often, or doing more of the academic tasks in the morning rather than later in the day, choose a strategy that works for all of you and also works around your work patterns.
· This could also be an opportunity to engage in so many other areas of life skills that don’t involve always sitting in front of a screen. Many families will now be spending more time together in each other’s company. Let’s treasure and make the most of that time. Share the duties – cooking, tidying – skills for life. Enjoy some family time – perhaps even perfect that jigsaw, learn an instrument, or learn a language together.
· Finally, you are doing enough. You are loving your kids and supporting them through a difficult time. Look after yourself. Minimising stress is absolutely vital in a time like this for mental health. Don't let this be something that stresses you. In these challenging times, all any of us can do is to do our best and please be reassured that you have our support and guidance when you need it.
Old/spare laptop that you would like to donate?
Office Closed
Reporting a positive Covid result out of hours.
Should you believe your child to have Covid-19 symptoms and need to go into self-isolation, please notify the school office in the usual way via phone or email.
Should you receive a ‘test positive’ result for your child it is VITAL that you notify us as soon as possible: During school hours – directly to the school office via 01977 682388.
Out of hours send an email to covid@mf.starmat.uk (stating student’s full name and class, contact phone number, date and time of positive Covid test result – please use TEST POSITIVE in the title)
It is VITAL that you let us know as soon as you possibly can so that we can implement contingency planning.
Covid App
Don’t forget that our school has registered with the Covid Symptom Study to help monitor the spread of the virus. If you would like to participate, you will need to register with the school code A2JC644. For more information including full instructions on how to join and use the COVID Symptom Study app please head to: https://covid.joinzoe.com/schools
Monk Fryston C of E Primary School
Monk Fryston
Leeds
LS25 5PN
Tel 01977 682388
Email admin@mf.starmat.uk
Email: admin@mf.starmat.uk
Website: https://monkfryston.n-yorks.sch.uk
Location: Monk Fryston C Of E Primary School, Chestnut Green, Monk Fryston, Leeds, UK
Phone: 01977 682388
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MonkFrystonSch/
Twitter: @MonkFrystonSch