Dear Parent/Carer,
I am very pleased to say that we survived most of the snow and bad conditions and have been open four of the five days this week. Please continue to check the Noticeboard for updates next week as the five day forecast remains mixed. I will post a message as soon as I know that staff are well on their way and that we can thus open the school safely. This will be between 7.30am and 7.45am.
Were we to close, we will notify you by text (if you are on ParentMail), we will update the Messageboard, we will notify the local radio and Education Leeds. The Education Leeds School Closures website is at http://www.educationleeds.co.uk/schoolclosure.aspx
Thank You
Thank you to all parents for observing our request re: Wintry Weather… We have not been inundated with phone calls to check that we’re open this week. That really is very helpful for us. A jammed telephone frustrates everyone, prevents us from contacting those people we need to contact and takes a key member of staff away from important duties.
I am grateful to all staff for their efforts to get to work this week and for being adaptable, day by day. May I say a special thank you to Mr Reynolds for all of his work in maintaining the school site through the difficult conditions, to Mrs Smith for looking after the ‘front of house’ so effectively in very challenging circumstances, to Mrs Mates for her organisation of the challenges presented at lunchtime this week and to Miss Hinton and Miss Mees for volunteering as impromptu Dinner Ladies on Wednesday when we were short staffed in the kitchen.
I must also say a thank you to our pupils, who have coped really well with the conditions and with having to stay indoors on playtimes and lunchtimes.
Parentmail
This week’s weather has again proved the value of the ParentMail texting service. Those parents that have returned their contact details were informed by text on Wednesday evening of Thursday’s closure. If you have not yet signed up to receive ParentMail text alerts, please collect a form from the school office. This is an additional, value-added, service that we buy in order to provide up to the minute information for parents.
Absence from school and withdrawal from lessons
I was very disappointed on Wednesday that the actions of some parents caused very significant disruption for all children and staff throughout the school day. Conditions on Wednesday were no worse… and in some aspects were much, much better… at 3.10pm than they were at 10.00am, when parents began withdrawing children. I appreciate that there is panic throughout the country at the first sign of snow. It is, however, often prudent to ‘wait and see’, rather than adding to the panic.
That another school in the vicinity closes is not a valid reason to withdraw a child from lessons in a school that is open. Similarly, having left work early is not a valid reason for withdrawing your child from school while the school is still in session. Absence or withdrawal from school during the day without valid reason is recorded as an unauthorised absence.
Christmas Fair
We continue to seek donations for our Christmas Fair - Teddy Bears, unwanted gifts, toys and anything else that we can use and sell on. Our PTA Christmas Fair takes place on Saturday 11th December. Please come along and join in the fun. All funds raised by our PTA goes towards equipment for our children in school. PTA funds have in the past paid for playground equipment, Wet Play resources, Sports Kit, Nintendo DS’s and more.
If you are able to offer help to our PTA on the Christmas Fair or any other project, please contact Jenny Curgenven or Angela Ross.
Friendly Faces
Friendly Faces will be open for business from Monday 20th to Thursday 23rd December from 8.00am to 5.30pm. Anyone interested in booking a place please contact Louise Parker on 07810071148 or friendlyfacesatrobinhood@gmail.com
Fever!
We are advised by the Health Protection Agency that any child displaying a fever should be sent home immediately. Children should not return to the school until they have had at least 48 hours without fever or flu symptoms. Mouths should be covered when coughing and paper tissues used when noses are blown. If your child has a cold, please ensure s/he has a pocket-sized pack of tissues with them at school. Flu viruses can be carried on hands and in the air. Regular hand washing, blown and wiped noses and catching sneezes all help to prevent the spread of germs. Those affected by fever should rest and drink plenty of water. This will speed up recovery. Small amounts of paracetamol should make things more comfortable. Most people affected by flu–like illness will start to improve after 2 to 3 days - children tend to get better quicker than adults. Rarely, those affected by flu-like illness may develop breathing problems. If that happens they should contact their GP.
Lunchtime Staff Required
We seek to make a further appointment to our lunchtime staff. We have a very high ratio of adults:pupils during lunchtimes as we view this as the best way of maintaining Health & safety and wellbeing for pupils. If you, or anyone you know, enjoy working with children and can offer an hour per day at lunchtimes… please get in touch with Mrs Smith in the School Office.
Have a great weekend... stay warm,
Mr Wilson
