St Martin de Porres Catholic Primary School
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Monday 5th October - Message from Mr Gray:
​Advice for Child to Self-Isolate for 14 Days   

Dear Parent,  
As you know, we have been advised that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Reception class. Thank you so much for quick response this morning. 
In line with the national guidance the children must stay at home and self-isolate until Tuesday 13th October (this is 14 days after the last contact with the child who has tested positive). We realise how difficult this is and if there is anything we can do to support you please let us know. Birmingham City Council will provide a weekly food parcel for any family who receive free school meals because they are on benefits. 
If your child is well at the end of the 14 days period of self-isolation, then they can return to usual activities.  
Other members of your household can continue normal activities provided your child does not develop symptoms within the 14 day self-isolation period.  
Please see the link to: Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-contacts-of-people-with-possible-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-do-not-live-with-the-person 
Ms Llewellyn, Mrs Brewer and Ms MacArdle will post activities on both the school website and the Birmingham Grid for Learning (we send out a guide to using the Birmingham Grid for Learning later). 
 
What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19: 
If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119 .   
People who do not have symptoms should not request a test unless this has been specifically requested by Public Health England or the local authority.
If your child develops symptoms, all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’. 
The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill. 
Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home. If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online. 
Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.
If you are able, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.
Please see the link to the PHE ‘Stay at Home’ Guidance: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection 

Symptoms of COVID 19:
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
  • new continuous cough and/or 
  • high temperature and/or 
  • a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia) 
For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. 
If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111. 
How to stop COVID-19 spreading  :
There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19
Do 
  • wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds  
  • use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available 
  • wash your hands as soon as you get home 
  • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze 
  • put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards 
Further Information 
Further information is available at  
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ 

Yours sincerely 

Justin Gray, Headteacher 

​Message from Ms Llewellyn - Friday 25th September:
Reception on-going learning, timetable and study plan
​
Dear Parents,  
  
I am writing to let you know about what we have been doing this week and what we will be focusing on next week.
  • We had our first PE lesson and on the whole the children proved themselves very independent and competent when getting dressed and undressed. That said there are still a few children who are struggling, if you know your child is not dressing and undressing independently please practise this skill at home. We will of course help them until they are confident.
  • In class we have been investigating rhyme
Development matters: Spot and suggest rhymes. Literacy (3&4 year olds)  
Although we are becoming more familiar with rhyme there is till work to do.  
I have put on the website two power points to support the children’s understanding of rhyme and also some suggestions for some good rhyming books.  Nursery rhymes and songs are still a fun way for children to learn about rhyme and can be done at any time anywhere.  
Recent research into the development and acquisition of early literacy skills has conclusively shown that rhythm and rhyme play a hugely important role. This is because children’s early literacy skills are about listening and speaking rather than reading and writing. These first two skills are the bedrock foundation for the latter, and create much stronger ability in the latter if ingrained deeply and early on. It’s simply not possible to be a good writer if you don’t first of all have a good vocabulary. Similarly, it’s very hard to learn phonics and sight words if you can’t discriminate sounds and rhyming patterns in an audible way.
  • Next week we will continue to look at rhyming words through different books, activities and games. 
  • Thank you to those parents who have sent in family photos, if you haven't please could you email a family photo to the school enquiry email address or Mrs Symons’ as soon as you can.
  • There are still children in school without a water bottle, please can you ensure your child has a water bottle in school every day filled with fresh water. Can we ask that no juice or squash is sent in.  There are also still pieces of uniform/PE kit that are not labelled. Please make sure all items are clearly labelled.
Thank you again for all your support during this difficult time. The children are getting on so well and really settling into school life. 

The Reception Team

Message from Ms Llewellyn - Friday 18th September:
Reception upcoming events and timetable
​
Dear Parents, 
  
I am writing to let you know about some upcoming events and some timetable information:
  • You can drop off your child in the morning at any time between 8.30 and 8.55am at Gate 5 (double gate on the corner of Oakland and Forest road). 
If your Reception child has an older sibling in our school, you will pick them up together at 3pm at Gate at the same gate as you have picked them up for the past 3 weeks. 
If your child is the only one at our school, you will pick him/her up at 3.15pm at Gate 4 on Oakland Road (the gate the children came in over the last two weeks). 
  • P.E will take place on a Tuesday afternoon in Reception starting the week beginning 21.9.2020. Please make sure the children have their P.E. kit in school. Unlike every other class who are coming to school in PE kits, Reception will need to change for PE because getting dressed, managing buttons etc is part of our curriculum. With 30 children wearing identical uniform getting changed in a small space, clothes may end up temporarily lost. Therefore all items need to be labelled with your child’s name.  
  • We will be running a phonics workshop for all parents to attend on Tuesday 20th October at 5pm. At the moment we are hoping that this will take place in school, however if that is not possible it will be done online. Attendance at these workshops is imperative. Please inform me if you are unable to make this workshop. 
  • We will be starting phonics teaching in class week beginning 2.11.2020. Phonics homework will be posted on BGfL. This will detail the sounds that the children have been learning, please take the time to look at the work with your child, recap on the sounds and complete any activities. 
  • Please could you email a family photo to the school enquiry email address in preparation for an activity next week. 
  • Please can you ensure your child has a water bottle in school every day. 
  • A study plan for the Autumn term and a weekly timetable will be emailed out to you at the end of next week. 
  • Now the two week induction period is over, from Monday 21st September we will expect the children to come in, put their coat and bag away and sit on their carpet space ready for learning. Please speak to your children re: the expectations so they are fully prepared. 
  • We will be hoping to speak to all parents in the upcoming weeks to discuss our initial assessments. Please look out for any communications from school in order to make these appointments. 
  • After-school (until 4.30pm or 5.30pm) and Breakfast Club (from 8am) are available for Reception children. Please book your sessions in advance on sQuid. For any help or query about sQuid, please call the office or email Mrs Symons (reply to this email). 
Finally, may we take this opportunity to say how well the children have settled into school life at St Martin’s. We are looking forward to a very successful year. If you have any questions about the contents of this letter please don't hesitate to contact Mrs Brewer or myself.  
  
Thank you for your continued support at this difficult time. 
 
Mrs Brewer and Ms Llewellyn ​

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PE
Click on these for Miss Haydon's home PE for this week: Wow Active Cards


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After reading the book Handa's Hen, the children acted out the story to music. Check out their dance moves:

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In January, we have been learning about India and the festival Diwali.


​We acted out the story of Rama & Sita:

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We made our own globes:
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​And we built the Taj Mahal!

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Our language focus this half-term is understanding things that go together are not always the same. Check out some of the activities we have been doing to support this:

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Parents of Reception children were invited to work in class with their child for a Reading Workshop on Wednesday 20th November. Thank you for helping us giving your child the best start in school!

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On Wednesday 6th November in the morning and later in the afternoon, parents of Reception children were invited by Ms Llewellyn to attend their first Phonics Workshop. Thank you very much to all the parents who came!

Here is a copy of the slideshow Ms Llewellyn presented that day: Phonics


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We have now learnt 10 new sounds. Here are some pictures of us using our knowledge of these sounds to build and read words. 

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Name writing
In October, we have been practising building and writing our names.


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On Monday 24th June, Reception children went to Hatton Country World for their end-of-year class trip.
Hatton Adventure World is a fun day out for all the family, whether you’re looking for indoor or outdoor fun, we’ve got something for everyone.  Based in the heart of Warwickshire, our adventure world is a great day out for the under fives, right through to young teens. It is located in Hatton, Warwickshire.
To know more about the place, you can visit: https://hattonworld.com/

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On Friday 12th June in the morning, Reception children had their first class assemblies where they told us everything they have done and learned of over their first year of school. They were amazing!
​Many thanks to all the parents who came to support them.

Poppy and Tabitha went to Bournville Book Fest where they met Lydia Monks, illustrator of Frog Hops Off! and What the Ladybird Heard.
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Here are Ms Llewellyn's recommendations for the reading challenge:
Alphabet of Alphabets by Mike Jolley & Allan Sanders
Oi Cat! by Kes Gray & Jim Field
The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright & Jim Field
The Ugly Five by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

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Look at our achievements!

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​Congratulations to Poppy, who ran on Sunday 14th October in the Mini Great Birmingham Run (3 - 8 years old) to raise money for Birmingham Children's hospital.

There were 147 youngsters who took part in this fabulous event in 2018 raising a fantastic £1,200 so far for the charity.


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Reception children recently read the book Oliver's fruit salad by Vivian French and Alison Bartlett.
On Wednesday 12th June, they made their own fruit salad. They were very sensible using the sharp knives!


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​The children have been creating a herb garden in our outdoor area and the photos show them planting. 


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On Wednesday 10th April, Reception children were left clues by the Easter Bunny and they went on a hunt...
​It was so exciting!


On Wednesday 27th February in the sunny afternoon, some children from Reception sat for a while in our prayer garden with Miss McArdle for a calm time of collective worship.

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On Wednesday 13th February, we celebrated the Chinese New Year by trying Chinese food. Not an easy task to eat with chopsticks!

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Check out our ball skills!


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Phonics
This week in Reception, the children have been doing lots of activities linked to their focus sounds m, a, s, t, d, eg sorting objects by their initial sound, word building and mark making in the sand.

Click here to help your child practise their handwriting .
Please practise reading these words at home with your child. Please encourage your child to 'Fred talk' and then blend the word. Happy Reading!
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On Wednesday 14th November 2018, we a big party in the classroom
​for Fred the Frog's birthday.

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